- Danica Patrick: US needs American F1 driver, wants Herta on grid
18/10/2021 - 18:00
Patrick, who is joining Sky Sports F1's coverage of this weekend's US Grand Prix at Austin, says the sport has grown a lot of the past few years thanks to the success of Netflix's Drive to Survive series.
"I definitely think that the Netflix series Drive to Survive has been a big deal," Patrick told Motorsport.TV.
"I've had so many people over the years come to me and say: 'Hey, have you ...Keep reading
- Newey on top of Red Bull’s F1 set-up headaches after injury return
18/10/2021 - 17:26
Newey, who is chief technical officer at Red Bull, had missed several races after hurting himself in a cycling crash over the summer break.
After hospital treatment and a fairly lengthy recovery, Newey was finally fit enough to return to working in the F1 garage at the recent Turkish Grand Prix.
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko reckoned that Newey’s absence had not hurt his ...Keep reading
- O’Ward: ‘I’d be lying’ to deny interest in future F1 move
18/10/2021 - 17:00
O’Ward will take part in the post-season F1 test at the Yas Marina Circuit in December after winning a bet with McLaren chief Zak Brown by scoring his first IndyCar victory in Texas earlier this year.
To prepare for his F1 test, O’Ward visited McLaren’s UK base in Woking last week, completing three days in the simulator and undergoing a seat fit in the MCL35M car.
While his focus ...Keep reading
- Archive: The background figure keeping F1's new Canadian hero on track
18/10/2021 - 15:10
Every year there's a flood of young hopefuls trying to make it into F1, but some have a better chance than others. These are the guys who, in addition to GSM phones and carbon fibre briefcases, already have the ultimate driver accessory - the personal manager.
It's not just the new boys who need a hand. Damon Hill was always rightly proud of the fact that he made it to the top on his own, doing ...Keep reading
- Extra 1.5-second fire protection from new F1 gloves important - Masi
18/10/2021 - 14:53
After Romain Grosjean’s accident in Bahrain last year left the French driver with burns to his hands the FIA began a push for extra protection, in conjunction with the manufacturers.
With the agreement of the FIA stewards five drivers and four suppliers participated in a test of prototypes in practice at the Turkish GP, essentially to test how the gloves felt when used in anger.
Those ...Keep reading
- Bottas: Certainty over F1 future helping me focus on driving
18/10/2021 - 14:08
The Finn spent much of the year fighting to show his Mercedes bosses that he deserved a fresh deal for 2022.
However, a run of frustrating races and the continued impressive form of George Russell meant that Mercedes elected not to retain him.
Instead, Bottas has secured a move to Alfa Romeo for next season, and he says getting that deal in the bag has brought with it a noticeable difference ...Keep reading
- Former Renault F1 engine boss Taffin joins ORECA as technical director
18/10/2021 - 11:55
The 46-year-old left Renault's Alpine F1 team where he was powertrain technical director in June and will start his new role at ORECA overseeing its projects at its Signes headquarters near Paul Ricard and its satellite operation at Magny-Cours in December.
He will oversee both ORECA's chassis operations, which include the production of the benchmark 07 LMP2 prototype, and its engine ...Keep reading
- Petronas remains committed to Mercedes F1 team, Aramco rumours dismissed
18/10/2021 - 11:48
The Malaysian oil giant has been a sponsor and technical partner of Mercedes since the German manufacturer’s F1 return in 2010.
Its logos have appeared prominently on the Mercedes cars ever since, and its fuel and oils have played a critical role in helping the team deliver seven consecutive F1 championship doubles.
The deal between Mercedes and Petronas has been extended several times and ...Keep reading
- Ferrari: P3 in F1 championship clear target after gains on McLaren
18/10/2021 - 10:15
Ferrari cut into McLaren’s advantage in the fight for third in the standings last time out in Turkey, reducing the gap to 7.5 points with six races remaining.
The small margin comes despite McLaren’s 1-2 at Monza last month where the team picked up maximum points on race day, with its lead rising to 17.5 points after Russia before the tables turned in Turkey.
Ferrari has always ...Keep reading
- How high-tech F1 has changed the race engineer role
17/10/2021 - 13:00
However, it has now transformed into a very complex role. It requires an individual to not only deal with the driver aspect, but be at the top of a communication chain that includes the pit-wall, garage and remote factory operations to offer analysis in real time.
In simple language, a race engineer is now a driver interface fed by real-time data.
Recent weather impacted races in Russia and ...Keep reading
- Norris: Openness over mental health important to help others
17/10/2021 - 10:30
The McLaren driver has confessed to facing some troubled times during his early F1 career, as he struggled coping with the pressure to perform at such a young age.
But after working with both a good external support team, and his own McLaren squad, the young Briton has got himself in to a happy place and is now enjoying grand prix racing again.
While some top sports stars have been reluctant ...Keep reading
- How unlucky has Alonso really been in F1 2021?
16/10/2021 - 16:30
But how unlucky has he really been in 2021?
At Istanbul Park Alonso excelled in qualifying and managed to start in fifth, but during a wet start he was spun around at Turn 1 by AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly, who was sandwiched in between Alonso and Red Bull's Sergio Perez.
Trying to claw his way back, Alonso then made contact with Haas driver Mick Schumacher after a late divebomb, which the ...Keep reading
- The Schumacher Monaco conundrum that complicates F1 pole debate
16/10/2021 - 13:51
With the fight for the front in qualifying being a pretty fraught affair, it’s no surprise that the driver who comes out on top wants to feel rewarded.
In Turkey, for example, Lewis Hamilton was a little bit disappointed that an engine grid penalty meant his supreme Q3 effort will never be recorded in the history books.
PLUS: F1's missing pole winners
“Well, I ...Keep reading
- Vettel: Too many races could stop F1 being "special"
16/10/2021 - 10:16
Read Also:
How a change of mindset helped McLaren design an F1 winner
Qatar circuit pitlane entry changed "dramatically" for F1 race
Binotto to skip races in "critical phase" for 2022 Ferrari F1 project
The confirmation on Friday of F1’s 2022 schedule means the series is heading for its biggest ever season next year with 23 races crammed in between the middle of March ...Keep reading
- Ricciardo to demo Earnhardt NASCAR Cup car at US GP
15/10/2021 - 18:56
After joining McLaren at the start of the season, Ricciardo accepted a wager with Brown over him scoring his first podium for the team.
With memories still fresh of Ricciardo’s famous tattoo bet with his former Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul, Brown was eager to avoid any physical discomfort from needles so opted for a racing incentive instead.
With Ricciardo being a big fan of Dale Earnhardt ...Keep reading
- Formula 1 reveals record-length 23-race 2022 calendar
15/10/2021 - 18:09
Following a meeting of the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council on Friday, a draft schedule for next season was released.
The calendar, which stretches from the season opener in Bahrain on 20 March and finishes with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 20 November, has been put together as the sport hopes for a more normal season.
With the last two campaigns having been badly impacted by the coronavirus ...Keep reading
- Binotto to skip races in "critical phase" for 2022 Ferrari F1 project
15/10/2021 - 17:18
Last year Binotto sat out Turkish and Bahrain Grands Prix to work from Ferrari's base as a test run for this season, when teams are forced combine a packed calendar with an intensive development programme for 2022's all-new cars.
Binotto also missed the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to illness, handing over the reins on the ground to Ferrari's sporting director Laurent Mekies.
Following on from ...Keep reading
- When a future Le Mans winner with "no regrets" became an F1 driver for a day
15/10/2021 - 17:04
It’s hardly surprising for a recently retired three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner to have “absolutely no regrets” when recalling their time in motorsport.
Marcel Fassler’s top-level racing career spanned 20 years, contesting of the DTM in the first half of the 2000s before a switch to sportscars yielded a Spa 24 Hours-winning stint at Corvette, followed by his most successful spell at ...Keep reading
- Qatar circuit pitlane entry changed "dramatically" for F1 race
15/10/2021 - 15:11
Masi visited the regular MotoGP venue this summer immediately after the Hungarian GP, in company with F1 sporting director Steve Nielsen, while negotiations to hold a race were still under way.
Although the track has an FIA Grade 1 licence for car racing and was used for a GP2 Asia event in 2009, Masi's inspection confirmed exactly what work was required in order to make it suitable for current ...Keep reading
- How a change of mindset helped McLaren design an F1 winner
15/10/2021 - 13:17
Ongoing difficulties with engine supplier Honda in 2017 left it facing performance and reliability troubles, and it ended the campaign ninth in the standings for the second time in three years.
Its transformation since then has been remarkable, and its shock 1-2 at this year's Italian Grand Prix has helped it already deliver more points this season than any campaign in the turbo hybrid ...Keep reading
- Haas: Q2 spot shows team "ready to get points" with a better car
15/10/2021 - 11:59
After deciding not to develop its 2021 car to put its entire focus on F1's new set of technical regulations in 2022, Haas has struggled for pace this season, Schumacher and Mazepin usually languishing on the last row of the grid.
On Saturday, a Haas car managed to progress to Q2 in qualifying for the first time this season, courtesy of Mick Schumacher's 14th place in Q1.
Beyond that obvious ...Keep reading
- Masi dismisses Alonso criticism on F1 steward bias
15/10/2021 - 10:14
Alonso has been unhappy with the consistency of some of the race control decisions this season, particularly with regards to drivers leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
He was left angry after McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo overtook him off track in Austria and was also puzzled when Lando Norris got away with just a reprimand after crossing the pit entry line in the Russian Grand Prix ...Keep reading
- Ricciardo won’t let Turkish GP setback derail McLaren momentum
14/10/2021 - 17:44
Ricciardo arrived in Turkey off the back of consecutive top-five finishes, winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and finishing fourth in Russia following the late rain shower.
But Turkey proved to be a more challenging weekend for Ricciardo as McLaren struggled for pace, resulting in him dropping out in Q1.
The team opted to fit Ricciardo's car with a complete new power unit, resigning him ...Keep reading
- Mercedes form has eased fears over 2022-triggered slump
14/10/2021 - 13:35
F1 teams have had to balance work on this year's cars against the efforts needed to maximise the potential of next season's challengers.
And while Red Bull pushed on until well in to the season with upgrades to its RB16B, Mercedes decided to wind down work on its W12 quite early to focus on its future project.
The team felt that it could not risk falling behind with the 2022 car, even though ...Keep reading
- Vettel: F1 must ask itself if money comes over morals
14/10/2021 - 11:21
F1's recent addition of races in Saudi Arabia and Qatar has prompted renewed concerns about regimes with poor human rights records using grand prix racing as a sportswashing exercise.
However, F1 chiefs and the FIA have long argued that sports should remain neutral, and that racing in such places can have a positive effect by highlighting potential issues.
However, Aston Martin driver Vettel ...Keep reading
- Sainz backs Ferrari grid penalty call despite strong Turkey form
14/10/2021 - 10:41
After Charles Leclerc took a new engine in Russia, which included the latest update of Ferrari's hybrid system, it was Sainz' turn last weekend to move to his fourth power unit of 2021 and thus take a grid penalty.
But when the Spaniard saw how quick Leclerc was on Friday during low- fuel runs, he admitted feeling "a bit of a regret" that he wouldn't be able to fight for a podium like his ...Keep reading
- COTA addressing bumps for F1 race in wake of MotoGP problems
14/10/2021 - 10:18
Bumps have long been an issue at COTA due to the instability of the land on which the circuit is built, a situation made worse by the heavy rain and flooding that impacted the 2015 F1 weekend.
The undulations were a cause for concern during the last F1 event there in 2019, when some surface grinding was undertaken after practice on Friday evening, and again after qualifying on ...Keep reading
- Capito: F1 teams shouldn't wait for FIA on carbon footprint reduction
13/10/2021 - 19:21
Capito was speaking on Wednesday as the Grove team launched its own sustainability programme, with a clear target of becoming climate positive by 2030.
The Williams Racing Sustainability Strategy has been put together with the support of outside specialists. The team intends to tackle a wide range of areas, including cutting carbon emissions from transport and personnel travel and at its own ...Keep reading
- Aston Martin: We had to trust Vettel on slick tyre call
13/10/2021 - 16:42
The German was running in 10th place when he was told there was a pit stop window as other drivers were stopping for a second set of intermediates.
Asked on lap 36 if he might want to try soft tyres should slicks become an option Vettel responded, “Medium, medium, let’s go for it. These inters can’t be any worse.”
The team confirmed that he should box and he came straight ...Keep reading
- Wolff: Turkey win shows Bottas’s "vital role" in both title races
13/10/2021 - 14:41
Bottas scored his first win in over a year with a controlled display at the front of the pack in the Turkish Grand Prix last weekend, crossing the line over 14 seconds clear of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in damp conditions.
By denying Verstappen victory, it ensured that Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton only slipped to six points off the lead of the drivers’ standings, having fought from ...Keep reading
- Williams needs a "bit of a think" over inters struggles says Russell
13/10/2021 - 14:04
Russell made his life harder in Sunday race with a mistake at the last corner of his final run in Q2, an error that left him only 13th on the grid when he had the pace to make the top 10.
He then lost two places in the early laps of the damp race and ran in 15th for the rest of the afternoon, unable to make any progress.
Russell admitted he found it hard to get on top of tyre management on a ...Keep reading
- Experimental Mercedes front wing hints at final F1 update push
13/10/2021 - 12:43
Early on in the season, Red Bull appeared to be throwing more weight behind aerodynamic upgrades in the opening half of the season than its rival.
It was delivering smaller optimisation packages at almost every race, while Mercedes stuck to its usual development path of bring more occasional substantial upgrades.
Red Bull RB16 front wing detail
Photo by: Giorgio Piola
This ...Keep reading
- How Ocon’s “dangerous” non-stop Turkey F1 strategy paid off
13/10/2021 - 12:08
A non-stop run in a full-length uninterrupted race hadn’t been achieved since Mika Salo managed it at a rain-affected 1997 Monaco GP, in the days of refuelling. In the slow conditions and a lap down the Finn managed to save enough to get safely to the flag.
In 2005 it was mandatory for a set of tyres to last the race, but drivers still had to pit for fuel.
Inevitably Ocon’s performance ...Keep reading
- Ferrari admits it took "risks" to introduce upgraded F1 engine
13/10/2021 - 10:25
The Italian car manufacturer elected to hold fire on introducing some upgraded 2021 power unit components until the second half of this season, so it could maximise development time with an engine freeze in place.
The final go-ahead for the developments was given at the Russian Grand Prix, as Charles Leclerc took a grid penalty for fitting the improved power unit.
Last weekend in Turkey ...Keep reading
- Heritage vote saves Adelaide F1 Grand Prix track
13/10/2021 - 10:14
A 1200-metre stretch of tarmac through Adelaide's Victoria Park, formerly used to create the city's famous Formula 1 and Supercars street circuit, was put on the chopping block by a recent proposal to redevelop the area into a greener space.
The 'Reimagining Victoria Park' proposal was heard at an Adelaide City Council meeting last night, Professor Doug McEvoy speaking of a"major threat to the ...Keep reading
- Mercedes: Staying out in Turkish GP could have dropped Hamilton to ‘back of the points’
13/10/2021 - 10:06
Hamilton was left frustrated after Mercedes opted to pit him with eight laps remaining at Istanbul Park, dropping him from third back to fifth place after starting 11th on the grid due to a penalty.
Hamilton had hoped to complete the whole race on a single set of intermediate tyres after not pitting when the immediate cars near him did with around 20 laps remaining.
Mercedes explained after ...Keep reading
- The risk and reward teams faced in the Turkish GP tyre switch
12/10/2021 - 17:58
But it was a more difficult weekend for Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton started 11th after an engine penalty, and although he fought his way back up as high as third in the race, he ended up fifth after frustration over Mercedes’ strategy, leading to some tense moments on the radio.
So why did Mercedes not pit sooner or try and keep him out all the way to the end? And why were the ...Keep reading
- Brawn rebuffs suggestions F1 rules revolution is not needed
12/10/2021 - 17:24
With little separating Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, and a more varied selection of winning drivers this year, there have been some suggestions that F1’s current rules deliver everything the sport needs.
Furthermore, there are concerns that such is the overhaul triggered by the new 2022 cars, that the grid will spread out next year as a result, with the better ...Keep reading
- FIA explains why Perez wasn’t investigated over Turkey F1 bollard breach
12/10/2021 - 16:39
At the end of lap 34 the pair ran side-by-side through the last corners and Perez went wide into the pit entry. He then passed to the wrong side of the bollard before returning to the track.
The Mexican subsequently managed to stay in front of Hamilton when they arrived at Turn 1.
Some observers thought Perez might be in trouble for going off the circuit and behind the bollard before ...Keep reading
- Norris: "Scary" spray made Turkish GP F1 much harder
12/10/2021 - 14:18
With the Istanbul Park race being hit by tricky conditions, as race-long drizzle and low cloud meant the circuit never fully dried, drivers had a challenging time managing their tyres.
And for Norris, one thing that stood out as he bid to move up the order, was the limited visibility early on.
“The laps to the grid I basically couldn't see a thing,” explained the McLaren driver. “I was ...Keep reading
- F1 medical car driver Van der Merwe set to miss final 2021 races
12/10/2021 - 11:55
Having already had COVID early last season Van der Merwe tested positive shortly before the Turkish GP. F1 doctor Ian Roberts also tested positive, and thus both men were unable to travel to Istanbul.
Van der Merwe subsequently confirmed on social media last weekend that he has not been vaccinated against COVID for personal reasons.
Proof of vaccination is currently required for entry to ...Keep reading
- Alonso sorry for Schumacher clash early in Turkish GP
12/10/2021 - 10:48
Alonso started fifth at Istanbul Park for Alpine, only to be spun at Turn 1 by Pierre Gasly and fall down the order in damp conditions.
As Alonso looked to make up places, he attempted to pass Schumacher down the inside at Turn 4 on the next lap, only to make contact with the Haas driver and send him into a spin.
It resulted in a five-second time penalty for Alonso - which he served when ...Keep reading
- Tsunoda's Hamilton defence in Turkey F1 an attempt to help Verstappen
12/10/2021 - 10:48
Honda-backed youngster Tsunoda reached Q3 for the third time this season at Istanbul Park on Saturday, and started well to sit eighth early on ahead of Hamilton.
The AlphaTauri driver was able to keep Hamilton back for a number of laps with some solid defending, stalling the Mercedes’ driver’s recovery from a grid penalty that meant he started 11th.
But Hamilton was eventually able to ...Keep reading
- "Useless" hybrid rules shows F1 needs better green push - Vettel
12/10/2021 - 10:24
The four-time world champion, who is actively engaged in environmental and sustainability issues, thinks F1's current roadmap for greener engines and sustainable fuels is not as aggressive as it should be.
He thinks there is a danger of it leaving F1 stuck behind where the fast-changing world is moving to, and that could put pressure on the very future of the sport.
Speaking to selected ...Keep reading
- Perez: Hamilton "caught me at my worst time" in Turkey F1 duel
11/10/2021 - 17:28
On a wet track Hamilton was trying to carve his way back through the field after a grid penalty made him start in 11th. By Lap 35 Hamilton had moved up to fifth and launched an attack on Red Bull's Perez on Istanbul Park's back straight.
After the pair went wheel-to-wheel through the final corner combination, which almost forced Perez across the pit entry, he managed to hang on to fourth place ...Keep reading
- 10 things we learned from F1's 2021 Turkish Grand Prix
11/10/2021 - 16:29
Formula 1’s return to Istanbul Park for 2021 may have lacked the slipping and sliding of last year, yet it provided another intriguing, strategy-filled race.
Valtteri Bottas scored his first win in over a year with a controlled display at the front of the pack in damp conditions, ensuring Max Verstappen never had a sniff of victory for Red Bull.
But Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton had a ...Keep reading
- Mercedes: Ocon’s fall proved risk of keeping Hamilton out to the end
11/10/2021 - 15:45
After seeing most of the frontrunning drivers pit with around 20 laps to go for a fresh set of intermediate tyres, Mercedes opted to keep Hamilton out as he felt his tyres were still in good enough shape.
The team considered keeping Hamilton out all the way to the end of the race, only to ultimately pit him with eight laps remaining after he started losing time to the cars chasing ...Keep reading
- Pirelli doubts Hamilton could have finished without late Turkey F1 pitstop
11/10/2021 - 11:57
Hamilton had staged a recovery from 11th on the grid to challenge for a podium finish in the wet Istanbul race, when his main rivals elected to stop for fresh intermediate rubber.
With the older tyres holding up well at that point, Hamilton elected to push on and ignore a call from his Mercedes pits to come in for a change.
However, the move ultimately backfired because the pace of the used ...Keep reading
- F1 set to trial system of deleting double yellow flag lap times
11/10/2021 - 11:20
A test could be undertaken as soon as the United States GP in Austin in a fortnight's time.
At the moment drivers are expected to slow and not record a meaningful lap time when they pass double yellows.
That can occasionally lead to controversy, as happened with Fernando Alonso in qualifying at the Turkish GP.
The Spaniard entered a double yellow zone at the start of his first flying lap ...Keep reading
- Red Bull surprised at "significant" Mercedes F1 power boost
11/10/2021 - 10:47
In the wake of Max Verstappen having no answer for the pace of Valtteri Bottas in the Turkish Grand Prix, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner thinks that the competitive picture between the two F1 title rivals has shifted in recent weeks.
Whereas Red Bull appeared to hold a pace advantage heading in to the summer break, he believes that the arrival of Mercedes' latest specification of engines ...Keep reading
