Aston Martin have announced that Lance Stroll will be missing out on this week’s pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit, after he had an accident whilst training.
Stroll was involved in what has been described as a “minor” incident but the injuries will rule him out of the the three-day session.
Aston Martin also added that they expect Stroll to make a quick recovery and return to driving duties in due course, and his fitness will be assessed daily. And an update will be issued ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix which is scheduled for March 3rd to 5th.
It is not clear whether Aston Martin will call on their reserve driver Felipe Drugovich jump in the car for testing as Stoffel Vandoorne is in Cape Town for Formula E or let Fernando Alonso do all 3 days.
I’ve had an unfortunate accident whilst training on my bike in preparation for the season. I am determined to get back in the car and I am excited about the season ahead with the team. I am motivated to bounce back from this setback as quickly as possible.
Stroll explaining the situation in a press release.
Campos Racing has confirmed Nerea Marti as the team’s first driver to the inaugural F1 Academy.
The Spaniard graduated from karting to single seater racing in 2019, and has since campaigned in both Spanish F4 and W Series.
Marti, scored a maiden podium in her first Spanish F4 race, where she ended the campaign 16th overall. In 2021, Marti moved to the W series after the cancelled 2020 season. She finished the season as the highest-placed rookie, 4th in the standings.
In the 2022 season, Marti took her maiden pole position at the first round in Miami and scored two podiums across the season, finishing the season 7th. Not only this, the Spanish driver took part in the all-woman’s FIA Formula 3 test at Magny-Cours in November.
I’m extremely happy joining Campos Racing for the very first season of F1 Academy. It provides an excellent new opportunity to continue taking steps forward in my racing career and I have no doubts that together I and Campos Racing will manage to meet all our goals.
Marti on her seat for 2023.
We are proud to have Nerea for the first season of F1 Academy. She has regularly been one of the most competitive female drivers in the last seasons, I am sure we will manage to achieve strong results together. It’s exciting to have a driver from Valencia at a Valencian team and fighting for an international championship. Nerea has enjoyed the support of Formula de Campeones and the Circuit de Valencia Ricardo Tormo since she embarked on her single-seater career and we hope she will have their support to continue making progress at the highest international level.
Rodin Carlin has finalised its 2023 line-up with the announcement of Ido Cohen, the 21 year old will line-up alongside Hunter Yeany and Oliver Gray.
His move to Carlin will be a reunion after he raced for the team during his 2020 Euroformula Open campaign and completed his rookie FIA Formula 3 season with the team in 2021.
He claimed two podium finishes in Euroformula Open on the way to finishing seventh in the Standings, as well as finishing the ’21 F3 campaign 24th.
Cohen then spent his second FIA Formula 3 campaign at Jenzer Motorsport last year. The Israeli achieved a best finish of ninth which came in the Spielberg Feature Race.
I’m very happy to back with everyone at Rodin Carlin again. When I went back for my seat fit, it was like going back to family. The team have made some positive changes since we were last racing together and I’m excited to see everything come together again when we get on track next week in Bahrain.
Cohen on his seat.
We’re delighted to welcome Ido back to the team. We have a great working relationship together and a good understanding of what Ido needs to feel comfortable in the car. Combined with Ido’s experience in the championship, we look forward to making a positive start to the season in pre-season testing
PHM Racing by Charouz have locked in the second of their three drivers for the 2023 FIA Formula 3 season announcing that Robert Faria will be racing for the German outfit.
The Brazilian joins the grid for his fifth season of single-seater racing after making his debut back in 2019 where he finished 11th in the British F4 Championship.
The following year saw him dovetail a half-season return to British F4 where he scored two podiums in the opening two rounds, alongside a four-round stint in the British F3 Championship.
Sticking with GB3 Championship in 2021 and 2022, the 19 year old went on to take two consecutive fifth placed finishes in the Standings, achieving one win and a further 14 podiums.
Faria already has plenty of mileage in the F3 car under his belt, having completed 213 laps during post-season testing in Jerez last year.
I’m really delighted to join PHM Racing by Charouz in the FIA Formula 3 on their new project. It feels like a dream coming true. Even without knowing most of the circuits in the calendar I’ll do my best to deliver great results and to show the team why they have put their trust in me. I cannot wait to start racing in Bahrain.
Faira on his new seat.
Roberto ‘Beto’ Faria is one of these young passionate Brazilian talents with raw speed, ambition and demanding focus. His testing was promising, but now, we need to bring him into the working attitude, which is necessary to succeed in FIA F3. So the balance of speed and patience should affect good results through the season. In GB3 UK he was several times on the podium and finished 5th overall.
Alpine have become the final team to reveal their 2023 challenger, pulling the covers off the A523 during a ceremony in London.
Following Monday’s shakedown at Silverstone, the team gathered on Thursday evening for their official launch, which saw them unveil the new car in their now traditional blue livery. As well as this, a pink-themed version in the colours of the team’s title sponsor BWT, which will run at a handful of selected races this year, which are Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
The car will be driven by Esteban Ocon, who is preparing for his third season in Alpine colours, and new teammate Pierre Gasly, who comes from AlphaTauri.
Alpine will be hoping they can yield the next step in their push towards the front of the F1 grid, with the top three now the target after finishing fifth in the constructors’ standings in 2021 and fourth in 2022.
Ocon and Gasly have already shared positive words about their first runs in the A523 on Monday – the latter reporting a ‘very good’ feeling while the team noted that the day was issue-free.
It’s been another milestone ticked for the A523 with our shakedown at Silverstone and I’m pleased the day ran so smoothly. Esteban drove first in the morning to check all the systems were working properly as well as completing the usual install programme for the car. Pierre was then in the car in the afternoon for the first time in the A523 and completed eight stable laps to get an initial feel in his new surroundings. These days are of course limited and not representative, but we’ve certainly had a great day and we now look forward to testing in Bahrain where we expect to continue our learning of the 2023 car.
Rodin Carlin, have announced their first of three drivers for the inaugural F1 Academy – signing Briton Jessica Edgar.
Edgar, cousin of Formula 3 racer Jonny Edgar, began karting at the age of five and in 2021 made the longlist for the FIA’s Girls on Track Rising Stars Programme.
The 17 year old took her first steps on the single-seater ladder last year, competing in the GB4 Championship in the UK where she finished seventh overall with one podium finish.
Jessica is the third driver to be announced for the F1 Academy this year, after Swiss race Lena Buhler was confirmed for ART Grand Prix and Bianca Bustamante joined Prema.
I’m very happy to have signed with Rodin Carlin for F1 Academy. As soon as I heard about the series, the backing of Formula 1 and the teams and people involved, I was extremely keen to be part of this first historic season. I know the Rodin Carlin team pretty well and to go into this first season together is a dream come true. I’m really excited to get the season under way.
Jessica on her new seat.
We’re very proud to announce our first driver in F1 Academy ahead of what we expect to be an exciting and historic season. Jess was already well known to us, and the opportunity to work with her in F1 Academy came at exactly the right time in her career. With only one season in car racing to her name, there is still plenty to learn, but Jess is extremely motivated, and we look forward to unlocking her potential in the season ahead.
Sophia Florsch will be making her return to FIA Formula 3 this season, as she signs with PHM Racing by Charouz. It will be the first time since 2020 that she has driven in the championship.
Florsch has plenty of single-seater experience after her graduation from the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2016. She finished her first two seasons of ADAC Formula 4, 19th and 13th before she moved to European F3 in 2018.
P7 in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2019, led her to move to FIA F3 for the 2020 season with Campos Racing.
Since leaving F3, Florsch has accumulated plenty of experience in sports cars, racing in the Le Mans 24 Hours in each of the last three years, as well as racing in DTM and the World Endurance Championship.
I am really excited and very happy to return to FIA Formula 3 this season with PHM Racing by Charouz. My goal has always been to race with the best of the best. Since the beginning of my career, I have been working very hard towards this goal every day with my team in the background.
Sophia, on her return to F3.
I have lots of respect for Sophia’s decision to come back to Formula sports and to take the challenge in this competitive field. She is very experienced in professional Racing in various classes and has a very professional attitude and working style. The racing world so far helped her to become even more ambitious and focused than many other male drivers. That’s another fact, why we start with Sophia. With our new campaign as PHM Racing by Charouz, we will do our best to support her on her path to the top.
Mercedes became the penultimate F1 team to launch their 2023 challenger – taking the covers off the W14 where they sport an all-black livery.
A day after rivals, Ferrari presented their new challenger, Mercedes showcased the car in which they hope will move them back into regular race wins and title glory.
Mercedes’ latest creation marks a return to black – a colour they ran in the 2020 and 2021 seasons – after they returned to their more traditional silver scheme.
Team boss, Toto Wolff, continuing drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as well as new reserve Mick Schumacher were all present at the launch at Silverstone.
One change inside the Mercedes camp for 2023, is the absence of James Vowles who recently left his strategy focused role to take the role of team boss at Williams.
Our hopes and expectations are always to be capable of fighting for a World Championship. However, our competitors were very strong last year, and we are playing catch-up. Racing at the front requires resilience, teamwork, and determination. We face up to every challenge, we put the team first, and we will leave no stone unturned in the chase for every millisecond. This year, we are going all in to get back in front. We were overweight last year. This year we have tried to figure out where we can squeeze out every single gram. So now, history repeats itself. You will see that the car has some raw carbon bits, along with some that are painted matte black. Of course, when we changed the livery in 2020 the main driving factor was to support the diversity and equality causes which are always close to our heart. The colour black became part of our DNA at that point, so we are pleased to return to it.
Ferrari kept the launch season moving at speed as they unveiled their latest challenger, the SF-23 during a special presentation from the team’s Maranello headquarters.
Following Monday’s reveals from McLaren and Aston Martin, it was Ferrari’s turn to show off their 2023 creation, which unsurprisingly sports another red-dominated livery.
Present to oversee launch proceedings was new Team Principal Frederic Vasseur, who arrived at Ferrari from Alfa Romeo over the winter – replacement for Mattia Binotto.
The new season is fast approaching, Vasseur is working to address the problems that ended the Italian’s team hopes of beating rivals Red Bull to title glory in 2022, with unreliability, strategic blunders and driver errors all playing a part to their downfall.
Ferrari last won an F1 title back in 2008, when they claimed the constructors’ crown, whilst their last drivers’ championship was achieved with Kimi Raikkonen during the previous season.
It’s always emotional for a team to do the launch. My contribution is very small on this one, but I can perfectly feel the work done on the car. Now it will be a new journey for the project, because the car will move to the race team. It’s a great feeling; when you are back on track, it’s like when you are back at school. I can feel that everybody is very proud of the job done and this feeling is very important for the motivation of everybody and for the season. It will be a quite long season, but the motivation is there and it’s crucial in terms of performance.
Aston Martin unveiled their 2023 Formula 1 car, the AMR23 at their new Silverstone headquarters, their third F1 car since the famous British brand returned in 2021.
The team have called the AMR23 a considerable evolution of last year’s AMR22, which saw them finish seventh in the constructors’ championship but equal on points with Alfa Romeo.
Aston Martin made clear that the new car has a “heavily revised” front wing, new sidepods and a new engine cover with a bigger inlet on the roll hoop. It will be driven this year by Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso who joins from Alpine.
The AMR23 will be taking to the track on February 15th for a filming day at Silverstone, where both drivers will run the car.
I have always said that I could see the ambition that shines bright at AMF1. And, as we launch the car in this brand-new factory, I think everyone can now see the scale of the ambition and determination at the heart of this organisation. Just as important is the car – and the AMR23 looks incredibly neatly packaged and highly efficient. I was pleasantly surprised when I sampled last year’s car for the very first time, and I think there is plenty of performance we can unlock together. I can’t wait to get started.
Two time Champ, Fernando Alonso.
Looking at AMR23, I can see lots of new thinking and some aggressive work around the packaging and aerodynamics that should really help us out as we head into year two of these new rules. I’m massively looking forward to working with Fernando. I’ve always got along very well with him – and it will be fantastic to race alongside him.
McLaren have released their 2023 F1 challenger, the MCL60 during a launch presentation at their Technology Centre with the new livery featuring even more papaya orange for a special anniversary year for the team.
In 2023, McLaren will be celebrating 60 years since legendary New Zealand racer, Bruce McLaren founded the team and, as an initial tribute, opted to jump straight from last season’s MCL36 to MCL60 with the naming of their latest car.
At the launch, was four of the most important people, McLaren CEO, Zak Brown as well as new Team Principal, Andrea Stella who steps up from his previous position of Racing Director. Along with Lando Norris, and his new team mate Oscar Piastri who arrives into F1 as an F2 and F3 champion.
In addition to papaya orange, blue elements remain on McLaren’s livery colours first carried by the outfit in the 1960’s, before then making a popular return in 2018.
When the new season begins, McLaren will be looking to turn their recent decline into something else, as they fell from third to fifth in the constructors’ standings in the space of two campaigns.
We are delighted to launch our 2023 Formula 1 team with Lando and Oscar at the wheel as we celebrate 60 years of McLaren Racing. This year’s driver line-up is extremely exciting as Lando, an intelligent and confident driver with excellent pace, is joined by one of the biggest up-and-coming talents in motorsport with Oscar. 2022 was a challenging season in our continued effort to push towards the front of the grid. We learnt a lot which has been taken into the off-season as the entire team works hard to prepare for another year. Under the guidance of Andrea Stella, who moved into the position of Team Principal in December 2022, we have an excellent team to spearhead the 2023 season and can look forward to seeing our young driver duo continue to grow their partnership throughout the upcoming campaign. We’re now looking forward to heading back to being on track in Bahrain. It’ll be great to see the MCL60 in action ahead of the 2023 season. Let’s go racing!
Alpha Tauri have become the latest F1 team to launch their 2023 season, showing off their livery that will adorn the yet to be presented AT04 challenger during a special event in New York.
Long time team boss, Franz Tost, continuing driver Yuki Tsunoda and new arrival Nyck de Vries were all on hand for Saturday’s reveal, which followed Red Bull’s own season launch in the Big Apple a week ago.
Coinciding with New York’s famous Fashion Week, the launch represented a perfect fit for the Alpha Tauri fashion brand, who are owned by Red Bull and replaced Toro Rosso as the Faenza squad’s official name in 2020.
In a stylish unveiling. Alpha Tauri presented a now traditional deep blue and white colour scheme for their new car, which is powered by Honda engines running under the Red Bull powertrains.
However, red highlights now complement the palette courtesy of Polish oil refiner and petrol retailer, ORLEN having moved across from rivals Alfa Romeo.
Alpha Tauri head into the new season looking to turn their recent F1 fortunes around, having slipped from sixth in the 2021 constructors’ standings to ninth in 2022, when all new technical regulations come into play.
Jenzer Motorsport have announced that Taylor Barnard completes their all-rookie driver line-up for the 2023 Formula 3 campaign.
The British racer makes the step up off the back of finishing runner-up in the German ADAC Formula 4 Championship, with five wins and a further five podiums to his name.
Banard made his single-seater debut in 2020 with a partial campaign in Italian F4 before making a full-time switch to German F4 the next year. 2022 saw the 18 year-old finish ninth in Formula 4 UAE, which he followed up with a dual campaign in both Italian and German F4, finishing eighth and second respectively.
The Brit got his first taste of F3 machinery during the post-season test in Jerez last year, recording four top 10 finishes, including topping the final session of running.
Ahead of pre-season testing in Sakhir in a fortnight’s time, Barnard is currently competing in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship where he currently sits second, with two race wins and two further podiums.
I am very happy to continue working with Jenzer Motorsport after a successful test in Jerez. We’ve made good progress over the winter and I’m more than pleased to start the FIA Formula 3 season! This is by far the biggest step in my career and it will be a challenge, but definitely one I’m up for! I would like to thank everyone at PHM Racing for this great opportunity that will make it possible for me to drive at Jenzer Motorsport in 2023.
Barnard on his new seat.
We got to know Taylor as a very bright driver who doesn’t need long to feel good on a new track. This ability will be a huge asset for him given the limited track time in FIA F3 racing events. Taylor immediately shows strong pace and a quick adaptation, although of course it is clear that there is a learning curve for him to do, too. In any case, we are looking forward to the new season together with our drivers very positively.
PREMA Racing have announced that Filipino driver, Bianca Bustamante is the first driver in their three-car line up for the F1 Academy season.
Bustamante made her single-seater debut last year, competing in W Series, scoaring points in her first race with a ninth-place finish in Miami.
The 18 year old went on to end the season 15th in the drivers’ standings, claiming the top rookie honours.
Bustamante is currently competing in the Formula 4 UAE Championship with PREMA ahead of her debut in the all-female series, where she scored her first points of the season at the third round in Kuwait.
I’m very excited to be joining PREMA for the 2023 season. As a rookie in formula cars, 2022 was a year full of challenges, but today is definitely a big step up in my career. PREMA is one of the most prestigious racing organisations in the world, and I’m incredibly grateful to join their family of drivers. With PREMA, I’m joining a top driver development programme both on and off the race track, and most importantly, I will have a rigorous race and test programme, giving me the much-needed seat time to perform at my best in competition. Thank you PREMA for bringing me into the programme, and Formula 1 for launching this series to support young female drivers. Most importantly, thanks to Laurence Escalante for believing in me and supporting my journey, getting me one step closer to my F1 dreams.
Bustamante on her seat.
We are happy to announce Bianca for our new F1 Academy programme. We enjoy working together in the F4 UAE Championship and we feel there is great potential we can build on for the future. I think she will be an outstanding fit right from the start, especially considering what she was able to achieve in her first experiences, and we are determined to provide her with our best support.
The 2022/23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will be making an historic debut in India this weekend, with the city of Hyderabad playing host to Round 4 of Season 9.
After a pair of storming night races in Diriyah produced a new standings leader and an overtaking masterclass across the second and third rounds of the season. The Hyderabad E-Prix Round 4 provides the next instalment of the Gen3 era and becomes the series’ 30th race location.
The fourth race of the season, will be held on what is billed as India’s first street circuit, around the shores of the Hussain Sagar lake and by the NTR Gardens.
A lap of the Hyderabad Street Circuit starts with a high speed lakeside run along the heart-shaped Hussain Sagar lake, before heading towards the first of the key overtaking sports at the Turn 3 hairpin.
From here the track loops back round from Lumbini Park, where a quick right-left flick launches the pack down a short straight to a sharp left-hander that feeds into a tricky tree-lined series of turns. The final sector sees a short run into a 90-degree right-left chicane, then it’s just a right at the roundabout before the run to the finish line.
The passionate support will have home team, Mahindra Racing to cheer on, with 2017/17 Formula E Champion Lucas di Grassi and teammate Oliver Rowland in the cockpit for the Indian squad.
It is important for us to have a good race in India – not only for the fans, but for the championship as well. It’s a new track for us, as it is for everyone up and down the grid. It needs to be a good weekend for us. We are going to try very hard and push to the limit to get the best out of the car. We can’t wait to see all the Indian fans out in force to support us and we want to give them a good show.
Di Grassi on this weekend.
Heading into Hyderabad we know where we need to improve following a difficult weekend in Diriyah. Having the home fans behind us will add to the motivation we have racing on the team’s home ground. We know they will be fully behind us and supporting us, which will give us the extra push to perform well.
Ferrari have named a group of four F1 reserve and development drivers who will be providing support to full-time races, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz during the 2023 season.
Former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi and 2021 F2 runner-up Robert Shwartzman who have both made several F1 test outings with Ferrari – will be sharing the role of reserve driver, whilst making the most of a new simulator.
Giovinazzi has 62 F1 starts to his name, initially making two substitute appearances for Sauber in early 2017 before competing the full 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons alongside Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo.
Shwartzman finished second to new McLaren F1 racer Oscar Piastri in F2, as well as making FP1 appearances for Ferrari in the United States and Abu Dhabi towards the end of the 2022 F1 season.
Alongside them, GP3 and F2 race winner Antonio Fuoco and GT star Davide Rigon will act as development drivers, with Ferrari noting that the pair have proved their worth in terms of providing the engineers with precise and reliable feedback through their simulator duties.
All four drivers will be taking on racing programmes in 2023 alongside their F1 roles, with Giovinazzi and Fuoco recently confirmed to be taking on the World Endurance Championship in the 499P Hypercar.
Meanwhile, Shwartzman and Rigon will be racing the new 296 GT3; Shwartzman in the SRO GT World Challenge Europe and Rigon in the SRO series as well as WEC and the IMSA Endurance Cup.
Jenzer Motorsport have confirmed Nikita Bedrin as their second driver for the upcoming F3 season, with him becoming the 15th rookie announced for the 2023 grid.
The 17 year old made the step up to single-seaters in 2021 following a successful karting career, in which he claimed the WSK Super Masters Series OK class title in 2020. The following year saw him compete in the UAE, German ADAC and Italian F4 Championships.
Returning to all three for second consecutive season in 2022, Bedrin finished fourth in the Standings in both F4 UAE and ADAC F4, achieving one win and a further five podium finishes in the German Championship.
Bedrin had his first chance to get to grips with the F3 machinery during last year’s post-season test, clocking in 184 laps across the three days in Jerez.
I’m very happy to have the opportunity to drive in the FIA F3 Championship! It is a big and important step. I’m ready to accept the challenge and make the most of it! I want to say a big thank you to PHM Racing for making it possible for me to drive at Jenzer Motorsport and for giving me this chance and believing in me. I can’t wait to start and I’m really looking forward to it!
Bedrin on his 2023 seat.
Nikita is young, talented and ambitious. We will work with him on his consistency and think he can surprise with very good results. In the post-season test in Jerez last autumn, he already did well with the powerful FIA F3 racing machine, which was new to him. We are looking forward to the season with him and are happy to start soon.
Leah Buhler has become the first driver announced to be racing in the F1 Academy – Formula 1’s new all female driver series – with confirmation that she will join ART Grand Prix.
The 25 year old racer first began competing in BMX at an international level, before switching over to karting in 2016. Four years later, Buhler made her single-seater debut, claiming six top 10 finishes in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship.
She then became the first female driver to race in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2021, recording a best result of 20th, but was forced to end her second campaign early last year.
Buhler is currently driving in the Formula 4 UAE Championship ahead of her F1 Academy debut.
The first of ART’s trio of drivers to be announced, Buhler will be competing in a 15 car grid with Campos Racing, Carlin, MP Motorsport and PREMA Racing also all fielding three cars each.
It’s with great pleasure that I will be able to discover the first F1 Academy championship and even more so with ART Grand Prix, a team with a fantastic record. It will be a great challenge for me and for the team as we learn more about this new single-seater. I am looking forward to coming to grips with it. This will only be my fourth year in motorsport and I still have a lot to learn, but I am ready to give 100% both mentally and physically to honour the trust ART Grand Prix has in me, together with that of my partners, without whom this adventure would not be possible.
Buhler on her seat.
We are happy to welcome Lena to our team. She will be one of the first 15 drivers to write her name in the history books of the F1 Academy. This corresponds perfectly to the philosophy of ART Grand Prix, which is to help young drivers climb the ladder of the junior formulas which lead to the highest level of motorsport. The team will do everything sportingly, humanly and technically possible to take up this new historic challenge with Lena.
Alfa Romeo have presented their new car for the F1 season, the C43 with a bold red and black livery taking over from the red and white colour scheme used during recent campaigns.
Described as “aggressive on and below the skin” the car was unveiled to work in a joint presentation in Zurich and at the outfit’s headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland by continuing team mates Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, who combined to secure P6 in last year’s constructors’ standings.
At the same time, a series of CGI images and videos released on Alfa Romeo’s social media channels showed the C43 coming together piece by piece, whilst Augmented Reality enabled fans to bring the launch experience into their own homes.
New title sponsor Stake take centre stage on the livery, which will be the last to feature Alfa Romeo branding as the company prepare to end their sponsorship deal ahead of Audi joining forces with the Sauber-run operation.
Alfa Romeo’s new car is set to hit the track for a shakedown session in Barcelona this week, before heading to Bahrain for pre-season testing.
Bringing a car to life is a long process which touches every department of a racing team, therefore it’s a moment of great pride to see it unveiled today. We chose to do it in front of our fans, close to our home, because the launch of a new car is not only a moment to state your objectives for the season ahead; it’s also a time to give back to the people who have supported you, be it in the grandstands, in front of the TV or back at the factory, and express our gratitude for their passion and their belief in our project. Our new car is the result of months of work, but today is just the beginning of a journey. We need to keep working hard, with humility and dedication, to bring performance to the track. Everyone in the team is committed to this target and I am confident we will reap the rewards of our work.
Alunni Bravi, speaking of the launch.
I am very proud of what we have achieved over these last months, because creating a new car is always a massive effort from the team. This car is an evolution of last year, reflecting the new regulations and introducing major changes in the areas where we found improvements to be needed. I hope it’s going to be quicker than the successful car we had last year, that’s what matters most, and more reliable as well. We have put a lot of effort in this direction. Now, it’s time to get to the track and see how this car performs. I’m happy to get back to racing and I’m confident there will be much more to come from us soon.
Williams have shown off the eye-catching matte livery that will adorn their FW45 challenger during the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship.
In a special unveiling ceremony at the Grove headquarters in the UK, Williams revealed their new look in the presence of the refreshed driver line-up of American rookie Logan Sargeant and incumbent driver, Alex Albon – with the team also announcing oil company Gulf as a new sponsor, along with other new partners.
Not only will the team have a rookie driver, but they will head into the 2023 season with a rookie Team principal as well, with James Vowles moving over from his role as Motorsport Strategy Director at Mercedes to take the reins at Williams.
Vowles is set to begin work at Grove on February 20th, three days before the drivers begin 2023 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.
With the physical Williams FW45 set to hit the track at Silverstone shakedown on February 13th, the team confirmed that they had ‘taken the opportunity to heavily evolve the side concept’ on the new car thanks to ‘optimising the power unit cooling layout’ – in which Williams continue with Mercedes power for a 10th consecutive season.
The team also promised that the FW45 would be more aerodynamically efficient than its FW44 predecessor, with modifications to the front suspension layout and major external aerodynamic surfaces also incorporated into the new machine’s design.
The team has worked really hard last year and over the winter to address some key areas in our car, putting in the work to try and maximise what we get out of the car for 2023, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the FW45 can do. We also welcome new partners to the team this year, so it’s great to have them onboard.
Albon on 2023.
I’m really excited for the season to get started after what, for me, feels like a long winter! I’m super motivated and we’ve put a lot of hard work in. The car is looking amazing and it shows the huge effort the team has put in the off season, so I’m looking forward to getting started at Silverstone before heading out to Bahrain.
Sargeant on his rookie F1 season.
As Williams Racing continues its transformation, we’re proud to unveil this year’s livery. We are excited about this year’s car, and I cannot thank the entire team at Grove enough for their hard work to get ready for the season. I am delighted to welcome both new and existing partners to our journey. With our new Team Principal James Vowles joining us later this month, as well as our exciting driver line up of Alex and Logan, Williams Racing will be giving its all in 2023.
Matthew Savage, Williams Racing Chairman of the Board.
Alejandro Garcia will be racing with Jenzer Motorsport in the FIA Formula 3 Championship this year. The Mexican driver is the first of the team’s three drivers to be confirmed for the upcoming season.
The 19 year old graduated from karting to single-seater racing in 2018, competing in the NACAM Formula 4 Championship and securing three podium finishes as a rookie.
A switch to Spanish F4 in 2020 followed and he competed in a further season there in 2021. Last year, Garcia raced in the Euroformula Open Championship, ending the campaign seventh in the Drivers’ Standings.
He also took part in FIA F3 post-season testing with Jenzer last year, notching up 174 laps in Jerez.
I am very pleased to be racing in FIA Formula 3 with Jenzer Motorsport this season. I am really looking forward to work on my development as a driver to achieve good results throughout the season, I am really looking forward to make the most out of what will surely be a challenging season, with a steep learning curve. I would specially like to thank my Sponsors, Family and Management for this opportunity and I can’t wait to get started with official testing in Bahrain!
Garcia on his new seat.
Alejandro is a rookie in FIA F3 this season, and as we know well from experience, this can be hard at times. Alejandro’s step into this ultra-competitive environment will be a big challenge. We will work hard together and look forward to be on track in Bahrain.
American automotive giants Ford have confirmed their intention to make a Formula 1 comeback when the new engine regulations are introduced in 2026, meaning another chapter will be added to the American organisation’s rich history.
Ford’s involvement in F1 stretches all the way back to the 1960s and the DFV (Double Four Value) engine, built in partnership with British engineering firm Cosworth, which took 155 wins from 262 races between 1967 and 1985.
From their first title wins with Graham Hill and Lotus in 1968 to their most recent with Michael Schumacher and Benetton in 1994, Ford have played a part in 10 constructors’ championships and 13 drivers’ championships – which make them the third most successful engine manufacturer in F1 history!
Some 20 years on from their last participation, the appeal of F1’s future engine regulations – featuring increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels – will see Ford grace the grid once again.
The news today that Ford is coming to Formula 1 from 2026 is great for the sport and we are excited to see them join the incredible automotive partners already in Formula 1. Ford is a global brand with an incredible heritage in racing and the automotive world and they see the huge value that our platform provides with over half a billion fans around the world. Our commitment to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and to introduce sustainable fuels in the F1 cars from 2026 is also an important reason for their decision to enter F1. We believe that our sport provides the opportunity and reach unlike any other and we cannot wait for the Ford logo to be racing round F1’s iconic circuits from 2026.
Stefano Domenicali on the news.
This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather [Henry Ford] won a race that helped launch our company. Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.
Bill Ford Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company.
After confirming that Ford will be returning, Ford then revealed at Red Bull’s launch that they are partnering up for “a long-term strategic technical partnership” with Red Bull Powertrains, ahead of the sport’s new regulations coming into play.
Starting in 2023, Ford and Red Bull Powertrains – the Milton Keynes team’s dedicated engine division – will develop a next-gen power unit to supply both Red Bull Racing and the sister Alpha Tauri operation from 2026 until at least 2030.
Ford’s return to Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing is all about where we are going as a company – increasingly electric, software-defined, modern vehicles and experiences. F1 will be an incredibly cost-effective platform to innovate, share ideas and technologies, and engage with tens of millions of new customers.
Jim Farley, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company.
It’s fantastic to be welcoming Ford back into Formula 1 through this partnership. As an independent engine manufacturer to have the ability to benefit from an OEM’s experience like Ford puts us in good stead against the competition. They are a manufacturer rich in motoring history that spans generations. From Jim Clark to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, the lineage speaks for itself. For us as Red Bull Powertrains to open the next chapter of that dynasty, as Red Bull Ford, is tremendously exciting. 2026 is still a while a way but for us the work already starts as we look to a new future and a continued evolution of Oracle Red Bull Racing.
Alfa Romeo have announced entertainment and lifestyle brand Stake as their new title sponsor, meaning the team will have an altered team name and logo for the upcoming F1 campaign.
Stake were founded in 2017, and have since built up a strong presence in the sporting world, with the Sauber-run Alfa team announcing the “record breaking” partnership would run for 2023 “and beyond”.
Fans will be able to see the visual results of the tie-up when Alfa Romeo launch their latest F1 car to the world in Zurich on February 7th.
We welcome Stake as a new co-title partner for the team in what represents the start of a new era for us both. Formula 1 has seen a huge increase in interest over the last few years and the arrival of brands such as Stake are representative of the massive exposure our sport can offer. We are excited to join such a portfolio of sports and entertainment brands and we’re looking forward to the activation programme that Stake will unveil for our fans.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi on the news.
Meanwhile, former Alfa Romeo title sponsor ORLEN – a Polish oil refiner and petrol retailer – have struck up a new deal with AlphaTauri to become a ‘Principal Partner’ of the squad.
ORLEN’s branding is set to feature on “multiple prime locations” of the AT04, the livery for which will be revealed in New York on February 11th.
ORLEN are one of the leading oil and gas companies in Central Europe and this partnership will allow them to further increase their brand awareness, through the global platforms we offer as a team. I’m looking forward to seeing their logo featured on our new car at the launch in New York City next month and also how this partnership progresses over the coming years
Red Bull have officially started their 2023 season, by unveiling a launch version of the RB19, the car in which they hope to defend both F1 world titles.
Red Bull assembled in New York for a so-called ‘season launch’ with Team Principal, Christian Horner alongside both drivers as well as third driver, Daniel Ricciardo.
The team showcased their 2023 look with the traditional blue, yellow and red scheme – which captures the Red Bull company’s core colours.
Red Bull head into the 2023 campaign looking to retain the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, having stormed to 17 wins from 22 races under the 2022 rules reset – 15 scored by reigning double world champion Verstappen.
It’s incredibly special to be in the Big Apple, in the US, in New York. The US is playing such a big role in F1 these days – three Grands Prix, [with] Las Vegas coming onto the calendar as well – so it seemed only fitting to unveil the RB19, and our plans for the season ahead, here. It’s going to be an incredible season. Our rivals, for sure, haven’t stood still. We’re expecting Ferrari to be competitive, Mercedes are going to be there, [and] there’s some other teams that could well make some big progress as well. This time of year, it’s all a big unknown, and it’s a question of focusing on ourselves, doing the best we can. Then in Bahrain, in a couple of weeks’ time, we’ll get to see everybody’s car and we’ll realise, ‘Have we missed something? Have we not?’ Then we set off on this 23-race journey between March and November. There’s going to be highs and lows along the way, I’m sure, but I think we’re in a good place and looking to carry on that momentum from last year.
Alfa Romeo have confirmed that Sauber Group Managing Director Alessandro Alunni Bravi will be taking on the additional role of Team Representative for the 2023 F1 campaign.
Alunni Bravi has been part of the Sauber Group, who run the Alfa Romeo F1 entry – since 2017 and is now set to represent the team in all functions at race weekends and away from track. This follows as Andreas Seidl was appointed CEO of the Sauber Group.
A Sauber press release added that Alunni Bravi will be ‘working together with the technical and operational departments to continue the team’s growth and success’.
Alfa Romeo edged out Aston Martin for P6 in the 2022 constructors standings with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu remaining as their two drivers for the upcoming season.
I want to thank Andreas and our shareholders for their trust, and I want to reiterate my commitment to giving my best to live up to their expectations and represent the team in the best possible way. It is a huge privilege to keep working with a group of incredible people who, over many years, have helped me integrate within the Sauber Group: what they gave me in this time will enable me to fulfil this task and represent the team according to our shared vision and our objectives. I am fully conscious of the work we have ahead of us and of the challenges that face us: I approach this task with humility, knowing I am part of a strong team that will get the job done, and with the belief we have everything we need for a successful future.
Alunni on his new role.
I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Alessandro Alunni Bravi to the role of Team Representative, in addition to his existing duties of Managing Director of the Group. His vast experience in motorsport has equipped him with all the tools he needs to succeed, and his intimate knowledge of the team, of which he has been part for more than five years, will ensure stability and continuity in our progression. Alessandro representing the team during the Formula 1 championship will allow me to focus on growing the Group and preparing for the challenges and opportunities that await us. I thank Alessandro for his belief in our vision and I welcome him to this additional position. I am convinced this is another valuable addition to what is without any doubt a very strong team, from the drivers to the management team, to each one of our employees, capable of building on last year’s success and creating a bright future for Sauber.
The Formula 2 grid is now complete as MP Motorsport have announced that Jehan Daruvala will be joining the reigning Drivers’ and Teams’ Champions for the 2023 season.
The 24 year old has claimed victory in every F2 season, he’s competed in since his debut in 2020, with four wins and 15 podiums to his name.
After two seasons at Carlin, Daruvala moved to PREMA Racing last season and went on to finish seventh in the Standings for the second consecutive season.
Swapping from PREMA to MP, the Indian driver will be reunited with 2022 teammate Dennis Hauger for the 2023 season. The pair both completed post-season testing with the Dutch squad, with Daruvala clocking in the second fastest time of Day 2’s morning session at the Yas Marina circuit.
I’m really pleased to be back in FIA Formula 2, and to be able to team up with MP Motorsport makes it extra special. Last year, I was stunned by MP’s remarkably consistent front-running pace, and in 2023 I hope to be the beneficiary of that myself! Together with Dennis, I’m confident that our combined experience and speed will contribute to MP fighting for wins once again. I really enjoyed working with the team in the post-season test and look forward to 2023 testing and the season that lies ahead.
Daruvala on his new seat.
At MP, we are delighted to welcome Jehan to our FIA F2 team. He has been a consistent frontrunner right from his debut in the category, taking wins in every F2 season he has competed in. His experience will be of great value to the team, so we are very much aiming for a repeat of last year’s form. Also, matching him up with Dennis will allow us to build on a smooth cooperation between teammates who already know each other well. With such a strong driver pairing for 2023, I can’t wait to go racing!
Campos Racing have confirmed Hugh Barter will be graduating to FIA Formula 3 this season with the Spanish team. The 17 year old is the second driver confirmed as part of Campos’ 2023 line up.
Barter will be continuing his journey with Campos after racing with the team in the Spanish F4 Championship last year. He claimed six wins and seven further podium finishes whilst in the French Formula Academy, he won 10 races. Barter finished both campaigns second in each respective series.
He took part in post-season testing last year with Campos, getting his first laps in the FIA F3 car on days two and three. He totalled 63 laps across both days.
Ahead of testing and the first round of the 2023 season in Sakhir, Bahrain, Campos Racing Team Principal Adrian Campos said that Barter was a talent and would be able to fight in the Championship quickly.
We are proud to continue working with Hugh (Barter) after a 2022 season with plenty of success. The Formula 3 championship is yet a more difficult challenge but we feel confident as he is a very talented driver with excellent skills. We really hope he will be able to quickly learn with our support and experience in order to end the season fighting for top results.
Adrian Campos on Barter.
I’m very happy to announce that I’ll be doing F3 with Campos Racing this year. It’ll be good to keep the relationship going after a strong season with them in Formula 4 so I look forward to it. I would also like to thank my main sponsor Platinum High Integrity Technologies Limited because without them it would not be possible.
Haas have become the first team to present their colour for the upcoming 2023 season, revealing a slick new livery that will adorn the VF-23 via a series of digital renders published on Tuesday.
Rather than a full-scale launch, Haas opted to showcase their livery for this season on a 2022-style virtual model, with the team’s new car – which will be driven by Kevin Magnussen and new team mate Nico Hulkenberg.
Replacing the recent white base seen on Haas’s 2021 and 2022 challengers, black is now the main colour, whilst flashes of white have been retained alongside some red highlights – which draws comparisons to their 2020 design.
Haas will be entering the 2023 campaign looking to continue their recent upward trajectory, having moved off the foot of the F1 constructors’ standings to eighth position under last year’s rules reset.
I was very pleased to welcome MoneyGram as title partner for the 2023 season and beyond, and it’s exciting to see our first livery unveiled together as MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. We head into a new season buoyed by some strong team performances last year and a return to points paying finishes. The aim for the 2023 season is naturally to do that more consistently and with Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg I certainly believe we’ve got an experienced driver pairing more than capable of delivering those points on a Sunday.
Gene Haas, commenting on the digital launch.
I obviously share everyone’s enthusiasm around the livery unveil, not least as it’s a checkpoint in the pre-season calendar which means we’re another step closer to doing the thing we actually want to be doing – and that’s go racing. I like the livery, it’s undoubtedly a more elevated and modernised look which is fitting as we move into a new era alongside MoneyGram as our title partner. It’s an exciting time of year for Formula 1 and it’s great that we’re first out the gate to showcase our livery but our attention is firmly on getting the VF-23 on-track and preparing for the season ahead. We really have something to build on following last year’s performances.It’s an exciting time of year for Formula 1 and it’s great that we’re first out the gate to showcase our livery but our attention is firmly on getting the VF-23 on-track and preparing for the season ahead. We really have something to build on following last year’s performances. The whole organisation has been working hard to reach this point and obviously in Kevin and Nico we have two proven points-scoring talents locked in behind the wheel. I can’t wait to get started.
Round 2 is complete, lets take a look at all the action from our first race of the double header.
FP1-
A little bit of rain didn’t dampen an action-packed Free Practice 1, with Jaguar TCS Racing’s Sam Bird topping the timesheets.
Less than a second split the top 10 runners, with DS PENSKE’s Jean-Eric Vergne slotting himself into second and his teammate Stoffel Vandoorne placing himself in fourth. Mitch Evans crossed the line third to make it a one-three result for team.
There was early drama as Rast was attempting to pass the reigning champion, but ended up making contact with Vandoorne’s car.
FP2-
Dan Ticktum led the pack with a time of 1m 10.099s – the first time he’s topped a Formula E session. The Briton also made an impressive 0.202s gap to Envision Racing’s Sebastien Buemi in second place behind.
The Jaguar TCS Racing powertains looked strong, Mitch Evans crossed the chequered flag third, and teammate Sam Bird followed in fifth.
Unfortunately for the ABT CUPRA of Nico Mueller, his session was brought to a half after whacking his Gen3 machine into a barrier. The heavy damage, which was sustained to the rear left of the car, saw him immediately forced to pull over and come to a stop.
Qualifying-
Envision Racing’s Sebastien Buemi fired to Julius Baer Pole Position for his 100th Formula E race at the CORE Diriyah E-Prix – Round 2, as he beat rookie, Jake Hughes at the last minute.
Hughes was told to push harder on his outlap to get the temperature up to a more optimal temp, he earlier pipped third-placed Dan Ticktum in the NIO 333 and Lucas Di Grassi (in the quarters).
Hughes hung it all out on his hot lap and over the half way point of the lap there was nothing between either driver… The McLaren racer pulled it out of the bag over the final sector to fend of a determined Buemi but the Swiss bit back, as he went ahead with a perfect Sector 3.
Round 2-
Pascal Wehrlein stormed from ninth to the race win in the 2023 Diriyah E-Prix Round 2, with standings leader Jake Dennis following home in second after working his way through the pack aswell.
The move for the lead came on Lap 30 at Turn 16, with Bird unable to hold back Wehrlein – both driver and car looking monstrous for a second race on the spin.
Dennis in the Porsche-powered Avalanche Andretti took the fight all the way to the line all the way back in 11th on the grid but he couldn’t find a way past the race leader.
Sam Bird was overjoyed to make the podium for the first time since winning in New York City back in Season 7 – calling it a ‘mini victory’ for himself and Jaguar after a tough Season 8 for the Brit.
The full top 10 are: P1: Wehrlein, P2: Dennis, P3: Bird, P4: Buemi, P5: Rast, P6: Cassidy, P7: Vergne, P8: Hughes, P9: Lotterer and P10: Evans.
Victor Martins will be stepping up to Formula 2 this year with ART Grand Prix, with the Frenchman lining up alongside Theo Pourchaire, completing the team’s line up for 2023.
He arrives following Formula 3 title success last season as the reigning Champion. Martins claimed two victories in 2022 and a further four podiums in his second year of FIA F3.
The 21 year old also claimed the Formula Renault Eurocup title with ART back in 2020, scoring seven wins and 10 poles that year.
The Frenchman took part in post-season testing with ART at Yas Marina last year, getting to grips with the F2 car for the first time.
Martins said he was looking forward to the challenge of Formula 2 and is confident in his capabilities for what will be his rookie campaign.
The 2023 season will be exciting and motivating. After a successful year with ART Grand Prix, I was not considering taking the next step with any other team. I can’t wait to discover the Formula 2 championship, which is tough and competitive, with such a professional and experienced team. The tests made it possible to remove what little doubts I might have had about my adaptation because I felt comfortable and confident. My objective will therefore be to do everything possible to win the title in my first year. With ART Grand Prix, I have all the tools to have big ambitions.
Martins on his seat.
Taking up the challenge of Formula 2 in 2023 with Victor is a logical continuation after an intense year which concluded with the first ART Grand Prix title in the modern era of F3. Victor made enormous progress in 2022 and has proven that in both difficult personal and sporting conditions, he has the mental strength and the talent to achieve great things at the highest level of motorsport. The Abu Dhabi tests confirmed his ability to adapt quickly and well to his new single-seater. His determination, his enthusiasm and his conquering spirit will be weapons in a championship where competition is fierce.
Jordan's Track Talk 