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  • De Vries, FP1 run with AM

    Nyck de Vries will be taking part in FP1 for the third time this season with a third different team, he will be taking Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin in the first practice session for the 2022 Italian Grand Prix.

    The 27 year old, ran in FP1 for Williams in place of Alex Albon at the Spanish Grand Prix, as well as subbing in for Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in France.

    As per the 2022 regulations, each team needs to allocate two practice sessions to field a driver that has not competed in two Grand Prix. Aston Martin are yet to announce who will be taking part in the remaining practice session.

    I am really looking forward to driving for AMF1, particularly at such a legendary circuit as Monza. It will be my third FP1 session of the season, and in the third different Formula 1 chassis, and these opportunities have given me a fantastic insight into how Formula 1 cars and teams function and operate. I hope I can bring a fresh perspective to the AMF1 team and can undertake a run-programme that proves beneficial to us both.

    Nyck de Vries on his FP1 session.

    We are delighted to welcome Nyck to our team, and we look forward to working with him at Monza. I have watched Nyck’s career with great interest – he drove brilliantly to win the Formula 2 title in 2019 and underlined his class by winning the Formula E World Championship in 2020/2021, so we are looking forward to gaining his perspectives and insights about our car. His achievements show that he clearly deserves a shot at Formula 1 – and, hopefully, this opportunity to get behind the wheel of the AMR22 will allow him to showcase his abilities to the wider world.

    Team Principal, Mike Krack.

  • Lotterer signs to Andretti

    Andre Lotterer will be joining Avalanche Andretti in Season 9, partnering Jake Dennis for the start of the Gen3 era of the Formula E World Championship.

    With five seasons in Formula E, three of which came at the wheel of the works TAG Heuer Porsche where the German scored four second place finishes, he now switches to the American-run outfit who will be getting powered by the Stuttgart squad.

    The 40 year old from Duisburg has had a storied motorsport career. On top of a total of eight podiums in Formula E he also boasts success in Japan with title success in Super GT and Super Formula, alongside an impressive endurance racing career, securing the World Endurance Championship in 2012 and winning the historic 24 Houre of Le Mans three times.

    I’m excited to be joining Avalanche Andretti for Season 9 and the start of the Gen3 era. Working together with Jake [Dennis] will be a great combination to continue to push the team to the front of the field in Formula E.

    Andre Lotterer on joining Andretti.

    We’re always building to be at the front of each series we compete in. Andre is bringing a wealth of experience to Avalanche Andretti and is another step in creating a team that can challenge for wins and the World Championship. We are looking forward to him joining alongside Jake to create a competitive and exciting line up.

    Andretti on the new signing.

  • Monza Tyre Allocation

    It’s a big weekend for both F1 and Pirelli as we are in Monza at the Temple of Speed. As well as Pirelli enjoy their 150 year anniversary at home.

    But, onto other matters, Pirelli have chosen the tyres for this weekend which are- C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium), C4 (Soft).

    Eliminating the natural understeer tendency of the current cars is a challenge at the slow corners in Monza, with a strong rear end needed to achieve a perfect balance through the fast sections.

    Traction is important to ensure a good drive into the flat out straights from the slower and more technical parts of the circuit: another well known characteristic of Monza.

    The low downforce settings with a specific low-drag package, means that the focus is more on mechanical grip from the tyres.

    t’s a big event for us as we enjoy our 150-year anniversary at home, where Monza also celebrates its first century! So we are looking forward to a big festival of motorsport in Italy, which we can rightly feel very proud of as we equip the most sophisticated and efficient cars in Formula 1 history with 18-inch tyres. Monza is well-known for its high speeds and some fast corners where it’s important to have a car with perfect balance. This year’s tyres should lead to less overheating at the rear on a track where the cars run low downforce and often use slipstreaming to gain a tow. With no sprint race in Monza this year, the teams will head into the grand prix with a bit less information than last time, which means that the strategic approach will be somewhat different.

    Mario Isla, Motorsport Director.

    Formula 2-

    The Medium and Soft tyres are nominated for Formula 2 this weekend. Each driver has five sets of slick tyres to use across the race weekend. The Sprint Race will be lasting 21 laps, and the Feature Race on Sunday is 30 laps.

    Formula 3-

    Drivers have three new sets of Soft tyres, plus another set of mediums carried over from the previous round. The Sprint Race is 18 laps and the Feature Race 22 laps.

  • F2 & F3 to use sustainable fuels from 2023

    Formula Motorsport Limited (FML) have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Formula 1 Global Partner, Aramco to introduce the use of sustainable fuels in both championships from 2023.

    It demonstrates how the FIA Forula 2 and Formula 3 Championships are pioneers in this important area of development, whilst continuing to bring the FIA Formula One World Champions of the future through the single-seater pyramid.

    The agreement is subject to FIA World Motor Sport Council approval. It will form part of the wider sustainability strategy announced by the FIA and Formula 1 which will see the sport become net zero carbon by 2030.

    By 2026, all FIA Championships will be required by regulation to power their cars with 100% sustainable fuels. A key milestone in the journey will be the introduction of a 100% sustainable fuel from the 2026 F1 season, alongside the next generation hybrid power units.

    Sustainability is at the top of the global motor sport agenda, and it is vital to see this work not only going on in Formula 1, but also in Formula 2, Formula 3 and throughout the entire ecosystem. Our sport is developing and evolving rapidly and it will continue to lead the way, pioneering the technologies, including sustainable fuels, that will be crucial to tackle climate change. We are a key part of the solution to the problems we are facing worldwide, and the partnership is going to bring huge benefits to the sport and to the wider industry.

    Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President.

    Aramco is a leader in this space and, subject to the approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council, will deliver our sustainable fuel ambitions, working closely with our colleagues in F2 and F3, who not only bring through the drivers of the future but offer a superb testing ground for the latest engineering in motorsport. In 2026, F1 will move to zero-emission sustainable fuel that offers a game-changing solution for the automotive sector and beyond. With the support of Aramco and all our manufacturers, we can accelerate the sector’s move to net zero.

    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO Formula 1.

    Sustainability is a top priority in today’s world, and we have been working on making our sport more sustainable for some time now. The goal to switch to synthetic fuel can only be achieved through the partnership with a company of the scale of Aramco, which is determined to produce advanced sustainable fuel in the near future. It’s easier to implement such a significant change in F2 and in F3, as they are single-make categories with single suppliers. We’re very happy to undertake an innovation role – as we did last season with the introduction of the 18-inch tires now used in F1 – and take the first steps towards synthetic sustainable fuel.

    Bruno Michel, CEO FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3.

  • F2 Zandvoort – Day 2 & 3

    Day 2-

    Novalak got wheelspin from his getaway and in the second phase of the launch, Armstrong claimed the lead of the race, diving down the inside into turn 1. Novalak’s attempted defence baulked Juri Vips behind him, allowing Dennis Hauger a run alongside the Estonian at Turn 2.

    Theo Pourchaire’s tricky start to the weekend got worse on Lap 2, dropping to 21st after out-braking himself at Turn 1 and running through the gravel after an attempted pass on David Beckmann for 14th.

    A big lock up for Vips with six laps to go almost opened the door to Verschoor to seize P5 at Turn 10 but the Hitech driver gathered it up before the Trident could get close enough to pass.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Armstrong, P2: Novalak, P3: Hauger, P4: Lawson, P5: Vips, P6: Iwasa, P7: Verschoor, P8: Sargeant, P9: Doohan and P10: Drugovich.

    Day 3-

    Drugovich covered off Doohan in Turn 1 but from third on the road, Logan Sargeant locked up and ropped right to the back following a trip through the gravel at the first corer.

    But at Turn 7, Sargeant’s day went from bad to worse as the Carlin driver went into the barrier as he had contact with Boschung. The barrier required repair the race was red-flagged on Lap 4.

    Doohan had DRS on Drugovich but a big lock-up from the Virtuosi Racing driver, on lap 9 into the first corner meant he had to file back in behind with a major flat spot as a result.

    The Safety Car was out once again on Lap 17 after Marino Sato found the barriers at Turn 2, with his wheel becoming detached following his pit stop. The Safety Car was withdrawn entering Lap 22 but Lawson left it as late as possible to make his getaway.

    It caught out plenty behind and contact between several driver. Doohan was one of those who got caught up in the melee, tagged by Verschoor from behind. The Virtuosi driver was out along with Novalak and Calderon – the Safety Car was deployed once more.

    Due to delays and earlier stoppage, the Feature Race went to time rather than the full 40-lap distance. After taking the lead, Drugovich was comfortable out in front and he claimed victory to put himself within touching distance of the 2022 Drivers’ Championship.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Drugovich, P2: Verschoor, P3: Iwasa, P4: Hauger, P5: Fittipaldi, P6: Cordeel, P7: Vips, P8: Beckmann, P9: Caldwell and P10: Pourchaire.

    We are back this weekend for the second to last race weekend of the season, we are in Monza for Round 13.

  • Piastri confirmed for 2023

    Oscar Piastri will be racing for McLaren, alongside Lando Norris for 2023 on a multi-year deal, following a decision of the Contract Recognition Board (CRB), which ruled that the young Australian has a valid contract with the team.

    The CRB met on Monday in relation to a dispute between McLaren and Alpine over which of the two teams held a valid contract for Piastri, the reigning F2 champion and current Alpine reserve driver- with Alpine having claimed, following the departure of Fernando Alonso to Aston Martin August that Piastri would drive for them in 2023, only for Piastri to refute that claim.

    Ahead of Friday’s free practice 2 session for the Dutch Grand Prix, the FIA announced that the tribunal had “issued a unanimous decision is that the only contract to be recognised by the board is the contract between McLaren Racing and Mr Piastri dated 4th July 2022”

    The ruling also added that: “Mr Piastri is entitled to drive for McLaren Racing for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.”

    Just after the ruling, McLaren confirmed Piastri would indeed drive for the team in 2023 on a multi-year deal in place of Ricciardo who agreed terms to leave McLaren at the end of 2022.

    I’m extremely excited to be making my F1 debut with such a prestigious team as McLaren and I’m very grateful for the opportunity that’s been offered to me. The team has a long tradition of giving young talent a chance, and I’m looking forward to working hard alongside Lando to push the team towards the front of the grid. I’m focused on preparing for my F1 debut in 2023 and starting my F1 career in papaya.

    Oscar Piastri on his move to the British team.

    The entire team is delighted to welcome Oscar to McLaren for the 2023 F1 season. He has an impressive racing career to date, and we are sure that together with Lando, he will be able to help us move another step forward towards our ambitions. We still have an important job to do this season which the team remains focused on, before we will then ensure Oscar is integrated into the team as quickly as possible and ready for the challenges ahead. We look forward to preparing for an exciting 2023 season together.

    Andreas Siedl on the move.

    BWT Alpine F1 Team thanks the Contract Recognition Board (CRB) for convening on Monday and we acknowledge the decision they have made. We consider the matter closed on our side and will announce our full 2023 driver line-up in due course. Our immediate focus is the Dutch Grand Prix and securing points in our fight for fourth in the Constructors’ Championship.

    Alpines statement on the CRB’s decision.
  • Round 15- Dutch GP

    Round 15- Dutch GP

    Well, Round 15 is complete and what a race it was! From long pit-stops to running over wheel guns, to VSC’s and then a Safety Car, there was a lot of drama…

    It wasn’t easy for Max Verstappen, but he took the race win in his home grand prix. George Russell follows closely behind to finish 2nd, his highest finishing position so far this season and for Mercedes! Charles Leclerc rounds out the podium in third, it’s been a few races since we last saw him on their!

    But the full top were- P1: Verstappen, P2: Russell, P3: Leclerc, P4: Hamilton, P5: Perez, P6: Alonso, P7: Norris, P8: Sainz, P9: Ocon and P10: Stroll.

    It looked like Mercedes would be the one who was going to the the race win, when they done their first pit stops (the only team in top 3 to be doing 1 stop strategy), both Hamilton and Russell were flying on the hard tyres, so it is one of those ‘what if’ situations, if the VSC and Safety Car didn’t come out would it be a different story?

    A good day for Leclerc, he wasn’t really in contention for a podium until after the Safety Car so good work for him and to be on it when racing resumed and overtook Lewis for the final podium spot. The same couldn’t be said for his teammate though, a very long pitstop for the Spanish driver, he also got an unsafe release in the pitlane, which resulted in a 5 second penalty, he originally finished 5th, but dropped down to 8th.

    A very good day for Alpine, considering both drivers started out of the top 10, no-one knew how this race would go today but they made the most of it and got a double points finish.

    Not a good day for either Yuki Tsunoda or Valtteri Bottas, both pulling over on the side to the track but different reasons why. Tsunoda’s reason is still unknown, he thought his tyre’s weren’t fitted, so he managed to get back round to the pits and the team fitted a new set of tyres, and then started to do something with his seatbelt? For Bottas it sounded like it was a mechanical issue.

    The Championship-

    Verstappen now has over a 100 point lead in the driver championship, Leclerc remains second but he is level on points with Sergio Perez who is in third. Russell now goes to fourth, leap frogging Sainz who sits in fifth.

    Looking at the constructors, Red Bull are on 511 points, a 135 point lead. Ferrari are still in second on 376 but Mercedes have now closed that gap down to 30 points. Alpine are in 4th on 125 points and McLaren round out the top five on 101 points.

    We haven’t got long to wait, we are back racing next weekend and we are at the Temple of Speed, Monza for Round 16. The home Grand Prix of Scuderia Ferrari!

  • F3 Zandvoort – Day 2 & 3

    Day 2-

    Dominating the front row were two black and white ART Grand Prix cars, as Correa lined up on reverse grid pole ahead of teammate Saucy, whilst O’Sullivan and Collet lay in the second row.

    In his Formula 3 race, Sebastian Montoya found himself sitting in P6 meanwhile title protagonists could be found up and down the field, with Hadjar in seventh ahead of Stanek and Crawford in ninth and tenth. The third ART of Martins lined up P11, whilst PREMA Racing’s Oliver Bearman and Arthur Leclerc started in P13 and P20.

    Collet, was ready for his opportunity to pounce on Lap 4 and take the race lead from Correa. Attempting to make the move stick around the outside of Turn 1, the Brazilian dipped his wheels across the kerbs into Turn 3.

    Things began to settle down towards the mid point of the race as the medium Pirelli compounds began to fade, leaving those who managed the yellow-walled tyres the best with the upper hand towards the latter end of the 21 lap sprint race.

    Approaching the final seven laps, Bearman’s defence came un-done with a wobble into Turn 4. The Ferrari Academy driver went over the kerbs and across the grass , dropping him behind Stanek.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Collet, P2: Correa, P3: O’Sullivan, P4: Edgar, P5: Saucy, P6: Hadjar, P7: Martins, P8: Montoya, P9: Crawford and P10: Stanek.

    Day 3-

    Martins would have been rubbing his hands with glee as the ART GP driver nailed his getaway off the line, immediately going side-by-side with Maloney up the inside of Turn 1. The Trident driver attempted to cover him off but went wide soaring over the kerbs.

    Futher back, Bearmans day went from bad to worse. A poor start saw the Ferrari Academy driver junior loosing three places at lights out, allowing Leclerc to close in on his teammate.

    With the battles showing no sign of settling down, it wasn’t long until the Safety Car made its first appearance of the weekend Lap 4. Brad Benavides was caught out by William Alatalo’s braking point into Turn 2 and sending both into the gravel and then retire.

    There was no doubt Martins was beginning to struggle. A rough looking left front tyre left him vulnerable to Colapinto behind but the Van Amersfoort driver couldn’t get past him.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Maloney, P2: Martins, P3: Colapinto, P4: Stanek, P5: Hadjar, P6: Crawford, P7: Collet, P8: Montoya, P9: Edgar and P10: Bearman.

    We now only have one round remaining next weekend, and we are in Monza, will we be finding out who is going to be our Formula 3 2022 Champion!

  • Round 15- Zandvoort Qualifying

    The Orange army was in full force yesterday to support their Dutchman where it was all about where you qualify for the Dutch GP today!

    But it was the World Champion, Max Verstappen who snatched pole position from the Ferarri’s! Leclerc is in 2nd, and an amazing day for the Italian team as Carlos Sainz making it a 2-3.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Leclerc, P3: Sainz, P4: Hamilton, P5: Perez, P6: Norris, P8: Schumacher, P9: Tsunoda and P10: Stroll.

    A good result for Mercedes, they are showing some pace this weekend so I can definitely see at least one of them going for a podium, they could also benefit of others in front of them.

    Landoooo, what a weekend so far for the Brit! His shown unreal pace, and to be ‘best of the rest’ is exactly what McLaren need, hopefully he can turn it into a good result later on.

    I definitely expected the Alpine’s higher up, Ocon qualifying P12 and Alonson P13, it will be interesting to see how they go today because they are ‘out of position’ in a way.

    A good qualifying for Mick! A Q3 appearance, so we could possibly see the German driver getting some points. Unfortunately his teammate is no where near him down in P18.

    Predictions-

    My top five predictions are- P1: Hamilton, P2: Sainz, P3: Russell, P4: Leclerc and P5: Norris.

    I just have a feeling Red Bull’s race pace wont be as good as their qualifying pace, they struggled on the first day with both drivers but for different reasons.

  • F2 Zandvoort – Day 1

    Free Practice-

    Jack Doohan picked up from where he left off just under a week ago, leading the way in P1 for Virtuosi Racing. The Australian was ahead of Ayumu Iwasa by 0.323s whilst Championship leader, Felipe Drugovich followed in third 0.402s down on the best time.

    The opening minutes were taken up by installation laps around what was quite a green track. Before any real representative times could be posted, Beckmann spun into the gravel out of Turn 13 to bring out the red flags.

    As the drivers logged the laps, the track conditions rapidly evolved and the times tumbled as a result. Amaury Cordeel was briefly quickest before Ayumu Iwasa then Frederik Vesti went fastest. Doohan restored himself back to P1 with a 1:23.133s with just under 20 minutes left.

    As the track evolution enticced the drivers to push but for Vesti, it resulted in a spin and contact with the barriers. His stranded ART Grand Prix car at Turn 2 brought out the red flags once more.

    Qualifying-

    Felipe Drugovich put himself within touching distance of the 2022 Formula 2 Drivers’ Championship by claiming his second consecutive pole position, over two tenths clear of Jack Doohan and Logan Sargeant.

    Felipe Drugovich set the initial time to beat on a 1:21.915 until the fastest man in practice, Doohan restored his name to the top of the timing screens on a 1:21.760.

    Red flags with 21 minutes left were down to Pourchaire finding the barriers at Turn 3, a snap of oversteer on the corner entry sent him directly into the outside wall and required a repositioning of the barrier before getting underway again.

    Doohan’s next attempt was good but not good enough to stop the Championship leader. A second red flag with under four minutes due to Jehan Daurvala a spin between Turns 7 and 8 left the PREMA driver stuck on the sidelines.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Drugovich, P2: Doohan, P3: Sargeant, P4: Verschoor, P5: Iwasa, P6: Lawson, P7: Hauger, P8: Vips, P9: Armstrong and P10: Novalak.

  • F3 Zandvoort – Day 1

    Free Practice-

    Victor Martins’ effort to reignite his fight for the title after a difficult weekend last time out in Spa, were given a boost after the ART Grand Prix driver led the way during the opening session in Zandvoort.

    Laying down a benchmark of 1:25.688 ahead of the all-important qualifying, he went nearly four-tenths clear of the MP Motorsport duo, Caio Collet and Alexander Smolyar.

    It was a leisurely start to the session with only five drivers setting a time during the opening 12 minutes, as Francesco Pizzi set a 1:18.014 to go half a second clear of his teammate David Schumacher.

    Brand Benavides didn’t have the ideal start to the weekend off the back of his maiden points finish in Spa-Francorchamps, going off into the gravel at Turn 9 to bring out the Virtual Safety Car.

    Qualifying-

    Zane Maloney exuded confidence as he claimed his second pole position of his rook rookie season, whilst Victor Martins reignited his title hopes by securing a spot on the Feature Race front row.

    After two virtual safety car appearances in practice, it was no surprise that a queue of cars formed along the pit lane as the lights went green, with the whole field eargely heading out early and try to get a banker lap in.

    As the clock started to tick down to 16 minutes, it seemed the perfect time for Caio Collet and the rest of the field to head back out on track. But off the back of his maiden victory last time out in Spa, Maloney set about claiming his spot on the front row for the third consecutive race.

    Lining up on reverse grid pole, Juan Manuel Correa will be hungry for his first podium finish of the 2022 season in Sprint Race. He’ll have familiar company on the front row in the form of ART teammate, Gregoire Saucy.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Maloney, P2: Martins, P3: Crawford, P4: Stanek, P5: Colapinto, P6: Hadjar, P7: Montoya, P8: Edgar, P9: Collet and P10: O’Sullivan.

  • Dennis sticks with Avalanche Andretti

    Jake Dennis will be continuing with Avalanche Andretti into Season 9 and beyond with the team announcing the Brit’s signed a new multi-year deal.

    Dennis has been a part of the Andretti stable since 2020, when he joined the fold having caught the eye amid serious competition during an intensive selection process over a number of test sessions.

    The Brit, was top rookie in his debut season, where he won two races and finished third in the Drivers’ World Championship – a technical issue in the final race putting paid to a real title tilt.

    Dennis won on home soil with a grand slam in London this season, as well as adding another couple of podiums in Diriyah and Seoul.

    I started my Formula E journey with Andretti and I’m excited to continue to work with the team that has continued to support my career in this series. Season 9 with the Gen3 era is an exciting time for all teams, and for us in particular with the new relationship with Porsche supplying the powertrain. I’m super motivated for next year and feel certain that with the dedication, teamwork, and investment I’ve seen over the past two years with Avalanche Andretti Formula E, we’ll be able to fight for wins and titles in the future.

    Jake Dennis on his new contract.

    Keeping Jake a part of Avalanche Andretti Formula E is a great step for our success as a team heading into Season 9. Jake has been a successful driver and leader over the past two years with our team, and we are looking forward to this continuing into Season 9 and beyond. This step is a continuation of building Avalanche Andretti towards consistency to achieve our main mission, to win.

    Team Boss, Michael Andretti.

  • Schumacher to cut ties with Ferrari end of year

    Mick Schumacher’s relationship with Ferrari is to conclude in December, meaning that the German driver will be a free agent as he searches for a seat for 2023.

    Schumacher’s original Ferrari Driver Academy contract will come to what one source called a ‘natural end’ after this season.

    Although there has been no confirmation from Haas, its accepted in the paddock that Schumacher won’t be retained by the US-owned team for a third season in 2023, with Antonio Giovinazzi currently a favourite to land the seat.

    The remaining open drives on the grid include, Alpine, Williams, McLaren, Alfa Romeo and Alpha Tauri. The latter being associated with IndyCar driver, Colton Herta.

    Schumacher first became associated with Ferrari at the start of 2019, when he was announced as a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, having won the previous year’s European F3 championship.

    He was given his first F1 test in the SF90 in Bahrain, in Aprin 2019, before having a second outing for Alfa Romeo the following day. He then raced with Ferrari’s support for the Prema F2 team in 2019 and 2020, winning the title in his second season.

    With Charles Leclerc, and then more recently Carlos Sainz locked into long-term deals with the Italian team, it has become obvious there is no race seat on the horizon for Schumacher.

  • Dutch Grand Prix

    Now that was a short break… we are back this week for the second race in our triple header, and we are heading to Zandvoort for Max Verstappen’s home Grand Prix.

    What can the Dutchman do this weekend? Will it be another win in the bag or will he have the Ferrari’s close behind him? Are Mercedes able to bounce back from last week and be up there in the fight again?…

    Who needs a good weekend-

    Charles Leclerc will be wanting a good weekend, he didn’t have the best race last weekend, so if he wants to either properly be in this title fight he will need to get a few wins under his belt, as well as this Mercedes are closing in on Ferrari in the Constructors so there is this also to think about.

    Lewis, will be wanting to bounce back from last weekend, there is not many times in the season you see him DNF/ crash, so he will be wanting to help his team make a step forward and make the most of these next 8 races.

    Lando will be hoping for a better weekend, obviously he had the engine penalty last week so he was towards the back of the grid, but with the Alpine’s having strong race weekends both of their drivers are closing in on the Brit in the drivers standings.

    Predictions for qualifying-

    My top five are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Leclerc, P3: Perez, P4: Hamilton and P5: Sainz.

    I think it will be close for pole, but I also having yellow and red flags will play apart of this weekend’s qualifying session. At the time of writing this, there is rain to be expected on Saturday, with this possibly adding in to the mix we then could have a very mixed up grid.

    Times for the weekend-

    Friday 2nd-

    • Free Practice F3- 07:55am – 08:40am (BST)
    • Free Practice F2- 09:05am – 09:50am
    • Free Practice 1 F1 – 11:30am – 12:30pm
    • Qualifying F3- 13:00pm – 13:30pm
    • Qualifying F2- 14:00pm – 14:30pm
    • Free Practice 2 F1- 15:00pm – 16:00pm

    Saturday 3rd-

    • F3 Sprint Race- 09:25am – 10:10am (BST)
    • Free Practice 3 F1- 11:00am – 12:00pm
    • Qualifying F1- 14:00pm – 15:00pm
    • F2 Sprint Race- 16:00pm – 17:00pm

    Sunday 4th-

    • F3 Feature Race- 07:45am (BST)
    • F2 Feature Race- 09:20am
    • F1 Race- 14:00pm

  • ABT confirm line-up

    ABT Sportsline has secured what it calls its “dream duo” for its Formula E return, with Robin Frijns set to join from Envision Racing with Nico Mueller alongside.

    Both can call ABT home, with each driver having hugely successful spells in the German Touring Car Championship – DTM – whilst the pair has significant experience in Formula E, with 91 races under their belt between them.

    Robin and Nico were our absolute dream team right from the start, because they have everything we need for our Formula E comeback: speed, experience and the right spirit. If we want to hold our own against the big factory teams in the new season, we need a small and powerful team. And that’s where Robin and Nico fit in perfectly.

    Hans-Juergen Abt, Managing Partner of ABT.

    Mueller raced for ABT in DTM between 2016 and 2021, scoring 31 podiums, 10 wins and he twice finished runner-up in the championship standings. He raced 17 times for Dragon / Penske Autosport in Season 6 and 7 and supported the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team team with testing and simulator work.

    After our great years together in the DTM, I’m really looking forward to this new chapter with ABT and to my return to Formula E. I’m also racing together with Robin, with whom I simply had a great time on and off the track – I think there are some good ingredients coming together that will put us in a good position for this new challenge. Personally, I still have a score to settle with Formula E after my difficult year and a half anyway, and I’m happy to have the chance to settle it together with this team.

    Nico Mueller on his return.

    Frijns is a triple race-winner for ABT in DTM as well as 18 podiums also to his name. The Dutchman joins from Envision Racing, having previously raced for Andretti in Formula E over a six-season career in the series with two wins to his name.

    I know the ABT team and Nico from the DTM, where we had a great atmosphere in the team and were very successful. That’s exactly how we want to continue in Formula E. Of course, it is a big step for all of us and we will have to learn a lot and quickly but I have full confidence in the ABT team, which has caused a stir in every racing series in its history. It’s great to be a part of it again.

    Robin Frijns on his move.

  • Zandvoort Tyre Allocation

    Round 15 is here and this weekend we will be halfway through the triple header. Pirelli have chosen the tyres for this weekends Dutch Grand Prix, alongside Formula 2 and 3 aswell.

    The three hardest compounds have been chosen for Zandvoort, C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium), C3 (Soft).

    This year, there’s a bigger gap between the C1 and C2 compounds than there was previously: this could be a reason why teams might concentrate more on the two softer compounds this weekend.

    The banking on Turns 3 and 14 is around 18 degrees by way of comparison, the historic banking on the old circuit at Monza is roughly 30 degrees on average. Of other modern circuits, Indianapolis has nine degrees of banking and Jeddah has 12.

    Zandvoort generates some big g forces all around the 4.2-kilometre track: braking into Turns 1 and 11 is a deceleration of about 5g whilst turn 7 also provides lateral forces of around 5g.

    Zandvoort proved to be a spectacular addition to the calendar last year, and the most challenging parts for tyres are the banked Turns 3 and 14, which are taken at high speed and place sustained combined forces on the car: downforce as well as lateral demands. Along with the other overall demands of the circuit layout, this is why we have nominated the hardest three compounds in the range for only the fourth time in 2022, after Bahrain, Spain and Great Britain. The new car-tyre package this season should make overtaking easier on a track where it was hard to pass last year: the majority of drivers stopped just once to maintain track position, but this time there could be more of a focus on the softer compounds – which might lead to more two-stoppers and drivers pushing even harder.

    Mario Isola, Motorsport Director.

    Formula 2-

    The hard and soft tyres have been nominated for F2 this weekend. The Sprint Race will be lasting 29 laps and the Feature Race, 40 laps.

    Formula 3-

    F3 has three new sets of Medium tyres to use across the weekend, plus another set carried over from the previous round. On Saturday the sprint race is 21 laps, and then Sunday is 26 laps.

  • SPA confirmed for 2023

    The Belgian Grand Prix is set to form part of the 2023 Formula 1 calendar, following an agreement to extend the race’s partnership.

    Full details of the 2023 Formula 1 calendar are yet to be revealed, but there is a new addition to the calendar next year that being Las Vegas.

    Spa first featured on the Formula 1 calendar in the sport’s inaugural season in 1950, with this seasons set to be the 55th to be held on the circuit.

    However, a statement from Formula 1 to the media ahead of last weekend’s race said: “Formula 1 can confirm that the Belgian Grand Prix will be on the 2023 calendar following an agreement to extend our partnership together. Further details on the 2023 calendar will be announced in due course.”

    We have to congratulate the job [the race organisers] did. You’ve seen the investment they did. You see the number of people that are coming here… Incredible crowd, incredible attention to the people, and this is great. Great I think for the sport. We always said that the race is a part of our tradition, and it has a very important space in our calendar, and this is a fact that we wanted to share in this moment.

    Formula 1 President & CEO, Stefano Domenicali.

    My Opinion-

    It was a bit touch and go whether we was going to get this announcement, but luckily we did! It is a historic track in F1 and it would feel a bit strange if it wasn’t on the calendar.

    The announcement tells us it is only a year contract, so we could very much be in the same boat next year… But I am glad it’s staying at least for another year!

  • Neom McLaren confirm Rast

    McLaren Racing has signed Rene Rast with the German driver the first of Neom McLaren Formula E’s driver line up for its debut in Formula E starting 2022/23.

    Rast is making his return to Formula E after a full-time spell with Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler back in Season 7, with a best result of second in Puebla. His first appearance in the series came back in 2015/16 and was followed by a stint with Audi back at the Season 6 six-race nine-day finale in Berlin, that earned him a full time drive a year later.

    Rast is also a triple DTM champion, coming out on top in 2017, 2019 and 2020, and he has also claimed overall wins at the 2012 and 2014 24 Hours of Spa, 2-14 24 Hours of Nurburgring and class wins at the 2012 and 2016 24 Hours of Daytona.

    I am delighted to join the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. As a racing fan, McLaren has always had huge appeal. It’s an iconic name in motorsport with a rich history, so I feel privileged and proud to be able to represent McLaren in Formula E next season. I’ve done a season in Formula E before, it was a great experience, and I felt after that year I wasn’t done yet. I’m excited that I am now getting the opportunity to continue that journey. I’m extremely motivated and have no doubt we will create something great together. I can’t wait to get started!

    Rene Rast on joining McLaren.

    While we approach the start of a new chapter for the team, I am delighted to be able to add Rene to our driver line up for next season. Rene has shown his racecraft over and over again in every series he has competed in to date. He is not only extremely fast, but also consistent, and has valuable previous experience in Formula E, which will be of great help both to the team and himself. Season 9 promises to be an exciting challenge for the team and I’m happy to have one of our cars in the trusted hands of Rene.

    Ian James, Managing Director.

    Rene has impressed over the years in the series he has competed in. He is a true racer and has proven to be quick in any car he’s driven. His previous experience in Formula E will be invaluable as we head into this exciting new era of racing for McLaren Racing. I’m delighted to welcome Rene to the McLaren Racing family.

    Zak Brown, CEO McLaren Racing.

  • Alfa Romeo to end Sauber contract in 2023

    Alfa Romeo say they will end their title sponsorship of Sauber when their current arrangement expires at the close of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign.

    The famous Italian marque returned to Formula 1 in 2018 through a technical and commercial partnership and in the summer of 2021 announced a multi-year extension with “year assessments”.

    Last month, the opted to continue into 2023 “given the promising results f the first half of the season, both in terms of performances, marketing and positive collaboration with the team”.

    But ahead of this weekends Belgian Grand Prix, with around a season and a half to go on the current agreement, Alfa Romeo took the opportunity to put an end date on their relationship.

    Alfa Romeo, who currently run Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are currently sixth in the constructors championship (they ended last year ninth) with 51 points.

    Since the economic and industrial turnaround of the brand will be achieved in 2022, Alfa Romeo will now evaluate among the many opportunities on the table, and decide which will be the best one to sustain the long term strategy and the positioning of the Brand.

    The team on leaving their contract with Sauber.

  • F2 Spa- Day 2 & 3

    Day 2-

    Greeted by cold and dry conditions, the mist loomed high over the Belgian hills and there were plenty of unknowns heading into the first race of the weekend after a lack of race runs in a highly disrupted practice session.

    Whilst Ralph Boschung assumed his spot on reverse grid pole on his return to the the track after suffering an injury, Jehan Daruvala’s day was brought to an early end before the lights had even gone out as the PREMA Racing driver pulled over on the reconnaissance lap.

    Unfortunately for the Swiss driver, the Belgian circuit isn’t short of overtaking opportunities. All over the back of the race leader, the Red Bull liveried Carlin sailed up into P1 along the Kemmel Straight.

    The race made a turn on Lap 11, Logan Sargeant lost his rear end on the exit of Pouhom and skidded into the barriers, triggering the Safety Car.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Lawson, P2: Doohan, P3: Boschung, P4: Drugovich, P5: Verschoor, P6: Pourchaire, P7: Armstrong, P8: Beckmann, P9: Iwasa and P10: Hauger.

    Day 3-

    Drugovich surged off the line and Doohan cleared Enzo Fittipaldi to take second into La Source. David Beckmann followed through down the Kemmel Straight on the Charouz Racing System at Les Combes to take third.

    Theo Pourchaire’s title hopes took a major hit, as he slid down the order and out of the race with an issue. Richard Verschoor took fifth from the Charouz on the next lap, using DRS.

    Fittipaldi and Sargeant were the first to pit for mediums on Lap 8, feeding back out in 14th and 15th places respectively. Lawson responded on the following lap, but it was a slow stop for the Carlin driver.

    Juri Vips and Lirim Zendeli were the first of those on mediums to swap to softs on Lap 15 whilst Verschoor and Iwasa continued to extend their stints at the front.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Doohan, P2: Drugovich, P3: Lawson, P4: Verschoor, P5: Fittipaldi, P6: Sargeant, P7: Beckmann, P8: Iwasa, P9: Vips and P10: Novalak.

  • Round 14- Belgian GP

    Going into the race today, we was hoping for an interesting race seeing some of the field come through the grid, but was it too easy for some of them?

    But it was Max Verstappen who took the victory at his first home Grand Prix of the season, Sergio Perez comes home in 2nd to make it Red Bull’s fourth 1-2 of the season! Carlos Sainz finished in 3rd after starting on pole.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Perez, P3: Sainz, P4: Russell, P5: Alonso, P6: Leclerc, P7: Ocon, P8: Vettel, P9: Gasly and P10: Albon.

    What a drive from Max Verstappen! Starting P14, and finishing 1st is great! He flew through the field with no problems, Ferrari wasn’t a problem for the Dutchman and didn’t have anyone challenging him for the win.

    Not a good day for Hamilton, a DNF for the Brit his first of the season. A Lap 1 incident between Hamilton and Alonso saw the Mercedes driver go airborne and retire on track after the team telling him to stop…

    A good finish for Vettel, Gasly and Albon all in the points which they all needed this weekend, Gasly started from the pitlane so he made up quite a lot of ground to finish 9th.

    Now Ferrari, Carlos had a good race but Charles obviously had to start at the back of the grid, he done well getting himself up the field but Ferrari thought theyd pit him on the last lap to take away the fastest lap point from Max, we’ve seen it a lot of times over the year but this time it didn’t work out. Not only didn’t it work out, Charles got a 5 second penalty for speeding in the pitlane which dropped him down to P6.

    We now look towards the next race, next week which is the second out of the triple header and we will be heading to the Netherlands for Round 15! Can Max take another victory on home soil?

  • F3 Spa- Day 2 & 3

    F3 Spa- Day 2 & 3

    Day 2-

    Zak O’Sullivan retained the lead from pole into La Source with teammate Benavides attempting to wrestle second from Juan Manuel Correa. With the two on the Kemmel Straight, the ART driver turned defence into attack, taking the lead but only momentarily.

    Title rival, Victor Martins meanwhile had made his way up to 16th by the time the Safety Car was deployed but had jumped the start, he was handed a drive-through penalty as a result.

    A wide moment, from Oliver Goethe heading into Stavelot left the Campos driver under pressure from the Trident duo of Roman Stanek and Zane Maloney. Stanek was able to clear the Monegasque driver for fifth but contact on the exit of Blanchimont between Goethe and Maloney resulted in a big crash for the pair, but thankfully both drivers were able to walk away from their cars.

    Leclerc’s charge continued at the expense of Benavides, another DRS pass down the Kemmel Straight moved him up to fifth position and within range of Edgar as a result of the latter’s pending time penalty.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Bearman, P2: Stanek, P3: Smolyar, P4: Edgar, P5: Leclerc, P6: Alatalo, P7: Vidales, P8: Benavides, P9: Hadjar and P10: Collet.

    Day 3-

    Having become the seventh different driver to take pole this season, Collet lined up on the front row along side Maloney whilst four of the top five in the Championship found themselves starting P20 or lower.

    Maloney’s time out front didn’t last long as he was ordered to give the place back by his team. In the mean time, Goethe had gotten past Collet for P2, forcing the Trident to drop down to third behind the MP in order to return the position.

    Disaster soon struck for title contender, Martins. The ART Grand Prix driver found himself collected in chaos ahead as Kush Maini overshot the corner sending him into the side of Pizzi, tagging Ido Cohen and Martins.

    No sooner than the action resumed did the safety car return to the track after Gregoire Saucy and Josep Maria Marti touched wheels, resulting in the early retirement of a second ART car.

    Having been handed a five second penalty for rejoining the track unsafely, Collet knew it was time to be strategic as he battled with Stanek for second.

    As the penultimate lap began, it was Bearman’s time to strike as Goethe went too deep into Turn 1, the pair flew up side-by-side into Eau Rouge, but the Prema Racing driver cautiously decided to back out and go again one lap later.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Maloney, P2: Stanek, P3: Bearman, P4: Goethe, P5: Edgar, P6: Collet, P7: Vidales, P8: Alatalo, P9: Smolyar and P10: Ushijima.

    We don’t have long to wait till the next round, we are back next weekend and are in Zandvoort for Round 8, we only have two rounds left now…

  • Round 14- Spa Qualifying

    Before qualifying even started, it was confirmed that seven drivers, yes SEVEN are taking grid penalties… Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, Zhou Guanyu, Mick Schumacher and Valtteri Bottas.

    But after the penalties it will be Carlos Sainz starting on pole position, with Perez in 2nd and Fernando Alonso rounding out the top 3.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Sainz, P2: Perez, P3: Alonso, P4: Hamilton, P5: Russell, P6: Albon, P7: Ricciardo, P8: Gasly, P9: Stroll and P10: Vettel.

    A quick moment, and shoutout to Alex Albon, getting his first Q3 appearance of the season and grabbed P6 due to penalties. Hopefully he can get a good start in the race and try to avoid any lap 1 incidents.

    Verstappen and Leclerc have a lot of work to do tomorrow and they start on the same row, seeing both drivers coming through the field will be good to watch but the main battle will be between the two.

    Fernando Alonso will be hoping to capitalise on his qualifying position, he starts on the second row along side Hamilton, the Spaniard will be setting his eyes on a podium finish…

    Mercedes have a big chance in the race, both drivers in the top five and they only have one Red Bull and Ferrari car around their two, this could have an impact on the constructors aswell.

    Predictions-

    My top five predictions are- P1: Sainz, P2: Hamilton, P3: Russell, P4: Alonso and P5: Gasly.

    I think its going to be an interesting race, obviously a few drivers out of place for the race start, and they will be looking to not get in any incidents in the mid-pack.

    Times for the weekend-

    • Feature Race F3 – 07:50am (BST)
    • Feature Race F2- 09:20am
    • F1 Race- 14:00pm

  • Audi to join F1 in 2026

    German manufacturer, Audi will be joining the Formula 1 World Championship from the 2026 season as a power unit supplier.

    The announcement comes after new power unit regulations, designed specifically to make it possible and attractive for newcomers to join the sport at a competitive level, were published earlier this month.

    The 2026 power units, will maintain the current V6 internal combustion engine architecture but they feature increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels, which are the two factors Audi say were key to joining the sport.

    Audi – who are part of the Volkswagen Group – added that it also supports F1’s future plans to be more sustainable and cost efficient, with a cost cap for power unit manufacturers introduced in 2023 as well as F1 setting a target of being Net Zero Carbon by 2030.

    Audi Sport’s facility in Neuburg will be where the power unit is developed, marking the first time in more than a decade that F1 powertrain will be built in Germany.

    Audi say there are already test benches for F1 engine testing as well as for electric motor and batter testing in their Neuburg base. They are now currently working on getting personnel, buildings and technical infrastructure in place by the end of the year.

    Adam Baker, who has held several senior positions for manufacturers and teams in motorsport whilst also spending three years with the FIA, he will now run the Formula 1 project as CEO.

    I am delighted to welcome Audi to Formula 1, an iconic automotive brand, pioneer and technological innovator. This is a major moment for our sport that highlights the huge strength we have as a global platform that continues to grow. It is also a big recognition that our move to sustainably fuelled hybrid engines in 2026 is a future solution for the automotive sector. We are all looking forward to seeing the Audi logo on the grid and will be hearing further details from them on their plans in due course.

    F1 President and CEO, Stefano Domenicali.

    Motorsport is an integral part of Audi’s DNA. Formula 1 is both a global stage for our brand and a highly challenging development laboratory. The combination of high performance and competition is always a driver of innovation and technology transfer in our industry. With the new rules, now is the right time for us to get involved. After all, Formula 1 and Audi both pursue clear sustainability goals.

    Markus Duesmann, Chairman of Board of Management of Audi AG.

  • F2 Spa – Day 1

    Free Practice-

    Ralph Boschung got his return to the Formula 2 season off to a positive start, as the Campos Racing driver topped Free Practice around Spa-Francorchamps.

    The weather proved to be a major headache with rainfall around the track, catching a few drivers out, but it was the Swiss driver who managed to clock in a 2:01.376 finish ahead of Amaury Cordeel and Ayumu Iwasa.

    Iwasa was the first driver to set a representative time. Flourishing in these conditions the DAMS driver set out to better his by 0.742s after the first two sectors, but it wasn’t to last, fighting the car through Stavelot ended in a huge spin across the gravel to bring out the Red Flag.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Boschung, P2: Cordeel, P3: Iwasa, P4: Armstrong, P5: Zendeli, P6: Sargeant, P7: Daruvala, P8: Beckmann, P9: Sato and P10: Vips.

    Qualifying-

    Championship leader, Felipe Drugovich put in a mighty lap to take pole position for the Spa-Francorchamps Feature Race ahead of Enzo Fittipaldi and Logan Sargeant.

    His closest rival in the Championship, Theo Pourchaire had to settle for eighth on the grid, meaning that the French driver will line up third on the grid for the Sprint Race.

    Juri Vips was the first to bring out a red flag due to a spin and not being able to keep his engine going. The session then resumed with 23 minutes to go and drivers got on track immediately.

    Ralph Boschung took provisional pole for Campos Racing but it was only for a moment. Jehan Daruvala and then Jack Doohan went quicker with track conditions ramping up in the closing stages.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Drugovich, P2: Fittipaldi, P3: Sargeant, P4: Doohan, P5: Beckmann, P6: Lawson, P7: Verschoor, P8: Pourchaire, P9: Daruvala and P10: Boschung.

  • F3 Spa – Day 1

    Free Practice 1-

    Reece Ushijima left the rest well adrift after his 2:05.172s put him above anyone else on the grid. The Van Amersfoort Racing driver ended the session over a second clear of anybody else, with Campos enjoying a 2-3-4.

    Jenzer Motorsport’s William Alatalo set the first representative time on a 2:09,590s but that was bettered by Carlin driver Brad Benavides with the American setting a 2:09.421s soon after.

    Roman Stanek came to a halt on the Kemmel Straight with just over 10 minutes remaining of the session, briefly bringing out yellow flags before the Trident driver was able to get his car restarted to continue.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Ushijima, P2: Goethe, P3: Vidales, P4: Marti, P5: O’Sullivan, P6: Stanek, P7: Hadjar, P8: Maloney, P9: Edgar and P10: Bearman.

    Qualifying-

    Caio Collet, put his foot to the floor to storm his way to his first Formula 3 pole position, mastering the wet to drying conditions in Spa-Francorchamps to become the seventh different driver to take pole in as many rounds.

    There was no shortage of contenders in the fight for P1 in the fight for P1 as last-minute improvements mixed up the order but it was the MP Motorsport driver who reigned supreme, over two tenths clear of Maloney.

    Downpours during the break between Practice and Qualifying forced the whole field to bolt on the wet weather Pirelli tyres and given the conditions it was no surprise that the track was immediately full of action.

    The session soon ground to a halt with 19 minutes on the clock, as Jak Crawford found himself facing the wrong way. In his attempt to sprint his car around, the driver got caught out by the gravel trap and was forced into a frustratingly early end.

    Even the appearance of the chequered flag didn’t mean that the order was final. Maloney leaped half a second clear of his teammate but there was nothing he could do to stop Collet’s final effort of 2:11.289.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Collet, P2: Maloney, P3: Pizzi, P4: Goethe, P5: Stanek, P6: Edgar, P7: Smolyar, P8: Bearman, P9: Colapinto and P10: Benavides.

  • Belgian Grand Prix

    We are back racing this weekend, and we are at Spa-Francorchamps for Round 14, where last year we saw a Williams stick it on the front row in qualifying, for the race then to be delayed and then cancelled due to the rain.

    Lets hope this year will be a step better than lasts… The weather could play a part in who qualifies where so could potentially mix the grid up. But will Ferrari get their strategy right? What can Mercedes do? They have been getting closer to get that race win, could that be this weekend?

    Who needs a good weekend?

    I think Ferrari as a whole need a really good weekend, they’ve thrown away a few race wins down to strategy and if they want to fight for this championship they need to up their game, whether that’s reliability or strategy.

    McLaren again as a whole need to sort themselves out this half of the season, Alpine have now overtook the papaya team in the standings. So both Norris and Ricciardo need to be on top of their game this weekend and the rest of the season to get further up the standings.

    Haas will be wanting to start off this second half with a bang, especially for a certain Mick Schumacher as his contract is not confirmed for next year and the only way contract talks will start are by “scoring more points”.

    Predictions for qualifying-

    My top five are- P1: Leclerc, P2: Verstappen, P3: Russell, P4: Hamilton and P5: Sainz.

    The weather is never certain in Belgium so it can surprise at the most important times, so it could make an appearance during qualifying and through a few shock surprises in there and a mixed up grid.

    Times for the weekend-

    Friday 26th-

    • Free Practice F3- 09:25am – 10:10am (BST)
    • Free Practice F2- 10:35am – 11:20am
    • Free Practice 1 F1- 13:00pm – 14:00pm
    • Qualifying F3- 14:30pm – 15:00pm
    • Free Practice 2 F1- 16:00pm – 17:00pm
    • Qualifying F2- 17:30pm – 18:00pm

    Saturday 27th-

    • Sprint Race F3- 09:35am – 10:20am (BST)
    • Free Practice 3 F1- 12:00pm – 13:00pm
    • Qualifying F1- 15:00pm – 16:00pm
    • Sprint Race F2- 17:00pm – 17:45pm

    Sunday 28th-

    • Feature Race F3- 07:50am (BST)
    • Feature Race F2- 09:20am
    • F1 Race- 14:00pm

  • Lawson FP1 run

    Liam Lawson will be making his Formula 1 debut on Friday, as Alpha Tauri have announced that the Carlin driver will take over the reins of the AT03 for the opening Free Practice session at Spa-Francorchamps.

    The New Zealander will be getting behind the wheel of Pierre Gasly’s car, as part of the two young driver sessions, F1 teams are required to run this season.

    So far in his 2022 season, the 20 year old has two wins and six podiums to his name, and currently sits eight in the Drivers’ Championship.

    Part of their junior programme since 2019, the Red Bull and Alpha Tauri reserve driver got his first taste of F1 machinery with the Italian team last year during the post-season Young Drivers’ Test in Abu Dhabi and will now be taking the track following Formula 2’s Practice session.

    Super excited to say I’ll be doing my first FP1 this weekend in Spa. I honestly couldn’t think of a better place to do it, it’s going to be a very exciting feeling. It’s a historic track and a place that I’ve always enjoyed driving, so in a Formula 1 car it’s gonna be incredible. I’ve been doing a lot of sim work over the year as well leading up to this, so I think the prep has been really, really good. Obviously, I had my first outing last year in December and since then, honestly, I’ve been dying to get back in the car.

    Liam Lawson on his FP1 outing.

  • Ricciardo to leave McLaren

    McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo have “mutually agreed” to terminate his contract one year early, meaning the eight-time race winner will depart at the end of 2022.

    The Australian joined McLaren in 2021, on a three year deal where he would race alongside Lando Norris – even though he secured the team’s first win since 2012 at Monza last year with Norris second – he has struggled to match his team mate’s impressive pace.

    McLaren say they will announce who will partner Norris in 2023 “in due course”. Ricciardo will do the same regarding his own future plans but suggested that he’s keen to stay in F1.

    Ricciardo is currently sat 12th in the drivers standings on 19 points, 57 adrift of Norris after 13 grand prix. His best finish of the year so far, was sixth in Australia.

    It’s been a privilege to be a part of the McLaren Racing family for the last two seasons but following several months of discussions with Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO] & Andreas [Seidl, Team Principal] we have decided to terminate my contract with the team early and agree to mutually part ways at the end of this season. I’ll be announcing my own future plans in due course but regardless of what this next chapter brings, I have no regrets and am proud of the effort and work I gave McLaren, especially the win in Monza, last season. I’ve enjoyed working with everyone at McLaren both trackside and back in Woking and will be giving my all on and off track as we enjoy the remainder of the season together. I’ve never been more motivated to compete and be a part of a sport that I love so much and look forward to what comes next.

    Daniel Ricciardo on leaving McLaren.

    I would like to thank Daniel for his dedication and contribution over the last two seasons so far. Despite the shared challenges, he has always turned up with a fighting spirit and positivity and helped the entire team to always keep pushing forward. We will never forget that memorable race win in Monza which was a great boost for the whole team. We still have an important battle in the constructors’ championship ahead of us for the remainder of the season and we look forward to battle this out with Daniel and Lando.

    Andreas Siedl

    Daniel has been a great addition to McLaren, and it’s been a pleasure working with him. I’d like to thank him for all of his efforts over the last two seasons both trackside and back at base. It’s no secret that we hoped we could achieve more together but seeing him stand on the top step of the podium as a McLaren driver was a highlight. We wish him well for the future and let’s go enjoy the rest of the season together

    Zak Brown on Ricciardo.

  • Nissan confirms driver line-up

    Nissan has announced Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz in their all new driver line-up ahead of Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the first campaign of the Gen3 era.

    Nato, a previous Formula E race winner back in Berlin in Season 6, makes his full-time return to the series with the Japanese manufacturer, having competed in FIA World Endurance Championship in 2022 and stepping in for Jaguar TCS Racing as its reserve driver in Seoul.

    I’m very happy to be making my comeback as a full-time driver in Formula E with Nissan. The Gen3 era will be a new chapter for the championship, and I’m excited to prepare for testing and drive the car. The hard work starts now – I have a lot to learn and areas to develop in with the team to be at my best for the first round of Season 9 in Mexico City.

    Norman Nato on his return.

    Whereas for Fenestraz, next season will mark his first full time campaign in Formula E, following his debut at the final round of season 8 at Dragon / Penske Autosport.

    The French-Argentine racer won the Japanese Formula 3 title in 2019 and continues to compete in both Super Formula and the GT500 class of the Super GT championship. So far in 2022, the 23 year old has taken victory in both championships and currently tops the Super GT standings.

    It’s a dream come true. It will be a big step forward in my career, to move up into a World Championship for the first time and to be competing at such a high level against some of the best drivers in the world. It’s going to be a different challenge for me as it will be my first season in an all-electric car. I’m excited to compete in this championship as street circuits are my favourite, with high risks and no room for errors. As a rookie in a new format, there is a lot of preparation to do and plenty to learn! I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a very long time, and I am very grateful to Nissan for this opportunity. I can’t wait to get started and I’ll do everything to perform as best as I can.

    Sacha Fenestraz on his move.

    This is a significant moment for the team as we commence the Gen3 era, and we are very happy to welcome both Norman and Sacha on board. Season 9 will be our first season competing as one team, following Nissan’s acquisition of e.dams earlier this year, and also the beginning of our partnership with McLaren Racing. This marks a new era for the Nissan Formula E Team, and we believe that a combination of experience and the opportunity to nurture new talent is the right balance for us right now. In Norman and Sacha, we have found two strong drivers to fulfil our vision. Norman has proven to be a very talented driver in Formula E and in other series, and he brings a wealth of experience and skills to the team. As for Sacha, we have monitored his progress and performance over the past few years and have been very impressed. We believe he has great potential and that this is the right time to bring him into to the team. I am convinced that they will complement each other and the team very well. I can’t wait to see them both in action on track in our new Nissan Gen3 car.

    Tommaso Volpe, General Manager, Nissan Formula E.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/Chl9IZPIiVk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link