Jordan's Track Talk

Category: Formula One

  • Qatar Grand Prix

    We are back in Qatar this weekend after a break and the Sprint is also back in action this weekend!

    This weekend Max Verstappen can take his 3rd World Championship. But only if Perez finishes fourth or lower in the sprint race, regardless of where the Dutchman finishes.

    Seeing as the Constructor’s have been sorted already, we look towards the fight for P2 in the championship, where four teams fight for the spot.
    Mercedes is currently in 2nd on 305 points, Ferrari is in third on 285 points, Aston Martin in fourth with 221 points and McLaren in fifth on 172 points…

    Who needs to shine?

    Sergio Perez will be wanting a better weekend, as last time out in Japan he had a DNF due to damage on is Red Bull from causing collisions, the Mexican will be hoping for a better weekend this time out in Qatar especially because there is a Sprint aswell.

    The Williams duo will be wanting a better weekend too, both having DNF’s last time out, they will want to improve so they can get some more points in the Constructor’s and make a bigger gap.

    Lance Stroll will be hoping to get some more points on the board, especially because he is in 10th in the drivers standings, and his being closely followed with Gasly in 11th and Ocon in 12th.

    Times for the weekend-

    Friday 6th-

    • Free Practice 1 – 14:30pm – 15:30pm (BST)
    • Qualifying – 18:00pm – 19:00pm

    Saturday 7th-

    • Sprint Shootout – 14:00pm – 14:44pm
    • Sprint – 18:30pm – 19:30pm

    Sunday 8th-

    • Race – 18:00pm

    Qualifying Predictions-

    My top five predictions are- Pole: Verstappen, P2: Norris, P3: Hamilton, P4: Russell and P5: Perez.

    As we have only had one race here a few years ago back in 2021, so teams will be looking at getting a lot of work done in the first and only free practice session of the weekend plus we have rookie drivers who have never driven here before also.

    So it could make for an interesting weekend, especially as we are getting closer to the end of the season which means we start seeing engine penalties taking an effect…

  • FIA approve Andretti entry as 11th F1 team

    The FIA has given Andretti Formula Racing the green light to join the Formula 1 grid, subject to it reaching a commercial agreement with FOM.

    Following months of analysis by the FIA over the expressions of interest to join F1 from 2025 at the earliest, the governing body has finally announced the outcome of its efforts.

    In a statement issued on Monday, it said that Andretti was the only applicant that was being put forward to third and final stage of selection, which involves F1’s commercial rights holders.

    But while the FIA is happy with the Andretti bid and believes it fulfils all the criteria it has laid down, that does not mean the squad will definitely get a place on the grid.

    Andretti now needs to reach a satisfactory commercial deal with FOM, and there has been a known resistance to the field getting expanded beyond 10 team.
    F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali has been consistent that any new team would need to bring a clear added value to the championship.

    F1 teams have to prove they had the sporting, technical and financial capabilities to join the F1 grid, as well as explain plans on sustainability and positive societal impact.

    The FIA was very clear in establishing stringent criteria for entry from the outset of the Expressions of Interest procedure. Our objective, after rigorous due diligence during the application phase, was to only approve prospective entries which satisfied the set criteria and illustrated that they would add value to the sport. The FIA is obliged to approve applications that comply with the Expressions of Interests application requirements and we have adhered to that procedure in deciding that Andretti Formula Racing LLC’s application would proceed to the next stage of the application process. In taking that decision, the FIA is acting in accordance with EU directives on motor sport participation and development. Andretti Formula Racing LLC was the only entity which fulfils the selection criteria that was set in all material respects. I congratulate Michael Andretti and his team on a thorough submission. I also want to thank all prospective teams for their interest and participation.

    FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

    Andretti Cadillac is honoured that the FIA has approved Andretti Formula Racing’s Expression of Interest for the Formula 1 world championship. We appreciate the FIA’s rigorous, transparent and complete evaluation process and are incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to compete in such a historic and prestigious championship. The formation of this distinctly American team is an important moment of pride for all our employees and fans. We feel strongly that Andretti Cadillac’s deep racing competencies and the technological advancements that come from racing will benefit our customers while heightening enthusiasm for F1, globally. We look forward to engaging with all of the stakeholders in Formula 1 as we continue our planning to join the grid as soon as possible

    Andretti’s statement on the news.

    https://x.com/fia/status/1708863831596757243?s=20

  • Qatar Tyre Selection

    The tyres for this weekend’s Grand Prix has been chosen, ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix where qualifying returns to Friday!

    The chosen compounds are: C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium), C3 (Soft), this is the same as the previous race in Japan.

    As well as new asphalt, there is also new infrastructure at Losail. The pit garages, originally designed for MotoGP have been enlarged and increased in number. There is also a new race control facility and media centre.

    The only Qatar Grand Prix held so far was won by Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes driver, who started from pole won ahead of Max Verstappen (who set the fastest lap) and Fernando Alonso who was driving for Alpine at the time.

    A wide range of strategies was seen two years ago. Half the drivers started on Softs with the other half on Mediums, while the number of pit stops varied from one to three. Hamilton won with a two-stopper, completing two initial stints on the medium tyre before a final stint on the Hard tyre.

    Although some green spaces were specifically built around the circuit, sand often blows onto the surface from the surrounding desert. This makes track evolution another key factor, which will be accentuated by the new asphalt.

    Ambient temperatures are high in Qatar at this time of year, peaking beyond 40°C during the week leading up to the race. But the later time of the sessions compared to 2021 should lead to a wider temperature range than was seen two years ago.

    Formula 1 now returns to Qatar, two years after its debut there in 2021. But in many ways, it’s another new beginning, as the cars are now very different to the ones we saw a couple of years ago and the Losail circuit has been completely resurfaced, with modified kerbs as well. On paper, the track’s main features remain the same – with a main straight just over a kilometre long and 16 corners – but it’s clear that the changes made over the last two years mean that the data collected from the first grand prix is only relatively useful.

    In terms of severity, Losail is a very challenging circuit for tyres, similar to Silverstone and Suzuka. So it’s no coincidence that the compounds chosen are the same: C1, C2, and C3. There’s quite a variety of corners, most of them medium speed and high speed. The series of corners between Turns 12 and 14 is quite reminiscent of the famous Turn 8 at Istanbul: one of the most demanding corners for tyres in the recent history of Formula 1. This sequence is also one of the most influential factors to a good lap time. The fact that 11 of the 16 corners are right-handers puts particular stress on the left of the car, especially at the front, but the energy levels seen going through the tyres in 2021 were still quite well-balanced between the two axles.

    Another factor making the Qatar Grand Prix even more challenging for us as well as the drivers and the teams is the return of the Sprint format. Just one hour of free practice will be available on Friday to determine the set-up and assess tyre behaviour over long runs; furthermore that session happens in the heat of the day – which will warm up the asphalt – as opposed to qualifying and the two races, which take place at night. So everything is in place for an interesting weekend as well as perhaps a few surprises; the ability to adapt quickly and well to the track could deliver a significant advantage.

    Mario Isola – Pirelli, Head of Motorsport.
    18-QT23-Preview-EN

  • McLaren announce reserve driver for 2024

    McLaren have announced that Japanese driver, Ryo Hirakawa will join their Driver Development programme for 2024, while also becoming a reserve driver for the team.

    Hirakawa claimed the 2022 Hypercar World Endurance Drivers’ Championship title with Toyota – including taking victory in that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans – while he currently leads the 2023 championship, having just won the 6 Hours of Portimao race.
    Not only that, but the Japanese driver also has experience in his nation’s Super GT and Super Formula categories.

    McLaren confirmed that the 29 year old will run laps in the team’s 2021-spec MCL35M as part of a testing programme, while also completing simulator work at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK alongside his role with Toyota.

    I’m happy to have joined the McLaren F1 Team as a reserve driver. It’s an exciting prospect to work with such a respected team and I’m grateful to Zak [Brown, McLaren Racing CEO] and Andrea [Stella, McLaren Team Principal] for the opportunity. I’ve already met the team and experienced the simulator at MTC which has allowed me to hit the ground running. I’m now fully prepared and focused for the remainder of 2023.

    Hirakawa, on the news.

    I’m pleased to welcome Ryo to McLaren Racing as a Formula 1 reserve driver to further strengthen our growing support driver pool. We are thankful to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing for their collaboration by allowing Ryo to take on the new role alongside his driving duties. He has an impressive record on track, winning Le Mans as well as the FIA World Endurance Championship. We look forward to working closely with Ryo, who has already spent time on the simulator at MTC. His wealth of experience will benefit the team in a number of areas as he joins our strong stable of drivers.

    McLaren Team Principal, Andrea Stella.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CxegDIIIFv8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

  • AlphaTauri confirm drivers for 2024

    Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo will form AlphaTauri’s driver line-up for 2024, with Liam Lawson set to fulfil reserve driver duties for the Italian squad and sister team, Red Bull.

    Tsunoda, who made his debut for the team in 2021 impressed the team with his “undoubtful natural talent and constant improvement” and “ability to integrate into the team”.

    The Japanese driver, will be joined by Aussie, Daniel Ricciardo who is currently on the sidelines with a broken hand but impressed the team when he raced for them in Hungary and Belgium before the summer break.

    AlphaTauri said Ricciardo’s “personal attitude and racing experience will be precious assets in 2024” the Australian having raced for the team in 2012 and 2013 when they were formely known as Toro Rosso and has since gone on to secure eight Grand Prix wins!

    Liam Lawson, has delivered three strong Grand Prix as a super sub for Ricciardo, including his first points last time out in Singapore but missed out on a full time race seat with the team for the 2024 season.

    Ricciardo is continuing his fight to return to full fitness and while he is unlikely to return next time out in Qatar, the plan remains for him to come back at some point this season but only when he feels ready.

    Meanwhile, Lawson will remain in position while Riccairdo recovers and in 2024, the New Zealander will focus on testing, simulator sessions and attending all the races full-time in his role as reserve.

    Looking at the grid for next season, there is only one seat available now and that is over at Williams alongside Alex Albon as Logan Sargeant is trying to fight and show he should have the seat.

    Next year, the technical regulations remain largely unchanged and it was therefore logical to go for continuity in our driver line-up too. I am very pleased with the development that Yuki has shown over the last two and a half years with our team and with Daniel’s great race-winning experience we will have one of the most competitive driver pairings on the grid in 2024. Peter [Bayer, AlphaTauri’s new CEO] and Laurent [Mekies, AlphaTauri’s incoming Team Principal] will have a great duo to start the new season in the right direction. As for Liam, who has impressed everyone in his races so far, he will definitely help the team in his development role as a third driver, and I’m sure he will have a future in Formula 1 soon.

    Team Principal, Franz Tost.

    I’m so happy to announce that I will be staying with Scuderia AlphaTauri for the 2024 Formula 1 season. I’m looking forward to continuing to fight and collaborate with the team and Daniel. Obviously, I’ll push as much as possible for the rest of the season and beyond, to progress as a driver. I’m grateful for Red Bull and Honda, for continuing to support and believe in me, and very happy and thankful to continue the partnership.

    Tsunoda on the news.

    I’m stoked to be driving with Yuki again next year and continuing the journey with Scuderia Alpha Tauri. Following the progress we have already made and the plans for the future, it’s an exciting time for the team. We are building and it is a great feeling. There is a lot of work to do, but we are heading in the right direction and there is a lot to look forward to. Bring on 2024!

    Ricciardo on returning to the grid.

    We are in a privileged position, where we have access to multiple great talents from the Red Bull world. This is a credit to the work that Dr [Helmut] Marko [Red Bull Motorsport Adviser] has been doing for many years. Both Daniel and Yuki have not just shown fantastic race craft but are also great global ambassadors for our team and our sport. Liam put himself in the spotlight of F1 in only three races and I am very happy that we can continue to prepare him for his future.

    Bayers on the drivers contracts.

  • RND 17 – Japanese Grand Prix

    The Japanese Grand Prix is officially over, and I’d say it was definitely one to remember, with 5 drivers retiring and a dominating drive by a certain driver!

    It was Max Verstappen who was victorious in Japan which secured Red Bull back-to-back constructors’ titles! Lando Norris managed to hold onto P2, and Oscar Piastri grabs P3, his first podium in F1!

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

    To start things off, lets go with the reigning World Champion, what a drive by the Dutchman! He almost got pipped by Lando Norris at the start but Verstappen done well to hold him off.

    Now McLaren, what a team, and the drivers, wow. They are unstoppable at the moment, and Oscar Piastri getting his first podium aswell, an achievement they should all be proud off!

    Now onto one of the retirees, Sergio Perez, what on earth was he doing? He first banged wheel with Hamilton and then had an incident with Magnussen which forced the Mexican driver to pit again for a second front wing after that he then retired.

    Onto the Mercedes, somebody definitely put something in their water today, or maybe it was the fact that Toto Wolff wasn’t there? But they were fighting today, where it came too close for comfort, but at the end they played the team game and got a decent amount of points!

    The Ferrari’s had a decent race, they are now only 20 points away from Mercedes who are in P2 in the Constructors, so the Italian team will be wanting to close in on them and continue with good points haul.

    The next race isn’t for another two weeks, where we head to Qatar for Round 18, where the Sprint returns on the 6th to 8th October!

  • RND 17 – Suzuka Qualifying

    We are officially half way through Round 17, as qualifying is over and we get to take a look at how it went.

    It was Max Verstappen who was back on pole position and he was joined by Oscar Piastri on the front row, and Lando Norris made it both McLaren’s in the top three.

    The full top 10 are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Piastri, P3: Norris, P4: Leclerc, P5: Perez, P6: Sainz, P7: Hamilton, P8: Russell, P9: Tsunoda and P10: Alonso.

    It’s great to see Max back on pole, after two races where it’s been Carlos Sainz. The Dutchman has definitely come back with a bit of fire underneath him this week, as he didn’t have the best weekend last time out in Singapore.

    Great result from the McLaren’s wow, this new package they have got is something else clearly! I think the teams above them like Aston Martin and Ferrari and possibly Mercedes are probably going to be in a bit of a bother if McLaren keeps getting good results like this.

    A good result for Yuki Tsunoda in front of his home crowd, especially with his new contract. He starts in the top 10 and will be looking to score more points for the team and boost them up in the constructors championship.
    A mention for his teammate too, Lawson just missing out in P11.

    Another bad result for Logan Sargeant, crashing out in Q1 giving his team a lot of work to do before the race tomorrow… I think his starting to write his own fate unfortunately.

    A bit of a shocker from Alpine too, Ocon starting in 14th and Gasly in 12th. They’ve definitely been pushed down the grid more and more as the season goes on, but they’ve got an opportunity this week to try and get a few more points.

    Not the best result for Aston Martin, Stroll starting 17th, and Alonso 10th, they have had a strong start to the season but the more it goes on it’s not the best, hopefully we will be seeing a big points haul soon!

    My Predictions-

    My top five predictions for the race are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Norris, P3: Perez, P4: Hamilton and P5: Piastri.

    I feel like we may get a little bit of a crazy race, maybe not as much as last weekend but enough for a 4 way fight for the win.

    We could possibly see a safety car appearance and teams will be wanting that as its predicted to be a two stop race so the teams will be wanting that too.

  • Piastri extends contract until 2026

    McLaren have agreed a fresh multi-year contract extension with rookie, Oscar Piastri that will keep the driver with the British team until at least the end of the 2026 season.

    The Australian already had a deal to race for the team in 2024, having signed a multi-year agreement to make his debut this season, but some strong performances this season has made McLaren wanting to lock him down for the future.

    The 22 year old, took his first top-three finish in F1 when he secured second in the Sprint in Belgium and has scored points on six occasions, most recently in Singapore when he fought back from 17th to finish seventh!

    The announcement of his new contract, ensures McLaren will retain their current driver pairing until at least the end of the 2025 season, with team-mate Lando Norris having agreed a new deal with the Woking-based outfit in February this year.

    It follows a strong showing for the team at last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, where Norris secured his third second-place finish of the year and Piastri recovered well, as previously stated above.

    It’s fantastic to confirm that Oscar has signed a multi-year extension with the team. Oscar is an asset to McLaren and constantly impresses with his performance, work ethic and attitude, so it was an easy decision for the team to make. He has already proved pivotal to the team, so it’s brilliant to have his vote of confidence as we push to win championships again in the future. I look forward to seeing him develop with us as we continue this journey together.

    Andrea Stella, Team Principal.

    I’m delighted to be continuing our partnership with Oscar through to the end of 2026. He’s an incredible talent and an asset to the team so it’s fantastic to be committing to each other in the long term. Oscar is already proving what he can do out on track and has been instrumental in the turn around we’ve had so far this season. He’s fit into the team brilliantly and is really valued by the whole McLaren Racing family. I’m excited to see how he continues to grow both on and off track.

    McLaren CEO, Zak Brown.

    I am thrilled to be extending my partnership with McLaren for many years. I want to be fighting it out at the front of the grid with this team and I am excited by the vision and foundations that are already being laid to get us there. The welcome that I have received and the relationships that I have built make this feel like home already. The team’s consistent commitment in me has made me feel incredibly valued and the desire from the team for me to be part of its long-term future made this an easy decision. To be wanted like that and for the team to show so much belief in me after just half a season, means a lot. Stability is a huge advantage in this early part of my career and to have that with a brand as prestigious as McLaren gives me the opportunity to continue the work that we’ve started. We’ve enjoyed some good moments together in my rookie season, but I’m excited to work together with everyone at MTC over the coming years to create some great moments.

    Oscar Piastri on the contract extension.

  • Japan Tyre Selection

    The tyres have been chosen for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix as we arrive for Round 17 and our second race of the double header!

    The tyres chosen for Suzuka are: C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium) and C3 (Soft).

    The Japanese Grand Prix could spring a few surprises due to the high temperatures recorded last week, with highs of up to 33 degrees centigrade.
    If this continues, tyre degradation could become an important factor.

    Weather conditions have heavily influenced the Grand Prix. On four occasions (2004, 2009, 2010 and 2019) qualifying has been held on Sunday morning due to torrential rain or the threat of a typhoon.

    In 2022, it was the race which was interrupted due to torrential rain on the first lap. The restart occurred three hours later, with only 45 minutes to go due to the maximum allowed race duration.
    In total, 28 laps were completed, with the drivers only using the intermediate and full wet tyres.

    The asphalt at Suzuka features some of the highest levels of roughness and abrasion seen all season. Wear and degradation are important factors in determining the run plan for free practice as well as race strategy.

    The Japanese Grand Prix takes place on one of the most fascinating and demanding tracks in Formula 1 history: Suzuka, with its unique figure of eight layout. This historic venue is a drivers’ favourite, being absolutely thrilling to drive in today’s ultra-competitive single-seaters. With its very significant lateral and vertical loads, Suzuka is as demanding on tyres as it is on drivers. These demands are equally distributed across all four wheels, with 10 right-handers and eight left-handers throughout the six-kilometre lap. As a result of these challenging characteristics, we bring some of the hardest tyres in the 2023 range to Japan: C1, C2, and C3. This is only nominally the same as last year’s selection on account of the new C1 compound, which was introduced this season to slot in between the C2 and former C1 (now called C0). On Friday, all the teams will get the chance to test a new version of the C2 compound, with a view to homologating it for next season. This latest evolution should provide more grip than the current C2, and so fit in more coherently between the C1 and C3. For the first two free practice sessions, each driver will have two additional sets of tyres, compared to the usual 13 sets per weekend. This test is part of a development programme that was recently defined for 2024 and will continue with a new C4 compound to be tested on track during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.

    Mario Isola, Pirelli Head of Motorsport.
    Preview for the Formula 1 Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix 2023. Number of laps: 53. Race distance: 307.471km. Circuit length: 5.807km. Lap record: 1:30.983s by Lewis Hamilton in 2019. Tyre characteristics from 1 (minimum) to 5 (maximum): Traction 3, Asphalt grip 3, Asphalt abrasion 4, Track evolution 3, Tyre stress 5, Braking 2, Lateral 5, Downforce 4. Lateral energy on tyres: Front left 3, Front right 4, Rear left 5, Rear right 5. Longitudinal energy on tyres: front left 1, front right 1, rear left 2, rear right 2. Compounds: C1 Hard, C2 Medium, C3 Soft. EOS camber limit: minus 2.75 degrees front, minus 1.5 degrees rear. Minimum starting pressures for slicks: 25psi front and 23psi rear, subject to changes after FP2.

  • O’Ward handed FP1 outing

    McLaren has handed IndyCar driver, Pato O’Ward his second Formula 1 free practice run in Abu Dhabi as well as the post-race tyre test that takes place the week after the F1 season finale.

    All teams have to get a rookie to take part in two FP1 sessions over the season, but as Oscar Piastri is a rookie he done his on the first race weekend in Bahrain.

    Originally the second free practice session was going to Alex Palou – who had been expected to become one of its reserves from this weekend’s race in Singapore.

    However, with Palou having gone back on plans to join McLaren in IndyCar, the Woking quad has had to re-evaluate things.

    Abu Dhabi will be Pato’s first appearance at an F1 weekend since he had his debut free practice run at last year’s Abu Dhabi event.
    McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella explained that they believe O’Ward was now eligible for an F1 superlicence after finishing fourth in this year’s IndyCar championship so hopefully the Mexican could join its roster of reserves.

    We are actually checking with the FIA, and we think he’s eligible now for the superlicence. So he’s qualified to drive an F1 car and be in a position to be one of the reserve drivers. In terms of the two main [free practice] events that would have involved either Alex or Pato, we had to do one more session of free practice one, where we have to have a so-called young driver, so a driver that hasn’t participated in more than two races. And then we have the post-Abu Dhabi test. Initially, these kind of events would have been split between the two, but obviously now in this situation, we will have Pato at the wheel in FP1 in Abu Dhabi and then I can confirm that he will also be driving the Tuesday after the race in Abu Dhabi.

    Andrea Stella, talking at the Singapore GP.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CxQoY_YoUwN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

  • RND 16 – Singapore Grand Prix

    WHAT A RACE!!!!
    My lord we was treated with a blinder, and I can tell you Red Bull’s streak has now ended and we have a different winner this season!

    Carlos Sainz manages to hold off a McLaren and both Mercedes to win the Singapore Grand Prix!! Lando Norris comes home in P2! And Lewis Hamilton is back on the podium for Mercedes in P3!

    The full top 10 are- P1: Sainz, P2: Norris, P3: Hamilton, P4: Leclerc, P5: Verstappen, P6: Gasly, P7: Piastri, P8: Perez, P9: Lawson and P10: Magnussen.

    What a drive from Carlos! WOW, what a result for Ferrari aswell, and he had quite a bit of pressure put on him too, whilst also being very clever and keeping Norris in DRS at the end too.

    Verstappen done well to get in the top 5 obviously good points, but it doesn’t mean he get’s the championship just yet, the same with the team also!
    A good drive aswell for Perez, I do believe he is under investigation for causing a collision with Albon and I have a feeling it will be a penalty but I don’t think it’s going to affect the point scorers…

    A bit of a heartbreak for George, being P3 on the last lap and trying to push for the win, and he clipped the wall quite hard and it just meant he went straight on which saw him not score any points after having amazing pace!
    Obviously Lewis got on the podium due to that, but I think the team can be proud of that drive by both drivers due to strategy going for the second pit stop and the car has got faster!

    Now, Liam Lawson, what a drive from the New Zealander his first points in F1, got into Q3 yesterday… I believe this man is owed a seat, someone please…

    Our last point goes to Mr Kevin Magnussen. POINTS!! For Haas finally! A good drive for K-Mag he stayed out of trouble and just got his head down with some overtakes aswell.

    Ocon got unlucky, he was driving so well in the points, but he unfortunately suffered with a suspected gearbox problem and had to retire on track.
    Tsunoda was out on lap 1 due to being hit by Perez, so he went off into a run off area.

    Now, we don’t have long to wait till the next race, as it is infact next week! And we head to Japan for Round 17!
    Will Red Bull and Max come back fighting? Or could we see another entertaining race? Find out next week!

  • RND 16 – Singapore Qualifying

    What a qualifying session it was last night! We definitely had a few shock surprises last night, and we have a bit of a mixed starting grid…

    It was Carlos Sainz who took back to back pole positions, with George Russell joining in P2 and then the final spot was claimed by Charles Leclerc!

    The full top 10 are- P1: Sainz, P2: Russell, P3: Leclerc, P4: Norris, P5: Hamilton, P6: Magnussen, P7: Alonso, P8: Ocon, P9: Hulkenberg and P10: Lawson.

    What a result for Ferrari! They will be wanting to replicate these positions later on in the race!

    Not a good result for the Bulls, Max starts P11 and Perez P13 – not good at all, Max has struggled all weekend here and I think Perez was the same in Q2. I don’t think they will make massive positions up in the race due to just the track and not many overtaking spots.

    Liam Lawson, what a man! Third qualifying in F1 and his first time driving at this circuit, and he gets himself into the top 10 and out qualifies his teammate too! If that doesn’t get him a seat for next year, I don’t know what will!

    Not the best result for Piastri, but it wasn’t his fault. The track evolution was something else, so everyone was improving but the Australian got caught out by the red flag caused by Lance Stroll, meaning he couldn’t improve.

    Haas! Both drivers in the top 10!! What a result for them, considering they haven’t got the updated car yet, this will be good if they can turn it into a points finish!

    My Predictions-

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

    I think we may have a crazy race today and hopefully a different winner! Maybe an appearance from a safety car and so!

  • Singapore Grand Prix

    The Singapore Grand Prix is here where we are under the lights as we start another double header, is this another weekend where we see Max take another win?

    Most importantly, the track has changed, turns 16, 17, 18 and 19 have been removed from the final sector, so the track will no longer go under the grandstand towards the end of the lap.
    Instead there will be a straight from Turn 15 to the old Turn 20 and 21 chicane, which will now be the Turn 16 and 17 chicane. The approach to the new Turn 16 now offers up an additional overtaking opportunity as drivers now believe the races in Singapore will be enhanced.

    Who needs to shine?

    The rookies, Logan Sargeant, Oscar Piastri and Liam Lawson wouldn’t of driven on this track before, so they will be looking to impress, especially Logan and Liam, the former looking to re-sign with Williams and Liam looking to get into the sport on a full time basis.

    Alpine had a shocker last time out in Italy, Ocon with a DNF which no one knew about… And Gasly in P15. They need to get a wiggle on as McLaren have flown away in P5 and yes they have a gap to Williams in P7 but they won’t want to just stay in 6th.

    Stroll… oh my oh my, again last time out in Italy he got 16th, his had 8 races where his finished in the points this season, but there not big point finishes really compared to his teammate whose been a regular appearance on the podium and has scored points in every race weekend this season!

    Looking at the constructors, Mercedes is on 273 points in 2nd, Ferrari 228 in third, and Aston in fourth on 217, so the rest of the races, it will be interesting to see how many drivers score points as a team.

  • Zhou signs for 2024!

    China’s first full-time F1 driver, Zhou Guanyu has signed a new deal to extend his stay with Alfa Romeo into the 2024 season with Valtteri Bottas.

    Zhou first made his debut with the Sauber-run Swiss team in 2022, scoring a point on debut in Bahrain and has then shown strong progress since.

    This contract extension means, that the Zhou will have the opportunity to race on home soil for the first time in F1, with the Chinese Grand Prix returning to the calendar next year.

    This move gives the team stability as the 24 year old’s teammate, Bottas has already got a contract for 2024, which he signed a multi-year deal that comes to a conclusion at the end of next season.

    The team has also announced F2 Championship leader, Theo Pourchaire will continue in his role as the reserve driver in 2024.

    Signing again with the team is always a great feeling, especially when we know how things are shaping up. I am proud to be part of Alfa Romeo and grateful for their trust. I have been working extremely hard since day one and there is an incredible level of motivation to keep doing so every day forward. My relationship with Valtteri is really good, and we are working closely together and with the team to push everyone forward. I am also very excited about the opportunity to finally race with my team in China, in front of my home crowd. It will be a great moment and I’m proud to be able to share it with all those who have supported me.

    Zhou on the announcement.

    The decision to continue our journey with our driver line-up unchanged is testament to the investment we have made in our project. Nothing in Formula 1 changes overnight, and we have taken a conscious decision to focus on stability and to keep building our team up together as we embark on an important period of transition. Valtteri and Zhou are drivers of known talent and skill and they work really well together: they are well-matched and can push each other. Valtteri has taken a real leader’s role within the team, pushing us all to give our best; Zhou has made impressive steps forward in the last two years and we expect him to continue on this trajectory in 2024. Now the baton is back to us – we have to give both drivers a good car and put them in the best conditions to perform.

    Team Representative, Alessandro Alunni Bravi.

    Over the years, the team has become a family to me and, therefore, I am really happy and grateful to continue my journey with Alfa Romeo and the Sauber Academy. The support I have received from everyone in the team has been outstanding, and I’m proud to be able to contribute to the growth of the whole operation.

    Pourchaire sticking with his role.

  • McLaren reveal livery for next two races

    McLaren will be using a new livery design at the upcoming back to back Grand Prix weekends in Singapore and Japan as the team continue to celebrate their 60th Birthday.

    Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will contest the two races with what has been described as ‘Stealth Mode’ Scheme, switching McLaren’s usual colourway and augmenting black against their classic papaya trim.

    The livery has been co-designed by McLaren and OKX, a Web3 technology company and official partner of the Woking squad, representing how both brands “strive for excellence, while embracing change and innovation”.

    Alongside the livery, a limited edition t-shirt will be made available through the McLaren store, and a limited giveaway for attendees of Token2049, the Web3 conference taking place in Singapore prior to the race.

    OKX will also host a McLaren themed fan zone, OKX Race Club at Chijmes, Singapore from Thursday 14th September to Sunday 17th September, featuring a Stealth Mode show car, racing simulators, giveaways and special guests over the weekend.

    Our partnership with OKX goes from strength to strength, and it’s fantastic to celebrate it with this incredible livery. Stealth Mode flips our race car’s colours, bringing something exciting and different to these two great races in Singapore and Japan. We hope fans will love it as much as we do and get a chance to enjoy the fan zone to connect with our team.

    McLaren CEO, Zak Brown.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CxIDuZNorv8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

  • Singapore Tyre Selection

    We are back racing this weekend after a little break and we have a double header upon us, but our first stop is the Singapore Grand Prix!

    The tyres have been chosen for this weekend, which are the softest of all the compounds C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium) and C5 (Soft).

    The Singapore Grand Prix takes place at night, where it starts at 8pm local time. There are a number of aspects which make this a physically demanding race for the drivers which include, the intense humidity, high temperature and head retention due to the walls lining the track.

    The layout has been modified this year, with the section of the track between turn 16 and 19 now becoming a straight that is around 397 metres long. That means that the number of corners goes down from 23 to 10, while the total lap length is 4.940 kilometres.

    A one-stop strategy is the clear way to go, also because the pit stop loss time of around 28 seconds is the highest of the season, together with Imola.

    As with other street tracks, grid position is always crucial to get a good finish, given the limited overtaking opportunities.

    Last year, the race start was postponed by an hour due to a storm that hit Marina Bay just a few minutes before the grid formed.
    The cats began the race on intermediate tyres and then switched to Medium and Soft – with a Virtual Safety Car also influencing strategy.

    The closing stages of this long season, taking Formula 1 to three continents and 16 different time zones, kicks off in Singapore this weekend. This was the first race to take place under artificial light: an idea that was later followed, in varying degrees, by other venues. From a technical point of view, Marina Bay is a typical street circuit: very twisty (with 19 corners, many of them 90-degree) and little run off. As a result, even a small mistake can be costly, while the track layout also means that the cars run a high level of downforce. This year, the lap takes on a new look due to some building work in the Marina Bay area: the part of the track that was previously turns 16 to 19 is now just a single straight, which is nearly 400 metres long. This change will make the track faster; firstly because the total lap length is now less than five kilometres and secondly because the layout has become a lot more flowing. We’ll wait to see if this change has an effect on strategies, because in theory at least it could create an overtaking opportunity – with passing notoriously difficult unless you have a much faster car.

    This track doesn’t place particular stress on the tyres in terms of loading, but the rear tyres need to be carefully managed during the traction phase when exiting slow corners. Temperatures are usually consistently high, as Singapore is only about 150 kilometres from the equator. This increases the risk of overheating: not just for tyres but also everything else, including the mechanicals and of course the driver!

    Mario Isola, Pirelli Head of Motorsport.

    https://x.com/pirellisport/status/1701516298419589158?s=46&t=aXLQ2Py0qaT52rhG6u6Lig

  • FIA confirm teams stayed within the Cost Cap

    All 10 Formula 1 teams have successfully stayed within the Cost Cap, which for 2022 was set at $140m, the FIA announced.

    The Financial Regulations were introduced from the start of the 2021 season in a bit to limit spending and ensure the long-term viability of the championship.

    Teams are required to submit accounts of their annual spending against the Cost Caps for the year by the following March.

    Last year, Williams and Aston Martin were found to be in a ‘procedural breach’ while Red Bull were deemed to have commited a ‘procedural breach and a minor financial overspend (less than 5% of the Cost Cap)’.

    Williams and Aston Martin received financial penalties. Red Bull were handed a more significant fine alongside a reduction in their wind tunnel testing allowance.

    Following the submissions for 2022, the FIA reviewed all reporting documentation submitted by each of the 10 teams and has subsequently issued certificates of compliance to all.

    The review has been an intensive and thorough process, beginning with a detailed analysis of the documentation submitted by the competitors. Additionally, there has been an extensive check of any non-F1 activities undertaken by the teams, which comprised multiple on-site visits to team facilities and careful auditing procedures to assess compliance with the Financial Regulations. The FIA Cost Cap Administration notes that all Competitors acted at all times in a spirit of good faith and cooperation throughout the process. The FIA also notes that the Financial Regulations are essential to the long-term financial stability of the sport, and that they will continue to be developed and refined based on the findings of each review process both in terms of the regulations themselves, which are written and approved under the FIA Formula 1 governance process, and the way in which they are enforced and policed. The FIA has made and will continue to make significant investments in this department for the collective benefit of the sport.

    The FIA on the cost cap.

  • Hamilton signs new deal and Russell extends

    Lewis Hamilton has put pen to paper on a new Mercedes contract that will keep the seven-time world champion onboard through the 2025 season, with George Russell also retained for the same period.

    Hamilton, was in his final year of his existing Silver Arrows deal and has been in talks with team boss Toto Wolff for several months, with those discussions eventually resulting in fresh terms.

    It comes halfway through Hamilton’s 11th season for Mercedes having joined the Brackley team back in 2013 and gone on to set a host of record, from championship wins to pole positions, race wins and so much more!

    Hamilton and Mercedes are currently working hard to return to the front of the F1 grid, their respective title winning runs having come to an end in 2021, but both sides are confident that the renewed partnership will yield further success.

    We dream every day of being the best and we have dedicated the past decade together to achieving that goal. Being at the top does not happen overnight or over a short period of time, it takes commitment, hard work and dedication and it’s been an honour to earn our way into the history books with this incredible team. We have never been hungrier to win. We have learnt from every success but also every setback. We continue to chase our dreams, we continue to fight no matter the challenge and we will win again. I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track. Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.

    Hamilton on the new contract.

    I have grown up with this team ever since joining as part of the junior programme back in 2017. It’s my home and it feels fantastic to extend our special relationship through 2025. After stepping up to the Mercedes race seat last year, I wanted to reward the trust and belief that Toto and the rest of the team placed in me. Taking my first pole position and race win last year was an unforgettable feeling. More importantly though, it’s been great to work with everybody at Brackley and Brixworth to make progress with our car and push forward our development. Their loyalty, vision and hard work is inspiring. We have made some significant steps over the last 18 months and are only getting stronger as a team. I’m excited to help continue to build on that momentum as we progress into 2024 and 2025 as we continue to focus on returning to the very front of the pack

    Russell on extending his contract.

    Continuing with our current driver line-up was a straightforward decision. We have the strongest pairing on the grid and both drivers are playing a crucial role in the team to move us forward. The strength and stability they provide will be key building blocks for our future success. Our partnership with Lewis is one of the most successful in the sport’s history. It was always a formality that we would continue together – and it’s energising for us all to be confirming that publicly. His qualities as a pure racing driver are illustrated by his remarkable track record; but over our years together, he has grown to become a pillar and leader of our team. Those leadership qualities are crucial as we focus on fighting for world championships again. As F1’s biggest global star, he has also played a key role in shaping our commitments to diversity, inclusion and sustainability, that will be foundations for our success in the years ahead. George is a leading light of his generation. He has repaid the faith we showed in him when promoting him to a race seat in 2022. His maiden pole position in Hungary and first Grand Prix victory in São Paulo were standout moments last season. As a driver, he combines razor-sharp speed with the tenacity of a true fighter. But he brings, too, an intelligence and attention to detail that will help him to continue to grow, develop and improve further. He is a natural fit to the team and we are delighted to have extended the relationship for the coming years.

    Toto Wolff on the news.

  • RND 15 – Italian Grand Prix

    Round 15 is now over and so is the Italian Grand Prix so let’s take a look at how it went!

    Max Verstappen and Red Bull came out on top in a battle against the Italian team as they secured victory and make more F1 history – the Dutchman moving ahead of Sebastian Vettel with 10 wins in a row and the team stretching their winning run to 15 races.

    Sergio Perez came home to make it a 1-2 for the team and rounding on the podium is pole sitter, Carlos Sainz making the Tifosi proud!

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

    A great result for Ferrari, and a good haul of points aswell which makes them leap frog Aston Martin in the Constructors. It was great to see them battling together aswell, as teammates fighting each other doesn’t happen often.

    Alex Albon holding off the McLaren’s for the majority of the race and scoring some valuable points in P7, he is quite literally carrying Williams all by himself!

    Valtteri Bottas, back in the points! What we love to see, he will be wanting to score a few more points in the next coming races, which will help the team as they are now only one point away from Haas in 8th.

    We had a bit of drama before the race even started, Yuki Tsunoda reported an engine failure on the formation lap and had to pull over to the side, which resulted in a delayed start due to recovering the Alpha Tauri car.

    Now we only have less than two weeks until were back and it will be another double header, and our first stop will be Singapore from the 15th to 17th!

  • RND 15 – Monza Qualifying

    Qualifying is done, and we take a look to see who took pole around the Temple of Speed!

    Carlos Sainz came out on top at the end of a thrilling qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix as the Ferrari driver narrowly got the better of Max Verstappen and teammate Charles Leclerc to secure his first pole position of the season.

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

    What a lovely result for Ferrari! Pole in-front of the Tifosi after being strong all weekend! Could we possibly see Max’s streak end? Can Ferrari take their first win of the season? It’s all to play for on the Italian circuit.

    A great result from Russell, best of the rest in P4, he will be hoping to get back on the podium today and earn some big points for the team. A decent result for Hamilton, but he will be wanting more and finishing in top 3 or 5 aswell.

    Alex Albonnnn, what a driver! P6!! He honestly never surprises me anymore, a top 10 finish in qualifying is what we kind of expect and want from the Williams driver.

    Liam Lawson! His first full F1 weekend, and wow, I think he may be getting a few team bosses talking… He qualified 12th, just one position behind his teammate who sits in 11th. Great to see how quick the New Zealander has got up to speed with the car.

    A rubbish qualifying for Alpine, P17 for Gasly and P18 for Ocon, what an earth is going on with them? They had a great weekend last week with Gasly’s podium and then to be down the bottom of the grid for qualifying less than a week later is a bit shocking…

    Predictions-

    My top five for the race are- P1: Sainz, P2: Leclerc, P3: Russell, P4: Perez and P5: Hamilton.

    I think I’m being a bit hopeful and wanting Ferrari to win this weekend, especially because their on pole, but will it happen? It’d be a dream if they did win!
    I feel like we are going to have an interesting race, with different strategies and so.

  • Ferrari reveal special livery for home race

    Ferrari have revealed a special, tweaked livery that will be on the cars of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz during this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix – the team’s home race.

    While the usual red colour scheme remains front and centre, it has been joined with flashes of yellow and black as seen on Ferrari’s 499P Hypercar which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year.

    Ex-F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi, driving the #51 machine alongside Alessandro Pier Guodo and James Calado, emerged victorious in the June race after a scrap with the #8 Toyota driver by former Toro Rosso racers, Sebasiten Buemi and Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa.

    Ferrari doesn’t stop there as Leclerc and Sainz will wear special driver race suits with the red, yellow and black theme continuing in posts shared by Ferrari.
    Not only this, the drivers will also be having special helmets for the race too.

    But for the fans, there will be special caps and t-shirts on display, which the thousands of tifosi who make the annual trip to the ‘Temple of Speed’ are no doubt set to wear with pride.

  • Italian Grand Prix

    We are in Italy for Round 15 and our second race of the double header as we arrive at the Temple of Speed to see if the Monza curse continues…

    The Monza curse has continued every year, but seeing as Max won last year, will he be the driver to break it? Or could we potentially see a different team other than Red Bull win on Sunday?

    This weekend’s race is the home race of a couple of teams, Ferrari obviously, and AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo!

    This weekend we also have Formula 2 and Formula 3 joining us on the Italian circuit, and not only that it is also the finale for F3 aswell!

    Who needs to shine?

    Charles Leclerc will be wanting a good weekend as it’s Ferrari’s home race, and after having a DNF last weekend he will be looking to score some big points in front of the home crowd.

    George Russell obviously he finished 17th last weekend, but this weekend he will be wanting to get back on the podium or even top 5.

    Going back to Ferrari they are only 14 points behind Aston Martin in the Constructors so this is a big opportunity for both drivers to close in on the Silverstone based team.

    With Williams scoring some more points last weekend they’ve managed to build a 4 point gap between themselves and Haas. But they will need a bigger gap to feel safe.

    Also, Liam Lawson! His back again this weekend subbing in for Ricciardo. He will be wanting to have another good race and hopefully with a bit more time in the car in the practice sessions he may get a better qualifying result also.

    Predictions for Qualifying-

    My top five for qualifying are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Hamilton, P3: Norris, P4: Perez and P5: Russell.

    I think we may have a few shock surprises in qualifying again. Maybe someone from a top team out in Q1/Q2 and having to see them come through the field on Sunday!

  • Aston Martin’s Drugovich set for FP1 outing

    Aston Martin have confirmed that test and reserve driver, Felipe Drugovich will make another appearance for the team this weekend as he will be behind the wheel for free practice 1.

    Drugovich, who secured the 2022 Formula 2 title at Monza 12 months ago, will replace Lance Stroll and line up with Alonso for the opening 60 minute session.

    It comes after the 23 year old stood in for the injured Stroll during pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, where he got his first taste of Aston Martin’s 2023 challenger.

    Drugovich made his practice debut with Aston Martin at last year’s season finale in Abu Dhabi and has been driving the 2021-spec AMR21 at circuits around Europe- Silverstone, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and the Red Bull Ring.

    I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the AMR23. The car felt great when I drove it in pre-season testing and it will be fascinating to feel how it has improved since then. I’ve spent a lot of time in the simulator helping to develop the car, so understanding how that correlates to the real thing will be super valuable for me too. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for me to demonstrate what I’ve learnt through my testing programme. Since Bahrain I’ve done many more miles in an F1 car so I have an even better understanding of how I can deliver valuable feedback for the team.

    Drugovich on the opportunity.

    We are delighted to be able to provide Felipe with another opportunity to drive the AMR23. He demonstrated his capabilities in pre-season testing, with a vital contribution to the team’s initial development of the car. Monza will offer another chance for Felipe to work closely with the engineers and mechanics and build his confidence in a critical session for the team. We look forward to maximising this session together.

    Mike Krack, Aston Martin team boss.

  • Monza Tyre Selection

    The tyres have been selected for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.

    The chosen tyres are: C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft). They are the softest compounds in the Pirelli range.

    The Alternative Tyre Allocation will be tried again at Monza, after the first test in Hungary.
    Each driver will have just 11 sets of slick tyres (three hard, four medium and four softs) at their disposal this weekend. In qualifying, drivers can use only one type of compound per session.

    Last year, there were no fewer than eight different strategies deployed by the top 10 finishers. Max Verstappen and George Russell first and third respectively opted for a single stop, while Charles Leclerc who finished second had already made two stops before a safety car at the end of the race allowed all three drivers to stop again.

    Monza has produced different winners over the past five years. Lewis Hamilton in 2018, Charles Leclerc in 2019, Pierre Gasly in 2020, Daniel Ricciardo in 2021 and Max Verstappen in 2022.

    As usual, the European Formula 1 season draws to a close in Monza: which is also Pirelli’s home event as our headquarters are just a few kilometres away from this iconic circuit. Monza is synonymous with speed, as its nickname of the ‘Temple of Speed’ capably demonstrates. To this day, it’s where the fastest race in the history of Formula 1 was held, with Michael Schumacher setting an unbeaten average race speed of 247.585 kph back in 2003. As a result, teams use the lowest possible aerodynamic downforce levels to favour top speed by reducing drag. Stability under braking and traction coming out of the two chicanes are the two key factors that challenge tyres most on this track, as well as the lateral loads exerted in the fast corners such as Parabolica (named after Michele Alboreto) and Curva Grande. After Hungary, Monza will be the second time that the Alternative Tyre Allocation (ATA) is trialled, which uses two fewer sets of tyres than the standard format. This offers a benefit in terms of CO2 saved both during production and transport, as well as giving teams and drivers a wider range of strategic option. For this reason as well, we have chosen the trio of softest compounds for Monza – C3, C4, and C5 – which has already been nominated five times this season.

    Mario Isola, Pirelli Head of Motorsport.

  • Lawson confirmed until Ricciardo is ready to return

    AlphaTauri have confirmed that Liam Lawson will continue to race for the team until Daniel Ricciardo is ready to race again.

    Ricciardo broke his hand in a crash during second practice for the Dutch Grand Prix on Friday, with Red Bull junior, Liam Lawson drafted in as a last minute replacement.

    Lawson qualified 20th, but acquitted himself well in the Grand Prix, as he managed to stay out of trouble and finish 13th, despite wet weather, red flags, Safety Car restarts and a penalty making his F1 debut harder than others.

    Meanwhile, Ricciardo flew to Spain on Sunday to have surgery on his hand. Red Bull boss, Christian Horner confirmed after the race that the eight-time race winner would be out of action at least after this weekend.

    We are delighted that Daniel’s surgery went well and that he is now on the road to recovery. We hope to see him at the track again very soon, but until he is fully fit, we can confirm that Liam, who did a good job in difficult circumstances in Zandvoort, will continue to drive alongside Yuki, starting from our home race this weekend in Monza.

    The team on the news.

    It was good, it was a lot going on. When I was rolling up to the grid and it was starting to rain, it wasn’t the best feeling but the race was okay. I think the second half of the race was not so bad, once we got clean air and also on the inters at the end was not too bad. Just happy to survive.

    Lawson after the Dutch GP.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CwfljkqKswC/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

  • RND 14 – Dutch Grand Prix

    Round 14 is over, as we now take a look at a very action-packed and rain hit race.

    Max Verstappen stormed to victory for a third year in a row at the Dutch GP, making it 9 victories in a row, equalling Vettel’s. Fernando Alonso was back on the podium in P2 and Pierre Gasly, yes that’s right brought it home in P3.

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

    Fernando Alonso, back on the podium? We love to see it! He also bagged driver of the day, so hopefully himself and the team are recharged and ready to fight for some more podiums!

    Piereeeee Gaslyyyyy, P3! Wow, if you asked me if I thought he’d be on the podium I’d say no, but I wasn’t expecting an overly crazy race. His first podium with Alpine, and Alpine’s second one this year. The team will be hoping for one or two more so they can bring the fight to McLaren in the Standings.

    Now a mixed day for the Ferrari boys, Carlos finishing 5th so a decent amount of points. But Charles… first was the pit stop where there were no tyres ready for him? (Are we surprised? No.) And then he had to retire the car due to floor damage. When will they get a break?

    Not a good day for Sargeant, started in the top 10 which is good! However… it didn’t stay that way, the American lost control of his Williams at the exit of Turn 8 and slammed into the barriers which prompted a VSC and then a full Safety Car.

    Now looking at a certain New Zealanders Debut… what a brilliant drive from Liam Lawson! He finished 13th, ahead of Tsunoda, which say’s a lot.

    We don’t have long to wait, as it’s race week again, and we head to Monza!

  • RND 14 – Zandvoort Qualifying

    Qualifying is now over and we most definitely had a few surprises along the way, lets take a look at how it went…

    Max Verstappen made it three pole positions in a row at the Dutch Grand Prix with another dominating display. The Dutchman managed to pull a stupendous final lap to beat Lando Norris and George Russell at the end of a crash-filled session.

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

    Just the result Max wanted, however I think it would of been better having his teammate with him in the top three, rather than 7th…

    A great result for Williams! Albon has his best qualifying result in F1 so far joining Russell on the 2nd row. Not only this, but Logan Sargeant got into his first Q3 session! Unfortunately he crashed which meant he couldn’t get no better than 10th.

    Not the best result for Lewis, qualifying 13th. Everyone was improving each lap and with Yuki impeding Lewis so he couldn’t get a decent lap in before the chequered flag so he was just a sitting duck waiting to be pushed down.

    A mixed result for Ferrari, both drivers in the top 10, but they would have been hoping to get a bit of a better result. Sainz starts 6th, and Leclerc 9th due to crashing out aswell, which put his session to an end aswell.

    Predictions-

    My top five predictions for the race are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Russell, P3: Alonso, P4: Norris and P5: Sainz.

    I feel like the race win we know who is going to grab it unless there’s a costly mistake which will never really happen. But the chaos behind him? Now that’s what is going to be entertaining.

  • Lawson replaces Ricciardo after injury

    Daniel Ricciardo has been ruled out of the Dutch Grand Prix due to a broken hand sustained in a crash during Free Practice 2, which hands his spot to Liam Lawson as he has his F1 Debut with Alpha Tauri.

    Ricciardo followed Oscar Piastri into the barriers at Zandvoort’s Turn 3 in the early stages of FP2, which automatically put him out of the session.

    Replays later showed Ricciardo’s hands being thrown around in the cockpit due to him still holding the steering wheel when he impacted the wall, with the Australian visibly in discomfort when he stepped out of the car.

    Having been taken to the medical centre and then a local hospital, news then came from AlphaTauri that Ricciardo broke a metacarpal on his left hand, and will not be able to take part in what would have been the third race since his F1 comeback.

    In his place steps Lawson, the 21 year old reserve driver for Red Bull and Alpha Tauri who has been competing in the Japan-based Super Formula championship this year.

    Lawson sits second in the Super Formula standings ahead of October’s season finale double header at Suzuka, with the break in the calendar leaving him free to substitute for the Australian driver.

    He is set to become the 10th New Zealander to contest a Grand Prix, with the most recent being Brendon Hartley raced for Torro Rosso.

    With the Italian Grand Prix directly following this weelend’s round at Zandvoort, it also casts doubt over Ricciardo’s ability to contest the Monza event.

  • Dutch Grand Prix

    The summer break is officially over and we are headed for Round 14, where it is the home Grand Prix of Max Verstappen so be prepared for lots of orange this weekend!

    Will it be another Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominated weekend? Or will Mercedes and Aston Martin or even McLaren bring the fight this weekend?

    Who needs to shine?

    Sergio Perez has a lot to prove this second half of the season. He has had a rough season so far, and with rumours always going round about the Red Bull seat he will be wanting to have a impressive second half to show he should keep the seat.

    Ferrari as a whole need a good weekend with some big points there fourth in the constructors and Aston Martin are only ahead by 5 points, so the fight will be on between the two teams.

    Another interesting fight is between Williams and Haas as they are currently tied on points in 7th and 8th respectively, not only this but Alfa Romeo are in 9th with just only 9 points, two points away from the teams above.

    Predictions for qualifying-

    My top five for qualifying are- P1: Verstappen, P2: Hamilton, P3: Norris, P4: Russell and P5: Piastri.

    I still think McLaren are still going to be on form, hence why both drivers are in my top five. At the time of writing this aswell, it is meant to rain tomorrow so we all know how Lando likes the rain!

  • Shwartzman to take on FP1 outings

    Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal has revealed that reserve driver Robert Shwartzman will get behind the wheel of the SF23 in both the team’s allocated rookie FP1 sessions this year – starting with the Dutch GP this weekend.

    Shwartzman has been a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2017, and since leaving Formula 2 at the end of 2021 – where he finished runner-up to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri – he has been serving as Scuderia’s reserve driver.

    Ferrari’s decision comes of the back of the rule that was introduced at the start of 2022 that requires all 10 teams to give a minimum of two FP1 sessions to a young driver throughout the season.

    Shwartzman has plenty of experience in F1 machinery, having taken part in both FP1 sessions for Ferrari last year, as well as having driven in the post-season young test for the team in 2022 and 2021 – where he also drove for Haas.

    And with Ferrari having two academy drivers in Formula 2 – Oliver Bearman and Arthur Leclerc – Vasseur explained why the decision was made not to give either a run out in F1 machinery this year instead of Shwartzman, due to wanting the drivers to focus on the championship.

    Robert will do Zandvoort in Carlos’ car, and he will do another one – probably Abu Dhabi in Charles’ car. Because (Zandvoort) was the choice of the driver. I gave them the choice to do it, where they want to do it. I know that it is not an easy situation but Carlos… it’s not so easy to decide. Because for sure you can’t do it in Singapore, in Japan, in Las Vegas. Also, you have some Sprint events in Austin, Qatar, also that you can’t do it. Then you have the races with tyre allocation, a bit different, so it is also tricky to do it, meaning at the end of the day you don’t have so many options.

    Vasseur on Shwartzman FP1 outings.