Jordan's Track Talk

Category: Formula One

  • Ferrari confirm Leclerc grid penalty

    Charles Leclerc will be having his work cut out in this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after his Ferrari team were forced to fit another control electronics power unit component which in turn triggers a grid penalty.

    Ferrari replaced the Energy Store and Control Electronics on Leclerc’s engine before the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix. The Monegasque then retired when in contention for a podium behind the two Red Bulls.

    As teams are only permitted to use two control electronics components per season without penalty, Leclerc’s move to a third for race two in Jeddah ensures he will have at least a 10 place grid drop this Sunday. And potentially more if they replace any other parts and increases the chances of him taking a further penalty later in the season.

    After Baku, last year Ferrari were forced to run their engine at a lower power to reduce the risk of failure. However a lot of work went into durability over the winter and while they encountered problems in Bahrain.

    Leclerc heads into the weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 25 points adrift of championship leader Max Verstappen – and while he was understandably down after failing to score in the season opener, Vasseur said he has no worries about the Monegasque’s mindset and motivation.

    On Sunday, we had two different issues. The first one was on the Sunday morning, when we did the fire up, and the second one was in the race. Unfortunately, it was two times the control unit, the ECU. It’s something that we never experienced in the past. I hope now it’s under control, but we have a deep analysis on this. Unfortunately, we’ll have to take the penalty in Jeddah, because we have only a pool of two control units for the season. Charles was with us after the tyre test day on Tuesday, was at the factory on Wednesday morning. We had a speech with the employees, where we were all together on stage. It’s obvious Charles is motivated, we have done one race of 23. He’s full push with the team, trying to get the best for everyone. The penalty is not good news, but it’s not the end of the season. Let’s see what happens in Jeddah, and what could be the outcome, even with the penalty, but don’t imagine for half a second he could be demotivated. He’s fully convinced, he’s working with us, pushing the team, pushing everybody in a positive way. And nothing else.

    Fred Vasseur, Team Principal.

  • F1 to race in Austria until 2027

    It has been announced that Formula 1 will continue to race in Austria until 2027, after a new four-year agreement was reached.

    The Austrian Grand Prix returned to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2014, an since then the Red Bull Ring has welcomed millions of fans, with 303,000 supporters in attendance at last year’s sold-out event.

    The last race under the current agreement, set to take place 30th June to 2nd July, will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Austrian Grand Prix’s return to the Formula 1 calendar, and feature an F1 Sprint for the second consecutive year.

    And now fans can now look forward to at least four more Grand Prix at the historic track.

    The Austrian Grand Prix brings together the perfect mix of a challenging track, high-speed racing, and a beautiful venue for our fans, so I am delighted that we will be coming back to the Red Bull Ring until at least 2027 under this new agreement. As we celebrate the 10th year since our return to Spielberg, I would like to thank everyone involved in this renewal, especially the promoter and Red Bull and I want to pay tribute to Dietrich Mateschitz for the love, passion, and vision he brought to Formula 1 that has ensured the continued success of the event and the huge enthusiasm for our sport in Austria and around the world.

    Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.

    We are proud of the special partnership we have with Formula 1, and we are absolutely delighted to be welcoming the top class of motorsport to the Red Bull Ring for a further four years. In signing this contract extension, Formula 1 has made a strong commitment to Austria, Styria and the Murtal region. As we enter the tenth year of our partnership with Formula 1, we want to celebrate this milestone with all the great fans of the sport and to thank them for their loyalty and the tremendous atmosphere they help to generate. Everyone is invited to experience another great race weekend at Spielberg in 2023.

    Erich Wolf, General Manager of Projekt Spielberg GmbH & Co KG.

  • Saudi Arabia Tyre Selection

    The tyres have been chosen for the second round out of 23, lets take a look.

    For the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the middle of the range has been picked which are: C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium), C4 (Soft).

    Jeddah is the fastest street circuit of the year, with the track having been designed three years ago and has continually been improved since.

    This year, there are some new rubble strips on the escape roads whilst some of the kerbs have been smoothed. A number of the walls have been repositioned, such as those at Turn 8 and 10 to improve visibility and Turn 23 to slow the corner down.

    The circuit offers a medium level of grip but the sand blown onto the surface can influence this on low-abrasion asphalt. The track, is not especially demanding in terms of traction and braking with lateral forces predominantly affecting the tyres.

    For the rapid Jeddah track, we have confirmed the same compound choices as last year as they showed very good consistency throughout the race weekend. In the two races held up to now, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has been quite unpredictable because of the frequent safety cars and neutralisations, being a typical street circuit. A one-stopper was the fastest option in 2022, when a safety car led to an early pit stop for most of the drivers, who went on to finish the race on the hard tyre. Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc fought hard on this strategy thanks also to the durability of the tyres, with the Red Bull driver winning by less than a second at the end of a great race. The teams will also have to work hard on car setup because they will only have free practice to fine-tune the balance on this track with the latest tyres. The first race in Bahrain was all about traction and braking but Jeddah instead focuses on lateral forces, with completely different characteristics to Sakhir.

    Mario Isola, Motorsport Director

  • RND 1 – Bahrain Grand Prix

    The first race of the season is complete, let’s take a look at how it went…

    Everyone bar hard-shod Kevin Magnussen began the race on soft tyres and Verstappen had a solid getaway, but teammate Perez fell back and lost second place to Leclerc.

    The reigning champion stretched his legs in the lead and eventually won by more than 10 seconds. Perez made it a one-two with both drivers on similar soft-soft-hard strategies.

    Whilst Fernando Alonso, went on a warpath as on Lap 45 he passed Sainz after a stunning battle to get on the podium, his first since Qatar 2021 and his first with Aston Martin.

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

    A good start to the season for the reigning constructors champions, it’ll be interesting to see if any tracks maybe don’t suit them and if they have any reliability issues.

    Aston Martin have made a big improvement from last year, hopefully they can keep the momentum running and keep the streak going.

    Not the best race for Ferrari, with Leclerc having a problem and retiring it isn’t the best start to the season especially if they want to challenge for the Championship.

    A little shout-out to the highest placed rookie. Logan Sargeant finished 12th on his debut, not a bad first race for the American.

  • RND 1 – Bahrain Qualifying

    The first Qualifying session is complete at the Bahrain International Circuit, as it was an intense and hotly contested session under the Sakhir lights.

    Max Verstappen took pole position, with his teammate, Sergio Perez making it an all Red Bull front row lock out. Charles Leclerc rounds out the top three.

    The full top 10 are: P1: Verstappen, P2: Perez, P3: Leclerc, P4: Sainz, P5: Alonso, P6: Russell, P7: Hamilton, P8: Stroll, P9: Ocon and P10: Hulkenberg.

    Lando Norris missed out on Q3 by a couple of tenths as he started to make up for a tricky pre-season test. I think it will be interesting to see how he can do in the car whilst on race pace.

    Rookie, Logan Sargeant almost joined his teammate in Q2 for the first time of asking, but he set an identical time to 15th place Norris towards the end of Q1, as the American set it second it meant to he was out.

    Something I didn’t expect to see was Pierre Gasly out in Q1 but the Frenchman starting P20 on the grid, as he had a lap time deleted.

    A shoutout to Hulkenberg though, starting P10 on his first race back, he already looks comfortable in the car so if he can keep this going for not just the race this weekend but throughout the season, Haas shouldn’t have a problem with being in the midfield.

    Predictions-

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

    I feel like we all know roughly the four teams that are at the top for this first race, but we won’t get a true idea for race pace until later on.

    There’s always some drama on the first race so if some drivers are clever they will optimise on the misfortune of others.

  • Bahrain Grand Prix

    The first round is here, and we are at the Bahrain International Circuit for Round 1 out of 23.

    This season we have three rookies joining the grid, and a lot of changes within the teams and the drivers as well as having the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

    But who will be the world champion? Can Max Verstappen make it 3 in a row? Or will Ferrari finally end their 16 year drought and grab the championship? Will Mercedes be back on form and fight at the top?

    Who needs to shine?

    Guanyu Zhou is going into his second year as an F1 driver, he will be wanting to prove a lot more as he was quite unlucky last season.

    This year we will be having three new rookies to the grid, Oscar Piastri for McLaren, Logan Sargeant for Williams and Nyck de Vries for Alpha Tauri. Three different cars for three different drivers, it will be interesting to see how they do as Piastri comes from a year out of racing, Sargeant from racing in F2 and de Vries from Formula E.

    And we have Nico Hulkenberg who is returning to the sport after leaving at the end of 2019, but making several appearances since then as well as being a reserve and development driver.

    Predictions for Qualifying-

    My top five for qualifying are- Pole: Sainz, P2: Verstappen, P3: Leclerc, P4: Hamilton, P5: Alonso.

    I think we all know that it’s going to be Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes fighting at the top but I think it will be even closer in the midfield.

    Times for the weekend-

    Friday 3rd-

    Free Practice F3: 07:55am – 08:40am, Free Practice F2: 09:05am – 09:50am, Free Practice 1 F1: 11:30am – 12:30pm, Qualifying F3: 13:00pm – 13:30pm, Free Practice 2 F1: 15:00pm – 16:00pm, Qualifying F2: 16:30pm – 17:00pm (GMT).

    Saturday 4th-

    Sprint Race F3: 09:15am – 10:00am, Free Practice 3 F1: 11:30am – 12:30pm, Sprint Race F2: 13:15pm – 14:00pm Qualifying F1: 15:00pm – 16:00pm.

    Sunday 5th-

    F3 Feature Race: 08:50am, F2 Feature Race: 10:20am and F1 Race: 15:00pm.

  • Vandoorne & Drugovich added to McLaren’s reserve pool

    Aston Martin have announced that their reserve drivers, Stoffel Vandoorne and Felipe Drugovich can be used by McLaren for the majority of the 2023 season.

    Vandoorne was announced as an Aston Martin reserve in November, the former McLaren racer will be sharing duties with reigning F2 Champion Drugovich, who had earlier joined the team’s development programme.

    Aston Martin stated that McLaren will have access to Vandoorne and Drugovich for the first 15 races of the 23 race 2023 schedule.

    It follows a similar announcement that Mercedes reserve, Mick Schumacher will also be part of McLaren’s pool for the upcoming campaign.

    Both Aston Martin and McLaren head into the new season with revised driver line-ups: Fernando Alonso has joined Lance Stroll at the Silverstone squad and F3 and F2 Champion, Oscar Piastri links up with Lando Norris at the Woking squad.

  • F1 Pre-Season Testing

    F1 pre-season testing has come to an end after three days of running at the Bahrain International Circuit.

    It’s not long until we have the cars back on track, but whilst the paddock is taking a breather lets take a look at how each team fared with their new machines.

    AlphaTauri

    Total Laps – 456, Fastest Lap – 1m 31.261s (Yuki Tsunoda)

    Alpha Tauri topped the mileage charts in Bahrain as Nyck de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda complete 456 laps of Bahrain. The Italian team have more reasons to be happy as Tsunoda sets the sixth-fastest time of the whole test, and De Vries was second in mileage charts as he readies for his maiden season.

    Williams

    Total Laps – 439, Fastest Lap – 1m 32.549s (Logan Sargeant)

    With a combined total of 439 laps of Bahrain, or 2,376km Logan Sargeant and Alex Albon notched up the second-highest lap count of pre-season testing. Bar an unusual issue with the car’s electrical system, Williams’ three days of testing were trouble-free.

    Ferrari

    Total Laps – 416, Fastest Lap – 1m 31.024s (Charles Leclerc)

    The Scuderia had a positive three days, with both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc occasionally finding themselves at the top of the timesheets, and matching Red Bull. They did contend with a few issues, such as bouncing and the degradation of their tyres.

    Haas

    Total Laps – 414, Fastest Lap – 1m 31.381s (Kevin Magnussen)

    Kevin Magnussen set the seventh-fastest time of testing on Friday and the Dane notched up 95 laps as the team had a smooth three days. Returnee Nico Hulkenberg also got useful mileage – a minor throttle issue on Day 1 was the only hurdle they faced in reliability.

    Red Bull

    Total Laps – 413, Fastest Lap – 1m 30.305s (Sergio Perez)

    It was a strong pre-season test for Red Bull that ended in Sergio Perez setting the fastest time of the week on the final day. They enjoyed a trouble free three days with limited reliability woes, putting them in a good position ahead of the season.

    Alfa Romeo

    Total Laps – 402, Fastest Lap – 1m 30.827s (Valtteri Bottas)

    It was a mixed pre-season for Alfa Romeo. They managed a good haul of laps, and Zhou Guanyu topping the timesheets on Day 2. But they also caused two red flags, the first when Zhou stopped at the end of the pitlane and the other when Valtteri pulled over with a power unit problem.

    Mercedes

    Total Laps – 398, Fastest Lap – 1m 30.664s (Lewis Hamilton)

    Mercedes, endured a mixed pre-season as well, as they were able to go through their programme on Day 1, George Russell stopped on track on Day 2 with a hydraulics issue. They were able to get the car fixed for Day 3, with Lewis Hamilton ending the day 2nd, although they seemed to struggle with the balance of their 2023 challenger.

    Aston Martin

    Total laps – 387, Fastest Lap – 1m 31.440s (Fernando Alonso)

    While Felipe Drugovich did an admirable job in the two sessions he drove as he stepped in for Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso was the one to watch. The Spanish driver settled in well at his new environment, with the car seemingly responding to his every request.

    Alpine

    Total Laps – 353, Fastest Lap – 1m 32.762s (Pierre Gasly)

    Alpine had a low-key three days of running in Sakhir, with both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finishing towards the bottom the combined timesheets. Ocon was keen to talk up the A523 as a clear step forward, with the general feeling that there is more to come.

    McLaren

    Total Laps – 312, Fastest Lap 1m 32.160s (Lando Norris)

    McLaren had another challenging pre-season in Bahrain after their brake related woes 12 months ago, with aerodynamic efficiency – or rather an apparent lack of it. Add in the need for temporary strengthening work on the front winglets between runs on Saturday, McLaren ended the test with the least mileage out of all 10 teams.

  • Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to feature new configuration

    Spanish Grand Prix venue, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will feature a revised configuration for this year’s race – the eighth round of the championship.

    Furthermore, the track will feature new safety features and renovated paddock facilities.

    The circuit just outside Barcelona, first hosted the Spanish Grand Prix in 1991 – where Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell went wheel to wheel for championship glory – and has undergone several changes since.

    In 2007, a chicane was introduced before the final corner in Barcelona but this year, the chicane (currently Turns 14 – 15) will be removed to return the section to its original layout.

    New TECPRO barriers will be introduced in the last two high speed corners and the official length of the track for the Spanish Grand Prix will be 4.657 kilometres which is 18 metres shorter than the previous track.

    The Spanish track will also make other changes, with a widening of the run-off area in Turn 1, including 70 more metres of gravel plus a slope of 5% and a new fence protecting Turns 1 and 2 to improve the safety of the drivers.

    The scoreboard at the pitlane exit will be remodelled for 2023, including a more modern signalling tower.

  • Bahrain Tyre Selection

    The tyres for the first round of the 2023 season have been chosen as the new C1 makes its debut this weekend.

    This year, Pirelli has expanded the range of available compounds to six, with three still chosen for every race. The brand new C1 compound fills the gap between the hardest C0 (used as the C1 in 2022) and the C2 which is unchanged from last year.

    The selection is: C1 (Hard tyre), C2 (Medium tyre), C3 (Soft tyre). The teams will have at their disposal two sets of hard tyres, three sets of mediums and eight sets of soft per car.

    The Bahrain International Circuit, features some of the most abrasive asphalt of the year while the track – consisting of low to medium speed corners – mainly places traction and braking demands on the tyres. The layout also requires a good level of stability at the rear of the car.

    The Bahrain Grand Prix, takes place on a circuit surrounded by the Sakhir desert. Wind can sometimes blow sand onto the track, which can affect the grip levels during the sessions.

    The support races include Formula 2 and Formula 3, with them resulting rubber laid down influencing track evolution.

    Tyre degradation will be a key factor when it comes to deciding the strategy. Last season, all the drivers bar one stopped three times (rather than the anticipated two-stopper) due to a late race safety car.

  • Doohan becomes Alpine reserve

    Alpine have announced that Jack Doohan will be acting as the squad’s reserve driver during the upcoming F1 season. As it marks the next step for the Aussie after his recent test and practice outings.

    Doohan joined the Alpine Academy from Red Bull’s junior programme in 2022, combining work for the F1 team with a second F2 campaign which yielded three wins, three pole positions and sixth in the standings.

    In the closing stages of the year, Doohan also made his official Grand Prix weekend debut with FP1 outings in Mexico and Abu Dhabi. Now, having also taken part in the 2022 post-season test in Abu Dhabi, 20 year-old Doohan has been given the official title of Alpine reserve driver.

    It means he will be called upon should regular Alpine drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly – the latter arriving from AlphaTauri to replace Aston Martin bound Fernando Alonso – be unable to compete.

    Alongside his F1 reserve duties, Doohan will be continuing to compete in F2 for a third campaign in 2023, sticking with the Virtuosi Racing squad as Alpine set him the target of claiming the title.

  • Schumacher joins McLaren’s reserve driver pool

    McLaren have announced that they have reached an agreement with Mercedes which will see them add Mick Schumacher to their pool of reserve drivers, for the 2023 season.

    Schumacher joined the silver arrows as a reserve driver in December last year – after two seasons racing at Haas – where he scored 12 points in 43 starts.

    This means, Schumacher joins IndyCar Champion, Alex Palou in McLaren’s list of reserve drivers for the 2023 season, with the German able to step in if one of Lando Norris or the team’s newest recruit, Oscar Piastri is unable to take part in a race weekend.

    McLaren shared an image of Schumacher getting accustomed to their cockpit and getting the seat moulded around him in Woking, so the German will be ready to step in if needed.

    Schumacher, will be on hand for the squad which is led by Team Principal Andrea Stella who was his father, Michael’s Performance Engineer at Ferrari from 2002 to 2006 – during which they won three drivers’ titles together.

  • Abbi Pulling signs with Rodin Carlin

    Abbi Pulling will be racing with Rodin Carlin this season in the F1 Academy, as well as becoming a fully-fledged member of the Alpine Academy driver programme.

    Pulling was an Alpine Affiliate last season during which she achieved a seventh place finish in the 2022 W Series campaign.

    The British driver began her career at nine, racing in karting before graduating up to Ginetta Juniors. In 2020, she moved to British Formula 4 where she took four podiums on the way to P6 in the championship.

    A second British F4 campaign and a further three podiums followed. She also completed her maiden season in W Series, finishing the 2021 season seventh. The following year, she climbed to fourth place overall, achieving four top five finishes in 2022.

    It is great to be competing in the first season of the F1 Academy, especially to be working with such a successful team as Rodin Carlin. Having spent time with the team before, I can’t wait to get the season started, working alongside some incredible people. I have lots of trust in them and know they will push me to be the best I can be. I’m very thankful for the continued support of the Alpine Academy for a second season and the great work of Gazing Performance and Alice Powell behind the scenes. I’m also excited to welcome My First Alert who are supporting my programme for the first time this year.

    Abbi Pulling on her F1 Academy seat.

    We’re delighted to welcome Abbi to the team for this first season of F1 Academy. Our paths have crossed in the past before and Abbi is a driver we’ve wanted to work with for some time now. We’re really excited that we are able to work on this programme together and have no doubt that Abbi will be a huge asset to the team. Thank you to the Alpine Academy for entrusting us with this next stage of Abbi’s career. We can’t wait to get on track.

    Rodin Carlin Team Principal, Stephanie Carlin.

  • Stroll to miss out on pre-season testing

    Aston Martin have announced that Lance Stroll will be missing out on this week’s pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit, after he had an accident whilst training.

    Stroll was involved in what has been described as a “minor” incident but the injuries will rule him out of the the three-day session.

    Aston Martin also added that they expect Stroll to make a quick recovery and return to driving duties in due course, and his fitness will be assessed daily. And an update will be issued ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix which is scheduled for March 3rd to 5th.

    It is not clear whether Aston Martin will call on their reserve driver Felipe Drugovich jump in the car for testing as Stoffel Vandoorne is in Cape Town for Formula E or let Fernando Alonso do all 3 days.

    I’ve had an unfortunate accident whilst training on my bike in preparation for the season. I am determined to get back in the car and I am excited about the season ahead with the team. I am motivated to bounce back from this setback as quickly as possible.

    Stroll explaining the situation in a press release.

  • A523

    Alpine have become the final team to reveal their 2023 challenger, pulling the covers off the A523 during a ceremony in London.

    Following Monday’s shakedown at Silverstone, the team gathered on Thursday evening for their official launch, which saw them unveil the new car in their now traditional blue livery. As well as this, a pink-themed version in the colours of the team’s title sponsor BWT, which will run at a handful of selected races this year, which are Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

    The car will be driven by Esteban Ocon, who is preparing for his third season in Alpine colours, and new teammate Pierre Gasly, who comes from AlphaTauri.

    Alpine 2.jpg
    A523_White_Studio_Pink_03.jpg

    Alpine will be hoping they can yield the next step in their push towards the front of the F1 grid, with the top three now the target after finishing fifth in the constructors’ standings in 2021 and fourth in 2022.

    Ocon and Gasly have already shared positive words about their first runs in the A523 on Monday – the latter reporting a ‘very good’ feeling while the team noted that the day was issue-free.

    It’s been another milestone ticked for the A523 with our shakedown at Silverstone and I’m pleased the day ran so smoothly. Esteban drove first in the morning to check all the systems were working properly as well as completing the usual install programme for the car. Pierre was then in the car in the afternoon for the first time in the A523 and completed eight stable laps to get an initial feel in his new surroundings. These days are of course limited and not representative, but we’ve certainly had a great day and we now look forward to testing in Bahrain where we expect to continue our learning of the 2023 car.

    Alpine Technical Director, Matt Harman.

  • W14

    Mercedes became the penultimate F1 team to launch their 2023 challenger – taking the covers off the W14 where they sport an all-black livery.

    A day after rivals, Ferrari presented their new challenger, Mercedes showcased the car in which they hope will move them back into regular race wins and title glory.

    Mercedes’ latest creation marks a return to black – a colour they ran in the 2020 and 2021 seasons – after they returned to their more traditional silver scheme.

    Merc-4.png

    Team boss, Toto Wolff, continuing drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as well as new reserve Mick Schumacher were all present at the launch at Silverstone.

    One change inside the Mercedes camp for 2023, is the absence of James Vowles who recently left his strategy focused role to take the role of team boss at Williams.

    Our hopes and expectations are always to be capable of fighting for a World Championship. However, our competitors were very strong last year, and we are playing catch-up. Racing at the front requires resilience, teamwork, and determination. We face up to every challenge, we put the team first, and we will leave no stone unturned in the chase for every millisecond. This year, we are going all in to get back in front. We were overweight last year. This year we have tried to figure out where we can squeeze out every single gram. So now, history repeats itself. You will see that the car has some raw carbon bits, along with some that are painted matte black. Of course, when we changed the livery in 2020 the main driving factor was to support the diversity and equality causes which are always close to our heart. The colour black became part of our DNA at that point, so we are pleased to return to it.

    Toto Wolff speaking at the W14 launch.

  • SF-23

    Ferrari kept the launch season moving at speed as they unveiled their latest challenger, the SF-23 during a special presentation from the team’s Maranello headquarters.

    Following Monday’s reveals from McLaren and Aston Martin, it was Ferrari’s turn to show off their 2023 creation, which unsurprisingly sports another red-dominated livery.

    Present to oversee launch proceedings was new Team Principal Frederic Vasseur, who arrived at Ferrari from Alfa Romeo over the winter – replacement for Mattia Binotto.

    Ferrari rear 3 4s.jpg

    The new season is fast approaching, Vasseur is working to address the problems that ended the Italian’s team hopes of beating rivals Red Bull to title glory in 2022, with unreliability, strategic blunders and driver errors all playing a part to their downfall.

    Ferrari last won an F1 title back in 2008, when they claimed the constructors’ crown, whilst their last drivers’ championship was achieved with Kimi Raikkonen during the previous season.

    It’s always emotional for a team to do the launch. My contribution is very small on this one, but I can perfectly feel the work done on the car. Now it will be a new journey for the project, because the car will move to the race team. It’s a great feeling; when you are back on track, it’s like when you are back at school. I can feel that everybody is very proud of the job done and this feeling is very important for the motivation of everybody and for the season. It will be a quite long season, but the motivation is there and it’s crucial in terms of performance.

    Vasseur on his pre-season thoughts.

  • AMR23

    Aston Martin unveiled their 2023 Formula 1 car, the AMR23 at their new Silverstone headquarters, their third F1 car since the famous British brand returned in 2021.

    The team have called the AMR23 a considerable evolution of last year’s AMR22, which saw them finish seventh in the constructors’ championship but equal on points with Alfa Romeo.

    AM23_CAR_2548 TC 16x9.jpg

    Aston Martin made clear that the new car has a “heavily revised” front wing, new sidepods and a new engine cover with a bigger inlet on the roll hoop. It will be driven this year by Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso who joins from Alpine.

    The AMR23 will be taking to the track on February 15th for a filming day at Silverstone, where both drivers will run the car.

    I have always said that I could see the ambition that shines bright at AMF1. And, as we launch the car in this brand-new factory, I think everyone can now see the scale of the ambition and determination at the heart of this organisation. Just as important is the car – and the AMR23 looks incredibly neatly packaged and highly efficient. I was pleasantly surprised when I sampled last year’s car for the very first time, and I think there is plenty of performance we can unlock together. I can’t wait to get started.

    Two time Champ, Fernando Alonso.

    Looking at AMR23, I can see lots of new thinking and some aggressive work around the packaging and aerodynamics that should really help us out as we head into year two of these new rules. I’m massively looking forward to working with Fernando. I’ve always got along very well with him – and it will be fantastic to race alongside him.

    Lance Stroll added.

  • MCL60

    McLaren have released their 2023 F1 challenger, the MCL60 during a launch presentation at their Technology Centre with the new livery featuring even more papaya orange for a special anniversary year for the team.

    In 2023, McLaren will be celebrating 60 years since legendary New Zealand racer, Bruce McLaren founded the team and, as an initial tribute, opted to jump straight from last season’s MCL36 to MCL60 with the naming of their latest car.

    At the launch, was four of the most important people, McLaren CEO, Zak Brown as well as new Team Principal, Andrea Stella who steps up from his previous position of Racing Director. Along with Lando Norris, and his new team mate Oscar Piastri who arrives into F1 as an F2 and F3 champion.

    MCL60-LN4-High-7K.jpg

    In addition to papaya orange, blue elements remain on McLaren’s livery colours first carried by the outfit in the 1960’s, before then making a popular return in 2018.

    When the new season begins, McLaren will be looking to turn their recent decline into something else, as they fell from third to fifth in the constructors’ standings in the space of two campaigns.

    We are delighted to launch our 2023 Formula 1 team with Lando and Oscar at the wheel as we celebrate 60 years of McLaren Racing. This year’s driver line-up is extremely exciting as Lando, an intelligent and confident driver with excellent pace, is joined by one of the biggest up-and-coming talents in motorsport with Oscar. 2022 was a challenging season in our continued effort to push towards the front of the grid. We learnt a lot which has been taken into the off-season as the entire team works hard to prepare for another year. Under the guidance of Andrea Stella, who moved into the position of Team Principal in December 2022, we have an excellent team to spearhead the 2023 season and can look forward to seeing our young driver duo continue to grow their partnership throughout the upcoming campaign. We’re now looking forward to heading back to being on track in Bahrain. It’ll be great to see the MCL60 in action ahead of the 2023 season. Let’s go racing!

    Zak Brown on the 2023 season.
    https://www.instagram.com/reel/ConGHq-I4QE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  • AT04

    Alpha Tauri have become the latest F1 team to launch their 2023 season, showing off their livery that will adorn the yet to be presented AT04 challenger during a special event in New York.

    Long time team boss, Franz Tost, continuing driver Yuki Tsunoda and new arrival Nyck de Vries were all on hand for Saturday’s reveal, which followed Red Bull’s own season launch in the Big Apple a week ago.

    Coinciding with New York’s famous Fashion Week, the launch represented a perfect fit for the Alpha Tauri fashion brand, who are owned by Red Bull and replaced Toro Rosso as the Faenza squad’s official name in 2020.

    In a stylish unveiling. Alpha Tauri presented a now traditional deep blue and white colour scheme for their new car, which is powered by Honda engines running under the Red Bull powertrains.

    0004.jpg

    However, red highlights now complement the palette courtesy of Polish oil refiner and petrol retailer, ORLEN having moved across from rivals Alfa Romeo.

    Alpha Tauri head into the new season looking to turn their recent F1 fortunes around, having slipped from sixth in the 2021 constructors’ standings to ninth in 2022, when all new technical regulations come into play.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Coigr8xpT_q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  • Ferrari confirm their F1 reserve & development drivers

    Ferrari have named a group of four F1 reserve and development drivers who will be providing support to full-time races, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz during the 2023 season.

    Former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi and 2021 F2 runner-up Robert Shwartzman who have both made several F1 test outings with Ferrari – will be sharing the role of reserve driver, whilst making the most of a new simulator.

    Giovinazzi has 62 F1 starts to his name, initially making two substitute appearances for Sauber in early 2017 before competing the full 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons alongside Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo.

    Shwartzman finished second to new McLaren F1 racer Oscar Piastri in F2, as well as making FP1 appearances for Ferrari in the United States and Abu Dhabi towards the end of the 2022 F1 season.

    Alongside them, GP3 and F2 race winner Antonio Fuoco and GT star Davide Rigon will act as development drivers, with Ferrari noting that the pair have proved their worth in terms of providing the engineers with precise and reliable feedback through their simulator duties.

    All four drivers will be taking on racing programmes in 2023 alongside their F1 roles, with Giovinazzi and Fuoco recently confirmed to be taking on the World Endurance Championship in the 499P Hypercar.

    Meanwhile, Shwartzman and Rigon will be racing the new 296 GT3; Shwartzman in the SRO GT World Challenge Europe and Rigon in the SRO series as well as WEC and the IMSA Endurance Cup.

  • First F1 Academy driver announced

    Leah Buhler has become the first driver announced to be racing in the F1 Academy – Formula 1’s new all female driver series – with confirmation that she will join ART Grand Prix.

    The 25 year old racer first began competing in BMX at an international level, before switching over to karting in 2016. Four years later, Buhler made her single-seater debut, claiming six top 10 finishes in the Spanish Formula 4 Championship.

    She then became the first female driver to race in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2021, recording a best result of 20th, but was forced to end her second campaign early last year.

    Buhler is currently driving in the Formula 4 UAE Championship ahead of her F1 Academy debut.

    The first of ART’s trio of drivers to be announced, Buhler will be competing in a 15 car grid with Campos Racing, Carlin, MP Motorsport and PREMA Racing also all fielding three cars each.

    It’s with great pleasure that I will be able to discover the first F1 Academy championship and even more so with ART Grand Prix, a team with a fantastic record. It will be a great challenge for me and for the team as we learn more about this new single-seater. I am looking forward to coming to grips with it. This will only be my fourth year in motorsport and I still have a lot to learn, but I am ready to give 100% both mentally and physically to honour the trust ART Grand Prix has in me, together with that of my partners, without whom this adventure would not be possible.

    Buhler on her seat.

    We are happy to welcome Lena to our team. She will be one of the first 15 drivers to write her name in the history books of the F1 Academy. This corresponds perfectly to the philosophy of ART Grand Prix, which is to help young drivers climb the ladder of the junior formulas which lead to the highest level of motorsport. The team will do everything sportingly, humanly and technically possible to take up this new historic challenge with Lena.

    ART Team Principal, Sebastien Philippe.

  • C43

    Alfa Romeo have presented their new car for the F1 season, the C43 with a bold red and black livery taking over from the red and white colour scheme used during recent campaigns.

    Described as “aggressive on and below the skin” the car was unveiled to work in a joint presentation in Zurich and at the outfit’s headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland by continuing team mates Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, who combined to secure P6 in last year’s constructors’ standings.

    At the same time, a series of CGI images and videos released on Alfa Romeo’s social media channels showed the C43 coming together piece by piece, whilst Augmented Reality enabled fans to bring the launch experience into their own homes.

    C43_Front-Dynamic-Left-V4_LM_BOT_4-5.jpg

    New title sponsor Stake take centre stage on the livery, which will be the last to feature Alfa Romeo branding as the company prepare to end their sponsorship deal ahead of Audi joining forces with the Sauber-run operation.

    Alfa Romeo’s new car is set to hit the track for a shakedown session in Barcelona this week, before heading to Bahrain for pre-season testing.

    Bringing a car to life is a long process which touches every department of a racing team, therefore it’s a moment of great pride to see it unveiled today. We chose to do it in front of our fans, close to our home, because the launch of a new car is not only a moment to state your objectives for the season ahead; it’s also a time to give back to the people who have supported you, be it in the grandstands, in front of the TV or back at the factory, and express our gratitude for their passion and their belief in our project. Our new car is the result of months of work, but today is just the beginning of a journey. We need to keep working hard, with humility and dedication, to bring performance to the track. Everyone in the team is committed to this target and I am confident we will reap the rewards of our work.

    Alunni Bravi, speaking of the launch.

    I am very proud of what we have achieved over these last months, because creating a new car is always a massive effort from the team. This car is an evolution of last year, reflecting the new regulations and introducing major changes in the areas where we found improvements to be needed. I hope it’s going to be quicker than the successful car we had last year, that’s what matters most, and more reliable as well. We have put a lot of effort in this direction. Now, it’s time to get to the track and see how this car performs. I’m happy to get back to racing and I’m confident there will be much more to come from us soon.

    Jan Monchaux, Technical Director.

  • FW45

    Williams have shown off the eye-catching matte livery that will adorn their FW45 challenger during the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship.

    In a special unveiling ceremony at the Grove headquarters in the UK, Williams revealed their new look in the presence of the refreshed driver line-up of American rookie Logan Sargeant and incumbent driver, Alex Albon – with the team also announcing oil company Gulf as a new sponsor, along with other new partners.

    Not only will the team have a rookie driver, but they will head into the 2023 season with a rookie Team principal as well, with James Vowles moving over from his role as Motorsport Strategy Director at Mercedes to take the reins at Williams.

    Vowles is set to begin work at Grove on February 20th, three days before the drivers begin 2023 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

    FW45 Livery - Front 3 Quarter - AA23.jpg

    With the physical Williams FW45 set to hit the track at Silverstone shakedown on February 13th, the team confirmed that they had ‘taken the opportunity to heavily evolve the side concept’ on the new car thanks to ‘optimising the power unit cooling layout’ – in which Williams continue with Mercedes power for a 10th consecutive season.

    The team also promised that the FW45 would be more aerodynamically efficient than its FW44 predecessor, with modifications to the front suspension layout and major external aerodynamic surfaces also incorporated into the new machine’s design.

    The team has worked really hard last year and over the winter to address some key areas in our car, putting in the work to try and maximise what we get out of the car for 2023, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the FW45 can do. We also welcome new partners to the team this year, so it’s great to have them onboard.

    Albon on 2023.

    I’m really excited for the season to get started after what, for me, feels like a long winter! I’m super motivated and we’ve put a lot of hard work in. The car is looking amazing and it shows the huge effort the team has put in the off season, so I’m looking forward to getting started at Silverstone before heading out to Bahrain.

    Sargeant on his rookie F1 season.

    As Williams Racing continues its transformation, we’re proud to unveil this year’s livery. We are excited about this year’s car, and I cannot thank the entire team at Grove enough for their hard work to get ready for the season. I am delighted to welcome both new and existing partners to our journey. With our new Team Principal James Vowles joining us later this month, as well as our exciting driver line up of Alex and Logan, Williams Racing will be giving its all in 2023.

    Matthew Savage, Williams Racing Chairman of the Board.

  • Ford returns & partners with RB from 2026

    American automotive giants Ford have confirmed their intention to make a Formula 1 comeback when the new engine regulations are introduced in 2026, meaning another chapter will be added to the American organisation’s rich history.

    Ford’s involvement in F1 stretches all the way back to the 1960s and the DFV (Double Four Value) engine, built in partnership with British engineering firm Cosworth, which took 155 wins from 262 races between 1967 and 1985.

    From their first title wins with Graham Hill and Lotus in 1968 to their most recent with Michael Schumacher and Benetton in 1994, Ford have played a part in 10 constructors’ championships and 13 drivers’ championships – which make them the third most successful engine manufacturer in F1 history!

    Some 20 years on from their last participation, the appeal of F1’s future engine regulations – featuring increased electrical power and 100% sustainable fuels – will see Ford grace the grid once again.

    The news today that Ford is coming to Formula 1 from 2026 is great for the sport and we are excited to see them join the incredible automotive partners already in Formula 1. Ford is a global brand with an incredible heritage in racing and the automotive world and they see the huge value that our platform provides with over half a billion fans around the world. Our commitment to be Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and to introduce sustainable fuels in the F1 cars from 2026 is also an important reason for their decision to enter F1. We believe that our sport provides the opportunity and reach unlike any other and we cannot wait for the Ford logo to be racing round F1’s iconic circuits from 2026.

    Stefano Domenicali on the news.

    This is the start of a thrilling new chapter in Ford’s motorsports story that began when my great-grandfather [Henry Ford] won a race that helped launch our company. Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages.

    Bill Ford Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company.

    After confirming that Ford will be returning, Ford then revealed at Red Bull’s launch that they are partnering up for “a long-term strategic technical partnership” with Red Bull Powertrains, ahead of the sport’s new regulations coming into play.

    Starting in 2023, Ford and Red Bull Powertrains – the Milton Keynes team’s dedicated engine division – will develop a next-gen power unit to supply both Red Bull Racing and the sister Alpha Tauri operation from 2026 until at least 2030.

    Ford’s return to Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing is all about where we are going as a company – increasingly electric, software-defined, modern vehicles and experiences. F1 will be an incredibly cost-effective platform to innovate, share ideas and technologies, and engage with tens of millions of new customers.

    Jim Farley, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company.

    It’s fantastic to be welcoming Ford back into Formula 1 through this partnership. As an independent engine manufacturer to have the ability to benefit from an OEM’s experience like Ford puts us in good stead against the competition. They are a manufacturer rich in motoring history that spans generations. From Jim Clark to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, the lineage speaks for itself. For us as Red Bull Powertrains to open the next chapter of that dynasty, as Red Bull Ford, is tremendously exciting. 2026 is still a while a way but for us the work already starts as we look to a new future and a continued evolution of Oracle Red Bull Racing.

    Christian Horner on the latest news.

  • Alfa Romeo confirm new title sponsor

    Alfa Romeo have announced entertainment and lifestyle brand Stake as their new title sponsor, meaning the team will have an altered team name and logo for the upcoming F1 campaign.

    Stake were founded in 2017, and have since built up a strong presence in the sporting world, with the Sauber-run Alfa team announcing the “record breaking” partnership would run for 2023 “and beyond”.

    Fans will be able to see the visual results of the tie-up when Alfa Romeo launch their latest F1 car to the world in Zurich on February 7th.

    We welcome Stake as a new co-title partner for the team in what represents the start of a new era for us both. Formula 1 has seen a huge increase in interest over the last few years and the arrival of brands such as Stake are representative of the massive exposure our sport can offer. We are excited to join such a portfolio of sports and entertainment brands and we’re looking forward to the activation programme that Stake will unveil for our fans.

    Alessandro Alunni Bravi on the news.

    Meanwhile, former Alfa Romeo title sponsor ORLEN – a Polish oil refiner and petrol retailer – have struck up a new deal with AlphaTauri to become a ‘Principal Partner’ of the squad.

    ORLEN’s branding is set to feature on “multiple prime locations” of the AT04, the livery for which will be revealed in New York on February 11th.

    ORLEN are one of the leading oil and gas companies in Central Europe and this partnership will allow them to further increase their brand awareness, through the global platforms we offer as a team. I’m looking forward to seeing their logo featured on our new car at the launch in New York City next month and also how this partnership progresses over the coming years

    Franz Tost,
    https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cn6ThwwKURo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  • RB19

    Red Bull have officially started their 2023 season, by unveiling a launch version of the RB19, the car in which they hope to defend both F1 world titles.

    Red Bull assembled in New York for a so-called ‘season launch’ with Team Principal, Christian Horner alongside both drivers as well as third driver, Daniel Ricciardo.

    The team showcased their 2023 look with the traditional blue, yellow and red scheme – which captures the Red Bull company’s core colours.

    rb19.png

    Red Bull head into the 2023 campaign looking to retain the drivers’ and constructors’ titles, having stormed to 17 wins from 22 races under the 2022 rules reset – 15 scored by reigning double world champion Verstappen.

    It’s incredibly special to be in the Big Apple, in the US, in New York. The US is playing such a big role in F1 these days – three Grands Prix, [with] Las Vegas coming onto the calendar as well – so it seemed only fitting to unveil the RB19, and our plans for the season ahead, here. It’s going to be an incredible season. Our rivals, for sure, haven’t stood still. We’re expecting Ferrari to be competitive, Mercedes are going to be there, [and] there’s some other teams that could well make some big progress as well. This time of year, it’s all a big unknown, and it’s a question of focusing on ourselves, doing the best we can. Then in Bahrain, in a couple of weeks’ time, we’ll get to see everybody’s car and we’ll realise, ‘Have we missed something? Have we not?’ Then we set off on this 23-race journey between March and November. There’s going to be highs and lows along the way, I’m sure, but I think we’re in a good place and looking to carry on that momentum from last year.

    Horner on the 2023 season.

  • Alfa Romeo appoints Bravi as Team Representative

    Alfa Romeo have confirmed that Sauber Group Managing Director Alessandro Alunni Bravi will be taking on the additional role of Team Representative for the 2023 F1 campaign.

    Alunni Bravi has been part of the Sauber Group, who run the Alfa Romeo F1 entry – since 2017 and is now set to represent the team in all functions at race weekends and away from track. This follows as Andreas Seidl was appointed CEO of the Sauber Group.

    A Sauber press release added that Alunni Bravi will be ‘working together with the technical and operational departments to continue the team’s growth and success’.

    Alfa Romeo edged out Aston Martin for P6 in the 2022 constructors standings with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu remaining as their two drivers for the upcoming season.

    I want to thank Andreas and our shareholders for their trust, and I want to reiterate my commitment to giving my best to live up to their expectations and represent the team in the best possible way. It is a huge privilege to keep working with a group of incredible people who, over many years, have helped me integrate within the Sauber Group: what they gave me in this time will enable me to fulfil this task and represent the team according to our shared vision and our objectives. I am fully conscious of the work we have ahead of us and of the challenges that face us: I approach this task with humility, knowing I am part of a strong team that will get the job done, and with the belief we have everything we need for a successful future.

    Alunni on his new role.

    I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Alessandro Alunni Bravi to the role of Team Representative, in addition to his existing duties of Managing Director of the Group. His vast experience in motorsport has equipped him with all the tools he needs to succeed, and his intimate knowledge of the team, of which he has been part for more than five years, will ensure stability and continuity in our progression. Alessandro representing the team during the Formula 1 championship will allow me to focus on growing the Group and preparing for the challenges and opportunities that await us. I thank Alessandro for his belief in our vision and I welcome him to this additional position. I am convinced this is another valuable addition to what is without any doubt a very strong team, from the drivers to the management team, to each one of our employees, capable of building on last year’s success and creating a bright future for Sauber.

    Seidl on the latest news.

  • VF-23

    Haas have become the first team to present their colour for the upcoming 2023 season, revealing a slick new livery that will adorn the VF-23 via a series of digital renders published on Tuesday.

    Rather than a full-scale launch, Haas opted to showcase their livery for this season on a 2022-style virtual model, with the team’s new car – which will be driven by Kevin Magnussen and new team mate Nico Hulkenberg.

    Replacing the recent white base seen on Haas’s 2021 and 2022 challengers, black is now the main colour, whilst flashes of white have been retained alongside some red highlights – which draws comparisons to their 2020 design.

    Haas-Mag-2.png

    Haas will be entering the 2023 campaign looking to continue their recent upward trajectory, having moved off the foot of the F1 constructors’ standings to eighth position under last year’s rules reset.

    I was very pleased to welcome MoneyGram as title partner for the 2023 season and beyond, and it’s exciting to see our first livery unveiled together as MoneyGram Haas F1 Team. We head into a new season buoyed by some strong team performances last year and a return to points paying finishes. The aim for the 2023 season is naturally to do that more consistently and with Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg I certainly believe we’ve got an experienced driver pairing more than capable of delivering those points on a Sunday.

    Gene Haas, commenting on the digital launch.

    I obviously share everyone’s enthusiasm around the livery unveil, not least as it’s a checkpoint in the pre-season calendar which means we’re another step closer to doing the thing we actually want to be doing – and that’s go racing. I like the livery, it’s undoubtedly a more elevated and modernised look which is fitting as we move into a new era alongside MoneyGram as our title partner. It’s an exciting time of year for Formula 1 and it’s great that we’re first out the gate to showcase our livery but our attention is firmly on getting the VF-23 on-track and preparing for the season ahead. We really have something to build on following last year’s performances.It’s an exciting time of year for Formula 1 and it’s great that we’re first out the gate to showcase our livery but our attention is firmly on getting the VF-23 on-track and preparing for the season ahead. We really have something to build on following last year’s performances. The whole organisation has been working hard to reach this point and obviously in Kevin and Nico we have two proven points-scoring talents locked in behind the wheel. I can’t wait to get started.

    Guenther Steiner, Haas Team Principal.

  • 31.01.23

    Haas have announced that they will be presenting the livery for their new F1 car at the end of January, completing the initial launch plans for all 10 teams.

    Rather than a full-scale launch, Haas will be mirroring Williams by only showing off their 2023 colour scheme, with an online presentation set for January 31st – the earliest of the dates confirmed.

    The car will be piloted by a revised, Haas driver line-up, after the US-led team opted to part ways with Mick Schumacher and bring in experienced driver Nico Hulkenberg alongside recent returnee, Kevin Magnussen.

    Magnussen continues for a second season, and eighth in F1 overall, having claimed P5 on his comeback in Bahrain and scored a stunning pole position amid mixed qualifying conditions, at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

    Sporting a new title sponsor in MoneyGram, Haas reported a significant landmark in the development of their VF-23, in December, sharing on social media that the chassis and nose had passed the FIA’s tests and were officially homologated.