Formula 1
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Ferrari: Red Bull-style sidepods not a knee-jerk copy
As part of an upgrade delivered at the Spanish Grand Prix, the Italian squad abandoned the bathtub in-wash sidepod design that it had used since the start of 2022.
Instead, the team switched to a more Red Bull-style of downwash solution that is aimed at changing the way airflow over the car interacts with the floor.
Having faced a difficult start to the year, the change in...Keep reading -
Mercedes admits F1 upgrade ‘rush’ prompted some worries
The German manufacturer produced a notable step forward in form at the Spanish Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished second and third behind race-winner Max Verstappen.
The potential of its revamped car, which features new sidepods, front suspension and floor, is clear to see, as the squad targets making further steps to try to close the gap to Red Bull.
But...Keep reading -
Sold out Spa F1 doubles down on 2022 success amid future talks
The Spa-Francorchamps event was told by F1 in no uncertain terms to improve its fan offering in the wake of a disastrous, rained-out 2021 edition, with its heritage as one of F1's most historic and exciting circuits no longer sufficient to stay on the calendar.
Spa bought into Liberty Media's vision of what a modern grand prix should look like and pulled out all the stops to reinvigorate its...Keep reading -
Marshall’s Red Bull exit not linked to McLaren F1 engine deal
Both teams have admitted that McLaren CEO Zak Brown spoke to Horner several weeks ago about the possibility of McLaren using the new Ford-backed Red Bull Powertrains PU in 2026.
Marshall has recently been working at RBP prior to agreeing to join McLaren as technical director, engineering and design, in January.
That led to suggestions that his move could somehow be linked to a PU deal, but...Keep reading -
Is F1 going to save the combustion engine from oblivion?
With Audi and Honda swelling F1’s ranks by committing to the sustainably fuelled turbo hybrid regulations from 2026, the significance of what is happening goes well beyond the spectacle of having six car makers going up against each other on track.
In fact, there is a bigger global picture at play here and one that could well dictate the future of road car engines.
It did not take long...Keep reading -
Horner: Perez can relax now F1 title pressure is off
Perez won two of the four opening races of the 2023 season, and after his victory in the Azerbaijan GP, he was just six points behind Verstappen and touted as a potential title challenger.
The gap was extended when the Dutchman led a Red Bull 1-2 in Miami, and then the Mexican had a disastrous weekend in Monaco, crashing in Q1 and finishing well out of the points after a fraught race.
Perez...Keep reading -
Schumacher: Mercedes F1 test run will help me be even better in sim
The official Mercedes reserve was drafted in for the second day of testing for Pirelli at Barcelona on Wednesday, as work continues evaluating tyres that are not heated by blankets.
The run was the first opportunity that Schumacher has had to drive the W14 since he joined the German manufacturer, and he duly completed 152 laps over the course of the day.
Having already earned big...Keep reading -
Canadian GP at "no risk" from Quebec wildfires, says F1
The region of Quebec in which Montreal sits is experiencing its worst fire season on record, with more than 150 blazes having been reported.
Smoke from the fires has been drifting south across Canada and into the United States, with New York, in particular, being engulfed amid growing health concerns over the toxic air.
Tens of millions of people in the US are currently under air quality...Keep reading -
Mercedes: Canada a "bigger challenge" than Barcelona for upgraded F1 car
At last week's Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell scored a double podium after the Brackley team's comprehensive upgrade package delivered a solid step forward.
While Hamilton still finished 24 seconds behind dominant winner Max Verstappen, Mercedes' W14 was the second-strongest car on the high-downforce circuit, providing the team with a solid baseline to continue its...Keep reading -
Vasseur: Ferrari can fight Mercedes when consistency issue unlocked
The SF-23 has been quick over one lap in qualifying thus far this season but has usually lost out to Mercedes, and often Aston Martin, over a race distance.
That pattern was repeated in the Spanish GP when Carlos Sainz qualified second but was jumped by both Mercedes drivers, as well as the Red Bull of Sergio Perez, in the race.
Vasseur indicated that the ongoing strong qualifying form...Keep reading -
Stella: Spain F1 weekend highlights McLaren's strengths and weaknesses
From the launch of the MCL60, Stella stressed a need for the team to remain “realistic” as it started the campaign with an underbaked design.
In the meantime, he led an overhaul of the technical division by getting rid of director James Key before hiring David Sanchez from Ferrari and experienced Red Bull chief engineer Rob Marshall.
A major upgrade for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix...Keep reading -
Red Bull: ‘Ignorant copies’ of our F1 floor no help to rivals
The Milton Keynes-based squad was left annoyed over the Monaco Grand Prix weekend when images of its secret floor and diffuser design were revealed in public as Sergio Perez’s crashed car was craned away in qualifying.
Several of Red Bull’s competitors have said they have gained important knowledge from the RB19 being on display, with Mercedes admitting it had a “nice clutch” of...Keep reading -
Vowles admits Williams F1 car floor is "lacking detail"
The floor was exposed after Logan Sargeant crashed at the final corner in FP3 in Barcelona and his car was loaded onto a truck.
That came just a week after the undersides of the Red Bull RB19 and Mercedes W14 were both captured after accidents in Monaco led to them being craned away.
The apparent simplicity of the Williams floor in comparison to those of other cars – especially the Red...Keep reading -
Normal Spain F1 round 'exposed' Williams as a "step below" - Albon
Williams has only scored one point this season, courtesy of a 10th-place finish for Albon in the Bahrain season opener. At this point in 2022, it had three of its eventual eight points.
Despite the downturn in the constructors’ standings, the ‘supertimes’ metric that records each team’s fastest lap during a race weekend indicates that Williams has closed the gap to leading outfit Red...Keep reading -
Mercedes: “Massive step” forward in Spain different to F1 2022 false dawn
The team delivered its best result of the 2023 season last weekend as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished second and third behind runaway race-winner Max Verstappen.
The result, allied to the strong pace of the W14 throughout the race, has suggested that Mercedes' revamp of its car has delivered a significant leap forward in form after months of struggling with its 'zeropod'...Keep reading -
Hulkenberg: Haas has to switch focus from qualifying to race
Hulkenberg was fast throughout the Spanish GP weekend, qualifying ninth and starting eighth after gaining a spot from a penalty for Pierre Gasly.
He ran in the same position in the early laps of the race but had to pit and abandon his soft tyres after just eight laps.
That led him into a three-stop strategy that saw him in 15th place at the flag after running mediums, hards and mediums for...Keep reading -
Aston Martin plans Canada upgrade as F1 development war ramps up
The Silverstone-based team endured a challenging Spanish GP last weekend as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll ended up finishing behind both Mercedes and Ferrari in the fight to be Red Bull’s closest challenger.
With its rivals having introduced major upgrades to their cars over the past two races, Aston Martin’s lack of performance could suggest that it has been overtaken in pace terms as...Keep reading -
Piastri: Spanish GP race struggles a reality check for McLaren F1 team
McLaren had its strongest qualifying performance of the season in Barcelona with Lando Norris taking a surprise third on the grid, while Piastri earned 10th before gaining a spot from a penalty for Pierre Gasly.
The drivers cautioned before the race that conditions in qualifying had flattered the car.
However, the race proved to be even tougher than expected. Piastri slipped back to 13th...Keep reading -
Key to lead Sauber into Audi era in technical director role
Key will join the Sauber-run team on 1 September, taking over the role from Jan Monchaux.
He has been identified as the man to lead the team into its Audi era by Sauber Motorsport CEO Andreas Seidl, his former boss at McLaren in 2019-2022.
Key already knows the Hinwil operation well having served as technical director in the post-BMW period from 2010 to 2012, before he moved to Toro...Keep reading -
Aston Martin surprised by Mercedes 'rocket ship' in Spain - Stroll
Behind runaway race winner Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton led team-mate George Russell to bag a double podium for Mercedes to jump Aston Martin in the constructors’ standings. This came as Stroll classified in sixth ahead of home favourite Fernando Alonso in seventh.
Since the AMR23 has often been the second-quickest machine behind the Red Bull RB19 throughout the early races this season, the...Keep reading -
Leclerc: Ferrari needs to focus on being at “the peak of our tyres”
Leclerc started from the pitlane in Barcelona after he qualified only 19th and the team opted to make changes to his car for the race.
However he was only able to rise to 11th place after his SF-23 again performed inconsistently across stints, even when running the same tyre compound.
Team-mate Carlos Sainz also struggled as he slipped from second on the grid to fifth at the chequered...Keep reading -
Did the Spanish GP's faster final sector help or hurt F1's racing?
F1 decided to bypass the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya tight chicane and instead restore its original final sector, with two fast right-handers leading onto the main straight, in a bid to improve the show.
It was a popular decision among the drivers, with Mercedes' George Russell saying it "turned one of the worst corners in F1 into one of the best", but the jury was still out on whether or...Keep reading -
Russell: Mercedes' "magic" in Spain not owed to new sidepods
For the return of ground-effects at the start of 2022, Red Bull (downwash), Ferrari (in-wash) and Mercedes (size-zero) all developed radically different sidepod designs.
With Red Bull emerging as the dominant force, it left many to suppose that sidepods are the determining factor in car performance. As such, questions were asked of Mercedes for it not converging around the Red Bull design...Keep reading -
F1 pauses South African GP plans for 2024
To underline its status as a world championship, F1 has coveted a race in Africa. A return to the famed Kyalami circuit, which last hosted a GP in 1993, has long been the frontrunner.
F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali has held meetings with circuit officials and other South African GP stakeholders over the past year to revive the event.
A 2024 slot was originally in mind although there...Keep reading -
How Red Bull has taken inspiration from slower F1 rivals to go even faster
At the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull appeared with changes to the floor's edge wing and the diffuser, using features widely seen on competitors' machinery.
These were most likely spotted by Adrian Newey on his regular grid walks before the Milton Keynes-based squad applied its own twist on a couple of solutions others have used for some time.
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Pirelli set for F1 tyre tender...Keep reading -
Pirelli set for F1 tyre tender challenge as Bridgestone talk ramps up
Earlier this year, the FIA opened up the tender process for F1's official supply contract from 2025 to 2027, with the possibility of it being extended until 2028.
The deadline for applicants was 15 May, with the FIA now going through the process of evaluating the proposals from interested parties before making a call on who the approved bidders are on 16 June.
The successful candidates will...Keep reading -
Hamilton and Russell praise Schumacher role in F1 Spanish GP turnaround
The pair endured a difficult opening day of practice at Barcelona as Mercedes finally got some proper running of its new W14 upgrade package.
The struggles even left Hamilton feeling that he would not make it through to Q3 in qualifying because the car was so difficult to drive.
But a late-night simulator session for Schumacher back at Mercedes’ Brackley factory on Friday...Keep reading -
Red Bull: Marko's mobile phone moment shows Verstappen on "another level"
The world championship leader raised some smiles in second practice at the Spanish Grand Prix when his response to a radio message about his run plan regarded a ringtone that could be heard from the garage.
Verstappen was able to recognise it as the one used by Red Bull's motorsport advisor Marko.
"Someone's phone is going," said Verstappen. "Is that Helmut's?"
The team's subsequent...Keep reading -
10 things we learned at the 2023 F1 Spanish Grand Prix
After what seemed like an endless string of street circuits and semi-permanent venues monopolising the opening part of the 2023 calendar, Formula 1 went back to basics at Barcelona.
Under its previous configuration, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya had been extensively mined for data amid thousands of miles in testing down the years, but a reversion to the classic layout offered a slightly...Keep reading -
Disappointed Aston chasing answers for soft stint woes
The Silverstone-based squad has been Red Bull’s closest rival for much of this season but endured its most difficult outing of the year at Barcelona.
Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso did not have the pace on the soft early on to take the fight to Mercedes and Ferrari, and in the end, they came home a distant sixth and seventh.
Team principal Mike Krack believed his squad’s...Keep reading -
Win tickets for the 2023 Dutch GP
Dive into the Sea of Orange! We are offering you an exclusive chance to win an unforgettable experience: 1x2 Passe Partout tickets (Friday to Sunday), including a four-night stay for you and your companion to witness this year’s Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix.
Imagine yourself among passionate motorsports fans watching how the action unfolds at the iconic CM.com Circuit Zandvoort. This...Keep reading -
Russell explains Spanish GP sweat and rain confusion
The upgraded W14 proved effective in the warmer race temperatures as Russell climbed from 12th on the grid to third place to complete a double podium behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Rain, which had hit the track during Saturday practice, had threatened to disrupt the event but never materialised. However, Russell did briefly ask his race engineer Marcus Dudley at half-distance if any other...Keep reading -
Ferrari struggling to understand consistency issue with F1 car
The car has regularly been fast over one lap, which was evident once again at the Spanish GP, where Carlos Sainz qualified second.
However, the team continues to struggle in races, with the car behaving differently from stint to stint.
In Barcelona, Sainz slipped down to fifth place at the flag, while from a pitlane start following his qualifying issues, Charles Leclerc could not rise...Keep reading -
Autosport Podcast: F1 Spanish GP review
While the reigning F1 world champion didn’t have a completely trouble-free afternoon, it was still another near-perfect display from the Dutchman who moves 53 points clear of title rival and team-mate Sergio Perez, who recovered from another poor qualifying display to take fourth place.
PLUS: Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
Mercedes enjoyed a solid...Keep reading -
Video: The Mercedes' breakthrough at F1 Spanish GP
...Keep reading -
Wolff: Mercedes needed early F1 season shock to be bold with car change
Mercedes persisted with its troubled 2022 car concept in the belief that dialling out porpoising would unlock its true potential on the new W14.
But it turned up at Bahrain winter testing further behind Red Bull than it finished 2022, leading to a tough decision to change the concept of its floor, sidepods and suspension mid-season, with the revamped W14 debuting at the Monaco Grand Prix.
It...Keep reading -
The 10 best Formula 1 drivers ever: Hamilton, Schumacher & more
The best F1 driver in history is a debate that has, and will continue to, rage as long as Formula 1 exists, but we look at who the best drivers are statistically.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, celebrates on arrival in Parc Ferme
Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images
1. Lewis Hamilton - 103 wins
First race: 2007 Australian Grand Prix
World...Keep reading -
Hamilton: New Mercedes F1 deal could be signed "tomorrow"
Hamilton's current Mercedes deal runs out at the end of this season, prompting traditional speculation on whether the 38-year-old will re-commit to the team that propelled him to six of his seven world championships or walk away from the series.
It even prompted wild speculation about a possible move to Ferrari, which was quickly refuted by all parties.
Both Hamilton and Wolff have regularly...Keep reading -
Alonso: Aston “didn’t have the pace” in Barcelona F1 race
Alonso started only eighth after two mistakes in qualifying compromised his session and gained only one position to finish seventh in the race behind team-mate Lance Stroll.
This marked the second time in 2023 that he hasn't been on the podium for Aston Martin, with Alonso noting: “We didn’t have the pace, so that the biggest problem.
“It was not that we were unlucky or on differing...Keep reading -
Mercedes fined over F1 Spanish GP parc ferme rules breach
The German manufacturer saw Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finish second and third at Barcelona behind race winner Max Verstappen, moving the squad up to second in the constructors' championship standings.
But a few hours after the race, the team was notified that team members may have breached the regulations in the post-race parc ferme zone that is created in the pitlane.
The FIA...Keep reading -
Tsunoda slams "ridiculous" F1 Spanish GP penalty for Zhou defence
On lap 56 of 66 in a round dominated by Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, Alfa Romeo racer Zhou used DRS to challenge Tsunoda for ninth place around the outside into the Turn 1 right-hander.
But as the corner transitioned into Turn 2, Zhou appeared to jink his machine to the left to then take to the escape road before he rejoined the circuit several car lengths behind Tsunoda.
The FIA stewards...Keep reading -
Norris didn't expect F1 points in Spain even before Hamilton clash
McLaren driver Norris qualified a season-best third in Spain, but his hopes of a points finish were curtailed on the first lap when he clashed with Hamilton's Mercedes at Turn 2 and had to pit at the end of the opening tour.
Hamilton escaped without significant damage and went on to finish second.
Speaking after he was eventually classified 17th, Norris stressed that even before the contact...Keep reading -
Sainz: Barcelona exposed Ferrari's F1 tyre weakness
Sainz qualified second for his home race, but as has been the case in previous races, Ferrari's comparatively poor race pace made him slide backwards, his Ferrari struggling with the bumpy and fast nature of the Barcelona circuit as it was outclassed by Mercedes on tyre management.
After an early first pitstop, Sainz went from the soft onto the hard tyres, which allowed Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton...Keep reading -
Russell: Double podium "a sign of things to come" for Mercedes F1
After qualifying a disappointing 12th, Russell confirmed Mercedes' improved race pace from Friday practice to move up to third behind winner Max Verstappen and team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Russell and Hamilton used their superior tyre management, which allowed them to avoid the hard tyre on their two-stopper, to defeat Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who dropped from second to fifth.
According to...Keep reading -
F1 Spanish GP: Verstappen dominates ahead of Hamilton and Russell
At the start, polesitter Verstappen swung right after leaving the line to cut off the momentum of fellow front row starter Carlos Sainz, but the Ferrari – on soft tyres versus the mediums on the Red Bull – got a slipstream and attacked on the outside line at Turn 1.
Verstappen was therefore forced to run very deep as he defended hard from the inside line, but kept enough of his car on the...Keep reading -
F1 results: Verstappen wins Spanish GP, Mercedes takes 2-3
Verstappen dominated the race after fending off a first-corner challenge for Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari.
Mercedes had the second-fastest car in the race, and Lewis Hamilton and George Russell filled the podium spots, ahead of the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez, who rose from 11th to finish fourth.
2023 F1 Spanish GP race...Keep reading -
Mercedes: Uncertainties over W14 F1 car gone with new "baseline" in place
The German manufacturer had the first run of its upgraded F1 challenger on a proper circuit in Spain this weekend, after the parts appeared originally in Monaco.
And as Lewis Hamilton put himself in contention for a front row start, before a collision with team-mate George Russell damaged his car and compromised his later form, Mercedes says it has taken huge encouragement from what it...Keep reading -
Why McLaren shocked on F1’s toughest aero track
Norris qualified third for the Barcelona race behind pole-winner Max Verstappen and home hero Carlos Sainz – his best qualifying result of 2023 by four positions (his next best was seventh in Azerbaijan).
The Briton said afterwards the result left him “shocked” as he had thought “it was going to be tough to get out of Q1”, and outlined his belief that the Barcelona layout...Keep reading -
Steiner reprimanded for F1 stewards’ criticisms
Steiner spoke out against the decision of the stewards at the Monaco GP to impose a time penalty on Nico Hulkenberg for an opening-lap collision.
With Steiner feeling that Hulkenberg did not make any untoward contact, he said the time had come for the appointment of full-time professional stewards.
"Every professional sport has got professionals being referees and stuff like...Keep reading -
Aston Martin explains extent of damage to Alonso's F1 floor
Alonso's problems started when he ran wide onto the gravel at the final corner as he started his first lap in Q1 in Barcelona.
He recovered to get out of that session in 12th and then took eighth in Q2. With the car in a better state for Q3, Alonso believed he could still have made the front row, but a mistake on his final lap consigned him to ninth.
The team managed to gradually repair the...Keep reading
