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Red Bull engine chief expects advantage over Ferrari at French GP.
Red Bull engine consultant Masashi Yamamoto is expecting Red Bull to have an advantage over Ferrari at the French Grand Prix.
19th July 2022, 17:00
Author RacingNews365 Staff
With four races taking place in July, the first two have been won by the Scuderia; Carlos Sainz took his debut F1 victory at Silverstone, while Charles Leclerc seized the win in Austria one week later. Max Verstappen did prove victorious at the Sprint over the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, though, and remains at the top of the World Championship standings on 208 points, giving him a 38-point lead over Leclerc.
Ahead of the upcoming Grands Prix in France and Hungary before F1 embarks on its summer break, Yamamoto has urged Red Bull to ensure that they do not make any mistakes at the Circuit Paul Ricard.
The French Grand Prix marks the beginning of the second half of the 2022 F1 season, and Yamamoto – former Managing Director of Honda and now an engine consultant at Red Bull – feels that it is an important weekend. He also believes that his team will perform well at the track. "I think France is more in Red Bull's favour, so we can't drop it," Yamamoto told Japanese website as-web. "It's a crucial point."
‘France is more in Red Bull's favour, so we can't drop it’;
https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-e...i-at-french-gp
Mercedes’ best chance yet of a win in F1 2022? French GP talking points
18 Jul 2022
Lewis Larkam
Although Mercedes were unable to replicate that level of performance in Austria, the team were still closer to Ferrari and Red Bull than they expected at a circuit that has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for the Silver Arrows in recent years, with Hamilton picking up his third consecutive podium finish.
Mercedes are expected to be stronger again in France thanks to the characteristics at Paul Ricard, which features high-speed corners and a smooth track surface, two factors that bring out the best in the W13.
Despite suffering a narrow defeat to Max Verstappen at last year’s French Grand Prix, Mercedes boast a strong record at Paul Ricard, with Hamilton winning two of the three races to be held in the South of France since the race’s revival in 2018.
‘Mercedes’ best chance yet’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/100...et-win-f1-2022
Lando Norris: “It’s important we continue to build on our results this season as the midfield gets tighter”
July 18, 2022
By Ashley Cline
Coming off of a double-points finish at the Red Bull Ring, Lando Norris said that the team’s performance kept them in the running for fourth in the constructors’ championship, currently tied with BWT Alpine F1 Team ahead of the French Grand Prix.
“With the summer break fast approaching, it’s important we continue to build on our results this season as the midfield gets tighter. Finishing P7 and P9 in Austria was positive after a difficult start to the weekend and it’s great to remain in this battle for fourth in the constructor standings.”
With tight margins between the midfield teams, Norris said that the return to a typical race weekend with three practice sessions will give the team the time necessary to best prepare for race day at a track where they have found success previously, having finished fifth and sixth at last year’s French Grand Prix.”
‘Important Results Building’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...-gets-tighter/
F1 warned of potential French GP crisis
Sunday 17 July 2022 14:30
Ewan Gale
F1 has been warned over a potential track-limits crisis at the upcoming French Grand Prix. The topic took centre stage amongst the drivers at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen leading the criticism of the FIA's policing at the event as "a joke".
Over 40 incidents of drivers leaving the track were acknowledged by the sport's governing body, with numerous drivers handed penalties for excessively abusing the boundaries at the Red Bull Ring. But Red Bull team principal Christian Horner fears the problem will only be worse when F1 returns to Paul Ricard next weekend.
“The problem is the nature of the circuit [Red Bull Ring], it invites the drivers to use the track limits and of course, there were many, many drivers that were infringing that over the weekend [in Austria[," explained Horner. “My concern isn’t so much here. I think [Paul] Ricard will be a bigger issue.”
‘Potential track-limits crisis’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...limits-crisis/
F1 NATION: Gerhard Berger joins the gang as we look ahead to an intriguing French Grand Prix
19 July 2022
Formula 1.
As we get into the second half of the 2022 Formula 1 calendar, the sport is heading to the French Grand Prix – with this week’s episode of our F1 Nation episode looking ahead to this weekend's action at Paul Ricard.
This week, Tom Clarkson is joined by Damon Hill, who is fresh (or maybe not) from taking on one of the Tour de France’s toughest climbs. They discuss whether Ferrari’s newfound momentum will continue in France, as the Scuderia look to make it three wins on the bounce – or whether Paul Ricard’s long front-tyre-punishing corners will hand the advantage to Red Bull. They also consider whether Mercedes could make it a three-team fight at the top.
They also look back on the first 11 races of the season and discuss which driver has raised his game after “staring into the abyss”. TC and Damon are also joined by special guest and former Ferrari race-winner Gerhard Berger, who weighs in on the Max Verstappen vs Charles Leclerc debate, as the trio choose their star performers of the season so far.
‘’Intriguing French GP Review’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...lCoCT0kOi.html
Wolff suggests 'miraculous' underhand tactics at play in F1
Tuesday 19 July 2022 04:00
Ian Parkes
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has suggested his F1 rivals have been breaking the rules this season with regard to the legality of the floors of their cars.
From the Belgian Grand Prix onwards, a new technical directive comes into force that clamps down on the use of a so-called flexi-floor via the use of the skid block.
It is understood a number of teams have been able to run their cars closer to a track surface via the use of a moveable floor, in particular, areas within the skid block that ensure a car's plank suffers less wear than is permissible.
‘Toto Wolff: 'Miraculous' F1underhand tactics’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...lock-cheating/
Toto Wolff claims F1 rules are ‘clearly’ being broken by other teams
15:54 Mon, 18 Jul 2022.
Kieran Jackson Formula 1 Correspondent
The Independent
Mercedes boss Wolff believes some teams are breaching the current regulations regarding so-called ‘flexi-floors’
Toto Wolff claims some F1 teams are clearly breaching the current regulations surrounding ‘flexi-floors’ in light of a new technical directive from the FIA.
World motorsport’s governing body issued a new directive in the last month to clamp down on what Wolff believes is a grey area in the rules, with the directive coming into force at the Belgian Grand Prix after the…
‘Toto Wolff Claims F1 Rules Breach’;
https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/mer...-b2125737.html
Toto Wolff claims F1 "has less entertainment" because Red Bull and Ferrari are too strong
• 10:20, 18 Jul 2022
By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer
Mercedes chief Wolff was discussing why Sprint races are not enjoyed by some fans, and took the chance to complain about the performance gap to Red Bull and Ferrari
The performance gap enjoyed by Red Bull and Ferrari over Mercedes and the rest of the grid is making Formula 1 "less entertaining", said Toto Wolff.
"If you have Verstappen disappearing in a distance, the two Ferraris being the only entertainment during the race and then we are in the middle of nowhere in no man's land. Then the others are further behind, and then you have DRS trains. That never can make a good sprint race."
‘You have Verstappen disappearing… … then we are in the middle of nowhere in no man's land’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...cedes-27507148
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Guenther Steiner on upgrades: ‘I really want to show it’s not publicity’.
The Haas F1 Team continue to be the surprise package of the season, with the side coming into the French Grand Prix on the back of finishing sixth and eighth at the Austrian Grand Prix, despite still being yet to introduce a single upgrade.
19 July 2022
by Nick Golding
Haas are set to introduce their first upgrade of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The VF22 appears to be one of the most consistent cars on the grid this season, with the American side sitting seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, even though everyone around them has introduced plenty of upgrades.
Haas were initially set to introduce their first batch at the Spanish Grand Prix, but decided against it late-on. Instead, Kevin Magnussen’s and Mick Schumacher’s only upgrades for the year are set to come at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which takes place after the French GP.
‘VF22 Consistent Car, without Upgrades’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/guenther-...not-publicity/
Steiner targeting P6 in 2022 constructors’ standings after improved run of form for Haas
19 July 2022
Formula 1.
The Austrian Grand Prix marked the first time Haas have scored points with both cars in consecutive races in nearly four years. And the result has left Team Principal Guenther Steiner dreaming of a P6 finish in the constructors’ standings this year.
Double points for Haas at Silverstone after a five-race drought – as Mick Schumacher netted his first ever top-10 finish in F1 – were repeated at the following round at the Red Bull Ring, as Schumacher claimed P6 to Kevin Magnussen’s P8.
That’s the first time since the 2018 Brazilian and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix that Haas have taken consecutive double points – and having seen his team jump from P9 to P7 in the constructors’ standings, Steiner is hopeful of going one spot higher before the end of the year.
‘P6 Target’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...TBZ2fZp0b.html
Steiner puts a target on Alfa Romeo’s back
Date published: July 19 2022
Jon Wilde
Guenther Steiner has put a target on Alfa Romeo’s back, in hoping Haas can climb even loftier heights after their recent return to form. After a lean spell of five races in which they failed to score a point, Haas are back on song and reproducing their early-season promise.
The British and Austrian Grands Prix both resulted in double points finishes as Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher finished in the top 10 at each venue, the latter finally getting off the mark after 31 failed F1 attempts to do so.
Those points were not chicken feed either because they finished sixth and eighth in Austria, and thus the American team are now seventh in the Constructors’ Championship with AlphaTauri, Aston Martin and Williams behind them.
‘No Chicken Feed Points at Haas’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/guenth...nstructors-p6/
Haas not getting 'overenthusiastic' over recent run of points
19/07/2022 at 09:23
Phillip van Osten
Guenther Steiner says Haas isn't getting carried away with its consecutive double-points finishes in Britain and in Austria, insisting the string of good results won't easily continue.
"I’m very happy about it but I’m very happy about it for the team because I’ve told them that they need to believe in themselves because we’ve done it before and we will do it again, and we have so it’s a very good result," said the Haas team boss ahead of this week's French Grand Prix.”
"I think we have to be careful about getting too overenthusiastic for the next races, so we’re not thinking that this will keep continuing easily – this is very hard work from a lot of people. We will do the best we can and hopefully we can get some more points and have quite a relaxed summer break."
‘Happy to do the best Haas can’;
https://f1i.com/news/448451-haas-not...of-points.html
Steiner: We have to be careful about getting overenthusiastic.
19 July, 2022
Jad Mallak
Guenther Steiner warned Haas should not get overenthusiastic ahead of the 2022 French Grand Prix after both their cars scored points in two races in a row. Previewing the French Grand Prix at the Circuit Paul Ricard this weekend, Haas team boss Guenther Steiner is wary of getting too excited after two points-scoring races in a row, and tried to manage the expectations.
“I’m very happy about it but I’m very happy about it for the team because I’ve told them that they need to believe in themselves because we’ve done it before and we will do it again, and we have so it’s a very good result,” Steiner said of the previous two races.”
“I think we have to be careful about getting too overenthusiastic for the next races, so we’re not thinking that this will keep continuing easily – this is very hard work from a lot of people,” he added. “We will do the best we can and hopefully we can get some more points and have quite a relaxed summer break.”
‘Haas Overenthusiasm Warning’;
https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/07...renthusiastic/
“Motivation is very high within the team” – Haas’ Guenther Steiner
July 19, 2022
By Nick Golding
The Haas F1 Team go into this weekend’s French Grand Prix on the back of their most successful weekend in years, after finishing sixth and eighth at the recent Austrian Grand Prix.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s race at Circuit Paul Ricard, Steiner explained that “motivation is very high” at Haas. The Haas boss is targeting more points this weekend, with the VF22 appearing to be strong at every circuit.
“For sure, motivation is very high within the team after two weekends like we had in Silverstone and Austria. Our car is pretty good everywhere, I think our weakest point is high-speed tracks like those in Jeddah and Baku and coming up in Spa and Monza. I’m very confident that if we execute well, we can have points again. I don’t know how many but the reliability in the last two races was good and hopefully it will stay good for the next events before the summer.”
‘Haas Motivation High’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...nther-steiner/
‘Normally it’s Toto fighting everybody’: Guenther Steiner disagrees with Wolff after key FIA decision
The budget cap has been hiked after a number of protestations from the big teams on the Formula 1 grid.
18 July 2022
by James Clifford
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner is pleased to see the back of the budget cap saga after it was raised by 3.1 percent. The budget was initially set at $140 million for the season for every team, and has to be spread out between damage repairs, car development, freight travel and more – drivers’ salaries are not included.
In the end, it was agreed that there would be a raise to the budget, and Steiner revealed that, having wanted the opposite to what the teams had been pushing for, a middle ground was found. “Pleased there was an outcome, I think the meeting took a while but in the end we found a compromise, which is always good,” he said.
“So the compromise was that we are all not really happy about it, but we move on and that is the most important for Formula 1 in general. “Obviously the big teams wanted more, the small teams wanted nothing and the compromise was in the middle. But I think it shows, again, in the end we work together.” The Italian quipped that it was strange seeing Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on the same side as the people he usually shares a frosty relationship with.
‘Guenther Steiner: ‘Normally it’s Toto fighting everybody’!’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/normally-...-fia-decision/
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Berger: Ferrari not ready for title fight, but Leclerc is.
Former Grand Prix racer Gerhard Berger believes Ferrari lack some of Red Bull’s strengths in order to fight for the championship. Berger believes Ferrari aren’t quite ready to win championships, but star driver Charles Leclerc is.
Date published: July 19 2022
Editor
Appearing on the F1 Nation podcast to preview the French Grand Prix alongside hosts Tom Clarkson and Damon Hill, Berger spoke about the current championship fight and said Red Bull and Max Verstappen are currently the standard setters.
“As a Ferrari fan, if you had the possibility to say ‘Ferrari are going to be second next year with such a car’, everybody would say ‘great’.”
“But, now, they are trying to fight a championship but didn’t fight for a championship for years. So they are not ready yet to fight in the championship like Red Bull, who fought until the last race last year [and know] very small detail and what it means for the championship.”
‘Gerhard Berger:P Ferrari lacking, Leclerc ready’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/gerhar...t-ready-title/
Ferrari boss insists they will not impose team orders on Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Tuesday 19 Jul 2022 6:10 pm
Callum McAvoy
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has insisted that the team will not favour either Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz Jr. at this stage of the season. While Ferrari have the edge on Red Bull in terms of pure pace, a number of strategy errors and reliability issues have left the Scuderia trailing their title rivals in both championships at the halfway point of the season.
After 11 races, Leclerc is second, 38 points behind Max Verstappen, and Sainz Jr. is fourth and whopping 75 points of the leader, leaving Ferrari 56 points off Red Bull in the constructors’ table. Sainz Jr. for his part has had terrible luck in 2022, failing to finish four races, with three of those retirements caused by mechanical-related issues.
Mattia Binotto: ‘Obviously, there [are] two championships, the Constructors’ and the Drivers’. By maximising the team points, I’m pretty sure we are as well maximising the drivers’ opportunity by taking points [from] the opponents.’ With two more races left before the summer break, namely France and Hungary, a lot could still change in the championship, but if Verstappen extends his lead, then surely Ferrari will reconsider their strategy.
‘Ferrari No Team Orders’;
https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/19/f1-no...o=newsnow-feed
Mattia Binotto pinpoints key upgrade which gave Ferrari a major boost.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc took his first win since round three of the year at the Austrian Grand Prix last time out.
19 July 2022
by James Clifford
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has described the pace difference between Red Bull and his team as “negligible” after upgrades to the rear wing for the Scuderia. After watching his drivers show such superiority over their rivals in race pace in Austria, Binotto sees no daylight between the cars.
“I think in terms of pure speed [the cars are] very similar and quali is proving it, I don’t think there is much difference between the two cars,” he said. “We started pushing, putting pressure on Max at the restart and forcing him to have more pace and more pace was more degrading the tyres.”
“So, I think what we saw in the sprint has been more obvious because we put more pressure on.” However, the Italian still reckons, as was the case at the beginning of the year, that Red Bull’s chassis coupled with exquisite Honda power is keeping Red Bull in front in a straight line.
‘Ferrari Major Boost’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/mattia-bi...a-major-boost/
How Ferrari has slashed Red Bull’s F1 top speed advantage
Ferrari might not have been adopting Red Bull’s policy of throwing update after update at its 2022 Formula 1 car, but it has still been making important progress.
Jul 19, 2022, 8:58 AM
By: Matt Somerfield
Co-author: Giorgio Piola
In fact, a recent concerted effort to address and close down a clear deficit it had to its main championship rival has paid off dividends, and could be significant for the title battle. Since the start of the year, GPS data of the Red Bull RB18 and the Ferrari F1-75 showed they achieved their lap times in different ways.
The Ferrari was better in slow and medium corners, while the Red Bull stretched its legs on the straights with a significant top speed advantage. And, as team boss Mattia Binotto readily admitted, the extent of Ferrari’s deficit – especially when the DRS was open – was something that could not be ignored.
“We had a disadvantage compared to the Red Bull no doubt, in terms of straight-line speed especially in the DRS zone,” he said. “So in terms of the power of their DRS compared to ours, we worked a lot on it.” That work culminated in the arrival of a new rear wing at the Canadian Grand Prix, but the team would only have enough parts available on this occasion for one of its drivers.
‘GPS data analysis of the Red Bull RB18 and the Ferrari F1-75’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/h...tage/10340065/
Ferrari’s lower-key upgrade approach is pegging Red Bull back
Jul 19 2022
By Rosario Giuliana
Ferrari heads into this weekend’s French Grand Prix buoyed by an Austria race that was the first in some time where it appeared to actually have a quicker Formula 1 car than Red Bull, with both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz having significantly better race pace than Max Verstappen.
The development paths taken by Ferrari and Red Bull remain very different, in some ways even opposite. But Ferrari has largely stuck with its concept and has only brought in some small changes to reduce drag with updates.
In addition to the rear wing introduced in Canada and later used in both Silverstone and Austria, Ferrari has tried to reduce drag by slightly increasing the undercut in the underside of the sidepods in a package introduced at Silverstone.
‘Ferrari’s lower-key upgrade approach”;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/ferra...red-bull-back/
Ferrari tipped to beat Red Bull in Hungary because of this key advantage
Red Bull and Ferrari have won all of the opening 11 rounds of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
19 July 2022
by Rob Kershaw
Red Bull’s engine consultant, Masashi Yamamoto, believes that Ferrari will have the upper hand in Hungary just before the summer break, but anticipates a strong performance from Red Bull in France this weekend.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have, between them, won seven races this season, and six of those were consecutive after the Scuderia had no answer to the upgrade introduced at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
However, Carlos Sainz won the British Grand Prix after a horrible day for the Austrian side, and indeed his team-mate Charles Leclerc due to a strategic error, before the Monegasque sealed the win at Red Bull’s home race in Austria last time out.
‘Key Advantage Ferrari’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/ferrari-t...key-advantage/
Red Bull: Ferrari 'absolutely' in F1 title fight despite engine issues
19 July 2022
Ben Issatt
Red Bull insists Ferrari "absolutely" remain in this year's Formula 1 title battle despite recent engine problems. The Scuderia has had three retirements due to power unit failures already in 2022, costing Charles Leclerc very likely wins in Spain and Baku and also costing Carlos Sainz second place in Austria. But asked if Red Bull took any comfort in Ferrari's unreliability, team boss Christian Horner was clear. “Not really. We are not too focused on them,” he said via Motorsport.com.
Ferrari's problems have allowed Red Bull and Max Verstappen to open up 56 and 38-point leads in the Constructors' and Drivers' Championship respectively. But Horner maintained Ferrari is still a genuine threat on the road to Abu Dhabi. “Absolutely,” he said. “We are just at the halfway point of the championship and things swing around quite a lot.
“There is still an awfully long way to go. I would say Austria was sort of damage limitation as we managed to get pole, the sprint victory and then second place [in the race]. I think Max only lost five points to Charles in the Drivers’ Championship and obviously damage was relatively contained in the Constructors’.”
‘Ferrari still in Title Fight’;
https://www.insideracing.com/index.p...-engine-issues
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Max Verstappen reveals why he has a better relationship with Sergio Perez than Daniel Ricciardo.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen believes his relationship with Sergio Perez is the best he has had with a team-mate since his arrival into Formula 1.
19 July 2022
by James Clifford
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen believes his relationship with Sergio Perez is the best he has had with a team-mate since his arrival into Formula 1. Verstappen arrived at Red Bull in 2016 to partner Daniel Ricciardo having spent the 2015 season and the opening four rounds of 2016 at Toro Rosso alongside Carlos Sainz.
The Dutchman struck up a fantastic relationship with Ricciardo, and the pair gave fans some of the funniest and most entertaining off-track moments in recent memory. Since then, the reigning champion has partnered Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon – both of whom had short stints at the team – before Perez arrived ahead of the 2021 season.
It might be a bold claim to say that his friendship with the 32-year-old is better than what he had with Ricciardo, but Verstappen explained that the fact that he is older and more mature makes it easier for him to hold and enjoy a good relationship with other drivers. “I started of course very young in Formula 1 and I had, I think, also a very good relationship with Daniel,” he said.
‘Max friendship’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/max-verst...iel-ricciardo/
Ferrari warned Red Bull have ‘unbeatable package’ as Charles Leclerc criticised for mistakes
2022 has been Ferrari's most successful season since 2018.
20 July 2022
by James Clifford
The combination of Verstappen and the Austrian side, who have won 19 of the last 34 races, is proving an almost unassailable benchmark at the moment. “Combined with the strategy of Red Bull, who are extremely good, the good pitstops, I think it’s nearly an unbeatable package,” stated Berger.
“In saying this, maybe the Ferrari has, in certain circumstances, a little bit of advantage and Leclerc is using it very well. He’s a super quick driver, super good.”
“[Anything] can happen and maybe the car is so good, they could win the championship already this year but, if they really have to fight, Red Bull has an advantage from last year’s fighting for the championship.”
‘Unbeatable Red Bull Package’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/ferrari-w...-for-mistakes/
Horner downplays potential Red Bull Honda headache
Wednesday 20 July 2022 08:15
Ewan Gale
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has insisted there have been no discussions with Honda over a potential return to F1 for the Japanese manufacturer.
"We opened the Red Bull Powertrain building so the staff moved into the building, which is a facility that should hopefully enable us to produce really competitive engines starting from 2026.
"We have an engineering partnership with agreement with Honda for the supply of the current engines under the current agreement to the end of the 2025 set of regulations and of course, there's discussions of Porsche and Audi looking at entering the sport, which I think again is really exciting for Formula 1 to have brands like that wanting to come in.”
‘No Headache’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...onda-headache/
Red Bull won’t focus on ‘false game’ of qualifying pace
Date published: July 20 2022 - Michelle Foster
Despite losing the qualifying battle against Ferrari, Red Bull will not focus future updates on one-lap pace as it could lead to a “bit of a false game”, says Paul Monaghan. Ferrari have had the better pace during this season’s qualifying sessions, the Scuderia seven-four up on Red Bull.
Charles Leclerc is leading the way with six pole positions, Max Verstappen has three and their team-mates each have one.
But while that stat is not in Red Bull’s favour, and also means there is more to be done in the grands prix, the Milton Keynes squad have no intention of deliberately trying to create a faster car over one lap. Instead, their goal is to make the RB18 an overall faster car.
‘Red Bull Goal, Faster Car’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bu...alifying-pace/
How much is Red Bull’s F1 weight disadvantage costing it?
Jul 19 2022
By Edd Straw
Red Bull has had a strong 2022 Formula 1 season, but it hasn’t been perfect – with Max Verstappen admitting the team has been “not amazing in qualifying”. Ferrari has been the better performer in qualifying sessions, taking seven pole positions out of 11, with Red Bull having the rest. Verstappen has taken three of these, Sergio Perez the other.
But Red Bull has the better record on race days, winning seven times (and taking both sprints), meaning Verstappen leads the drivers’ championship by 38 points over Charles Leclerc. “We are still a little bit, I would say, not amazing in qualifying,” said Verstappen.
“But that hasn’t only to do with just the car, we are still a bit heavy. When all the fuel comes out, that is just a limitation we have. So we need to lose weight with the car, which we’re working on.”
‘Working on Red Bull Weight Solution’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/how-m...ge-costing-it/
Verstappen highlights the key to success at the French GP
Today, 15:20
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Max Verstappen will be hoping to make it back-to-back French Grand Prix wins during this weekend's event at the Circuit Paul Ricard. Max Verstappen reckons tyre degradation and the anticipated hot temperatures will be decisive factors at the upcoming French Grand Prix.
Amid a European heatwave, air temperatures are expected to reach 34 degrees Celcius on all three days of track action at the Circuit Paul Ricard. Pirelli also marked 'tyre stress' as four out of five in their race preview, with the Hard C2, Medium C3 and Soft C4 compounds being selected.
With these considerations in mind, Verstappen will be looking to claim back-to-back wins in France and extend his 38-point lead over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. He won last season's event after adopting an aggressive two-stop strategy to overhaul Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton with two laps remaining.
‘Key to French Grand Prix Success’;
https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...-the-french-gp
Perez looking to bounce back in France, as he insists he is 'still in contention' for the championship
20 July 2022
Formula 1.
Despite his 57-point deficit to championship leader and team mate Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez is still gunning for overall glory in 2022. But, the Mexican driver admits he and his team can ill-afford any more DNFs, as he looks to hit back in France.
Perez had at one stage been 15 points behind Verstappen, after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. But since then he has suffered from two retirements in four races – including a DNF last time out in Austria. Looking ahead to the French GP, Perez said he's searching for a redeeming result.
"After a tough weekend in Austria, it’s great to be back racing and have a chance to put things right," said Perez. “We have had two DNFs in the past three races and we can’t afford that in the championships so I’m aiming to change that this weekend in France. I’m still in contention for the drivers’ championship, so personally it is also important not to lose any more points.”
‘Sergio Perez Bounce Back Plan in France’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Rt7IOYhyJ.html
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Mercedes’ Toto Wolff: Aim for France “to make further inroads on the gap to the front” and strive for podium.
Looking back at the season as a whole, Wolff pointed out the considerable improvement in results between the beginning of the season and recent Grands Prix.
July 20, 2022
By Ashley Cline
Ahead of the French Grand Prix, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal Toto Wolff said that the last few races have been evidence of the “mammoth effort of the team” to put them back into consistent podium contention.
“Third and fourth in Austria was a satisfying result for the whole team, particularly given the position we were in on Friday evening. The team worked miracles to have two complete race cars ready for the Sprint and Grand Prix. 27 points on Sunday were a good reward for that effort.”
“We scored three podiums in the first seven races, and we have now achieved four in the last four. I’m pleased with the momentum we are building, and it reflects the mammoth effort of the team. Our understanding of the W13 is growing with every lap and it’s encouraging to see that reflected in our development and results.” Wolff said that development will continue as the team vies for a return to the top step, with more changes coming in France as they work toward closing the gap at Circuit Paul Ricard.
‘Mercedes Mammoth Effort’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ve-for-podium/
Lewis Hamilton to be replaced by Nyck de Vries for FP1 as 'insurance' plan takes shape
NYCK DE VRIES has been tipped as Toto Wolff's 'insurance policy' should Lewis Hamilton walk away from F1.
06:16, Thu, Jul 21, 2022
By Stuart Ballard
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that Nyck de Vries will be given his chance to impress this weekend at the French Grand Prix by replacing Lewis Hamilton in the first practice session. De Vries was initially signed to McLaren's young driver programme back in 2010 before joining Mercedes as a reserve driver last year.
The 2019 F2 champion was tipped for a seat in F1 the following year, but ended up joining the Formula E Championship for Mercedes. He went on to win the Formula E Championship in just his second year and is now looking to make a name for himself in F1.
The 27-year-old made his F1 practice debut earlier this year when he replaced Alex Albon for FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix. After De Vries' outing in Barcelona, the Dutchman was described as Wolff's "insurance policy" should Hamilton quit F1.
‘Toto Wolff's 'insurance policy'!’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-Wolff-F1-news
Wolff promises no let up in development as Mercedes' charge continues
20/07/2022, 12:00
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Toto Wolff has made clear that Mercedes will "keep chasing those final few tenths" by bringing more updates to their 2022 car as the season develops.
"The team worked miracles to have two complete race cars ready for the Sprint and Grand Prix. 27 points on Sunday were a good reward for that effort. "We scored three podiums in the first seven races, and we have now achieved four in the last four.
"I'm pleased with the momentum we are building, and it reflects the mammoth effort of the team. Our understanding of the W13 is growing with every lap and it's encouraging to see that reflected in our development and results."
‘Toto Wolff: No Let Up Promise’;
https://racingnews365.com/wolff-prom...arge-continues
Mercedes confirm French GP upgrades
Wednesday 20 July 2022 16:03
Ewan Gale
Toto Wolff has confirmed Mercedes will add more developments to the W13 at the French Grand Prix. There is no let up in Mercedes' quest to get back to winning ways, with further improvements to be made for the race at Paul Ricard this weekend.
Team principal Wolff explained: "While we were quicker in Austria, we still weren't quick enough to challenge at the front. "We need to keep chasing those final few tenths and bringing new developments to the cars, including this weekend in France."
"Paul Ricard is a very different track and challenge," added Wolff. "It has smooth tarmac and a wide range of corner types, along with long straights. The aim will be to make further inroads on the gap to the front and hopefully be back on the podium."
‘More W13 Developments’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...prix-upgrades/
"I want to say we did it the right way." Inside the mind of Toto Wolff
He’s one of Formula 1's great thinkers, a hugely successful entrepreneur, and a charismatic leader, but who is Toto Wolff? The team principal of Mercedes-AMG Petronas sits down with Ben Winstanley to share his journey
Published: Wednesday 20th July 2022
by Ben Winstanley
Sometimes I feel like a football coach: there's a point where there's nothing more you can do and you have to leave it to the players on the pitch to get the job done
"I think that my 20-year background in finance has helped me to not only develop myself but also shape the team into the commercial operation that it is today. But I'm still learning. I'm 49 plus one, and I wonder where that trajectory takes me in the future."
It's a humbling and somewhat fearsome thought to consider the Wolff who's steered Mercedes to such heights may have room for growth, but it's indicative of a team that is not prepared to rest on their laurels – far from the perceived complacency some of Mercedes' detractors like to direct towards their rival.
‘I want to say we did it the right way’;
https://squaremile.com/sport/formula...eam-principal/
Toto Wolff unbothered by Mattia Binotto’s concern about FIA hiring ex-Mercedes advisor
Mohammed ben Sulayem has been forced to weather a few storms since his tenure as FIA president began in December.
by James Clifford
20 July 202220 July 2022
Shaila-Ann Rao, former special adviser to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, raised eyebrows when she was signed by the FIA as secretary general, leading to questions as to whether she could perform her tasks impartially. Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto conceded that he was ‘concerned’ by that development following the departure of Peter Bayer.
As for Rao, Wolff feels that she will do a splendid job in her new role. “I think my opinion about Shaila-Ann in terms of integrity and transparency, she is a lawyer, this is what she stands for and I think it is important.”
“We have had too many controversies in the past where things were not out in the open that should have been and she is a guarantee for that,” he added.
‘Toto Wolff unbothered by Mattia Binotto’s concern’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/toto-wolf...cedes-advisor/
Toto Wolff finally speaks out on Mattia Binotto issue with FIA hiring ex-Mercedes advisor
TOTO WOLFF has spoken out on Mattia Binotto's concerns around F1 with the FIA's appointment of an ex-Mercedes advisor.
18:12, Wed, Jul 20, 2022
By Liam Llewellyn
Toto Wolff remained unmoved by Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto’s concerns about the FIA hiring a former Mercedes advisor. Shaila-Ann Rao, who once worked with the Austrian, has now been recruited by the FIA as their secretary general and many within the F1 world have questioned her ability to perform tasks fairly and impartially given her history with the Silver Arrows.
The Mercedes team principal is unphased by the mixed reaction to her appointment and believes his former employee will do a stellar job in her new role. “I think the FIA is getting there and we must not also forget that Mohammed needs to put his team in place and find his grip,” said Wolff.
“I think my opinion about Shaila-Ann in terms of integrity and transparency, she is a lawyer, this is what she stands for and I think it is important.We have had too many controversies in the past where things were not out in the open that should have been and she is a guarantee for that,” he added.
‘Toto Wolff remained unmoved by Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto’s concerns’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...dvisor-f1-news
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Alonso confident for French GP: I'm physically driving better than ever!
Alpine have also managed to draw even with McLaren as they battle for fourth in the Constructors' standings, and Alonso is looking forward to one of the team's home races at the upcoming French Grand Prix.
21/07/2022, 14:30
Author Anna Francis
With the Circuit Paul Ricard returning to the Formula 1 calendar in 2018 – Alonso's final season before he took a two-year hiatus from the sport – the two-time World Champion admits that he does not have that much experience of the track.
In the races that he has competed in there, Alonso has noticed that perfecting the car's set-up is particularly important. "It's a fun track and whilst I've raced at various French race circuits, I’ve only competed here twice before in Formula 1," he explained.
"It's a challenging circuit to get the car set-up right, with quite a few high-speed sections followed by various low- and medium-speed corners. We seemed quite competitive at various circuits this year, so hopefully we can keep this up at Paul Ricard."
‘EL PLAN: Fun Track Set-Up Importance’;
https://racingnews365.com/alonso-con...tter-than-ever
Hamilton: Alonso my toughest F1 opponent on ‘pure pace’
16:13 Thu, 21 Jul 2022
by Fergal Walsh
Lewis Hamilton says the most resilient opponent that he has faced during his career on “pure pace” is former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso. This weekend, Hamilton will enter his 300th grand prix event, becoming just the sixth driver in F1 history to reach the milestone.
When asked in France who the toughest opponent he faced during his career was, he replied: “I think it’s difficult to say who has necessarily been my strongest competitor, because every time you’re with someone you’re in a different place of your life.
“I remember the task of being alongside Fernando when I was 22, you know, I was so young mentally and of course – OK in terms of skill – but it’s a lot of pressure to go up against a great like him. So I would say out of pure pace, I think I would say it’s Fernando, and ability. We had some good battles, I wish we could have more. Hopefully he will continue to race, and hopefully we will have more in the future.”
‘Fernando Hamilton: Alonso my toughest F1 opponent’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...-on-pure-pace/
Alonso glad to have avoided Kimi/Schumacher-style comeback
Date published: July 21 2022
Henry Valantine
Fernando Alonso said he is pleased at how he has been able to keep his speed up after returning to Formula 1, after alluding to his opinion that fellow World Champions Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen were “not the same as before” they left the sport for the first time.
Alonso said in an interview with The Race: “I know the first row [of the grid] is not the end of the world and I have been in that position a few times already, but it meant a lot because when you decide to come back, you need to put away a few things in life – family, friends again – and have full dedication for the job you do, travelling, the physical aspect, the mental aspect, everything and the pressure that you feel in your shoulders.”
“Because you are Fernando Alonso, and everyone will look at you if you are doing well.
“And I know that there were a couple of examples in the past that people were coming back, Kimi or Michael, that they were maybe… we all had the feeling that they were not the same as before. And I didn’t want that in my comeback.”
‘EL PLAN: Avoid Kimi/Schumacher-Style Comeback!’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...cher-comeback/
‘What’s he adding to Formula 1?’ – Fernando Alonso interview
21/07/2022, 10:44
By Scott Mitchell
Fernando Alonso has started from the front row in Formula 1 38 times. The most recent occasion was a greater achievement than most and contrary to how he played it down at the time, it meant a lot to the two-time world champion.
Qualifying second in Canada was Alonso’s best grid position of his F1 comeback. It was also his first front row start in 10 years. The mostly wasted second half of Alonso’s F1 career is well-documented but even in that context, a decade’s wait just to start on the front row again seems like an age.
Alonso’s break from F1 in 2019 and 2020 had mixed results. He became a two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner and a World Endurance champion, failed to qualify for the 2019 Indianapolis 500 then finished a muted 21st a year later, and expanded his racing remit so widely he even made his Dakar Rally debut. But as he’s hinted at, Alonso’s results in the first year back in F1 should have already gone a long way to convincing doubters about the level he’d perform at.
‘EL PLAN: Front Row’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/whats...nso-interview/
Fernando Alonso: P4 in constructors' championship 'a nice target' for Alpine
21 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Fernando Alonso thinks that Alpine are "quite fast" heading into the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard, with the Spaniard hoping the French team can impress at their home race as they target P4 in the constructors' championship.
‘EL PLAN: P4’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...174179227.html
Fernando Alonso Wants Alpine to Hurry up and Focus All Resources on Next Year’s Car
21 Jul 2022, 09:07 UTC
by Sergiu Tudose
Alpine F1 Team is looking quite good at the moment. Some would argue they are the fourth-fastest team on the grid and time will tell whether McLaren will be able to do anything about that. However, Fernando Alonso believes his team’s long-term ambitions should outweigh this year’s results.
According to the Spaniard, it would be a mistake for Alpine to throw too much money at the current A522 race car, reports Motorsport, and used Mercedes as an example of what can happen when it comes to development.
“I don’t think it’s going to be that easy for us,” he said. “They [Mercedes] have a huge organization and we knew that they will come back sooner or later. For us, it’s more a medium/long-term program when we try to improve as much as they did. So, I think, for us, it’s a matter of starting next year’s car soon enough that we don’t compromise the next project.”
‘EL PLAN: Hurry up and Focus All Resources on Next Year’s Alpine Car’;
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/f...ar-194088.html
Fernando Alonso aiming for championship run in 2023, admits his future at Alpine is uncertain
Fernando Alonso is currently without a contract for 2023, and the Spaniard is expected to make a decision after the summer.
21 July 2022
by Nick Golding
With the A522 getting faster at each round, Alonso is keen for the team to continue developing the 2022 car ahead of the team’s home race. Alpine have previously explained that they are aiming to upgrade this year’s car until the season’s budget is completely spent, with the French-outfit wanting to secure fourth in the Constructors’.
However, Alonso thinks the time is right to start preparing next season’s car, whilst also continuing to upgrade the current model. With Alonso not believing a victory is possible this season, he wants the team to start working on 2023 now.
“Maybe it can be if other drivers are unlucky, but on our own? Difficult,” Alonso told NOS when asked if a podium finish is possible this season. “We are not fighting for wins and I don’t think it will get better any time soon. Fifth-placed finishes, like at Silverstone, that feels like winning to us. We are aiming for 2023. Then we need to have a better car.
‘EL PLAN: 2023 Contract’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/fernando-...-is-uncertain/
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F1 title momentum turns again; can McLaren hold on? Burning Questions.
Trends are also what McLaren is fighting at rival Alpine’s home track. The French team has been chipping away confidently at Woking’s place on the title table, and it now has the chance to take fourth outright in front of its home crowd in what would be a real blow to the British team in a difficult season.
July 21st, 2022 11:01 am
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
McLaren has been losing points to Alpine in the battle for fourth in the constructors standings since the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when Fernando Alonso stubbornly held up both drivers in a typical elbow-defence to take the flag first among them. The gap had been 19 points before that. Ahead of the French Grand Prix the two teams are level, and Alpine is the squad on the move.
But being in the mix is McLaren’s problem. While Lando Norris is consistently getting the most out of the car, often that’s only enough to scrape into the points. Ricciardo’s low races have cost the team, but the car’s inconsistency has been what’s really hampered the points tally.
Ocon leads Alonso by 23 points in the standings, and though the Spaniard somewhat laughably suggested after Austria that he’d lost as many as 70 points through misfortune this season, the real number is probably in the still significant 40-point ballpark, accounting even for the points that Daniel Ricciardo should’ve scored at the races his McLaren was in the mix.
‘McLaren Losing Points and Momentum’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...70f6183681abb2
McLaren’s two key weaknesses and the challenge of fixing them
Jul 20 2022
By Scott Mitchell
Two key weaknesses with McLaren’s 2022 Formula 1 car are contributing to its fluctuating form this season and the team needs time to bring the improvements technical director James Key says are “abundantly clear”.
McLaren F1 technical director Key told The Race that rather than struggling to put the car in a good performance window, there have been specific situations where two weaknesses are being exposed. “When we’ve shown strong performance, it’s been real,” Key said. “It hasn’t been a freak event. But equally we have weak performances as well.”
“It’s more a case of having circuits which play to our strengths, but it’s not always anticipated. Monaco was far stronger than we thought. And I thought Barcelona would be quicker than Monaco was. I expected to be a lot better in Canada than we were. It’s definitely a bit of a rollercoaster but the good things, the high points scoring we’ve had in Australia and Imola and Monaco and so on, it’s not a fluke, it’s the performance of the car shining through on those tracks.”
‘McLaren’s Challenge Fixing Weaknesses’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/mclar...f-fixing-them/
Who Ricciardo was targeting with statement on his F1 future.
Daniel Ricciardo says the statement he released last week stressing he is “committed to McLaren until the end of next year and not walking away from” Formula 1 was partly motivated by wanting to reassure staff at the factory that he will still be there in 2023.
21/07/2022, 19:33
By Edd Straw
The Race
Team boss Zak Brown said in May that “mechanisms” existed in the contract that could allow it to end early, but The Race understands that Ricciardo is in control of these. Therefore, if McLaren were to replace Ricciardo it would need to be by agreement and, presumably, a significant pay-off.
Ricciardo said he issued the statement on social media last week so that people could hear “from the horse’s mouth” that he has no intention of walking away. As well as the wider world, he said this was aimed at McLaren colleagues based at the factory who he doesn’t see on a regular basis.
“There was a lot of noise, the rumours, people questioning and coming up with their own answers, and it was just kind of building,” said Ricciardo when asked why he released the statement.
‘Daniel Ricciardo: Motivated by wanting to reassure staff’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/who-r...his-f1-future/
Lando Norris hoping that small McLaren upgrade 'can work well'
21 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Lando Norris is hoping that a small McLaren upgrade for this weekend's 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard "can work well."
‘Small McLaren Upgrade’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...320092552.html
‘Research and bravery’ as McLaren contemplate changes for 2023
Date published: July 21 2022
Michelle Foster
McLaren technical director James Key has spoken of research and the bravery to follow through when it comes to improving their F1 car ahead of next year’s championship.
2022 has been a mixed season for McLaren with the car carrying notable weaknesses such as a sensitivity to track temperature and drag levels.
But as Key put it to The Race: “When we’ve shown strong performance, it’s been real. It hasn’t been a freak event. But equally we have weak performances as well.” The team intends on addressing those weaknesses with next year’s MCL37.
‘MCL37 Next Year For Improvement’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclare...-2023-changes/
McLaren boss Zak Brown discusses replacing Daniel Ricciardo with IndyCar ace Colton Herta.
13:48, 21 Jul 2022
By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer
The Australian's future with McLaren is in doubt amid his struggle to find consistent form, with IndyCar driver Herta considered a potential replacement after a successful test. McLaren chief Zak Brown has discussed the prospect of signing IndyCar star Colton Herta amid speculation over the future of Daniel Ricciardo.
The American was given the chance to drive the team's 2021 Formula 1 car in a test at Portimao last week. Herta said afterwards that it was "a lot of fun" and "really special", before adding that he felt he was fast enough to achieve his F1 dream.
And reports suggested that McLaren were also pleased with what they saw. As a result, speculation suggests Herta will be near the front of the queue if the team decides to replace Ricciardo.
‘Zak Brown discusses Colton Herta at McLaren’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...brown-27541392
‘There’s unfinished business’ – Why Daniel Ricciardo looks like a man on a mission ahead of the French Grand Prix
21 July 2022
Senior Editor Greg Stuart
Daniel Ricciardo loves his mixed martial arts. And walking into the paddock at the Circuit Paul Ricard on Thursday, the Australian had the look of a man stepping into the Octagon – a steely resolve behind that ever-present smile.
Every Formula 1 driver creates a certain amount of noise in both the media and the darker recesses of the internet. But the noise surrounding Ricciardo – and his future at McLaren – has been building up to a cacophony of ‘UFC walkout song’ proportions in recent weeks.
“I’m basically not backing down from any challenges,” he concludes. “Obviously we’ve faced a few over the 18 months and all of that sort of stuff. But simply this” – and here you can detect a shimmer of emotion ripple through Ricciardo – “I would love to swear if I could – but this stuff means a lot to me.”
‘Daniel Ricciardo Not Backing Down’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...lS6l1kmfv.html
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Aston Martin boss comments on Sebastian Vettel’s activism, insists they don’t have a ‘Plan B’.
It’s rumoured that the German driver will make his decision on whether to retire or not during the summer break, which takes place after next weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
21 July 2022
by Nick Golding
Sebastian Vettel is without a contract at Aston Martin beyond the end of 2022. Krack is insistent, though, that they aren’t “talking” about potential replacements for Vettel, with the team wanting the German to stay in 2023.
“We’re not talking about potential successors,” he insisted. “Neither with him nor with others. “We want Sebastian to stay with us.”
The Aston Martin boss has explained that the team have a “very good relationship” with the 53-time race winner, and that the German knows how much the team wants him to stay next season.
‘No Plan B’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/aston-mar...have-a-plan-b/
Sebastian Vettel hopes Aston Martin upgrades 'will help us solve the puzzle'
21 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Sebastian Vettel hopes that Aston Martin's upgrades for the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix will help the team "solve the puzzle" as they try to improve their car's performance.
‘Solving the Puzzle’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...399999431.html
VETTEL CONFIDENT IN ASTON MARTIN COMEBACK WITH INCOMING UPGRADES
Aston Martin have endured a tough 2022 campaign.
19:39 Thu, 21 Jul 2022.
Jay Winter
Aston Martin driver Sebastian Vettel believes his team will bounce back from their poor start to the 2022 season in the following races after revealing that “another set of parts” will upgrade the AMR22.
Der Plan: Vettel opened up on the tough start to the year and how it didn’t go as planned. “Well, [there are] new regulations this year in 2022 and for everybody, it was an opportunity to sort of get to the front,” he said.
“I think we’ve worked really hard. As it turned out, we were not quite where we wanted to be to start with. But I think so far the team has done incredibly well to try and turn things around as much as possible. We’ll have another set of parts coming in the next races and I think we are headed in the right direction.”
‘DER PLAN: BOUNCE BACK BELIEF’;
https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1...bastian+Vettel
Vettel has 'clear intention to keep going', shuts down rumors
21/07/2022 at 19:03
Phillip van Osten
Sebastian Vettel confirmed ahead of this weekend's French Grand Prix his "clear intention" of remaining in F1 next season with Aston Martin. There's recently been speculation around Vettel's F1 future, with the gossip pointing to an exit from the sport at the end of the year on the back of a disappointing season.
But Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack said in Austria that team and driver were holding positive talks that he hoped would come to fruition after F1's summer break. Vettel echoed Krack's comments.
"I'm racing this weekend, and the next one," he told the media in France on Thursday. "Obviously I've said that at some point, we will start to talk. I'm talking to the team. I think there's a clear intention to keep going, and we'll see soon where we stand."
‘Der Plan: Keep Going’;
https://f1i.com/news/448653-vettel-h...wn-rumors.html
Vettel shrugs off retirement talk at French Grand Prix
Issued on: 21/07/2022 - 18:52Modified: 21/07/2022 - 18:50
France 24.
Le Castellet (France) (AFP) – Sebastian Vettel on Thursday dismissed speculation about his future and declared he hopes to continue racing in Formula One and is talking to Aston Martin about staying.
He said the flat and relatively featureless Le Castellet circuit, built on a hot dry plateau of brushland 20 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean east of Marseille, was "what it is… not the most exciting track in the world. "But it is still quite challenging and technically demanding."
"I am racing this weekend and the next one," he responded, when questioned about his plans. "Obviously, I've said that at some point, we will start to talk. I'm talking to the team. I think there's a clear intention to keep going and we'll see soon where we stand."
‘Der Plan: Shrug off retirement talk’;
https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...nch-grand-prix
Sebastian Vettel: the F1 'hypocrite' who won't be silenced
Date 20.07.2022
Author Thomas Klein
'Save the bees' That Formula 1 isn't the most environmentally friendly of sports comes as no surprise. But perhaps the fact that one of its most prominent drivers has become an environmental activist is.
At the last race, the Austrian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel sported a helmet with a special yellow, orange and black design and the slogan: "Save the bees." The 35-year-old is involved in a project that works to protect the species. A few weeks earlier, he drew attention to the way oil is extracted from the Athabasca tar sands in western Canada.
'Then I'm just a hypocrite': However, despite his high-minded words of protest, Vettel remains part of a racing series that has stated its intention to become climate neutral by 2030, but still generates thousands of tons of carbon dioxide. This point wasn't lost on Alberta's environment minister, Sonya Savage. "I have seen a lot of hypocrisy over the years, but this one takes the cake," Savage tweeted in response to Vettel's criticism. "A race car driver sponsored by Aston Martin, with financing from Saudi Aramco, complaining about the oil sands."
‘Save the Bees’;
https://www.dw.com/en/sebastian-vett...ced/a-62527694
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Steiner sets ambitious target for Haas after recent points finishes.
Haas head to the Circuit Paul Ricard off the back of consecutive double-points finishes, including a season-best haul of 14 points at the Austrian Grand Prix.
21/07/2022, 09:30
Author Luke Murphy
Guenther Steiner is hopeful that Haas' recent points-scoring streak will help propel them towards better results in the second half of the season. However, looking ahead to the French GP, Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner warned the outfit against assuming points will be easier to come by.
"I'm very happy about it [the previous results] but I'm very happy about it for the team because I've told them that they need to believe in themselves because we've done it before and we will do it again, and we have, so it's a very good result," said Steiner.
"I think we have to be careful about getting too overenthusiastic for the next races, so we're not thinking that this will keep continuing easily – this is very hard work from a lot of people. We will do the best we can and hopefully we can get some more points and have quite a relaxed summer break."
‘Guenther Steiner: Better Results Hopeful’;
https://racingnews365.com/steiner-se...oints-finishes
Haas updates will be for lap time, not ‘publicity’
Date published: July 20 2022
Michelle Foster
Reiterating that Haas will be “careful” updating their VF-22, Guenther Steiner sees no reason to throw bits on the car for “publicity”. Haas are the only team yet to upgrade their 2022 challenger, the team racing the same car that was on track for the final day of pre-season testing in March. But you would not have thought so given their recent results.
Back-to-back double points hauls at the Austrian and British Grands Prix have seen the team climb to seventh in the Constructors’ Championship with 34 points, seven ahead of AlphaTauri. Haas, though, will not be holding off on the updates for much longer.
The first batch – which some reports claim will also be the only round of updates – will be introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix. “That’s the aim,” Steiner told GPFans. “Hopefully we will get what we expect from them. I’m always careful with upgrades whatever we do, so I won’t say how much we will go faster. But if we go faster that will help, and hopefully we can fight even harder.”
‘VF-22: Careful Updating’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-u...ting-lap-time/
2022 rules mean upgrades no longer so powerful
07:21 Thu, 21 Jul
ANDREW MAITLAND
Grandpx.news
Formula 1’s new regulations are succeeding in helping the smaller teams to fight their most powerful rivals. That is the view of Gunther Steiner, boss of the small American outfit Haas.
Team driver Kevin Magnussen agrees: “For a while, that gave us more progress than any new part. But now the land gains are getting smaller. That’s why an update is now coming at Haas, and Steiner thinks it will be worth “more than two tenths. We wouldn’t have put in the effort for less than that,” he said.
Therefore, while championing the budget cap, Steiner also praises the new ground-effect technical regulations that came into force this season. “I think it is a bit harder than it was in the old days, because the upgrades people brought have not been as big as they were years ago,” he said. “It’s much more difficult to find performance with these technical regulations than it was before. So we have also to say these technical regulations are pretty good.”
‘Gunther Steiner: Regulations Helping Smaller Teams’;
https://grandpx.news/2022-rules-mean...r-so-powerful/
Haas: Schumacher gains came amid 'unrest from outsiders'
21/07/2022 at 08:32
Michael Delaney
Haas team boss Guenther Steiner says Mick Schumacher's timely upswing in form came at a time when "unrest" incited by outsiders threatened the young German. Schumacher's early season track record, marked by mistakes and two big crashes, put a black cloud over the 23-year-old's F1 prospects.
It was a timely turnaround for the Ferrari protégé, and one that was executed as team and driver remained calm in the face of Schumacher's difficulties. But also against a backdrop of "unrest" stirred by outsiders according to Steiner.
"That was the aim, to bring that calm in," Steiner told Motorsport.com. "The nice thing is that the calm has come exactly where outsiders have tried to bring in unrest. I wouldn't say that's a satisfaction, but we worked towards the goal of Mick being successful and going fast. We have achieved that. I'm pleased about that."
‘Haas Calm Successful’;
https://f1i.com/news/448540-haas-sch...outsiders.html
Magnussen to keep Haas seat in 2023 – Steiner
JULY 20, 2022
ANDREW MAITLAND
There is better news for Magnussen, however, confirming: “Yes, Kevin has a multi-year contract. “We are making progress and have shown what we can do and logically we need the best possible drivers in our cars in order to finish in the points to get to the top,” Steiner added.
Formula 1 is in France this weekend, but insiders are not expecting Paul Ricard to be on next year’s calendar. “We would love to keep all the races,” Steiner told the German broadcaster ntv, “but that can’t happen.”
It is reported that FIA officials are in Kyalami this week to approve the former grand prix circuit for a new event in South Africa. “We have to make sure that things continue commercially and bring the sport to countries where it hasn’t been for a long time,” Steiner said.
‘Kevin has a multi-year contract’;
https://grandpx.news/magnussen-to-ke...-2023-steiner/
Guenther Steiner provides update on Mick Schumacher’s future as contract decision is ‘imminent’
21 July 2022
by Rob Kershaw
Mick Schumacher is out of contract at Haas at the end of this season. Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has reassured that it will not be long before we learn about the future of Mick Schumacher.
“Mick is very lucky to have a teammate like Kevin, he’s in a much better spot than last year,” said Steiner in the Red Bulletin ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. Schumacher’s recent form has been tremendous, out-performing his team-mate in Silverstone and Spielberg and scoring points in the process, ending his barren spell of 31 race entries without a point.
“Let’s wait for the two weeks and then a decision will be made,” he added. Magnussen was signed onto a multi-year contract at Haas when he re-signed, and his five points finishes this season have fully justified his return. Steiner confirmed that the Roskilde-born driver will be sticking around.
‘Mick Schumacher’s contract decision ‘imminent’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/guenther-...n-is-imminent/
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Leclerc heads Verstappen in opening French GP session.
Leclerc set a time of 1:33.930s to finish 0.091s up on title rival Max Verstappen in hot and sunny conditions on Friday afternoon.
15th July 2022.
by Phillip Horton
Carlos Sainz was third for Ferrari, three-tenths down, as he prepares to take a grid drop for Sunday’s race. George Russell was fourth-fastest for Mercedes but faced a deficit of almost a second to pacesetter Leclerc.
Pierre Gasly was an encouraging fifth for AlphaTauri as the team’s heavily upgraded AT03 made its on-track debut.
Sergio Perez had a scruffy session, spinning through Turn 3, before having to pit after a visor tear-off lodged in the right-rear of the car. Perez recovered to wind up sixth overall, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in the updated MCL36, while Williams’ Alexander Albon was a surprising eighth.
‘Charles Leclerc Fastest’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...ch-gp-session/
F1 2022 French Grand Prix - Free Practice Results (1)
22 Jul 2022
Connor McDonagh
2022 F1 French Grand Prix - FREE PRACTICE RESULTS (1)
Pos Driver Nat. Team Time
1 Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari 1m33.930s
2 Max Verstappen NED Oracle Red Bull Racing 1m34.021s
3 Carlos Sainz ESP Scuderia Ferrari 1m34.268s
4 George Russell GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team 1m34.881s
5 Pierre Gasly FRA Scuderia AlphaTauri 1m34.979s
6 Sergio Perez MEX Oracle Red Bull Racing 1m35.174s
7 Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team 1m35.232s
8 Alexander Albon THA Williams Racing 1m35.414s
9 Nyck de Vries NED Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team 1m35.426s
10 Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren F1 Team 1m35.660s
Results from the first practice session at the F1 French Grand Prix, Round 12 of the 2022 Formula 1 world championship;
https://www.crash.net/f1/results/100...tice-results-1
Leclerc edges out Verstappen as French GP weekend begins
22 July 14:00
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Baking hot temperatures greeted the drivers for the opening 60-minute session at the Circuit Paul Ricard, with tyre degradation expected to play a crucial role throughout the weekend.
It was the Soft compound that Ferrari driver Leclerc used to post the benchmark FP1 time of 1:33.930, putting him 0.091s clear of Red Bull rival Verstappen.
However, reigning World Champion Verstappen seemingly lost a chunk of time during his best lap, having run wildly wide at Turn 11 after going purple through the first two sectors.
‘Leclerc edges out Verstappen’;
https://racingnews365.com/leclerc-ed...weekend-begins
Sainz set to take 10-place grid penalty at French GP
15/07/2022, 14:11
TSN.ca Staff
Carlos Sainz will be facing a tough road victory at the French Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver is set to take a 10-place grid penalty on Sunday after he exceeded his allocation of control electronics, Formula One announced Friday.
BREAKING: Ferrari's Carlos Sainz is set to take a grid penalty
He'll currently take a 10-place grid drop after he exceeded his allocation of control electronics#FrenchGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/aafjRgy04u
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22, 2022
Sainz was third fastest in the opening practice ahead of the race on Friday, behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who led the session, and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
‘10-place grid penalty’;
https://www.tsn.ca/carlos-sainz-ferr...prix-1.1828143
2022 French GP FP1: Pérez flat spots his tyres in big Turn 4 spin
22 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Sergio Pérez spins at Turn 4 of Circuit Paul Ricard during first practice at the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix, which flat spots the tyres on his Red Bull.
‘Sergio Pérez flat spots his tyres’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...144925358.html
What happened in first French Grand Prix F1 practice
15/07/2022, 14:22
By Josh Suttill
Charles Leclerc edged his Formula 1 title rival Max Verstappen by 0.091s to top the opening practice session at the French Grand Prix. Key moments
• Leclerc 0.091s faster than Verstappen
• Sainz third but has grid penalty
• Scrappy session leaves Perez sixth
• De Vries and Kubica have second FP1 outings of the year
As customary in 2022, the Ferraris and Red Bulls traded places at the top of the order with Austrian GP winner Leclerc going quickest with just under 15 minutes of the one hour session remaining.
‘As It Happened!’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/what-...x-f1-practice/
Leclerc narrowly leads Verstappen as practice begins at Paul Ricard
2022 French Grand Prix first practice
Posted on 22nd July 2022, 14:23
Written by Will Wood
The skies over Le Castellet were as blue as the abrasive runoff strips on the perimeter of the Paul Ricard circuit as drivers headed out for the first time in the weekend. Air temperatures were only just under 30C, while the track was a toasty 56C.
Red Bull set the early pace in the session, with Verstappen’s 1’34.991 fastest of all, half a second quicker than team mate Sergio Perez. While looking to improve on his best personal time, Perez lost control of his car at the apex of turn three, looping his car around and over the blue run off strips outside of turn four. Fortunately for Perez, he managed to continue back into the pits.
Charles Leclerc set the early pace around a hot Paul Ricard circuit in the opening practice session for the French Grand Prix weekend. The Ferrari driver’s best time of a 1’33.930 was just under a tenth faster than championship leader Max Verstappen, with Carlos Sainz Jnr third fastest.
‘FP1: The track was a toasty 56C’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/22/...t-paul-ricard/
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Penalised Sainz quickest in second French GP session.
Sainz, who faces a 10-place grid drop due to fresh engine components that could still rise, set a time of 1:32.527s to finish 0.101s ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc.
22/07/2022, 17:07
by Phillip Horton
Carlos Sainz led the way during second practice for Formula 1’s French Grand Prix as Ferrari finished comfortably clear at Circuit Paul Ricard. Both Ferrari drivers carried out two push runs on the Soft compound and found significant gains on that second effort in a session that was relatively free of incidents or action.
World Champion Max Verstappen was third-best, 0.550s down on Sainz, having complained of understeer on his Soft tyre run. Verstappen had been fastest following the runs on Medium tyres during the opening stages of the session, eclipsing Leclerc by just 0.010s.
Mercedes has indicated that Paul Ricard could suit its layout but the W13s were firmly third-best on Friday afternoon. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton claimed fourth and fifth respectively but the younger Briton was 0.764s behind Sainz, with the seven-time champion almost a second down.
‘Carlos Sainz FP2 P1’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...ch-gp-session/
2022 French Grand Prix Free Practice 2 - Results
22/07/2022 at 17:06
Andrew Lewin
2022 French Grand Prix - Free Practice 2 results
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:32.527s 22
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:32.628s + 0.101s 22
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:33.077s + 0.550s 17
4 George Russell Mercedes 1:33.291s + 0.764s 20
5 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:33.517s + 0.990s 23
6 Lando Norris McLaren 1:33.607s + 1.080s 21
7 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri 1:33.906s + 1.379s 24
8 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:33.928s + 1.401s 24
9 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren 1:33.984s + 1.457s 23
10 Sergio Pérez Red Bull 1:34.060s + 1.533s 16
Full results from Free Practice 2 for the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard, round 12 of the 2022 Formula 1 season;
https://f1i.com/news/448708-2022-fre...2-results.html
Carlos Sainz’s grid penalty gives Charles Leclerc a tougher task at French Grand Prix
i News22/07/2022, 18:26
By Michael Hincks
Another showdown between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen is in the offing at the French Grand Prix if Friday’s practice sessions are anything to go by. Ferrari face an uphill battle come the GP given Sainz will start Sunday’s race 11th at best as he serves a 10-place grid penalty for taking new engine parts.
That demotion opens the door for Red Bull at a time when Leclerc is looking to get his championship bid back on track. Unless Sainz can quickly weave his way back through the pack, Leclerc may be left fighting both Red Bulls on Sunday as he looks to close the 38-point championship lead Verstappen currently holds.
However, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will also hope to be in the mix at a circuit that has served Mercedes well in recent years.
‘Charles Leclerc a tougher task’;
https://inews.co.uk/sport/formula-on...28?ITO=newsnow
‘Everywhere’ deficit blunts Mercedes’ hopes of breakout French GP
Jul 22 2022, 18:36
By Valentin Khorounzhiy
Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell admit the W13 was further off its main rivals than anticipated in French Grand Prix Friday practice, suggesting a hoped-for breakout weekend for the team at Paul Ricard may be out of reach.
The smooth and relatively high-speed layout of the Le Castellet-based venue is supposed to play to the strengths of the 2022 Mercedes, while high ambient temperatures should in theory aid in mitigating its weakness in tyre preparation.
But neither of those factors were particularly obvious on the timing screens on Friday, with Mercedes ending the day 0.764s off the pace in Russell’s hands and with Hamilton another two tenths down.
‘NO Breakout Weekend’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/every...out-french-gp/
Hamilton says Mercedes are “further back than we were in the last race”
2022 French Grand Prix
Posted on 22nd July 2022, 17:5122nd July 2022, 18:00
Written by Keith Collantine
“Today we’re in fourth and fifth so that’s kind of the region that we’ll be fighting for,” said Hamilton after today’s practice sessions. I don’t mean that we can’t be on the podium, I think we can still be up there. We’re just still not as quick as those front guys – we’re a little bit further back than we were in the last race.”
But Hamilton said the team “have a lot of work to do, a lot of ground to cover still” after being out-paced by Ferrari and Red Bull again on Friday. “The car’s not spectacular here, we don’t know why, but hopefully overnight we can make a bit of a step” he said. The team is lacking pace “everywhere” around the track, said Hamilton. “It’s just every corner. I’m going to have to dig deep into the data, but it just feels like we’re lacking downforce today. But otherwise it’s okay, I can only have empathy for the guys even further back.”
‘Dig Deep into the Data’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/22/...the-last-race/
Russell believes Mercedes in with "outside shot" of French GP win
Friday 22 July 2022 18:30
Ian Parkes
George Russell believes Mercedes only has "an outside shot" of victory in Sunday's French Grand Prix after lacking pace compared to initial hopes.
Asked whether he had an outside shot of victory or whether hopes were higher than that, Russell replied: "Outside shot is probably the way to put it.”
"We're probably a little bit further off the pace today than we would have hoped. Work to do tonight and back at the factories but never say never."
‘Outside Shot, Never Say Never’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...-shot-victory/
Verstappen says Friday French GP practice sessions were ‘very difficult’ as Perez reveals issue that cost him in FP2
22 July 2022
Formula 1.
Red Bull trailed Ferrari in the brace of opening practice sessions in France and that led Max Verstappen to explain why he found Friday so challenging, while Sergio Perez encountered his own difficulties in a compromised FP2 session.
“I think FP2 was a little bit more difficult for us,” said championship leader Verstappen. “We just didn’t really get the balance like we hoped for, but also we are trying a few things with the car. So we’ll have a look at it all for tomorrow and of course try to be closer than what we were today. “In the long runs it’s a bit better but again, the tyres are running really hot and it’s very difficult to judge really where you are. But we know of course that we still have a little bit of work to do.”
Team mate Perez was sixth in FP1, 1.2s off the pace, and 10th in FP2 – 1.5s adrift – as he faced a challenging start to the weekend. The Mexican revealed that an issue with his car meant he couldn’t get a representative soft-tyred run. “We were basically having some delays, nothing really going on, a bit of an issue with one of the anti-roll bars but nothing major," he said. "It’s been a very short stint on that soft tyre but it’s what it is and hopefully tomorrow we are able to put it all together and be in the fight.”
‘Red Bull Challenging Compromises’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...i1rf13BA7.html
What went on in Ferrari-dominated second French GP practice
Jul 22 2022, 17:15
By Valentin Khorounzhiy
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who is set to serve a grid penalty in the French Grand Prix, set the pace in the second Friday practice session. Key moments:
> Ferrari half a second clear
> Verstappen third, Perez only 10th
> Big spin for Schumacher
As one of the very few drivers to run the soft compound rather than the medium on his opening run in FP2, Sainz established a lead of over eight tenths early on – with his former team-mate Max Verstappen and his current team-mate Charles Leclerc behind him, 0.010s apart on the yellow-walled tyres.
The biggest incident in the session befell Magnussen’s team-mate Mick Schumacher, the German caught out in a high-speed spin through the ‘double right’ Le Beausset and appeared quite fortunate to not end up in the barriers.
‘Ferrari Domination’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/what-...h-gp-practice/
2022 French GP FP2: Magnussen hits the kerbs ‘really, really hard’ at Circuit Paul Ricard
22 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Haas' Kevin Magnussen hits the kerbs at Circuit Paul Ricard "really, really hard" during second practice for the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix.
‘Kerb Bashing!’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...857913799.html
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from the second practice session at Circuit Paul Ricard as Sainz leads Ferrari 1-2
22 July 2022
Formula 1.
‘Action Highlights’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...qSTq4v3Xh.html
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Max Verstappen seeks return to winning ways against fast but frail Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton aims to upset the title contenders and Mick Schumacher looks to make it three points finishes in a row... SEVEN things to look out for at the French Grand Prix.
• Max Verstappen holds a 38-point lead over Charles Leclerc in the title fight
• Leclerc won last time out in Austria and is hoping to build momentum in France
• Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes could look to upset the pair this weekend
• Mick Schumacher is looking to make it three consecutive point finishes
Published: 20:00, 22 July 2022
By Kieran Lynch For Mailonline
Sportsmail breaks down seven things to look out for at the French Grand Prix...
VERSTAPPEN SEEKS RETURN TO WINNING WAYS
FERRARI ON FORM BUT LOOK FRAIL
MERCEDES' BEST TRACK YET THIS SEASON?
SCHUMACHER GOES FOR THREE IN A ROW
TRACK LIMIT TROUBLES
ISSUES WITH STEWARDS
ALPINE HOPE FOR BIG RESULT ON HOME SOIL
‘SEVEN topics at the French Grand Prix’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...French-GP.html
Danger looms for Ferrari despite headline pace; Mercedes upgrades underwhelm: F1 talking points
July 23rd, 2022 6:00 am
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Ferrari dominated practice at the French Grand Prix, but the true competitive picture isn’t so rosy for Maranello as the raw time sheet suggests. The margin the two Scuderia drivers wielded over Max Verstappen in third was more than half a second, a shockingly large number considering the tightness of the championship fight to date.
There was some exaggeration in the margin on RBR’s side of the equation, with the team still working to find the right set-up for what is a relatively well rounded technical challenge as a circuit.
“We just didn’t really get the balance like we hoped for, but also we are trying a few things with the car,” Verstappen said on Friday night. “So we’ll have a look at it all for tomorrow and of course try to be closer than what we were today.”
‘Ferrari Dangers Looming’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...b88fc2d5827960
5 things we learned from Friday practice at the French Grand Prix
22 July 2022
F1 Correspondent & Presenter Lawrence Barretto
As Circuit Paul Ricard basked in the glorious sunshine and sweltering temperatures, F1 teams got down to business trying to understand how their cars and tyres would cope in such conditions across the French Grand Prix weekend. After two 60-minute practice sessions, it seems no team is emerging as a clear frontrunner, which sets things up nicely…
1. Ferrari look mighty in qualifying trim
2. Red Bull have the edge on race pace
3. Mercedes closer to the main fight
4. McLaren upgrade appears to be a good step
5. Alpine and AlphaTauri offer midfield threat
‘FIVE Lessons’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...0hzSrsgna.html
2022 F1 French Grand Prix preview: Teams to face extreme heat
20:05 Fri, 22 Jul 2022.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran - Editor
Motor Authority
Round 12 of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship takes us this weekend to Circuit Paul Ricard near Marseille, France, the current home of the French Grand Prix. The first sector the fastest and providing the best overtaking opportunities, especially under braking into Turns 1 and 3. The second section is all about the power unit, featuring the Mistral straight which is broken up by a chicane to reduce the entry speed into Signes, one of the fastest corners on the calendar.
Aerodynamics take on a greater importance in the third and final sector, with a variety of medium speed corners between Turns 11 and 15. There are two DRS zones: one on the main straight, the other on the first part of the Mistral straight. Going off the track is definitely to be avoided: the distinct red, white, and blue tricolour markings contain a high-friction material designed to slow cars down quickly, with high risk to flat spot the tires. Pirelli has nominated its White hard as the C2, Yellow medium as the C3, and Red soft as the C4.
The race weekend is expected to be the hottest of the season so far, with temperatures heading for 104 degrees, which will make life difficult for the drivers and teams. It could also lead to some thermal degradation of the tires, which teams will need to take notice of.
‘104 Degrees F Weekend’;
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...d-prix-preview
Red Bull hoping for overnight gains after tricky French GP practice
23 July 2022
Ben Issatt
Both Red Bull drivers are hoping for overnight gains after an underwhelming Friday at the French Grand Prix. "I think FP2 was a little bit more difficult for us," Verstappen admitted afterwards. "We just didn't really get the balance as we hoped for.”
"We were trying a few things with the cars. So we'll have a look at it all for tomorrow and try to be closer to where we were today.” Across the garage, Sergio Perez endured a miserable Friday as a spin compromised his FP1 session and then he was only P10 in FP2, with the least laps of any driver.
“Obviously I’m not very comfortable at the moment with the car," he said. "It’s been a very short stint on that soft tyre, but it’s what it is and hopefully tomorrow we are able to put it all together and be in the fight. There’s some good work and understanding to be done over tonight, and we will try to pick up the best pieces for tomorrow’s qualifying and race.”
‘Red Bull Overnight Gains Evaluation’;
https://www.insideracing.com/formula...ch-gp-practice
Sainz fears French GP recovery will be 'trickier than expected' after grid penalties
23 July 2022
Ben Issatt
The Spaniard was the fastest man in Friday Practice at Paul Ricard but already has a 10-place grid penalty for a new Control Electronics power unit component.
A full engine change is also anticipated on Saturday, which will drop Sainz to the back of the grid for the start on Sunday.
“Well, it was definitely a positive Friday,” Sainz told the media. “I didn’t do many laps on the short run on the low fuel, but I realised that I was super competitive.”
‘Fast Confidence’;
https://www.insideracing.com/formula...grid-penalties
Gasly targets top six, even pole after positive French GP practice
23 July 2022
Ben Issatt.
The Rouen native finished P5 and P7 respectively in both practice sessions at Paul Ricard as a significant AlphaTauri upgrade showed early promise.
And whether it was the heat or optimism driving his thoughts, Gasly was perhaps over-ambitious with his goals for Saturday.
“Hopefully we can fight for pole position, we’ll see about that,” said the 26-year-old. “I mean, if we can fight with these two guys on my right [Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton], I’ll be happy. That’s the target."
‘Targeting Top Six, Even Pole’;
https://www.insideracing.com/formula...ch-gp-practice
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French GP: Verstappen jumps clear of Ferrari in Practice 3.
After the Scuderia led both sessions on Friday, the pendulum swung towards the reigning world champion who was quickest on both the medium and soft tyres, posting a best time 1m32.272s on the latter compound.
23 July 2022
Ben Issatt
Max Verstappen set the benchmark for Ferrari to chase in final practice at the French Grand Prix.
A reason for Ferrari's loss of single-lap pace could be a focus on tyre management in the race. This as the Italian team opted to save two new sets of mediums for Sunday compared to Red Bull with two new sets of hards.
At Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton was fourth running a high downforce setup on his W13, albeit just a tenth quicker than George Russell in P6 using a lower downforce rear wing for better top speed. Sergio Perez's difficult weekend continues, finishing a second off Verstappen's pace in fifth in the second Red Bull.
‘Max Jumping Clear’;
https://www.insideracing.com/formula...-in-practice-3
(FP3) Third Practice Results – 2022 French Grand Prix
Le Castellet, France
23rd July 2022
by Emer Hedderman
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:32.272
2. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.354
3. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.637
4. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.983
5. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +1.021
6. George Russell Mercedes +1.104
7. Fernando Alonso Alpine +1.233
8. Alexander Albon Williams Racing +1.286
9. Lando Norris McLaren +1.397
10. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +1.479
French Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the final practice ahead of the 2022 F1 World Championship race from Paul Ricard;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp3-third-...and-prix-79594
FP3 Highlights: 2022 French Grand Prix
23 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Watch highlights from final practice at Circuit Paul Ricard ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix.
‘FP3 Highlight’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...301260047.html
Everything that happened in final French GP practice
23/07/2022, 13:13
By Josh Suttill
The Race
Max Verstappen returned Red Bull to the top of the timesheets at the French Grand Prix leading the Ferrari duo in the final practice session ahead of qualifying. Key moments:
> Verstappen back on top
> Leclerc six tenths off in P3
> Mercedes still a second off
Verstappen led much of the session on the medium tyres and when he bolted on the soft tyres he was able to displace Sainz at the top of the order, topping a session for the first time this weekend after a Ferrari-dominated Friday.
Verstappen’s 1m32.272s is the fastest time of the weekend so far and was 0.354s quicker than Sainz, who – along with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen – will start the French GP from the back of the grid with engine penalties.
‘FP3; Key Moments’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/every...h-gp-practice/
Pirelli's Mario Isola predicts 'medium and hard' tyre strategy in French GP
23 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Pirelli's motorsport manager Mario Isola predicts that the teams will use a "medium and hard" tyre strategy in Sunday's 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard.
‘Tyre Strategy Predictions’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...178040240.html
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Ferrari teamwork sees Leclerc to pole ahead of Verstappen.
A tow from Carlos Sainz helped see Charles Leclerc to pole in France ahead of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
23rd July 2022
by Emer Hedderman
Q3: The Mexican was the first to set a time then, a 1:31.640, though with a tow from Sainz, who ducked into the pits instead of completing his lap, Leclerc went to the top with a 1:31.209 a benchmark which just held out from Verstappen by 0.008 when the reigning champion set his lap a few seconds later.
As the cars headed out for the final runs Sainz was once again ahead of Leclerc ready to give his teammate another slipstream advantage. Perez was first on track while Norris would be the last to take the chequered flag. Magnussen remained in the garage for the whole of Q3.
The tow saw Leclerc improve to a 1:30.872 and while Verstappen did better his previous time, he couldn’t compare to the combined Ferrari effort, 0.304 seconds slower, and so will start P2 just ahead of Perez.
‘Ferrari Towing’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/ferrari-te...rstappen-79603
Qualifying Results – 2022 French Grand Prix
Le Castellet, France
23rd July 2022
by Emer Hedderman
1. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari -1:30.872
2. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.304
3. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.463
4. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.893
5. Lando Norris McLaren +1.160
6. George Russell Mercedes +1.259
7. Fernando Alonso Alpine +1.680
8. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +1.908
9. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari NC
10. Kevin Magnussen Haas NC
French Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for this weekend’s 2022 F1 World Championship race at the Circuit Paul Ricard;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-79597
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from a dramatic qualifying session at the French Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc received a helping hand from his team mate Carlos Sainz on his way to setting a sensational final lap to seal pole position for the 2022 French Grand Prix.
23 July 2022
Sergio Perez rounded out the top three, finishing 0.463s behind Leclerc, and the Mexican will be joined by Lewis Hamilton on the second row, with the Mercedes driver qualifying in P4.
Lando Norris produced a brilliant final lap to qualify in fifth and splits the Mercedes, with George Russell in sixth. Fernando Alonso, in the Alpine, qualified in seventh, at his team’s home race, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in eighth. With Sainz and Kevin Magnussen set to start at the back of the grid, Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon will start in P9 and P10, respectively.
‘Dramatic Qualifying Session’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...cqPBvgrW3.html
Verstappen: We were lacking a bit but we have a decent race car
23 July, 2022
Paul Velasco
While lamenting a lack of pace in his Red Bull during French Grand Prix qualifying, Formula 1 World Champion and championship leader Max Verstappen will start from second on the grid and is confident he has a solid race car at his disposal.
Verstappen probably lost pole today at the Austrian Grand Prix last week! Last Sunday, Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari went up in smoke, meaning a new PU and bits for the Spaniard and a grid penalty that sees him starting no matter what he did in qualifying at Paul Ricard on Saturday.
This gave Ferrari a real wingman during qualy today in France to provide a useful tow for Charles Leclerc to scorch to the top of the timing screens; Verstappen and Red Bull had no answer, but they will be thinking: points are scored on Sunday. Verstappen said as much when he summed up his afternoon: “Overall, we were lacking a bit in qualifying, just general grip. It was a bit trickier than I would have hoped but overall we still have a decent race car.”
‘Solid Red Bull Car’;
https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/07...cent-race-car/
Perez pleased to take P3 grid spot after ‘worst weekend’ as Verstappen assesses ‘tricky’ French qualifying
23 July 2022
Formula 1.
Perez might have been P3 and a tenth and a half off his team mate – but the Mexican was happy with his performance, having confessed to have been “nowhere” at points on what he termed his “worst weekend” in F1 up until qualifying.
“It’s been a good recovery,” said Perez. “I’ve been nowhere the whole weekend to be honest. I’ve been struggling a lot; I think probably it’s been my worst weekend up to qualifying and finally we managed to recover well in quali.
“I managed to improve a few tenths on my final lap. I think the whole weekend has been very difficult for me; I’ve been struggling a lot with the balance throughout the weekend so I was certainly making good progress through qualifying. I think my Q3 lap, there was a bit in it still, but not much more, so pretty pleased to be P3. Hopefully our race pace will be stronger for tomorrow and we can be in the fight for the victory.”
‘Nowhere to P3’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...9c7w767MW.html
Hamilton: ‘I hoped we’d be three-tenths off them and it’s a second’
2022 French Grand Prix
Posted on 23rd July 2022, 17:1623rd July 2022, 18:51
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
Lewis Hamilton admitted Mercedes are much further away from the pace of their main rivals than he expected at the French Grand Prix.
“I came here this weekend hoping that we’re going to be within three-tenths off them and we’re a second [off],” he said in response to a question from RaceFans after qualifying today.
Mercedes thought the combination of quick corners, a smooth track surface and high temperatures at Paul Ricard would play into their hands. Hamilton admitted he was hoping this weekend would be a springboard to a more competitive showing at the Hungaroring next week.
“With the three-tenths, then I was hoping that the next race we can close that couple of tenths and we’d be in the fight in Budapest. But if it’s anything like this, then we it’s going to be a while. But it’s possible.”
‘W13 a second, not 3/10th off them’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/23/...-its-a-second/
'A very good day' for Lando Norris with P5 French GP qualifying performance
23 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Mclaren's Lando Norris is "expecting a good race" at the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard where he will start in P5.
‘Very Good Day’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...546528801.html
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Sainz can’t help Leclerc on race day but have Ferrari given him a tyre advantage?
Before Ferrari had arrived in France for this weekend’s race at Paul Ricard, the team had a clear plan for how they were going to beat Red Bull and Max Verstappen in qualifying on Saturday.
2022 French Grand Prix pre-race analysis
Posted on 24th July 2022, 0:1024th July 2022, 0:12
Written by Will Wood
With Carlos Sainz Jnr taking a fourth power unit, condemning him to the back of the grid for Sunday whatever happened, the strategy was simple: Get Sainz into Q3, then have him give Charles Leclerc a slipstream on both his flying laps to boost him ahead of Red Bull. After executing the tactic with all the precision of a Patrouille de France aerobatic manoeuvre, Ferrari’s reward was pole position for Leclerc. Just as planned.
But if Leclerc is going to prevail on Sunday, Ferrari may need be even more sharp with their strategy. Especially this final French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard could be the most challenging for teams since the venue returned to the calendar back in 2018.
Having been fastest on Friday and then again at the end of Saturday, one might assume Leclerc would be feeling confident heading into the race knowing how much stronger than Verstappen he had been in the last grand prix. However, with two Red Bulls directly behind him on the grid and no team mate nearby, Leclerc knows he’s got his work cut out.
‘Ferrari’s Clear Plan’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/24/...yre-advantage/
Sainz confident solo Leclerc can still beat Red Bulls in French GP
24/07/2022, 02:35
The Age
Carlos Sainz backed Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc to win the French Grand Prix from pole position despite having both Red Bull drivers right behind him on the starting grid.
The Spaniard, who played a big part in helping Leclerc to pole by giving him a slipstream “tow” down the straight, can be of no help during the race as he starts from the back due to engine penalties.
“He will have to fight on his own tomorrow against [championship leader] Max [Verstappen] but I believe he can do it,” Sainz told Sky Sports television. I think this car in every race we go to is very quick. It’s all about nailing the start and nailing the strategy, which I’m sure the team will do well.”
‘Solo Leclerc Can Win’;
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/moto...24-p5b42i.html
STRATEGY GUIDE: What are the possible race strategies for the 2022 French Grand Prix?
23 July 2022
Special contributor Chris Medland
The final double-header before the mid-season break kicks off with what is expected to be a hot race at Paul Ricard, so let’s take a look at the different strategic options available to the teams in France…
What’s the quickest strategy?
How about a different option for the top 10?
What are the options for the bottom half of the field?
Wait, but what’s the weather doing?
‘Strategy Review’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...L8tpNGglH.html
Verstappen: Red Bull's top-speed advantage will help in French GP Ferrari battle
Max Verstappen has explained how Red Bull’s strong top speed may help it beat Ferrari in Formula 1’s French Grand Prix, as pole-winner Charles Leclerc will lose Ferrari’s corner-speed advantage.
Jul 23, 2022, 6:31 PM
By: Alex Kalinauckas
Verstappen topped FP3 but wound up qualifying behind his title rival, who was boosted by Ferrari deploying tow tactics considering Carlos Sainz's upcoming engine-change penalty. Red Bull has been running a lower-drag wing arrangement at Paul Ricard, which resulted in Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez heading every top speed measuring point in qualifying as it is allied to the team's rebadged Honda engine's potent power output.
At the Paul Ricard speed trap just before the Mistral chicane, Perez had a 3.8mph advantage over Leclerc in qualifying when all engine modes are at their optimum and fuel is at its lowest, while Verstappen was quicker by 3.7mph. The low-drag approach means it is harder for drivers to build the critical tyre temperature required to nail the technical opening sector at the French track, but it will come into its own in the race for Red Bull as the higher-downforce-running Ferrari will not be able to use DRS to shed drag unless its cars are running close behind others.
When asked if he expects Red Bull's wing choice to help in Sunday's race by Motorsport.com, Verstappen replied: "I hope so. We seem again very quick on the straight, which is a nice bonus. But I think overall we need to look a bit into our high-speed performance. Overall, whatever wing we've put on the car we've always been struggling a bit in the high-speed compared to Ferrari.
‘Red Bull’s strong top speed advantage’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/v...ttle/10342385/
Mercedes’ lack of performance at Paul Ricard “a slap in the face” – Wolff
2022 French Grand Prix
Posted on 23rd July 2022, 19:3723rd July 2022, 19:41
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff didn’t think it was possible they would end qualifying for the French Grand Prix so far behind Ferrari and Red Bull. The team arrived at the Paul Ricard expecting its smooth surface and quick corners would suit them. But despite also bringing upgrades to their W13 the team has lagged off the pace since the weekend began.
“If you would have told me that we are ending up [there] I would have said that’s not possible,” Wolff admitted afterwards. “So that’s a bit of a slap in the face. We were slowly but surely working our way back to the front-runners and there were good signs in Silverstone,” Wolff told media including RaceFans today.”
“Then we went to Austria, a track where we are normally not competitive at all and we could clearly see the signs why we were not competitive but we were close. It’s a one-minute circuit and we were three tenths off so that was acceptable. Then we brought quite a nice update package to Paul Ricard, the track is smooth, off we go, let’s hunt them down. And boom, no performance. Like, no performance and we can’t figure it out, what went wrong.”
‘No Performance! Can’t Figure It Out! What Went Wrong? Slap In the Face!’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/23/...he-face-wolff/
Wolff protecting Hamilton from "complete nonsense" criticism
Sunday 24 July 2022 04:00
Sam Hall
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed a need to "protect" Lewis Hamilton of late due to the seven-time F1 champion facing "complete nonsense" criticism. Hamilton struggled to get to grips with the latest generation of F1 machinery earlier this season as the Mercedes W13 was subject to the porpoising phenomenon.
Reflecting on the criticism directed at Hamilton, Wolff has explained to Square Mile how he has acted as a shield. I need to protect him because people have started to hit out at him, which is not right," said Wolff. "It's complete nonsense: he's the greatest driver of all time. The car is just sub-par.”
After losing out to Max Verstappen, Wolff now believes it is his responsibility to provide Hamilton with the machinery to again battle at the front. "I think Hamilton should have had an eighth world title last year, everybody knows that," added Wolff. "But now we need to make a car that puts him in the position of going for that eighth title and that is fundamentally my responsibility. But that's good. I'm in control of that situation."
‘Toto Wolff: "Complete Nonsense" Criticism Protection’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...ton-criticism/
Leclerc and Verstappen ‘in their own league’; Mercedes ‘just not good enough’ despite hype: quali talking points
July 24th, 2022 7:41 am
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Charles Leclerc has secured his seventh pole position of the season at the French Grand Prix, tying title rival Max Verstappen on 16 career pole positions. It’s an impressive statistic for the Monegasque, who continues to demonstrate he’s ready to take on this championship battle if he can get a contending car beneath him.
A less happy statistic he’d do well not to dwell on is that of his six prior poles, he’s converted only two of them to victory. Max Verstappen has turned three of them into victories of his own. It’s the sixth time Leclerc and Verstappen will start on the front row together this season, and the Dutchman will fancy his chances at extending his intercept victories to four.
But how this race will be won is anyone’s guess. Not only is strategy unclear in the warm climes of southern France, but Ferrari and Red Bull Racing have diverged significantly in set-up and approach. The winning team will have to have throw everything at this race to emerge victorious, and Ferrari certainly demonstrated its willingness to do so in qualifying.
‘Victorious team will have to have throw everything at this race’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...835e9e17407c52
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Charles Leclerc: 'Mistakes like this' mean 'I deserve not to win the championship'.
Charles Leclerc says "if I keep doing mistakes like this then I deserve not to win the championship," as the Ferrari driver expresses his frustration with crashing out from the lead of the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard.
24 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
‘Mistakes…’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...595198638.html
'That Leclerc scream will haunt me in my sleep' - Fans react to another Ferrari DNF
Sunday 24 July 2022 15:13
Ronan Murphy
The scream was heard around the world. The sound of Charles Leclerc's fading world championship hopes as he crashed out of the French Grand Prix will live in the memory of Ferrari fans forever.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
The scream of anguish from Leclerc! ����
All of us are Charles Leclerc with that scream. #F1
leclerc’s scream�� i literally JUMPED
That NOOOO scream from leclerc WILL haunt Ferrari fans
‘Haunting Ferrari Cry!’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...r-ferrari-dnf/
Leclerc: I don’t deserve to win F1 title with these mistakes
24/07/2022, 16:14
Motorsport Week
by Fergal Walsh
Charles Leclerc acknowledges that he doesn’t deserve to win the 2022 Formula 1 Drivers’ title if he continues to make on-track mistakes. When asked after his retirement what went wrong, Leclerc answered: “I lost the rear. That’s it. I don’t know [if something was wrong], technically we need to check. I don’t think there is, I think it’s just a mistake. I tried to take too much [speed] around the outside where it was probably dirty.”
Leclerc entered the race weekend with a 38 point deficit to Verstappen, who is hunting back-to-back World Championship success. However, that gap has now grown to 63 points after the Dutchman took another race victory at the Le Castellet.
“It’s my fault and if I keep doing mistakes like this then I deserve to not win the championship,” he said. “The level is high this year, I’m performing at a high level but if I’m doing those mistakes then it’s pointless to be at a high level.”
‘’Don’t Deserve to Win…’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...hese-mistakes/
'I hope he's okay' - Verstappen worried for Leclerc after crash ends Ferrari driver's hopes
UPDATED 24/07/2022 AT 16:15 GMT+1
BY ALEXANDER NETHERTON
Max Verstappen showed sympathy for Charles Leclerc after his rival crashed out at the French Grand Prix on Sunday. Speaking to Sky Sports, Verstappen explained why he was initially driving a little conservatively.
"We had really good pace from the start,” he began. “I was putting pressure on Charles. Following around here, with this heat, the tyres are overheating a lot so I could never really go for a move - only once. We just tried to stay calm, stay close... we pitted a bit earlier and from there onwards you never know how the race is going to go. The car was quick today.”
"Of course, unlucky for Charles and I hope he's okay. From there onwards, I just did my race and looked after the tyres.”
‘Max: 'I HOPE HE'S OKAY' ‘;
https://www.eurosport.co.uk/formula-...99/story.shtml
Ferrari strategy branded "comical" after Carlos Sainz call and Charles Leclerc crash.
Charles Leclerc's crash and Carlos Sainz's bizarre end to the French Grand Prix made for another frustrating afternoon for Ferrari, who faced serious questions from fans on social media
16:39, 24 JUL 2022
BY Nick Murphy
Sports Reporter
Ferrari fans have had enough of the team's bizarre strategy decisions after a hugely disappointing French Grand Prix. The Prancing Horse had looked set for a considerable haul of points going into the afternoon after Charles Leclerc qualified on pole at Paul Ricard. But the Monegasque driver suffered a huge blow to his title ambitions when he crashed out of the race on lap 18.
Although Leclerc admitted that it was his mistake that led to the crash - not that of his team - it summed up Ferrari's problems where reliability is concerned this season. And while the Scuderia were not to blame for Leclerc's miserable afternoon, they had questions to answer regarding Carlos Sainz.
Sainz started the race from 19th but worked his way up to 3rd and within five seconds of Lewis Hamilton in second with the aid of a safety car following his team-mate's crash. But all that good work was undone when Ferrari chose to bring him in to change his tyres and serve a five-second time penalty with six laps remaining - a decision they informed Sainz about while he was attempting to overtake Sergio Perez.
‘Comical Strategy’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...ategy-27563526
Nico Rosberg calls for Ferrari boss to make 'serious' personnel changes after French GP
NICO ROSBERG believes changes need to be made at Ferrari.
16:23, Sun, Jul 24, 2022
By Jack McEachen
Nico Rosberg has called for "serious changes" to be made at Ferrari after Charles Leclerc once again suffered a DNF while leading a race. The Ferrari driver screamed in anger down his team radio after going into the barriers at Turn 11, before Max Verstappen went on to win the French Grand Prix.
"I really think it’s premature of him to take the blame," Rosberg told Sky Sports F1 after Leclerc admitted he was at fault for the crash. "He needs to go back now, because it’s really very unusual for that to happen in the way it did, because you’re not even pushing to the maximum there, you’re saving tyres.”
"For the rear to go like that, one thing could be at that point, that’s exactly the point when the wind comes from the rear, and if you get an unlucky gust or something, that can suddenly take 20 per cent of your downforce away right in that moment.”
‘Serious Ferrari Changes Needed’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...Mattia-Binotto
'I'm losing too many points' says Leclerc as he takes blame for 'unacceptable' mistake that cost him lead in France
24 July 2022
Formula 1.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc cut a demoralised figure after his French Grand Prix spin, which saw him crash out of the lead at Circuit Paul Ricard on Sunday. Leclerc had taken pole position and led until his Lap 18 crash at Turn 11, a snap of oversteer sending him hurtling into the barriers. Though he emerged unhurt, he screamed out in frustration over the radio. And after the race he admitted it was his own error that had cost him.
“I think it’s just a mistake. Tried to take too much around the outside, put a wheel probably somewhere dirty, but it’s my fault and if I keep doing mistakes like this then I deserve not to win the championship,” he said.
“I’m losing too many points, I think seven in Imola, 25 here because honestly we were the strongest car on track today,” he added to Sky Sports F1. “So yes, if we lose the championship by 32 points at the end of the season, I will know from where they are coming from. And it’s unacceptable, I just need to get on top of those things.”
‘Too Many Points Lost’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...vHhEQTCAD.html
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Max Verstappen wins French GP to extend his F1 world title lead by 63 points from Charles Leclerc after he crashed out of race on Lap 18 - as Lewis Hamilton finishes second and George Russell third.
• Max Verstappen took his 27th race win with victory at the French Grand Prix.
• Having started in second Verstappen produced a flawless race to take the win.
• Lewis Hamilton took an impressive second place in his 300th career race start.
• Charles Leclerc crashed out when leading the race for the third time this year.
• Leclerc later took responsibility for the incident that cost him the race in turn 11.
• Carlos Sainz was in third place when he was told to pit to serve his time penalty.
Published: 13:00, 24 July 2022
By Jonathan McEvoy for the Daily Mail
Max Verstappen won the French Grand Prix after his championship rival Charles Leclerc inexplicably crashed out while leading. The accident on lap 18 of 53 turned the outcome on a scorching afternoon at Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France. Verstappen assumed the lead and duly blasted to his seventh win of the 12-race-old season, with Mercedes second and third through Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
‘Max Win, Max 63 Point Lead’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/li...e-Resullt.html
Race Results – 2022 French Grand Prix
Le Castellet, France
24th July 2022
by Emer Hedderman
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing – 53 laps
2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +10.587
3. George Russell Mercedes +16.495
4. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +17.310
5. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +28.872
6. Fernando Alonso Alpine +42.879
7. Lando Norris McLaren +52.026
8. Esteban Ocon Alpine +56.959
9. Daniel Ricciardo McLaren +60.372
10. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +62.549
French Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2022 F1 World Championship race around Circuit Paul Ricard;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-79607
Verstappen wins as Leclerc crashes out from the lead
Le Castellet, France
24th July 2022
by Emer Hedderman
French Grand Prix – Max Verstappen had a very easy win after Charles Leclerc crashed put of the lead less than twenty laps into the race.
It was a good start for Leclerc, who held his lead from Verstappen, while Hamilton got the better of Sergio Perez to snatch the final podium spot from the Red Bull driver. There was an opening lap incident between Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon which ended with the AlphaTauri driver spinning and falling to the back of the grid after being hit by the Frenchman. Ocon was handed a 5 second time penalty for the collision.
With three laps to go Sainz had made it to P5 but was over 20 seconds behind Russell so, despite putting in the fastest laps of the day, there wouldn’t be enough laps for the Ferrari to close up before the race ended. The Virtual Safety Car came out for a couple of minutes when Zhou pulled his Alfa Romeo off track and parked by a barrier and as it ended, Russell caught Perez off guard to slip past and take P3 for what would be Mercedes’ first double podium of the year.
‘Max Easy Win’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen...the-lead-79608
Drinks failure caused Hamilton to lose “around 3kg” in hot French Grand Prix
2022 French Grand Prix
Posted on 24th July 2022, 16:24
Written by Hazel Southwell
Lewis Hamilton‘s drinks bottle system failed during a French Grand Prix that was among one of the hottest races of the season. “It was a tough race because my drinks bottle didn’t work,” Hamilton explained. “What a great result, considering we’ve been so far off these guys all weekend.”
“Reliability is one thing that my team’s been amazing at so huge congratulations to the teams back at the two factories, the team here who without them we couldn’t get this podium and George did an amazing job today as well.”
Hamilton, who looked visibly exhausted and briefly laid down on the floor of the cooldown room before the podium celebrations, said that he had likely lost significant levels of fluid due to the heat inside the car. “I didn’t see my weight just now, but I would imagine probably around three kilos [lost],” he estimated. “So, yeah, it’s enough. I’m looking forward to downing the rest of this drink.”
‘3Kg Weight Loss!’
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/24/...ch-grand-prix/
Sergio Pérez 'got screwed with the Virtual Safety Car' in French GP
24 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Sergio Pérez reflects on a "tough battle" with Mercedes' George Russell in the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix, but thinks that he "got screwed with the Virtual Safety Car' and when he expected it to end in the closing stages at Circuit Paul Ricard.
‘Tough Battle’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...669740533.html
"Totally wrong" F1 VSC message interfered in French GP result - Perez
Red Bull's Sergio Perez says he lost third place in the Formula 1 French Grand Prix due to a "totally wrong" message regarding the ending of the virtual safety car.
Jul 24, 2022, 5:13 PM
By: Lewis Duncan
Co-author: Oleg Karpov
In the latter stages of Sunday's Paul Ricard race, Perez was embroiled in a battle with Mercedes' George Russell over the final podium place. A late virtual safety car was called when Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu broke down at Turn 6 with four laps remaining. On lap 51 of 53, the VSC was ended, but Perez was caught out by an incorrect message from the FIA, telling him racing would resume earlier than it did, which allowed Russell to take the final podium spot away from the Red Bull driver.
In the regulations over virtual safety car periods, the green flag must be shown 10-15 seconds after the initial end message is given, but in this instance, it took close to a minute. "It was very unfortunate what happened with the virtual safety car," Perez said after finishing fourth on Sunday. "I got the message it was going to end out of Turn 9, so I went for it and then it didn't end. Then I got the message saying it was going to end through Turn 12. And I was just too close to it.”
"It seems like George had different information and he was able to prepare better for it [the restart]. "I mean it's a shame the virtual safety car interfered with the result, to be honest. It shouldn't be the case, but today it was the case. It [the message of VSC ending] was totally wrong, there was something going on because it said it was going to end out of Turn 9 and it only ended out of Turn 12."
‘Perez: “Totally wrong" F1 VSC message interfered in French GP result’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/t...erez/10342897/
Furious Charles Leclerc reveals if jammed throttle was responsible for French GP crash
Charles Leclerc crashed out of the French Grand Prix while leading.
24 July 2022
by James Clifford
Charles Leclerc will have to delve deeper into the data to figure out if an issue with his Ferrari might have put him out of the French Grand Prix, but he pins the blame firmly on himself for his crash.
‘Dig Deeper’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/furious-c...ench-gp-crash/
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Ferrari boss makes 'good performance' claim despite disastrous French Grand Prix.
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto defended his team’s performance at the French Grand Prix, despite a woeful day for the Italian squad.
18:47, 24 JUL 2022
BY Mark Whiley
Ferrari endured a dismal day at the French Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc crashing out of the lead and Carlos Sainz having to settle for fifth after a late pit-stop. Charles Leclerc took pole position and weathered early pressure from Max Verstappen, only to crash out on lap 17, effectively handing the Red Bull driver a comfortable victory.
Surprisingly, Binotto insisted the team could still draw some positives from the weekend. “Yeah, it didn’t go to plan but I think we had a good performance,” he told Sky Sports F1. “[With] Tyre management, tyre degradation, we had the edge on Red Bull. After 15 laps, Charles was gaining a couple of tenths [per lap] on Max, who had to stop very early.”
On Leclerc’s crash, he said: “A little mistake. I said to Charles, ‘we make our lives a bit difficult but we will enjoy it [success] more in the future. It was a genuine driver error.” Binotto also insisted Ferrari were right to call Sainz in for his late stop. “We don’t feel it was the right choice, we are pretty sure it was the right choice,” he said. “He was short on life with wear and tyres so it would have been a risk to go to the end.”
‘Mattia Binotto: Good Ferrari Performance’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...ch-gp-27564649
Ferrari accused of 'not watching' the race and 'terrible judgement' during French GP.
Ferrari's decision to call Carlos Sainz in for a late pit-stop may have cost the Spaniard a podium finish as the team endured a disastrous French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard.
17:58, 24 JUL 2022
BY Mark Whiley
Ferrari’s strategy decisions have been called into question several time this season and former world champion Nico Rosberg says they have bungled too often now. On the decision to bring Sainz in during his battle with Perez, Rosberg told Sky Sports F1: “I was shaking my head, [thinking] ‘what on earth are they doing there?’
“First of all, he was in the middle of a huge battle out on track and his whole team wasn’t watching that anymore, they had their heads down doing calculations about pit-stop times. They were talking to him in the middle of wheel-to-wheel action. Guys, what on earth are you? Carlos was P3 and he would have been able to comfortably stay there. The tyres would have been fine until the end and he would have even had the chance to get Lewis for P2.”
“They bring him in with no chance to go beyond P5 which is where he ended up. What on earth is going on there? Honestly, I think it’s time they made some serious changes.” Rosberg added: “Terrible judgement there, terrible, I cannot explain it. Mattia [Binotto] really needs to get on top of it and make serious changes.”
‘Terrible Judgement’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...ch-gp-27564291
Ferrari defend “proper and right” decision to pit Sainz after he passed Perez
2022 French Grand Prix
Posted on 24th July 2022, 20:54
Written by Will Wood and Claire Cottingham
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto is sure the team made the correct decision to pit Carlos Sainz Jnr in the closing stages of the French Grand Prix, even though he had just moved into third place.
Sainz had risen from 19th on the grid to pass Sergio Perez for third place by the 41st lap of 53. He had a five-second time penalty to serve after he was unsafely released in front of Alexander Albon’s Williams during his pit stop.
That, and concern over the life of his medium compound tyres, led Ferrari to bring him in for a second pit stop, Binotto explained. Radio messages between Sainz and Ferrari indicated some indecision over whether or not to pit. Sainz later said “I don’t understand why we boxed, we would have pulled away”. However Binotto was certain the team made the right call. “The choice we made was the proper and the right one,” he told RaceFans and other media after the race.
‘Carlos Sainz Jnr: I don’t understand why we boxed’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/24/...-passed-perez/
Binotto responds to Ferrari strategy critics
Sunday 24 July 2022 19:00
Will Gray
“It didn’t go to plan, but we had a good performance," reflected Binotto. "After 15 laps, Charles was going well and he was gaining three tenths per lap on Max who had to stop very early, and we would have certainly extended the stint. “
“So, a little mistake, it happens, just as we have reliability issues. What I said to Charles is we make our life a bit more difficult but it was a genuine driver error. Now we need to turn the page, look to Hungary. We can do a 1-2 there, why not? So we simply focus on the next result.”
‘Ferrari Strategy Critics Response’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...rari-strategy/
No link between Leclerc’s crash and Austrian GP throttle problem – Ferrari
2022 French Grand Prix
Posted on 24th July 2022, 17:30
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
Charles Leclerc’s crash while he was leading the French Grand Prix was not caused by a repeat of the throttle problem he experienced during the previous race, says team principal Mattia Binotto.
The Ferrari driver crashed out at the high-speed Beausset corner on the 18th lap of the race. The driver said “I cannot go off throttle” in a radio message broadcast on the world feed.
This prompted speculation Leclerc had encountered a similar problem to the sticking throttle he had in the closing stages of the previous race in Austria. In the cool-down room after the race, Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache told the Mercedes drivers Leclerc had crashed out due to a throttle problem. However Leclerc said he crashed out due to a driving error and did not experience a problem with his throttle.
‘No Throttle Problem’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/24/...oblem-ferrari/
Binotto reveals what he said to Leclerc after costly crash
Charles Leclerc's French Grand Prix ended in disaster when he crashed out of the lead. Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has given his take on what happened.
25/07/2022, 17:15
Author RacingNews365 Staff
What Binotto said to Leclerc after crash. "I think what I said to Charles [was that] we make our life a bit more difficult, but I think it will [get] even better. We will enjoy more in the future."
Up until that point, Binotto feels that the performance had generally been good. "I think we had a good performance, [with] tyre management," Binotto told Sky Sports F1 after the race.
"[With] tyre degradation, again, I think we had a bit of [an] edge on Red Bull too because, after 15 laps, Charles was doing well and he was gaining a couple of tenths, three tenths per lap on Max [Verstappen]. [Verstappen] had to stop very early, and we would have extended certainly the stint."
‘Mattia Binotto: We will enjoy more in the future’;
https://racingnews365.com/binotto-re...r-costly-crash
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FIA launches defence after Perez VSC criticism.
F1’s governing body has defended itself against criticism that confusion over its virtual safety car messaging system cost Sergio Perez a podium finish in the French Grand Prix.
Sunday 24 July 2022 19:40
Will Gray
F1’s governing body has defended itself against criticism that confusion over its virtual safety car messaging system cost Sergio Perez a podium finish in the French Grand Prix. Perez claimed he lost third place to George Russell when a hold-station VSC period was ended late in the race, stating he had prepared for a re-start that never came and was on the back foot when racing eventually resumed.
An original message had stated the VSC period would be ending at turns five-six but that failed to materialise and it was not cleared until much later in the lap at turn 13-14. Perez had prepared for the former and was left a sitting duck as Mercedes' Russell, whom the Red Bull driver claimed had better knowledge of the proceedings, accelerated at the right moment and made the pass.
The FIA later sent out a clarification stating: “A second VSC-ending message was sent due to a hardware issue, which led to an automated switch-to-backup-systems that worked exactly as they should in that scenario. “The same information is supplied to all teams concurrently. The VSC ending countdown time to the green light being displayed on the trackside panels is always random.”
‘FIA: The green light being displayed on the trackside panels is always random’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...vsc-criticism/
Perez details why he was 'caught out' in scrap with Russell
25/07/2022, 21:00
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Perez admits that the timing of the Virtual Safety Car period ending was what caught him out. "It was a difficult afternoon," Perez told Sky Sports F1.
"First of all, we should have another podium. I don't know what was going on with the Virtual Safety Car. I just got caught up with it, because it was ending already from the exit of [Turn] 8, and it ended up at the end of [Turn] 15.
"So there was something going on there and I got caught up with it." The Mexican has identified this as enabling Russell to catch him and overtake.
‘Caught Out On VSC Timing’;
https://racingnews365.com/perez-expl...p-with-russell
Marko sends heavy criticism Perez's way: He was sleeping!
25/07/2022, 19:30
Author Michael Butterworth
Sergio Perez was lying third in the closing stages of the French Grand Prix, only to see himself overtaken by George Russell as a Virtual Safety Car period was ending. This prompted Helmut Marko to accuse the Mexican of not being alert enough at the restart.
Helmut Marko has criticised Sergio Perez for allowing George Russell to pass him in Sunday's French Grand Prix as a Virtual Safety Car period came to an end. As the VSC drew to a close, Russell appeared to hang back from the rear of Perez, before then getting on the throttle earlier than the Mexican and passing him on the twisting straight ahead of Turn 14.
Though Perez came back at Russell, the Briton held on to third place until the flag, prompting Marko to issue his displeasure at Perez's losing the position. "It is very unfortunate that Checo was asleep at the restart," Marko told ServusTV. A certain third place was lost there."
‘Helmut Marko: Asleep At The Restart’;
https://racingnews365.com/marko-send...e-was-sleeping
Red Bull chief accuses Sergio Perez of "sleeping" in damning French Grand Prix comments
23:08, 24 JUL 2022
BY Liam Llewellyn
Sports Trends Writer
Helmut Marko expressed his disappointment in Red Bull's Sergio Perez who lost out on a podium place to Mercedes star George Russell at today's French Grand Prix
Red Bull chief Helmut Marko blasted Sergio Perez for his performance during the French GP. The Mexican seemed off the pace throughout the weekend as teammate Max Verstappen cruised to victory after Charles Leclerc crashed out.
‘Sleeping Accusation!’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...-bull-27565859
Russell reveals how he caught Perez napping during VSC
Date published: July 24 2022
Sam Cooper
Speaking following his P3 finish, Russell said he knew he had “one opportunity” to pull off the overtake when the VSC was ending. “I had to sort of preempt it [slowing before accelerating quickly] and it can go both ways,” Russell told Sky Sports F1. “I knew I had one opportunity when the VSC was ending and if you can time it right and you carry the momentum, you can just carry that through after the VSC.
“I think he may have been a little bit too quick and had to brake. So he’s braking, I’m accelerating and that gave me an opportunity.”
Perez also spoke to Sky Sports F1 and said it was not so much a case of him being caught napping, but rather he was unsure just exactly when the VSC would end.
‘Caught Perez Napping’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/george...ez-vsc-france/
Perez left feeling 'screwed' by Virtual Safety Car ending as Russell revels in 'satisfying' overtake at French GP
24 July 2022
Formula 1.
George Russell and Sergio Perez put on quite the show in the late stages of the Sunday's race at Circuit Paul Ricard, as they became embroiled in an intense battle for the final spot on the podium. But after the race, both drivers gave opposing views of their Turn 8 incident, as Russell revealed his delight at another podium finish.
The flashpoint between Perez and Russell erupted on Lap 41 when Russell dived down the inside of the Red Bull at Turn 8, forcing Perez wide in the hunt for P3. The fourth-place finisher driver defended his actions and said anything else would have "ruined" both drivers' races.
"Yes, it was a good battle, apart from Turn 8,” said Perez. “If I do the corner, we will just have ruined our races, but other than that, it was a good tough battle, good race from George in that regard." Perez was less happy with the timing of the Lap 50 Virtual Safety Car brought on by Zhou Guanyu's DNF, after which Russell passed him for the final podium place (main video).
‘Sergio Perez left feeling 'screwed' by Virtual Safety Car ending’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...W2wRf6PMw.html
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‘What on earth are they doing?’: Shocking radio calls expose double Ferrari disaster.
Ferrari suffered a nightmare in France – and their catastrophe was summed up in two shocking radio conversations.
July 25th, 2022 10:28 am
Zac Rayson from Fox Sports
Charles Leclerc suffered what might be the fatal blow to his world title ambitions when he crashed out while comfortably leading the race. After realising he was unable to reverse out of the barriers, the enormity of the disaster hit home for the Monegasque driver, who delivered a gut-wrenching scream into his radio: “No!” The raw emotion in his voice stunned F1 fans and pundits. Sky Sports commentator Paul di Resta said: “That scream kind of noise is going to haunt a lot of people for a long time, especially at this point of the championship race.”
Sainz had been handed a five-second time penalty due to an unsafe release from his first pit stop, and his medium tyres were becoming increasingly worn. The Spaniard attempted to overtake Sergio Perez of Red Bull to move into third place, but initially failed to make the move. He asked to pit for fresh tyres, but was initially told to keep racing. Then, while in the middle of a brutally tricky overtake on Perez, his race engineers suddenly spoke up again: “Box Carlos, box. Pit confirm.”
“Not now! Not now! Not now” was Sainz’s frustrated reply. Ferrari’s bizarre decision to talk to their driver in the middle of a high-intensity on-track battle was blasted by commentators. Former world champion Nico Rosberg told Sky Sports: “I was shaking my head. What on earth are they doing there?”
‘Double Ferrari Disaster Radio Calls’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...0907684246ee91
Rosberg tells Leclerc not to take blame: 'I still can’t believe it would be a driver mistake'
UK17:30 Sun, 24 Jul 2022.
UPDATED 24/07/2022 AT 18:43 GMT+1
BY ALEXANDER NETHERTON
Former Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg warned Charles Leclerc that he was too hasty in taking the blame for his crash at the French Grand Prix on Sunday. Rosberg observed that the kind of spin before he hit the barriers suggested that a technical problem might have actually been to blame for the problem.
Nico Rosberg does not believe Charles Leclerc should so quickly take the blame for his French Grand Prix clash. Former world champion Rosberg believes that there could be a technical issue at the heart of the problem. Given the team’s fire with Carlos Sainz’s car, it would be far from the first time that reliability issues have plagued Ferrari this season.
"I really think it’s premature of him to take the blame. He needs to go back now because it’s really very unusual for that to happen in the way it did because you’re not even pushing to the maximum there, you’re saving tyres,” he began.
‘Nico Rosberg: 'I still can’t believe it would be a driver mistake’;
https://www.eurosport.co.uk/formula-...60/story.shtml
It felt like NASCAR! Alex Albon reflects on near-miss with Carlos Sainz in French GP pitlane
Published: 24 Jul 2022, 18:51
By George Dagless
Alex Albon joked that the chaotic pitlane scenes sparked by the Safety Car called following Charles Leclerc’s crash at the French GP reminded him of NASCAR. Leclerc was pushing hard to maintain the lead after seeing Max Verstappen pit before him but he overcooked it and slid into the barriers at turn 11 here at Paul Ricard.
Indeed, the car needed to be removed and that prompted a Safety Car, leaving most of the field to dive into the pitlane for fresh tyres, heightening the chance of near misses between cars as they entered and exited their pitboxes. Speaking after the race, Albon said that the tight nature of the pitlane here at Paul Ricard made that situation more likely, and also joked that it felt like NASCAR with such little room for manoeuvre.
Asked by Give Me Sport to recall the incident, he said: “I felt it was a bit marginal. It was just one of those things, weirdly for such a long pitlane it’s actually a very tight pitlane and it makes sense now why [the limit] is 60kmh, at the time it was chaos. It felt like NASCAR!”
‘NASCAR with Carlos Sainz near-miss in French GP pitlane’;
https://www.givemesport.com/88038349...nch-gp-pitlane
Ferrari Is Choking On Its Own Incompetence
12:14 PM EDT on Jul 24, 2022
Luis Paez-Pumar
With all due respect—the bare minimum, really—to Max Verstappen, Ferrari has been Ferrari’s toughest opponent this season. Kathryn reported as much from Silverstone earlier this month, and it remains as true as it was then after the French Grand Prix on Sunday. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Charles Leclerc was in a great position to win a race, only to end his day picking up a Did Not Finish. Or hey, here’s another one from the archives: Ferrari absolutely mangles a pitting strategy, and likely loses a position in the process. These are re-runs, and they are getting exhausting.
This is still Ferrari, so there was in fact a mechanical issue in the run-up to the retirement: after Leclerc smashed into the wall, he could have potentially reversed out and back onto the track to try to nab some points. Even one point would have been helpful, after all. Just as happened in Austria two weekends ago, though, Leclerc appeared to have a throttle pedal issue that did not allow him to reverse out of the wall, ending his race for good and prompting what will likely be the lasting sound of Ferrari’s season: a stream of heavy breaths leading into a primal rage roar of “No!” that thundered throughout the south of France.
The radio call came through while Sainz was going wheel-to-wheel on Perez, and his exasperated complaints about the strategy call only increased after the team had him pit the following lap, ending his chances at finishing anything higher than fifth. It was a strange call, or it would have been for any other team. For Ferrari, it simply feels like par for the course right now.
‘This is Ferrari!’;
https://defector.com/ferrari-is-chok...-incompetence/
Is Leclerc too error-prone to beat Verstappen? Our verdict
17:59 Sun, 24 Jul
The Race
Charles Leclerc’s French Grand Prix crash turned a steep climb into a mountain in terms of his 2022 Formula 1 title aspirations, allowing Max Verstappen to pull a mammoth 63 points clear following the first race after the season’s halfway point.
Operational and reliability shortcomings have cost him dearly this season, but even without those, is he simply not as refined a package as reigning F1 champion Verstappen, despite possessing a similar level of peak speed? Our writers give their takes.
In this car, yes
Scott Mitchell
Too early to say given Ferrari’s state
Ben Anderson
On course for a shared-blame defeat
Gary Anderson
An error intrinsic to Leclerc’s particular skills
Mark Hughes
He’s not the one out of his depth
Sam Smith
‘Verdicts’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/is-le...n-our-verdict/
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Record-breaker Alonso says he played French GP 'like a chess game' on way to P6.
Sunday’s French Grand Prix was a memorable one for Fernando Alonso: not only did he finish sixth at his Alpine team's home Grand Prix, but the Spaniard also broke the record for the most laps completed in Formula 1 history.
25 July 2022
Formula 1.
Alonso started the race in seventh but made one of his traditional fast getaways when the lights went out, jumping Lando Norris and George Russell to climb to fifth. And while he couldn’t keep Russell behind for long, the Spaniard was able to come home sixth and comfortably clear of Norris, which he felt was the best he could have hoped for.
“I’m very happy!” said Alonso. “I think the start was mega, from seventh to fifth – some risky moves there, then good tyre management. I think P6 was the maximum today. The tyres were acting better than we expected, so we did have to manage but not as much as we thought. I am pleased with our race today. It was well-executed from our side, and we managed the pace and tyres well.
“We had to work through a lot of things in terms of the car balance this weekend, but we ended up finishing just behind the top-five positions, so a very solid race in the end and more points on the board for us. It shows that when we have a clean weekend like this one, then we can finish in the top-six positions,” he added. “Hopefully we can keep up this level of consistency throughout the second half of the season and continue our momentum.”
‘Fernando Alonso: French GP 'chess game' to P6’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...T52D3eusb.html
Alonso calls top six finish a 'good surprise' for Alpine
25/07/2022, 09:15
Author Michael Butterworth
Co-author Dieter Rencken
With concerns that Alpine's long run pace might be lacking, Fernando Alonso was pleasantly surprised to comfortably finish in the top six at Paul Ricard. Fernando Alonso says his Alpine's pace in Sunday's French Grand Prix was a "good surprise", as he had a solid run to sixth at the flag.
Despite reservations over Alpine's long run pace before the race, points for Alonso and teammate Esteban Ocon at Paul Ricard saw the French squad move into fourth in the Constructors' Championship, ahead of McLaren, and the Spaniard said he was pleased with his afternoon's work.
"It was a well-executed race from our side," Alonso told media including RacingNews365.com. "We were very concerned at the beginning of the weekend that our pace was not great, but we ended up just behind the top three teams, like our normal position so far this year.”
‘Alpine Surprises Good’;
https://racingnews365.com/alonso-cal...ise-for-alpine
Alonso: Strong start 'crucial' to beating McLarens in French GP
25/07/2022 at 09:41
Phillip van Osten
"The start was crucial probably to get in front of Lando," said the Spaniard. "I think they have very similar pace, but to be in front of them in the first couple of laps was enough to control the race and to control the pace.”
"We were not in a stress at any point, so it was good. Well executed race." As Alonso's race engineer kept him informed of the gap between himself and the McLaren pair of Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, the Spaniard mischievously encouraged his rivals to up the pace, suggesting it would ruin their tyres.
"I wish I could challenge the Mercedes in front of us or Checo, but that was not our league," he said. "So from that moment it was just to control them [the McLarens], and if they get closer to us probably they will damage the tyres."
‘Fernando Alonso: Strong start 'crucial' ’;
https://f1i.com/news/449325-alonso-s...french-gp.html
Esteban Ocon: French GP was 'a good race' for Alpine
24 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Esteban Ocon, who finished P10 at Circuit Paul Ricard, says that the 2022 Formula 1 French Grand Prix was "a good race" for Alpine as the team overtook midfield rivals McLaren in the constructors' standings with a strong points haul.
‘Good Race for Alpine’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...116773278.html
Norris not falling for Alonso’s ‘mind games’ after pace claim
Date published: July 23 2022
Sam Cooper
Lando Norris was refusing to be sucked in by Fernando Alonso’s “mind games” and said he “doesn’t believe a word he says.” There may be 18 years of age difference between the two drivers but Norris has been around Alonso enough to know that the Spaniard is not afraid to pull some tricks in the media.
The Alpine driver arrived in the media pen before Norris following qualifying of the French Grand Prix and said he would have to see if the team had sacrificed race pace in order for an improved performance on the Saturday.
Norris, who will start two places ahead of Alonso in P5, was not buying it and remarked that the two-time World Champion was playing “mind games. Oh that’s Fernando,” he told F1.com. “He’s playing mind games with you. He knew I was coming here [the media pen] after. I don’t believe a word he says.”
‘EL PLAN: Alonso’s ‘mind games’ ’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...so-mind-games/
Alpine boss expects Alonso and Piastri to be on 2023 F1 grid
23/07/2022 at 14:54
Michael Delaney
Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi is confident that incumbent Fernando Alonso and reserve driver Oscar Piastri will both be racing in F1 next year, although not in the same team.
Esteban Ocon is committed to the Enstone squad until the end of 2024, but Alonso's contract with Alpine runs out at the end of this year.
However, both team and driver have expressed a desire to extend their collaboration, but a status quo would inevitably leave the highly-rated Piastri as the off man out in 2023.
‘On 2023 F1 Grid’;
https://f1i.com/news/448936-alpine-b...3-f1-grid.html
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McLaren qualifying speed papering over cracks – Norris.
Lando Norris has suggested McLaren's qualifying pace has hidden a lot of the MCL36's deficiencies this season after falling back during the French Grand Prix.
Monday 25 July 2022 12:40
Ewan Gale
The British driver qualified a magnificent fifth to split Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at the Paul Ricard Circuit. Put to Norris that his suggestion of improved qualifying pace would help at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix where overtaking is difficult, he replied: "Yeah, it's true, for certain tracks.
Addressing his start, Norris said: "I had a bit of wheelspin but I don't think it changed our race in any way. Fernando would still have passed me. "I think we achieved everything we could have done, frustrating because after qualifying our hopes were pushed up a little bit.
"I think it was more because we did a very, very good lap and to be in the middle of the two Mercedes, they showed they can almost race for a win. It shows there are differences between people's pace in quali and races and for whatever reason, we maybe show a bit more pace in quali - the new tyres and low fuel hides a lot of our issues and problems. As soon as we get into high fuel, old tyres, all those issues are exposed, and we're just quite slow."
‘Papering Over Cracks’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...-lando-norris/
Lando Norris laments “tough day” at the French Grand Prix: “We weren’t as quick as we needed to be”
July 25, 2022
By Ashley Cline
McLaren F1 Team’s Lando Norris struggled with a lack of pace and high tyre degradation at the French Grand Prix, and was ultimately unable to build from his fifth place starting position and ultimately finished in seventh. With the team finding themselves in a performance deficit to their nearest competitors recently, Norris “expected” to have trouble battling for the sharp end of the points.
“Tough day but I think it was what we expected. It was a long race and we struggled a little bit with the degradation of the tyre but also just with the pure pace. We weren’t as quick as we needed to be, so yeah, just tough but I won’t say disappointed. It’s sort of what we were expecting, so not a surprise.”
Norris said that the team will look to make the most of the upgrades they brought to France at the next race weekend in Hungary, as they are motivated to improve upon their current standing as summer break nears. “We’ll keep pushing, keep trying to improve, and we’ll go again next weekend. Thanks again to all the team here and at the factory for their efforts.”
‘Lando Norris: “Tough Day” at the French Grand Prix’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...-needed-to-be/
Norris takes a 'lot of positives' from France despite Alpine edging ahead of McLaren in the championship
25 July 2022
Formula 1.
Lando Norris had put in what he called a “very, very good lap” in qualifying to seal P5 on the grid and split the two Mercedes cars. But the youngster had indicated he would struggle to stay there in the race and so it proved, as he lost out to both George Russell and Fernando Alonso to come home a still solid seventh.
In France, McLaren were running a raft of new upgrades, which helped Norris to extract the absolute maximum from his MCL36 on Saturday over one lap. But he wasn’t able to replicate that feeling during the race, although he was still pleased with the progress the team had made.
“I think there’s still a lot of positives – it’s helped the car, it’s moved it in the right direction,” he said. “Some of those improvements in balance that I seemed to have for yesterday, I lost today and went away from me, and I just didn’t have the same confidence in the car. Good work by the team; we’d have been a lot slower if we didn’t have [the upgrades].”
‘Lando Norris: 'Lot of Positives' ’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...pvSdiT14z.html
Norris praises McLaren for keeping 'much quicker' Alpine behind until now
25 July 12:15
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Co-author Aaron Deckers
McLaren fell behind Alpine in the race for fourth position in the Constructors' standings after both teams logged double points finishes at the French Grand Prix. As the 2022 season develops, Norris noted the importance of bringing upgrades if McLaren are to stay in the fight for P4.
"We'll look into all the updates and see what we did," Norris told media, including RacingNews365.com. "I think a lot of them were positive. I think we would have been even slower [in the race] and in an even worse position [in qualifying] if we didn't have the updates, so I think it's a lot of positives and we move forward.
"Alpine have been much quicker than us all season, they've just made a lot more mistakes, and we've done a very good job with a lot of things to be ahead. Now, being behind them is more realistic, and where we deserve to be with the car."
‘McLaren being behind Alpine is "more realistic" ‘;
https://racingnews365.com/norris-pra...hind-until-now
Aussie F1 star Daniel Ricciardo gets his Italian wrong and calls teammate Lando Norris a VERY rude name four times while interviewer desperately tries to correct him
• Ricciardo called Norris a 'sh**head' in a hilarious post-race interview
• He mixed up his Italian words, with interviewer explaining his mistake
• Aussie finished ninth with Norris seventh in a solid French GP for McLaren
• Ricciardo also cracked up a commentator up with his description of a sandwich
By KRISTY WILLIAMS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 05:32, 25 July 2022
Daniel Ricciardo did nothing to hose down speculation there's tension between him and Lando Norris when he hilariously called his McLaren teammate a 'sh**head' by accident when he got his Italian wrong following the French Grand Prix.
‘Interviewer desperately tries to correct Daniel Ricciardo’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...do-Norris.html
Ricciardo cusses Norris four times in Italian in amusing interview blunder
Monday 25 July 2022 10:25 - Updated: 10:26
Ronan Murphy
Daniel Ricciardo made a hilarious - but offensive - blunder on Italian television after McLaren secured a double-points finish at the French Grand Prix. Ricciardo, whose father is Sicilian, was being interviewed in Italian following his ninth-place finish at the Circuit Paul Ricard when he called Lando Norris a 'stronzo.'
Ricciardo said "Lando, il stronzo" before the Italian TV host interjected to tell him that the term was a bad word in Italian. Stronzo roughly translates to 's***head' or 'a**hole' and is considered a swear word in Italian.
Ricciardo repeated the word on three further occasions. When the reporter pointed out his mistake, the Australian driver replied in English "Is it not a good word? Okay, scusa."
‘Interview Blunder’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...rview-blunder/
Ricciardo mistakingly labels team-mate Norris an ‘a**hole’
Date published: July 25 2022
Sam Cooper
Daniel Ricciardo may not be quite as fluent in Italian as he thinks he is after calling his own team-mate Lando Norris an “a**hole”. With both drivers being among the most fun-loving off track, this season alone we have been treated to incidents like Ricciardo smacking Norris in the face with a space hopper at Silverstone. However, Norris may not appreciate being called an “a**hole” four times live on national TV.
Speaking to the Italian media following the race at Paul Ricard, Ricciardo noticed his team-mate behind him waiting for his turn to speak. With a smile, Ricciardo told the reporter Norris was a “stronzo, The reporter then acted rather shocked and said “no, no”.
Ricciardo looked a little taken aback and then said “un stronzo, no?” before saying it again another two times. Perhaps realising his mistake, Ricciardo switched back to his native English and asked “is it not a good word?” before the reporter told him no, it very much is not. It turns out the 33-year-old had labelled his team-mate an “a**hole” and when he asked if it was really bad, the reporter said it was “more bad than good”.
‘Italian Reporter: More bad than good!’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/daniel...orris-asshole/
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Villeneuve: Ferrari and Leclerc best example how not to win a championship.
Jacques Villeneuve slammed Ferrari and Charles Leclerc after the 2022 French Grand Prix, claiming what they are doing is the best example how not to win the Formula 1 Championship.
Jad Mallak
26 July, 2022
“The race was good, but could have been so much better,” Villeneuve said of the missed fight in his formule1.nl column. “With the tremendous heat levels, we had all the ingredients for a great fight. “Leclerc and Verstappen had the same pace, but Leclerc went and made another mistake that he should not have made. He admits it himself, this kind of thing means he doesn’t deserve the championship.
“I don’t get it either, in Austria he withstood the pressure just fine,” a bewildered Villeneuve wrote. “That is the big difference with Verstappen, this does not happen to him. And if he is beaten by Leclerc, he often finishes second, so the huge gap is not going to shrink quickly. “And so we have a championship with two more or less equal cars, but where one has a big lead. This is the best example of how not to win a championship,” the Canadian claimed.
Ferrari didn’t manage Carlos Sainz’s race properly. “Sainz was unhappy yesterday,” Villeneuve said. “First things went wrong during his pit stop, then there was the penalty he got after that, which I think they should have redeemed afterwards. Sainz made a really brilliant move on Pérez and still seemed to have the speed to pull away,” the 1997 F1 Champion pointed out. “They then acted hesitantly at the pit wall at Ferrari and that costs Sainz points.”
‘How not to win a Championship’;
https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/07...-championship/
JV: Leclerc setting ‘best example’ of how not to win title
Date published: July 26 2022
Jamie Woodhouse
1997 champ Jacques Villeneuve says Charles Leclerc is setting the prime example of how a title challenge fades away. Villeneuve pointed out that Verstappen does not make these kinds of mistakes like Leclerc, who also spun at Imola earlier in the season as he harried Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull.
“The race was good, but could have been so much better,” Villeneuve wrote in his Formule1.nl column. “With the enormous heat, we had all the ingredients for a great fight. Leclerc and Verstappen were on the same pace, only Leclerc makes another mistake he shouldn’t make. He admits it himself, he doesn’t deserve the Championship this way. I don’t get it either, in Austria he withstood the pressure perfectly.”
‘Title challenge fades away’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/jacque...-france-error/
Charles Leclerc consoled by stewards after French Grand Prix crash in new footage.
18:23, 25 JUL 2022
BY Andrew Gamble Sports Trends Writer
Charles Leclerc's faltering title bid hit another roadblock at the French Grand Prix after the Ferrari star crashed out of the race, allowing rival Max Verstappen to cruise to victory. Ferrari star Charles Leclerc had to be consoled by race stewards after he made a crucial error to crash out of the lead of the French Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old extended his lead to more than a second to prevent Verstappen from being able to use the DRS overtaking ability, ensuring his lead was fairly comfortable. It meant the Red Bull was forced to come in first, pitting on lap 16. Leclerc stayed out and the question arose whether he would retain his lead once he came into the pits, but he perhaps should have come in earlier. Less than two laps later, the Ferrari spun out at the demanding corner after the long Mistral straight and the Signes curve, which should be taken at full speed.
Leclerc spun across the run-off area before slamming his Ferrari’s nose into the barriers. He tried to reverse out but couldn't, and let out a frustrated scream: “No!” The Ferrari man exited his car as stewards arrived on the scene, and the attendants actually helped console Leclerc as the gravity of his error seemingly began to dawn on him. While crouched on the floor, a steward had his arm around Leclerc’s shoulders in an attempt to cheer him up.
‘Charles Leclerc consoled by stewards after French Grand Prix crash’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...rench-27573943
RED MIST: 2022 – The year Ferrari won the title for Max
25 July, 2022
Michele Lupini
The 2022 French Grand Prix was brilliant for the Tifosi, with Charles Leclerc vigorously defending from the relentless Max Verstappen. Until lap 18, that is.
Just 24 hours earlier, Carlos Sainz had towed Charles Leclerc to an epic tactical pole position. And then for the initial seventeen race laps, Leclerc gradually wore Max Verstappen down to submission.
Ferrari forced Red Bull into an earlier stop and Leclerc looked content to keep on pumping away on those mediums. Hold that thought: Mediums. Then it all fell apart. Kudos to Charles on taking (another) one for the team.
“I think it’s just a mistake,” Leclerc admitted. “I tried to take too much around the outside, put a wheel probably somewhere dirty. But it’s my fault and if I keep doing mistakes like this then I deserve not to win the championship,” the Ferrari ace admitted. Not that his rivals lying around in the cool room concurred. But let’s leave that one there.
‘Ferrari won the title for Max’;
https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/07...title-for-max/
What France Taught Us About The Demise Of Charles Leclerc's Title Bid
Jul 25, 2022 4:51 PM
Eoin Harrington
Sunday's French Grand Prix saw a change in form from the Monégasque driver. Leading the race, with the potential to take back-to-back wins and cut another chunk from Verstappen's lead in the championship, Leclerc would spectacularly spin and crash out of the race, leaving his hopes of a maiden title in tatters.
The result from Paul Ricard - which saw Verstappen win and extend his lead by a further 25 points - leaves question marks surrounding Leclerc's mentality in the title battle. Long term, however, it could be a positive learning experience for the 24-year-old.
It seems harsh to say, but any hope of the 2022 title is now surely gone for the Monaco native. It would take a miracle unlike any we have seen in F1 history - Leclerc would, in effect, have to win nearly every race between now and the end of the season, presuming Verstappen keeps up his ludicrous consistency of finishing in the top two of races.
‘Long Term Positive Learning Experience’;
https://www.balls.ie/motorsport/char...allenge-518297
Has “lunacy” cost Ferrari F1 title? - GPFans Stewards' Room Podcast
Monday 25 July 2022 16:20 - Updated: 16:45
Sam Hall
Max Verstappen secured yet another victory at the French Grand Prix but Ferrari blunders again stole the headlines.
GPFans editor-in-chief Ian Parkes, deputy editor Sam Hall and F1 correspondent Ewan Gale join Oliver Wilson for this week's roundtable.
Ferrari's strategy was perfect in qualifying but a race-ending driver error from Charles Leclerc and slow decision-making from the pit wall for Sainz saw the Scuderia lose significant ground on Red Bull.
‘Ferrari “lunacy” Stole The Headlines!’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/88...-room-podcast/
Ferrari Is Sabotaging Its First Real Shot at the F1 Title in Years.
Red Bull’s running away with the championship and Ferrari still can’t get it together.
Jul 25, 2022 11:14 AM
By Hazel Southwell
All of us are human. We all make mistakes. Sometimes it's comforting to remember that, which is why watching the 2022 Formula 1 season is actually a valid form of therapy. I've done a lot of things that have been against my own best interests, thrown away opportunities, had fits of pique that saw me turn down things I should've gone for, and missed calls I should've taken. But at least I wasn't spending $140 million to do that in public at Grand Prix circuits like Ferrari has this year.
To win an F1 world championship you need to build a really good car, have really good drivers, and then use both of those to score more points than your rivals. Two out of three ain't bad a lot of the time, but that's definitely not good enough in F1. If Ferrari can't find a way to stop making mistakes, then Verstappen and Red Bull will run away with the titles.
‘Ferrari Is Sabotaging F1 Title!’;
https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator...title-in-years
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‘Ferrari wrote the manual on shooting themselves in the foot’.
If Niki Lauda was alive today he would be on about Ferrari being “too Italian” as once again they shot “themselves in the foot” at the French GP, says Jonathan McEvoy.
Date published: July 25 2022 - Michelle Foster
It is, according to F1 journalist McEvoy, a manual “written” by Ferrari. “Ferrari really are unfathomable,” he wrote in the Daily Mail. “Despite groaning riches and unsurpassed heritage, they regularly shoot themselves in the foot. “This season alone they have pulled off the unholy trinity: unreliability, strategy botches and driver boobs. That manual was written in Maranello.”
“Why? A singular theory was advanced by one of their former champions, the late Niki Lauda, when I asked why Michael Schumacher’s glory-soaked era had not been backed up with more success. “‘They are too Italian,’ he said. Alluding to Schumacher, technical chief Ross Brawn and the predominantly native workforce, Lauda added: ‘Then, you had the Teutonic influence: clear, unbending. The English acted as the bridge. Italy is all about romance and spaghetti.”
McEvoy believes Ferrari are missing the influence of former tech boss James Allison, the Englishman now with Mercedes. “One Englishman whom the Scuderia really miss is James Allison,” he continued. “Mention of his name, and the fact he was allowed to leave a few years back, causes former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo to shake his head in despair.”
‘Manual was written in Maranello’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrar...ting-the-foot/
Ferrari’s defence of ‘defeatist’ Sainz strategy doesn’t hold up
Jul 25 2022
By Ben Anderson
Ferrari and Carlos Sainz were emphatically defensive about their strategy in Formula 1’s French Grand Prix, with Sainz adamant that Ferrari is “not a disaster” in this regard despite various recent fumbles.
Ferrari F1 boss Mattia Binotto was forced onto the defensive after the team turned a possible 1-2 result at the British GP into a 1-4, and he was at it again after the Paul Ricard F1 race, where Sainz gave up a possible podium finish by making an extra pitstop late in the race that condemned him to fifth.
“As far as the choice we made, it was the proper and the right one,” said Binotto, who insisted his driver lacked sufficient information from inside the cockpit to decide for himself – though it’s interesting that Sainz did not automatically comply with the call to pit, suggesting he had conflicting feelings at the time. Binotto added that he had “no doubt” the call had been correct.
‘Ferrari’s defence doesn’t hold up’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/ferra...oesnt-hold-up/
Ferrari's wine waiter on the pitwall – French GP Goin' up, Goin' Down.
Unforced errors, confused strategy and weird floating heads were all on the menu in Provence
July 25th 2022
Author James Elson
What could well be Formula 1’s last ever race at Paul Ricard or even in France had all the absurdity of a Camus novel to see it off. Under a burning, blinding sun Charles Leclerc binned it from the lead, Ferrari had an existential crisis on the pitwall, Nico Rosberg’s head floated round like something from an absinthe-induced night terror and the FIA’s VSC system went completely cuckoo as George Russell and Sergio Perez engaged in a game of ‘who can drive slowest’.
It was dramatic, maddening, amusing and sad all at once – Going up, Going Down at the 2022 French GP. Leclerc once more threw away a crucial advantage when he held all the cards, this time in a place it hurts more than most, the French GP.
Pole runs in Baku 2019 and Monaco 2021 were surrendered to shunts, he spun off out of third in Imola this year and now probably his worst mistake in Paul Ricard, crashing out of the lead when seemingly having the grand epreuve in his pocket. That scream of “Nooo” was harrowing, and will live long in the motor sport memory – pretty much Leclerc’s and Ferrari’s season summed up in one utterance.
Unforced errors, confused strategy and weird floating heads on the menu’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...-up-goin-down#
Italian media point Leclerc to 'flawless' Verstappen: He learns from his errors
25/07/2022, 16:00
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Co-author Aaron Deckers
Italian media have reacted in numbers over the contrasting fortunes experienced by F1 title rivals Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen at the French Grand Prix. After the race, Italian publications rushed to offer their assessment of Leclerc's mistake, Verstappen's subsequent cruise to victory and what the two outcomes mean for this year's championship battle.
Leclerc's French GP victory chances "go up in smoke" "Leclerc was dominating, Ferrari were strong and Red Bull were in trouble," wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport. "He ended up in the tyre barriers and saw a fourth win this season go up in smoke. C'est la vie. Verstappen took full advantage and gained another 25 points in the battle for the title."
Leclerc's crash compared to Vettel's Hockenheim disaster. Meanwhile, the Corriere dello Sport compared Leclerc's crash to Sebastian Vettel's painful race-ending mistake on home soil at the 2018 German Grand Prix. A "defining moment" in the race for the 2022 F1 title? Over at La Repubblica, there were suggestions that Sunday's Grand Prix could be a turning point in the title race. "Verstappen again showed how mature he is and uses his full talent," they wrote, giving him nine out of 10 for his performance.
‘Italian Media Assessments’;
https://racingnews365.com/italian-me...rom-his-errors
Hill questions 'all at sea' Ferrari after French GP strategy calls
26/07/2022, 15:20
Author Michael Butterworth
After the French Grand Prix bore witness to yet another questionable Ferrari strategy call, Damon Hill believes the Scuderia need to look at how to improve efficiency of communication on the pit wall.
Former F1 World Champion Damon Hill has questioned the effectiveness of Ferrari's strategy calls, after the team chose to pit Carlos Sainz late in the race, just as he was attempting to overtake Sergio Perez.
Sainz overruled Ferrari's initial call and passed Perez, but pitted two laps later and dropped from third to ninth, and although he recovered to finish fifth, some suggested that Ferrari should have left him out on worn tyres to try to defend his third place. Sainz also overruled Ferrari's call to pit him at Monaco, in a race where the Scuderia's indecision over strategy saw Charles Leclerc drop from first to fourth.
And at Silverstone, Ferrari's decision to pit Sainz over Leclerc under Safety Car conditions again saw the Monegasque lose the race lead and finish fourth. Speaking after the French Grand Prix, Hill suggested that Ferrari's history of decision-making at crucial moments left a little to be desired.
‘Strategy Calls Questioned’;
https://racingnews365.com/hill-quest...strategy-calls
Doubts cast over Ferrari being able to get on top of their 'big problem'
26/07/2022, 13:40
Author Michael Butterworth
With Ferrari and their customer teams having suffered several costly mechanical retirements so far in 2022, Nico Rosberg doubts whether the Scuderia have a quick fix to their reliability issues. Former F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has cast doubt over whether Ferrari have got on top of the reliability concerns that have plagued them so far in the 2022 season.
Ferrari customer teams Haas and Alfa Romeo have also been struck with reliability issues related to their power units, prompting Rosberg to question whether Ferrari could iron out these problems in a hurry. "I'm sure they've learned from what happened in Austria," Rosberg told Sky F1.
“But with an engine, it's often not so easy to bring a quick fix, and I've heard that within Ferrari, it's not easy to bring in this quick fix, so they're trying to manage the situation carefully, but there are some headaches remaining there.”
‘Big Problem Doubts’;
https://racingnews365.com/doubts-cas...ir-big-problem
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Is Ferrari’s upgraded floor the indirect cause of Charles Leclerc’s latest DNF? F1 TECH...
Analysing the Ferrari onboards in the first part of the race, we can safely say the behaviour of the F1-75 didn't help Leclerc avoid a tragic end to the French GP.
26 Jul 2022
Alessio Ciancola
Statistically speaking, Ferrari have the best car on the grid with the F1-75 able to be competitive on every track so far this season in 2022, particularly on mid to high downforce ones. Throughout the season, Ferrari’s engineers back at Maranello understood the weak points of the F1-75 and thus introduced upgrades in the subsequent races after Bahrain.
Reflecting on the crash itself, it’s possible to see that in the first part of the corner, Leclerc managed to take it with a very pointed front end but through the corner, the lazy rear didn’t follow it and thus there was a huge oversteer moment for him that he wasn’t able to control, crashing into the barriers as a result. Of course, it is really difficult to say what are the real reasons for the crash, even if it’s quite clear that it was just caused by a human mistake, admitted by Leclerc himself afterwards.
Analysing the Ferrari onboards in the first part of the race, we can safely say the behaviour of the F1-75 didn't help Leclerc avoid a tragic end to the French GP. While the link might not be direct, could it be possible to say that Leclerc’s crash may have been indirectly caused by Ferrari’s new upgrades?
‘Ferrari’s Upgraded Floor Analysis’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/100...c-s-latest-dnf
Broadcast delay behind "nonsensical" radio call to Sainz, reveals Ferrari.
Told to stay out, the Spaniard battled with the Red Bull throughout the final section of the lap, then, just as he gained the advantage over the Red Bull and pulled ahead, came that infuriating voice telling him to "box, box".
26/07/2022
NEWS STORY
Ferrari strategy director, Inaki Rueda reveals that the infuriating radio call to Carlos Sainz to pit at the exact moment he was battling with Sergio Perez was not what it appeared.
Hands up, all of you who screamed at their TVs as Ferrari effectively ordered Sainz to "box, box" at the precise moment he was finally passing Sergio Perez as they battled for third on Sunday.
Previously, the Spaniard had been arguing with his team over the rights and wrongs of making a second stop, a 5s time penalty imposed for the unsafe release at his first merely adding to the conundrum.
‘Ferrari: Broadcast Delay’;
https://www.pitpass.com/73215/Broadc...eveals-Ferrari
Ferrari’s Mattia Binotto: “There is no point on dwelling on Charles’ mistake”
July 26, 2022
By Paul Hensby
Mattia Binotto is already putting the disappointment of the French Grand Prix behind him as his Scuderia Ferrari team turn their attention to the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.
harles Leclerc crashed out of the lead at the Circuit Paul Ricard on Sunday, and Binotto, the Team Principal at Ferrari, says there is little point in dwelling over the Monegasque driver’s mistake. “There is no point on dwelling on Charles’ mistake,” said Binotto. “These things can happen, even to great drivers like him and together, we have already put it behind us.”
“Although this result was far from the one we wanted, there are still some positives to take away from this race,” said Binotto. “First of all, the F1-75 was very competitive, even on this difficult Paul Ricard track.”
‘Mattia Binotto: No point on dwelling on Charles’ mistake’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...arles-mistake/
Charles Leclerc stat hints F1 title is already Max Verstappen's after French GP heartbreak
CHARLES LECLERC has a mountain to climb in the F1 Drivers' Championship this season.
05:35, Wed, Jul 27, 2022
By Michael Gowler
If that wasn't painful enough for the Ferrari man, he's seen five drivers record more points than him over the past six races - with Verstappen having extended his advantage over Leclerc by 57 points in that time. The Red Bull racer has registered 123 points since Monaco, while a rejuvenated Lewis Hamilton has amassed the second-highest points tally over the same period with 81.
Leclerc's Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz has scored 79 points over the past six races - one more than Red Bull's Sergio Perez. Mercedes' George Russell has recorded 69, which is three more than Leclerc has earned over the same time. "I've been saying I think I'm performing at my highest level in my career but if I keep doing those mistakes then it's pointless to perform at a very high level. I'm losing too many points - seven in Imola, 25 here - because honestly we probably were the strongest car on track today.”
"So, if we lose the championship by 32 points, at the end of the season I will know where they are coming from. It's unacceptable, I just need to get on top of those things."
‘Charles Leclerc stat: 32 points!’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...nch-Grand-Prix
Ferrari boss backs Charles Leclerc to recover from France crash and claims team can win every race left in 2022
Tuesday 26 Jul 2022 1:11 pm
Callum McAvoy
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has backed Charles Leclerc to come back even stronger at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix following his crash at the last race in in France. Binotto also made a huge claim that his team could definitely win all 10 remaining races of the season, despite their numerous struggles so far in 2022.
After 12 races, the Scuderia trail Red Bull by 82 points, while Max Verstappen has a very impressive 63 point lead over Leclerc, but Binotto is convinced Ferrari and Leclerc can overcome their issues and dominate the rest of the season.
‘At the end of the season we will see where we are, but I think with our good package, there is no reason why we cannot win 10 races from now to the end,’ Binotto said as per De Telegraaf.
‘Mattia Binotto: Win 10 races from now to the end’;
https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/26/f1-fe...o=newsnow-feed
Binotto details Ferrari's plan of attack after French GP blow
25 July 2022, 17:30
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Mattia Binotto has called for "focus" at Ferrari and a "race-by-race" approach as they bid to claw back lost ground to Red Bull. Binotto dreams of winning every remaining race.
Put to him that neither Leclerc nor Ferrari can afford any more issues in their quest to beat Verstappen and Red Bull to title glory, Binotto explained how his team will fight back. "No, we cannot, [just] as they cannot afford mistakes – I think that's the risk for everyone," Binotto told Sky Sports F1, after Carlos Sainz salvaged fifth for the team by fighting back from an engine penalty.
"[We will take it] step-by-step, race-by-race and stay focused. We will try to challenge them, try to win all the races from now to the end, which is the only thing we can do. Then let's see what will happen [at the end of the season]."
‘Mattia Binotto: Ferrari's plan of attack’;
https://racingnews365.com/binotto-de...french-gp-blow
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Ferrari Looking to Dominate Hungarian Grand Prix, Wants to Secure 1-2 Result.
Despite Charles Leclerc crashing out and Carlos Sainz finishing just P5 in France, Ferrari are looking to take the Hungaroring by storm, with team principal Mattia Binotto wanting his drivers to secure a one-two finish.
27 Jul 2022, 07:58 UTC ·
by Sergiu Tudose
In France, the Scuderia really underperformed, despite looking strong in terms of pace. After the race, the Italian outfit came away with just 11 points to Red Bull’s 37 and Mercedes’ 33, but according to Binotto, his team would like to wash away this poor result with a dominant one.
If you would have asked me before this race what was the gap to Red Bull or Max, I couldn’t answer to you because I’m not looking. What we are focused on is trying to go at each single race and get the maximum results from it. And it didn’t happen here in Paul Ricard,” said Binotto following the race.
“There is always something to improve and learn, and that’s our approach. It’s step by step; we are progressing and becoming better. Once again today we have proved to our drivers we have a fast car and a competitive one. I think we are simply looking to Hungary, we need to turn the page and look to Hungary and do a one-two there, so we simply focus on the next result.”
‘1 – 2 Target;
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/f...lt-194572.html
Leclerc needs luck to go against Verstappen again – Six Hungarian GP talking points
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
Posted on 27th July 2022, 8:10
Written by Will Wood
With Charles Leclerc throwing away an opportunity to take more points out of Max Verstappen’s championship advantage in Paul Ricard last weekend, there is only one more chance for him to claim back some momentum before the summer break. Here are the talking points for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Can Leclerc strike back before the summer break?
Magnussen finally gets the upgrades
Stuck in a rut?
Ocon one year on
Rules of racing
Coming attractions
‘Talking Points’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/27/...alking-points/
Max Verstappen claims Red Bull need to find ‘quite a bit of performance’, fires Hungary GP warning
The Hungarian Grand Prix is the last race before the summer break.
26 July 2022
by James Clifford
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen anticipates that the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend will be a difficult one for his team, so places an emphasis on collecting solid points even when Ferrari are stronger.
“Of course, it’s a great lead but a lot of things can happen and I just want to stay focused; we need a lot more good results, a lot more one-lap pace,” Verstappen told Formula1.com.
“The next race is Budapest, and I think that will be a bit more of a struggle for us, where I think Ferrari is going to be really, really quick. “It’s all about scoring points every single race, even when it’s not your race.”
‘Max Points Scoring’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/max-verst...ry-gp-warning/
Verstappen expects 'really, really quick' Ferrari to keep pushing Red Bull
26/07/2022, 17:00
Author Michael Butterworth
Max Verstappen says he is expecting a tough fight to beat Ferrari at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. Verstappen won the French Grand Prix as title rival Charles Leclerc spun out of the lead, and the Dutchman now sits a commanding 63 points clear of the Ferrari driver in the Championship standings.
But Verstappen is expecting Ferrari to be very strong at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the slow corners of the Hungaroring circuit likely to suit the handling characteristics and the one-lap pace of the F1-75.
Speaking after the French Grand Prix, Verstappen acknowledged his commanding position at the top of the Drivers' Championship, but cautioned that there was still much to do to consolidate his points lead. "It's a great lead, but a lot of things can happen," Verstappen told media including RacingNews365.com. "I just want to stay focused. We need a lot more good results.”
‘Great lead, stay focussed’;
https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...shing-red-bull
Magnussen will be only Haas driver to use team’s major upgrade in Hungary
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
Posted on 26th July 2022, 10:48|
Written by Keith Collantine
Haas will only have one example of the major new upgrade for its VF-22 available for use at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The team has chosen to give the single upgrade kit to Kevin Magnussen, who is their leading points scorer over the season so far. “In the end, we couldn’t get two car kits to the race track, so with Kevin being in front in the championship we gave him the package to try,” team principal Guenther Steiner explained.
The upgrade was originally scheduled to arrive at the previous race. However Haas’s development programme was held up as it had to produce extra replacement parts following the two major crashes suffered by Mick Schumacher in Jeddah and Monaco. “Unfortunately we had a few delays in the development stage, so we postponed it from the French Grand Prix to Hungary,” said Steiner. “Also, with the spares situation we had at the beginning of the season, up to race seven or eight, we fell a bit behind in production and therefore we don’t have enough parts for two cars.
“We struggle with spare parts for one car so hopefully we can get it done and bring it to Hungary. Everybody has worked really hard – the team and our suppliers – to make this happen so I’m still very happy that we bring it on one car to Hungary,” he added. “We want to get some data before the summer break so we have something to work from when we get back, and if all goes well we’ll have it on both cars.”
‘Only enough spares parts for one car’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/26/...de-in-hungary/
Budapest weather: Could rain play a role in the Hungarian GP?
27/07/2022, 15:20
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Mixed weather conditions are predicted across the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend at the Hungaroring, with rain in the air on Saturday. Formula 1 moves on to Hungary for the final round before the summer break, with a mixed weather forecast potentially adding to the spectacle.
After a baking hot event at Paul Ricard, warm temperatures are also expected at the Hungaroring – but this time rain could enter the mix. While the start to the weekend is set to be dry, rain is a threat for Saturday's final practice and qualifying sessions.
‘Rain could enter the mix’;
https://racingnews365.com/budapest-w...e-hungarian-gp
Hungarian Grand Prix: 5 dramatic moments from the F1 archive
27 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Check out five of the most hair-raising moments from Formula 1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
‘5 Hair-raising Moments;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...918898735.html
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“We need to keep unlocking more performance” – Mercedes’ Toto Wolff.
Wolff, the Team Principal at Mercedes, says the gap to the two teams ahead of them remains too much, particularly over a single lap, and they are working extra hard to close that gap still further across the remainder of the season.
July 27, 2022
By Paul Hensby
Toto Wolff says that whilst it was encouraging that the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team scored a double podium in last weekend’s French Grand Prix, the team are not yet where they want to be when it comes to competing against Oracle Red Bull Racing or Scuderia Ferrari.
“It was encouraging to score such a big haul of points in France and maximise the situation on Sunday but we know there is much work still to do,” said Wolff. “The gap to the leaders on a single lap persists and we struggle more at the start of stints.”
“We need to keep unlocking more performance, and by maintaining the culture, mindset and spirit that has spurred on all the hard work at the factories, I’m confident we will. Our reliability was good once again, and both Lewis and George were on strong form, to deliver a double podium.”
‘Unlocking More Performance’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...es-toto-wolff/
Toto Wolff hits out at ‘bored’ Christian Horner after warning about ‘illegal’ practice.
The regulations for next season have caused division in the paddock.
27 July 2022
by James Clifford
Horner’s retort related to Wolff’s alleged intentions to work through the summer to improve the W13. There is a 14-day shutdown during the summer break during which nobody from the team is allowed to work on the car, so the 48-year-old cautioned the German side against that.
“I heard that Toto is said to have said that they are working through the summer break to improve the car, that would of course be illegal,” stated Horner.
’14-day Shutdown’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/toto-wolf...egal-practice/
Toto Wolff's ex-Mercedes advisor releases statement after Ferrari suspicions about FIA job
SHAILA-ANN RAO has taken a new role within the FIA after three years at Mercedes.
06:33, Thu, Jul 28, 2022
By Sam Smith
Shaila-Ann Rao has released a statement after several Formula One teams expressed concerns about the former Mercedes advisor’s new high-profile role within the FIA. Rao was recently appointed as general secretary to autosport and has denied that there will be any preferential treatment towards her former employers.
She has been forced to deny that there is a conflict of interest in her taking the new job. Rao points out there several members of FIA staff have worked for teams in the past - including at Ferrari.
"Before I worked for Mercedes, I was director of legal affairs at the FIA. That's how the world of F1 works, you go from one team to another. It's full of ex-employees, even Stefano Domenicali worked at Ferrari. I'm not worried about certain rumours, I'll move on and keep doing what I've always done - work,” she told radio station Corriere della Sera.
‘SHAILA-ANN RAO Statement’
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ri-FIA-F1-news
Wolff reveals 'biggest asset' for Mercedes in push for victory
28/07/2022, 07:00
Author Michael Butterworth
Co-author Dieter Rencken
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff says the team's culture is its biggest asset as the Silver Arrows seek to get back to winning ways. "I think the biggest asset is the culture that we have in the team," Wolff told media including RacingNews365.com.
"For me, it's the immune system of the team. It keeps us working with the right mindset and spirit when it's difficult. The drivers are part of our culture and our mindset, and they very rarely make mistakes, they squeeze the utmost out of the car.”
"They're clever, we've seen that [at the French Grand Prix], and just never let go. And then reliability has been a highlight so far. I think reliability is strong, and we are delivering solid work, it's just that we need to understand how to unlock more performance in qualifying and the initial stages of the race."
‘Wolff: It's the immune system of the team’;
https://racingnews365.com/wolff-reve...sh-for-victory
Mercedes still has 'a lot of laptime' to catch up - Wolff
26/07/2022 at 18:06
Phillip van Osten
Toto Wolff is under no illusions that Mercedes is still significantly lagging Red Bull and Ferrari in terms of pure performance despite the German outfit achieving its season best result in France.
"I think Budapest is really going to be good for us, because Paul Ricard – a flat surface, not bumpy and fast corners – was not so good for us, so we have to have some sort of opposite thinking now that the track that shouldn’t suit us and isn’t great, maybe we can be good!”
"But joking aside I have no idea. You come here with expectations of fighting at the front, you don’t, so I don’t know what to expect in Budapest."
‘Laptime Catch Up’;
https://f1i.com/news/449434-mercedes...-up-wolff.html
Wolff says Mercedes still 'need to work out how to win' despite 'encouraging' double podium finish in France
27 July 2022
Formula 1.
Toto Wolff was encouraged by his team’s best result of the season in the French Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both scored podium finishes.
While Wolff admitted the result – the first double podium of the season for Mercedes – was a positive sign, he was unconvinced as to whether it was a fair reflection on the performance of their car.
“I think second and third is great, they are two steps on the podium and the most points [we could get],” said Wolff. “It’s encouraging we could score this result on Sunday but it’s still very difficult for us to pin down where [we would end up] if everyone finishes.”
‘Working Out How To Win’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...EF8pMzoI2.html
Wolff explains why he shut down furious Russell over the radio
26 July 12:00
Author Luke Murphy
Co-author Dieter Rencken
Toto Wolff has explained why he elected to intervene and make a rare radio communication to George Russell during the French GP. Team Principal Toto Wolff to make a rare communication to the driver, telling Russell that no penalty was forthcoming and that he should attempt another overtake.
"I found that he was a little bit stuck in this loop of being upset about the situation, and as a driver you are [alone] in your little cockpit," Wolff explained to media, including RacingNews365.com after the race.
"I felt that he had the pace; he just needed to drop the upsetness and concentrate on wherever he could beat him on track. In the end he was just clever; there was confusion with the Virtual Safety Car, he just did it."
‘Furious Russell Shutdown’;
https://racingnews365.com/wolff-expl...over-the-radio
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Christian Horner warns Toto Wolff against ‘illegal’ summer work.
In the latest episode of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner’s ongoing feud with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, the Briton has warned the 50-year-old that working through the summer is not permitted.
by James Clifford
27 July 202227 July 2022
“I hear Toto said they are going to work throughout the summer break to improve the car, which would, of course, be illegal,” he said. “They were certainly talking up their chances coming into the weekend. I think in the end Max was reasonably comfortable. But you can see they are chipping away at it, they are getting closer and closer.”
“If you had told me going into Christmas last year that with the biggest regulation change in 40 years, with the effort that we put into last year’s championship, that we would be sitting here with eight Grand Prix victories, two sprint race victories and leading both championships by 63 and 82 points respectively, that would have been beyond my wildest expectations,” he explained.
“I think that it really is a testament to the determination, dedication and hard work that has gone on behind the scenes within the factory.” 126 points separate Red Bull and Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship after 12 rounds.
‘On-going Feud’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/christian...l-summer-work/
Christian Horner brands Toto Wolff intentions 'illegal' as F1 bosses turn hostile again
CHRISTIAN HORNER has reignited his war of words with Toto Wolff.
08:08, Wed, Jul 27, 2022
By Sam Smith
Christian Horner has warned Toto Wolff that it would be ‘illegal’ for Mercedes to continue updating the W13 during Formula One’s summer break. In the latest war of words between the two team principals, Red Bull chief Horner has warned his rival of summer law-breaking.
Horner warned: "I heard that Toto is said to have said that they are working through the summer break to improve the car. That would of course be illegal."
It comes after Wolff accused Horner of being ‘bored’ after Red Bull contested new F1 regulations designed to limit the porpoising of the cars. Red Bull have not suffered from the problem quite so frequently, and it is partly why Max Verstappen is so far ahead of his rivals in the world drivers’ championship.
‘Illegal Toto Wolff Intentions’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...milton-F1-news
Horner: ‘too late in the day’ to change 2023 F1 rules to help a certain team
11:18 Sat, 23 Jul 2022.
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
Read Motorsport
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says it is “too late in the day” to be making changes to Formula 1’s 2023 floor rules to help a “certain team”. In an attempt to combat the porpoising issues that teams have suffered with under the 2022 regulations, the FIA announced last week a raft of measures planned for next year.
These tweaks are significant enough to have an impact on car designs that has left more than half of the grid unhappy with the proposed changes. The FIA has insisted it would press on with its actions as it feels they are a “significant safety matter”, but Horner has suggested Mercedes is behind the push for a change as they have struggled with porpoising this season.
Discussing the matter further, Horner hoped the FIA’s intervention wouldn’t go too far, acknowledging Mercedes has seemed to have got on top of the excessive bouncing in recent races. “Just run the car higher: it’s easy. We haven’t had a problem all year. There’s only one team that’s had a big problem,” Horner added.
‘Too Late in the Day’;
https://readmotorsport.com/2022/07/2...-certain-team/
Horner’s case against ‘easy card’ FIA’s using for 2023 changes
Jul 26 2022
By Edd Straw
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the safety justification being used by the FIA to force through Formula 1 floor regulation changes for 2023 is “a very easy card to stand behind”.
Horner disputes whether the porpoising and bottoming-out problems that these changes are designed to eliminate are a safety concern that should be tackled through technical regulation changes. This is on the basis that they are particular to certain cars and therefore it is the responsibility of the teams concerned to address them.
The FIA can force through changes on safety grounds without the usual voting procedure being used. Changes at this notice for 2023 would otherwise require a ‘super-majority’ of 28 out of 30 votes in the F1 Commission to be given the green light, effectively meaning a minimum of eight of the teams would need to support them.
‘Easy Card’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/horne...-2023-changes/
Guenther Steiner backs Christian Horner argument in Toto Wolff fight
GUENTHER STEINER is among several team principals arguing against rules changes for 2023.
14:13, Sat, Jul 23, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth
Guenther Steiner has backed Christian Horner’s debate in his fight over new 2023 rules changes with Toto Wolff. The Haas boss said the American team were one of the six squads which did not want new floor rules to battle porpoising issues.
Horner has also hit back at mid-season rules changes while Wolff has openly pushed for updated regulations on safety grounds. Steiner said Haas wanted to keep the rules as the team had already started working on the new 2023 car.
Haas are among a gaggle of teams who have benefitted from the new regulations, with the team scoring more points this season than the last three years combined. Steiner told Sky Sports F1: “We are with the six teams which don't want the change. We are pretty happy where we are. “Either we want to keep it or we want to find a compromise. We started [already] with the 2023 cars and if you change the rules now we find it's a little bit late to do that.”
‘Guenther Steiner backs Christian Horner’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-rules-changes
Red Bull slate rival F1 team over regulation lobbying
Saturday 23 July 2022 08:10
Ian Parkes & Sam Hall
The FIA announced it would introduce new design rules for next year to effectively quash any remaining porpoising issues, all in the name of safety. The plans include raising the floor edges of the cars by 25mm, which would result in major changes being required for the 2023 designs.
This has sparked uproar in the paddock, with at least five teams understood to be pushing back against the proposal. GPFans understands the teams are Red Bull, AlphaTauri, Ferrari, Haas and Alfa Romeo.
In opposition, Wolff and Mercedes have been the most outspoken in demanding the FIA make changes. Horner has suggested if the "one team" concerned has a problem it has two options available. “Just run the car higher," added Horner. "It’s easy. We haven’t had a problem all year. There is only one team that has had a big problem. “
‘
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...-row-lobbying/
‘Mercedes Regulation Lobbying’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/87...-row-lobbying/
Christian Horner hits out at Mercedes again in fresh rant over F1 rule changes
CHRISTIAN HORNER has taken another shot at Mercedes.
07:04, Thu, Jul 28, 2022
By Mikael McKenzie
Mercedes have really struggled with porpoising and Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are yet to win a race. Hamilton has complained of back pain because his car constantly bounces when the track is not smooth.
Mercedes could raise their floor further off the ground to solve the issue, but that had a seriously detrimental effect on speed. Toto Wolff is pushing for another solution; a change in the rules, which Horner is not having.
Christian Horner: “Changing rules because a couple of teams haven’t managed to hit targets is never the right thing to do,” he told Eurosport. “If you want to have convergence in F1, the best thing to do is to leave it alone. Then all the teams will converge. What you would see next year, if the rules were left completely alone, I’d be surprised if you saw any bouncing because we've got some of the brightest engineers in the technical world solving these problems.”
‘Couple of teams haven’t managed to hit targets’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...Max-Verstappen
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Vettel stuns F1 by announcing retirement after 2022 season.
Vettel’s immediate bosses at Aston Martin paid tribute to his contribution and made it clear they wanted him to keep racing.
28/07/2022
By Scott Mitchell
Sebastian Vettel will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season. The four-time world champion joined Aston Martin in 2021 on a two-year deal after being ousted at Ferrari.
Team principal Mike Krack said that if the team achieved its potential then Vettel’s “groundwork” will have been a crucial component and “one of the architects of that future success will be Sebastian”.
Stroll said: “I want to thank Sebastian from the bottom of my heart for the great work that he has done for Aston Martin over the past year and a half. “We made it clear to him that we wanted him to continue with us next year, but in the end he has done what he feels is right for himself and his family, and of course we respect that.”
‘Vettel stuns F1’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/vette...r-2022-season/
F1 world reacts as Vettel announces his retirement
28/07/2022, 13:20
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Sebastian Vettel made headlines around the world on Thursday as the German announced his upcoming retirement from F1 after 15 years in the sport.
Shortly after the news broke, the F1 community took to social media to pay tribute to the four-time World Champion and 53-time Grand Prix winner.
‘Check out some of the reactions’;
https://racingnews365.com/f1-world-r...-f1-retirement
Vettel reveals when he decided to retire from F1
Date published: July 28 2022
Jon Wilde
Sebastian Vettel has revealed that calling time on his Formula 1 career was anything but a snap decision. That may not appear to have been the case considering Aston Martin had been trying right up until this week to convince him to stay with the team for a third season.
Asked in an interview with Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend when he had made up his mind to retire, Vettel replied: “When? The last years, is the truth. I think it’s not one question you ask yourself and then you find an answer and that’s it. I know, and I understood I think very early, that it’s a sort of life-changing decision.”
“How life-changing is very difficult to grasp because I’m turning around the next corner and don’t know what’s waiting, but that’s true probably for any athlete no matter your sport – whether you choose to or whether you’re pushed into a position due to injury or external factors. [It’s] something we all face at some point. To me, it feels like the right point at this stage.”
‘Decision Time’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/sebast...ment-decision/
Sebastian Vettel wooed wife at high school and now share £115m fortune together
15:57, 28 JUL 2022
BY Nick Murphy
Sports Reporter
Sebastian Vettel will go sailing off into the Formula 1 sunset with his gorgeous wife and an eye-watering £115million nest-egg - not to mention those four F1 drivers' titles. Not a lot is known about the beautiful blonde F1 WAG, although The Sun claimed in 2019 that she is a former industrial design student who doesn't yearn for the limelight like some of the other wives and girlfriends of the pitlane.
Just like her motor racing hubby, Hanna isn't big on social media. While Vettel only joined Instagram just before his retirement, Hanna hasn't posted on the social media site since 2013. The pair met while at school and have been sweethearts ever since, finally tying the knot in 2019. They have three children together, with Vettel citing his wish to spend more time with his kids as a reason behind his decision to leave F1.
"The decision to retire has been a difficult one for me to take, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about it; at the end of the year I want to take some more time to reflect on what I will focus on next; it is very clear to me that, being a father, I want to spend more time with my family," he said in his goodbye message on Aston Martin's website.
‘Spend more time with my family’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...-wife-27601965
The five teams of number five: Vettel’s F1 career history in pictures
F1 history
Posted on 28th July 2022, 13:3728th July 2022, 13:44 |
Written by Keith Collantine and Will Wood
BMW-Sauber – 2006-07 It all began 15 years ago with a one-off debut in the United States Grand Prix. BMW gave Vettel his first opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car after he dominated their German junior championship in 2003, winning an incredible 18 races out of 20.
Toro Rosso – 2007-08 Red Bull also had a hand in Vettel’s progress through the junior ranks and four races after his debut with BMW Sauber they placed him at junior team Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) in place of Scott Speed.
Red Bull – 2009-14 Three races into his career as a Red Bull driver, Vettel scored his second victory in another soaking wet race, in Shanghai. The rapid Brawns won most of the races in the first half of the season, however, and Jenson Button beat him to the title.
Ferrari – 2015-20 Having achieved so much in his time at Red Bull, Vettel was keen for a new challenge. What greater challenge could there be than emulating his great mentor Michael Schumacher’s feat of turning around an underperforming Ferrari team and bring them back into championship contention once again?
Aston Martin – 2021-22 After months of speculation, Racing Point announced that Vettel would join the team when they transitioned into Aston Martin for the 2021 season.
‘Five teams of number five’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/28/...y-in-pictures/
Earnest, ruthless, ‘protected’, undermined: Who Vettel is to F1
28/07/2022
By Mark Hughes
So it’s happened: Sebastian Vettel has decided to call it a day. Four consecutive world championships and 53 grands prix victories over 15 seasons is one hell of a tally and puts him statistically among F1’s elite of history.
When in 2013 he beat Mansell’s record of most poles in a season he was thrilled to receive a message of congratulations from his boyhood hero. As a boy he’d pestered his parents to take him to Madame Tussaud’s waxworks display in London just because he knew there was a model of Mansell in there and he wanted his picture taken next to it, he told us. Did he think there should now be a waxworks model of Vettel in there, he was asked. “No, I don’t think so,” he grinned. “You already have one German in there and he’s not very popular.”
Beneath the friendly and open persona though was a fierce competitor. And an unusually intelligent one. The talent was directed by this intense focus but driving that was a great well of emotion. He threw absolutely every bit of himself into competing and that could boil over when he felt he’d been dealt an injustice. That image of him moving the number 1 bollard from in front of Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes in parc ferme Canada 2019 and putting it to where Vettel’s first-across-the-line Ferrari should have stood was very much him.
‘No 1 Bollard belongs to Sebastian Vettel’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/earne...ttel-is-to-f1/
'A true F1 legend' - Formula 1 reacts to Vettel retirement news
Thursday 28 July 2022 13:50 - Updated: 13:50
Ronan Murphy
Legends of Formula 1, team-mates and rivals have paid tribute to Sebastian Vettel after the four-time world champion announced his retirement. The Aston Martin driver will leave the grid at the end of the 2022 season and is set to reach 300 races at Abu Dhabi before driving off into the sunset.
World champions Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were among those who wrote tributes on social media, with protege Mick Schumacher also penning a heartfelt message as Vettel calls time on his 15-year career in Formula 1.
‘Sebastian Vettel remembered’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/88...tirement-news/
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Bottas seeking Alfa turnaround after tough French GP.
Valtteri Bottas is eager to get back on track with Alfa Romeo in Hungary after a tough French Grand Prix weekend that he concluded once again out of the points.
27/07/2022 at 14:09
Phillip van Osten
Alfa is in the midst of a performance slump that started at Silverstone and extended to Paul Ricard where neither Bottas nor teammate Zhou Guanyu were top ten contenders on race day. From P11 on the grid, Bottas suffered a poor start that dropped him down the order to 16th on the opening lap. Slow launches due to excessive wheelspin have been a chronic issue at Alfa Romeo, and it led the Swiss outfit to update the transmission of its C42 with new componentry supplied by Ferrari.
But Bottas felt that the problem at Paul Ricard was not clutch-related. "It felt like it's not a clutch issue, just wheelspin at the start, so [we] need to investigate why," said the Finn. Thereafter followed a long, drawn out afternoon during which Alfa's initial race strategy plans were disrupted by the timing of a safety car. "It was a really long race and it felt like a lot of sweat with nothing to show for it!" he said. "Of course, you can learn something from every race, so that must be what we take away from this weekend.
Looking ahead to next weekend's round of racing at the Hungaroring, Bottas hopes a few changes on Alfa's C42 will help him turn around his and his team's fortunes. Alfa Romeo currently sits sixth in the Constructors' standings, but 38 points behind McLaren. "Having back-to-back races offers us the chance to bounce back right away from the tough weekend we had in France, where nothing seemed to be working in our favour," he said.
‘Seeking Alfa Romeo turnaround in Hungary’;
https://f1i.com/news/449468-bottas-s...french-gp.html
Valtteri Bottas: First half of F1 season a 'solid base to build from'
28 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Speaking ahead of the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, Valtteri Bottas says that the first half of the Formula 1 season has been "really, really positive" and that it gives Alfa Romeo "a solid base to build from."
‘Solid Positive Base to Build’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...416231698.html
Valtteri Bottas: “Back-to-back races offers us the chance to bounce back”
July 28, 2022
By Paul Hensby
Valtteri Bottas is looking to get back into the points this weekend in Hungary after three consecutive races where he has failed to score a top ten finish. The Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN driver had an underwhelming French Grand Prix last weekend as he finished only fourteenth, whilst he also failed to break into the top ten in either the British or Austrian Grand Prix.
“Having back-to-back races offers us the chance to bounce back right away from the tough weekend we had in France, where nothing seemed to be working in our favour,” said Bottas. “I enjoyed racing at the Hungaroring in the past, having also been on the podium here twice before, and I am looking forward to being back in action on track.
“The fans are always passionate and welcoming here, and it would be nice to put up a good show for them before the summer break. The team has been working really hard these past days to find a solution to our struggles last weekend, and together with some updates we can hopefully put up a good fight for points in the midfield.”
‘Bounce Back on Back-to-Back Race’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...o-bounce-back/
Bottas calls for Alfa Romeo investigation into Paul Ricard issues
28/07/2022, 10:20
Author Michael Butterworth
Co-author Dieter Rencken
Valtteri Bottas says an investigation is needed into the troubles his Alfa Romeo had at the start of the French Grand Prix. Starting 11th on the grid, Bottas had severe wheelspin at the start and had dropped to 17th by Lap 2.
From then on, a points finish looked unlikely, and the timing of the Safety Car forced him onto a two-stop strategy, meaning the best the Finn could do was 14th by the chequered flag. Bottas and teammate Zhou Guanyu had struggled with clutch and anti-stall issues at the start of Grands Prix earlier in the season, but Bottas said his problem at Paul Ricard was not clutch-related.
"It felt like it's not a clutch issue, just wheelspin at the start, so [we] need to investigate why," Bottas told media including RacingNews365.com.
‘Investigations!’;
https://racingnews365.com/bottas-cal...-ricard-issues
Bottas hopes France was ‘one-off dip’ for Alfa Romeo
Date published: July 28 2022
Sam Cooper
Valtteri Bottas hopes Alfa Romeo’s disappointing run-out at Paul Ricard was a “one-off dip” as the team brings upgrades for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Alfa Romeo ended point-less for the third consecutive race in France with Bottas finishing P14 while his team-mate Zhou Guanyu was forced to retire due to a technical issue.
Having shown pace at the start of the season, the team have found themselves slipping further and further down the grid as those around them brought upgrades to the car, something Alfa have not. However Bottas has revealed some are on their way for this weekend having pinpointed the lack of upgrades as the cause of their recent downfall.
He said he hoped the performance last weekend was just a “one-off dip. I really hope [the] French Grand Prix was just a one-off dip in the performance,” he told reporters during the press conference ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. In qualifying and in the race, [we] didn’t have the base that we were hoping and expecting.”
‘One-Off Dip!’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/valtte...ip-alfa-romeo/
Zhou says he 'was struggling all that way through' French Grand Prix before being hit by technical issue
27 July 2022
Formula 1.
Zhou Guanyu was left reflecting on an afternoon to forget in France after another technical problem saw him bow out of the race at Paul Ricard prematurely, while Valtteri Bottas also struggled with ongoing issues.
Zhou started the race in 16th, but a poor getaway dropped him down the field, and matters weren't helped by a collision with Haas's Mick Schumacher for which he received a five-second penalty. Running at the back of the field, he ended up bowing out on Lap 47 at the side of the track, though Zhou was classified in 16th.
“Obviously, I had a technical issue – [we are] still investigating,” said Zhou after the race. “It was actually coming 15 laps to the end; I had to some switch changes to make sure I wasn’t losing so much power. So, we have to investigate, obviously I just came back from the race car. Apart from that, the race just never went our way, I was struggling all that way through, so not a day to remember. But having another back-to-back race means a whole new weekend of opportunities to get competitive again and put ourselves back where we belong.”
‘’Technical Issue Struggles’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...x9mFuT8G7.html
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Sainz leads Verstappen as Hungarian GP weekend begins.
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz set the pace ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and teammate Charles Leclerc as F1 track action began at the Hungaroring on Friday.
29/07/2022, 14:00
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Carlos Sainz topped the timesheets during Friday's opening free practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, as Ferrari started the weekend ahead of Red Bull. Sainz worked his way down to a time of 1:18.750 on the Soft compound tyre across the one hour of running, with drivers tackling the Hungaroring in hot conditions.
Sainz's effort put him 0.130s clear of French GP winner Max Verstappen, with teammate Charles Leclerc another tenth-and-a-half back in third position. Behind the lead Ferrari and Red Bull machines, Lando Norris was 'best of the rest' in a McLaren that has been tipped to suit the tight and twisty track layout.
Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton took fifth and seventh respectively, sandwiching the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez (who hit traffic on a late flyer). There was a slight scare for Russell in the closing stages of the session, with his engineer telling him to slow down amid overheating concerns.
‘Carlos Sainz set the pace’;
https://racingnews365.com/sainz-lead...weekend-begins
F1 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix - Free Practice Results (1)
29 Jul 2022
Connor McDonagh
Pos Driver Nat. Team Time
1 Carlos Sainz ESP Scuderia Ferrari 1m18.750s
2 Max Verstappen NED Oracle Red Bull Racing 1m18.880s
3 Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari 1m19.030s
4 George Russell GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team 1m19.299s
4 Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team 1m19.606s
6 Sergio Perez MEX Oracle Red Bull Racing 1m19.622s
7 Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team 1m19.710s
8 Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren F1 Team 1m19.841s
9 Esteban Ocon FRA BWT Alpine F1 Team 1m20.348s
10 Fernando Alonso ESP BWT Alpine F1 Team 1m20.377s
‘Results from the first practice session at the F1 Hungarian Grand Prix, Round 13 of the 2022 Formula 1 world championship’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/results/100...tice-results-1
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from first practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix
29 July 2022
Formula 1.
Becky Hart.
Hello and welcome to Hungary...
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...tGvW24I7L.html
What happened in first Hungarian Grand Prix F1 practice
29/07/2022, 14:12
The Race
There was little to choose between the Ferraris and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull in opening Hungarian Grand Prix practice, with Carlos Sainz ultimately on top.
Key moments
– Sainz fastest by 0.130s from Verstappen
– Encouraging session for McLaren
– Upgraded Haas and Aston Martin hit track
‘FP1: What Happened’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/what-...x-f1-practice/
Sainz ahead of Verstappen in first practice for 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
July 29th 2022
Author Edward Hardy
Carlos Sainz set the pace in the first practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, where less than a second separated the top seven drivers. His 1min 18.750sec lap was good enough to top the timesheet, 0.130sec ahead of Max Verstappen, who split the Ferrari drivers in what looks like a strong Red Bull package.
The top three were separated by 0.289sec, followed by Lando Norris who was fourth in the McLaren, 0.549 sec off his former team-mate. George Russell was close behind, ahead of Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton in seventh, 0.960sec behind Sainz.
Daniel Ricciardo was then less than a tenth off Hamilton, while Esteban Ocon led Fernando Alonso to round up the top 10. Most driers opted for the medium or hard tyre early in the session, but yet Ferrari and Red Bull went for the softs straight away.
‘FP1: Round Up’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...tice-round-up#
FIA release statement as Mercedes move closer to penalty over parc ferme rules breach
MERCEDES has been issued a warning from the FIA but will not face a penalty at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
13:26, Fri, Jul 29, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell’s Mercedes team broke parc ferme rules ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. The FIA issued a statement ahead of FP1 warning members of the team were inside the circuit when they were not allowed. Mercedes have now used up three of their eight parc ferme exemptions for the season. This allowance means the Silver Arrows will not face a penalty for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The FIA statement reads: “Wednesday night team personnel of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, who are associated with the operation of the car, were within the confines of the circuit during the 13-hour period which commenced at 20:00 on 27 August, 42 hours before the scheduled start time of P1 and ends 29 hours before the scheduled start time of P1 at 09:00 on 28 July.
“This was the third of the eight individual exceptions permitted for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team during the 2022 Formula One Championship season and therefore no action should be taken.”
‘Mercedes Parc Ferme Rules Breach’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ussell-penalty
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F1 Hungarian GP: Charles Leclerc leads Lando Norris in second practice
Charles Leclerc laid down the marker in second practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix to keep Ferrari at the top of the F1 timesheet and end Friday fastest.
29 Jul 2022
Lewis Larkam
Leclerc was third-quickest in FP1 behind Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz and title rival Max Verstappen but leapt to the top of the FP2 leaderboard with an 1m18.445s during the soft tyre runs.
The Monegasque ended up only 0.217s clear of Lando Norris, who briefly went quickest for McLaren before seeing his time usurped by Leclerc.
FP1 pacesetter Sainz slipped to third in second practice, 0.231s down on his Ferrari teammate’s benchmark, while Verstappen, who leads the championship by 63 points from Leclerc, ended up fourth and 0.283s adrift.
‘Laid Down the Marker’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/100876...an-gp-practice
(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
Budapest, Hungary
29th July 2022
by Emer Hedderman
Results (Classification):
1. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari -1:18.445
2. Lando Norris McLaren +0.217
3. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.231
4. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.283
5. Daniel Ricciardo McLaren +0.427
6. Fernando Alonso Alpine +0.604
7. Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin +0.808
8. George Russell Mercedes +0.910
9. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.952
10. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +0.966
‘Hungarian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the second practice ahead of the 2022 F1 World Championship race from the Hungaroring’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp2-second...and-prix-79621
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from second practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix
29 July 2022
Becky Hart
Formula 1.
‘FP2: Live Coverage Updates as they happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...83Tss3o4Y.html
HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from an intriguing second practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix
29 July 2022
Formula 1.
Charles Leclerc made it a Ferrari double on Friday afternoon, with the Monegasque racer topping the timesheets of the second practice session at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
On the soft tyres for the qualifying simulations, Leclerc set a time of 1m 18.445s to lead Lando Norris, in second, by 0.217s. Carlos Sainz, in the other Ferrari, was down in third, ahead of Max Verstappen in the Red Bull – with the top four covered by just 0.283s.
It was a good day for McLaren, with Daniel Ricciardo in fifth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, in the Alpine, followed by the Aston Martin of Sebastian Vettel in seventh.
‘FP2: Highlights’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...JRdD6eEwp.html
Charles Leclerc's miserable reaction in Ferrari meeting comes to light before Hungarian GP
CHARLES LECLERC is 63 points behind Max Verstappen in the world championship heading to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
16:51, Fri, Jul 29, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth
Charles Leclerc’s reaction in a Ferrari debrief meeting has been revealed ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto admitted the mood in the team's debrief was “not great” after Leclerc’s crash in France.
He also revealed Leclerc went straight home after his shunt but stressed he has “turned a page” ahead of this week’s race. Binotto said: “The debrief was certainly difficult, the mood was not great. Charles went home soon after and stayed home really, tried to relax and focus on Hungary
"He is back, I think he really wants to do well. He has already turned the page with regard to Paul Ricard. He is fast at the moment, he is in great shape and he can win." Leclerc was leading the French Grand Prix before he crashed out of the lead. The Monegasque dipped a wheel on the white line at turn 11 which was enough to spin him around and hit the barrier. The shunt allowed title rival Max Verstappen to extend his championship advantage to 63 points.
‘Mattia Binotto: He (CHARLES LECLERC) is in great shape and he can win’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-grand-prix
McLaren duo rule out joining Hungary GP pole fight
Date published: July 29 2022
Sam Cooper
Despite finishing P2 and P5 in FP2, both McLaren drivers think their chances of being in a pole fight is unrealistic. Lando Norris produced an excellent lap in the speedy McLaren as only Charles Leclerc was able to beat him for pace while Daniel Ricciardo finished in P5, one spot short of Max Verstappen.
Despite the pace shown by the MCL36 at the Hungaroring both Norris and Ricciardo were pessimistic about their chances of being involved in the pole fight during Saturday’s qualifying session. Norris said that it was always McLaren’s plan to run the car quicker than the rest of the field and he said he expected the likes of Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes to step it up a notch.
“Things are feeling good,” Norris told Sky Sports F1. “The car’s in a good place, seems to be suiting this track or characteristic a little bit more. “But we’re always a little bit quicker in FP2 than what we end up being normally. We turn up a little bit more than what others do just to get our first reading ahead of qualifying, which is what we’ve got today. But we know everyone else, especially Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes normally step it up a lot for tomorrow.
‘McLaren Playing it Low Key’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclare...gp-pole-fight/
What upgrades have F1 teams brought to the Hungarian GP?
29/07/2022, 17:20
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Haas are running a heavily-updated car at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, having brought much-anticipated new parts to the track. Limited updates elsewhere, nothing for Ferrari. Beyond Haas, the rest of the F1 field have opted to bring only limited updates to the Hungaroring, or make no changes at all.
Mercedes have made some performance-based tweaks to their Halo (adding a slat to the fairing), rear wing and beam wing, with Red Bull also using a new beam wing.
McLaren are running a modified front corner (circuit-specific cooling) and an updated diffuser, while Alpine have upgraded their beam wing and Alfa Romeo their floor body. AlphaTauri and Aston Martin have made adjustments to their rear wings (both circuit-specific for drag) – the AMR22's new rear wing tip catching the eye.
‘F1 Team Upgrades’;
https://racingnews365.com/what-upgra...e-hungarian-gp
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'I'll believe until the very end': Charles Leclerc vows to keep his Formula One world championship dream alive despite sitting 63 points behind Max Verstappen going into the Hungarian Grand Prix.
You couldn’t see if Charles Leclerc was crossing his fingers behind his back as he said he thought he could still win the Formula One world championship this season.
Published: 22:31, 29 July 2022
By Jonathan Mcevoy At The Hungaroring For The Daily Mail
‘I will believe in it until the very end,’ he said. ‘If we win all the races and Max (Verstappen) finishes second we will do it. I am relying on myself doing that. It is a very optimistic goal, but I don’t want to look into it any more negatively than that.’
Mathematically he is right, given there are 10 races, including Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix, remaining: the Monegasque lies 63 points behind Verstappen and 268 are available in all. In a morale-booster, Leclerc set the fastest time in practice on Friday.
• Ferrari's Charles Leclerc believes he can still win Formula One championship
• He crashed out while leading the race last time out at the French Grand Prix
• The Monegasque currently sits 63 points behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen
• Leclerc set the fastest time during the second Hungarian Grand Prix practice
‘Believe Until the End’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...eam-alive.html
Leclerc confident Ferrari on the right road in Hungary
29/07/2022 at 20:01
Andrew Lewin
Focused on rebuilding his confidence after the mistake that saw him crash out of the lead of last week's French GP, Leclerc said he was certain that the team had found the right path to put them ahead of their rivals in Budapest.
“It’s been a very productive day," he told the media in the paddock after the end of second practice. "[We] changed quite a lot of things on the car on my side.”
“FP1 was quite tricky, FP2 we took the right road, so I'm confident that we did the right work for Sunday," he said. "Though track evolution is always quite high here, it was lower than we expected today."
‘Rebuilding Confidence’;
https://f1i.com/news/449817-leclerc-...n-hungary.html
5 things we learned from Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix
29 July 2022
F1 Correspondent & Presenter
Lawrence Barretto
The Hungaroring looked resplendent on Friday afternoon as teams worked through packed programmes across two scorching one-hour practice sessions ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. It was important to gather as much data as possible, given that it’s expected to rain all day on Saturday before the sun returns on Sunday. So, who made the most of it – and who was left wanting more?
1. Ferrari’s favourite tag appears justified
2. Red Bull second best and giving chase
3. Mercedes slower than expected on difficult day
4. McLaren punching at the top of the midfield
5. Jury out on huge Haas upgrade – but Aston Martin’s new package shines
‘Five Observations’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...skrnP0SnG.html
McLaren ‘hit the ground running’ in big F1 shock before Ricciardo drops reality check
July 30th, 2022 6:25 am
AFP and staff writers from News.com.au
The Aussie was pleasantly surprised by his and Norris’ strong performances but isn’t getting ahead of himself about what the impressive practice times will mean come qualifying. “I don’t know about the others, but I think we were actually competitive this morning as well,” Ricciardo said.
“Being competitive in both sessions hopefully says something, hopefully says we are competitive. I don’t think we’re competitive to fight for a pole, sorry to the fans. I’m not being pessimistic, just realistic.”
“But I think if there is something, they will probably find a little bit more on Saturday come crunch time. I think it was a good day, we certainly hit the ground running. We’ll look into what happens tonight with the car and do a few bits and pieces for sure.”
‘Reality Check’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...e893ef4b893941
Forecast offers hope to Verstappen as Red Bull “can’t compete” with Ferrari in the dry
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix Friday practice analysis
Posted on 30th July 2022, 0:41
Written by Will Wood
For the first half of the 2022 season, the biggest question heading into each weekend could be boiled down to just four words: Red Bull or Ferrari? Red Bull’s streak of six successive victories was no doubt impressive, but it did flatter the team’s true pace relative to Ferrari across those rounds. Ferrari have cost themselves a chance of victory more than once by being out-raced on the track.
However, after the first day of practice concluded in Hungary, there is little question who holds the advantage around the Hungaroring – and it is not the current runaway championship leaders. Red Bull and Max Verstappen have been behind Ferrari on Friday many times before only to take the chequered flag come race day. But Ferrari’s advantage in Hungary has their rivals genuinely concerned this time.
With Ferrari’s clear advantage for this weekend, the one factor out of their control that could risk scuppering their chances of heading into the break with a victory is the weather. It is not merely likely to be wet at least at some point during third practice and into qualifying, the volume of rain forecast in what is expected to be thundery conditions could even disrupt the schedule. If it isn’t possible for qualifying to go ahead on time, there’s a small possibility qualifying could even be pushed to Sunday morning, or lap times taken from second practice to form a grid if needed.
‘Weather Forecast Risks Scuppering Ferrari’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/30/...ri-in-the-dry/
Mercedes woe returns as damage disrupts Hamilton - GPFans F1 Recap
Friday 29 July 2022 18:05
Ewan Gale
Lewis Hamilton revealed damage to his W13 prevented him from completing his long-run programme in Hungarian Grand Prix practice as Mercedes' "crazy swings" flummoxed the seven-time F1 champion in Budapest. "The car is a bit of a struggle," conceded Hamilton. "It is crazy how much it swings so much from track to track.”
"Just trying to figure out how to get the car working at the moment, it is a little bit loose and not doing what we want it to do, so a difficult day. Nothing has changed on the car since last week and I am the same driver as I was last week but it is just, for some reason at this track, it is not working as well. But once we got it right, the gap is about the same as last week."
But Hamilton was unable to complete his race simulation. Explaining why, he said: "I didn't get to run at the end because I sustained some damage on my floor so lost a lot of downforce and after that it was pretty tricky for the long-run pace. "It is going to be a tough weekend but we will give it everything and see what we have got."
‘W13 Floor Damage’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/88...rcedes-damage/
Copycats? Haas Unleashes 'White Ferrari' for F1 Hungarian Grand Prix Weekend
'If you copy, you copy the best, and right now it is Ferrari and Red Bull.'
Jul 29, 2022
BY GLOBAL MOTORSPORT MEDIA
Haas Formula 1 team principal Gunther Steiner has defended Haas amid claims the updated car revealed in Hungary might aptly be described as a "white Ferrari."
Steiner openly admits that Haas was inspired by Ferrari's aerodynamic concept. "I would say quite a lot, yes. Is there something wrong with that?" he told European media outlet Ekstra Bladet newspaper.
When asked if he expects to be accused of copying, Steiner said simply, "I expect to be fast. If someone says we copied, I would say 'Why would we copy a Williams?' Not to be disrespectful, but it's a completely different concept and they're slower than us. So if you copy, you copy the best, and right now it is Ferrari and Red Bull. We have the same engine as Ferrari, the same gearbox and we have the same suspension. They win races, so why copy others? One plus one still equals two."
‘White Ferrari: 1 + 1 = 2’;
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/form...-prix-weekend/
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Latifi beats Leclerc in final Hungarian GP F1 practice.
Nicholas Latifi beat Friday dominator Charles Leclerc by six tenths to top a rain-affected final Formula 1 practice session ahead of qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
30/07/2022, 13:15
By Josh Suttill
Key moments
• Latifi six tenths clear
• Leclerc second and Albon third
• Vettel crashes late on
• Mercedes struggles for tyre warm-up
Heavy rain in the morning threatened to curtail FP3 but the rain reduced before the session started, meaning drivers took to the track just moments after the scheduled start time. Championship chaser Leclerc was the first driver out on track and his early 1m43.364s on the wet tyres stood at the top of the timesheets for the majority of the session.
That was before FP3 was halted when retiring four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel nosed his Aston Martin into the barriers at Turn 10 with less than 10 minutes left on the clock.
‘FP3: Key Moments’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/latif...p-f1-practice/
(FP3) Third Practice Results – 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
Budapest, Hungary
30th July 2022
by Emer Hedderman
Results (Classification):
1. Nicholas Latifi Williams Racing -1:41.480
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.661
3. Alexander Albon Williams Racing +0.901
4. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +1.725
5. George Russell Mercedes +1.954
6. Fernando Alonso Alpine +2.090
7. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +2.109
8. Lando Norris McLaren +2.263
9. Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin +2.698
10. Kevin Magnussen Haas +3.175
Hungarian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the final practice ahead of the 2022 F1 World Championship race from the Hungaroring;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp3-third-...and-prix-79666
Latifi shock pacesetter in wet final Hungarian GP practice
by Phillip Horton
Nicholas Latifi pulled a surprise as he set the quickest time during a rain-hit final practice session ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Latifi moved to the front with a time of 1:41.480s, leaving him 0.661s clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had earlier escaped undamaged following a full 360 spin through Turn 3.
The Williams driver is the only full-time racer on the grid yet to score a point in 2022. Latifi’s shock lap was backed up by Williams team-mate Alexander Albon in third, nine-tenths down on the Canadian.
‘Nicholas Latifi Shock pacesetter’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...n-gp-practice/
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from final practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix
30 July 2022
Becky Hart
Formula 1.
‘FP3: As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...JMOB7Af38.html
F1 2022 results: Hungarian GP – Third practice session
Date published: July 30 2022
Jon Wilde
Nicholas Latifi remarkably snatched top spot right at the end of a wet FP3 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, interrupted by an accident for soon-to-retire Sebastian Vettel.
The Williams driver took advantage of a drying track to clock a lap 0.661sec faster than Charles Leclerc, whose reaction over the team radio indicated he was as surprised as everyone else!
Wet weather and even thunderstorms had been forecast all week for Saturday at the Hungaroring and a deluge duly materialised minutes before FP3 was scheduled to begin.
‘Wet weather and even thunderstorms’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-202...ctice-session/
2022 Hungarian GP FP3: Fernando Alonso's big save in wet final practice
30 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Alpine's Fernando Alonso manages a dramatic save during a rain-affected final practice session at the 2022 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring.
‘EL PLAN: Dramatic Save’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...870810402.html
2022 Hungarian GP FP3: Gasly slides wide in wet at Turn 4
30 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly runs wide at Turn 4 as rain impacts the early stages of FP3 on Saturday at the 2022 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring.
‘Wide Slide’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...270208047.html
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Russell stuns to claim maiden pole at Hungarian GP.
George Russell claimed a shock maiden pole position during a thrilling denouement to Formula 1 qualifying at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
30/07/2022, 16:13
by Phillip Horton
Mercedes lacked pace in dry conditions on Friday but Russell emerged as a contender in Q3 after splitting the Ferrari drivers after the opening runs.
But Russell demoted the Ferrari drivers with a final push lap of 1:17.377s, snatching top spot by just 0.043s, to claim his first career pole.
Sainz wound up second, with Leclerc third, though Russell’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton was down in seventh after a suspected DRS issue. Red Bull had a disastrous session with issues for both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
‘Stuning Maiden Pole’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...-hungarian-gp/
Qualifying Results – 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
Budapest, Hungary
30th July 2022
by Emer Hedderman
1. George Russell Mercedes -1:17.377
2. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.044
3. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.190
4. Lando Norris McLaren +0.392
5. Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.641
6. Fernando Alonso Alpine +0.701
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.765
8. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +0.780
9. Daniel Ricciardo McLaren +1.002
10. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +1.446
Hungarian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for this weekend’s 2022 F1 World Championship race around the Hungaroring;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-79676
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix
30 July 2022
Becky Hart
Formula 1.
‘Qualifying: As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...3Js6TIp0h.html
Russell snatches pole as Red Bull collapses – 2022 Hungarian GP
July 30th 2022
Author James Elson
George Russell stunned the F1 field by taking a superb pole at the death in 2022 Hungarian GP qualifying. George Russell scored a shock debut pole for the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix as he stole a show which many thought would be lead by Ferrari and Red Bull.
Carlos Sainz had dominated Q3, but saw the Mercedes driver steal the top stop by 0.15sec at the death. Charles Leclerc was just behind his Ferrari team-mate, as Lando Norris impressed to claim fourth.
Red Bull had a torrid session – Sergio Perez was knocked out in Q2, whilst a power unit issue meant Verstappen will only start one place ahead of the Mexican in tenth.
‘Mercedes driver steal the top stop by 0.15sec’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...-hungarian-gp#
Mercedes take their first pole position of 2022 as Russell sets the pace in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying
30 July 2022
Formula 1.
George Russell took his maiden F1 pole position at the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix to keep the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc at bay, while Max Verstappen will start a provisional 10th having suffered a loss of power in Q3.
In Q3, Verstappen was left in despair by a loss of power, and with the Ferraris in provisional pole he could only watch his hopes of pole fade away. Russell however caused a huge shock to the Scuderia with a lap of 1m 17.377s that kept Carlos Sainz at bay by 0.044s, and Charles Leclerc third by almost two-tenths.
‘Huge shock to the Scuderia’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...TENjFUaU0.html
Russell grabs first F1 pole from Ferraris as car trouble leaves Verstappen tenth
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying
Posted on 30th July 2022, 16:2030th July 2022, 16:22
Written by Will Wood
George Russell secured his maiden career pole position in Formula 1 to deny a Ferrari one-two at the Hungaroring, while Max Verstappen fell to tenth on the grid.
Carlos Sainz Jnr had been on provisional pole position and had improved on his final lap at the chequered flag ahead of team mate Charles Leclerc, but Russell’s final effort was good enough to beat both Ferraris and take pole position by just four hundredths of a second, with Lando Norris taking fourth place on the grid.
A mistake on Verstappen’s first flying lap left him under pressure, but a loss of power on his final run left him unable to improve, leaving him stranded in tenth place.
‘Maiden Pole’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/30/...stappen-tenth/
F1 qualifying results: Starting grid for Hungarian Grand Prix 2022 as George Russell takes first career pole.
July 30, 2022 4:20 pm(Updated 4:21 pm)
By Joe Short
Russell described his flying lap as “mega” as the Mercedes driver came from nowhere to beat the Ferraris to pole position
George Russell prevented a Ferrari front row lock-out at the Hungarian Grand Prix with a remarkable flying lap at the end of qualifying to secure a first pole of his career.
The Brit stormed to pole with a fresh set of tyres to outpace both Ferraris. Carlos Sainz looked on course to claim on his second ever career pole before Russell popped up, while Drivers’ Championship hopeful Charles Leclerc had to make do with third.
‘The Brit stormed to pole’;
https://inews.co.uk/sport/formula-on...52?ITO=newsnow
Max Verstappen launches furious radio rant at Red Bull team after Hungary GP disaster
MAX VERSTAPPEN could only manage tenth in qualifying after suffering mechanical failures.
16:19, Sat, Jul 30, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth
He demanded his team “fixed” the issues with his car in an angry tirade despite his commanding positon in the championship. He said: “No for F***. Try to fix this issue.” Verstappen locked up on his first flying lap in Q3 which only put him seventh fastest.
However, the Dutchman then complained of a lack of power moments before starting his final qualifying lap. It means he was unable to go faster and dropped down to tenth as everyone else improved.
Red Bull suffered a double blow with Sergio Perez getting knocked out during the second part of qualifying. The Mexican had a confusing session with one of his flying laps deleted and then reinstated. However, it appeared Perez didn’t have the pace to challenge towards the front at any stage this afternoon.
‘’Furious Radio Rant Launched’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-grand-prix
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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff makes two jokes in response to George Russell's Hungary GP pole.
Toto Wolff jokingly asked his Mercedes colleagues to make a record of everything they did in the build-up to George Russell's stunning pole lap at the end of Q3 ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
16:49, Sat, Jul 30, 2022
By Archie Griggs
TOTO WOLFF was in a jovial mood after George Russell secured his maiden pole position at the Hungaroring on Saturday.
Russell left it until the dying seconds to pip Carlos Sainz with an incredible final run to get the Silver Arrows back on the front row of the grid for the very first time this season.
"First of all, I am glad that I am invited again here, you only take the winners so you opportunistic guys," said Wolff with a smile. "We just said we need to write down everything we did this morning, including the food and drinks we drank in order to replicate, so we will take it. We knew we wanted to play it easy until the summer break."
‘Replicate everything, including the food and drinks we drank’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...d-Prix-F1-news
Russell “should be able to win from that position” after taking first pole, says Hamilton
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
Posted on 30th July 2022, 17:33
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
Lewis Hamilton believes George Russell can take Mercedes’ first win of 2022 after claiming a surprise pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Russell pipped the Ferrari drivers by just 44 thousandths of a second to take the first pole of his Formula 1 career. Hamilton offered his “huge congratulations to George” after the session. “It’s an amazing feeling to get your first pole position,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans.
“It’s huge for us also as a team, we don’t know where our pace all of a sudden just came from,” he said. “It came from nowhere. That’s a huge positive.”
‘Surprise pole position, came from nowhere’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/30/...says-hamilton/
George Russell savours 'dream' Hungarian Grand Prix pole position for Mercedes and vows to win Sunday's race
Last Updated: 30/07/22 5:51pm
F1 SKY
George Russell secured his first ever pole position with Lewis Hamilton starting down in seventh; Watch the Hungarian GP live on Sky Sports F1 from 12.30pm on Sunday with lights out at 2pm
"This is what racing's about. This is why I wake up every single day," he told reporters. "I want to be world champion because feelings like this are something you can't really dream of. I don't think the feeling of this pole and the feeling of that Spa lap… I don't think I'll ever have qualifyings that will ever come close to these two feelings."
The result was particularly surprising as Mercedes had displayed no form earlier in the weekend, as Russell finished fifth and eighth in Friday's practice sessions before struggling for grip during Saturday's rain-soaked final practice.
‘Savouring the dream’;
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...n-sundays-race
Russell’s big chance, Red Bull’s recovery, and risk of rain – What To Watch For in the Hungarian GP
30 July 2022
Special contributor
Chris Medland
From a new name on pole position to a big chance for Ferrari, and from the Red Bulls far back to a threat of wet weather, we’ve picked out some of the key areas to keep an eye on when the lights go out at the Hungaroring...
1. Russell chasing his first win
2. Ferrari with a big chance
3. Red Bulls out of position
4. Norris in the mix
5. Plenty of weather watching
‘Hungarian GP Watch’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...r19NwsoM8.html
Wolff ‘wouldn’t discount F1 title’ if Russell wins Hungarian GP
30/07/2022
by Fergal Walsh
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admits that he wouldn’t rule Mercedes out of championship contention if George Russell wins Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Russell prevailed in qualifying from Budapest on Saturday, taking the maiden pole position of his career and Mercedes’ first of the 2022 campaign.
Mercedes has struggled for pace throughout much of the year compared to front-runners Red Bull and Ferrari, as it started the sport’s new era under fresh technical regulations on the back foot. However, minor improvements throughout the season has seen it take steps forward, with Saturday’s qualifying outing being the team’s best showing to date.
Although it has a sizeable gap to Max Verstappen and Red Bull in both championships, Wolff hasn’t ruled out a potential late-season challenge from Mercedes.
‘Wouldn’t Discount F1 Title’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...-hungarian-gp/
Russell’s Hungary pole thanks to “unconventional” approach by Mercedes
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
Posted on 30th July 2022, 19:13
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
The problems Mercedes have had extracting performance from their car have prompted them to try “unconventional” approaches which paid off with George Russell’s pole position in Hungary. Team principal Toto Wolff described how the team has been forced to depart from its ordinary development techniques in order to master its W13.
“This season we have done unconventional things,” he said. “I remember having a chat with a very clever lady in aerodynamics and she said ‘if you would have told me last year that we are putting a floor on the car that we haven’t drawn in the wind tunnel, I would have said we are never going to do this’. And we did and everybody was proud of the results.”
“[It’s] the same thing every weekend and more so yesterday and today, we’ve tried things,” said Wolff. “This is a data-based sport. But if you can’t rely on the data because they don’t correlate from the virtual world, from the tunnel, from CFD, from the simulations with what’s happening in real-time on the track, you’ve just got to try things and find correlations. Basically reverse-engineer correlation and this is what we’ve done today and had some positive results.”
‘Unconventional W13, requires the unconventional’;
https://www.racefans.net/2022/07/30/...h-by-mercedes/
Winners and losers from Hungarian GP qualifying
Date published: July 30 2022
Finley Crebolder
It was a Saturday full of shocks in Budapest, with George Russell surprising for the right reasons and Red Bull for the wrong ones in Hungarian GP qualifying… Here’s who we think were the big winners and losers from the day:
Winners
George Russell
Ferrari
Lando Norris
Losers
Red Bull
AlphaTauri
Sebastian Vettel
‘Saturday full of shocks in Budapest’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/hu...inners-losers/
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Leclerc rues Ferrari struggles despite Red Bull woe.
Charles Leclerc was left to bemoan another poor day for Ferrari despite the woe experienced by F1 title rival Max Verstappen.
Saturday 30 July 2022 20:45
Ewan Gale
A further source of frustration for Leclerc was his inability to capitalise on a difficult day for Red Bull as Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez start 10th and 11th respectively, with the former hit by power unit issues.
Asked if he could be happy given his rivals' struggles, Leclerc replied: "Mostly we are focusing on ourselves, so today has not been a great day. "I have been struggling massively with our tyres and had a lot of inconsistency to put our tyres in the right window with those conditions and I struggled to put a lap together.”
"We will look into it. I am pretty sure we have got the pace in the car to come back to the front tomorrow so we will focus on that and hopefully we will have a better Sunday. The pace is there so we just need to understand what went on with the tyres."
‘Ferrari struggles’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/88...c-ferrari-woe/
Leclerc experienced ‘weird’ change in Hungary Q3
Date published: July 30 2022
Henry Valantine
Charles Leclerc said his Ferrari felt “completely off” while gunning for pole in Q3 in Hungary on Saturday, experiencing a “weird” feeling with his tyres. Leclerc could not match team-mate Carlos Sainz in the final part of qualifying, coming in a tenth behind the Spaniard in what looked to be shaping up as an all-Ferrari front row.
But while Leclerc remains confident about the performance of his F1-75, he said talks will need to be had to understand the issue he faced in qualifying. “I think it’s good,” he said of his race pace. “We need to focus on ourselves, do a good start tomorrow and then I believe the performance will be good.”
“Today on my side in Q3 for some reason there was something very weird with the tyres and we need to analyse that because it was just feeling completely off compared to before. So, we’ll try and look at it and understand what went wrong, but for the race pace, I’m confident.”
‘Weird change in Hungary Q3’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/charle...eling-hungary/
Leclerc 'struggled massively' with tyres in qualifying
30/07/2022 at 18:02
Andrew Lewin
“Today has not been a great day,” said Leclerc, who is still rebuilding his confidence after crashing out while leading the French Grand Prix a week ago.
"I struggled to put a lap together." he admitted. “I’ve been struggling massively with the tyres and just had a lot of inconsistency to put the tyres in the right window with those conditions."
“The pace is there,” he insisted. “We just need to understand what went on with the tyres today and I’m pretty sure we can come back tomorrow. We will look into it," he said. "But I’m pretty sure I’ve got the pace in the car to come back a bit more tomorrow, so we will focus on that and hopefully we will have a better Sunday."
'Struggled Massively with Tyres’;
https://f1i.com/news/449965-leclerc-...ualifying.html
Charles Leclerc: 'Something felt off' during Q3 in Hungary
30 Jul 2022
Formula 1.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc explains how be stuggled with "extremely inconsistent" grip on his way to a P3 finish in Saturday qualifying at the 2022 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring.
‘Something Felt Off’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...170127978.html
Carlos Sainz Jr.: “I feel I could have done a better lap on the final attempt”
July 30, 2022
By Paul Hensby
Carlos Sainz has explained where he missed out on pole position to George Russell in the final moments of qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Sainz had initially looked to be on course to secure P1 on the grid, with teammate Charles Leclerc unable to match his time.
"[I'm] feeling better and better every race and every qualifying session," Sainz said after qualifying. "Today, I felt like I had the pace to do a pole position. It went away from us there in the last sector with a few snaps through the lap.”
Despite losing out on pole, Sainz feels Ferrari have a strong chance of a big result on Sunday at the Hungaroring, with the pace of his F1-75 appearing fast throughout the weekend, and this coupled with the fact the two Oracle Red Bull Racing drivers will start tenth and eleventh.
‘Could have done a better Final Lap’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...final-attempt/
Sainz explains where he missed out on pole to Russell
30/07/2022, 17:00
Author Anna Francis
Carlos Sainz looked to be on course to secure pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but missed out to George Russell. The Ferrari driver still hopes to be able to pose a challenge from P2 on the grid.
Carlos Sainz has explained where he missed out on pole position to George Russell in the final moments of qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Sainz had initially looked to be on course to secure P1 on the grid, with teammate Charles Leclerc unable to match his time.
However, it was Russell who caused a surprise by taking his debut pole in Formula 1, pushing Sainz down to P2. Despite this, Sainz admits that he has been feeling more comfortable with the Ferrari throughout the weekend at the Hungaroring.
https://racingnews365.com/sainz-expl...ole-to-russell
Sainz: We’ll definitely go for it in the race
30 July, 2022
Jad Mallak
Carlos Sainz missed out on his second pole in Formula 1 by the slightest of margins, but vows to be on the attack on Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
“I’m not very happy with the final result as I feel I could have done a better lap on the final attempt,” Sainz admitted in Ferrari’s media brief.”
“However, I prefer to focus on the positives: we are in a good position for tomorrow, I’ve been comfortable in the car all weekend and we keep making steps in the right direction. I’m confident we can carry the good pace of Friday into the race, so we’ll definitely go for it.”
‘Going For It’;
https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/07...t-in-the-race/
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Red Bull provide update on Verstappen's qualifying issues.
Helmut Marko has given further reaction from the Red Bull camp after Max Verstappen's engine problems in qualifying at the Hungaroring.
30/07/2022, 18:40
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Helmut Marko has expressed his frustration at Max Verstappen encountering technical trouble at one of the "worst circuits" on the F1 calendar for overtaking. Verstappen could only manage 10th during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix after an engine problem left him without a representative lap time in Q3.
"We were very optimistic after Q2," Marko told Austrian broadcaster ORF, with Verstappen showing solid pace up to Q3. But on the first run Verstappen [locked up] on his out-lap and his front tyres were damaged, and on his second attempt he struggled with an engine problem."
Marko is confident that Verstappen's engine will be in working order for the race, but rued the timing of the issue. "This is perhaps the worst circuit where this can happen, apart from Monaco or Singapore," he summed up.
‘Engine Problems in Qualifying’;
https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-p...lifying-issues
Engine parts change for Verstappen in Hungary
JULY 31, 2022, 07:07
ANDREW MAITLAND
Grandpx.news
Red Bull may need to change parts on Max Verstappen’s power unit ahead of the Hungarian GP on Sunday. “It was a mechanical problem,” said Dr Helmut Marko, after Verstappen qualified just tenth at the circuit near Budapest on Saturday.
“In his second run he didn’t have the full engine power at his disposal,” he explained. “We think we know what it is. The exchange of this part is possible without penalty. But a result like this here or in Singapore or Monte Carlo is exactly where you don’t want it.”
Marko said of Verstappen’s prospects: “I think a podium is unrealistic.”
‘Engine Parts Change’;
https://grandpx.news/engine-parts-ch...en-in-hungary/
Horner predicts Verstappen's qualifying position without power issue
30/07/2022, 21:00
Author Luke Murphy
Christian Horner has given his verdict on where Max Verstappen could have qualified in Hungary had he not experienced a power loss issue in qualifying. Christian Horner believes that without Q3 technical issues Max Verstappen would have had a chance of a front row grid position at the Hungaroring. The Red Bull driver was unable to set a final flying lap in Q3 after encountering a power loss problem. Following an error on his earlier Q3 effort, the late technical issue meant Verstappen finished the qualifying hour in P10.
"It was very frustrating to lose Checo in Q2; he got a bit of traffic into Turn 2," Horner told Sky Sports F1. "Max felt a lot more comfortable with the balance of the car today and I think we were in with a shot of pole, but a lock-up on the first run into Turn 2 immediately put us on the backfoot.”
"We still felt confident that we could have a crack at it but unfortunately he had a power unit-related issue on his out-lap. We were obviously trying to reset sensors and so on to try and cure it and clear it but unfortunately, it wasn't to be, so no representative time for Max in Q3."
‘Christian Horner: Frustration and Technical Issues’;
https://racingnews365.com/horner-pre...ut-power-issue
Perez ‘couldn’t recover’ lost ground after K-Mag blockage
Date published: July 30 2022
Henry Valantine
Sergio Perez has said being slowed down by coming up behind Kevin Magnussen in Q2 left him with too much ground to make up towards the end of his lap. The Red Bull driver had already been under pressure in the session after his first attempt was struck off for supposedly breaching track limits at Turn 5. This lap was later reinstated by the stewards however, in the first decision reversal of its kind this season, but Perez’s time was still around eight tenths behind the leaders.
He had one lap to make his way through to Q3 at that point, but he could not improve and lost out, eventually qualifying P11 for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Perez owes this to having to take evasive action behind the Haas of Kevin Magnussen heading down to Turn 2, having to take a compromising line which hampered his potential for the rest of the lap.
Perez told Sky F1 after qualifying: “It was very unfortunate because I lost a few tenths, I missed out on Q3 by a few hundredths and then going into Turn 2 I lost a lot with Kevin, a few tenths. “I just had to go very deep on the corner, and I couldn’t recover afterwards.” When asked if he would take matters up with the stewards, he added: “It will not change anything for me. Hopefully we are able to come back strong tomorrow.”
Couldn’t Recover Lost Ground’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...ngary-q2-pace/
Perez ‘too far away’ from Verstappen – Marko
JULY 31, 2022, 07:07
ANDREW MAITLAND
Grandpx.news
He already has a new two-year deal through 2024, but Sergio Perez has not escaped a back-to-back rebuke by Red Bull’s top official Dr Helmut Marko. “He is too far away from Max at the moment,” the 79-year-old said in Hungary.
That rebuke was just a week after Mexican Perez was also chided by Marko for the manner in which he got back up to speed at the restart at Paul Ricard. “It’s very unfortunate that Checo was asleep,” Marko told Servus TV. “A certain third place was lost there. Maybe he was drinking too much tequila last night.”
Perez, meanwhile, did not even make Q3 in the sister car. “It was a difficult situation in all the practice sessions too, so we have to sit down together,” Marko told Sky Deutschland. “The summer break hasn’t started yet, but Perez already seems to be on holiday. We need to talk to him and he should continue to use Max’s setup.”
‘Dr Helmut Marko, I presume!’;
https://grandpx.news/perez-too-far-a...stappen-marko/
Horner explains Red Bull’s bad day at the office
Date published: July 30 2022
Jamie Woodhouse
Red Bull principal Christian Horner reeled off the issues that made qualifying day in Hungary one to forget for his team. But nonetheless, Horner prefers that these issues came on Saturday as they now look to “give it everything” in the race in a bid to undo the damage.
Heading into the weekend, Red Bull had talked up rivals Ferrari, expecting to face a stern test if they were to challenge the Scuderia. However, lining up P10 and P11 in Hungary was certainly not what Red Bull had in mind.
Sergio Perez would drop out in Q2, Horner explaining that traffic had hampered the Mexican racer, while Max Verstappen then encountered a loss of power in Q3 which leaves him P10 on the grid.
‘Bad Day at the Office’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/christ...d-day-hungary/
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Verstappen wins Hungarian Grand Prix from 10th on the grid.
Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen won the Hungarian Grand Prix for Red Bull from 10th on the starting grid on Sunday as Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc suffered another strategy nightmare.
31/07/2022, 15:51
The Age
Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton finished second for Mercedes with teammate George Russell, who started on pole position for the first time, taking third place in a repeat of the previous race in France.
‘P1 from P10’;
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/moto...01-p5b63p.html
Race Results – 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
Budapest, Hungary
31st July 2022
by Emer Hedderman
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -70 laps
2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +7.834
3. George Russell Mercedes +12.337
4. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +14.579
5. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +15.688
6. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +16.047
7. Lando Norris McLaren +78.300
8. Fernando Alonso Alpine +1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon Alpine +1 lap
10. Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin +1 lap
Hungarian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2022 F1 World Championship race around the Hungaroring;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-79738
RACE: FORMULA 1 ARAMCO MAGYAR NAGYDÍJ 2022
Becky Hart
Formula 1.
OVERVIEW:
Round 13 of the 2022 season comes from the Hungaroring, Hungary
It's the final race before the traditional summer break
George Russell starts on pole for Mercedes
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are second and third
Max Verstappen starts 10th after suffering power issues in qualifying
‘Hungarian Grand Prix, as it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live-...tml#lap-by-lap
Verstappen charges to victory in action-packed Hungarian GP
31/07/2022, 15:44
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to victory in the Hungarian Grand Prix, with title rival Charles Leclerc back in sixth position.
Max Verstappen extended his lead in the 2022 F1 standings with victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, after Charles Leclerc's chances were undone by a mid-race strategy call.
Verstappen started the race back in 10th position after technical issues in qualifying but he expertly worked his way through the field to put himself in contention for the win. An undercut at his second pit-stop helped Verstappen get ahead of both pole-sitter George Russell and Leclerc, with a subsequent spin only briefly halting his charge.
‘Charging to Victory’;
https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...d-hungarian-gp
Verstappen wins Hungarian GP as Leclerc suffers further
by Fergal Walsh
31/07/2022, 15:55
by Fergal Walsh
Motorsport Week
Max Verstappen has taken his eighth grand prix win of the 2022 Formula 1 season, as the Red Bull driver prevailed at the Hungaroring. Verstappen started the race from 10th on the grid after enduring Power Unit issues during qualifying on Saturday.
The reigning World Champion progressed through the lower end of the top 10 runners in the opening laps, before he was able to overtake the Mercedes drivers through the pit stop phases of the race. Verstappen soon found himself running behind race-leader Charles Leclerc, who moved ahead of pole-sitter George Russell earlier in the grand prix.
The Red Bull driver managed to move in front of Leclerc, but soon dropped behind again after he spun at the penultimate corner. However, it didn’t undo Verstappen’s race, as he soon recomposed himself and progressed ahead of Leclerc once more.
‘Verstappen wins, Leclerc suffers further’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...ffers-further/
Max Verstappen wins from 10th as Ferrari wobbles again: Hungarian GP as it happened
July 31st 2022
Author Dominic Tobin
Max Verstappen won the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix after starting tenth on the grid to take a huge 80-point championship lead heading into the summer break. The Red Bull driver was followed home by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, who claimed a double podium for Mercedes after Russell started on pole.
But yet again, there were more questions over Ferrari’s strategy for Charles Leclerc who was leading at one point, but finished sixth. He dropped out of contention when Ferrari fitted him with hard tyres — which other drivers were struggling with — and he dropped down the running order, as his rivals avoided the troublesome compound.
It was an unpredictable race as Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull all looked capable of winning at some stage, and the threat of rain also loomed overhead. But Max Verstappen’s pace made the difference, despite one error in the race where he spun. Lando Norris finished seventh, followed by both Alpines, whose race was also hampered by using the hard tyres. The final point went to Sebastian Vettel on the weekend he announced his retirement.
‘Max win from P10, Ferrari Wobbles’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...as-it-happened
Verstappen fights through field to win Hungarian GP from tenth
31 Jul 2022, 16:50
By Steven De Groote
Strategy played an essential part in today's race but Max Verstappen and Red Bull mastered it all perfectly to come through the field and win the Hungarian Grand Prix after disappointment in qualifying. Hamilton and Russell secured the second consecutive double podium for Mercedes.
On lap 38 Verstappen became the first to pit, changing to new mediums. Leclerc and Russell reacted to do the same the next lap as Verstappen had immediately set two purple sectors. The quick out-lap of Verstappen saw Russell rejoin behind Verstappen. Leclerc though was put on hard tyres and soon found out the trouble with that compound. Verstappen got let past by Perez quickly and Leclerc was a sitting duck with cold tyres and nobody ahead of him with DRS.
One lap later Verstappen spun in the penultimate corner and saw Leclerc breeze past yet again. Perez then hesitated to pass his teammate who was getting back up to speed, enabling Russell to get past Perez for 5th place. Verstappen quickly rejoined Leclerc to fight for third place and got past the Ferrari in lap 44. Hamilton pitted on lap 50 to switch to softs, gifting the lead to Verstappen as Russell passed Leclerc on the main straight to take second place. The pace was such that Leclerc was pitted again on lap 54 to complete the remaining 16 laps on soft. Leclerc therefore dropped to 6th place, 7s behind the medium-shod Perez.
‘Max Verstappen and Red Bull mastered the Strategy’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/23799
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Ferrari branded ‘Screwderia’ as strategy blunder hands Max Verstappen Hungarian GP win.
“Congrats to Max on the second title. Ferrari are a clown show,” tweeted one fan while another added: “It’s Screwderia Ferrari.”
16:13, 31 JUL 2022
BY Mark Whiley
Max Verstappen took advantage of yet another Ferrari strategy blunder to rise from 10th on the grid to win the Hungarian Grand Prix. Ferrari threw away another probable victory with a poor strategy call which allowed Max Verstappen to take victory in Budapest and extend his already huge championship lead
Charles Leclerc looked on course for victory at the Hungaroring after overtaking teammate Carlos Sainz in the pits and the Mercedes of pole-sitter George Russell on track. However, Ferrari opted to use the preferred medium tyres in the first two stints, meaning he had to use another compound for his third stint. Despite seeing other drivers struggle on the hard tyre, it was still the rubber Ferrari opted to fit – and the result was disastrous.
In cold conditions, Leclerc couldn’t get the tyres up to temperature, allowing Verstappen to overtake him. Leclerc was gifted the lead back soon after when Verstappen had a minor spin but the Dutchman recovered and passed his rival again. At one stage, Leclerc yelled at his time over the radio for their tyre decision while Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle described the white-marked rubber as “concrete tyres”.
‘Screwderia Ferrari’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...an-gp-27621585
‘It was a disaster’ – Leclerc ‘very disappointed’ with P6 finish in Budapest as he singles out what cost him victory chance.
Leclerc blamed a decision to switch to the hard tyres for seeing him plummet down the order and come home P6 at the flag.
31 July 2022
Formula 1.
Charles Leclerc was sitting pretty midway through the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver looking well-placed to take a key victory heading into the summer break.
But a second stop, and a switch to the hard tyre, appeared to undo all of Leclerc’s hard work, as he struggled to warm up the white-walled rubber, the Monegasque damning the tyres as “s***” before falling behind eventual winner Max Verstappen and down the order – a late switch to softs seeing him emerge in the P6 position he’d eventually finish in, as Sainz also lost out to the Mercedes pair to finish fourth.
“I’m very, very disappointed obviously,” said Leclerc, who started on the mediums along with Sainz, as Russell took softs. “The pace was really good on the medium tyres, the second stint also [on mediums] everything was under control and then we decided to stop on the hards. I don’t exactly know what are the reasons behind this decision yet, but we’ll speak with the team for me to understand, but clearly it wasn’t the right decision. And I made it clear that I felt good on the medium, so I don’t exactly know what happened.”
‘Disaster’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...hh94C488r.html
Charles Leclerc puzzled by Ferrari strategy - 'I lost the race on the hards'
31/07/2022, 16:32
Sky Sports
Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari's decision to put him on the hard tyres was a disaster.
‘Disaster’;
https://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...was-a-disaster
Leclerc baffled by Ferrari hard tyre choice: 'It lost us the race!'
31/07/2022 at 17:21
Phillip van Osten
Charles Leclerc says he was puzzled by Ferrari's decision to put him on the hard tyre for his third stint in the Hungarian GP, a move that he reckoned lost him a win.
But the team's decision to bolt on a set of hards – a compound that had not proven effective on the Alpine's of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso earlier in the race – left many, including Leclerc, scratching their heads.
The Ferrari charger's pace painfully subsided, his position in the pecking order falling all the way to P5 which encouraged Ferrari to bring in Leclerc for a set of softs, which put the final nail in the Mongasque's coffin.
‘Coffin’s Final Nail’;
https://f1i.com/news/450126-leclerc-...-the-race.html
Charles Leclerc calls Ferrari strategy 'a disaster' after dropping from first to sixth at Hungarian Grand Prix
Leclerc said "everything was under control" on medium tyres, but a poor Ferrari strategy call saw him drop through the field; Johnny Herbert described the latest failure as "embarrassing"; Carlos Sainz also reflected on a bad day after two slow pit stops
Last Updated: 31/07/22 5:29pm
SKY
Charles Leclerc described Ferrari's decision to put him on hard tyres at the Hungarian Grand Prix as "a disaster" as he surrendered the lead of the race and eventually finished sixth.
"Everything was under control and for some reason, I don't know why, we went on the hards.”
"I said on the radio I was comfortable on the medium and I wanted to go as long as possible on those tyres because the feeling was good. I don't know why we took a different decision.”
‘Everything was under control and… …Disaster!’;
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...ian-grand-prix
Binotto: Ferrari 'didn't have pace' to win in Hungary, regardless of strategy error
Published: 31 Jul 2022, 17:57
By George Dagless
Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto has said that the car was not quick enough to win, regardless of the team’s botched strategy involving Charles Leclerc.
“Today the car was not performing the way we were expecting it to, and that was the issue more than the strategy. Carlos’ strategy was the same as Hamilton’s and it didn’t work either,” Binotto said to Sky Italy.
“The performance of the car did not give us the freedom to do what we wanted and we were forced on the defensive. The pace was different from what we saw on Friday, we were not fast enough in the race today in these conditions. Something did not work on the car.”
‘Performance Lacking’;
https://www.givemesport.com/88041570...strategy-error
Wolff: Ferrari lost the race in free practice
Date published: July 31 2022
Jamie Woodhouse
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Ferrari hamstrung themselves by not keeping a new set of medium tyres available for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Asked by Sky Sports F1 if Mercedes had been left scratching their heads when Ferrari put Leclerc onto the hard tyres, Wolff replied: “I think they had no option. They had only hard and soft left and for the soft it was too early. So only the hard.”
“I think the mistake happened Friday, or Saturday, not to carry over a new medium.”
‘Ferrari Hamstrung’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...hungary-tyres/
