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Perez claims he was blocked before being penalised for track limits as he lost out on front row to end up P15.
Sergio Perez saw three lap times deleted in Q2 for track limits infractions that meant he ended up down in 15th – but he insisted his last issue only happened because he was blocked on track and was forced to run wide.
30 Jun 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Three lap times deleted in Q2’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...047968068.html
Christian Horner brutally honest about Sergio Perez after Austrian GP qualifying shocker
Perez became the first Red Bull driver in 15 years to fail to qualifying in the top 10 for four race weekends in a row, leaving his team principal Horner visibly annoyed
18:27, 30 Jun 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
Christian Horner could not mask his frustration as he spoke bluntly about Sergio Perez's later qualifying shocker. And that left Horner visibly annoyed as he spoke to Sky Sports after the session. "He's got the pace today and had a car that was easily capable of being on the first or second row," said the team principal.
"He was matching Max's times... stay in the white lines! Strike one, strike two, 'Checo, just stay in the white lines'. Then strike three and he was out. So it's hugely frustrating because he could have been there and he could have done it."
Sky's Damon Hill pointed out that Verstappen had two laps deleted for track limits violations himself. But, as Horner pointed out in response, the Dutchman's reaction was to bear it in mind and make sure he got a time on the board afterwards.
‘Brutally honest’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...dbull-30364108
Perez: Q2 exit shows F1's track limits system is "wrong"
18:57 Fri, 30 Jun 2023.
By: Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
Sergio Perez thinks the track limits system in Formula 1 is "wrong" after he had three laps deleted for running wide in qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver failed to make it into Q3 at the Red Bull Ring after failing to set a clean lap during the session.
And while being clearly outside the white lines in the first two runs, Perez thinks it's unfair that he was also penalised on his final effort when he felt he had been disturbed by the Williams of Alex Albon. "There's so many things I can control and unfortunately, with this one, you're closing a good lap and then all of a sudden you are blocked, and you have a penalty," he said. "I think the system is wrong. It is just frustrating that we don't have a good system and we are not able to consider when these things happen."
Perez was aware that everything hung on the final run but reckoned it was all under control until traffic got in his way. "I was on a good lap," he said. "But then all of a sudden on my final lap, I found I think Albon, and I just went straight. I could not stop. I think I lost a 10th or a bit more than that just by going straight, but the stewards wouldn't consider that I was blocked."
‘Track limits system in Formula 1 is "wrong"’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/p...rong/10489658/
Perez should have “easily” been on the front row of the grid – Horner
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 30th June 2023, 19:24
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner made clear his displeasure at Sergio Perez’s failure to join his team mate on the front row of the grid at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. “He’s got the pace today,” Horner told Sky. “He’s got a car that was easily capable of being on the first or second row, he was matching Max’s times – stay in the white lines. It was strike one, strike two – ‘Checo, just stay in the white lines’, strike three – and that was it.”
“It’s hugely frustrating because the frustrating thing is we know he can do it,” said Horner. “He did a [one minute] 4.9 on that lap, he was three hundredths off Max. He could have been four tenths slower and still been in. In Q2, that’s not the time to be doing it. So that was the frustrating thing because he could have done it today.”
Perez blamed Alexander Albon for getting in his way at turn 10 on his last effort to claim a place in Q3. “It’s not going to have helped” said Horner, “but then you build in a little bit more margin.” “So Checo’s frustrated, we’ll turn the page, he’ll race hard tomorrow, but it’s just annoying because we know he could have been there,” Horner added.
‘Checo’s frustrated, we’ll turn the page’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/06/30/...e-grid-horner/
Christian Horner says Sergio Perez still has Red Bull's full support
21:34 Fri, 30 Jun 2023.
The Straits Times
SPIELBERG, Austria - Red Bull boss Christian Horner said Sergio Perez still had the team’s full support despite failing to qualify in the top 10 for the fourth race in a row on Friday while team mate Max Verstappen again secured pole position.
The Mexican had three quick laps deleted for failing to stay within the lines and will start 15th in Sunday’s Austrian Formula One Grand Prix at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring. “Everybody’s fully behind (Perez),” Horner told Sky Sports in response to speculation about possible driver changes. Any talk of replacing Checo is wide of the mark.”
‘Red Bull's full support’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...s-full-support
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Verstappen leads all-Red Bull front row for Austria sprint race.
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix ahead of team mate Sergio Perez in second and Lando Norris third.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix sprint race qualifying
Posted on 1st July 2023, 12:01
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
The pole winner for Sunday’s grand prix took pole for Saturday’s sprint race by almost half a second, while Norris was less than a tenth of a second slower than Perez in third. Nico Hulkenberg was a surprise fourth for Haas, but is under investigation for an unsafe release from the pit lane. Both Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will start the sprint race well down the order, in 15th and 18th, respectively.
Verstappen switched to his second set of fresh soft tyres and managed to shave even more time off his previous best, lowering it to a 1’04.440. Perez improved on his final lap to move ahead of Norris and secure an all-Red Bull front row for the sprint race, while Hulkenberg ended the session in fourth place behind Norris but ahead of the two Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc.
The two Aston Martins of Alonso and Lance Stroll will start seventh and eighth, with Esteban Ocon ninth and Kevin Magnussen completing the top ten in the second Haas.
‘All-Red Bull front row’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/01/...a-sprint-race/
Sprint Shootout – 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
1st July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
Q3
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:04.440
2. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.493
3. Lando Norris McLaren +0.570
4. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +0.644
5. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.696
6. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.805
7. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.818
8. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.907
9. Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.926
10. Kevin Magnussen Haas +1.472
‘Austrian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the Shootout to set the grid for today’s 2023 F1 World Championship Sprint at the Red Bull Ring’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/sprint-sho...and-prix-82504
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the Sprint Shootout in Austria
01 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...tKNqkxfh9.html
2023 F1 Austrian Grand Prix - Sprint - LIVE UPDATES!
1st July 2023, 10:35
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES!;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/2023-f...t-live-updates
Lewis Hamilton comments may anger F1 bosses after Mercedes' Austrian Grand Prix stinker
Mercedes has a sprint qualifying to forget on Saturday with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both left frustrated.
12:20, Sat, Jul 1, 2023
By Charlie Gordon
Daily and Sunday Express
Ending up a dismal P18, where he will start the sprint race later on Saturday, Hamilton pulled no punches when asked about his disappointing result. "The timing wasn't right," he told Sky Sports. "The sprint race doesn't really matter anyway. I'll just have some fun from the back. It is what it is. I don't really feel anything about it.
"I wish I was still out there but not today. There's nothing really to say, we'll focus on our job today. We could easily have been much further up there but I'll just have some fun at the back."
Stating that the sprint race 'does not really matter' is unlikely to sit well with senior F1 figures, considering Austria is hosting only the second sprint weekend of the 2023 season following their increased use of the format.
'Does not really matter';
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-grand-prix
Verstappen prevails in Austrian GP Sprint Shootout
01/07/2023 at 12:00
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Max Verstappen topped qualifying for this afternoon's Sprint at the Red Bull Ring, the Red Bull driver edging in the frantic session teammate Sergio Perez and McLaren's Lando Norris
Haas' performance was noteworthy, with the US outfit placing both its driver among the top ten, with Nico Hulkenberg clocking in an impressive fourth at the end of SQ3.
There were worries in the Ferrari camp at the outset when Sainz reported a brake by wire failure, the Spaniard compelled to pit.
‘Verstappen prevails’;
https://f1i.com/news/479014-verstapp...-shootout.html
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Max Verstappen wins eventful Austrian Grand Prix sprint after Sergio Perez left furious.
A thrilling scrap for the lead took shape just seconds after the start of the race, with Perez diving down the inside of Verstappen after getting a better jump off the line. The Dutchman managed to regain the advantage shortly afterwards, though, before Hulkenberg took full advantage of the situation by passing Perez for second place.
16:04, Sat, Jul 1, 2023
By Archie Griggs
Daily and Sunday Express
Max Verstappen cruised to a straightforward victory in the sprint event at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday despite being given an early scare by Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez. The reigning champion was made to work hard to retain his advantage on the opening lap after he was overtaken by his Mexican colleague, who briefly led but was unable to keep Verstappen at bay for too long.
The Red Bull duo appeared to leave each other frustrated as a result of the heavy-handed tactics used in their short-lived battle, with Verstappen saying via team radio: "He pushed me off man, what the f***." Perez was also unhappy after Verstappen braked late into Turn Three while racing wheel-to-wheel and asked his race engineer: "What's wrong with Max?"
‘Eventful Austrian Grand Prix sprint’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-Perez-F1-news
Sprint Results – 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
1st July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing – 24 laps
2. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +21.048
3. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +23.088
4. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +29.703
5. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +30.109
6. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +31.297
7. Esteban Ocon Alpine +36.602
8. George Russell Mercedes +36.611
9. Lando Norris McLaren +38.608
10. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +46.375
‘Austrian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship Sprint, the second of the year, from a damp Red Bull Ring’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/sprint-res...and-prix-82521
SPRINT: FORMULA 1 ROLEX GROSSER PREIS VON ÖSTERREICH 2023
01 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live-...tml#lap-by-lap
2023 Austrian GP Sprint: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in thrilling battle for the lead at the start
01 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Pole-sitter Max Verstappen lost his lead into Turn 1 to team mate Sergio Perez on the Sprint start in Austria, before battling back past his fellow Red Bull driver to lead in the wet, as Nico Hulkenberg grabs P2.
‘Thrilling battle for the lead at the start’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...745698010.html
Verstappen leads Red Bull 1-2 in wet Sprint
1st July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
As the race started Perez initially got the better of his teammate but things got a little messy at T2, Verstappen getting back through while Perez fell into the clutches of Hulkenberg with the Haas taking P2 at the next corner. Things also went wrong for Norris at T2, he got caught behind the Red Bulls and seemed to go into anti-stall which left him a sitting duck and he got swamped, falling down to P10.
While Verstappen pulled ahead at the front, Perez remained on the back of Hulkenberg but with no DRS available it made things harder for the Mexican to make it past the Haas. Perez finally got the better of Hulkenberg on lap 12, just as Sainz had closed up to the pair to join the fight.
In the end Verstappen took the chequered flag 21 seconds ahead of Perez while Sainz took P3. Lance Stroll came home just ahead of Alonso to give Aston Martin P4 and P5 while Hulkenberg was the highest placed of those who changed tyres and took P6 for Haas.
‘Verstappen leads Red Bull 1-2’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen...t-sprint-82525
Max Verstappen demands Red Bull talks and confronts Sergio Perez after Austrian GP sprint
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez almost came together on the opening lap of an exciting Austrian Grand Prix sprint.
16:14, Sat, Jul 1, 2023
By Charlie Gordon
Daily and Sunday Express
Max Verstappen wasted no time in calling for talks after winning the Austrian Grand Prix sprint on Saturday. A near miss involving his Red Bull team-mate, Sergio Perez, had both drivers venting over the team radio before going on to dominate the contest.
‘Max Verstappen wasted no time in calling for talks’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...nd-prix-sprint
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With Perez out of way, Ferrari are “ready to attack” Verstappen in Austria.
When the results of Saturday’s sprint race set the grid for Sunday’s grand prix, it would effectively form the first 100km of a 400km two-part race. That meant that drivers, teams and fans all had a fairly solid idea as to how the rest of the race would play out, having seen who looked strong and not so strong in race conditions.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix pre-race analysis
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 0:01
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
With the revised format for 2023, where the sprint race is set by its own qualifying session and has no bearing on the starting order for the grand prix, there are far fewer concrete conclusions that can be drawn from what happens on Saturday. And when it rains, as it did at the Red Bull Ring, there is even less that can be drawn from the first race of the weekend.
One conclusion which can be drawn – which no one needed a sprint race to discover – is that Max Verstappen and Red Bull are going to be very tough to beat yet again. Once Verstappen reclaimed the lead from team mate Sergio Perez on the opening lap, he quickly re-established his dominance over him and everyone else.
“Ready to attack”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...en-in-austria/
The Ferrari threat to Verstappen and Norris in the mix – What To Watch For in the Austrian GP
01 July 2023
Chris Medland
Special Contributor
Formula One - Official Site
From Ferrari putting the pressure on Verstappen to Lando Norris excelling in Austria again, and from Sergio Perez needing another fightback drive to question marks over what the race conditions will be, we highlight some key areas to look out for when the lights go out at the Red Bull Ring… 1. A Ferrari threat to Verstappen. Max Verstappen continued his dominant run of form with a fourth consecutive pole position on Friday, but his biggest challenge comes from a team that were also strong at the previous Sprint event in Azerbaijan.
2. Norris in the mix at his strongest track. There just seems to be something about Lando Norris and the Red Bull Ring, with the McLaren driver once again excelling in Austria this weekend. 3. Perez and Russell out of position. And Norris’ cause is helped by two drivers who could have been threats starting so far out of position.
4. Albon chasing more points. While the likes of Ferrari and McLaren were hoping for stronger performances in Austria, the same can’t be said of Williams despite Alex Albon’s stunning result in Canada. That was a circuit that really suited the FW45, and the update that Albon had was boosted by a fresh power unit to try and take advantage.
‘5. Unknown weather and strategies’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...rafFoKDtd.html
Power unit: Ferrari-powered cars to receive plenty of fresh elements
01 Jul 2023, 23:00
By Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Several Ferrari-powered cars will complete tomorrow’s Austrian Grand Prix with a host of fresh power unit components while reigning world champion Max Verstappen has also started using his second and last control electronics on home turf for his team. F1Technical's senior writer Balázs Szabó reports on the engine situation from the Red Bull Ring paddock.
The current generation of F1 power units features seven different elements: the internal combustion engine (ICE), motor generator unit-heat (MGU-H), motor generator unit-kinetic (MGU-K), turbocharger, energy store (ES), control electronics (CE) and exhaust. Over the course of the 2023 season, a driver may use no more than four ICEs, MGU-Hs, MGU-Ks and turbochargers, two energy stores and control electronics, and eight of each of the four elements that make up a set of exhaust systems.
All four drivers racing for the customer Ferrari teams, Alfa Romeo and Haas received fresh internal combustion engines for the Austrian Grand Prix. Interestingly, it will be only the third new engine for Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg despite Ferrari’s reliability issues in the earlier part of the 2023 F1 season.
‘Power Unit’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/24063
Leclerc wants to know why he’s “struggling like crazy” in mixed conditions
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 8:142nd July 2023, 0:23
Written by Will Wood and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari must figure out why he struggles in changeable conditions after he lost three places during the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race. A three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri in sprint race qualifying left Leclerc ninth on the grid. In the race, which started on a damp track but finished with conditions dry enough for slick tyres, he fell back further, finishing 12th.
It was the third consecutive weekend in which Leclerc had been left frustrated by a result from a competitive session in changeable conditions. In Spain, he was eliminated in Q1 after lacking pace on a damp track, then he failed to reach Q3 in Canada after he was again eliminated on a drying track.
Asked by RaceFans after the sprint race how he would describe his afternoon, Leclerc said: “eventful, but slow.” “At the moment, I’m struggling like crazy whenever it’s half-dry, half-wet, with slicks,” he said. “I’m just completely off the pace. So we need to understand, because now it’s three races in a row that we find ourselves in those conditions and I keep struggling.”
“Struggling like crazy”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...ed-conditions/
Austrian GP Sprint Race Recap: Thrills, Overtakes, and Surprises at the Red Bull Ring!
July 1, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
In an intense battle for track position and grip at the start of the Austrian GP Sprint race, the top three drivers all encountered difficulties at the start of the Sprint race.
Nico Hulkenberg seized the opportunity and secure second place for Haas. However, the real drama unfolded when Max Verstappen forcefully pushed Sergio Perez wide off the track, hinting at tensions between the Red Bull teammates since their team order dispute in Brazil last year.
Verstappen managed to break away comfortably, with Hulkenberg maintaining second position while fending off Perez’s initial advances with similar lap times. It wasn’t until lap 12 that Perez managed to reclaim second place, followed by Carlos Sainz at Turn 3 on the subsequent lap as Hulkenberg struggled with traction on the drying circuit.
‘Thrills, Overtakes, and Surprises’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/austrian-g...red-bull-ring/
“All good” between Verstappen and Perez after chat over first-lap near-misses
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 9:132nd July 2023, 0:24
Written by Keith Collantine
The Red Bull team mates say they cleared the air with each other following a series of close calls between the pair on the first lap of the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez complained about each other’s moves after the start of yesterday’s first race at the Red Bull Ring.
“He pushed me off, man, what the fuck?” fumed Verstappen when Perez edged him onto the grass at the exit of turn one after taking the lead from the pole-winner at the start. Verstappen reclaimed the place at the next corner, repaying the favour to Perez by forcing him onto the asphalt run-off. Perez was on his outside at the next corner as well, and again Verstappen stayed well wide of the inside line, but did not go far enough to put Perez into the gravel.
“All good”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...p-near-misses/
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F1 Austrian Grand Prix 2023 results: Verstappen dominates CONTROVERSIAL race.
The race was riddled with penalties for track limit violations, with a number of drivers heading marginally off the track – and some, including Lewis Hamilton, getting quite het up about it.
Sunday 2 July 2023 16:38
Chris Deeley
GPFans
Max Verstappen looked back to his imperious best on Sunday in Spielberg, driving away from the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc to win a race that looked closer on the timing screen that it did in reality.
Verstappen pitted with a couple of laps to go in order to have a dart at the fastest lap of the race, cutting his advantage over the Monegasque driver. However, he did lose his incredible 250+ lap streak of laps led in grands prix earlier in the race when he came out of the pits behind Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Leclerc finished second, ahead of a fast-finishing Sergio Perez who claimed the final podium spot ahead of Carlos Sainz.
‘CONTROVERSIAL race’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...oversial-race/
Race Results – 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
2nd July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing – 71 laps
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +5.155
3. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +17.188
4. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +21.377
5. Lando Norris McLaren +26.327
6. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +30.317
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +39.196
8. George Russell Mercedes +48.403
9. Pierre Gasly Alpine +57.667
10. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +59.043
‘Austrian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship race from the Red Bull Ring’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-82536
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
02 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Or1NQEbvb.html
2023 F1 Austrian GP - Can Verstappen hold off the Ferraris? LIVE UPDATES
2nd July 2023, 13:32
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/2023-f...s-live-updates
Verstappen wins in Austria while penalties play a part behind
2nd July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Austrian Grand Prix – Despite briefly losing the lead during the pit stops, Max Verstappen dominated while the Stewards handed out a rake of time penalties. As the lights went out to start the Grand Prix, Verstappen held his lead despite Leclerc’s best efforts but further back Lewis Hamilton got the better of Lando Norris for P4 while Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg demoted Lance Stroll from P6 to P8.
On lap 69, Red Bull asked Verstappen to cool his tyres but the race leader wanted to pit for a fastest lap attempt as he had a 23 second gap to Leclerc. Verstappen got his way though, switched to the softs and emerged back out a few seconds ahead of Leclerc. He took the fastest lap with a 1:07.012 on the last lap.
Leclerc got on the podium for the second time of the season, the last time being in Baku, where the first Sprint weekend of the season was. Perez took the final podium spot ahead of Sainz and Norris. After being beaten by his teammate in the Sprint yesterday, Alonso was the highest placed Aston Martin today with a P6. The two Mercedes ended the day in P7 and P8, Hamilton still ahead of Russell while Gasly and Stroll rounded out the points positions.
‘Verstappen wins’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen...t-behind-82539
Verstappen wins Austrian GP, Perez third after great Sainz fight
2nd July 2023, 15:49
By Matt Beer
The Race
Max Verstappen gave Red Bull yet another routine 2023 Formula 1 race win at the Austrian Grand Prix, while Ferrari produced its strongest performance of the season so far in his wake. Charles Leclerc took second place, while Carlos Sainz only just failed to keep the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez off the podium after a gallant effort.
Ferrari tried its best to stop Red Bull running away with the event at the track it owns. Leclerc made a spirited first-lap bid to pass Verstappen before the champion began to edge away, and then the two teams diverged on strategy under an early virtual safety car prompted by Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas-Ferrari stopping with what he felt was an engine failure.
Verstappen’s insistence on making a last-moment pitstop for softs so he could reclaim fastest lap from Perez might have given Ferrari some hope given Leclerc was only 23s behind when the leader came in. But a smooth Red Bull stop meant Verstappen rejoined 4s ahead and got the fastest lap he sought too.
‘Another routine 2023 Formula 1 race win’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/verst...t-sainz-fight/
Nine drivers hit by F1 penalties as Verstappen has time to play with in Austrian GP.
July 2nd 2023
Author Dominic Tobin
Motor Sport Magazine
Max Verstappen look threatened by Charles Leclerc early in the 2023 Austrian GP but ended it with so much time in hand, he could make an extra pitstop and claim the fastest lap. Behind him was a charging Sergio Perez — and a penalty bonanza
It was a race that brought almost half the grid penalties for exceeding track limits, a stunning drive from 15th to the podium for Sergio Perez, and hard-fought battles in the midfield. But at the front — as usual — Max Verstappen had such an advantage that he was able to pit for soft tyres with two laps remaining, set the fastest lap and cross the finish line with 5sec to spare.
Sainz crossed the line just over 4sec behind the Mexican and may look ruefully at the 5sec penalty for exceeding track limits too often. He was the highest-placed car to be penalised, and one of eight for track limits (with Nyck de Vries getting a penalty for squeezing Kevin Magnussen). A miserable Lewis Hamilton was an early victim after telling his team that he couldn’t avoid running outside the white lines: “I can’t keep it on the track, the car won’t turn!” Later in the race, team boss Toto Wolff jumped on the airwaves, telling his seven-time world champion: “The car is bad, we know. Please drive it.”
‘Nine drivers hit by F1 penalties’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
F1 Austrian GP: Lewis Hamilton blasts 'bulls***' and complains at Lando Norris after penalty
2 Jul 2023
Lewis Larkam
Lewis Hamilton has been hit with a five-second time penalty for abusing track limits during the F1 Austrian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion was pinged for multiple track limits infringements early on in Sunday's 71-lap grand prix.
Hamilton insisted in his defence that he "can't keep it on the track. The car won't turn." Hamilton said via team radio after being told about his penalty: "Just have a look at those because some of those are bull**** calls." He said, separately, about Sergio Perez: "This guy has been off every single time!"
Hamilton was also complaining about Norris exceeding track limits, after his own penalty, Sky commentators said. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff came onto the pitwall to calm Hamilton down, Sky also reported. “Lewis, the car is bad, we know," Wolff told Hamilton. "Please drive it!”
“The car won't turn";
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103044...ty-austrian-gp
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Eight drivers given post-race penalties as Austrian Grand Prix results change dramatically.
The FIA have examined “well over 1,200” instances of potential track limits breaches during the Austrian Grand Prix, with eight drivers given post-race penalties as a result.
02 Jul 2023 8:58 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Who has been penalised? The FIA confirmed in a statement that they would be examining each and every potential breach of track limits, and a significant chunk of the grid has now had additional time added to their race time. But eight drivers have been penalised for multiple breaches, as follows:
• Carlos Sainz – 10 seconds
• Lewis Hamilton – 10 seconds
• Pierre Gasly – 10 seconds
• Alex Albon – 10 seconds
• Esteban Ocon – 30 seconds (combination of 2 x 10-second penalties and 2 x 5-second penalties)
• Logan Sargeant – 10 seconds
• Nyck de Vries – 15 seconds (combination of 10-second and 5-second penalties)
• Yuki Tsunoda – 5 seconds
These penalties are all additional to what has already been served in the Austrian Grand Prix, with several of these drivers having already served in-race punishments.
‘Eight drivers given post-race penalties’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/austri...-track-limits/
FIA CHANGE Austrian GP results with TWELVE post-race penalties
Sunday 2 July 2023 21:57
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
Austrian Grand Prix results after FIA ruling
The final classification from Styria after the changes is as follows:
1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull]
2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari]
3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull]
4. Lando Norris [McLaren]
5. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin]
6. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari]
7. George Russell [Mercedes]
8. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes]
9. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin]
10. Pierre Gasly [Alpine]
‘TWELVE post-race penalties’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...-aston-martin/
Pierre Gasly hits out at ‘nonsense’ confusing Austria track limits
02 Jul 2023 8:15 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Pierre Gasly branded track limits at the Austrian Grand Prix a “nonsense” which was impossible for the viewers to follow and drivers to obey. “We’ve been talking all weekend and I think it would have been easier for everyone, [at] home, in the steward’s room, and all of us drivers to just drop it, but there is a rule. I love football, the rule in football is the same and that was the way it was this weekend.”
“I do believe if you go 10 centimetres wider you anyway damage your car and lose performance. Ultimately four, five centimetres, I don’t think it’s right to be penalising and dropping in qualifying, it was just nonsense. 43 lap times deleted, when you follow on TV, you have no clue on what’s going on and who is actually in, who is actually out.”
“As drivers inside the car with the visibility that we have, it’s pretty much impossible to really notice this one or two centimetres, whether you’re on the line and you’re always going to take it to the limit. So either put some grass there, no one’s going to go there, or just leave it as it is, make life easier and let us use the track limits, but I’m sure it’s going to be reviewed.”
‘Nonsense’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/pierre...-track-limits/
How 1200+ track limit reviews overwhelmed F1’s policing system
2nd July 2023, 19:23
By Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
Formula 1’s Austrian Grand Prix result was thrown into confusion as the sheer volume of track limits penalties effectively overwhelmed the FIA’s policing system. More than 100 laptimes were deleted in Sunday’s race after drivers repeatedly exceeded track limits, mainly on the entry and especially the exit of the final corner, but more than 1200 potential offences had to be reviewed by race control.
Race control was tasked with “a reconciliation of all deleted laps with penalties applied”. And it soon emerged that more sanctions would be coming post-race, although the top three finishers were safe.
Time penalties would then be retroactively enforced. Whereas some drivers could serve five-second penalties (or 10 seconds in the case of repeat offender Yuki Tsunoda) during the grand prix in their pitstops, these additional penalties would be added to the offending drivers’ race times.
‘Overwhelmed F1’s policing system’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/how-1...licing-system/
Ranked: The best and worst-behaved F1 drivers on Austrian Grand Prix track limits
02 Jul 2023 9:13 PM
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com
There was an anxious wait on Sunday night for some of the drivers as stewards announced they were looking into 1,200 incidents of possible track limits.
While the actual number of deleted laps was far fewer, it was still significant with the stewards scrubbing 83 laps out of the record books after the race had finished. But who were the worst offenders? And who managed to keep it on track at all times?
Zero instances – George Russell and Zhou Guanyu
One instance – Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso
Two instances – Charles Leclerc and Valtteri Bottas
Three instances – Sergio Perez, Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg
Four instances (five-second penalty) – Kevin Magnussen
Six instances (15-second penalty) – Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton, Logan Sargeant and Nyck de Vries
Seven instances (15-second penalty) – Pierre Gasly
Nine instances (20-second penalty) – Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda
10 instances (30-second penalty) – Esteban Ocon
‘Track limits’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ranked...-track-limits/
FIA reveal STUNNING number of deleted laps during Austrian GP
Sunday 2 July 2023 22:27
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
During a chaotic Austrian Grand Prix, the issue of track limits was a constant flashpoint. After the race, it was revealed that Race Control had to deal with more than 100 deleted lap times during the 71 lap grand prix.
And with Aston Martin now protesting the result of the race, it has become clear that the number of infringements was somewhat overwhelming for the stewards on duty during the frantic contest.
‘100 deleted lap times’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...-track-limits/
-
Put the gravel back, FIA tells Red Bull Ring after 20 track limits penalties in race.
The FIA has again urged the operators of the Red Bull Ring to install gravel traps at its final corners following an “unprecedented” spate of track limits offences.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 21:502nd July 2023, 21:55
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Seven drivers received penalties for exceeding track limits at least four times. One, Yuki Tsunoda, was given a further penalty during the race for committing seven infringements. Following the race Aston Martin lodged a protest claiming further track limits breaches have been overlooked. Race Control was already in the process of examining the track limits infringements which had occurred.
An FIA spokesperson confirmed it had not been possible to investigate every possible track limits breach which was raised during the race. “Due to the specifics of the circuit layout and the propensity of many drivers to repeatedly drive outside of the boundaries of the track, an unprecedented situation arose which resulted in all potential infringements not being able to be reviewed during the race,” said the spokesperson. The FIA had “already begun a full review of the track limits infringements” before Aston Martin protested the result of the race.
The spokesperson pointed out the FIA has previously urged the Red Bull Ring to install a gravel trap at the exits of turns nine and 10, where the majority of today’s incidents occurred. “In order to address the issue for future events we will renew our recommendation to the circuit to add a gravel trap at the exit of turns nine and 10. We note that while this is not a straightforward solution in relation to other series that race here, it has proved to be very effective at other corners and circuits with similar issues.”
‘Put the gravel back’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...lties-in-race/
Christian Horner: Track limits made F1 look 'amateurish' during Austrian Grand Prix
19:02 Sun, 02 Jul 2023.
By George Dagless
Give Me Sport
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has said F1 looked 'amateurish' over the course of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend at different times, thanks to track limits. Red Bull dominated the weekend once again with Max Verstappen winning the Sprint on Saturday and then the Grand Prix on Sunday here at the Red Bull Ring, whilst Sergio Perez finished inside the top three with a second and then a third respectively.
Indeed, it was a very strong weekend all round from the Bulls but Horner could not hide his frustrations at something away from his team - track limits. "I think it made us as a sport look a little bit amateurish with so many infringements," he said. "The problem is, it's very difficult for the drivers to see they can't see the white line from the car. So you're just purely doing it on feel, and the circuit invites you to go there.”
"So I think that it is something that needs to be looked at for next year to perhaps add more of a deterrent for the drivers to be drawn onto that part of the circuit." Horner certainly wasn't the only person to express his dismay at the track limits over the course of the weekend, with the drivers growing frustrated and annoyed by some of the more marginal rulings.
‘Track limits made F1 look amateurish’;
https://www.givemesport.com/christia...an-grand-prix/
Our verdict on F1’s Austrian Grand Prix penalty chaos
3rd July 2023, 05:22
The Race
After 1200+ track limits offences in the Austrian Grand Prix overwhelmed Formula 1’s systems and procedures, an FIA review and an Aston Martin protest left the Red Bull Ring result in total flux. The final outcome was a further 12 penalties spread across eight drivers, changing the positions of 14 of the 19 finishers in a decision announced five hours after the finish.
Here’s what our writers made of Sunday’s chaotic events and what we think should happen as a consequence:
DRIVERS HAVE TAKEN LIBERTIES – NOW THEY CAN’T
Scott Mitchell-Malm
THERE MUST BE PROPER INVESTMENT IN A REAL SOLUTION
Edd Straw
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TACKLED AFTER QUALIFYING
Gary Anderson
GRAVEL ISN’T THE ANSWER
Glenn Freeman
‘Verdict on F1’s Austrian Grand Prix penalty chaos’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/our-v...penalty-chaos/
Frustrated Lewis Hamilton reacts to Austrian Grand Prix penalty as result changed
Lewis Hamilton is still waiting for his first win of the 2023 Formula One season - as reigning champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull continue to dominate the sport
23:24, 2 Jul 2023
By Tom Blow Sports Writer
The Mirror
Hamilton finished seventh at the Red Bull Ring but dropped a place following a track limits investigation by the FIA. The Mercedes favourite received a 10-second penalty to drop to eighth, with Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly also losing points for the same offence.
Hamilton offered his opinion on Instagram after Sunday's race. He wrote: "There are days when I can say I’m truly proud of myself and days like today when frustration takes over. In a race it can feel like you’re hanging off a cliff and losing the strength to hold on.”
‘Frustration takes over’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-prix-30374714
Video: Why Austrian GP broke F1’s track limits policing system
3rd July 2023, 05:22
The Race
The major changes to the Austrian Grand Prix result five hours after the finish were a consequence of Formula 1’s upgraded track limits policing system being overwhelmed by the sheer number of offences at the Red Bull Ring.
Why did it happen, what made this year so much worse and can anything be done about it? Our latest video tackles all those questions and more:
‘The Race Video’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/video...licing-system/
Where Is The (Track) Limit? - Austrian GP Review F1 2023
23:18 Sun, 02 Jul 2023.
Motorsport.com
Why did the FIA give out 12 penalties after F1's 2023 Austrian Grand Prix? The Red Bull Ring is no stranger to track limit violations, but after reportedly checking 1200 of the laps raced at the Austrian GP, the FIA changed up the final order for a large portion of the grid with 5 and 10s penalties. Mixed into this was McLaren's best result of the year with Lando Norris in 4th, another strong win by Verstappen, a lacklustre weekend for Mercedes and an unusual race for Ferrari. Martyn Lee is joined by Jon Noble and Matt Kew to discuss these talking points and more after the Austrian GP Sprint Race weekend.
‘Austrian GP Video Review’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/video/...1-2023/599238/
-
Verstappen “loved all the articles” claiming Red Bull’s rivals were getting closer.
Max Verstappen said he enjoyed reading speculation Red Bull’s rivals had closed the gap to them prior to his dominant win in Austria today.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 18:082nd July 2023, 21:56
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
When it was put to him that today’s race showed Red Bull’s nearest rivals had not closed the gap to them, Verstappen said: “Exactly. But I loved all the articles about it. Some weekends work a bit better for you and some don’t,” he explained. “For me, Montreal wasn’t that fantastic in the race from our side. Here I think we did a really good job and naturally the gap is a bit bigger.”
Despite taking his seventh win of the season and his fifth consecutive victory to hold a commanding 81 point lead in the drivers’ championship over team mate Sergio Perez, Verstappen says he is not concerning himself with thinking about the championship picture just yet. “I’m just enjoying the moment, driving with this car, working with the team,” he said.
“I think the whole weekend we have done a really good job. A sprint weekend is always very, very hectic and a lot of things can go wrong and luckily a lot of things went right for us this weekend. So I’m just very happy with this weekend and we’ll focus again on Silverstone.”
“Loved all the articles”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...etting-closer/
F1 Austrian GP Results, Updated Points: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Making it Look Too Easy
Verstappen wins fifth race in a row, builds up nearly insurmountable lead in championship standings.
PUBLISHED: JUL 2, 2023
BY PHILLIP HORTON
AutoWeek.com
Hey, Guess What—Verstappen Won Again
At least this time Max Verstappen didn’t quite lead every lap of the Austrian Grand Prix, though it certainly felt like it. Verstappen had 10 whole laps not in first place during the course of the 71-lap race at the Red Bull Ring, but only because he and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ran divergent tire strategies.
By the time proceedings shook out, during the closing stages of a race that took place in front of an orange-clad army of Verstappen fans, the reigning world champion was over 20 seconds up the road and cruising home.
Verstappen had such a margin that he made another pit stop for soft tires, used the penultimate lap of the race as a preparation lap, and made a successful attempt for the fastest lap—earning the bonus point—on the final lap.
‘Red Bull Making it Look Too Easy’;
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/form...look-too-easy/
Red Bull reduce rivals to irrelevance in home rout overshadowed by penalty farce
2023 Austrian Grand Prix review
Posted on 3rd July 2023, 10:50
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
Entering last season’s long winter, Ferrari and Mercedes dreamed of somehow dethroning Red Bull once the new year began. But by the time the spring months reached their end, those hopes had already been mercilessly crushed by the world champions and scattered to the summer winds. June brought new optimism for their pursuers. While Max Verstappen and his RB19 continued to monopolise the top step of the podium, there had been plenty of promise for those seeking to chase down the champions.
Although the three podium finishers had successfully avoided earning penalties for exceeding track limits, the same could not be said for the rest of the field. In an unprecedented development a total of 20 individual penalties for exceeding track limits were handed out between nine drivers during the race – almost half the field. Making matter worse, it took until five hours after the race for 12 of those penalties to be handed out and the final results published.
It had been a day where Formula 1 had made itself look “amateurish,” according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. But that could certainly not be said of Verstappen’s performance across the weekend once again. The world champion once more crushing any hopes of his rivals that he could possibly be caught any time soon. But despite continuing their perfect run of results in the 2023 season so far, Horner says Red Bull have not lost their appetite for winning just yet.
‘Red Bull reduce rivals to irrelevance’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/03/...penalty-farce/
Red Bull chief speaks out after Max Verstappen ignores team orders at Austrian GP
Max Verstappen demanded Red Bull mechanics follow his requests as the Dutchman secured his 42nd career win in Austria.
12:07, Mon, Jul 3, 2023
By Luke Chillingsworth
Daily and Sunday Express
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has opened up on Max Verstappen after the Dutchman ignored team orders at the Austrian Grand Prix. Verstappen was told over team radio that pitting for new tyres to go for the fastest lap was not worth it but pushed mechanics to change their mind.
Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase revealed the risk of stopping “was not worthwhile”. But Verstappen made clear he would “prefer to box” and hinted his old rubber would not go quicker.
He told Auto Motor und Sport: “There were discussions on the radio. Before Max got too restless, we wanted to do what he wanted and make him happy. Otherwise, he would have set the fastest lap on old tyres. That would have been even more risky. He drives with unbelievable ease, as we have come to expect from him.”
“Prefer to box”;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-grand-prix
Perez admits fitness concerns for British GP as he’s “really far from 100%”
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 3rd July 2023, 12:13
Written by Ida Wood
RaceFans
Sergio Perez navigated the Austrian Grand Prix weekend while fighting fever-like symptoms, and his health remains a concern heading into this weekend’s British Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver fell ill on Wednesday night in Austria and skipped his media duties on Thursday, but was on track when action began on Friday.
Perez said he was feeling “definitely not great” after completing Sunday’s 71-lap race at the Red Bull Ring. “I haven’t had a good rest. Every night I’ve had a fever and I think when that happens and then you are on medications, automatically you are not 100% at all.” He is concerned his illness will continue to affect him at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, as the high-speed Silverstone circuit places severe demands on drivers’ fitness.
“It’s a very demanding sport, in the car and out of the car,” said Perez. “I’ve just been really sick, so I really hope that I can recover in a few days, because Silverstone is another very hard race, very demanding. “I really need time. I’m really far from 100% at the moment.” Perez was “really happy” to rise from 15th on the grid to claim his fifth podium of the year despite feeling ill.
“Really far from 100%”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/03/...-far-from-100/
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‘Lewis, the car is bad, we know . . . just please drive it’ – Mercedes’ Wolff has snappy exchange with Hamilton.
Toto Wolff insists his public rebuke of Lewis Hamilton at the Austrian Grand Prix will have no impact on the British driver’s Mercedes future.
Sun 2 Jul 2023 at 19:28
The Irish Independent
‘Public rebuke’;
https://www.independent.ie/sport/oth...123007170.html
Lewis Hamilton given public dressing-down by Toto Wolff during awful Austrian Grand Prix.
Lap one of the Austrian Grand Prix went well for Hamilton who overtook Lando Norris – but the rest of his afternoon was a disaster including a public telling-off from Mercedes chief Wolff.
16:21, 2 Jul 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
Lewis Hamilton was told off by an irritated Toto Wolff TWICE during the Austrian Grand Prix as the seven-time world champion lost his cool. Hamilton lost his temper after he was given a penalty for exceeding track limits. He was one of several drivers to be given such a punishment as the Formula 1 stewards applied the law mercilessly.
First to be on the receiving end of his ire was Sergio Perez. Hamilton was constantly accusing the Mexican of going outside the white lines – becoming such a distraction that Wolff intervened to ask him to focus on his driving. That first message from the Austrian was fairly polite, and Hamilton obliged for a while.
But later in the race he was moaning again, this time about Norris who had slipped ahead of him. This time, as Wolff felt the need to intervene again, the Mercedes chief had clearly lost his patience and snapped at the seven-time world champion. "Lewis, the car is bad, we know – please drive it," was his abrupt message.
‘Public dressing-down’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...radio-30373051
Toto Wolff fed up with Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes boss interrupts team radio message
Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton was spoken to his by team boss Toto Wolff during the Austrian Grand Prix.
15:26, Sun, Jul 2, 2023
By Joe Krishnan
Daily and Sunday Express
Hamilton picked up a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits more than three times, having been shown a black and white flag by race control. And he fumed on the radio as his issues with the brakes appeared to slow him down, meaning he had to try and use the maximum of the track to avoid losing time.
As Hamilton continued to complain to his race engineer Peter Bonnington on the team radio, Wolff stepped in with a stern message to his driver - something that is rarely seen from the Austrian chief - as he was seemingly fed up with his flurry of complaints. Wolff said to Hamilton: "Lewis the car is bad we know, please drive it."
Hamilton had been furious with Sergio Perez escaping a penalty for exceeding track limits at Turn 10 when he was chasing the Red Bull star and it appeared the 103-time race winner had become irritated by his five-second penalty, which saw him lose places to Norris and Fernando Alonso.
‘Mercedes boss interrupts team radio message’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-GP-F1-news
Toto Wolff at a loss after ‘bruising day’ with Mercedes’ pace drop in Austria
02 Jul 2023 5:08 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
clearly downbeat Toto Wolff saw his Mercedes team struggle for pace in the Austrian Grand Prix and does not know why. “Our car had no pace today,” Wolff told Sky F1. “It’s a bruising day I would say because we had such a good upward trend and then you have to take such a day. “There was no pace. No inkling why yet.”
During his opening stint Hamilton was complaining that his brakes were not working correctly, though Wolff had a different theory for why Hamilton had this feeling at the wheel of the W14. Rather than dodgy brakes, Wolff feels the actual problem was that as Hamilton battled Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez at that stage of the race, he was actually finding that sliding on the Pirelli tyres was destroying the grip.
“I think that the moment you slide those tyres, either on braking or through the corners, you just have no grip and this is what happened,” Wolff reasoned. Hamilton will likely take encouragement from the fact that next up is his home race, the British Grand Prix, a race he has won a record eight times.
‘Toto Wolff at a loss’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...-loss-austria/
Russell laments Mercedes’ “substantially worse” pace in Austria
18:33 Sun, 02 Jul 2023.
By: Matt Kew
Motorsport.com
Lewis Hamilton led team-mate George Russell for a 7-8 result at the Red Bull Ring. Seven-time champion Hamilton finished 39 seconds behind runaway victor Max Verstappen, who might have crossed the line a further 20s ahead had he not made a late pitstop to successfully take the bonus point for fastest lap away from Red Bull stablemate Sergio Perez.
Russell said the drop back down the order caught the team by surprise as the pace was “substantially worse” than predicted. He told Sky Sports: “I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it. But we still have the same car as we had two races ago in Barcelona when we were flying.”
“So, the only thing that's probably different is the tyres. Something we need to understand. It definitely doesn't feel as we want it to. The car's moving around a lot, a little bit worse than all of the other circuits. But the pace was substantially worse than we were expecting.”
‘Mercedes’ “substantially worse” pace’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...tria/10490750/
Wolff DUMBSTRUCK over Mercedes lack of pace
Sunday 2 July 2023 22:57
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
Speaking after the race, Wolff was left scratching his head over why the W14 struggled so much on track. “The car had no pace today," he told Sky Sports. "It’s a bruising day I would say, because we had such a good upward trend, and then you have to take such a day. There was no pace, and no inkling why yet.” “I think the moment you slide those tyres, be it on braking or through the corners, you just have no grip, and this is what happened [for Hamilton]."
Vast number of penalties were handed out for exceeding track limits during the race, including one for Hamilton. And Wolff believes that changes need to be made to prevent a repeat event occurring next season. “The stewards are doing their job," he said. "It’s what the rule says. I think we’ve either got to go back to the sausage kerb and need to take into consideration the teams and drivers shouldn’t complain if they break their cars, because that’s clear.
‘Wolff DUMBSTRUCK’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...eorge-russell/
Wolff sought to 'calm things down' with Hamilton radio intervention
03/07/2023 at 08:19
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was an untypical presence on the team's radio during Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix as he sought to "calm things down" amid Lewis Hamilton's complaints and struggles. When asked by his race engineer Peter Bonnington to steer clear of the track's limits, Hamilton quipped: "I can’t keep it on the track, the car won’t turn!".
Perceiving that his driver was unsettled, Wolff intervened and twice urged Hamilton to focus on the job at hand. "Lewis, the car is bad, we know. Please drive it," he said on his second intervention.
After the race, the Austrian justified his in-race radio rebuke. "You should hear us talking on the phone and meeting each other. That was nothing," said Wolff as he played down the moment. "We have had a bad weekend, all of us in the team, and that just makes us stronger.”
‘Wolff sought to calm things down';
https://f1i.com/news/479459-wolff-so...ervention.html
Toto Wolff explains why he issued Lewis Hamilton a stern team radio warning at Austrian GP
Toto Wolff called out Lewis Hamilton in a team radio warning during yesterday's Austrian Grand Prix.
09:20, Mon, Jul 3, 2023
By Luke Chillingsworth
Daily and Sunday Express
Wolff has since clarified why he got involved, revealing it was simply to “calm” Hamilton who was getting flustered over the microphone. He explained: “It was only for the best interests of the driver and the team. Sometimes there is a certain moment when you need to calm things down, but I meant well.”
“We had a lot of discussion beforehand about track limits and I wanted to make sure we were getting the best out of the package, which wasn’t performing, and just giving it our best shot.” Mercedes struggled for pace in Austria with the German marque taking a noticeable step back in performance.
Hamilton explained: “Didn't expect to be as bad as we were today. I don't really have an answer for it really. It was definitely surprising. The feeling of the car was very much the same feeling I've had all last year. It was definitely different than the last two races, the last two races were way, way better. In terms of the characteristics of the car, it was fundamentally the same (as last year)."
‘Wolff has clarified why he got involved’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-grand-prix-f1
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Sainz accuses Ferrari playing him for a 'FOOL' in Austrian GP.
Carlos Sainz has accused Ferrari of failing to treat him as an equal with team-mate Charles Leclerc, after the Spaniard revealed that he felt "like a fool" with the team's strategy.
Monday 3 July 2023 08:57 - Updated: 15:02
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
"We have to analyse the situation," he told DAZN ES. "Clearly, I’m not happy right now about what happened today. When you feel you have such rhythm and when you are supposed to be doing team work, and you see these things happening, it makes you feel like a fool. Not the best feeling, for sure."
"I’m not too happy today," he also told Fox Sports Premium MX. "I had a lot more pace than fourth...being a team player during the first stint and then be compromised like that with a pit stop behind Charles really affected my race... You are being a team player all the time and you have the pace but some decisions by the team leave you like a fool.”
‘Playing him for a FOOL';
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...grand-prix-f1/
Sainz’s ire at strategy Ferrari was ‘convinced’ was right
07:44 Mon, 03 Jul 2023
By Josh Suttill
The Race
Carlos Sainz was left frustrated with a “compromising” pitstop that helped turn a potential first 2023 grand prix podium into a sixth place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix – but team boss Fred Vasseur says Ferrari was “convinced” the strategy was right.
Leclerc was able to re-emerge from his pitstop in second place, but the VSC ending and slow pitstops for both Sainz and Leclerc meant Sainz dropped behind both Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris – who had been able to pit immediately after the VSC was deployed.
It also cost Sainz several seconds to Leclerc and he put the blame on that pitstop timing for his initial five-second penalty for track limits abuse, too. Sainz ultimately finished within five seconds of eventual third-place finisher Sergio Perez on the road, even if Perez didn’t have to push after he’d cleared Sainz and a further penalty was coming Sainz’s way regardless.
‘Sainz’s ire’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/sainz...-strategy-ire/
Sainz' race "compromised" by VSC call
03/07/2023
NEWS STORY
Pitpass
Carlos Sainz believes his Grand Prix was compromised by Ferrari's decision to pit him under the Virtual Safety Car that followed Nico Hulkenberg’s retirement. "My race was compromised from that point onwards," he insisted. "But if I look at the pace, I was very quick out there.
"I'm just frustrated," he admitted. "It's been a few races that I have a lot of pace in the car. I wish I could maximise it a bit more because I'm very quick this year, especially in the race. I feel like I've done a big step forward. But P4 I guess is not bad, but I think today P2 or P3 was on the cards.”
"I'm very happy with my performance today. I think I did some very clean, neat moves. I defended well. As soon as I was arriving to one car, I was passing them. I was managing my tyres well at the same time that I was attacking. That's why I guess I'm frustrated right now because I struggle to see the positive on this P4 with all the pace and overtaking and defending that I did.”
‘Compromised by Ferrari's decision’;
https://www.pitpass.com/75560/Sainz-...ed-by-VSC-call
Ferrari respond to team orders call that left Carlos Sainz with ‘sour feeling’
03 Jul 2023 11:00 AM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has defended the team orders that left Carlos Sainz with a “sour feeling” at the end of the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Spaniard went on to suffer a slow stop when both Ferraris headed to the pit lane during an early Virtual Safety Car and was ultimately classified sixth after incurring a post-race time penalty for exceeding track limits, whereas Leclerc held second place to secure the team’s second podium finish of 2023.
Sainz later expressed his annoyance with Ferrari’s management of the race, telling Formula 1: “Obviously frustrated with the final outcome after having such a strong pace on the mediums, feeling also like I was playing the team game and not getting rewarded with a good result, which obviously leaves you always with a sour feeling.
‘Sour feeling’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/explai...-carlos-sainz/
Ferrari chief dismisses Sainz's ‘FOOL’ claims after Austrian GP
Tuesday 4 July 2023 18:42
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Ferrari President John Elkann has dismissed Carlos Sainz's claims that he was treated 'like a fool' during the Austrian Grand Prix, after the Scuderia chief claimed that "everyone is happy". Speaking to Fox Sports Premium MX, Sainz claimed that “You are being a team player all the time and you have the pace, but some decisions by the team leave you like a fool.”
But according to TuttoSport, Ferrari President John Elkann was pleased with the result, and the signs of improvement that his team are showing as the year progresses. “Today was the best race of the season. Everyone is happy. It was good to see Sainz fighting for the third position with Red Bull; it means we’re going in the right direction. The mood of the drivers is good and positive, and they showed that during the race. We’re seeing progress, and this is what we needed.”
‘Progress’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...ohn-elkann-f1/
Ferrari’s Frédéric Vasseur: Austria result “proves we are working in the right direction”
July 4, 2023
By Ashley Cline
The Checkered Flag
Scuderia Ferrari came away from the Austrian Grand Prix with solid points and increased confidence in the potential of their upgraded SF-23, with Charles Leclerc securing second place and Carlos Sainz crossing the line fourth before being hit with a post-race track limits penalty that brought him down to sixth.
Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur: “Today’s strong result for the team, added to yesterday’s podium with Carlos, proves we are working in the right direction. If we look back, we had a good race in Canada and today we confirmed the progress made on a completely different track layout with a different surface. We still need to make another step forward if we want to fight with Red Bull and we are working hard to achieve that.”
“Working in the right direction”;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ght-direction/
Sainz “frustrated” over Ferrari strategy as he remains without a podium in 2023
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 3rd July 2023, 15:05
Written by Ida Wood and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Carlos Sainz Jnr said the Austrian Grand Prix was one of his strongest performances of 2023 but believes Ferrari’s strategy compromised his race. Sainz said Ferrari “need to analyse what we could have done” when he was brought into the pits behind his team mate after the VSC was deployed. “Clearly my race was compromised by that pit stop there. I guess the team had a reason to stop both cars. And if not, I don’t know.”
“We had agreed before the race to work as a team in the first stint to open the gap to the cars behind, so they didn’t want to fight. I followed the plan, even though I had quite a bit of pace and I was quite comfortable there and probably could have gone faster. It’s a shame that after all doing the teamwork and then the pit stop arrives, and you’re compromised the way I [was].”
Sainz reckoned a double Ferrari podium “was possible, especially with the pace I had.” “I’m just frustrated. It’s been a few races that I have a lot of pace in the car, a lot of race pace, and I wish I could maximise it a bit more,” said Sainz, who would have matched his best 2023 result of fourth had he not been penalised. I’m very quick this year, especially in the races. I feel like I’ve done a big step forward, if you look at my pace yesterday and today. But P4 I guess [was] not bad. But I think today P2 or P3 was in our hands.”
“Frustrated”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/03/...odium-in-2023/
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‘Grandma had no idea what was going on’: Drivers urge Red Bull Ring track limits fix.
“I had my grandma [watching] in front of the TV she didn’t understand a thing. She was like, ‘what the hell is actually going on? Lewis [Hamilton] is once P1 then two seconds later he’s P18’. It just doesn’t seem right, but we’ll see.” Pierre Gasly.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 4th July 2023, 14:02
Written by Ida Wood and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
So many potential track limits infringements were identified – over 1,200, according to the FIA – that during the race they were unable to apply penalties as quickly as drivers incurred them. Lewis Hamilton repeatedly asked why some of his rivals did not get penalties and Lando Norris, who followed him early in the race, was asking the same about the Mercedes.
The weekend’s biggest track limits offender was Ocon, who had 20 lap times deleted over the three days and copped 30 seconds of penalties in the race, said he had tried to be careful.
Alonso said his tally “shows it’s not too difficult” to stay within the track limits and joked he was “very proud”. However Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director Russell said he “doesn’t take any pride at all in that fact” after he went violation-free throughout the grand prix, while admitting “it’s so, so difficult to stay within” the Red Bull Ring’s track limits.
‘Grandma had no idea what was going on’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/04/...ck-limits-fix/
Explained: The Austrian GP track limits fiasco that made F1 look ridiculous
3 Jul 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
F1 was left red-faced after a track limits saga and subsequent post-race protest from Aston Martin threw the result of the Austrian Grand Prix into a state of flux. A final classification was not issued until five hours after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the chequered flag to claim yet another victory in what is turning out to be a truly dominant campaign.
Following a lengthy post-race stewards’ investigation, 12 extra penalties were dished out to eight drivers, changing the result. But how did F1 get tied up in a shambles over track limits? We’ve unpacked everything that happened on a chaotic day in Austria…
Aston Martin’s protest amid 1200+ offences. Shortly after the race concluded, Aston Martin confirmed they had lodged a protest against the provisional race classification. Aston Martin initially remained tight-lipped over the exact reason behind their appeal, but the FIA soon confirmed the team had claimed a number of cars were not properly penalised for repeatedly breaching track limits.
‘Protest amid 1200+ offences’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/103...ook-ridiculous
F1 is gripped by a track-limits crisis – this is how it can fix it
Austrian fiasco cannot be allowed to happen again, but what are the possible solutions?
4 July 2023 • 8:00am
By Luke Slater
The Telegraph
After a five-hour delay for the Austrian Grand Prix result to be confirmed, almost everyone in Formula One is in agreement that something at the Red Bull Ring must change to avoid another administrative farce over the policing of track limits.
In the end 12 drivers were hit with a combined 100 seconds in penalties. This is not the first time this has happened at the Red Bull Ring, but it presents F1 in a bad light and gives the sport yet another conundrum to sort. Here are some potential solutions as to how the tricky final corner could be modified for next year’s race.
Sausage kerbs. Aptly named sausage kerbs have been in and out of F1 for the past few years.
A gravel trap – or a line of gravel. One of the reasons that gravel traps are a dying beast on many tracks is because F1 shares some venues with motorcycle racing.
A “virtual gravel trap”. A more high-tech solution would be a “virtual gravel trap”, suggested by former F1 driver Lucas di Grassi.
A long-lap penalty. Part of the problem with the numerous time penalties is that it makes the race more difficult to follow.
‘Gripped by a track-limits crisis’;
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-...g-austrian-gp/
How can the Austrian GP avoid another track limits fiasco? F1 mailbag
Jul. 4, 2023
By Luke Smith
The Athletic
When Lando Norris’s flight took off on Sunday night, he still didn’t know where he had finished in the Austrian Grand Prix. More than five hours after the checkered flag at the Red Bull Ring greeted Max Verstappen for his fifth victory in a row, a slew of post-race penalties shook up the results, leaving the top three drivers in place but shuffling others up and down the grid.
Only when Norris landed back in the UK did he find out he’d been promoted from fifth to fourth, gaining a place from Carlos Sainz, who was penalized and dropped from fourth to sixth. Also punished were Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon, Logan Sargeant, Nyck de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda.
Tongue in cheek, Norris called it “the easiest position gain of my life.” Jokes aside, it wasn’t a good look for F1, understandably making it the big talking point post-race in our mailbag. So let’s get into your questions.
Question: How unusual is it to see this many penalties? – Jared P.
Answer: “In all my years covering F1, I’ve never seen anything quite as bizarre as what we saw on Sunday.”
‘F1 mailbag’;
https://theathletic.com/4663072/2023...its-penalties/
MotoGP isn’t F1’s enemy in the gravel trap/track limits debate
By Simon Patterson
Jul 3 2023
The Race
MotoGP got plenty of mentions as F1 debated the state it had got itself into with over 1200 potential track limits infringements to assess, with many in the four-wheeled paddock adamant that there would be gravel traps at the corners in question if it wasn’t for the Red Bull Ring also hosting MotoGP.
But it’s really not as simple as saying that bike racing wants asphalt run-off areas and car racing doesn’t. In fact in the MotoGP paddock the understanding is that asphalt is F1’s preference because it allows drivers to continue after making mistakes without as much disruption as a gravel trap would.
‘Gravel trap/track limits debate’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/motog...limits-debate/
What Can Be Done about the Track Limits Fiasco That Overshadowed Austrian F1 Grand Prix
There were 1,200 to 1,500 cases of track limit violations in the F1 Austrian grand Prix forcing the race results to be altered hours after the race ended.
PUBLISHED: JUL 3, 2023
BY PHILLIP HORTON
Formula 1 and the FIA are set to push for a solution to its track limits debacle after a spate of penalties were issued post-race Sunday in Austria. The order outside of the top three altered five hours after the conclusion of the race once a raft of penalties for exceeding track limits were applied.
Is there a solution? In the past more substantial curbs were tested at the respective corners but these were unpopular for two reasons:
1. In the case of a driver losing control there was a risk of a bigger accident if the car struck the more aggressive curbs at an awkward angle.
2. The aggressive nature of the curbs also caused floor and wing damage to the cars, impacting performance, leading to teams incurring unnecessary costs for repairs or fresh components.
The most obvious solution is a gravel trap at the corner. It was recommended by Formula 1 Race Director Niels Wittich after the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix, while his predecessor, Michael Masi, also made such a request. The FIA is expected to make a renewed push once more.
‘Is there a solution? ‘;
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/form...f1-grand-prix/
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British GP must always be on F1 calendar says Domenicali.
Silverstone is a very important race, he said. "Seven teams out of 10 are in the UK.”
JULY 5, 2023
Grandpx.news
Silverstone is lucky because it is the only place that we cannot lose because of the British teams and the traditions, added Domenicali.
"The British tradition of motorsport is phenomenal and it has a special place in our calendar and it will always have it. We have a very strong relationship and we are looking towards an even longer term and to announce shortly, because it is normal for Formula 1 to be there.”
It is believed Formula 1 is poised to unveil its provisional calendar for 2024 - currently the last installation on the British GP contract. But F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says a new deal is now looming, as he also insisted that the historic race at Silverstone must always remain part of the sport.
‘British GP must always be on F1 calendar’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/briti...omenicali.html
THIS WEEK IN F1: 10 quiz questions on all the F1 news ahead of the British Grand Prix
05 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Fresh off the back of the Austrian Grand Prix, the Formula 1 circus is heading to Britain for this weekend's race at Silverstone. The scene of the very first Formula 1 world championship race back in 1950, the Northamptonshire track is one of the most historic on the calendar, and has seen victories by greats like Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell.
And to help keep you occupied until the on-track action starts with free practice on Friday, we've put together a little quiz to test your F1 knowledge. We've got questions about last week's race at the Red Bull Ring, plus some brain teasers on the history of the British Grand Prix.
‘10 quiz questions’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...TcMBo9GFL.html
Who will gain most from F1’s new tyres? Six British Grand Prix talking points
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 5th July 2023, 7:154th July 2023, 20:31
Written by Will Wood
Here are this weekend’s talking points as Formula 1 heads to Silverstone. Fresh rubber Pirelli’s F1 tyres are always a highly sensitive element of the racing in the series as managing degradation and keeping the rubber within its narrow operating window are critical to success in the sport. Get either wrong and it’s easy to get swallowed up by the pack – especially this season when the field is as close as it is, behind Red Bull at least.
Can Sainz end his podium drought? Last year’s British Grand Prix will live in Carlos Sainz Jnr’s memory for the rest of his days. McLaren making moves - After a second disappointing start to a season in consecutive years, McLaren may have turned a corner that could see them in the thick of the hunt for the points in the midfield.
British teams’ special editions - After two clashes in the last two grands prix, it’s fair to say there are no two drivers on the grid with more heat between them currently than Kevin Magnussen and Nyck de Vries. Lights, camera, action - Besides Formulas 1, 2 and 3 and the Porsche Supercup, there will be an unusual addition to the roster of cars running on the circuit at Silverstone this weekend. As part of production for an upcoming film about Formula 1 staring Brad Pitt, there will be an 11th ‘team’ set up this weekend which will run a specially modified single-seater around the track to gather footage for the movie.
‘Six British Grand Prix talking points’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/05/...alking-points/
The one team to watch at Silverstone as Red Bull aim to lift British GP curse
05 Jul 2023 7:00 AM
Oliver Harden
So, what to make of Mercedes’ major F1 2023 upgrade four races in? If it’s true that suddenly sprouting sidepods in Monaco was never going to make the W14 an instant Red Bull beater, it’s also fair to have expected slightly more.
Mercedes still lagging way behind Red Bull after big upgrade. Should a team supposedly now definitely, unquestionably, indisputably on the right track still be suffering early exits in qualifying, as Russell did in Barcelona and Austria (with Hamilton also 18th out of 20 in the sprint shootout)?
Against all expectations, Ferrari have succeeded where Mercedes failed by introducing an upgrade that has made an immediate, instantly noticeable and seemingly permanent impact, with the SF-23 car all the better for it. However fast Verstappen is through Maggotts/Becketts, expect Charles Leclerc to not be far behind.
‘British GP curse’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/silver...tish-gp-curse/
Brad Pitt to turn British Grand Prix into film set as image emerges of actor's own garage
5th July 2023, 10:25
talkSPORT
Brad Pitt will have his own garage at the British Grand Prix for the filming of his Formula 1 feature film. The Hollywood superstar will be conducting the movie’s first on-site filming at Silverstone, and preparations are already underway. Brad Pitt has his own garage at Silverstone this weekend �� A traditional plaque above a driver’s garage can be seen with Pitt in a white suit accompanied by his character name Sonny Hayes.
The same can be seen for his co-star in the film, British actor Damson Idris, who will be playing Joshua Pearce. The film is co-produced by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, and anticipation is rising with Pitt spotted at recent Grand Prix, including the US race in Texas last season.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown discussed the project: “I think definitely [it will have a big impact],” he began. “I think we all wanted to be a pilot after watching Top Gun and I think it will have the same impact on the audience, it’s a lot of the same producers. It’s a massive production and I think it will get a lot of current fans excited but I think a lot of people who don’t follow the sport will see it and think it’s unbelievable.”
‘Unbelievable it will be…’;
https://talksport.com/sport/motorsport/1488651/
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Brad enters the Pitt-lane - 2023 British GP Preview.
Even if Max Verstappen-Red Bull Racing dominate yet another race this season, the 2023 British Grand Prix will be remembered for when a movie was shot during a real Grand Prix weekend.
Published Jul 05, 2023 10:16 PM
This race is the home race for at least 8 teams on the grid (Haas and AlphaTauri have remote operations in the UK, too), so we expect everyone to pile on as many upgrades to their cars as possible. And of course, a 'normal' Grand Prix weekend format means that teams will have three Free Practice sessions to test their upgrades, too.
Brad Pitt's Formula 1 movie will be shot in between all the official racing sessions at Silverstone. But you probably already know this...! We love when other forms of entertainment embrace Formula 1 to narrate a story or two. Lewis Hamilton's involvement in Brad Pitt's under-production movie (rumoured to be called Apex) could make this the most-realistic Formula 1 movie ever?
‘Rumoured to be called Apex’;
https://omny.fm/shows/inside-line-f1...ish-gp-preview
First look at Brad Pitt’s Silverstone garage as filming for Lewis Hamilton-linked film begins
05 Jul 2023 1:49 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com1
Filming for the new Brad Pitt Formula 1 film, which Lewis Hamilton is set to play a behind-the-scenes role in, will begin at the upcoming British Grand Prix, and the fictional team’s garage is now in place.
According to ESPN, we now know that the title of the film will be ‘Apex’. Irish Oscar-nominated actress Kerry Condon is to play the role of technical director for their team, which it appears will be called ‘Apex GP’. The plot is believed to involve a racer coming out of retirement to mentor a young driver as his team-mate, with Pitt portraying that experienced figure, while Damson Idris, star of crime drama Snowfall, is to play the driver who he mentors.
While the film has a fictional plot, its filming will take part within the real-life Formula 1 circus, and as preparations continue for this weekend’s British Grand Prix, images emerged on social media of the Apex GP garage, meaning Formula 1 actually has something of an 11th team there for the race weekend. The ‘Sonny Hayes’ name badge, alongside Pitt kitted out in his Mercedes-sponsored race suit, gives a huge clue as to what his character name in the film will be.
‘Apex GP garage’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/brad-p...hamilton-film/
First look at Brad Pitt's F1 filmset as shooting for Lewis Hamilton movie begins
16:48, 5 JUL 2023
BY Patrick Austen-Hardy US Sports Journalist
Daily Star
Lewis Hamilton will be behind the wheel as usual at the British Grand Prix, but the seven-time F1 world champion may also have some of his attention on Brad Pitt's very own garage. Formula One fans got a glimpse of what to expect from Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton’s upcoming movie.
The Hollywood sensation and his camera team will be present at Silverstone for their first round of on-site filming for their ‘Apex’ film. With preparations well underway, Pitt and his crew have been afforded their very own garage to be stationed at during the British Grand Prix on July 9.
Like all F1 drivers, Pitt’s character’s name ‘Sonny Hayes’ was emblazoned over the entrance, alongside a picture of him wearing a full white race suit. Hamilton will be hoping to win his ninth British Grand Prix to make up some ground on runaway leader and fierce rival Max Verstappen. However, as the co-producer of the movie, the seven-time champion may also have one eye on what is happening at Pitt's, or shall we say, Hayes’ garage.
‘Sonny Hayes’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...tt-f1-30398205
PICTURES: Brad Pitt's garage at Silverstone as F1 movie filming begins
5 Jul 2023
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net
Brad Pitt has his own (fake) garage in the paddock to the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, with filming for his motorsports movie set to begin. The movie will film its first scenes this weekend at Silverstone, during the race weekend for the real grand prix.
Pitt will drive a modified F1 car on the Silverstone track with cameras following him for scenes that will be used in the movie. His participation is not expected to interfere with the genuine F1 schedule.
‘(Fake) garage in the paddock to the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103067...filming-begins
Brad Pitt joins the grid at Silverstone!
12:22 Wed, 05 Jul 2023.
F1i.com
Silverstone's pitlane has been decked out for this weekend's British Grand Prix and there are a couple of new faces on the traditional driver boards displayed above the F1 team's garages. 'Sonny Hayes' and 'Joshua Pearce' have apparently joined the grid, or would that be Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt and British actor Damson Idris?
As scheduled, filming for Pitt's F1 move 'Apex' will kick off at Silverstone this week. The epic, produced by legendary Hollywood blockbuster producer Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by 'Top Gun: Maverick' director Joseph Kosinski, with Lewis Hamilton acting as a co-producer and special advisor to the film, will feature real racing footage blended with sequences filmed using specially prepared F2 cars mocked up as F1 machines. Pitt himself is expected to take to the track in between session over the weekend.
'Sonny Hayes' and 'Joshua Pearce' have apparently joined the grid’;
https://f1i.com/images/479631-brad-p...lverstone.html
Brad Pitt filming F1 movie at the British GP: latest on Silverstone shoot
July 5th 2023
Author: Motor Sport
A sellout Silverstone crowd of 150,000 F1 fans won’t just witness this year’s British Grand Prix; they’ll be extras in the new Lewis Hamilton-backed F1 film, starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, which will be shooting during the race weekend. A pit garage has already been fitted out by the production team with F1-style banners above the doors showing Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes and his team-mate, Joshua Pearce, played by Idris.
Equipment features APXGP branding, supporting rumours that the film will be called Apex. Pitt — and perhaps stunt drivers — will be driving a Formula 2 car, modified by Mercedes to more closely resemble a modern F1 machine, which will be run out of a dedicated pit garage for the production team. Unconfirmed rumours suggest the car may take part in the parade lap ahead of the Grand Prix itself.
Filming, led by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski, began behind closed doors at Silverstone, with some video clips of a black car emerging, seemingly collecting onboard footage. This weekend’s shoot will be much more high-profile, with spectators able to view scenes on-track and in the pit, which is equipped with a full gantry for replicating tyre changes, and film crews are expected to be at more races this season.
‘APXGP branding’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
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F1: 5 key talking points heading into the British Grand Prix.
The sport's spiritual home, Silverstone is one of the most iconic venues in all of motorsport and a packed crowd is expected this weekend as nearly half a million racing fans descend on this corner of England over the next few days.
By George Dagless
Give Me Sport
14:04, 6th July 2023.
It should be a cracking Grand Prix event, then, and here are five talking points to look out for as we head into the latest round of the championship... How will Mercedes' upgrades impact their performance? Mercedes have got some upgrades on their W14 this weekend and it's going to be fascinating seeing how it potentially picks up their performance.
Will McLaren be strong again? It was hugely positive seeing McLaren back in the mix towards the front in Austria last time out, with Lando Norris making the most out of the upgrades that he had been provided with. Where will Ferrari stack up? Ferrari have had some good race pace in the last couple of events, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both strong in Austria.
Could there be a protest? The summer of British sport has been hit several times by protests from Just Stop Oil and there is natural concern that that might happen this weekend at Silverstone. Apple to start filming - APX GP are in the paddock this weekend as the Apple production on the F1 film goes up a level. Brad Pitt and the film crew are on site at Silverstone, and will be filming shots to start putting the piece together.
‘5 key talking points’;
https://www.givemesport.com/f1-5-key...sh-grand-prix/
NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2023 British Grand Prix
06 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Vital statistics
• First Grand Prix – 1950
• Track Length – 5.891km
• Lap record – 1m 27.097s, Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 2020
• Most pole positions – Lewis Hamilton (7)
• Most wins – Lewis Hamilton (8)
• Trivia – Silverstone was the first Grand Prix, hosting the inaugural Formula 1 World Championship round on May 13, 1950
• Pole run to Turn 1 braking point – 239 metres
• Overtakes completed in 2022 – 70
• Safety Car probability – 89%*
• Virtual Safety Car probability – 22%*
• Pit stop time loss – 19.92 seconds
*From the last nine races in Britain
‘Facts, stats and trivia’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...DAJtAI7tZ.html
Verstappen wary of British GP mix-up
06 July 12:25PM
Author Ewan Gale
RacingNews365
Max Verstappen is wary that the weather for the British Grand Prix could "mix things up" as Red Bull aims to extend its dominance in F1. "Heading into another home race for us as a team this weekend in Silverstone - it is a great track to go to and I'm also curious to see how the RB19 will perform there," said Verstappen. "There's always a good atmosphere with a lot of passionate racing fans around the whole track.”
Perez recovered from illness and a poor qualifying at the Red Bull Ring to secure a podium from 15th on the grid and extend his lead over Fernando Alonso in the race for second in the Drivers' standings to 17 points. "In the end, we had a great weekend in Austria and it felt good to be back on the podium," added the Mexican. "I felt comfortable with the car all weekend and we had great pace from the start. The car really worked for me on Sunday and I was so pleased to come through the field in the way I did.”
“I feel confident going into Silverstone now and it is all about repeating the process together. I have taken time to rest to make sure I am ready physically because I want to keep this form going now until the summer break."
‘Wary of the weather’;
https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...tish-gp-mix-up
Lando Norris fires huge warning to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at British Grand Prix
Lando Norris is 10th in this season's F1 Drivers' Championship standings and will be looking to secure his first podium of the year at this weekend's British Grand Prix.
09:33, Thu, Jul 6, 2023
By Tom Parsons
Daily and Sunday Express
Lando Norris has Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in his sights at this weekend’s British Grand Prix after suggesting he could get the better of the Mercedes duo at the race.
“It’s tough,” Norris said after being asked if he could be the top Brit at Silverstone. “I just suppose it’s us versus Mercedes, isn’t it? I mean, both the Brits are there.” The 23-year-old later added: “And for me to be the top Brit, I think that would be a pretty cool thing to do in Silverstone.”
“I think we definitely had the upper hand over them this weekend,” Norris added. “I would say every other weekend of the year that they’ve been ahead, this is the first time we’ve been ahead of them. So I don’t want to just be convinced to say all of a sudden, ‘oh, we’re ahead of Mercedes.’ I don’t think that’s the right thing to say.”
“It’s tough”;
https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1...rix/British+GP
Norris 'jealous' of APX GP set-up
06 July 4:05PM
Author Ewan Gale
RacingNews365
McLaren driver Lando Norris has joked he has been left jealous with the special garage set-up for APX GP at the British Grand Prix.
Asked for his thoughts on the film set's integration into the F1 paddock, Norris told media, including RacingNews365.com: "Their garage is really nice, I am pretty jealous of some of the things they have got.”
‘APX GP set-up’;
https://racingnews365.com/norris-jea...-apx-gp-set-up
The upgrade that Mercedes will bring to the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone
6 Jul 2023
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net
Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has now explained how the W14 will be adapted again on home turf at Silverstone. "Well, it’s a fantastic event that we really look forward to,” Shovlin said.
“The team is based very close to the track, we’ve got two British drivers and the support is always absolutely phenomenal, so we love going there. We’ve got updates coming to the car, we have a new front wing that we’re going to be bringing that will hopefully move us a bit further up the grid.”
“And also, we’re hoping that the track itself is just going to suit the car a bit better than that Austria circuit. We’re going to be working really hard to make sure we can get as much out of the package as we can, and hopefully it’ll be a great race for all the fans.”
‘Updates coming to the car’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103069...ix-silverstone
Fernando Alonso Unfazed by Aston Martin’s Dip in Form.
July 5, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
Fernando Alonso is calling for calm and perspective amid an apparent performance dip at Aston Martin. Alonso isn’t even willing to concede that Aston Martin has been overtaken by some of its rivals – having earlier looked the main challenger to Red Bull.
“I don’t know,” the 41-year-old said. “Maybe the circuit just didn’t suit our car. Aston had a lot of problems in Austria last year, so maybe there may be similarities with this year.”
“I think it was a bit the circuit, a bit the updates that everyone else brought here,” said Alonso. “But we shouldn’t worry too much. We have another chance at Silverstone. We should do well,” he added. “Silverstone is an incredible track to drive with lots of fast corners.”
‘Calm and perspective’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/fernando-a...s-dip-in-form/
Alonso, Stroll 'ears bleeding' from Aston Martin radio
06 July 3:10PM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack joked Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll's "ears were bleeding" following the team's constant radio warnings over track limits at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Silverstone-based outfit lodged a protest against the provisional result post-race, which led to the stewards confirming that several drivers had managed to escape being penalised for track limit violations.
Asked what the team did differently to rivals operationally to have successfully appealed twice this season, Krack told media, including RacingNews365.com: "I don't think that we do anything different than any other team. "It is just a matter of preparation. It is part of the race, to look at that after a race or if you are protesting, or if something is not the way you think it has to be."
'Ears bleeding';
https://racingnews365.com/alonso-str...n-martin-radio
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Silverstone hoodoo haunts Red Bull as Piastri gets big boost: British GP burning questions.
If you want to get technical about your superstitions, the team hasn’t won a British Grand Prix since 2012 — Mark Webber’s final victory in F1.
July 7th, 2023 3:40 pm
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)
Let’s consider the history. In 2010 Red Bull Racing lost a front-row lockout to Fernando Alonso via a very rare pit stop error. In 2013, a dominant campaign, Sebastian Vettel retired from the lead with a gearbox issue and Webber was punted off track by Romain Grosjean.
In 2020 Verstappen missed a chance to inherit a victory from Lewis Hamilton because he’d made a precautionary late pit stop moment before the Briton’s tyre exploded. In 2021 that infamous flashpoint with Hamilton sent pole-starter Verstappen into the barrier at Copse at 290 kilometres per hour.
Finally, in 2022 Verstappen was taken out of the lead thanks to floor damage picked up by running over debris. That’s a lot of bad luck for one team at one track.
‘Silverstone hoodoo’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...bf5782dea59003
Charles Leclerc warns Ferrari will be ‘exposed’ at 2023 British GP
Charles Leclerc has warned Ferrari could be in for a difficult weekend at Silverstone amid ongoing performance struggles.
7 July 2023
by Edward Hardy
Formula1News
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc expects his team to encounter more challenges at Silverstone compared to their performance in Austria, where they demonstrated encouraging pace. Leclerc acknowledged the team’s progress but remained cautious, stating to the media that their performance in Austria needed validation.
“However, we shouldn’t get carried away. Red Bull is still a lot in front, and I think this track, this weekend, will expose a bit more of our weaknesses. So, we might struggle a bit more than what we’ve seen in Austria.”
‘Could be in for a difficult weekend at Silverstone’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/charles-l...23-british-gp/
Verstappen and Hamilton aim for staggering milestones - British GP stats
07 July 10:40AM
Author RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
A Red Bull victory would be its 11th in succession since last year's Abu Dhabi season finale, which would tie with McLaren's record of 11 set in 1988. Should both Verstappen and Perez finish in the top three, the team would secure its 250th podium in F1.
If Lewis Hamilton secures his first win of the season this weekend, the Mercedes driver would be the first to secure victory at the same track on nine occasions. The seven-time World Champion sits 23 laps short of Jim Clark's record for most laps led in British GP history.
‘Staggering milestones’;
https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...itish-gp-stats
Ferrari drivers fear windy Silverstone will expose car’s weaknesses
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 7th July 2023, 9:527th July 2023, 9:53
Written by Will Wood and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jnr are doubtful Ferrari’s form last weekend in Austria will be repeated at Silverstone. “I think since Barcelona, really, the feeling is going in the right direction,” said Leclerc. “We couldn’t really prove it at any other tracks since Barcelona, but in Austria, the feeling was good, and the pace was a bit better than what we had for the first part of the season.
“However, we shouldn’t get carried away. Red Bull is still a lot in front and I think this track this weekend will expose a bit more our weaknesses. So we might struggle a bit more than what we’ve seen in Austria. But it’s clear that the feeling and the pace is a step better.”
“I think we need maybe a more open, windy circuit like Silverstone to evaluate [our car],” he said. “Normally, we’ve been struggling more in windy conditions like Miami, Baku in the race sometimes. I think we need more samples to assess our progress on our upgrade package.”
‘Ferrari drivers fear windy Silverstone’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/07/...rs-weaknesses/
Norris backing himself to be ‘Best of the Brits’ at Silverstone
07 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Lando Norris was cautiously optimistic that he could emerge as the ‘best of the Brits’ at this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, as he lines up against compatriots George Russell and Lewis Hamilton – paired together at Mercedes – plus the London-born Thai driver Alex Albon.
“I’m hoping for a fight,” Lando Norris told Thursday’s press conference at Silverstone. “I think if we can fight with Mercedes we’ll be happy. I think last weekend, they just had a pretty tough weekend, but through the rest of [the year] they've been quicker than us in every single race this season in qualifying.”
“I mean, if there’s one place in the whole season that I’d love to do it more than anything, it’s here,” he said. “As much as I’d love any podium or any win or whatever it is, [this is] the one place I'd love to do it. Even over Monaco, even over all of those special places, the home race for me is the one place I’d love to do it.”
‘Best of the Brits’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...qUBkqhhgj.html
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British GP practice one: Albon stars behind Red Bulls.
Formula 1 world championship leader Max Verstappen took his customary first place in opening British Grand Prix practice at Silverstone, with Williams a shock closest challenger to Red Bull.
Jul 7 2023
By Matt Beer
The Race
Key moments:
> Alex Albon third for Williams
> Red Bull 1-2, Verstappen fastest for majority of session
> New Pirelli construction underwhelms
Verstappen held a commanding margin over the field in the early running on hard tyres with a 1m29.863s lap that no one got near until they started running softs.
Both Ferraris and Esteban Ocon’s Alpine had turns in front when that happened, but not for long before Verstappen went nearly half a second clear of them all by lapping in 1m28.836s. He later got that benchmark down to 1m28.600s.
‘Williams a shock closest challenger to Red Bull’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/briti...ind-red-bulls/
(FP1) First Practice Results – 2023 British Grand Prix
7th July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:28.600
2. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.448
3. Alex Albon Williams Racing +0.489
4. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.668
5. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.680
6. Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.719
7. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.757
8. Lando Norris McLaren +0.841
9. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.871
10. Oscar Piastri McLaren +1.058
‘British Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the first practice session ahead of this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at Silverstone’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp1-first-...and-prix-82568
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from first practice for the British Grand Prix
07 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
“As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...5lOw8Xgxa.html
2023 F1 British Grand Prix - Friday Practice - LIVE UPDATES!
7th July 2023, 12:41
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/2023-f...e-live-updates
Verstappen fastest in FP1 as Albon puts Williams into P3
7th July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
British Grand Prix – Max Verstappen was the fastest in the opening practice ahead of Sergio Perez while Alex Albon put Williams into P3. Verstappen remained as the top driver until the halfway point when Carlos Sainz took over, going half a second ahead of the Red Bull driver’s best with a 1:29.357, after putting the soft compound on.
With just less than 20 minutes to go, Esteban Ocon briefly took the top spot before Charles Leclerc put Ferrari back on top with a 1:29.280, the fastest three all covered by just 0.077 seconds. The Mercedes drivers in P7 and P12 weren’t having the smoothest of times at their home event, Russell reporting steering problems while Hamilton had to deal with bouncing.
After putting the softs on Perez made it four cars within a tenth after demoting Sainz to P4, but Verstappen put pay to that after setting his first lap on the red-ringed tyres, a 1:28.836, retaking P1 over four tenths quicker than Leclerc’s effort. Verstappen improved at the end to a 1:28.600 while Perez took P2, 0.448 seconds slower than his teammate.
‘Verstappen fastest in FP1’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen...-into-p3-82572
-
Verstappen fastest in FP2 as Williams stars, Britons struggle.
Williams, commemorating its 800th grand prix, had a standout day at a circuit where it claimed its maiden victory in 1979.
8th July 2023, 17:08
by Phillip Horton
Motorsport Week
Max Verstappen set the fastest time during second practice for Formula 1’s British Grand Prix as Williams starred while the British contingent struggled for pace. Verstappen clocked a time of 1:28.078s to edge last year’s British Grand Prix victor Carlos Sainz by just 0.022s in hot and dry conditions at Silverstone.
Alex Albon consolidated his encouraging display from first practice by again placing third, only two-tenths behind points leader Verstappen. Albon’s rookie team-mate Logan Sargeant reinforced Williams’ strong performance by classifying in fifth position. They were split by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Mercedes wound up with George Russell 12th,, and Lewis Hamilton 15th, 1.2s off Verstappen’s pace, while McLaren driver Lando Norris placed 14th.
‘Verstappen fastest in FP2 as Williams stars’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...tons-struggle/
(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2023 British Grand Prix
7th July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:28.078
2. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.022
3. Alex Albon Williams Racing +0.218
4. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.264
5. Logan Sargeant Williams Racing +0.688
6. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.788
7. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +0.802
8. Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.811
9. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.848
10. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.056
‘British Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the second practice session ahead of this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at Silverstone’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp2-second...and-prix-82580
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from second practice for the British Grand Prix
07 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...1fiBVgSFd.html
Verstappen quickest, Albon third again but electrical fault strands Leclerc in pits
2023 British Grand Prix second practice
Posted on 7th July 2023, 17:30
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
Max Verstappen set the fastest time again in the second practice session for the British Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc did not complete a single lap. Carlos Sainz Jnr was less than half a tenth of a second behind the championship leader in second place. However an electrical problem left his team mate stranded in the garage for the entire hour.
Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant backed up Williams’ promising performance in the opening practice session by setting the third and fifth-fastest times, respectively. The pair were split by the second Red Bill of Sergio Perez. Perez could not get within two tenths of his team mate on the softs, but Albon went faster than him to move into second place while his Williams team mate Sargeant moved fifth on the soft tyres. Sainz could not match Verstappen’s best time but was awfully close, just 0.022s slower than the Red Bull, putting him second.
‘Verstappen quickest, Albon third, electrical fault strands Leclerc in pits’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/07/...clerc-in-pits/
Williams admits British GP practice pace was unexpected
8th July 2023, 18:32
By: Adam Cooper
Motorsport.com
In FP1, Alex Albon was an impressive third fastest, and the Thai/British driver then underlined the speed of the car by repeating the performance in FP2, albeit helped by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc failing to complete a lap. Williams introduced a new aero package in Montreal, where Albon finished seventh on a track where the updates – aimed at high-speed corner performance – were not expected to provide much benefit.
The revised car's potential was perhaps not obvious over the Austrian sprint weekend, although Albon qualified 10th and had a solid race to 11th. "We need to go and have a look at the data and try and understand it," Robson told Motorsport.com regarding the Silverstone form.
Asked if the Friday pace would change the team's approach heading into Saturday, Robson stressed that the focus would be on the bigger picture of working out why the car is so suited to the track. "I don't think it changes anything we do," he said. "In fact going through the data and stuff tonight is probably more important than when we have a difficult Friday. It's more important are really to understand why it's gone well, and make sure we don't muck it up!"
“Don't muck it up!";
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/w...cted/10492904/
Williams weren’t “doing anything special” to get both cars in top five – Albon
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 7th July 2023, 18:44
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Williams’ pace in practice for the British Grand Prix surprised Alexander Albon, who said the car was a handful in the strong winds at the track. Albon was third-quickest in both practice sessions at Silverstone on Friday. However he admitted the conditions made it hard to judge where the team had made progress.
“Truthfully, if you talk about balance, every corner is different here because the wind is hitting the car in different ways,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “So you get what you call a very ‘disconnected’ car.
“There’s a lot you can do, but also it’s very hard, for example turn three is oversteer and turn four is understeer. You can’t really attack those corners and do set-up work because they’re the same corner speeds and you’re just getting a headwind and then tailwind. So it’s all about compromise around this circuit.” He said the team have “got to keep grounded” because their performance is “also a bit surprising for us.”
“Got to keep grounded”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/07/...op-five-albon/
Mercedes director makes HUMILIATING Hamilton admission ahead of British GP
Friday 7 July 2023 18:46
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Mercedes have experienced a very topsy turvy start to the Formula 1 season, with major upgrades introduced at the Monaco Grand Prix helping to thrust the car towards the front of the F1 pack, before the team tailed off at last week’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Recent upgrades had helped them to apply pressure on Ferrari at the Canadian Grand Prix, before struggling at the Austrian Grand Prix, where their drivers finished in seventh and eighth place despite post-race track limit penalties. This weekend’s British Grand Prix is an important one for the Silver Arrows, with more upgrades set to be brought to their car as they bid to return to the forefront of the F1 field.
Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport Mercedes technical director James Allison discussed some of the decisions that Mercedes have made over the last few years, and talked about why Lewis Hamilton may be struggling with the W14. Heading into the British Grand Prix – a race bookmarked by the team as one of their best chances to win all season...
‘HUMILIATING’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...sh-grand-prix/
Lewis Hamilton has 'no ideas' to fix rot as Mercedes suffer British GP nightmare
Lewis Hamilton has been left confused as he struggled at the British Grand Prix.
17:45, Fri, Jul 7, 2023
By Luke Chillingsworth
Daily and Sunday Express
Hamilton was asked if he had a few ideas on how to get the car in the right window for tomorrow. The 38-year-old confessed that he and Russell had spoken after the session but both were left confused as to which direction to turn for the rest of the race weekend.
Hamilton said: “No, No. Me and George were just talking. He’s one way, he’s over here with the set-up and I’m over here. He was like ’I'm thinking of coming to where you are but your lap times slow'.
“I was like ‘well I’m thinking of coming to where you are but the balance’. We will try and work on it tonight and Mick [Schumacher] will do some work in the sim tonight so hopefully we will come up with something tomorrow.”
'No ideas to fix rot’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ish-grand-prix
Lewis Hamilton bemoans ‘something is wrong’ with his Mercedes after awful British Grand Prix practice
Friday 7 Jul 2023 6:53 pm
Callum McAvoy
Metro.co.uk
Sir Lewis Hamilton is not a confident man going into the British Grand Prix after two awful practice sessions on Friday. Little comfort for Hamilton who cut a despondent figure in the paddock, telling Sky Sports: ‘It’s a tough car to drive. No matter what we do to set it up, it continues to be a tough car to drive.
“On a single lap I didn’t feel any improvement between tyres, which shows something is wrong. We are missing something. The long run didn’t seem to be too bad, so that’s a positive at least.”
“This track is about trying to weigh the scales the whole way round and making compromises here and there. It’s such a fine edge the balance. It’s a good battle.”
‘Something is wrong’;
https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/07/f1-le...o=newsnow-feed
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Charles Leclerc tight-lipped on Ferrari problems as FP2 running wiped out.
Charles Leclerc did not give much away on the confirmed Ferrari electrical issue which destroyed his FP2 session, but is confident that a fix is now in place.
07 Jul 2023 7:42 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Ferrari confirmed just minutes before FP2 that Leclerc would miss the start of the 60-minute session after his car developed an electrical problem, with mechanics later seen removing the engine cover in the garage. Leclerc’s car was then captured up on stools in the garage with less than 25 minutes to go as Ferrari admitted defeat in their efforts to get him out on track.
Just three weeks after a Ferrari misjudgement saw him suffer an embarrassing Q2 exit in Canada, Leclerc has again been put at a major disadvantage ahead of Sunday’s race having lost the opportunity to conduct a long run in the most representative conditions.
He said: “There was a small problem on the car, I think the team has identified what went wrong. We’ve changed basically everything that was wrong on the car and it should be should be fine for tomorrow. An electrical issue, so it shouldn’t have any influence on our weekend apart from obviously the lack of kilometres and laps in FP2.”
‘Charles Leclerc tight-lipped’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/charle...one-fp2-issue/
Leclerc Silverstone practice misery as Verstappen shines again
Saturday 8th July, 2023 - 2:06am
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Charles Leclerc sat out the entire second practice session for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone where Max Verstappen finished quickest to again underline his ongoing superiority. Ferrari reported an electrical issue on Leclerc’s SF-23 just as the hour-long session started, which was already five minutes late as the track required cleaning following a number of incidents during F2 qualifying.
Despite a strenuous effort to repair the issue, Leclerc’s mechanics were unable to resolve the problem, leaving the Monégasque without crucial running ahead of qualifying on Saturday, particularly with heavy rain forecast for FP3. With Leclerc finishing without a time to his name, AlphaTauri duo Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de Vries were the slowest on track, despite the AT04s possessing a raft of upgrades to arrest what has so far been a dismal season for the team.
‘Leclerc Silverstone practice misery’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/07/08...cond-practice/
Rain on Saturday will amplify cost of lost session – Leclerc
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 7th July 2023, 21:16
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Charles Leclerc doubts he will be able to test planned changes to his car after an electrical problem forced him to sit out the second practice session at Silverstone. He was the quickest of the two Ferrari drivers in first practice. While Leclerc spent the later session in the garage, team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr went second fastest, just two-hundredths of a second slower than pace-setter Max Verstappen.
“In FP1 we learned a few things, then we did all the changes to learn more in FP2 that we couldn’t test,” said Leclerc. “So that’s a bit of a shame. I think we’ll come back with the car I had in FP1 as the feeling was pretty good then. Learning when you don’t drive is very difficult. So in FP2, not much to learn.”
Ferrari “changed basically everything that was on the car” to fix the problem, said Leclerc. “It should be fine for tomorrow. [It was] an electrical issue, so it shouldn’t have an influence on our weekend apart from obviously the lack of kilometres and laps in FP2.”
‘Rain on Saturday will amplify cost of lost session’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/07/...ssion-leclerc/
Sainz says Ferrari have ‘homework to do’ despite strong pace as Leclerc expands on issue that kept him out of FP2
07 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
While he was encouraged by the team’s single-lap pace during Friday practice for the British Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz has called on Ferrari to make gains with their long-run performance if they are to fight for overall honours this weekend.
“We actually did a pretty good step forward from FP1 to FP2, trying different set-ups, trying different directions to go to try and improve the car in these conditions. It looked like it worked, but still our race pace doesn’t look great, and we will need to keep working on it.”
“We are definitely trying to work around [tyre degradation] because we know it’s going to be our main weakness this weekend. We are pushing hard to see what we can do to manage them better. Mercedes, for example, did a much better job than us, Red Bull a much better job. Although today we look like we are P2, we know that there is some homework to do overnight.”
‘Homework to do’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...zixHmllgA.html
Ferrari dealt NIGHTMARE blow as Leclerc misses FP2 with electrical issue
Friday 7 July 2023
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Ferrari’s progress has been halted in the second session of the British Grand Prix weekend, with Charles Leclerc forced to sit out as a result of an incurable electrical issue. The Monegasque driver misses the opportunity to gather crucial long-run data which could help him to improve his setup for Sunday’s race, as Ferrari bid to win their first race for over a year.
Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz confirmed that the Ferrari mechanics have a long evening of work ahead of them to rectify the issue, stating that; “The mechanics have gone, and that is a surefire sign that they have given up trying to get the Monegasque driver out for this session. That electrical issue, as we kind of expected, is too big and it’s going to take a rebuild of the car to fix it.”
“We can either have story that Charles Leclerc has done brilliantly to overcome missing FP2, and not getting any kind of data on his long tyre run to brilliantly still finish on the podium. Or we can have Charles Leclerc with a not great finishing position after the British Grand Prix, and he complained this moment in FP2, on Friday afternoon, when he missed that session and missed the chance to get some long-runs and data on his tyres.”
‘NIGHTMARE blow - Long evening of work ahead of them to rectify the issue’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...sh-grand-prix/
-
Alonso reveals Aston Martin 'GAME-CHANGER' in championship fight.
Fernando Alonso has referred to Aston Martin’s new state-of-the-art facility as a ‘game-changer’ when it comes to fighting for F1 world championships.
Friday 7 July 2023 19:12
Lauren Sneath
GPFans
The two-time world champion, who has been enjoying considerable success in his first season with the British team, said he was ‘incredibly impressed’ the outfit’s new home. Based at Silverstone, the site of the British Grand Prix, the new facility will accommodate the team’s expanding workforce of more than 700 employees as it fights to further climb the rankings.
Also on the site is a dedicated wind tunnel, which is about halfway to completion. After the campus opened, Alonso said: "I’m incredibly impressed by our new home. “From the design office to mission control, all the facilities are second to none and I see a lot of smiles when I walk around.”
“To win in this sport you need to excel at everything, and this new facility is a game-changer. It’s a true signal of intent to enable us to fight for world championships.”
'GAME-CHANGER';
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...-game-changer/
'More to come' from Aston Martin, says Alonso after P10 in Friday practice
07 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Fernando Alonso found the windy conditions on Friday "tricky" but is happy to be back in action at Silverstone and is hopeful for more progress from Aston Martin despite the changeable weather forecast for the British Grand Prix weekend.
'More to come';
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...244747319.html
'Pace looked good' for Stroll in Friday practice
07/07/2023 at 20:28
Andrew Lewin
F1i.com
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll was feeling happy with the state of the world after finishing Friday's practice day at Silverstone in sixth place, putting him ahead of his team mate Fernando Alonso for once. "The pace looked good so I’m feeling positive," he said, despite an incident in which his finger was struck by a loose piece of gravel.
"We made a few set-up changes after FP1 and the AMR23 was feeling stronger for the second session," he continued. "There are still a few bits to work through tonight. We’ll see what tomorrow brings as it looks like the temperature will drop and there could be some rain in the area," he noted. "We could be in for an interesting qualifying!”
'Pace looked good';
https://f1i.com/news/479999-pace-loo...-practice.html
Stroll 'fine' after finger hit by stone in FP2 at Silverstone
07 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll explains that a stone hitting his finger during second practice was "pretty painful" but won't impact his performance for the rest of the weekend at the 2023 British Grand Prix.
‘Stroll 'fine' after finger hit by stone’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...658386126.html
The Debrief by Aramco: British GP
07.07.2023
Aston Martin F1 - Official Site
Free Practice One took place in the early afternoon heat, with heavy gusts throwing a number of drivers off track. Lance and Fernando began the day with the objective to understand updates to the AMR23 and collect as much data as possible. Both drivers completed more than 25 laps apiece in the first practice session, with Fernando finishing fourth and Lance ninth.
In Free Practice Two, there was slightly more grip on track courtesy of the opening session and our drivers began FP2 with some Soft-tyre running. Lance broke into the 1m28s with his fastest lap of the day and finished sixth overall, while Fernando ended the session P10. Read the thoughts of Lance and Fernando after they managed a combined 103 laps of Silverstone Circuit on Friday of the British Grand Prix.
‘The Debrief’;
https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/...mco-british-gp
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Leclerc leads Albon in final British GP F1 practice.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc led Williams driver Alex Albon in a rain-hit final British Grand Prix Formula 1 practice session at Silverstone.
Jul 8 2023
By Valentin Khorounzhiy
The Race
Key moments:
> Rain freezes order at halfway point
> Leclerc heads Albon and Alonso
> Verstappen and Perez left without soft-tyre run
Leclerc set the fastest time of the weekend so far, a 1m27.419s, on his initial run on softs, and looked on course to improve after swapping to a new set when rain arrived, effectively freezing the order in the standings and setting up a second half-hour of primarily intermediate-tyre running.
The rain had kicked off just short of the halfway point, but several teams had managed to pull off a last-gasp qualifying simulation on softs in anticipation – with Williams the quickest of those as Albon lapped just under two tenths off Leclerc.
‘Leclerc leads Albon’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/lecle...h-gp-practice/
(FP3) Third Practice Results – 2023 British Grand Prix
8th July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari -1:27.419
2. Alex Albon Williams Racing +0.173
3. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.365
4. Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.474
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.529
6. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.545
7. Logan Sargeant Williams Racing +0.732
8. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.847
9. George Russell Mercedes +0.865
10. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +0.918
‘British Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the final practice session ahead of this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at Silverstone’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp3-third-...and-prix-82591
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from third practice for the British Grand Prix
08 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...FYbWnqi5p.html
2023 F1 British Grand Prix - Final Practice - LIVE UPDATES!
8th July 2023, 11:29
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES!’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/2023-f...e-live-updates
F1 British GP: Charles Leclerc sets new benchmark as Alex Albon continues to shine for Williams in final practice
8 Jul 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Charles Leclerc set the pace before rain hit in final practice at the F1 British Grand Prix, while Alex Albon continued to impress for Williams. After an electrical problem kept him in the garage for the entirety of FP2, Leclerc posted the fastest time of the weekend so far at Silverstone to put his Ferrari top of the timesheets.
It marked the first time since Q2 at the Canadian Grand Prix that Max Verstappen has not finished a session with the quickest time. Having finished third-fastest in both of Friday’s practice sessions, Albon once again starred in his Williams to produce a lap that was just 0.173s slower than Leclerc’s benchmark.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was third, ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who was half a second adrift.
‘New benchmark’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103090...sh-gp-practice
Charles Leclerc bounces back to top rain-affected British GP FP3
Ferrari and Red Bull look set for an exciting 2023 British GP qualifying battle
July 8, 2023
By Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport
Charles Leclerc recovered from missing all of FP2 at the 2023 British Grand Prix to top a rain-affected FP3 session. The session sets up an intriguing qualifying session with Ferrari and Red Bull looking closely matched but thanks to the weather bringing a premature end to flying laps.
That left a jumbled-up order behind Leclerc, with Max Verstappen the leading Red Bull in eighth at over eight-tenths behind the Monegasque driver and Sergio Perez 14th at 1.5s back.
Lando Norris was the first to get back onto the slick tyres and was soon followed by the rest of the field, George Russell radioed in to change when it was spitting at corners 4-7 but dry elsewhere. However, that was a brief respite and the rain soon returned leaving the field in intermediate conditions.
‘Bounces back’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ritish-gp-fp3/
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British Grand Prix: Max Verstappen recovers from pit lane embarrassment to silence Silverstone crowd.
Norris crossed the line and shot up to provisional pole to a huge cheer from the British fans. However, Verstappen, still to complete his lap, silenced the crowd with a 1:26.720 to take pole position by 0.241s ahead of Norris, Piastri impressing with his P3.
08 Jul 2023 4:20 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Max Verstappen shrugged off a minor blip as he hit the pit lane wall in Q1 to bounce back to take pole position for the British Grand Prix ahead of Lando Norris.
With the red flags out for Kevin Magnussen’s stricken Haas, his car cutting out as he came out of Stowe, the bottom five drivers were left with just 3m11s to save their qualifying session. This led to a queue in the pit lane, one that Verstappen tried to join only to hit the pit wall – “I just understeered” – and break his front wing. He was pushed back in his garage for repairs.
As the track was green lighted, Perez led out the field with it taking more than a minute for Verstappen, at the very back, to leave the pit lane. The ever-improving track conditions meant one after the other the drivers took turns in the top spots with Q1 ending with Norris quickest of all. Out went Perez, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu, Nyck de Vries and Magnussen. Valtteri Bottas, although P11 in Q1, broke down on the side of the track so wasn’t able to line up for Q2.
‘Silence Silverstone crowd’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/britis...ifying-report/
Qualifying Results – 2023 British Grand Prix
8th July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
Q3
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:26.720
2. Lando Norris McLaren +0.241
3. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.372
4. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.416
5. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.428
6. George Russell Mercedes +0.435
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.491
8. Alex Albon Williams Racing +0.810
9. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.939
10. Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.969
‘British Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for tomorrow’s 2023 F1 World Championship race around Silverstone’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-82594
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from qualifying for the British Grand Prix
08 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Bz29e9xXN.html
How qualifying for the 2023 F1 British Grand Prix unfolded
8th July 2023.
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘How qualifying unfolded’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/how-qu...-prix-unfolded
Verstappen SHOCKED after bonkers British Grand Prix qualifying
Saturday 8 July 2023 18:03
Lauren Sneath
GPFans
Speaking to Jenson Button for Sky Sports after the race, Verstappen said: “It’s been quite a crazy qualifying. It’s been quite hectic. Also, quite slippery in some places, but we did our laps. Q3, I was quite surprised to see them (McLaren) two there. It’s great for McLaren as well to be here from our side, very happy of course to be on pole."
He explained that it was necessary to be cautious, saying: “Especially Q1 and Q2 you know, there was still a few damp spots. You had to be a little bit careful. "Of course, you push close to the limit, but knowing that we have a quick car you don’t need to go to the 100 per cent limit."
He continued: "I think that’s why in Q3 when you just go for it, I think that’s where we then of course eked out the gap a little bit. It was not a very big gap to them. For us today, a great day and looking forward to tomorrow already."
‘Verstappen SHOCKED’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...aren-surprise/
Sergio Perez explains another poor qualifying performance after British GP Q1 exit
The Red Bull driver missed Q3 for the fifth Formula 1 race in a row at the 2023 British Grand Prix
July 8, 2023
Sergio Perez‘s qualifying woes continued at the 2023 British Grand Prix as the Red Bull driver had a poor qualifying performance for the fifth race in a row. After a late red flag, Perez was first out of the pit garages but waited for a long time at the end of the pitlane and on a rapidly improving track all but three drivers behind him improved to dump him out of Q1.
“I think the red flag lasted longer than we predicted initially and that didn’t help with the tyre temperature,” Perez told the media. “It’s just a shame to lose out because we had a great Friday, the race pace was looking really good. I think starting from the back is going to be another race where we try to minimise the damage.”
At Silverstone he looked visibly dejected post-qualifying and only faced two questions from the media before he was ushered away by Red Bull. “I think these conditions is where I struggle most with the car, my issues with the car become more apparent in the changeable conditions,” Perez added.
‘Visibly dejected post-qualifying’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...sh-gp-q1-exit/
Home hero Lando Norris takes astonishing front row at British Grand Prix as crowd go wild
8th July 2023, 4:38 pm
Connor Andrews
talkSPORT
Lando Norris left his home crowd in raptures by incredibly qualifying on the front row at the British Grand Prix. Bristol-born Norris planted his McLaren second behind Max Verstappen, and will have his teammate Oscar Piastri just behind in third for Sunday’s race.
Norris had initially gone fastest, sending the Silverstone crowd to their feet, but along came his friend Verstappen to deny him his second F1 pole position. Speaking after the event, Norris joked: “It’s always Max, he always ruins everything for everyone!”
‘Crowd go wild’;
https://talksport.com/sport/motorsport/1491949/
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Winners and losers from the 2023 British Grand Prix qualifying.
Max Verstappen made it seven poles for the F1 2023 season by claiming P1 on the grid for the British Grand Prix.
08 Jul 2023 8:30 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
RacingNews365
While Verstappen claiming pole for a Grand Prix is hardly a shocking development at this point, the Dutchman certainly did not enjoy a walk in the park to that P1 spot at Silverstone as the track continued to ramp up and the bravest were rewarded.
After earlier rain had dried up, the track became increasingly generous in its offering of grip to the drivers, and while after the opening Q3 runs it seemed like Verstappen had schooled the pack, Norris had other ideas.
The Brit would send his home crowd into raptures as he went onto provisional pole, with only Verstappen able to deny him that top spot. But that is exactly what he did when the pressure was on.
‘Made it seven poles for the F1 2023 season’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/wi...ix-qualifying/
Fernando Alonso planning defensive Aston Martin drive at British GP
The best Aston Martin could muster was ninth on the grid for Fernando Alonso, with Lance Stroll eliminated in Q2
July 8, 2023
By Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Fernando Alonso has said that Aston Martin are looking at a defensive drive for the 2023 British Grand Prix as the team hopes to regroup in the races after Silverstone. Aston Martin experienced a difficult qualifying around Silverstone, as Lance Stroll was eliminated in Q2, whilst Alonso‘s best effort was only enough for ninth on the grid.
The AMR23 appeared to struggle in all three parts of qualifying as neither driver could get within half a second of the fastest time in each segment, something Alonso believes is down to the car not suiting tracks such as Silverstone.
“I think it is a bit track specific.” Alonso told select members of the media, including Total-Motorsport.com. “So we have to remain calm, two races ago in Canada we were very strong and were fighting for the win.”
‘We have to remain calm’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...23-british-gp/
McLaren upgrades under Mercedes scrutiny as MCL60 ‘rocketship’ launched – F1 news round-up
08 Jul 2023 11:59 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Qualifying day for the 2023 British Grand Prix is in the books, where McLaren delivered a “wake-up call” to the Mercedes squad. It is a further gravitation towards the Red Bull philosophy which Mercedes cannot ignore.
“I think each of us had bodyworks that were perfectly good in the tunnel and it didn’t come out in performance,” Wolff told media including PlanetF1.com. “So you’ve got to leave no stone unturned and maybe look at it again, because another team just found a second in performance.”
‘MCL60 ‘rocketship’ launched’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/britis...news-round-up/
Winners and Losers from 2023 F1 British Grand Prix Qualifying
08 July 10:40PM
Author Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
Winner - Max Verstappen: Five straight pole positions and he is surely set for a sixth win on the bounce.
Loser - Sergio Perez: Perez deserves some sympathy for this Qualifying exit for this was more on the team than anything he did himself.
Winner – McLaren: Speak to anyone from McLaren over the weekend and the story was the same. Yes, the Austrian GP upgrades had given the MCL60 a boost but that is a track at which the team have historically performed well and is one of Norris's best. Get them on the track at Silverstone and let's see what they've really got. And we did.
Loser – Mercedes: That sounds you can hear is Mercedes coming firmly back to earth with the realisation that the W14 is still a pretty tricky machine to master.
Winner - Alex Albon: Third, third and second in practice was no fluke from Alex Albon in that Williams.
Loser – Ferrari: The confusion between Leclerc and Sainz in Q1 was entirely avoidable.
‘Winners and Losers’;
https://racingnews365.com/winners-an...rix-qualifying
Bottas disqualified over fuel sample, AlphaTauri fined for unsafe release
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 8th July 2023, 19:10
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
Valtteri Bottas has been disqualified from the result of qualifying for the British Grand Prix after his team were unable to provide the required fuel sample from his car. Teams are required to provide one litre of fuel from their cars for analysis after qualifying. However Alfa Romeo were unable to do this after Bottas came to a stop at the end of Q1.
Bottas’ team mate Zhou Guanyu was also investigated after the qualifying session. The stewards decided against penalising him for impeding Esteban Ocon. However the stewards have penalised AlphaTauri for releasing Nyck de Vries into the path of Oscar Piastri during the qualifying session. The team has been fined €5,000 (£4,272) for the unsafe release.
‘Disqualified over fuel sample’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/08/...nsafe-release/
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F1: Max Verstappen wins British GP as Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton get podium at home.
Max Verstappen continues to streak into the distance in the F1 Drivers' standings, after sealing victory at the British Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
9th July 2023, 16:40
By George Dagless
Give Me Sport
Verstappen started from P1 at lights out, accompanied by the two McLaren cars of Lando Norris in second and Oscar Piastri in third, and to the delight of the packed British fans in the grandstands, Norris led the opening exchanges after a fine start from the front row. Verstappen, though, was unbothered and would soon be back in front, with Norris and Piastri eager to try and work together and pull away from the field to secure a double podium.
However, a Safety Car midway through the race threw a spanner in the works for McLaren's hopes, with Kevin Magnussen having to retire. Initially, a VSC was called but with a recovery vehicle needed to get the stricken Haas out of the firing line, a full Safety Car was introduced, sparking a flurry of pit stops as the drivers came in for the soft, and assumed quickest tyre. As it all shook out ahead of the race resuming, Verstappen led from Norris, but Hamilton had managed to jump Piastri by being able to pit when the Safety Car was out, whilst the Aussie had come in earlier, with George Russell lurking in the other Mercedes in P5.
In behind them, a great battle played out towards the other half of the top ten, as Sergio Perez battled through from 15th on the grid to finish 6th, whilst Carlos Sainz was mugged late on by the Mexican, Alex Albon, and his team-mate Charles Leclerc. Back at the front, though, it was Verstappen who took the chequered flag, with Norris brilliantly holding off Hamilton as the British pair gave the Silverstone crowd something to really cheer.
‘Max Verstappen wins’;
https://www.givemesport.com/f1-max-v...milton-podium/
Race Results – 2023 British Grand Prix
9th July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing – 52 laps
2. Lando Norris McLaren +3.798
3. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +6.783
4. Oscar Piastri McLaren +7.776
5. George Russell Mercedes +11.206
6. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +12.882
7. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +17.193
8. Alex Albon Williams Racing +17.878
9. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +18.689
10. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +19.448
‘British Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at Silverstone’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-82613
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the 2023 British Grand Prix
09 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...dv0s3FqrV.html
F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone 2023: LIVE UPDATES!
9th July 2023, 12:24
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES!’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-bri...3-live-updates
Verstappen heads local heroes Norris and Hamilton to claim British Grand Prix win
09 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Norris jumped Verstappen for the lead at the start, with team mate Oscar Piastri almost following him through, meaning it was a Red Bull in a McLaren sandwich over the first few laps – but the reigning double world champion soon fought back.
By Lap 5, and with DRS at his disposal, Verstappen reclaimed P1 from Norris and never looked troubled, pulling away from the home favourite as the race developed and then managing a late Safety Car period – caused by Kevin Magnussen’s smoking Haas – that saw the leaders go for different tyre strategies.
Sergio Perez delivered another solid recovery drive to sixth after the Red Bull driver’s latest qualifying woes, making a series of late moves to finish ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Williams’ Alex Albon and the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
‘Verstappen heads local heroes’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Aswy1lHq0.html
Lando Norris takes swipe at his own team after Max Verstappen wins British GP
Lando Norris hit out at McLaren's strategy despite securing P2 at the British Grand Prix.
16:46, Sun, Jul 9, 2023
By Jack McEachen
Daily and Sunday Express
McLaren driver Lando Norris openly questioned his team's tactics during the British Grand Prix, despite securing an emotional second-placed finish in a stunning weekend for the team. He finished behind only Max Verstappen on the Red Bull man's first Silverstone victory and ahead of fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton in third.
McLaren's choice to use hard tyres late in the race was highly debatable, as Norris hit out after reacting to his podium finish. "Pretty insane," he said. "Thanks to the whole team, they have done an amazing job. None of this would be possible without their hard work. They put me on hard tyres I don't know why. They are still beginners in something!
‘Team's tactics’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ren-British-GP
Hamilton congratulates rival 'FAMILY' after British GP podium
Sunday 9 July 2023 19:12
Lauren Sneath
GPFans
Lewis Hamilton made sure to congratulate his ‘family’ at McLaren after the British Grand Prix, where he took P3 behind Lando Norris. He said: “Also, I just want to say a big congratulations to Lando and to McLaren. Where it was my family, it’s where I first started.”
“To see them back up there looking so strong, I mean that thing was rapid through the high-speed corners. I was just wow. I couldn’t keep up, but we had a good little battle on the restart. The start wasn’t so great for me, but the long run on the medium was really great.”
‘Rival 'FAMILY'.’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...d-prix-podium/
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British Grand Prix conclusions: Norris’ podium warning, Hamilton wants answers.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed his sixth consecutive victory in the British Grand Prix to extend his lead over Sergio Perez to 99 points after 10 races of the F1 2023 season.
10 Jul 2023 6:00 AM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Lando Norris made his first appearance on the podium since Imola 2022 to round off a very encouraging weekend for McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton benefiting from a late Safety Car to take third for Mercedes. Here are our conclusions from Silverstone…
Lando Norris really, really needed that. Norris is quite a sensitive soul by F1 standards and effectively admitted ahead of the British GP that McLaren’s struggles over the last year had affected his sense of self-worth. Not only was he remarkably calm under pressure, he was tough and spirited – as though Norris had channelled every single one of his disappointments over the last 18 months into an over-my-dead-body determination to stay ahead.
Lewis Hamilton would be foolish to commit to Mercedes yet. After two seasons of everyone at Mercedes overpromising and underdelivering, is Hamilton at last beginning to see the light? After his podium at Silverstone all he wanted was an answer to the question he’d been asking all weekend. Why is it, he said more than once, that Ferrari and even McLaren have quite easily managed to do what Mercedes still cannot?
‘Conclusions’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/br...3-conclusions/
Winners and Losers from the 2023 F1 British Grand Prix
09 July 10:00PM
Author Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
Winner - McLaren/Lando Norris: If you'd offered McLaren a second and fourth ahead of the weekend and told them Norris would finish 3.9s behind race-winner Verstappen, your arm would be snapped in quite a few places.
Loser - Oscar Piastri: And on the flip side, we have Oscar Piastri. Piastri did absolutely nothing wrong but was caught out by pitting just before the Safety Car was deployed. Had it not, he would have banked a maiden F1 podium - and it was fully deserved.
Winner - Logan Sargeant: Williams boss James Vowles spoke this week of the breakthrough he felt Logan Sargeant had made in Austria and encouraged the rookie to kick on at Silverstone.
Loser – Alpine: To say boss Otmar Szafnauer was unimpressed after the race would be an understatement. He wasn't quite hopping mad but his frustration at a double DNF at Alpine's home race as McLaren scored 30 points was rather visible.
Winner - Max Verstappen: Next. Since the 2022 French Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has won 17 of 21 races, finished second twice, and got a sixth and seventh.
Loser – Ferrari: This place was a toss up between Mercedes and Ferrari but as one rescued a three-five and the other a nine-10 finish, the coin landed one way. To finish nine-10 from four-five on the grid is far from ideal and represents a step backwards for Ferrari after all that excellent work they had did in recent races to claw their way back into contention.
‘Winners & Losers’;
https://racingnews365.com/winners-an...ish-grand-prix
Mark Hughes: Why British GP jumbled the 2023 F1 pack so much
Jul 10 2023
By Mark Hughes
The Race
Yes, of course Max Verstappen’s Red Bull dominated the British Grand Prix. This is the 2023 Formula 1 season. As McLaren’s Andrea Stella had said when attempting to explain why his cars were so good here at Silverstone, less so at other tracks: “I’m sure Red Bull have similar kinds of issues but it’s within their margin [of superiority] so it doesn’t hurt them.”
The circuit: This circuit layout is relatively easy for a modern ground effect car and its monstrous high-speed performance. Even the bad cars are good here. The lowliest cars are flat or near-flat through Abbey, Copse and Maggotts, with Stowe a mere lift. All that’s differentiating them is their slow-corner performance through the Village loop, the Brooklands-Luffield complex and Vale. That and their aero efficiency.
The tyres: Red Bull had originally planned to switch Verstappen to hards when he stopped – and it hadn’t been figuring on making its single stop anything like as late as lap 34 of 52 (when the safety car came out). But the degradation rate for everyone was exceptionally low. So he stayed out, just in case there was a safety car and because the medium remained quicker than a new hard would have been.
‘Jumbled 2023 F1 pack’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/mark-...-pack-so-much/
Wind, strategy and inconsistency at the heart of Ferrari's abysmal British GP
10/07/2023
NEWS STORY
Pitpass
Strategy, the wind and the SF23's infamous inconsistency were at the heart of a seriously disappointing Silverstone outing for the Scuderia. In the end, a day that promised so much, what with its drivers starting fourth and fifth behind the McLarens, turned out to be an abject failure.
Charles Leclerc finished ninth and Carlos Sainz tenth, the pair held at bay by Alex Albon in the Williams. For Leclerc it all went wrong when the Monegasque was ordered to pit on Lap 18, in what appeared to be a move to undercut his rivals, rather than extend his opening run on the mediums.
For teammate Sainz the inconsistency of the SF23 was made worse by the wind. "Very windy, very tricky car to drive again," said the Spaniard, "it's very difficult to be consistent in these conditions. We were struggling a lot on traction in all the tailwind," he added. "We couldn't get on the power and also a harder tyre made the fighting and everything very tricky.”
‘Abject failure’;
https://www.pitpass.com/75649/Wind-s...mal-British-GP
Hamilton admits “disappointment” at performance of Mercedes’ new front wing
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 10th July 2023, 7:1510th July 2023, 7:27
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Mercedes were hoping to make more gains from the updated front wing they introduced at the British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton admitted. The team qualified only sixth and seventh for last weekend’s race. Hamilton said qualifying “was not the greatest feeling,” after lapping almost half a second slower than pole-winner Max Verstappen.
The team arrived at Silverstone hoping to rebound from a disappointing race in Austria a week earlier. “Because we’d had a really bad race, obviously, in the previous week, and we knew we had an upgrade coming here, we were all very hopeful of the step that we were going to hopefully try to take this weekend and bring us in closer,” said Hamilton. “To our disappointment it didn’t take us that step, unfortunately, and for us to be sixth than seventh just ultimately wasn’t a great feeling. Knowing how hard everyone’s worked, and how everyone was feeling it in the team.”
With some help from a fortunately-timed Safety Car, Hamilton was able to claim third in the race. “Hats off to the team for our strength on the race day,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be on the podium, so this is mega.” Hamilton came close to claiming second place after the restart, but was resisted by Lando Norris. He heaped praise on the McLaren driver afterwards.
“Disappointment”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/10/...ew-front-wing/
Aussie F1 gun Oscar Piastri's name chanted by thousands of fans after securing best result of his career at British Grand Prix
• Oscar Piastri finishes fourth at British GP
• Result was rookie's best performance yet
• Fans at Silverstone chanted Piastri's name
Published: 01:39, 10 July 2023
James Cooney
Mail Online
Aussie Formula One rookie Oscar Piastri's name was chanted by thousands of happy fans after a career-best finish at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Max Verstappen became just the fifth driver to win six consecutive races with his victory at the GP, coming in ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in third.
Piastri finished fourth, but seemed destined for a podium finish after sitting behind his teammate Norris for most of the race. The Aussie was overtaken in the pits by Hamilton, who was helped by a safety car deployment that was called following an engine failure to Kevin Magnussen's Haas.
'It's a bittersweet result,' said the 22-year-old Melburnian afterwards. 'That's the best way to describe how I feel. The most pleasing aspect was that we achieved these results on merit. I think it's one thing to get these results by lucky incidents, but we were genuinely the second quickest team today, which was a very happy surprise.”
‘Bittersweet result’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rand-Prix.html
British GP: Impressive race from Williams Racing
July 10 2023
By Williams Racing
In what was another impressive result from the Williams Racing Team Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant would finish the 2023 British GP in 8th and 11th positions. Both drivers were able to benefit from a significantly improved FW45 to deliever what were great drives.
Alex was able to start from 10th and after a tricky start would work his way forward eventually been able to pass a Ferrari and secure 8th. For Logan he would unfortunately start further down the order but would again impress to with a competitive drive to 11th, just outside the points.
Overall another fantastic performance enabling the team to further celebrate the teams 800th Grand Prix.
‘Pass a Ferrari & secure 8th’;
https://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st204909.htm
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Pundits lay into ‘dithering’ Ferrari after a ‘nowhere’ British Grand Prix.
From winning the race last season to not even reaching the podium this year, David Croft has blamed a “dithering” pit wall for Ferrari’s latest fall from grace.
10 Jul 2023 12:45 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Team boss Fred Vasseur concedes they went too conservative on the day. “I didn’t have the crystal ball on the pit wall and the plan was to do medium-hard and it was I think the case for McLaren, it was really on the edge between medium-hard and medium-soft and some teams did medium-hard,” he said.
Sky Sports pundit Croft wasn’t an understanding as he accused Ferrari’s pit wall of “dithering” instead of making decisive decisions that would help the drivers. “It’s interesting,” he said, “Ferrari before the race said crucially today you’ve got to get your strategy right, and you’ve got to make a decision to go with it. But then we see the same dithering coming back again.”
Karun Chandhok reckons Ferrari’s ever-present tyre problems didn’t help the situation. That, though, was little excuse for what he billed as a “terrible” weekend for the Italian stable. “I think with Leclerc they pitted too early, and it forced him into a two-stop at that point,” said the former F1 driver. Meanwhile Ralf Schumacher summed it up to Sky Deutschland by saying the result was “not satisfactory”. He added: “Although it was cool, the tyre problem was there. Sainz was completely off the roll when he was overtaken, that was almost embarrassing.”
‘Dithering Ferrari’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/pundit...sh-grand-prix/
What left Ferrari too ‘scared’ to push in British GP
Jul 9 2023
By Josh Suttill
The Race
Ferrari was hurt by being too “scared” to push in the British Grand Prix rather than by its pitstop strategy calls, according to team principal Fred Vasseur. Ferrari left Sainz out on hard tyres when others, including his team-mate Leclerc, pitted under the virtual safety car (which then became a full safety car) for softs and mediums.
It allowed Sainz to move into seventh place but he had to hold off a group of cars on fresher and faster tyres behind. He was unable to stop Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, the Williams of Alex Albon and Leclerc from passing him, leaving him 10th.
“I really thought, ‘What do I prefer? To be on a soft in P10 knowing I’m against same-pace cars on soft and medium tyres which I’m not going to have a tyre delta to pass, so I’m P10, or a P7 trying to hold onto a hard tyre?’ At the end we tried the riskier one, tried to hold on a hard tyre against them which I think was risky, but I nearly made it work so it is how it is.” Team boss Vasseur agreed with Sainz’s assessment, believing that strategy was “the right call”.
‘Hurt’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/what-...in-british-gp/
‘It was always going to be tricky for us’ – Sainz reflects on late-race drop down the order at Silverstone
10 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
It was a race of what might have been for Ferrari at Silverstone after Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were forced to settle for the final points on offer due to their strategies being negatively impacted by a late-race Safety Car.
Reflecting on the race, and his strategy, Sainz said: “I think I was always going to be a bit exposed with that hard tyre, but we tried. We had no tyres to fit at the pit stop. If we would have boxed behind the Virtual, behind the Safety car, we would have come out P10 behind cars with the same tyres as us, so it would have always been very tricky to make it through.”
“We tried our luck and it didn’t work out like it was meant to be, but overall a strong race, strong pace, but again bad timing, bad luck and P10.”
‘What might have been’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...mopwMy3eW.html
Sainz defends Ferrari’s tactical gamble despite being “dead meat” at restart
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 10th July 2023, 12:4010th July 2023, 12:38
Written by Ida Wood and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
After the VSC became a full Safety Car, Sainz left the decision whether to pit again in his team’s hands. They left him on-track, moving him up to seventh at the restart. But by that point those around him on the faster medium and soft tyres only had to make them last 14 laps to the finish.
After four laps Red Bull’s soft-shod Sergio Perez got past Sainz. Albon followed through seconds later and three corners after that Leclerc, who had pitted to change tyres, got by too. The lap after Sainz briefly fell behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, but reclaimed 10th from him with a bold move at Copse. Had he not got the point for that position, Sainz would have dropped out of the top five in the championship standings.
‘Tactical gamble’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/10/...at-at-restart/
Ferrari CIVIL WAR brewing as Leclerc slams 'TOTALLY USELESS' Sainz team
Monday 10 July 2023 06:57
Joe Ellis
GPFans
There could be a civil war brewing at Ferrari after what Charles Leclerc said at the British Grand Prix. It is usually pre-agreed between the team who would be following in qualifying and it tends to swap from one weekend to the next.
But with Sainz looking more in danger of being knocked out at one stage, he opted to change the order by overtaking Leclerc in the pitlane as everyone queued to get on track. The order was rectified at the final corner of the out laps but Sainz was not happy complaining on the team radio about being more vulnerable to the drop zone than Leclerc.
"What happened in the pitlane was expected, because we always try to get the cars out at the same time, to then manage them in the better way," Leclerc said after the session. "Of course, I understand that with the adrenaline in the car you don't know if you're going to make it, but his radio team was totally useless.”
Arrivabene: Too Early to Assess Vasseur’s Performance as Ferrari Boss.
July 10, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
It is too early to shine a spotlight on Frederic Vasseur’s performance as Ferrari team boss so far. That is the view of Maurizio Arrivabene, who lasted four years in the exact same role until he was replaced by the also now ousted Mattia Binotto.
Binotto’s successor this year is Frenchman Vasseur, and so far the Maranello based team has continued to struggle to return to the very top of Formula 1. “I’ve known Vasseur for some time,” Arrivabene told Sky Italia. “He did great things with Alfa and discovered a champion like Leclerc.”
“But when you’re in Maranello, it’s not easy. It’s a different organisation with so many people to manage. The brand is beautiful and also heavy. There’s a lot of pressure. You need time to settle in and understand the mechanisms, as well as understand what Ferrari represents for Italy. So he was right not to enter with heavy foot. First, you have to get to know the people.”
‘Too Early to Assess’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/arrivabene...-ferrari-boss/
Leclerc admits he didn't understand DISASTROUS Ferrari strategy call
Sunday 9 July 2023 22:12
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Charles Leclerc was not happy with the strategy given to him by Ferrari as he laboured in the British Grand Prix. "We were struggling in the first part of the race. On the first stint, Mercedes and McLaren were really quick. George was very fast. I managed to keep him behind, then I don’t know what happened why we went in so early. But this, I don’t have the full picture of it. I don’t want to comment on it too much.”
“Then obviously, that puts us a bit on the backfoot because everybody continued on the medium that didn’t have much degradation. I tried to stay more or less at the same lap times as the guys that were still out on the old medium, to then push once they stopped. But then, unfortunately, once they stopped during the safety car and they gained all the positions. Not the greatest race today.”
‘DISASTROUS Ferrari strategy call’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...ange-strategy/
-
Inspirational: McLaren Car No Longer A Tractor.
The new version of the MCL60, which is now something of a ship of Theseus conundrum, was enough to earn the slightly hyperbolic title of "rocket ship" from Lewis Hamilton.
10th July 2023, 22:21
By Kathryn Xu
Defector
The atmosphere surrounding McLaren after pre-season testing was so dour that the team should've been underrated—only, McLaren actually matched expectations by not coming close to a single point in the first two races. Before the 2023 season started, team president Andrea Stella said that "[i]n terms of performance expectations, we remain realistic for the short-term" but there were "good developments in the pipeline." Unfortunately, realism in the short-term was may as well stick a raccoon in a go-kart and call it a day. McLaren only scored points in three out of the first eight races of the season—the best the team managed was a single P6 performance by Lando Norris during a messy, messy Australian Grand Prix.
Silverstone was necessary for McLaren to prove that they are, in fact, going somewhere. Of course, Norris was careful to downplay the car a little after the race, praising its performance on medium-speed corners but commenting on its "pretty terrible" performance on low-speed corners, which are notably prevalent in the following races. Norris is right—it would be unrealistic to expect the same level of performance from McLaren for the rest of the season. But at some point, McLaren will lose the benefit of potential, and that point is, depending on your level of pessimism, either now or long gone. If McLaren is looking for a point in time to be remembered as The Moment years from now, this is its best bet: a home crowd, one driver just a safety car away from his first podium finish, and the other spraying champagne with two World Champions.
‘No Longer A Tractor’;
https://defector.com/inspirational-m...nger-a-tractor
Explained: McLaren’s staggering turnaround... and why it’s the first step out of 10-year F1 wilderness
July 11th, 2023 8:10 am
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports (Australia)
The British Grand Prix was a potentially seismic event for the 2023 Formula 1 season. It’s not about to change the battle for the championship, but McLaren’s two-three qualification and two-four race result has the sport wondering whether its understanding of the front running pack needs to be completely reconsidered.
We saw in Silverstone that didn’t tally with our established understanding of how the MCL60 is supposed to work. For one, Lando Norris almost pinched pole position from Max Verstappen, missing out by only 0.241 seconds.
More to the point, his race pace kept him directly behind the faster Dutchman for the first phase of the grand prix, and the car was quick enough to hold position all the way to the chequered flag. This is despite a late safety car closing up the field and giving Mercedes a swing at snatching a double podium for itself.
‘Seismic event’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...705fd751ec4663
The secrets behind the ‘rocketship’ McLaren that has propelled Lando Norris to the front of the grid
British Formula One team’s revamped MCL60 has produced astonishing results thanks to four key upgrades
10 July 2023 • 7:45pm
GARY ANDERSON
FORMER JORDAN AND JAGUAR F1 TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
The Telegraph
McLaren’s performance at Silverstone left Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton describing the MCL60 as a “rocket ship”. The team’s progress in the last two rounds has been phenomenal. After Canada they had just 17 points on the board but in the Austrian and British grands prix they scored 42 points – more than anyone but Red Bull.
There were four key upgrades that helped propel them up the order. An upgraded part alone will not deliver lap time unless it fits into the team’s overall design philosophy. McLaren did not seem to panic despite their struggles earlier in the season. They seemed to have a plan and appear to have understood why they were bad.
The main updates they had at the Red Bull Ring were to the sidepods and engine cover. Then at Silverstone there was a new front wing and updated rear suspension. The front wing did not change dramatically, with slight alterations to the main plane central section and the trailing edge of the rear-most flap, plus some modifications to the detail on the lower part of the front wing endplates.
‘The secrets’;
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-...is-rocketship/
‘A wake-up call’ or a new F1 reality - Have McLaren moved ahead of Mercedes
10 Jul 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
An incredible transformation saw McLaren jump ahead of Mercedes in F1’s pecking order at the British Grand Prix. But was it a one-off, or a sign of things to come? Steady progress was made over the next string of races, and following several upgrades, the team enjoyed their best performance of the year when Lando Norris qualified and finished fourth in Austria.
McLaren’s remarkable resurgence continued a week later at Silverstone, where Norris was only denied a shock pole by Max Verstappen and his dominant Red Bull, with teammate Oscar Piastri qualifying a brilliant third.
Hamilton was resounding in his belief that McLaren had “100 percent” a faster car than Mercedes at both the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone. “This is the first time in a long time and they deserved to have the performance they have,” he added. “So we've got to do a better job. They've now done a better job than us.”
“100 percent” a faster car’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/103...ahead-mercedes
Gary Anderson: The McLaren upgrade only Norris used in British GP
Jul 10 2023
By Gary Anderson
The Race
The thing that McLaren seems to have done is put the cart before the horse with its latest Formula 1 upgrade package. By that I mean it got the main aerodynamic surfaces, including the sidepods and underfloor, developed and on the car for the previous race in Austria before introducing the new front wing at the British Grand Prix, which has improved the performance of all those previous developments slightly, on Lando Norris’s car with it arriving on team-mate Oscar Piastri’s car at the Hungarian GP.
I have never been a fan of altering a wing profile aggressively as it generates crossflow and that can be different between the top surface, which has higher than ambient pressure on it, and the lower surface, which has lower than ambient pressure on it. So where this flow meets up at the trailing edge it can set up vortices. If you want them, fine, but you need to know about them and what other aero surfaces further rearward they are influencing.
‘Cart before the horse’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-...in-british-gp/
Christian Horner shares his thoughts after latest RB19 ‘replica’ reaches the podium
10 Jul 2023 10:30 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
As Lewis Hamilton applauded McLaren for going down the Red Bull path with their upgrades, Christian Horner says more rivals copying Red Bull is “inevitable” given their record. While in days gone by Horner has landed a dig or two at Mercedes for taking a more Red Bull path, with McLaren the latest to adopt that philosophy he says that is “inevitable” given Red Bull’s success.
“I looked at their car on the grid, which was the first time this year I’ve really looked at it closely, and you can see the philosophy is very similar,” Horner told media including PlanetF1.com. “So yes, they have clearly chosen to follow the same path with the car as we did.”
“It is inevitable that that will happen. And why wouldn’t you? When you see a car performing as well as ours, it only makes sense to try to replicate it, as some teams have decided to do.”
‘Inevitable’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/christ...rstone-podium/
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Alonso admits Silverstone result FLATTERED Aston Martin.
He told Diego Mejia for Fox Sports MX: “We were slow all weekend, and lacked the pace versus Checo and Albon."
Sunday 9 July 2023 20:42
Lauren Sneath
GPFans
Fernando Alonso: “I think P7 is a bit better than the pace we had. Other teams were flying out there on Saturday and they finished nine and 10...we need to avoid that.”
“The last couple races we were not so fast, but we need to look at the big picture, it is a gift for us to be in this position right now, we didn’t expect it at all; let’s see if at the end if other teams finish ahead of us it will have been because they deserve it.”
“Let’s see if Hungary brings better things, it’s positive on paper but we’ll see...anyway, I’m be here for you Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, to report on the funeral or party in instance.”
‘EL PLAN: Result FLATTERED Aston Martin’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...and-prix-slow/
Alonso “not too stressed” despite “one of the worst weekends for us”
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 10th July 2023, 13:17
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
“This was, and Austria, one of the worst weekends I think for us so far and we saved quite well,” Alonso told media including RaceFans after yesterday’s British Grand Prix. He believes a number of factors explain the team’s sub-par weekend. “It’s probably a little bit of everything,” said Alonso. “Out-developed a little bit in terms of a few teams brought some some significant upgrades lately.
“It’s track-specific, I think here was not our best layout for the package that we have. We need to see also the tyres, obviously it’s the first race that we have this new construction so it seems that maybe we need to analyse more in detail. But all in all I think we saved a very difficult weekend. Hopefully in Hungary we are again competitive.”
‘EL PLAN: “Not too stressed”.’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/10/...ekends-for-us/
Alonso: Silverstone P7 'a bit higher' than Aston pace
10/07/2023 at 17:16
Michael Delaney
Fernando Alonso believes that his seventh-place finish in the British Grand Prix slightly flattered Aston Martin's real pace at Silverstone. Alonso qualified ninth on Saturday but gained a position on the race's opening lap. The Spaniard eventually spent the remainder of his race among the top-seven, finishing P7 at the checkered flag.
It was a relatively uneventful afternoon for the seven-time world champion who relied on a medium-to-soft tyre strategy to achieve a result that reflected the limited pace displayed by Aston over the weekend. "Yes, we weren’t fast enough in any session on the weekend, so it was not different in the race," Alonso said.
"We struggled a little bit with the pace, but we maximised the strategy, we tried to stretch the stint on the Medium at the beginning, and then there was a Safety Car, we chose the Soft, because it was just short run to the end.”
‘EL PLAN: Top-seven, finishing P7’;
https://f1i.com/news/480576-alonso-s...ston-pace.html
Alonso DISMISSES McLaren and Williams progress.
Monday 10 July 2023 17:57
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Fernando Alonso has dismissed the progress made by McLaren and Williams at the British Grand Prix. Alonso, though, is not convinced they have made steps forward, insisting that it is purely track specific and the championship will tell the tale come the end of the season.
"Yes, today McLaren has gone fast. But you also have to see last year, many patterns repeat," Alonso said to DAZN. "I think Williams came out in Q3, in Monza they also did very well. This year in Monza they will also go well again."
‘EL PLAN: Dismissed the progress’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...o-reward-plea/
"I'm relaxed" - Fernando Alonso shows little concern amidst lack of Silverstone pace for Aston Martin
10 Jul 2023
Harvey Orgill
Crash.Net
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso showed little concern when questioned on his team's lack of pace over this weekend's British Grand Prix. The Spaniard finished seventh with his teammate Lance Stroll outside the points, despite being Red Bull's closest competitors at the top earlier in the year.
While on the outside it seemed a disappointing result for the Silverstone based team in their home Grand Prix, Alonso felt P7 was the best he could’ve achieved: “We weren’t fast enough in any session on the weekend, so it was not different in the race.”
“Outdeveloped a little bit in terms of a few teams that have brought some significant upgrades lately. Track specific - I think here was not our best layout for the package we have. We need to also see the tyres, obviously the first race that we have this new construction. So, things that we need to analyse more in detail. But all in all, I think we saved a very difficult weekend. Hopefully in Hungary we are again competitive.”
‘EL PLAN: "I'm relaxed".’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103116...lverstone-pace
Alonso makes MAJOR Aston Martin target adjustment
Tuesday 11 July 2023 10:27
Harry Smith
GPFans
Fernando Alonso has readjusted his target for Aston Martin in the coming races, claiming that the team should be looking to finish in the top ten at each grand prix.
Alonso had some calming words for the team as they look forward towards their long-term aims for the team. "But I think we have to focus as well on the long-term picture.”
"We cannot get stressed every weekend if we are seventh or if we are fourth or if we are on the podium this year. We need to be very pragmatic and very relaxed about our performance.”
‘EL PLAN: Target adjustment’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...sh-grand-prix/
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Wolff Labels the W14B The ‘Diva 2.0 Car’ and ‘Much More Complicated’.
Despite their continuous efforts in implementing a series of upgrades, the Mercedes W14 challenger has proven to be a source of frustration for both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, as they struggle to close the gap to the dominant Red Bull team.
July 10, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
“I thought that Silverstone based on our historic performances was the best shot, but it wasn’t,” Wolff said after Sunday’s British Grand Prix. “So maybe there’s another track where we have the best shot [of winning] because the characteristics of the car have changed.”
“I always believe that we can beat Max [Verstappen], we have a good group of people, and the best drivers. We just have to give them a car that is more predictable, and not the Diva 2.0, and much more complicated than the first one.”
‘Diva 2.0 Car’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/wolff-labe...e-complicated/
Wolff: Mercedes 2024 switch soon to escape ‘diva 2.0’
Monday 10th July, 2023 - 11:30pm
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Toto Wolff has indicated Mercedes will soon switch its development focus to its 2024 car after becoming frustrated by the gnawing unpredictability of the W14 he has described as “diva 2.0”.
Six years ago, Wolff said the team’s 2017 W08 was “a bit of a diva” given the fluctuations in its performance mirrored by results after three years of total domination following the introduction of the turbo-hybrid power unit in 2014.
This year’s W14 started life as an evolution of a car that won a race towards the end of last year as Mercedes retained faith in its development over the winter, only to immediately recognise in the season-opening race in Bahrain its plan was flawed. Wolff believed the race at Silverstone represented Mercedes’ “best shot” of a victory this season, an opinion he has been forced to revise given the vagaries of the W14.
‘2024 switch soon to escape ‘diva 2.0’.’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/07/10...-w14-diva-2-0/
Wolff believed Mercedes would ‘EAT’ key rivals in British GP
Tuesday 11 July 2023 14:20 - Updated: 15:14
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Mercedes experienced a much better weekend at the British Grand Prix than they did prior at the Austrian Grand Prix, with both drivers finishing inside the top five – but maybe not quite as good as hungry boss Toto Wolff was hoping for.
According to AutoHebdo, Toto Wolff was shocked at how consistent the McLaren drivers were able to be through the race, even when left out on hard tyres for the safety car restart.
He said: “To be honest, when the safety car was deployed, I was almost sure, if not convinced, that we were going to eat the McLarens and finish in second and third positions or compete with them on track. This proves how good their car was.”
‘We were going to eat the McLarens…’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...d-prix-battle/
Mercedes thought Silverstone was 'best shot' to beat Verstappen
11 July 8:00AM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
Toto Wolff believed Mercedes had their 'best shot' to unseat Max Verstappen's run of five wins in a row at Silverstone, based on their historical performance at the track.
Wolff expected their knowledge of the circuit to be a strength when speaking to media, including RacingNews365.com: "I thought that Silverstone - based on [our] historic performance - this was the best shot but it wasn't. So maybe there's another track where we have the best shot."
'Best shot';
https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-t...eat-verstappen
Toto Wolff surprised by Mercedes' British GP failure as George Russell left in disbelief
Mercedes had confidence in their race pace at the British Grand Prix, but were taken aback by how they struggled to achieve their goals later in the Silverstone race
12:42, 10 Jul 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Toto Wolff admitted he expected Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to both reach the podium by the end of the British Grand Prix. The two Ferraris ahead of them might not have been seen as much of a threat given how poor they have been in races this year.
That proved to be the case, as Hamilton and Russell made light work of getting past them. It was the McLarens which were the unknown quantity. Lando Norris qualified second with rookie team-mate Oscar Piastri one place behind.
"Those McLarens are so quick on the hards – impressive," he (George Russell) said over the radio as he tried and failed to move past the Aussie in front of him. He had to settle for fifth behind Piastri, while Hamilton was third on the podium alongside Norris and Verstappen.
‘So quick on the hards’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...stone-30430279
Toto Wolff quizzed on whether Mercedes have a fundamental sidepod issue
10 Jul 2023 1:30 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
With McLaren talking up their revised sidepods, Toto Wolff concedes Mercedes may have to re-evaluate their approach to the Red Bull-esque look after McLaren’s podium result.
Beaten by the McLarens in qualifying with Lando Norris P2 to Oscar Piastri’s third, Hamilton said: “I’m not surprised. I mean, if you look at the car, it makes sense.” He added: “If you just put it alongside a Red Bull, it looks very very similar down the side, so it’s working.”
Wolff himself conceded the new-look MCL60 “looks like a Red Bull” but added that the only thing at the end of the day that matters is the “stopwatch”. Mercedes did look at the concept in the past, they found it cost them downforce, but that doesn’t mean they won’t examine it again.
‘Fundamental sidepod issue’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...sidepod-issue/
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Ricciardo makes full F1 RETURN replacing De Vries at AlphaTauri.
Daniel Ricciardo will reportedly replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri from the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards.
Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:15
Joe Ellis
GPFans
According to multiple sources, after initially being reported by Dutch publication De Telegraaf, the 34-year-old will take to the wheel at the Hungaroring with De Vries, who has not scored a point in 2023, being axed from the team.
Ricciardo took to the track in the RB19 in a Pirelli tyre test at Silverstone on Tuesday but is noew set to make a full return to racing alongside Yuki Tsunoda in the Red Bull junior team.
The Australian has been given a lifeline in F1 after he was dropped by McLaren at the end of 2022 in favour of rookie countryman Oscar Piastri following two disappointing seasons.
‘F1 RETURN’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...auri-red-bull/
Daniel Ricciardo's first words as F1 star officially replaces axed De Vries at AlphaTauri
Daniel Ricciardo is returning to the F1 grid after Nyck de Vries was sacked by AlphaTauri.
15:50, Tue, Jul 11, 2023
By Jack McEachen
Daily and Sunday Express
Channel 4 have claimed that Ricciardo's best lap during the test would have been good enough for the front row of the British GP, while the departing De Vries finished 17th, further highlighting Ricciardo's capabilities to compete at the top of the grid.
The 34-year-old has joined AlphaTauri on loan from Red Bull for the remainder of the season, and he was clearly delighted to be returning to the grid as he said in the team statement: "I am thrilled to be back on track with the Red Bull family!”.
AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost explained the decision. “I'm really happy to welcome Daniel back to the team," he said. "There are no doubts about his driving skills and he already knows many of us, so integrating into the team will be simple and immediate for him.”
‘Thrilled to be back’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-Nyck-de-Vries
AlphaTauri CONFIRMS Ricciardo as De Vries' replacement
Tuesday 11 July 2023 17:03
Joe Ellis
GPFans
AlphaTauri has officially confirmed the F1 return of Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of the 2023 season. Reports emerged on Tuesday that the Australian would make his return to the sport as he drove in the Pirelli tyre test for Red Bull at Silverstone.
De Vries, who has not scored a point in 2023 after achieving the feat on his debut for Williams in 2022, will therefore be axed from the team ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Ricciardo, 34, will partner Yuki Tsunoda from the Hungaroring onwards at Red Bull's sister team, which currently sits bottom of the constructors' standings with just two points.
‘AlphaTauri CONFIRMS Ricciardo’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...ull-confirmed/
F1 bombshell as Daniel Ricciardo BACK on the grid immediately as rival axed after 10 races
July 12th, 2023 1:27 am
Max Laughton
Fox Sports (Australia)
Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo is officially back on the Formula 1 grid, given a second chance in the Red Bull family after being sent on loan to AlphaTauri. Ricciardo will replace Nyck de Vries, who has been axed after just 10 races, with immediate effect. His first race back will be in Hungary on July 23.
It means Australia has two active F1 drivers for the first time since the early 2010s, when Ricciardo was breaking into the sport and Mark Webber was finishing his career. Ricciardo drove this year’s Red Bull just this week, taking part in a tyre test at Silverstone following the British Grand Prix won by Max Verstappen.
F1.com’s Lawrence Barretto reported Ricciardo was so impressive in the test that his best time would’ve put him on the front row of the grid if he had entered. “I’m very pleased to welcome Daniel back into the team,” Franz Tost, Scuderia AlphaTauri Team Principal said. “I would like to thank Nyck for his valuable contribution during his time with Scuderia AlphaTauri and I wish him all the best for the future.”
‘F1 bombshell’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...d095dd4d5e0f64
Ricciardo will be in the worst car to exorcise McLaren ghosts
11th July 2023, 16:36
By Edd Straw
The Race
Daniel Ricciardo’s willingness to jump into an AlphaTauri mid-season in place of Nyck de Vries speaks volumes for the revitalising effect of the past seven months. He nonetheless faces a big challenge, but contrary to what you might expect that’s not because the car is uncompetitive.
Obviously, drivers are always happier when in a quick car but if his priority is to prove the ‘old’ swashbuckling, race-winning Ricciardo is in there, it will do the job. A driver’s level of operation can be measured within the context of the machinery and sticking a Formula 1 car into Q2 that should be 18th is as good as taking a pole position from that perspective.
Ricciardo will go into this with his eyes open and not expect miracles, but he will be setting high standards for himself. If and when he ever got into an F1 car again, the priority was always going to be to banish the ghosts of McLaren and prove to himself and the outside world that he’s still got it.
‘Exorcise McLaren ghosts’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/ricci...claren-ghosts/
Red Bull heap pressure on Sergio Perez with manner of Daniel Ricciardo's F1 return
AlphaTauri have re-signed Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of this season in a loan arrangement with sister team Red Bull, replacing Nyck de Vries who failed to score a point
17:30, 11 Jul 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Daniel Ricciardo has replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri for the rest of this season. Make no mistake, though – this development has far bigger implications than your average driver move to the team sitting rock-bottom in the constructors' championship.
Red Bull chief Christian Horner said at Silverstone at the weekend that he is not planning for a potential Ricciardo return to his team in the future. Regardless, though, that will undoubtedly be the Aussie's aim.
It will, of course, be the seat currently held by Sergio Perez upon which Ricciardo has set his sights. The Mexican won two of the first four races this season but has since gone off the boil, failed to qualify in the top 10 for a race in two months and slipped to 99 points behind team-mate Max Verstappen.
‘Far bigger implications’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...tauri-30443360
Perez’s Red Bull seat is the clear target of Ricciardo’s return
Jul 11 2023
By Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
Daniel Ricciardo getting back on the Formula 1 grid with AlphaTauri is only happening because he thinks it is a way into Red Bull Racing again. And any conversation about Red Bull’s driver line-up across its two teams and Ricciardo’s prospects must inevitably involve Sergio Perez.
Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner has said emphatically it would be wrong to suggest Perez could be replaced. He is under contract for next season after all. In fact, in Austria, Horner made it emphatically clear that any talk otherwise is “wide of the mark”.
Then in Britain last weekend he said: “He’s the type of guy that just needs an arm around his shoulder and you work with him. And that’s what we’re doing. We’re supporting him. We know he can do it. We’ll know he’ll get back there and we’re just trying to make sure it happens as quickly as possible.”
‘We’re supporting him’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/perez...iardos-return/
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BREAKING: Nyck de Vries’ sister posted cryptic message before Daniel Ricciardo announcement.
De Vries hasn’t issued a statement yet on his firing but his sister took to Instagram shortly before it was announced to state he will always have her support.
16:18 Tue, 11 Jul 2023.
by James Clifford
Formula1News
Daniel Ricciardo will replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri from the 2023 Hungarian GP onwards, it has been announced. “I am stoked to be back on track with the Red Bull family!” Ricciardo said, following an impressive performance during a test at Silverstone.
‘Will always have her support’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/breaking-...-announcement/
Sky F1 commentator criticises premature Red Bull decision to sack Nyck de Vries
11 Jul 2023 5:45 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Sky F1 commentator David Croft believes Nyck de Vries was not afforded enough time “to show what he can do” before Red Bull decided to wield the axe and bring in Daniel Ricciardo. Croft though believes that ditching De Vries after only 10 races with the AlphaTauri team is particularly harsh.
“Daniel Ricciardo on loan to Scuderia AlphaTauri for remainder of 2023 season,” Croft tweeted. “1st race will be Hungary next week. “Can’t help think that however nice it will be to have Daniel back on the grid, Nyck wasn’t given enough time to show what he can do – 10 races!”
His compatriot Van Der Garde, who previously raced in Formula 1 with Caterham, stressed that De Vries is “quick as hell” and still has plenty of success waiting ahead in his career. “Never expected it to be over so quickly for Nyck,” Van Der Garde wrote. “If you look back at it, the amount of time he was given to get used to the car and the progress he made (slowly but surely) it’s – in my opinion – been too soon. As for Nyck, this hurts like a m*#%{f^]er.”
“10 races!”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/david-...-bull-sacking/
Marko must take responsibility over de Vries failure
11 July 5:45PM
Author Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
In the end, it was all rather predictable. The square peg in the round hole was always going to be a difficult fit as Nyck de Vries's brief full-time Formula 1 career was ended, for now, by the man who gifted him the chance he'd been waiting years for.
Circumstances were against him from the start for a variety of reasons, but the undeniable truth is this: it was wrong for Helmut Marko to give de Vries the drive in the first place, and wrong to now get rid of him before a full season is complete.
De Vries is a victim of the success of Red Bull drivers past and present. Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo - the man who now takes his AlphaTauri seat for the remainder of the 2023 season "on loan" from Red Bull - have set the threshold ridiculously high. It is against these three drivers that anyone in the Red Bull pool is now measured and if it is abundantly clear you won't make the mark, then you are out and the next cab off the rank given a go.
‘All rather predictable’;
https://racingnews365.com/marko-must...-vries-failure
Our verdict as cut-throat Red Bull ousts De Vries for Ricciardo
18:07 Tue, 11 Jul 2023.
The Race
Was De Vries given long enough? What does this say about Ricciardo’s motivation? Is Red Bull’s call to install him just as big a gamble as the one it took going for De Vries? And was it right to forego the best-placed junior in its ranks? Here are our writers’ thoughts:
Good on Ricciardo for the U-turn, Scott Mitchell-Malm: It’s a strange move for both parties in the sense that this was possible late last year but it wasn’t workable then, yet it is now. But circumstances have changed.
De Vries’ season doesn’t warrant this, Edd Straw: De Vries’ ousting is a curious one because while he’s not been impressive enough to make it impossible to axe him, he’s hardly been the catastrophe that a driver would normally need to be to justify being axed after 10 races.
OK it’s brutal, but why wait?, Matt Beer: I understand the viewpoint that De Vries deserved a full season and that this is needlessly brutal. But I don’t see what the Red Bull organisation had to gain by keeping him around for the rest of the year once it was obvious he was not a long-term solution for any of its problems.
No guarantee this works out better, Ben Anderson: These F1 cars are very different to the ones Ricciardo made his name in. Doing well on the sim is just not the same.
‘Cut-throat Red Bull’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/our-v...for-ricciardo/
Analysis: Why 10 races was enough for AlphaTauri to show de Vries the door
2023 F1 season
Posted on 11th July 2023, 18:11
Written by Ida Wood
RaceFans
Nyck de Vries has been dropped by AlphaTauri before he’d even made it to the halfway point in his first Formula 1 season. He has been shown the door after just 10 races and will be replaced by Daniel Ricciardo at next week’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
AlphaTauri hired de Vries after he made a ‘super-sub’ performance for Williams at last year’s Italian Grand Prix, racing Alexander Albon’s car to eighth place. However there were few flashes of the same form over the 10 grands prix and two sprint races he started for his new team.
‘Race by race Review’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/11/...ries-the-door/
How Nyck de Vries lost his F1 seat to Daniel Ricciardo
Jul. 11, 2023
By Madeline Coleman
The Athletic
After de Vries went point-less and made frequent mistakes through the first 10 races of the season, AlphaTauri swapped the rookie out for Daniel Ricciardo on Tuesday, effective immediately. Ricciardo had been spending this season as Red Bull’s third driver, and now he’ll be “on loan” from Red Bull (AlphaTauri’s sister team), joining the grid at the Hungarian Grand Prix next weekend.
The move comes after months of speculation about de Vries’ future in F1 as he vastly underperformed this year, peaking with a P12 finish (in Monaco) and making it out of Q1 just three times. All F1 rookies face a steep learning curve. As the calendar stands, there are numerous tracks they’re unfamiliar with, like Melbourne or Miami.
‘Race by race Review’;
https://theathletic.com/4682963/2023...lpha-tauri-f1/
Ted Kravitz makes worrying Daniel Ricciardo point ahead of F1 grid return with AlphaTauri
Ricciardo has been called up by Red Bull's sister team AlphaTauri to race for them for the rest of the season, after parting ways with Nyck de Vries following the first 10 races of 2023
21:11, 11 Jul 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
After several months on the simulator, Red Bull chief Christian Horner declared Ricciardo had his "mojo" back. And that was put to the test on Tuesday as he took the RB19 for a spin around Silverstone in a Pirelli tyre test. Red Bull were impressed with the results and wasted little time before announcing his AlphaTauri move. However, Sky Sports pit lane reporter Kravitz has pointed out the potential flaw in the team's logic. "It's all well and good basing it on the Red Bull RB19, which is the class of the field, but he's not driving that car. He's driving probably one of the slowest cars on the grid, if not the slowest, which is the AlphaTauri," he said on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast.
"The AlphaTauri had some upgrades at Silverstone and they finished further down than they normally do with a non-upgraded car. This is not a great AlphaTauri, it's fair to say. Not to say that they shouldn't have replaced Nyck de Vries – clearly it wasn't working – but the surprise is why Daniel Ricciardo would want to go in to that car that is worse than the McLaren he left last year, probably. That quote from Ricciardo I thought was odd. He said 'I'm stoked to be back on track with the Red Bull family'.”
“He can't even bring himself to say AlphaTauri! He doesn't want to say I'm delighted to drive the AlphaTauri because it's not a quick car. Maybe there's some longer-term gain in it for Ricciardo, because there might well be some short-term pain if he can't do any better than De Vries." Kravitz could be correct about the potential for Ricciardo to shine in the long run, given his desire to get back to racing for the top Red Bull team again at some point in the future.
“Can't even bring himself to say AlphaTauri”;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...avitz-30444643
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Why McLaren is suddenly best of rest in F1 - and its chances of staying there.
Even McLaren seemed surprised at the “rocketship” pace that delivered a podium finish for Lando Norris at the British Grand Prix, and what would likely have been a third place for Oscar Piastri without an unfortunately-timed safety car.
July 11th 2023
Author Ekagra Gupta
Motor Sport Magazine
We’ve examined McLaren’s performance from the past two races to identify how it leapt to the front of the Red Bull-chasing pack, and its chances of staying in that position. Using data from practice and the race, we can see how the upgrade affected the car’s performance, but also the other factors at play in the stellar drives from Norris and Piastri at the team’s home race.
McLaren brought a major upgrade to the Austrian Grand Prix, fitting Norris’s car with a new floor and modified sidepods, a reshaped engine cover and altered fairings for the halo and mirrors. Crucially, it only had enough parts for a single car, so Piastri stuck with the old spec, making the race a handy comparison between both versions.
A week later, the factory autoclaves had produced another set of updated bodywork for Piastri’s car, but Norris’s was upgraded further with a new front wing and revised brake ducts. Lo and behold, McLaren took the second and third spots on the grid
‘DETAILED ANALYSIS’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
The 11 changes that have helped turn the McLaren into an F1 rocketship
11:18 Tue, 11 Jul 2023.
By: Matt Somerfield
Co-author: Giorgio Piola
Motorsport.com
McLaren’s latest upgrade has transformed its car's pace in Formula 1, as it has emerged as one of the best in high-speed corners. In fact, such was the advantage of the MCL-60 through some of Silverstone's fastest turns last weekend that Lewis Hamilton labelled it a 'rocketship' as he was left powerless to challenge it.
1. Changes have been made to the shape and position of the floor fences…
2. McLaren had already flirted with a sidepod inlet design… …latest update…
3. The upper surface of the floor already had a heavily contoured blister…
4. The changes made to the forward portion of the sidepod and the inlet…
5. The aerodynamic fairing that surrounds the halo now features a vertical blade…
6. The overall change in the shape of the sidepods…
7. McLaren is the latest team to adopt a deeper water slide-style gulley on the sidepod’s upper surface…
8. The upper cooling gill panel has been moved from the traversal position…
9. The shape of the engine cover ‘shelf’ has been optimized…
10. One of the big visual changes to the MCL60’s floor is on the floor edge…
11. The footprint of the engine cover and rear cooling outlet has been reduced…
'Rocketship 11';
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/t...ship/10494587/
British Grand Prix team ratings: Perfect McLaren and sub-par Ferrari
12 Jul 2023 9:00 AM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
The PlanetF1.com team ratings for the British Grand Prix are in, with McLaren enjoying another excellent race.
McLaren 10: If you would have offered Lando Norris a P2 at his home grand prix at the start of the season, he would have bit your hand off.
Red Bull 9: Another example of the ruthless efficiency of Red Bull as they picked up their record-equalling 11th consecutive win.
Williams 9: A fantastic day for a Williams car that just loves straight lines. While Lando Norris deservedly took plenty of the plaudits for his performance, Alex Albon’s was just as impressive.
Mercedes 8.5: They got a little lucky with the timing of the Safety Car especially as Oscar Piastri had just come into the pits but a P3 and P5 is nothing to turn your nose up at.
Aston Martin 6: In the post-race press conference, team principal Mike Krack snapped back that he is not concerned with other teams’ performance but McLaren’s rise would no doubt have been on his radar.
Ferrari 6: While McLaren are on the up, Ferrari took a step backwards in Silverstone, registering just three points between their two drivers.
‘Alpine 5, Haas 5, AlphaTauri 5, Alfa Romeo 4’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/br...laren-ferrari/
McLaren says even more gains to come from latest F1 upgrade package
12th July 2023, 13:03
By: Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
Speaking about the plans, team principal Andrea Stella said “For Hungary, we have some further updates that will help more from the point of view of trying to improve the race pace. These will be available to both drivers.
“But like any other team, we will carry on delivering some upgrades to the following races. And this is also thanks to the fact that, once we started redesigning the car, we kind of unlocked performance. And, through iterations, we keep seeing the aerodynamic development being quite effective. “
“As soon as you see that a project is mature enough to deliver, you press the go button and you go, so there will be some more stuff coming even after Hungary.”
‘More gains to come’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/m...kage/10494943/
Jolyon Palmer's Analysis: Why did McLaren choose the hard tyre? | Workday
11 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer looks at McLaren's pit stop strategy at the 2023 British Grand Prix and explains why the Woking team chose the hard tyre instead of the soft.
‘The hard tyre?’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...504289718.html
Ralf Schumacher’s warning to McLaren after Silverstone surge
11 Jul 2023 9:00 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Having finally made inroads with their upgrades for the MCL60, Ralf Schumacher has warned McLaren cannot let up now to focus on their 2024 contender.
“At McLaren it will also be interesting to see how much resources they are still putting into this year’s car after the major upgrade and how much they are already betting on next year to perhaps be able to close the gap to Red Bull there,” Schumacher wrote in his post-race Sky Deutschland column.
“One thing is clear: the plans for 2024 are in full swing for all teams, but McLaren cannot yet put all their chips on the next car. They are still in the development process and for the first time they have a car that really works. In this phase, however, you have to wait a little and develop further to be sure that you are really on the right track.”
‘Cannot yet put all their chips on the next car’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ralf-s...erstone-surge/
F1 tech podcast: Gary Anderson on McLaren’s rapid resurgence
Jul 12 2023
Gary Anderson
The Race
Edd Straw and former Formula 1 team technical director Gary Anderson have a lot to get into on The Race F1 Tech Show following the British Grand Prix.
After McLaren’s upgrades and its leap from midfielder to race leader, they discuss exactly what’s changed on the car, how the team’s managed to make such big strides forward so quickly, and what it all says about McLaren’s long-term prospects.
‘McLaren’s rapid resurgence’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/f1-te...id-resurgence/
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Six in a row for Verstappen as he beats Norris and Hamilton to win at Silverstone.
“I’m very happy that we’ve won here again,” he said, having triumphed at Silverstone in 2020 in the 70th Anniversary GP behind closed doors. “Eleven wins in a row for the team is pretty incredible, the whole team can be proud of that.”
Published 10th Jul 2023, 09:42 BST
By Toby Lock
Milton Keynes Citizen
World champion Max Verstappen opened his already ominous lead over team-mate Sergio Perez to 99 points with his sixth win in a row on Sunday, winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Taking place just 21 miles from their Bradbourne Drive factory, it was a home race for the Red Bull Racing team, but despite seeing Verstappen claim pole position in Northamptonshire, it McLaren’s Lando Norris who stole the show, sweeping past the Dutchman off the start line and leading the opening laps, much to the jubilation of the British fans.
Verstappen though would not be held back, making light work of the updated McLaren on lap 4 to retake the lead - one which he would not relinquish. Despite a safety car shuffling the pack on lap 33, Verstappen maintained his lead ahead of Norris and fellow home crowd favourite Lewis Hamilton to claim his sixth win in a row, and the 11th straight for the team from Tilbrook.
‘Six in a row’;
https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport...rstone-4212751
Red Bull boss reveals ‘INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT’ at British GP
Monday 10 July 2023 13:57
Shay Rogers
GPFans
11 in heaven for Horner: The British Grand Prix marked an 11th consecutive win for Red Bull, as they matched McLaren’s record from 1988. It’s no secret that Red Bull have been dominant, and it’s astounding to realise that the streak would be 21 wins in a row, if they hadn’t experienced a poor weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix last season.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz after the race, team boss Christian Horner applauded his team for the job they have done to make themselves so formidable. “It’s an incredible achievement. To win here, just up the road from the factory is really very special,” he said.
‘INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...x-achievement/
Verstappen: Red Bull to counter growing competition from rivals.
July 10, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
“The stable factor so far is that every single weekend, it seems like we are on top, which of course is the most important from our side,” world champion Max Verstappen, winner of an incredible six grands prix on the trot, said after picking up yet another victory at the British GP.
For Red Bull, despite Verstappen’s victory there are some reasons for concern at the otherwise dominant team. “The tyres overheated at the end,” admitted Dr Helmut Marko. “It wasn’t as bad as what we saw with Hamilton, but another five laps and Norris would have caught us.”
For Red Bull, meanwhile, the fact that multiple rivals are now apparently closing the gap means in-season 2023 development has definitely not stopped. Despite his almost 100-point lead over his own teammate Sergio Perez, Verstappen said before departing Silverstone: “Hungary is a completely different track. We will put some upgrades on the car there and hopefully they work well.”
‘Counter growing competition’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/verstappen...n-from-rivals/
Brundle insists Max Verstappen ‘DESTROYS’ field like only ONE F1 great could
Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:54
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Max Verstappen is currently enjoying one of the most dominant spells in F1 history and is yet to finish outside the top two in a race this year, helping him to an 81-point lead in the drivers’ championship. Speaking about Verstappen’s approach to F1 weekends, Brundle compared his ability to psychologically get in the head of opponents with a blistering lap to set pace, was similar to that of the supreme Michael Schumacher at his peak.
The Sky Sports F1 pundit said: “Michael Schumacher was like that as well. The confidence you need, the trust in the car and yourself to go out at Silverstone of all places and just put a marker down that pretty much just destroys everybody else's head immediately. The talent and confidence you need to do that through a corner like Copse or Stowe without throwing it in the wall occasionally, which would look really silly on the first lap or two of a weekend, is quite extraordinary,” Brundle added.
‘Psychologically get in the head of opponents’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...cher-f1-great/
Marko blames VERSTAPPEN for critical British GP error
Monday 10 July 2023 19:27
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Although the weekend resulted in a maximum points haul, there was one part of Verstappen’s performance on track that failed to impress his senior Helmut Marko. Lando Norris had the better reaction time of the two drivers, albeit by only 0.03 seconds, but that wasn’t the thing that cost Verstappen the lead into turn one.
Speaking to Sky Germany, Helmut Marko confessed that all the systems were in check, as the Dutchman made a critical error off the line. “He let go of the clutch too intensively," His onboard cameras showed the heavy amounts of wheelspin he had to contend with, as Norris swept by and into the lead through turn one.
With two weeks to go until the Hungarian Grand Prix, you can bet that Verstappen will be working hard in the Red Bull simulator to perfect his starts again headed into the rest of the season.
‘Let go of the clutch too intensively’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...rix-bad-start/
Verstappen confused by changing F1 order
Monday 10th July, 2023 - 8:59pm
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Max Verstappen has conceded to feeling confused by the changing order behind his current domination of F1. Verstappen is currently on a run of six consecutive victories, over which time there have been five different runners-up.
Assessing what is going on behind him in races at present, Verstappen said: “It’s very confusing to me because every single race weekend, it’s someone else. I think it’s because it’s so close behind that if you get your car in a little bit of a better window, it works on one particular track.”
“So for me, I don’t know what’s going to happen (at the next race) in Hungary, to be honest, who is going to be quick or the second quickest. The stable factor so far is that every single weekend, it seems like we are on top, which, of course, is the most important from our side.”
‘Confused by changing F1 order’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/07/10...pecking-order/
Marko WORRIED about Verstappen future after Red Bull threat
Wednesday 12 July 2023 08:59
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Helmut Marko is praying that Max Verstappen stays with Red Bull until the end of his current contract. The reigning world champion and runaway championship leader is signed on with the Milton Keynes team until the end of the 2028 season as things stand.
But Verstappen has never been shy to admit that he would happily leave F1 if he no longer enjoyed himself or found it worthwhile to stay. Marko admitted that he would not be surprised if, one day, Verstappen came to him and left of his own accord.
"Max doesn't say something like that just casually," Marko said to oe24. "I hope he fulfils his contract, which runs until 2028, until the end. Who knows, maybe one day he'll come and say, 'Thank you, that's it'."
‘Praying that Max Verstappen stays with Red Bull’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...-bull-concern/
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‘Ferrari being beaten by Williams at Silverstone borderline unacceptable’.
Beaten by a Williams at the British Grand Prix, Bernie Collins says that is “borderline unacceptable” but offered mitigating circumstances for the latest Ferrari failure.
13 Jul 2023 9:45 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
“For a Ferrari to be beaten by a Williams at Silverstone, is borderline unacceptable from a team performance side,” the former Aston Martin strategy chief told the Sky Sports podcast.
“They stuck, they were one of the few teams along with McLaren who stuck to the medium-hard strategy, despite evidence showing throughout the race that probably the medium-soft strategy in terms of lower degradation was better.
“And I tried to find reasons from my strategy head as to why, why did they stick so strongly to that strategy. And there was a few contributing factors for me.
‘Borderline unacceptable’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrar...le-british-gp/
Alex Albon takes eighth after tight battle in Silverstone: “I wouldn’t have wanted that race to last one more lap”
July 13, 2023
By Ashley Cline
The Checkered Flag
Williams Racing’s Alex Albon converted his stunning qualifying result of eighth place into a season-best race finish at the British Grand Prix, holding onto eighth against strong competition from Scuderia Ferrari behind. “It was a great weekend. When you think about the speed of the car, P8 this week is the worst position from all of our sessions this weekend. We expected the race to be a bit more difficult with Fernando [Alonso] and Checo [Perez] behind us.”
In recounting the events of the Grand Prix, Albon said that he was comfortable and pleased with the car in general, though the lack of grip on the start was difficult. Good fortune came around for him when the safety car was brought out at the “perfect” moment in the race to allow him to leap-frog Carlos Sainz.
“I struggled a little at the start as I didn’t have much grip. Once I was in the rhythm of the race, we were ok, we actually felt quite good with the car. The Safety Car came out at a perfect time. The Ferraris were on the hard compounds and I was able to get past Carlos [Sainz].” By the end of the race, It was a close battle to seal out the final podium positions– after holding out against the Ferraris until the checkered flag, Albon said that he would’ve been in a precarious position had there been more laps to go.
‘Tight battle’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...-one-more-lap/
Albon lauds ‘strongest weekend so far’ as more points see Williams leapfrog Alfa Romeo and Haas in standings
11 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Alex Albon described the British Grand Prix weekend as “huge” for Williams after another solid points finish helped the team rise from ninth to seventh in the constructors’ standings. Having been inside the top three in all practice sessions, Albon made it through to Q3 and started eighth, a position he converted on race day via some late scrapping with Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz – beating both of them to the line.
“It’s been a great weekend,” said Albon. “P8… It’s funny that it’s actually our worst position of the weekend, which is crazy to say. It just shows you that points were on the cards.
In some ways, when you know the car’s possible for points, it puts a little bit more emphasis on… I don’t want to say pressure, but expectation to score points. To be able to get P8 for the team, now we’re joint seventh in the constructors’, it’s huge for us.”
‘Strongest weekend so far’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...BCz3WAy4o.html
A glimpse of Williams' F1 recovery, at its spiritual Silverstone home
July 12th 2023
Motor Sport Magazine.
Silverstone marked the arrival of Williams as an F1 grand prix winner, writes Mark Hughes. It witnessed dominant victories in the constructor's glory days and, last weekend, it saw a (temporarily) resurgent team celebrating its imminent 800th GP.
The team has made progress year-on-year, but is realistically still vying – with AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo – not to be the slowest on conventional tracks. But the run of Montreal–Austria–Silverstone, three consecutive drag-prioritising circuits, has allowed Albon to make a real impression. At Silverstone, he was still trying to pass Alonso’s Aston for seventh as they took the flag, having overtaken Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari on-track.
This was supposed to be Williams’ 800th grand prix (since its relaunched 1977 incarnation) but the cancellation of Imola has delayed that milestone until Hungary next week. There had been a Williams team before Frank Williams and Patrick Head began their new venture together with a customer March at the ’77 Spanish Grand Prix.
‘Glimpse of Williams' F1 recovery’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
Albon ‘super happy’ after another points scoring performance for Williams
09 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Alex Albon said the British Grand Prix was Williams' “strongest weekend” of the season so far after he finished P8 to pick up four valuable points for the team.
‘Super happy’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...485023208.html
Williams: P7 in championship 'a fair reflection' of performance
13/07/2023 at 09:19
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
James Vowles says Williams' joint seventh place in F1's Constructors' standings is "a fair reflection" of the team's current performance level. Williams is enjoying its best campaign in F1 since 2017, its last competitive season among the elite.
"P7 isn’t one lucky result, it’s the accumulation of this update working, and strong results in Montreal and here [in Britain]," the Williams boss said in his post-British Grand Prix debrief.
"We've had luck fall our way, but we’ve also had results that really we had on paper with car performance, but hadn’t achieved everything, for example in Australia.”
‘P7 in championship’;
https://f1i.com/news/480727-williams...rformance.html
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Alfa Romeo thank Cara Delevingne for "learning the ropes" after Martin Brundle debate.
"Wow, you could nap in here," she joked after sitting in the machine that Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou drive.
10 Jul 2023
F1 Desk
Crash.Net
Alfa Romeo thanked Cara Delevingne - their guest at the F1 British Grand Prix - for "learning the ropes" after her day with the team. The actress and model later became involved in a controversy with Sky F1 presenter Martin Brundle during his trademark grid walk, when she did not want to be interviewed.
But Delevingne is shown in Alfa Romeo's footage in the paddock and in the team's garage, being taught about their F1 car. She also dons a helmet before being driven around Silverstone in the Safety Car. "Great," she beamed after the once-in-a-lifetime experience before later being introduced to Zhou.
‘Alfa Romeo thank Cara Delevingne’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103118...brundle-debate
F1 team leaps to defence of Cara Delevingne after blanking Martin Brundle
10 Jul 2023 5:38 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Alfa Romeo declared “respect goes both ways” in response to the awkward moment between model Cara Delevingne and Martin Brundle on the British GP grid. It was during Brundle’s regular ‘grid walk’ segment for Sky F1 pre-race that he tried to grab a word with Delevingne, an endeavour that did not go very well.
As Brundle attempted to speak to Delevingne, he was warned off by a member of the Alfa Romeo team, Brundle responding: “She doesn’t want to talk, but everybody needs to talk on the grid. That’s the deal now, everybody talks on the grid.”
Delevingne would confirm on social media after the race that she was told by an “F1 representative” not to speak to Brundle, having been seen glancing towards the Alfa Romeo team member when Brundle approached, and that is indeed the advice which she stuck to. “Respect goes both ways: nobody should be placed in an uncomfortable situation or forced to do things against their will,” the team stated.
“Respect goes both ways”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/alfa-r...artin-brundle/
Alfa Romeo: Poor Silverstone result masked improvements
13:31 Thu, 13 Jul 2023.
by Taylor Powling
The Checkered Flag
Alfa Romeo Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi believes the side’s poor result at the British Grand Prix masked the performance improvements it has made. After Zhou Guanyu expressed concern over the squad being out-developed by its rivals, Alfa Romeo introduced updates intended to improve its car in high-speed corners.
Alunni Brav is convinced the Italian marque’s qualifying struggles at Silverstone meant the race classification didn’t reflect the step forward it made with its C43 package. “Today, we must pay tribute to our team and drivers for the job done, in a race that wasn’t set to be easy for us: overall, we have recovered ten positions, eight with Valtteri and two with Zhou, as proof that if we carry out a perfect race, we can get into the fight for points,” he said.
“Yesterday was not our day, and of course, starting from the back is never easy, but today we showed an improvement in the race pace compared to previous events, which gives us confidence for the next two races before the summer break.”
‘Recovered ten positions’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...-improvements/
Bottas: Alfa not meeting its targets – must 'work harder'
13/07/2023 at 16:42
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Valtteri Bottas believes his Alfa Romeo team needs to burn some midnight oil to bring updates to its car sooner rather than later to boost its disappointing performance. "We made a step but also other teams have made steps, that's the name of the game. So we need to find a bit more,” commented Bottas.
"We don't have anything coming in the next two events until after the summer break. The guys and girls really need to work hard in the factory to bring some new bits. We're approaching halfway through the season and we've not been able to really move up the order," said the 33-year-old. At some point, we need to decide when to focus for next year and I'm sure those discussions are gonna be made soon.”
"We were expecting it [the car] to be better than last year, but just didn't find enough during the winter and the beginning of the season so far. We're not meeting targets we set ourselves, now we just need to work hard."
‘Alfa not meeting its targets’;
https://f1i.com/news/480759-bottas-a...rk-harder.html
Bottas admits Alfa Romeo ‘were expecting to be better than this’ in 2023
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 13th July 2023, 13:131
Written by Ida Wood and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas says the team are “not meeting targets” they set for the year after failing to score again at Silverstone. He said it had been a “good race” but admitted “that’s where the pace was” at the moment. He doubted points would have been possible even from a higher starting position. Definitely we made a step, but also other teams made steps,” said Bottas. “It’s the name of the game. So need to find a bit more.”
Alfa Romeo’s head of trackside engineering Xevi Pujolar believes the team can move up the standings, as they are only two points away from seventh place. “Our direct competitors brought upgrades, and comparing with AlphaTauri, Haas, we can be fighting with them, we are faster than them,” he said. “I think the only difficulty is with Williams at the moment. That they were performing very strong, they were fighting with Ferrari and even Aston Martin. They seem to be quite strong the last couple of races, we have to see if that continues like this.”
“But for us, we can see that all the gaps are quite small and from race to race there can be a bit of a fluctuation. So on our side we will just keep pushing and optimising our package and on the driving and everything race to race and it’s only two points to them. So we’re confident still from now until [summer] shutdown, it’s possible to overtake Haas and Williams. That’s our aim.”
“Not meeting targets”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/13/...-this-in-2023/
Alfa Romeo ‘Showed an Improvement in the Race Pace’ after Recent Upgrades – Alunni Bravi
July 13, 2023
By Paul Hensby
The Checkered Flag
Despite missing out on points at Silverstone, Alessandro Alunni Bravi says the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake can take confidence from their performance, particularly on Sunday when both Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu gained positions from their starting spots.
Alunni Bravi says Bottas raced flawlessly throughout the race to move up the grid, particularly when running the hard compound tyre in the first stint, but he bemoaned an additional stop for Zhou for clearing a tear-off from his brake duct.
But he is pleased that the team had made a step forward in performance thanks to the upgrades, and he hopes they can further improve in the upcoming races so they can fight for points. “What we have learned from this weekend is that each and everyone of us needs to execute every race to the very best and that there is no room for mistakes. Moving forward, this will be our focus, in order to consistently remain in the fight for points.”
‘Bottas raced flawlessly’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...-alunni-bravi/
-
“Alarm bells are ringing” for Haas after spate of reliability problems.
Haas’ reliability woes took a turn for the worse at the British Grand Prix, where Kevin Magnussen’s weekend was ruined by technical trouble.
2023 British Grand Prix
Posted on 13th July 2023, 7:1512th July 2023, 22:44
Written by Ida Wood and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Haas slipped to eighth in the constructors’ championship at Silverstone, level on points with seventh-placed Williams.
It was the latest in a series of setbacks for the team. Magnussen’s team mate Nico Hulkenberg suffered a breakdown during practice for the Canadian Grand Prix three weeks earlier. More trouble struck in Austria. Hulkenberg had qualified eighth for the grand prix but only completed 12 laps before his power unit started smoking and he stopped on-track.
At Silverstone it was Magnussen’s turn to suffer misfortune. His weekend began to go awry when he stopped on-track during Q1 due to a loss of oil pressure, resigning him to 19th on the grid. Following that setback, ahead of Sunday’s race, Haas’ technical director Simone Resta was hopeful the team had put the spare of failures behind it.
“Alarm bells are ringing”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/13/...lity-problems/
Hulkenberg: Haas 'alarm bells ringing' after another engine failure
11/07/2023 at 14:48
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Nico Hulkenberg says another engine failure suffered by the Haas in last Sunday's British Grand Prix have set off the "alarm bells" in the US outfit which needs to investigate the issue.
Asked if the failures this season are a cause for concern, Hulkenberg believes they are. "I think so. I mean, I had a couple this year too, it definitely something where the alarm bells are ringing and it seems to happen more just on our team and car," said the German. "So I think definitely we need to take it seriously and we need to investigate and find out why."
"Alarm bells";
https://f1i.com/news/480620-hulkenbe...e-failure.html
HAAS’ DRIVERS LEFT WITH MIXED OPINIONS AFTER ANOTHER DISAPPOINTING RESULT AT THE BRITISH GP
Haas finished outside of the points once again this season at Silverstone
July 13, 2023
Darius Needham
FormulaNerds
Haas have only scored 11 points after 10 rounds this season. The team has had issues with their car throughout the season so far. Their first major set-back came at the Austrian Grand Prix when Nico Hulkenberg had to retire due problem with his power unit. This meant that the German driver had multiple changes to his engine components ahead of the weekend at Silverstone. However, things would get worse Haas, in particular for his Danish team-mate.
Both drivers failed to impress in all three practice sessions. Then in Qualifying, Magnussen’s car grounded to halt meaning that he would have to be fitted with a used Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) on Sunday. The problems didn’t stop there as Magnussen appeared to suffer with the same issue in the British Grand Prix, which brought out the only Safety car of the race
‘MIXED OPINIONS’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ha...he-british-gp/
Haas’ Guenther Steiner: “We have to regroup and see how we move forward from here”
July 13, 2023
By Paul Hensby
The Checkered Flag
Guenther Steiner says the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team will need to regroup after a disappointing British Grand Prix weekend saw them finish thirteenth with one car and retire with the other. Steiner, the Team Principal at Haas, says the team did not have the pace to be a contender for points at Silverstone, and everyone at the team will be working hard to understand why and come back with a stronger performance in Hungary in two weeks time.
“It’s been a very disappointing weekend,” said Steiner. “We just didn’t have the pace and we’ve now had our third engine failure in three races as well – that doesn’t help us. We have to regroup and see how we move forward from here because we need to get out of this hole. Everybody will be working on it obviously, but today was simply not a good day.”
‘Regroup, move forward’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ard-from-here/
Guenther Steiner reveals when Haas will announce 2024 driver line-up
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner wants to avoid the saga that dogged his team in the 2022 season.
10 July 2023
by Robert Collins
Formula1News
Guenther Steiner hopes that Haas will be able to make a definitive decision on their 2024 team line-up by the upcoming summer break. This follows last year, which saw plenty of uncertainty for Haas’ driver line-up.
Mick Schumacher was fighting to retain his seat throughout the 2022 season before ultimately losing his spot to Nico Hulkenberg. “I hope before the summer break, I think we can make the decision,” Steiner told media sources.
“You know, we need to obviously do it and we will get our drivers confirmed soon as possible. I mean, as I said before, I mean, it’s nothing new for you guys. I’m pretty happy with our driver lineup now.”
‘Soon as possible’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/guenther-...river-line-up/
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Silverstone sees EARLY retirement from Ocon after MAJOR issue.
Esteban Ocon's British Grand Prix came to an underwhelming end as the Frenchman was forced to retire his Alpine on lap ten of the race.
Sunday 9 July 2023 16:33
Harry Smith
GPFans
Ted Kravitz provided further insight on the Sky Sports F1 broadcast for the race after checking in with the Alpine pit wall following the retirement. Speaking to lead commentator David Croft, Kravitz explained: "I believe they saw something on telemetry that wasn't gonna last the race.
"So they've called him in and retired him, although there is some action down here as they look at that car [to find out] what exactly the issue is." Ocon's retirement means that all of Alpine's hopes for the British Grand Prix lay with Pierre Gasly, who was running P9 at the time of the DNF.
‘Saw something on telemetry’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...rement-alpine/
‘It was going to catch fire if we didn’t stop’ – Ocon explains his British GP DNF
09 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Esteban Ocon had to retire his Alpine on Lap 9 at Silverstone with a hydraulics leak.
‘Going to catch fire’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...712553770.html
‘All our work is ruined’ – Gasly ‘extremely disappointed’ after collision with Stroll ends his race
09 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Pierre Gasly cut a dejected figure after the British Grand Prix and bemoaned both his bad luck with the timing of the Safety Car, and the move from Lance Stroll that ultimately forced him to retire from the race.
‘Work is ruined’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...034448208.html
Gasly 'confused' by stewards' lack of action over Stroll move
10/07/2023 at 08:23
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
A very confused Pierre Gasly said that he will be seeking answers from the FIA over the stewards' decision not to punish Lance Stroll for an overtake outside of the track limits in the British Grand Prix. The move by the Aston Martin driver took place on the restart at the end of the Safety Car period in the second half of the race.
The stewards noted the incident as Stroll received a black-and-white flag warning, but he was not asked to give back the position, much to Gasly's ire as he believed that Stroll's move was a clear-cut case of leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
"To me it was quite clear and it's been always in the regulation he can't leave the track and gaining an advantage. On everything that I've seen he had four wheels off the track passing me, and that's gaining an advantage.”
‘Gasly 'confused' by stewards' lack of action’;
https://f1i.com/news/480510-gasly-co...roll-move.html
Carlos Sainz confronted by rival F1 star on TV after British Grand Prix – "Poor baby"
Feisty racing on the Silverstone track threatened to boil over after the British Grand Prix as one F1 driver picked fights with two of his rivals amid his frustration
10:25, 10 Jul 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Feisty racing on the Silverstone track threatened to boil over after the British Grand Prix as one F1 driver picked fights with two of his rivals amid his frustration. Carlos Sainz called Formula 1 rival Pierre Gasly "poor baby" as the French racer interrupted a TV interview after the British Grand Prix.
The pair were involved in an eye-catching battle during the Silverstone race. Gasly got the better of the Ferrari man briefly, before Sainz moved back ahead at Copse. But the Alpine driver was left unimpressed by that move. He felt he had been squeezed unfairly, taking to the radio after losing the place to voice his fury. "He can't push me like that! F***, he didn't give me any space!" he yelled. The F1 stewards, however, did not feel it was a matter worth investigating.
Gasly was still smarting after the race and made sure Sainz knew about it. In the paddock TV pen, the latter was giving an interview to Spanish-language broadcasters when his rival appeared to fulfil his own media duties. Before doing so, Gasly prodded Sainz's arm and said: "Don't squeeze me like that, Carlos." In response, the Ferrari driver simply smiled while still looking at the reporter he was speaking to and replied: "Pobrecito," which translates as "poor baby".
"Poor baby";
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...al-f1-30428425
Alpine must ‘find solutions’ amid slump – Gasly
07:51 Tue, 11 Jul 2023.
Grandpx.news
Pierre Gasly says Alpine has to "find solutions" to the Renault-owned team's stalled progress in Formula 1. The Frenchman left the Red Bull family to replace Fernando Alonso at Alpine this year, but the British GP basically summed up the result so far: P10 in qualifying, contact and DNF in the race.
“We know where we're losing time and we clearly have work to do”, he said. “What McLaren has done to improve must serve as an example to us, so we have to keep working. We know our weaknesses and we have to find solutions to solve them.”
‘Must serve as an example to us’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/alpin...ays-gasly.html
Szafnauer not expecting 2026 power unit rules to change
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on 15th July 2023, 0:01
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer says that he does not expect F1’s new power unit regulations set to be introduced in 2026 to be changed despite criticism from some. “Speaking to the powertrain guys, we want to keep it as is,” Szafnauer told media including RaceFans. “I don’t deeply follow it – I wasn’t involved in the negotiations and the reasons why – but I asked them those questions and we’re happy to keep it as is.”
Asked if he expected that there would be enough appetite to change the regulations, Szafnauer said “I would imagine it’s going to be unlikely to be changed.”
‘Not expecting 2026 power unit rules to change’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/15/...nd-up-15-07-6/
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Revealed: The Christian Horner-Helmut Marko phone call which sparked Daniel Ricciardo return.
‘Sources have told ESPN that Horner called Marko an hour or so into it just to tell him just how impressive the pace was,’ their report states. ‘Marko called back shortly afterwards to tell Horner he had just fired De Vries.’
12 Jul 2023 12:24 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
A report has emerged detailing how the Daniel Ricciardo Silverstone tyre test so rapidly turned into an immediate return to the grid with AlphaTauri to replace Nyck de Vries
Having been hard at work behind the scenes with Red Bull following his return to the team for F1 2023, Ricciardo was given his first outing in the real-life RB19, which has won all 10 grands prix so far, on Tuesday at Silverstone as part of Pirelli tyre testing duties.
According to a report from ESPN, their sources have detailed how this chain of events moved so quickly, with Red Bull principal Christian Horner having called the team’s advisor Helmut Marko to inform him of Ricciardo’s impressive pace being the first domino to fall.
‘Phone call’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/christ...iel-ricciardo/
JONATHAN McEVOY: 10 races and you're out... rookie Nyck de Vries now knows just how ruthless F1 can be after being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri
• Nyck de Vries was axed by AlphaTauri after just 10 races in his first season in F1
• Australian Daniel Ricciardo, 34, will return to the cockpit in Hungary next week
• Alex Albon is showing his strengths at Williams after being jettisoned by Red Bull
Updated: 00:43, 14 July 2023
By Jonathan McEvoy For Mail Online
Mail Online
Never was Formula One’s ruthless streak more apparent than in the sacking of Nyck de Vries, fired this week after just 10 races. Red Bull’s motorsport adviser Helmut Marko said of De Vries: ‘We expected him to be at least equal to his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda this year, but that was not the case. He was always three-tenths of a second slower. We didn’t see any improvement.’
So poor De Vries is cast adrift in his rookie season. He has hardly set the world alight, and been culpable for unforced crashes. Azerbaijan was a conspicuous case in point: he encountered the tyre barrier in practice and then retired from the grand prix when he broke his suspension in contact with the wall. But surely he should have been granted longer to prove himself?
‘10 races and you're out...’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ess-F1-be.html
Red Bull has killed de Vries career says Ralf
JULY 14, 2023
Grandprix.com
Red Bull's sudden axe is a "death sentence" for Nyck de Vries' Formula 1 career. That is the view of Ralf Schumacher, who nonetheless admits that it's understandable team owner Red Bull decided to oust the struggling Dutch rookie from its junior outfit Alpha Tauri.
The decision may even be understandable, former F1 driver Schumacher told Sky Deutschland. But you also have to say that, in the middle of the season, it's not exactly the finest style from Red Bull.
And he says that while Alpha Tauri can also certainly afford a driver change given it is dead last in the constructors' standings, de Vries' career cannot. Of course it's an absolute death sentence for the boy, said the German. After this, he won't be able to gain a foothold anywhere. That's my opinion.
‘Absolute death sentence for the boy’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/red-b...says-ralf.html
Marko on de Vries’ Axing: “he never once did a super lap that amazed us.”
July 12, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
Helmut Marko has shed light on the rationale behind the decision to part ways with Nyck de Vries after a mere 10 races into his debut F1 season. “We signed Nyck because he performed great at Monza last year,” said Marko when speaking to de Telegraaf.
“We expected him to be at least equal to his teammate this year, but that wasn’t the case. Actually, he was always three-tenths slower. We didn’t see any improvement. He is 28 years old, has a lot of experience and also a lot of knowledge as a test driver in various F1 cars. I don’t think you can compare him to a young rookie.”
“At the end of April in Baku, he started the weekend well and I thought he was going to perform better, but then he crashed again. Unfortunately, he never once did a super lap that amazed us.”
“Never once did a super lap that amazed us”;
https://baylasportsf1.com/marko-on-d...hat-amazed-us/
Toto Wolff pictured with Nyck De Vries just hours after Red Bull sacking
13 Jul 2023
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net
Toto Wolff was spotted with Nyck de Vries, soon after the driver was axed by Red Bull. The Mercedes F1 team principal and the ex-AlphaTauri driver were pictured at a cafe in Monaco on Wednesday, a day after Red Bull made their decision.
Wolff and De Vries have obvious history together so their meeting is interesting. It remains to be seen if Wolff's influence can help De Vries find another seat on the 2024 F1 grid.
Mercedes' close ties with Williams might be his best bet. Albon is contracted for 2024 but Logan Sargeant is not yet tied down. Marko had expressed doubts that De Vries will get another shot in F1 and recommended he try a career in endurance racing.
‘Wolff's influence’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103129...d-bull-sacking
Martin Brundle: F1 ‘a better place’ with Daniel Ricciardo | ‘Absolutely got to beat Yuki Tsunoda’
14 Jul 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
F1 commentator Martin Brundle has welcomed the return of Daniel Ricciardo, but admitted the Australian’s decision to return “surprised" him. Earlier this week, AlphaTauri announced Ricciardo’s sensational return to F1 as Nyck de Vries’ replacement.
“I'm really pleased to see him back, but just my honest reaction was, 'wow. Daniel's going to do that, is he?' It surprised me,” Brundle told Sky Sports News. “Daniel's always talked about he's lost his mojo and he needs to get his enthusiasm back, and so I didn't think he'd take that, unless there's another deal that goes with it, a 'you do this and then down the road we'll do that'.”
“I'm sure he's had six months of sim-work and not being a Formula 1 driver and that will have hit him very hard. And so I can fully understand the attraction of being one of the 20 on the grid. My overriding feeling here is Formula 1 feels a better place when Daniel Ricciardo's on the grid, and I hated seeing him having to loiter around all weekend."
'Wow. Daniel's going to do that, is he?';
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103133...t-beat-tsunoda
Ricciardo "not scared" of AlphaTauri F1 return challenge
15th July 2023, 14:29
By: Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com
Daniel Ricciardo says he is "not scared of anything" ahead of a challenging mid-season Formula 1 comeback with AlphaTauri in place of Nyck de Vries. "I'm excited about it - it's a challenge for sure to jump in and try to hit the ground running," Ricciardo said in an interview on F1's YouTube channel.
"But also, I feel like I've been through a lot the last few years where I'm not really scared of anything that's going to be thrown my way. I appreciate the car is going to have its limitations. It might not have as much grip as the Red Bull I drove a few days ago but, if it feels relatively balanced, then that's something I can work with.”
"They expect results, performances, but I think until I get in the car, it's hard to define what that is. Is it a P8? Is it a P14? I don't think there's pressure until the summer break. But I also don't expect to get off to a slow start. I want to hit the ground running and try and also use what I've learned in this time off to put it to use."
“Try to hit the ground running";
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...nge-/10496052/
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Gerhard Berger scathing assessment: Ferrari fired the wrong people.
“They lost their nerve and knocked out the wrong people,” he told oe24.
14 Jul 2023 10:30 AM
Michelle Foster
It was yet another strategy blunder from Ferrari that led to their demise with the Scuderia insisting on sticking with a medium-hard strategy even though it was evident to everyone else on the grid that degradation was minimal on the day.
While it could be argued that a late Safety Car for Kevin Magnussen’s stricken Haas didn’t help the situation, Sunday’s British Grand Prix will go down as yet another race in which Ferrari’s strategy team dropped the ball.
With that being a continuation of last year’s weakness, Berger believes Ferrari made the wrong call in allowing former team boss Binotto to leave the team with the Italian having fallen on his sword in the weeks after the season concluded.
“They lost their nerve and knocked out the wrong people”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/gerhar...-wrong-people/
Ferrari boss accused of 'knocking out the wrong people' as Charles Leclerc problems grow
Ferrari bosses have been accused of sacking the wrong people as the Scuderia continues to struggle.
13:46, Fri, Jul 14, 2023
By Luke Chillingsworth
Daily and Sunday Express
Former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger has called out top bosses days after Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz clashed at Silverstone. The Monegasque has so far suffered a season to forget with Ferrari miles away from Red Bull and internal fighting.
Earlier this season, Juan Pablo Montoya admitted signing Vasseur may have been a mistake. The Colombian instead felt that ex-team principal Jean Todt would have been the perfect replacement to sort out the Italian marque’s issues.
It’s the latest in a series of issues for Leclerc to contend with as Ferrari continues to drop further towards the midfield. The team lacked race pace at the British Grand Prix with Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finishing P9 and P10 to score just three points. The result was described as “borderline unacceptable” by Aston Martin’s former strategist Bernie Collins after both cars qualified inside the top five.
‘Sacking the wrong people’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...c-carlos-sainz
ITALIAN MEDIA REPORT TWO TEAMS EYEING CHARLES LECLERC
Rumours surrounding Charles Leclerc potentially moving to Mercedes have recently diminished, however, according to Italian media sources other teams are looking at signing the Monégasque
July 13, 2023
Rhiannon Temporal
FormulaNerds
Italian media sources are reporting that Aston Martin and Red Bull are eyeing Charles Leclerc for a potential move following the conclusion of his current Ferrari contract. While plenty of 2024 driver announcements are still pending, it seems certain teams are looking forward to future seasons.
Italian media outlet formu1a.uno is reporting that two teams are looking to win Charles Leclerc away from Ferrari at the end of his current contract. The first of these two teams is Red Bull, with the outlet reporting alleged talks between the two parties: “Talks with the Monegasque [and Red Bull] that took place at the end of May, to understand if there was any possibility that the paths with Ferrari could separate.”
The Italian source goes on to name the second team as they continue, “Something that Aston Martin has also done [had talks with Leclerc], in search of a top driver for after [Fernando] Alonso [leaves]. That is how Frederick Vasseur has put the renewal of the Monegasque at the top of his agenda for a few weeks, leaving that of Carlos Sainz on standby for now, who at least unofficially does not seem to have taken it very well.”
‘Rumours surrounding Charles Leclerc’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/it...arles-leclerc/
Leclerc labels Ferrari fans 'IMPATIENT' amid title bid.
Sunday 16 July 2023 06:57
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Charles Leclerc has revealed that he does not feel the pressure from what he calls "impatient" Ferrari fans. “My mentality has always been to push at the maximum and not leave anything on the table,” Leclerc said to The Guardian.
“When you have a trickier car to drive, as is the case for the first part of this season, mistakes happen. I know this. I am the first one who wants to be in a title fight, but it’s not frustrating, it motivates me a lot.”
“I don’t feel the outside pressure but I am putting myself under a lot of pressure in order to succeed, the responsibility of bringing Ferrari back to the top. The passion people have for the team is like nobody else. This comes with the good side that there is so much enthusiasm but it comes with things more difficult to manage, that because of this passion people are quite impatient.”
“The passion people have for the team is like nobody else”;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...-f1-impatient/
Ferrari face conundrum in Red Bull chase
14 July 4:08PM
Author Jake Nichol
Carlos Sainz has conceded that the continuously changing pecking order "is a good thing" for Formula 1 but not for Ferrari. Ferrari is entangled in a battle for second with Mercedes and Aston Martin behind runaway leaders Red Bull, although McLaren is harbouring hopes of gate-crashing after the upturn in form.
Addressing the race for second, Sainz told media including RacingNews 365: "It is going to be very tricky to predict and I think that is a good thing for F1. It is not a great thing for us because we are very dependent on the wind, track conditions and the track temperature for our own performance which will leave us exposed on some weekends.”
"But track to track, we might be as strong as we were in Canada or Austria, and then we will go to a track like Silverstone and not be as strong. We just need to focus on our upgrades and developments where we are weak and keep making progress."
‘Conundrum’;
https://racingnews365.com/sainz-iden...red-bull-chase
Vasseur hopes Ferrari can bounce back in Hungary after being ‘far too conservative’ at Silverstone
14 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur believes the squad’s lacklustre showing at the British Grand Prix was made worse by them being “a bit scared” about tyre degradation and subsequently playing it safe. However, Vasseur also feels there was some hesitation from the team in terms of tyre life – an area they have been pushing to improve after a spate of early-season struggles relative to their main rivals.
“Starting P4 and P5, we had the feeling after quali that we could have done a much better job than this,” Vasseur reflected. “We can’t be happy finishing P9, P10, but now we need to have a deep look on the weekend, not just on the race. I think we didn’t do the long stint on Friday, we [only did a] long stint on only the soft compound and Charles was stuck in the garage [with technical problems], and we were a bit scared with the deg.”
‘Vasseur hopes…’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...laaiQEpWR.html
Leclerc: Extending development of SF-23 will benefit 2024 design
15/07/2023 at 10:57
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Charles Leclerc believes that Ferrari's ongoing efforts to iron out the weaknesses of its SF-23 aren't to the detriment of the development of its 2024 car as any improvements will benefit the latter. "We are still mainly focussed on this year’s car because we’ve got clear weaknesses and we know that we need to address those, and when we will have addressed those, then it goes together: next year’s car will be much better – so, yeah.”
"But again, what gives me confidence in this time is that we have a very clear plan in what we want to improve. We’ve already done steps forward in the last three races. There are many more things coming in the next races, in order to not only be in front of Mercedes and Aston [Martin] but to be fighting the Red Bulls as quickly as possible and we are on the right track, I’m sure."
‘Extending development of SF-23’;
https://f1i.com/news/480836-leclerc-...24-design.html
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Alonso reveals meaning of 'El Plan'.
Alonso explained 'El Plan' was "a way of saying 'Fernando came back to F1 just with a plan to win again'."
14 July 2:33PM
Author RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has revealed the meaning of 'El Plan'. The two-time F1 World Champion's tagline since returning to the sport began at Alpine and has transferred across to his current team as he aims to return to winning ways after a wait of 10 years.
In a fan Q&A supported by Aston Martin sponsor Peroni, alongside Ambassador and former rival Pedro De La Rosa, Alonso explained 'El Plan'… De La Rosa added: "Maybe it was El Plan, but now it's La Mission."
‘EL PLAN: La Mission’;
https://racingnews365.com/alonso-rev...ing-of-el-plan
Alonso: Aston Martin need ‘two years’ to maximise new factory
Monday 17th July, 2023 - 1:20am
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Fernando Alonso feels it will be another two years before Aston Martin maximises the potential of its newly 0pened factory. “It was fascinating to see the facilities, the people there in the same room, manufacturing our own parts of the car,” said Alonso.
“Until now, third parties were making our car, our chassis and everything. It’s a step forward. “But I think we will need a couple of years to settle everything down and to maximise the potential. Obviously, it shows the ambition of Aston Martin, and we have to be proud.”
‘EL PLAN: Two year plan’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/07/17...n-new-factory/
Fernando Alonso reveals how he ‘got better’ as a driver during Formula 1 sabbatical
14 Jul 2023 1:13 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Fernando Alonso has said trying new racing categories in his time away from Formula 1 meant he “got better” when he stepped back into the sport.
“The most incredible thing about you, Fernando, is that you are the leader, you lead by example,” De la Rosa said to his compatriot. “It’s a key – this is not easy. And now when he has arrived at Aston Martin, I think he’s such a complete athlete.””
“I got better,” Alonso added with a smile. “Better endurance, and I have experience in different categories, not only Formula 1. I think you understand many other important things as a driver that you need to put in the team.”
‘EL PLAN: Got better during sabbatical’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...f1-sabbatical/
The real reason behind Aston Martin's unique action
16 July 3:20PM
Author Jake Nichol
Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has explained the reasoning behind how the team use their Formula 1 tyres. Frequently over recent seasons, the team have headed into Sunday of a Grand Prix weekend with no new sets of tyres available, as defined by Pirelli.
However, some tyre sets only have one lap on them, with the team being unique in following this strategy, despite rival squads and indeed Pirelli unsure as to why Aston Martin were persevering. But McCullough has now explained the rationale. "We started off doing it for live pitstop practice," McCullough told media including RacingNews365.
"We can do a lot of other simulations, but when a car comes in hot, you have to get your gun onto the wheel, you have to get the jacks up, get the tyres off and on and off you go. We're doing it at the end of every session. We also don't think that if you trundle around, it doesn't really hurt the tyre. It maybe takes the top off them, but we don't think that's a bad thing."
‘EL PLAN: Car comes in hot - Live pitstop practice’;
https://racingnews365.com/the-real-r...-unique-action
Krack: Pundits' raised expectations for Aston 'a complement'
14/07/2023 at 14:48
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack says the scrutiny his outfit is receiving for not finishing among the top three in recent races is "a complement" that shows that Team Silverstone is actually doing its job this season.
Aston Martin hit the ground running at the start of the year, with Fernando Alonso delivering consecutive podiums in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia. The Spaniard added two more top-three finishes in Miami and In Monaco, and another runner-up spot in Canada.
"I think that is the interesting or the nice part of it. The level of expectation has risen from six podiums," commented Krack, quoted by Motorsport.com. "I think we sit here now with six podiums in 10 races. It's normal, that the expectations are high. And we will continue to try and fulfil the expectations.”
‘EL PLAN: Fulfil the expectations’;
https://f1i.com/news/480806-krack-pu...omplement.html
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Gary Anderson: Red Bull’s right, 2026 rules will be bad for F1.
“It’s difficult to disagree with Horner about the direction F1 is heading in. For me, it doesn’t seem to be the right one.”
Jul 17 2023
By Gary Anderson
The Race
The team that’s dominating the 2023 Formula 1 season has been very vocal lately about the 2026 F1 rules. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and world champion driver Max Verstappen’s criticisms of those regulations, particularly the power unit part, might be motivated by self-interest. But I agree with Horner that F1 is going in the wrong direction, albeit for very different reasons.
The current regulations are very restrictive. If anything, we’re lucky Red Bull has found openings within the rules to build as superior a car as it has. Those opportunities are there for everyone to take but it’s simply about recognising them – something Adrian Newey is very good at – optimising your research around them then incorporating them into your car.
It’s therefore no surprise that Horner is pushing back against the 2026 rule changes, particularly those increasing the hybrid power from 120kW to 350kW, although perhaps that stance is also down to question marks over Red Bull’s new powertrain company’s capabilities, as Toto Wolff suggests.
‘2026 rules will be bad for F1’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-...be-bad-for-f1/
F1 chiefs say 2026 rules fears prompted by old data
14:28 Fri, 07 Jul 2023.
By: Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
Concerns have emerged in recent weeks about the risks of a wrong step with the new cars in 2026 ruining the spectacle. But while Verstappen’s Red Bull team is pushing for changes to be made to help improve matters, F1’s own senior technical figures are far more sanguine about the situation.
In fact, F1’s chief technical officer Pat Symonds thinks team alarm bells about the 2026 situation are far too premature – as he suggests their fears have been triggered by out-of-date data and regulations that are in the process of being refined.
Symonds and his team at F1 and the FIA, making the most of the massive computer power available to it through a partnership with AWS, have been accelerating computer simulations on the 2026 project over recent months. And it has emerged that the latest car model F1 has is a huge step from what teams have been basing their findings on so far, and is performing in a completely different way.
‘Fears have been triggered by out-of-date data’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...data/10492687/
‘Zero chance’ F1 will tear up 2026 rules – Wolff
07:29 Tue, 04 Jul 2023.
ANDREW MAITLAND
Grandpx.news
Toto Wolff says there is “zero chance” Formula 1 will hit reverse gear on the all-new regulations for 2026. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, however, said he will stridently oppose any moves to tinker too seriously with the 2026 rules.
“All the manufacturers were involved in the process of developing these regulations,” he said. “A compromise was reached which means Audi finally joins our sport and Honda stays. Do our chassis designers say ‘How are we going to do this?’ Yes they do,” Wolff admitted. “But there is zero chance that these rules will change or be delayed.”
“The world needs to show innovation related to ecology and we are looking forward to it.” What Wolff does concede, however, is that F1 must work not to add too much to the hefty weight and size of the cars. But he says Horner’s position is basically “alarmism”.
‘Toto Wolff: Horner’s position is basically “alarmism”.’;
https://grandpx.news/zero-chance-f1-...6-rules-wolff/
Verstappen raises concerns over ‘pretty terrible’ 2026 F1 rules
09:59 Mon, 03 Jul 2023.
by Fergal Walsh
Motorsport Week
Max Verstappen says he is worried that Formula 1 cars in 2026 will be “terrible” after carrying out work on the simulator. F1 is set to introduce new technical regulations in three years’ time, with new power unit rules agreed upon in 2022.
During the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner highlighted that there were concerns over increasing weight and the ratio between combustion power and electrical power.
Verstappen mirrored Horner’s comments, stating that he found himself downshifting while flat out at the end of long straights due to it being faster. “I’ve been talking about that as well with the team and I’ve seen the data already on the simulator as well,” the two-time World Champion said.
‘Pretty terrible 2026 F1 rules’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...2026-f1-rules/
Mercedes make ‘mammoth’ prediction about F1’s 2026 rules revolution
08 Jul 2023 2:00 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Hywel Thomas, the managing director of Mercedes’ High Performance Powertrains engine division, is anticipating a “mammoth” amount of development and innovation by manufacturers ahead of F1’s next rules reset in 2026.
“I would say a mammoth amount [of innovation is possible]. If we want to be successful – and we do want to be successful – we’ve got some huge challenges and we’re going to have to do some special things to deliver on those in much the same way that when we had that run up in 2013.”
“There was still some stuff that needed fixing and still some performance needed finding until the last minute, so I think we’ve gone a long way to go and it’s very exciting. We’ll develop some ideas that I’m sure will be relevant for the industry.”
‘Mammoth prediction’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/merced...f1-2026-rules/
