2022 - A Look Ahead

‘I was hopeful we were going to get a 1-2’ says Hamilton, as he apologises for angry Dutch GP radio outbursts.
Lewis Hamilton turned the airwaves blue in the final stages of the Dutch Grand Prix, having seen a possible chance of victory snatched away by a late Safety Car. But a becalmed Hamilton was taking the positives from his Sunday despite finishing P4 – as team mate George Russell climbed past him to P2 at the flag.
04 September 2022
Formula 1.

A Safety Car was called six laps later after Valtteri Bottas pulled up on the main straight, Verstappen, Russell and Charles Leclerc diving into the pits for soft tyres as Hamilton stayed out on his mediums, inheriting the lead.

However, when green flag racing resumed, he was immediately passed by Verstappen, with Russell and Leclerc following suit to leave a furious Hamilton P4 by the chequered. “I can’t believe you guys ****ed me. I can’t tell you how ****ed I am,” yelled Hamilton into the radio.

But fortunately for the awaiting media, he’d calmed down by the time he faced the cameras post-race. “My apologies to the team because I don’t even remember what I said,” smiled Hamilton. “It was like I just lost it for a second, but I think they know it’s just so much passion.

‘Apologies for angry Dutch GP radio outbursts’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...BK7P7Dm0L.html


Hamilton: ‘I knew I’d lost the race before the restart’
2022 Dutch Grand Prix
Posted on 4th September 2022, 17:35
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham

Lewis Hamilton knew he was a sitting duck at the final restart in the Dutch Grand Prix as he hadn’t switched to a set of soft tyres as the drivers behind him had. The Mercedes driver moved into the lead of the race when the Safety Car was deployed due to Valtteri Bottas’s car coming to a stop on the pit straight. While Verstappen came in to switch to soft tyres, giving up the race lead, Hamilton stayed out on his medium rubber, which had only done five laps.

However other drivers behind him switched to softs, including team mate George Russell. After the restart he was immediately passed by three of them and finished fourth. The result was a blow for Hamilton after Mercedes’ strongest showing of the year so far, in a season where there are still yet to score a win.

“It’s been such a rollercoaster ride this year,” said Hamilton in response to a question from RaceFans. “This was such a good race. The car was feeling better than it’s felt all year long. And obviously we had a difficult race last week. Yesterday up until the last corner where the yellow flag was, I was up 0.7 on everyone. So we had pace. The car was different to how it’s been all year long.”

‘I Knew I’d Lost The Race Before The Restart’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/04/...e-the-restart/


Lewis Hamilton: Safety Car 'completely screwed us' in Dutch GP
04 Sep 2022
Formula 1.

Hamilton also apologised to the team for his "emotional" radio outburst after he slipped from the lead to P4 at the flag at Zandvoort.

‘Safety Car Completely Screwed Us';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...101594044.html


Hamilton admits "not an easy call" for Mercedes in Dutch GP
04/09/2022, ‎19‎:‎10
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Dieter Rencken

‘Lewis Hamilton was left out on old Mediums for the restart after not pitting for Soft tyres, and finished fourth’;

‘Not An Easy Call For Mercedes’;

https://racingnews365.com/hamilton-a...es-in-dutch-gp


Apologetic Hamilton 'on the edge of breaking point' in Dutch GP
04/09/2022 at 17:47
Phillip van Osten

Hamilton, running on his old mediums, led the restart but was overhauled in short order by Verstappen, with Russell and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc also breezing past the seven-time world champion in the following laps.

"I can’t believe you guys screwed me like that," quipped a visibly angry Hamilton on the radio. "I can’t tell you how pissed I am right now." But after the race which he concluded in fourth position, Hamilton apologized to his team and conceded that his fury had gotten the better of him.

"I was just on the edge of breaking point with emotions and my apologies to the team because I don’t even remember what I said, I just lost it for a second," Hamilton said. "But I think they know that there is just so much passion and I want to look at it as a glass half full, we came here struggling from last race, we were fighting against the Red Bulls today, we were quicker than most at many points."

‘On The Edge Of Breaking Point';

https://f1i.com/news/453175-apologet...-dutch-gp.html

‘Oh my god’: F1 basket case a total ‘mess’ after fresh shambles.
Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto and one of his drivers Carlos Sainz agreed their disastrous Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday was “a mess”.
September 5th, 2022 8:26 am
AFP

In a chaotic and busy race, punctuated by stoppages, Red Bull emerged triumphant as Max Verstappen drove to his fourth consecutive victory ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Ferrari’s race was filled with series of errors and misfortunes including bungled pit-stops, unsafe releases in the pit lane and erratic strategy calls.

A poor first pit stop left Sainz standing for 12 seconds as his crew searched for a left rear tyre. “Oh my God!” exclaimed Sainz.

‘F1 basket case’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...d4aea6e36e57e7


Binotto and Sainz lament Ferrari's Dutch 'mess'.
Ferrari's race was filled with series of errors and misfortunes including bungled pit-stops, unsafe releases in the pit lane and erratic strategy calls.
Issued on: 04/09/2022 - 21:18
France 24

Zandvoort (Netherlands) (AFP) – Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto and one of his drivers Carlos Sainz agreed their disastrous Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday was "a mess". A poor first pit stop left Sainz standing for 12 seconds as his crew searched for a left rear tyre. "Oh my God!" exclaimed Sainz.

Not only had his crew mislaid a tyre, but they also left a wheel gun on the ground in front of Sergio Perez of Red Bull. "A mess," said Binotto. "What happened: a mess. A very, very late call. The mechanics weren't ready. We will revisit that at the end of this race.”

"We made the call at the last corner, at the banking. Not enough time, but we will review at the end." Sainz's dramas were not over. He was later released unsafely from his pit into the path of Fernando Alonso's Alpine, an error that cost him a five-second penalty and dropped him from fifth to eighth in the race result.

‘Ferrari's Dutch 'mess' ’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...i-s-dutch-mess


Nico Rosberg says F2 and F3 teams do 'better job' than Ferrari after Dutch GP calamity.
Nico Rosberg has blasted Ferrari in the wake of the Dutch Grand Prix which saw Carlos Sainz suffer two disastrous pitstops and limp home eighth while Charles Leclerc could only manager third.
20:22, 4 SEP 2022
BY Mark Whiley

Ferrari were left to reflect on another error-strewn race following the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. Once again, Ferrari shot themselves in the foot with comical errors, this time affecting Carlos Sainz. First, after the Spaniard was called in, the mechanics did not have all four wheels ready, meaning a stop which should have taken less than three seconds took more than 12.

Sainz suffered another setback later in the race when he was hit with a time penalty following an unsafe release and eventually finished eighth. While Leclerc salvaged third, it was another day to forget for the Scuderia. Former world champion Nico Rosberg issued a brutal verdict on Ferrari, saying the team needs to make big changes if it is to challenge for wins on a regular basis.

“Oh my goodness,” he said on Sky Sports F1. “And Binotto says ‘no, no, we don’t need to make changes, everything is going well’. When is the day coming? It’s not possible. Even Formula 2 teams or Formula 3 teams do a better job at their strategy and pitstops. You go in the pits and there’s no tyre there. At some point, they really need to start making some changes. And their car is just a little bit off the pace. We saw it at Spa, we saw it again here. They’re starting to lose out.”

‘Nico Rosberg says F2 and F3 teams do 'better job' ’;

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...rg-f1-27906492


‘They left the gun out’: Sergio Perez unhappy with Ferrari blunder.
The Dutch Grand Prix was one to forget for Carlos Sainz.
4 September 2022
by James Clifford

It was not an easy day for Carlos Sainz at the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix as yet more mistakes from Ferrari cost him points. The Spaniard started third behind Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, and there was contact on his right rear with Sir Lewis Hamilton – the pair escaped unscathed.

The left rear was the tyre in question later on in the race when the 27-year-old was called in for a stop but, somehow, the mechanic who was meant to put the tyre on that corner was late out of the garage.

While the rest of the team was waiting for the replacement tyre, the left rear tyre gun was left out in the pit lane, and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez ran over it. “They left the gun out,” said a surprised 32-year-old over the radio. Thankfully, no lasting damage was done to the Red Bull and, after the new tyre came out, Sainz was finally released.

‘They left the gun out’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/they-left...rrari-blunder/


Sainz calls his Dutch GP a ‘mess’ after pit stop trouble and penalty drop him to P8
04 September 2022
Formula 1.

Carlos Sainz had a race to forget at Zandvoort, the Ferrari driver finishing fifth but dropping to eighth after a five-second penalty for an unsafe release, which followed a glacial and chaotic pit stop.

The Spaniard couldn’t keep up with the leaders early in the race and pitted for a new set of mediums in a stop that lasted 12.7 seconds, as the rear-left tyre was not present when he entered the box. To add insult to injury, Sergio Perez – who made up time on Sainz in the pits – drove over a Ferrari wheel gun while exiting his box.

The #55 driver also appeared to pass Esteban Ocon under a yellow flag flown for Valtteri Bottas’s stricken car, Sainz finally given a five-second penalty for an unsafe release in front of Fernando Alonso having pitted for tyres under the resulting Safety Car.

‘Race to forget at Zandvoort’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...hikXh99t2.html


‘It was a mess, the whole race’ – Sainz reflects on a tough day after a disastrous pit stop at Zandvoort
04 Sep 2022
Formula 1.

Carlos Sainz had an eventful Dutch Grand Prix, dropping down the order after a botched pit stop, before being given a penalty for an unsafe release on a later stop as he eventually came home a frustrated P8.

‘Sainz reflects on a tough day’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...405741068.html


Binotto promises 'fix' after Ferrari's latest "mess"
Sunday 4 September 2022 20:40
Ewan Gale

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has promised a fix after the Scuderia's latest "mess" during the Dutch Grand Prix. Binotto initially told Sky Sports F1 from the pit wall the situation was "a mess", adding: "A late call and the mechanics were not ready. We will review after the race."

Speaking post-race, Binotto at least presented a cool head in the face of adversity. "If I look at it the problem it was too late a call, we had no time to react," said Binotto.

"All these things need to be fixed, this is one of the easiest to be fixed. It happened, it should not have happened. I am pretty sure we can be stronger in the future. I am less concerned by that than by the speed of the car."

‘Binotto promises fix';

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/90...ncerns-cooled/

Marko raves about 'alien' Verstappen following Dutch GP win.
Helmut Marko heaped praise on Max Verstappen describing him as "on his own planet" following his victory in the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.
‎04‎ ‎September‎ ‎17‎:‎40
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Ruud Dimmers

The Red Bull driver boss was gushing about his star driver following a fourth Grand Prix win in a row. Although Verstappen started on pole and won the race, it was far from a comfortable day for the World Champion who passed Lewis Hamilton on a late Safety Car restart to re-take the lead.

Verstappen was able to benefit from a Virtual and then full Safety Cars to bail him out of a strategy hole vs Hamilton - who was on a one-stop compared to a planned two, but eventually three-stopper for the Red Bull.

Verstappen crossed the line to win his fourth successive Grand Prix, 10th from 15 races and earn a 109 point lead over Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc, both on 201 points following fifth and third place finishes, respectively.

"On His Own Planet";

https://racingnews365.com/marko-rave...g-dutch-gp-win


Max Verstappen's wild celebrations with fans | 'Absolute chaos!'
09:04 Mon, 05 Sep 2022.
Sky Sports

Max Verstappen celebrated with his Red Bull team-mates and his home fans after taking victory at the Dutch Grand Prix.

'Absolute chaos!';

https://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...absolute-chaos


Villeneuve: Verstappen and Red Bull virtually unbeatable
6 September, 2022
Jad Mallak

Jacque Villeneuve hailed the Max Verstappen and Red Bull combination as unbeatable after the Dutchman won his tenth race this season at the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix. Reflecting on the race in his formule1.nl column, Villeneuve said: “At the moment, the combination of Max Verstappen and Red Bull is virtually unbeatable. They have the perfect chemistry, have the momentum and are now a combination like Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes in their peak years,” he added.

“Beating them would take a perfect season and for them to make mistakes,” the Canadian went on. “And what mistakes has Verstappen made? Small errors in Spain and Hungary, after which he still won.”

“Still, I can’t believe that we have two cars that are close in speed to each other and yet the championship is as good as decided with seven races to go,” he pointed out at Ferrari’s inability to run Red Bull close despite their impressive F1-75.”

‘Verstappen and Red Bull virtually unbeatable’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/09...ly-unbeatable/


LEWIS HAMILTON IS IMPRESSED BY THE RED BULL TEAM
Red Bull have been judged for being a drinks company and taking on Formula One, particularly by Lewis Hamilton.
06/09/2022, 07:35
Catherine Micallef
FormulaNerds

Lewis Hamilton was asked to comment on Max Verstappen’s dominance. But Hamilton chose to praise someone else for Red Bull’s success. This is Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, who previously worked with Williams and McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2006. Adrian was key to Red Bull’s success as a professional and expert in aerodynamics. Lewis Hamilton was asked whether he is impressed by Max Verstappen. The Brit is more impressed by the person behind the dominant RB18. As reported by Crash, Hamilton said, “It’s more that I’m impressed with Adrian Newey and his team.”

He added, “I think it is a great team; they’ve generally had really great cars for some time. They’ve done a fantastic job and anything I’ve said in the past about the team, I didn’t mean it in a negative way. I think years ago I said something about them being a drinks company, and I was just really highlighting that you would bet more on a car company, but they’ve proved me wrong and everyone else.”

“But also knowing that Adrian did his thesis on ground effect cars when he was at university, it’s no surprise what he has done and created this year. It is impressive but I believe in the young guns in my team and that we will catch up.”

‘They’ve proved me wrong and everyone else’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/le.../?nowprocket=1


Verstappen: No "real weaknesses" for RB18
06/09/2022, ‎07‎:‎55
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers

Max Verstappen says Red Bull are looking forward to Monza as he believes there is no "real weakness" for them in the final seven races of the season. Red Bull have shown to be consistent across all types of tracks so far, with the recent floor directive introduced at the Belgium Grand Prix also seemingly un-affecting them.

This is contrasting to rivals Mercedes who have found high speed circuits affect them most, while Ferrari are left trying to solve why they are dropping off in pace during the race. "No real weaknesses but we know at some places where we are stronger than others, we know on a high downforce track that it's a bit of a more difficult situation to get the best out of our package," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.com.

"But I think if you look at the whole season, of course, you have more tracks with kind of medium downforce levels and I think our car is very efficient. So that's why I think we're all looking forward to Monza."

‘No "real weaknesses" for RB18’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...s-for-red-bull

AlphaTauri issue damning statement on ‘unacceptable’ foul play accusations.
AlphaTauri have released a strongly-worded statement condemning accusations levelled at Red Bull and themselves over Yuki Tsunoda’s retirement from the Dutch Grand Prix.
Henry Valantine
Monday 5th September 2022 4:50 PM

The team have railed against “hateful behaviour” directed at Red Bull’s chief strategist, Hannah Schmitz, online overnight, as well as stating in the strongest possible terms they compete independently of Red Bull.

AlphaTauri said: “It is incredibly disheartening to read some of the language and comments directed at our team and towards Red Bull Racing’s head of strategy, Hannah Schmitz. Such hateful behaviour cannot be tolerated, and to entertain accusations of foul play is unacceptable, untrue and completely disrespectful towards both Hannah and us.”

“We have always competed independently, fairly and with the highest levels of respect and sportsmanship. Yuki had a failure that the team didn’t immediately detect which caused him to stop on track. To suggest anything different is insulting and categorically incorrect.”

‘Strongly-worded statement condemning accusations’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alphat...a-accusations/


AlphaTauri Chief Engineer explains Tsunoda's bizarre DNF at Zandvoort
04 September 2022
Formula 1.

AlphaTauri’s Chief Engineer has explained Yuki Tsunoda’s confusing retirement from the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix after the Japanese driver stopped on track, retreated to the pits and re-emerged – only to stop on track once again.

After leaving the pits on Lap 48, he came to a halt and brought out the Virtual Safety Car. “Having seen that the [hard] compound was working well, we decided to also pit Yuki for them. After the pit stop he reported something strange at the rear of the car. We called him in again to change the tyres and immediately after, we had a car failure. This is currently under investigation within the team,” said Claudio Balestri, AlphaTauri’s Chief Engineer of Vehicle Performance.

‘AlphaTauri Chief Engineer explains Tsunoda's bizarre DNF’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...rEWdbr1fH.html


Gary Anderson: Why Tsunoda conspiracy was clearly nonsense
06/09/2022,07:35
By Gary Anderson
The Race

The conspiracy theory about AlphaTauri causing a virtual safety car period to help Max Verstappen and Red Bull in the Dutch Grand Prix is total rubbish and I’m not surprised to see the team criticising such suggestions. You can see why AlphaTauri didn’t immediately diagnose the problem Yuki Tsunoda’s car suffered.

I’m pretty sure that when he left the pits after his second pitstop of the race he either broke the differential, a driveshaft joining or sheared the drive pegs. To him, that would feel like there was no drive on one side, so he thought that a wheel was loose. The team did later discover that it was apparently a diff problem.

Any suspicions Mercedes might have had about this – and it’s important to note it made no complaints or protests – will surely have vanished when it saw the facts of what happened. It just has to accept its own weaknesses and resist the temptation to blame AlphaTauri. As for Red Bull, what would it gain from this? It was already well ahead in both championships and Verstappen probably would have won even if the Mercedes one-stopper had played out, after all.

‘Clearly Nonsense’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-...arly-nonsense/


AlphaTauri call out 'hateful behaviour' directed at Red Bull strategist for Yuki Tsunda's DNF at Dutch GP
Last Updated: 05/09/22 10:50pm
SKY Sports

Red Bull Racing's Head of Strategy, Hannah Schmitz, has been the victim of online hate after Yuki Tsunoda's DNF resulted in Lewis Hamilton losing his lead in Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix

AlphaTauri have released a statement to call out the "hateful behaviour" directed at the team and Red Bull Racing's Head of Strategy, Hannah Schmitz, after Yuki Tsunoda's DNF cost Lewis Hamilton a chance of victory at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.

‘Hateful Behaviour Called Out’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...nf-at-dutch-gp


Lewis Hamilton defends Red Bull strategy ace after abuse and conspiracy theories
09:22, 5 SEP 2022
BY Mark Whiley

“We 100% understand that everyone’s emotions are high right now,” tweeted the group, a message which was retweeted by Hamilton himself. “No one expected the race to unfold that way when we were so close to a win. But it’s important to us that we continue to spread love and empathy towards the hardworking teams in the paddock – whether from our team or others – but especially the women.”

“The language of hateful comments directed at Red Bull head of strategy Hannah Schmitz is intolerable and should not be condoned. This sport is cut-throat, and you have to be ready for absolutely anything, and that’s what she did today.”

“There are a lot of positives to take from Lewis’ race today, and that’s exactly what we are focusing on doing. Thank you for your unwavering support for LH! We win and we lose together.”

‘Lewis Hamilton defends Red Bull strategy ace’;

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...-bull-27908517

Alonso pleased to gain a place from Ferrari again after “70 qualifying laps” at Zandvoort.
The Alpine driver rose up the order from 13th on the grid by passing the AlphaTauris in the opening laps then making an early switch to hard tyres.
2022 Dutch Grand Prix
Posted on 5th September 2022, 12:58
Written by Keith Collantine

Fernando Alonso said his run to sixth place in the Dutch Grand Prix was “one of his best” performances of the year. “It was for sure 70 laps of qualifying today because we could not relax at any point,” he said. “The start was good, but I lost places on the outside of one so I had to fight very hard to recover some.”

He made a “very early” switch to the hard tyre “because we wanted some clear air in front of us and it was working,” he explained. “We had to push very hard to make that middle stint work.” As he didn’t make it into Q3 in qualifying, Alonso had a fresh set of soft tyres for his final stint. But soon after he put them on, the Safety Car was deployed.

As he didn’t make it into Q3 in qualifying, Alonso had a fresh set of soft tyres for his final stint. But soon after he put them on, the Safety Car was deployed. “When we thought that it was more relaxed part of the race at the end with a good, fresh soft tyre, the Safety Car came and we had to fight again all the last 12 laps. So it was a very demanding race for sure.”

‘Alonso pleased to gain a place from Ferrari again’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/05/...-at-zandvoort/


Fernando Alonso praises ‘very aggressive’ hard tyre call that paid off with P6 finish
Monday 5th September 2022 8:00 PM
Henry Valantine

Fernando Alonso says he and Alpine identified in Friday practice using the hard tyre would be beneficial in the Dutch Grand Prix – having been largely ignored by others before teams changed strategy mid-race.

Having complained of traffic during Q2 that he felt had hampered his final flying run, which left him down in P13 on the starting grid, Alonso was able to work his way up to finish seventh on the road before a penalty for Carlos Sainz was applied and elevated the Alpine driver up to P6.

Part of his and Alpine’s success came down to an early pit-stop that eventually paid dividends for them, moving onto a set of hard tyres that performed better than most had anticipated in race trim.

‘Fernando Alonso praises ‘very aggressive’ hard tyre call’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...h-gp-strategy/


Fernando Alonso opens up on Alpine exit as veteran F1 star maps out retirement plan
FERNANDO ALONSO has explained why he chose to leave Alpine for Aston Martin.
19:36, Mon, Sep 5, 2022
By Joe Krishnan

Fernando Alonso has lifted the lid on his surprise decision to leave Alpine, suggesting that Aston Martin’s eagerness to sign him made him aware of how little love he had been receiving from Alpine. The 41-year-old will drive for the British-based team in 2023 after signing a two-year contract, ending his two-year association with his current employers.

Alonso had been in discussions with Alpine over a new deal to keep him with the Enstone team after some impressive displays in 2022. He has finished in the top six in four of the last six races, earning a total of 59 points, and finished on the podium at the Qatar Grand Prix in 2021.

But Alpine’s refusal to hand him a deal longer than a one-year extension forced Alonso to consider his options. And when Aston Martin made their interest clear, the Spaniard decided to sign for the outfit owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll.

‘FERNANDO ALONSO has explained why he chose to leave Alpine for Aston Martin’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...firmed-F1-news


Aston Martin want to run 3 cars with Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso in 2023
Fernando Alonso will partner Lance Stroll at Aston Martin in 2023.
5 September 2022
by James Clifford

Krack revealed during the Belgian Grand Prix there were other names in the hat to replace Vettel, but they went with 32-time race winner Alonso. “When Sebastian announced what his plans were, you need to look at who is available and who is the best one available,” he told Sky Sports. “So, there were a few others but I think there is no need that I go now into detail.”

“We were always clear that we wanted to continue with Sebastian so it is not a fair question at the end of the day,” added Krack. “Our plans were to continue with Sebastian, we always said it, and an alternative was only coming alive as soon as Sebastian said that he is going to stop.” The German joked that he would “take both” Vettel and Alonso, and run “three cars” along with Stroll.

‘Aston Martin want to run 3 cars!’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/aston-mar...lonso-in-2023/


No Hard Feelings - Fernando Alonso Picks Up the Autographed Cap From Lewis Hamilton
2 Sep 2022, 10:02 UTC ·
by Monica Coman

Later, the Spaniard apologized (kind of) for his words. He shared: "First of all, Lewis is a champion, he’s a legend of our time. And then when you say something – and I’m sorry to repeat this – against a British driver, there is huge media involvement after that.”

Alonso added he wanted to apologize in person, too. Well, the two-time World Champion is a man of his word, so he did do that. In a new picture shared on Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One’s official Twitter account, captioned “Look who stopped by,” Alonso posed with Lewis Hamilton, holding an autographed cap from the seven-time World Champion.

In a series of pictures shared by Lewis on August 30, there was also the same cap with a sticker that read, “To Fernando.”

‘No Hard Feelings’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/n...on-197611.html

‘We probably have to try quite hard to lose it’ says Horner as Red Bull eye both titles for first time since 2013.
“We’re in a great position,” said Horner at the end of the Dutch Grand Prix, “and we probably have to try quite hard to lose it. But mathematically, nothing is done until it’s done. Our approach is as it’s always been, go one race at a time. Next race, next Sunday, same effort. We don’t allow ourselves to think too far ahead.”
06 September 2022
Formula 1.

Christian Horner could be forgiven for his post-race demeanour in Zandvoort, such was the manner in which his charge took victory in the Dutch Grand Prix. With Max Verstappen showing no signs of pressure despite the huge number of fans there cheering him on, the Dutchman secured the win with surprising ease – and in doing so, moved Red Bull closer to both world titles.

Verstappen has 310 points in the drivers’ championship, with team mate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc equal on 201 points in pursuit. There are just 190 left on the table, including the bonus points for fastest lap along with those for the Sprint in Brazil.

All of which means the Dutchman needs just four second place finishes and a fifth from the last seven races to seal back to back titles – and that's assuming Leclerc wins every race and takes the bonus points. And with Red Bull streets ahead in the constructors’, it was easy to see why Horner was in a jovial mood.

‘We probably have to try quite hard to lose it’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...rS1GveC1C.html


Christian Horner on Red Bull title chances: ‘We’d have to try quite hard to lose it’
Tuesday 6th September 2022 1:00 PM
Jon Wilde

Christian Horner has given his strongest admission yet that Red Bull and Max Verstappen are on the brink of a World Championship double. Although Ferrari began the 2022 season, with its new technical regulations and the return of ground-effect aerodynamics, as the team on top, the tide has turned Red Bull’s way since race four.

Verstappen won the second round of the series in Saudi Arabia but it was Imola where his fortunes really began to pick up and he has now triumphed in nine of the last 12 grands prix. The Dutchman, defending his Drivers’ crown, has built a 109-point advantage over early leader Charles Leclerc, while Red Bull are now 135 points ahead of Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings.

Horner, the Red Bull team principal, is generally wary of getting carried away about title prospects – after all, Verstappen had a commanding margin over Lewis Hamilton last year with four races to go but the duo ended up level going into the Abu Dhabi decider. But even with seven grands prix of this campaign remaining, Horner has conceded it would need an incredible turnaround to stop both trophies being placed in the Milton Keynes cabinet come the end of November.

‘Christian Horner has given his strongest admission yet’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/christ...bull-try-hard/


Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner: “The Team is operating at an extremely high level”
September 5, 2022
By Jamie Partis-Nelson

After Oracle Red Bull Racing‘s eleventh win of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season at the Dutch Grand Prix, Christian Horner has heaped praise on the team following another impressive showing. With another win under the team’s belt in 2022, Horner refused to claim that both championships were already wrapped up and insisted that the team would still be taking it one race at a time.

“However, what you see here is only 10% of the Team, it’s what goes on behind the scenes that really makes this possible. The Team is operating at an extremely high level and it’s all the support and effort that you don’t see back in Milton Keynes that makes a victory like this possible. All in all, it was a fantastic team performance, both drivers were in the zone from the moment they arrived at the track.

“We are in a great position and we are happy, although nothing is done until it is done. We operate one race at a time and we don’t allow ourselves to think too far ahead. It’s Monza next week, we are looking forward to it and hopefully can carry this form into that race.”

“The Team is operating at an extremely high level”;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ly-high-level/


Mercedes’ Dutch Grand Prix strategy decision ‘surprised’ Christian Horner
Monday 5th September 2022 3:30 PM
Jon Wilde

Christian Horner thought Mercedes had made Dutch Grand Prix victory easier to achieve for Max Verstappen than it needed to be in the decisive stages. Although Verstappen had started from pole position in his home race, his 10th win of the season turned out to be anything but straightforward – due to the pace of, and the original strategy deployed by, Mercedes.

The climax was shaped by a Safety Car period triggered by Valtteri Bottas’ retirement, with his car stationary on the inside at the end of the pits straight. Lewis Hamilton was making the best of an initial one-stop strategy compared to Verstappen’s two-stopper and leading the race, but Mercedes chose to split their options during the Safety Car period. They chose to leave the seven-time former World Champion out in front to keep track position.

Verstappen made a pit-stop for fresh soft tyres and Hamilton’s team-mate, George Russell, demanded to do likewise. That left the Red Bull right on Hamilton’s tail when racing resumed, without the protection of having the other Mercedes as a buffer that could have allowed him to build a gap on Verstappen had Russell defended effectively. It was that split strategy that left Red Bull team principal Horner with eyebrows raised. “I was quite surprised they didn’t leave George out strategically as a rear gunner for Lewis,” Horner told reporters afterwards.

‘Quite surprised they didn’t leave George out strategically as a rear gunner for Lewis’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/christ...des-surprised/


Horner surprised Mercedes didn't use Russell as 'rear gunner' for Hamilton
05/09/2022 at 09:21
Phillip van Osten

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was "quite surprised" that Mercedes did not leave George Russell out on track to protect Lewis Hamilton following Max Verstappen's late pit stop in the Dutch Grand Prix.
What first looked like a straightforward afternoon of racing at Zandvoort for Red Bull and Verstappen transformed into a tricky game of strategy, first due to a Virtual Safety Car following Yuki Tsunoda's retirement and then for a full safety car triggered by Valtteri Bottas' engine failure on the main straight. The latter neutralization decided Red Bull's strategists to give up track position against Mercedes and pit Verstappen for a final set of softs tyres.

While Hamilton picked up the leader's baton and remained out on track, the Brackley squad brought in Russell, also for a fresh set of soft boots. Horner was puzzled by Mercedes' apparent decision to hedge its bets. "You've got your home driver, leading in front of 105,000 people, and you decide to pit him for the soft tyres and concede track position behind two Mercedes," said Horner.

‘Russell as 'rear gunner' for Hamilton’;

https://f1i.com/news/453304-horner-s...-hamilton.html


Horner explains why Perez ran different Dutch GP floor to Verstappen.
The Red Bull duo ran different floors in the Dutch GP - with Christian Horner explaining why.
05‎ ‎September‎ ‎07‎:‎55
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has explained why Sergio Perez was forced to run a different Formula 1 floor to Max Verstappen in the Dutch Grand Prix. While Verstappen cruised to a fourth win on the trot and 10th of the season in front of his home crowd at Zandvoort, Perez endured a difficult weekend - and eventually came home in fifth place.

Verstappen now enjoys a 109 point championship lead over Perez and Charles Leclerc who are equal on 201. And Perez was forced to run a slightly different floor to his World Champion, soon to be twice, teammate, and had a precautionary power unit change overnight from Saturday into Sunday.

"It (the different spec of floor) gave minuscule differences," Horner explained to media including RacingNews365.com. "It's been predominantly driven by the availability of spare parts. I think the difference is probably less than a tenth, approximately maybe a tenth of a second. Checo had a tricky race and unfortunately was jumped at a restart. I think with hindsight, his tyre preference was the Medium and I think with 20/20 vision, the Soft at the end would probably better to attack. But it was still decent points for him today."

‘Perez ran different Dutch GP floor’;

https://racingnews365.com/horner-exp...-to-verstappen

F1 2023 driver market update - the key issues still to be resolved.
With the Oscar Piastri-Daniel Ricciardo fiasco finally sorted, what remains to be resolved with F1’s driver market for 2023?
7 Sep 2022
Connor McDonagh

Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin have all got their driver pairings sorted for F1 2023.

Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen and Alex Albon will all lead their respective teams’ charges next season but the identity of their teammates are still unknown.

‘How will things play out?’

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/101...ll-be-resolved


F1 Podcast: What's next in F1's 2023 driver market?
06/09/2022, ‎14‎:‎20
Author Michael Butterworth
Co-author Dieter Rencken
Off-track, one of the worst-kept secrets of recent times was confirmed last week, as F1's Contracts Recognition Board ruled that Oscar Piastri would indeed be able to race for McLaren in 2023. A tug of war for Piastri's services had developed between the Woking squad and his current employers Alpine, who had designs on promoting him to a race seat next year to replace the outgoing Fernando Alonso.

However, with Alonso off to Aston Martin and Piastri set to join McLaren, Alpine suddenly find themselves with only one contracted driver - Esteban Ocon - instead of three. How did they end up in this situation, and what's next for the French squad? Rumours suggest that Alpine are keen on replacing Alonso with Pierre Gasly, but that move may be contingent on AlphaTauri finding a replacement.

The Faenza team are linked with Colton Herta, but the American may not be granted a Super Licence to race in F1. Are the FIA's Super Licence points unfairly biased against drivers coming from IndyCar? And with uncertainty surrounding the F1 futures of Daniel Ricciardo and Mick Schumacher, what's next for that duo?

‘What's next in F1's 2023 driver market?’

https://racingnews365.com/f1-podcast...-driver-market


Alpine considering 14 drivers for 'best seat in F1' but Pierre Gasly hailed as 'perfect choice' in 2023
Nico Rosberg: "For me, Pierre Gasly is the perfect choice. I think that'd be the perfect line-up for them"; Alpine want Gasly to fill unexpectedly vacant 2023 seat but deal is dependent on Red Bull signing Colton Herta for AlphaTauri
Last Updated: 07/09/22 1:26pm
SKY Sports.

Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer says the team have a shortlist of 14 drivers to fill "the best seat open in F1", with Pierre Gasly heralded by Nico Rosberg as the "perfect" candidate to partner Esteban Ocon. The French team have an unexpected opening for 2023 after Fernando Alonso signed for Aston Martin, while they then lost a contract battle to McLaren for the services of the previously-announced Oscar Piastri.

Gasly is the overwhelming favourite to land the seat, and Alpine have been in discussions with Red Bull over releasing the highly-rated AlphaTauri driver, but Szafnauer says the team have a "long list".

"We just want to understand all those that are available," the Alpine team principal told Sky Sports F1 at the Dutch GP. "We've got a long list. I've mentioned 14 before and it's about right. Now we've got to whittle that down to three or four and then look at all those and see which one's the best fit."

‘Alpine considering 14 drivers’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...choice-in-2023


Daniel Ricciardo linked to Mercedes in latest Formula 1 rumours
September 7th, 2022 4:18 pm
James McKern from News.com.au

Daniel Ricciardo’s uncertain future in Formula 1 remains the hot topic of conversation among the F1 community. But now a new rumour has taken over the Formula 1 community, linking Ricciardo to the powerhouse Mercedes. And the Aussie say’s he’s “open minded” to all options.

F1 journalist Joe Saward has linked the Aussie to joining the eight-time champion team, but not in a permanent on the grid role. Ricciardo would take over as the team’s reserve driver. Mercedes’ seats for 2023 are set in stone with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell proving to be a strong partnership on the grid.

“Ricciardo’s best move might be to become reserve driver at Mercedes, to help build up his confidence again,” Saward wrote. Hamilton’s contract is set to expire at the end of 2023 with retirement rumours following him for well over 12 months now.

‘Daniel Ricciardo linked to Mercedes’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...c30f3ccc25afcc


Mick Schumacher Has Yet to Secure a Seat for the 2023 Formula 1 Season
30 Aug 2022, 16:06 UTC ·
by Sebastian Toma

Mick Schumacher is reportedly close to being a free agent after the end of the 2021 Formula 1 season, sources claim. The unnamed source noted that Mick's contract with Scuderia Ferrari, more precisely with the Ferrari Driver Academy, was set to end after the 2022 season. In other words, it is unclear if we will see Schumacher with Haas in 2023.

Those who have been keeping a close eye on the sport know that Sebastian Vettel intended to have Mick in his place at Aston Martin when he retired, but the team decided to disregard the German driver's suggestion. With that, there are several potential options for Mick Schumacher in 2023, but nothing is official now.

Sources claim that Mattia Binotto no longer believes in Schumacher's potential, but that assessment has not been confirmed. Moreover, Mick's chance of getting a seat at the big team is slim, since both Leclerc and Sainz Jr. have valid contracts with the Scuderia up until the end of 2024.

‘Yet to Secure a Seat’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/m...on-197332.html

Italian GP: Charles Leclerc playing down hopes of home victory for Ferrari at Monza.
Charles Leclerc has suggested that Ferrari may struggle for performance at Monza more than they did at Zandvoort.
Published: 6 Sep 2022, 15:49
By George Dagless

The Scuderia have seen Red Bull stretch their legs even further in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships to the point now that it looks a foregone conclusion as to where both titles are heading this year.

Indeed, the return from the summer break has not been the reset Ferrari would have liked with them unable to do anything about Red Bull and Max Verstappen in particular, and now the triple header reaches its conclusion this very weekend with the Italian Grand Prix.

Speaking to the media after the Dutch GP, he was asked to look forward to this weekend’s race in northern Italy and had this to say: “On paper, it’s not our best track, unfortunately. But anyway, I’m really looking forward to going there. We always have a massive amount of support. And for that, I’m really looking forward to it. But I think the performance on paper will be a bit more difficult than this weekend, unfortunately.”

‘Playing down hopes of home victory for Ferrari at Monza’;

https://www.givemesport.com/88056887...rrari-at-monza


Italian Grand Prix 2022: 7 Drivers to Watch This Weekend
Updated September 07, 2022 10:19 AM
By Alex Kirshner Men’s Journal

The Italian Grand Prix is one of the great races on the Formula 1 calendar. It is an institution unto itself—it began in 1921, three decades before F1 became an organized circuit—and it has appeared on the calendar in every single F1 season. All but one of those races took place at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, a.k.a. “the Temple of Speed,” which is one of the most beloved tracks in the world.

This race doesn’t count for more points than any other on F1’s schedule, but points are no longer the main story anyway if your focus is the championship battles. Max Verstappen is going to walk to the World Drivers’ Championship this year, and his Red Bull Racing team will breeze through to the Constructors’ title.

Fortunately, the Italian Grand Prix is a big enough deal that it’s still worth watching, even if the championships are no longer competitive. Last year, to name one example, it produced a shock result when the two McLaren drivers, Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris, finished first and second.

‘7 Drivers to Watch This Weekend?!’;

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/living...mainstage_lead


'It’s a dream come true' – What racing in red at Monza means to Ferrari’s Leclerc and Sainz
07 September 2022
Lawrence Barretto
F1 Correspondent & Presenter

When Charles Leclerc won the Italian Grand Prix for the first time for Ferrari in 2019, Monza – bursting at the seams with red-clad Tifosi – exploded. The dreams of much of Italy had come true, ending a wait of nine years for this feeling of nirvana.

“There were people as far as I could see,” he said when we spoke at Zandvoort ahead of this weekend’s Italian GP. “It was packed. I was trying to find my mum. She was in a grandstand.

"She arrived Saturday night because she saw I had done the pole position but I didn’t have the pass for the Sunday – I had already promised it to someone else so, I said 'Mum the only thing I can get you is a pass in the grandstand', so she was on the main straight. I was trying to find her but there were way too many people. Being up there was a very special moment. Racing for Ferrari, you only see red – or 98% of people are red – and this make you feel like home.”

'It’s a dream come true';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...BSxBM6fb6.html


Thunderstorms predicated for Italian Grand Prix weekend
08/09/2022, ‎17‎:‎00
Author RacingNews365 Staff

RacingNews365 presents the weather report for the Italian Grand Prix weekend in collaboration with WeerOnline. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in northern Italy in the coming days, which might impact this weekends Formula 1Italian Grand Prix. Showers will move over the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in the night from Thursday to Friday morning.

The possibility of rain decreases during the afternoon however, meaning the chances of a (partly) wet track is therefore greater during FP1 instead of FP2. The rest of the weekend looks set to be sunny with temperatures reaching 26 degrees centigrade on Saturday and 27 degrees centigrade on Sunday. On Saturday the weather picture consists of sun with overcast clouds. In a number of places in northern Italy, these clouds develop into thunderstorms, mostly in the mountain regions.

The chance of these showers reaching the Monza circuit just before or during qualifying in the afternoon is around 10%. The chance of rain during the race on Sunday in the afternoon is 0%. The sunny weather ensures that the track temperature will be very high, making tyre management even more challenging.

‘Thunderstorms predicated’;

https://racingnews365.com/thundersto...d-prix-weekend


F1 CEO warns history no longer enough for Monza
SEPTEMBER 4, 2022
GrandPrix.com

Monza cannot assume that it will always host the Italian GP. That is the warning of Italian and former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali, who is now CEO of the calendar-making Formula One Management.

Monza is currently preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary with next weekend's Italian GP, but Domenicali warned that it could be one of the fabled circuit's last. "F1 is now a party everywhere we go - there is a queue to host a grand prix," he told Sky Italia.

"History is no longer enough for this and an organisation like Monza will have to raise the bar to stay in the world championship," Domenicali insisted. The Italian said on Saturday: "We will not go beyond 24 races in the world championship.”

‘The warnings of Stefano Domenicali’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/f1-ce...for-monza.html

Ferrari under the microscope - What to expect at the Italian Grand Prix.
The Italian Grand Prix brings the European leg of the F1 season to a close as Ferrari returns home to face the Tifosi.
Thursday 8 September 2022 11:37
Sam Hall

Ferrari's problems have continued since the summer shutdown and with the pressure on, this is where we look at what you can expect from the Italian GP. Ferrari scrutiny magnifed: Up to the Belgian GP, it was possible to argue that Ferrari could and should be leading both the drivers' and constructors' championship battles.

The Tifosi lining the Autodromo Nazionale Monza has never been shy about letting the Ferrari hierarchy know their feelings on how the team is being run and should a mistake be made this weekend, there will surely be an uproar.

Charles Leclerc must also prove his worth to the team. On a long-term contract, last weekend's Dutch GP was the first race he has finished ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz - when both drivers have seen the chequered flag - since Miami in May.

‘The Tifosi: never been shy about letting the Ferrari hierarchy know their feelings on how the team is being run’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/91...hat-to-expect/


Can Mattia Binotto afford another embarrassing Ferrari mistake in front of the Tifosi?
7 Sep 2022
Connor McDonagh

Can Binotto afford another embarrassing Ferrari blunder? Ferrari’s long run of high-profile errors continued at the Dutch Grand Prix as a pit stop blunder for Carlos Sainz cost him over 10 seconds in the pit lane.

Mattia Binotto insisted after the race that there is no reason to make changes to the pit crew or strategy team, but given the number of mistakes we have seen operationally in the first 15 races of the season, the Ferrari boss is inevitably going to be put under pressure.

The Scuderia will race in front of their adoring home crowd - the Tifosi - at Monza this weekend. Ferrari haven’t won since the Austrian Grand Prix, and it seems that F1’s new floor technical directive has impacted their race pace and tyre management.

They are expected to go all out this weekend with a rumoured Monza-specific rear wing and aggressive engine modes, but it is unlikely to be enough to topple Max Verstappen and Red Bull. However, with Ferrari’s top brass likely to be in attendance at their home race, they cannot afford another embarrassing blunder.

‘Ferrari boss is inevitably going to be put under pressure’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/101...e-front-tifosi


Binotto bites back at Rosberg after Ferrari derision
Tuesday 6 September 2022 08:10
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Mattia Binotto has fought back against Nico Rosberg's claims that Ferrari was worse than an F2 or F3 team at the Dutch Grand Prix. The Scuderia fumbled Carlos Sainz's first pit stop with a late call leaving the Spaniard stranded on the jacks for 12.7 seconds. That drama dropped Sainz from third to sixth and kicked off a multitude of unfortunate events that ultimately saw him finish eighth, drawing criticism from 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg on Sky Sports F1.

"Oh my goodness, and Mattia Binotto keeps saying 'No, we don't need to make any changes. Everything is going well'," said the German. "I mean, when is the day coming? It's not possible. Even Formula 2 or Formula 3 teams do a better job at their strategy and pit stops than Ferrari."

But retorting to the criticism, Ferrari team principal Binotto said: "First, I think it is so easy to speak when you are outside. I can do the job he is doing and simply criticise. But we will not change people: that is the answer to Rosberg. We have got great people and it has been proven in this sport that what is more important is simply stability and that we make sure we are improving day-by-day and race-by-race.”

‘We will not change people: that is the answer to Rosberg’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/90...sberg-ferrari/


Binotto admits Ferrari 'needs to react' at Monza
08/09/2022 at 09:32
Phillip van Osten

Mattia Binotto says Ferrari is currently enduring "a difficult moment" that has put the team up against the wall ahead of its home race at Monza where it "certainly needs to react".

"It is certainly a difficult moment right now and for our team because we are not getting the results with the expectations that we have got," Binotto conceded.

"We need to react and Monza, we will have the tifosi there after COVID and to have them in the grandstands will be important for us as they cheer for us and boost us as a team. Right now, we need to find some good results for the spirit and the mood."

‘Ferrari Needs To React';

https://f1i.com/news/453494-binotto-...-at-monza.html


Mattia Binotto says he’s not prioritising fixing Ferrari’s mistakes
8 September 2022
by James Clifford

Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto, is more focused on improving the pace of the F1-75 than he is on addressing the mistakes made by his team during the Dutch Grand Prix.

There is pressure on Ferrari going into their home race in Monza this weekend in front of their expectant fans, but the 52-year-old is looking forward to the atmosphere. “Now we go to Monza where we can expect a warm welcome from our tifosi, we know we can always count on their support,” said Binotto.

“And it will be great to finally see the grandstands at the Autodromo packed out, after the limitation on spectator numbers last year because of Covid. “We will do our utmost to make our supporters proud of us, even if we already know it won’t be an easy race, given the performance level of our competitors.”

‘We can expect a warm welcome from our Tifosi’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/mattia-bi...aris-mistakes/


Italian GP: Charles Leclerc says Ferrari must 'stay united' amid rumours over Mattia Binotto's future
Last Updated: 08/09/22 3:44pm
SKY Sports

Charles Leclerc says Ferrari must avoid being distracted and stay united amid rumours over team principal Mattia Binotto's future ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. With the spotlight on Ferrari at its brightest - as the Tifosi flock to Monza this weekend - Leclerc was asked in Thursday's press conference to address rumours that the team boss's position could be under threat.

"There are always rumours around a Formula 1 team and especially with Ferrari but I think what is important in those moments is not to get distracted with whatever is being said," Leclerc said.

"We are very united as a team and I think we need to keep on going like this. We've shown that we've been great from last year to this year with this kind of performance and we need to keep going in that direction. I didn't hear that rumour in particular but obviously we have to focus on our own job."

‘Ferrari must 'stay united' amid rumours over Mattia Binotto's future’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...inottos-future

Tsunoda tells conspiracy theorists to check their brains.
AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda says that those people who believe that his retirement from last week's Dutch Grand Prix was staged in order to benefit Max Verstappen should get their heads examined.
08/09/2022 at 16:53
Andrew Lewin

"It's funny that fans are really excited to always create the story," Tsunoda said at a media interview in Monza ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. "It's just a super simple fact that there was an issue in the car.

"Straight away I felt some strange things at the rear," he said when asked what had happened. "I thought at first it was the tyre. I got radio from the team to stop the car in a safe place at the side of the track, so I just stopped and nearly switched off as well.

"But I got told again from the team that we didn't find any issues and that's why we restarted. We fitted a new tyre, but I felt clearly that there was an issue again," he added. "So that's why they said to stop. The situation made it of course a little bit confused, but there's not any room to complain to the team, myself and also especially to Red Bull that it's such a to be honest crazy, crazy story.”

‘Get their heads examined’;

https://f1i.com/news/453579-tsunoda-...ir-brains.html


Tsunoda wants to ‘scan the brains’ of conspiracy theorists to ‘see what’s wrong’
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted on 8th September 2022, 18:01
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham

The AlphaTauri driver came to a stop twice on consecutive laps, the last time permanently, when a differential problem developed on his car. At first Tsunoda mistook it for a loose wheel, and returned to the pits to have it checked.

His eventual retirement triggered a Virtual Safety Car period which played into the hands of race leader Max Verstappen, as it allowed him to make a pit stop while losing minimal time. This prompted wild accusations on social media of collusion between Red Bull and its junior team.

“It’s funny that the fans are really excited to always create a story,” said Tsunoda. “It’s just a super-simple fact that there was an issue in the car, there was a differential issue.” Although the situation was “a little bit confused”, Tsunoda pointed out he was in “a good place to score points” and the idea he’d forfeit it to help Red Bull is “such a crazy, crazy story.”

‘Scan The Brains, See What’s Wrong’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/08/...e-whats-wrong/


AlphaTauri hit back at ‘insulting’ claims from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff
Mercedes boss Wolff he would ask the FIA to investigate Tsunoda’s retirement if his team were in a title battle with Red Bull
11:51 Tue, 06 Sep 2022.
Jamie Braidwood
The Independent

Alpha Tauri have branded calls from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff for Yuki Tsunoda’s retirement from the Dutch Grand Prix to be investigated as “insulting”.

Wolff raised questions surrounding Tsuonda’s retirement and suggested the actions of Red Bull’s junior team “changed the outcome of the race”, leading to Max Verstappen’s victory and ending any chance Lewis

‘AlphaTauri hit back at ‘insulting’ claims from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/alp...-b2160763.html


AlphaTauri hits out at social media abuse
06/09/2022
NEWS STORY

AlphaTauri has reacted following "hateful" abuse of Yuki Tsunoda and Red Bull strategist, Hannah Schmitz following Sunday's Grand Prix. The abuse followed Tsunoda's retirement from the race, which brought about the deployment of the VSC. On Monday evening, as the abuse continued, AlphaTauri issued a statement:

"It is incredibly disheartening to read some of the language and comments directed at our team and towards Red Bull Racing’s head of strategy, Hannah Schmitz," said the team. "Such hateful behaviour cannot be tolerated, and to entertain accusations of foul play is unacceptable, untrue and completely disrespectful towards both Hannah and us.”

"We have always competed independently, fairly and with the highest levels of respect and sportsmanship. Yuki had a failure that the team didn’t immediately detect which caused him to stop on track. To suggest anything different is insulting and categorically incorrect."

‘Incredibly Disheartening’;

https://www.pitpass.com/73549/AlphaT...al-media-abuse


Gary Anderson: Why Tsunoda conspiracy was clearly nonsense
Sep 6 2022
By Gary Anderson
The Race.

The conspiracy theory about AlphaTauri causing a virtual safety car period to help Max Verstappen and Red Bull in the Dutch Grand Prix is total rubbish and I’m not surprised to see the team criticising such suggestions. You can see why AlphaTauri didn’t immediately diagnose the problem Yuki Tsunoda’s car suffered.

I’m pretty sure that when he left the pits after his second pitstop of the race he either broke the differential, a driveshaft joining or sheared the drive pegs. To him, that would feel like there was no drive on one side, so he thought that a wheel was loose. The team did later discover that it was apparently a diff problem.

It’s a logical conclusion for the driver to suggest a loose wheel at first given he’s just made a pitstop. But the crabbing effect he felt in the car was a consequence of a real problem, as he kept telling the team. Tsunoda stopped and undid his seatbelts because he thought he was retiring. But then he was told to carry on when the team realised the wheels were attached properly and could see no other problem. But it’s not easy for the team to see if you have drive to both rear wheels when you aren’t moving.

‘Total rubbish and I’m not surprised to see the team criticising such suggestions’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-...arly-nonsense/

Leclerc fronts Ferrari 1-2 in opening Italian GP session.
Ferrari opened the Italian Grand Prix in the top two positions as Charles Leclerc led Carlos Sainz during first practice at Monza.
09/09/2022, 14:12
by Phillip Horton

Leclerc, winner of the Italian Grand Prix in 2019, clocked a time of 1:22.410s in hot and sunny conditions at the high-speed circuit. That left him 0.077s clear of team-mate Sainz, who had a moment through the Ascari gravel late in the session, after the opening hour of track activity.

Verstappen, chasing a fifth successive victory but a first at Monza, finished the session in fifth, behind Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. The reigning champion did not set his best tyres on Softs.

‘Ferrari 1-2’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...an-gp-session/


(FP1) First Practice Results – 2022 Italian Grand Prix
14:11, 09/09/2022.
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy

Results (Classification):
1. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari -1:22.410
2. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.077
3. George Russell Mercedes +0.279
4. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.421
5. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.430
6. Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.665
7. Fernando Alonso Alpine +0.689
8. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +0.850
9. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +0.984
10. Daniel Ricciardo McLaren +1.101

‘Italian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the first practice ahead of the 2022 F1 World Championship race at Monza’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp1-first-...and-prix-80019


AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from first practice for the Italian Grand Prix
09 September 2022
Becky Hart [Special Contributor]
Formula 1.

‘AS IT HAPPENED’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...QRHIgNbfe.html


2022 Italian Grand Prix practice in pictures
F1 Pictures
Posted on 9th September 2022, 13:56
Written by Keith Collantine

‘Practice in pictures’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/09/...e-in-pictures/


Everything that happened in first Italian GP F1 practice
Sep 9 2022
By Valentin Khorounzhiy

Charles Leclerc led a 1-2 for home team Ferrari in F1’s first practice for the 2022 Italian GP – but it was points leader Max Verstappen who looked quickest.
Key moments:
> Verstappen held up on fastest lap
> Leclerc 0.077s clear of Sainz
> Mercedes in the mix
> Giovinazzi, de Vries join the fray

Verstappen, who will serve a grid penalty of at least five places for the race, led the session by over a second after his initial attempt on hards, with it taking a switch to fresh softs for Leclerc to jump ahead – by four tenths. And the Dutchman was on course to reclaim the top spot once he himself swapped to new red-walled soft rubber, running three tenths faster than Leclerc after two sectors.

But at that point he came up on Lando Norris, the McLaren driver likewise on a push lap but on hards – and as Norris moved to cover off a potential overtaking attempt from Verstappen heading into Parabolica, the championship leader was left incensed, even though the subsequent slipstream allowed him to at least salvage an 0.013s improvement.

‘Italian GP F1 Practice’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/every...p-f1-practice/

Penalised Sainz keeps Ferrari on top at Italian GP
Carlos Sainz set the fastest time during second practice for Formula 1’s Italian Grand Prix to keep Ferrari on top on home soil.
09/09/2022, 17:05
by Phillip Horton
Motorsport Week

Sainz, who faces an engine penalty after taking on fresh components, clocked a time of 1:21.664s in hot and sunny weather at the high-speed Monza circuit on Friday afternoon. Sainz’s best time left him 0.143s faster than reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, who also has an engine penalty, albeit only five places.

Verstappen’s best time came on his second push lap on Soft tyres after a lock-up into the first chicane on his initial attempt. Charles Leclerc was the fastest of the penalty-free drivers, in third position, 0.193s behind his Ferrari team-mate.

‘Carlos Sainz set the fastest time during second practice’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...at-italian-gp/


(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2022 Italian Grand Prix
Monza, Italy
09/09/2022, 17:04
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy

Results (Classification):
1. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari -1:21.664
2. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.143
3. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.193
4. Lando Norris McLaren +0.674
5. George Russell Mercedes +0.722
6. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.730
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.839
8. Esteban Ocon Alpine +1.064
9. Fernando Alonso Alpine +1.088
10. Alexander Albon Williams Racing +1.171

‘Italian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the second practice ahead of the 2022 F1 World Championship race at Monza’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp2-second...and-prix-80029


LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from second practice for the Italian Grand Prix.
09 September 2022
Becky Hart [Special Contributor]
Formula 1.

‘As It Happened’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...vtjrt8dfd.html


Verstappen handed five-place grid penalty at Italian GP
Issued on: 09/09/2022 - 18:02
AFP

Monza (Italy) (AFP) – Max Verstappen has been hit with a five-place grid penalty for the Italian Grand Prix after exceeding his engine allocation, Formula One said on Friday. Championship leader Verstappen was handed the punishment after taking his fifth engine of the season, damaging his chances of winning at Monza for the first time.

He is one of six drivers to be hit with grid penalties alongside teammate Sergio Perez -- who drops back 10 places for a similar offence -- seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas and Yuki Tsunoda.

Mercedes driver Hamilton will start from the back of the grid for a power unit change and other engine infractions, as will Tsunoda who after already being dropped back 10 places was hit with power unit sanctions.
Sainz was hit with a 25-place penalty for new gearbox components but will start in front of Hamilton and Tsunoda, while breaking engine rules leaves Bottas 15 places down.

‘Six drivers to be hit with grid penalties’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...-at-italian-gp


Aston Martin bring ridiculous rear-wing to Italian Grand Prix
Aston Martin are currently ninth in the Constructors' Standings.
9 September 2022
by James Clifford

Aston Martin have caught the eye several times so far this season. They were the first to put their striking challenger on the track, complete with its raised front wing, as fans got to see the ground effect aerodynamic concept in the flesh for the first time.

They then showed up to the Spanish Grand Prix with new sidepods that Red Bull claimed were copied using their intellectual property. When the FIA looked at the British side’s documents though, they corroborated their insistence that they had started work on the new design late last year.

Aston Martin have rocked up to Monza with a thin, flat-panelled wing that aims to ensure almost no drag on the straight. When the DRS opens, it may even end up looking like the wing is not there; these are the extreme lengths of engineering we love to see in Formula 1. And, so far, it is all legal. No irregularities have been noticed by the FIA, so Aston Martin may be ones to watch this weekend.

‘Aston Martin have rocked up to Monza’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/aston-mar...an-grand-prix/


2022 F1 Italian Grand Prix Preview: Monza turns 100.
September 9, 2022.
Viknesh Vijayenthran.

The 2022 Formula 1 World Championship continues this weekend with round 16, the Italian Grand Prix, taking place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The Italian Grand Prix, like the British Grand Prix, has been on the F1 calendar since the inaugural 1950 season. It's been held at Monza, located just outside of Milan, every year except 1980, when it was held at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari located at Imola. In recent years, F1 has held additional rounds in Italy to help cover for rounds in other locations canceled due to pandemic-related restrictions.

With the demise of the original track layout of the Hockenheimring in Germany, Monza remains the only historic high-speed track still hosting an F1 race. In the old days, there were no chicanes on the long straights, which made for some incredibly close racing, with dozens of overtaking moves every lap thanks to the slipstreaming effect.

But the Italian Grand Prix is much older than F1, as its first race was held in 1921. Monza was built the following year, making it 100 years old this year, and the circuit hosted its first Italian Grand Prix just a week after its completion. Today, Monza's 3.6-mile track layout consists of a series of straights and some tight chicanes, with drivers typically spending 76% of the lap time and 83% of the lap distance at full throttle. It delivers the fastest average speed of the season and the cars reach more than 200 mph in no less than four sections.

‘Monza turns 100’;

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...d-prix-preview

What went on in second Italian GP F1 practice session.
Key moments: Sainz fastest but has back-of-the-grid penalty. Red flag for Schumacher’s loss of power. Norris impressive fourth for McLaren.
17:27 Fri, 09 Sep 2022.
By Jack Cozens
The Race.

Carlos Sainz ensured Ferrari ended both Friday practice sessions fastest at the Italian Grand Prix by beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to top spot in FP2.

Sainz and Verstappen, who are among six Formula 1 drivers with grid penalties this weekend, were separated by 0.143 seconds with times set either side of a mid-session red flag.

The 1m21.664s Sainz set on soft tyres in the second half of the session was the fastest of the weekend so far, and meant Ferrari – running a special livery at its home grand prix to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Monza circuit – topped another session following Charles Leclerc’s fastest time in FP1. Leclerc ended FP2 in third, just 0.050s down on Verstappen, having like team-mate Sainz set his best time after the red flag.

‘FP2: What went on’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/what-...ctice-session/


Ferrari chairman backs Binotto but says team are making too many mistakes
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted on 10th September 2022, 9:1810th September 2022, 9:47
Written by Keith Collantine

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto retains the backing of the manufacturer’s chairman John Elkann but has been told the team need to make fewer mistakes.

After taking an early lead in both championships over the first three races of 2022, Ferrari were quickly caught and overhauled by Red Bull. The Scuderia’s championship hopes now look like a lost cause, Red Bull leading the constructors’ standings by 135 points, while Max Verstappen has a 109-point lead in the drivers’ title fight.

“After the first grand prix, it seemed legitimate to dream,” Elkann told La Gazzetta dello Sport, “but we must remain humble and let the results speak for themselves.” While he admitted he was “not satisfied” with the team’s season, Elkann made it clear he continues to back Binotto, who was installed as team principal in 2019.

‘Ferrari chairman backs Binotto’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/10/...many-mistakes/


Sainz 'surprise' as Ferrari send Tifosi hopes soaring
Friday 9 September 2022 20:33
Sam Hall

Carlos Sainz has proclaimed his surprise at Ferrari's pace around Monza after leading the way in Friday practice ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. The Spaniard's lap of one minute 21.664secs, to finish 0.143secs ahead of Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen, delighted the Tifosi.

Although Sainz will take a back-of-the-grid penalty for fitting a number of fresh power unit components, team-mate Charles Leclerc is poised to start from pole position as Verstappen drops five places for taking a new engine. Ferrari had approached Monza with an element of trepidation given its struggles with a low downforce set-up at Spa Francorchamps two weeks ago for the Belgian Grand Prix.

But Sainz assessed: "It has been a positive day. Coming from Spa, the last downforce track where we struggled a lot, we expected not to be very competitive here but I must say that since FP1, the car has felt in a much better window, a much better position than it was at Spa.

‘Ferrari send Tifosi hopes soaring’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/91...d-prix-tifosi/


‘The stopwatch doesn’t lie’ – Sainz optimistic for Italian GP chances after topping second practice.
09 Sep 2022
Formula 1.

Ferrari weren’t expecting to be competitive on the very low downforce Monza circuit but Carlos Sainz was quickest in FP2, and although still wary of Red Bull, he said it is a “pleasant surprise” to be so quick.

‘The stopwatch doesn’t lie’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...106781965.html


Max Verstappen: “We should stand a good chance” of Italian GP victory
September 9, 2022
By Nick Golding

Verstappen ended Friday believing that the car was “pretty good”, but does recognise that Scuderia Ferrari are also looking mighty fast at their home race. “I think the car was pretty good today, we’ve been trying a few different things from FP1 to FP2. Some things worked and some didn’t, if you look at the long runs we look good and of course that’s most important for the race.

“We did more long run practice knowing that we have the five place grid penalty on Sunday, everything seemed to work out quite well. There are still a few things that we can do better, but I think we should stand a good chance. The Ferraris look good, I’m not worried about them but we still have a few things to finalise.”

‘The car was “pretty good” ’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...an-gp-victory/


5 things we learned from Friday practice at the Italian Grand Prix
09 September 2022
Special contributor: Chris Medland
Formula 1.

A big Friday crowd at Monza basked in glorious September sunshine as the Italian Grand Prix weekend got under way with the opening two practice sessions. After last year’s Sprint event here, it was a more familiar schedule and provided plenty of insight into the potential each team has for qualifying and the race.

1. Ferrari closer than expected

2. Red Bull’s set-up for the race

3. Mercedes under pressure from behind

4. McLarens have got pace at scene of 2021 win

5. Albon right in the middle of a tight midfield

‘Plenty of insight into the potential each team has’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...qk7ABYSl9.html


FIVE MAGIC MOMENTS FROM MONZA – THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX PART ONE
Monza is a magical track within Formula One
07:38, 10/09/2022.
Liam Ploetner
FormulaNerds

Italian Inspiration: The first F1 Italian Grand Prix was in 1950, held at Monza (like all but the 1980 edition have been) and it was a special occasion. Two Italian drivers had a shot at becoming the maiden F1 champion: Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina and Luigi Fagioli, both driving for Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo. The only man who could stop them was their teammate, Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio.

Comeback Clark: Heading into round nine of the 1967 season, Jim Clark was 24 points behind Denny Hulme with three races left of the season. Clark did what he needed to in qualifying and got pole ahead of Jack Brabham (Hulme’s main title rival and teammate). He led nine of the opening 12 laps before picking up a puncture on lap 12 and fell a lap down. He then spent the next 48 out of 56 laps chasing the pack down, taking the lead with nine laps to go.

A New Niki: Everyone, barring McLaren’s Jochen Mass, started on wets as he predicted the rain would cease and was spot on. Due to this, everyone except Mass pitted for dry tyres and subsequently was affected – some positively and some negatively. Lauda fell down the field and heading into a fast kink, Lauda’s car went out of control, snapping to the right, erupting the car into flames after bouncing off the barriers. As a result of the collision, he was knocked. Harald Ertl, Brett Lunger and two nearby drivers (Guy Edwards and Arturo Merzario) managed to pull him out of the flaming wreckage.

‘FormulaNerds: ITALIAN GRAND PRIX PART ONE

https://www.formulanerds.com/feature.../?nowprocket=1

Verstappen quickest in final practice ahead of Italian Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver was a healthy margin clear of Charles Leclerc in second place.
10/09/2022, ‎13‎:‎07
Author Jake Nichol

Max Verstappen posted the quickest time in the third and final practice session ahead of Qualifying for the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix. In the first segment of the session, Verstappen posted a 1m:21.872s on the Medium Pirellis, narrowly edging out Charles Leclerc by just 0.072s.

However, as the field then bolted on the Softs, Verstappen improved by 0.6s to post a 1m:21.252s effort which proved unbeatable. Verstappen and Leclerc's two teammates Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz Jr were the only other two drivers within one second of the leading time.

Perez edged ahead of Sainz with a 1m:21.848s effort to leave him 0.596s slower than Verstappen, with the second Ferrari about half a tenth slower, with Sainz set to take further engine grid penalties on top of those he had already incurred.

‘Verstappen Quickest’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...ian-grand-prix


(FP3) Third Practice Results – 2022 Italian Grand Prix
Monza, Italy
10/09/2022, 13:05
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy

Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:21.252
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.347
3. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.596
4. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.645
5. Fernando Alonso Alpine +1.054
6. Lando Norris McLaren +1.067
7. George Russell Mercedes +1.105
8. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +1.178
9. Esteban Ocon Alpine +1.254
10. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +1.315

‘Italian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the third practice ahead of the 2022 F1 World Championship race at Monza’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp3-third-...and-prix-80036


LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from final practice for the Italian Grand Prix
10 September 2022
Becky Hart [Special Contributor]
Formula 1.

‘As It Happened’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...14OKHVCZR.html


Verstappen comfortably clear in final Italian GP practice
10/09/2022, 13:15
by Phillip Horton
Motorsport Week

World Champion Max Verstappen comfortably led the final practice session ahead of Formula 1’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Verstappen, who is one of nine drivers currently facing a grid penalty due to component changes, set a time of 1:21.252s as drivers carried out qualifying simulations. That time left him 0.347s faster than Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc.

Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz, who also have sizeable grid drops, finished behind their respective team-mates in third and fourth overall. Alpine’s Fernando Alonso edged McLaren rival Lando Norris to claim fifth place, with both poised to move up the starting grid on Sunday if their practice pace is replicated in qualifying.

‘Verstappen comfortably clear’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...n-gp-practice/


Two more drivers join growing list with Italian Grand Prix grid penalties
Saturday 10th September 2022 12:58 PM
Jon Wilde

Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen have joined the lengthy list of drivers who will have grid penalties for the Italian Grand Prix. The race at Monza is emulating the Belgian round of the World Championship two weeks previously, which ended up with not one driver starting the race in the position where they had qualified.

At present, there are eight drivers who have incurred penalties for exceeding the permitted number of power-unit parts this season – and Mick Schumacher has been reported as likely to join them. Just as the final free practice session was getting under way, Alpine confirmed Ocon will be taking a new Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) which means a five-place grid penalty.

‘Two more drivers join growing list’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/italia...enalties-list/


Carlos Sainz called up before the stewards ahead of Italian GP qualifying
Saturday 10th September 2022 12:53 PM
Thomas Maher

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has been summoned before the stewards at Monza after an alleged transgression during the final practice session. Carlos Sainz is off to see the stewards after the third and final practice session at Monza, with the Ferrari driver summoned after an alleged transgression during the session.

Sainz was loitering slowly on the racing line approaching the first chicane as Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas approached at full speed. The Finn was forced to take avoiding action, taking to the escape area as he swerved away from the Ferrari. The stewards took note of the incident, and have since summoned the Spaniard to visit them ahead of qualifying.

‘Ssummoned before the stewards at Monza after an alleged transgression during the final practice session’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos...gp-qualifying/


DE VRIES WILL REPLACE ALBON FOR REST OF F1 ITALIAN GP
Alex Albon will miss the rest of the Italian Grand Prix due to appendicitis
10/09/2022, 12:44
Nathan Hartley
FormulaNerds

De Vries will earn his Formula 1 debut this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix. The Dutchman will replace Alex Albon, who has suffered from appendicitis.

The Thai driver woke up this morning not feeling well. After inspection from the FIA doctors, they suggested that the 26-year-old should not race due to appendicitis.

The former Formula E champion will participate in FP3, qualifying and the race.

‘De Vries will earn his Formula 1 debut this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/de.../?nowprocket=1

Italian GP: Leclerc on pole, Russell second after penalties.
Charles Leclerc landed Ferrari pole position for the 2022 Italian Grand Prix as he fought off a penalised Max Verstappen to top Formula 1 qualifying as Carlos Sainz ran third.
Sep 10, 2022, 4:10 PM
By: Matt Kew
Motorsport.com

Regardless of Verstappen taking a five-place grid drop for a new internal combustion engine, Leclerc set the pace at Monza by a quarter of a second to the delight of the home fans as Sainz, who will start at the back of the grid, clocked third over Sergio Perez.

Ferrari had provisionally secured a 1-2 in Q3 as Sainz delivered a 1m20.584s on his first run in Q3, helped by a purple run through sector one, to edge Leclerc's 1m20.770s effort.

Verstappen initially settled for third, despite his second-sector prowess, as he was a little under a tenth adrift of the second F1-75. And then for the climax, it looked as though the Red Bull might offer a last-ditch reply when Verstappen clocked the fastest run through the middle part of the circuit yet again to heap on the pressure.

‘Leclerc on pole, Russell second after penalties’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/i...ties/10367093/


Qualifying Results – 2022 Italian Grand Prix
Monza, Italy
10/09/2022, 15:27
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy

Q3
1. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari -1:20.161
2. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.145
3. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.268
4. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +1.045
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +1.363
6. George Russell Mercedes +1.381
7. Lando Norris McLaren +1.423
8. Daniel Ricciardo McLaren +1.764
9. Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri +2.487
10. Fernando Alonso Alpine NC

‘Italian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for this weekend’s 2022 F1 World Championship race at Monza’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-80044


LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix
10 September 2022
Becky Hart [Special Contributor]
Formula 1.

‘As It Happened’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...CkS8We157.html


Leclerc storms to Italian GP pole with Russell on front row
10/09/2022, 16:10
Author Jake Nichol

Charles Leclerc claimed his eighth pole position of the Formula 1 season in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, just edging out Max Verstappen. Leclerc was second after the first runs in Q3, but shaved 0.268s off his time to post a 1m:20.161s to grab pole position from Verstappen in the Red Bull.

The World Champion vaulted up from third to leapfrog Carlos Sainz Jr who was the provisional pole-sitter after the first runs. However, Sainz could only improve by 0.155s but was never going to start on pole due to the engine penalties he is carrying.

The leading trio were nearly one second clear of the field, with Sergio Perez fourth fastest for Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton was fifth fastest for Mercedes, pipping George Russell by 0.018s.

‘Leclerc storms to Italian GP pole’;

https://racingnews365.com/leclerc-st...l-on-front-row


Ferrari risk Italian GP civil war as Mattia Binotto is hit with 'not satisfied' remark
FERRARI have failed to mount a championship bid with Charles Leclerc now lying 109 points behind Max Verstappen.
By LUKE CHILLINGSWORTH
15:12, Sat, Sep 10, 2022

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has been warned bosses are “not satisfied” with the team after throwing away a title bid. Ferrari CEO John Elkann slammed Binotto, claiming everyone had to improve “including the team boss”.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Elkann said: “We have great faith in Mattia Binotto and we fully appreciate everything he and all our engineers have done. But there’s no doubt that the work at Maranello, in the box on the wall, and behind the wheel must improve. We must continue to progress and that applies to the mechanics, the engineers, the drivers and obviously, the entire management team. Including the team boss.

“We have seen far too many mistakes, from reliability issues, to driving errors and strategic blunders. We have trusted in Binotto and his team. That was the right decision. It has paid off and we can thank them that Ferrari is competitive and winning again.”

‘Ferrari Risk Italian GP Civil War’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-grand-prix


Leclerc takes pole position for the 2022 Italian Grand Prix with Russell to join him on front row
10/09/2022, 16:26
Formula One - Official Site

Charles Leclerc took pole position in qualifying for the 2022 Italian Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, both of whom will drop down the order once grid penalties are applied, as George Russell jumps up to the front row.

Leclerc’s time of 1m 20.161s put him on pole by 0.145s over Red Bull’s Verstappen, while Sainz was 0.268s off his team mate in P3. Verstappen has a five-place penalty, however, while Sainz will drop to 18th. While Sergio Perez qualified fourth for Red Bull, he will drop 10 places – with fifth-place qualifier Lewis Hamilton to drop to the back row alongside Yuki Tsunoda.

Therefore, Russell will start second despite qualifying sixth. McLaren’s Lando Norris qualified seventh to guarantee a second-row start, while Daniel Ricciardo is set to be promoted after qualifying eighth. Fernando Alonso did not set a time for Alpine in Q3, but will be promoted behind AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly.

‘2022 Italian Grand Prix’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...U1FH9w7bU.html


Sainz gets fourth reprimand and Ferrari warned over “potentially dangerous” incident
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted on 10th September 2022, 15:0810th September 2022, 15:15
Written by Keith Collantine

Carlos Sainz Jnr will collect an automatic 10-place grid drop if he receives another driving reprimand this year, having reached a total of four reprimands in Monza. The Ferrari driver was found to have driven unnecessarily slowly at Rettifilo (turn one) during final practice, causing Valtteri Bottas to take evasive action in his Alfa Romeo.

Sainz told the stewards he was driving slowly to cool his tyres at the time. However the stewards noted Sainz reduced his speed to 50kph, around 20kph slower than any other driver did at the same point on the track during the session. The stewards noted Sainz was paying attention to other cars around him and checked his mirrors six times between the start/finish line and the first corner. “However the fact remains that he drove unnecessarily slowly and as a result, a potentially dangerous situation was created,” they ruled.

‘Formally Warned’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/10/...ttas-incident/

2022 Italian Grand Prix grid.
Charles Leclerc has taken provisional pole position for the Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris.
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted on 10th September 2022, 18:11 |
Written by Keith Collantine

Row 1
1. (16) Charles Leclerc 1’20.161
Ferrari F1-75

2. (63) George Russell 1’21.542
Mercedes W13


Row 2
3. (4) Lando Norris 1’21.584
McLaren-Mercedes MCL36

4. (3) Daniel Ricciardo 1’21.925
McLaren-Mercedes MCL36


Row 3
5. (10) Pierre Gasly 1’22.648
AlphaTauri-Red Bull AT03

6. (14) Fernando Alonso No time
Alpine-Renault A522


Row 4
7. (1) Max Verstappen 1’20.306
Red Bull RB18

8. (45) Nyck de Vries 1’22.471
Williams-Mercedes FW44


Row 5
9. (24) Zhou Guanyu 1’22.577
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari C42

10. (6) Nicholas Latifi 1’22.587
Williams-Mercedes FW44

‘2022 Italian Grand Prix grid’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/10/...and-prix-grid/


‘Charles is where our race is at’ – Russell targeting Leclerc in Sunday’s Italian GP from P2 on the grid.
10 Sep 2022
Formula 1.

George Russell was sixth fastest in qualifying at Monza but will start alongside Leclerc on the front row – but the Mercedes man thinks Max Verstappen may have too much speed for all of them.

‘Where our race is at’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...791220856.html


Ricciardo ‘refilled with optimism’ after P8 in Italian GP qualifying
10 Sep 2022
Formula 1.

The McLaren driver admitted he was ”on the limit” during qualifying at Monza, but was pleased to get through to Q3 – and he will end up higher on the grid than P8 thanks to other drivers taking penalties.

‘Refilled With Optimism’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...900588803.html


Verstappen reckons he has the pace ‘to pass everyone up to P2’ in the Italian GP
10 Sep 2022
Formula 1.

The Red Bull racer won’t start second thanks to grid penalties, but says he can claw his way back up the order on race day.

‘Pace to pass everyone up to P2’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...348999779.html


How De Vries found out he would be racing at the 2022 Italian GP
Formula 1's newest star Nyck De Vries explains how he found out he would be making his F1 debut.
September 10, 2022
By Rahul Sharan

De Vries, who qualified 13th but will start the race from eight explains how he got the good news and how he had approximately an hour and a half to prepare for the FP3 session. “I was having a coffee in the paddock club for an appearance, and it was very quiet early in the morning,” De Vries explained to members of the press.

“I was watching the F3 podium with a cappuccino, and James Vowels (Mercedes’s engineer) gave me a ring, and I had to come down quickly to Mercedes, and everyone was pretty happy. I kind of tried to manage expectations a little bit saying, you know, let’s, let’s wait.”

“So then I went down to Williams, and unfortunately, Alex was ill but hopefully he will be back soon and recover quickly. Then during the FP3 briefing, it kind of became clear that it was my duty to be in the car for FP3 three and the rest of the weekend. All of this happened only one and a half hours prior to FP3, so there was not a lot of time to quickly get my head around it.”

‘It kind of became clear that it was my duty to be in the car for FP3 and the rest of the weekend’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/de-...alian-gp-2022/

Leclerc: The car is amazing, I will give it everything.
Charles Leclerc did the proverbial thing and ‘painted’ Monza the Red of Ferrari (and splashes of yellow!) today by claiming pole position for the 2022 Italian Grand Prix in front of the adoring Tifosi, if he wins for them on Sunday they will blow a hole in the ozone, over the beautiful park in which the Temple of Speed resides.
10 September, 2022
Paul Velasco

It was a magnificent effort, a special lap that gives him hope he can emulate the victory he scored for the Italian team, on home soil, back in 2019 locking himself into the hearts and minds of all Tifosi forever. A repeat win will just strengthen that legacy.

Although the form man Max Verstappen ran him close, but Leclerc’s scintillating 1:20.161s was too good by a tenth and half for over the Red Bull and a quarter second up on Carlos Sainz who has been speedy all weekend. Thus Leclerc, from the top spot start, has set himself for a repeat win at the Scuderia’s home Grand Prix as most of his rivals around him will suffer grid penalties.

Leclerc, winner here in 2019, added: “It wasn’t an easy qualifying session. I knew there was quite a bit of potential in the car. “I knew in this last lap in Q3 I had to put everything together and I managed to do it, very happy with the lap, very happy with the performance, the feeling with the car is amazing and I really hope we can do just like 2019 tomorrow.”

‘Painted Monza the Red of Ferrari/ In front of the adoring Tifosi/ Blow a hole in the ozone/ The Temple of Speed resides’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/09...ifying-report/


Leclerc believes he can halt Verstappen’s winning run after unexpected pole position
2022 Italian Grand Prix pre-race analysis
Posted on 11th September 2022, 0:2111th September 2022, 0:22
Written by Will Wood

Charles Leclerc did not need to put himself under intense pressure in qualifying at Monza in order to secure the most advantageous starting position on the grid and, with it, the best possible chance of victory heading into the Italian Grand Prix.

“We still need to finalise this tomorrow, otherwise it’s pointless to do the pole on Saturday,” the pole winner said. “But it is a very good surprise today, considering where we come from, especially in Spa.”

“We were not expecting to fight for pole here. So it’s a very good surprise at home. There’s a special motivation for this weekend and it’s great that we managed to do a good job today.”

‘Leclerc believes he can halt Verstappen’s winning run’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/11/...pole-position/


Marko warns Verstappen to be careful fighting Leclerc in Italian GP
11/09/2022, ‎07‎:‎00
Author Jake Nichol

The Red Bull driver boss was speaking after Charles Leclerc secured pole position at Monza.
Helmut Marko has warned Max Verstappen to be careful if he gets an opportunity to fight with Charles Leclerc during the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix. Leclerc qualified on pole position with Verstappen in second, although the Red Bull driver will be taking a grid penalty for a new Internal Combustion Engine.

He is set to start seventh, but in having won the last four races, he has shown substantially better race pace than Ferrari - meaning he is still in contention for the win. However, Marko has cautioned his lead driver from taking any unnecessary risks to pass Leclerc if the race situation allows.

"Of course we will see if we can attack Leclerc, but we do not do that with risks," Marko explained to ORF. If it [passing Leclerc] can't be done without risks, then we just keep the position and we go for P2."

‘Marko warns Verstappen to be careful’;

https://racingnews365.com/marko-warn...-in-italian-gp


Russell: Monza P2 start undeserved for 'substantially worse' W13
10/09/2022 at 19:03
Phillip van Osten

George Russell says he doesn't deserve his second place on Sunday's Italian Grand Prix grid after a frustrating day in which his car once again felt "substantially worse" than earlier in the weekend. Russell clocked in P6 at the end of Q3 on Saturday at Monza, one spot and 0.018s behind Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

"We don't deserve to be starting P2 after today's performance," Russell commented after qualifying. It was again a frustrating session because we can't seem to get the car in that sweet spot.”

"FP1 the car felt great, in FP2, FP3 substantially worse. In Q1, the car felt great, [we were] a few tenths off Ferrari. Q2 was worse, Q3 was worse. But ultimately that's been a theme this season. Lining up P2 we'll have a faster race car, probably not fast enough to battle with Max, potentially [we can fight] Charles."

‘Monza P2 start undeserved for 'substantially worse' W13’;

https://f1i.com/news/453972-russell-...worse-w13.html


'We pretty much put it all together' – Norris and Ricciardo delighted with McLaren qualifying performance at Monza.
10 September 2022
Formula 1.

It was a strong Saturday afternoon at Monza for McLaren, as Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo qualified seventh and eighth fastest respectively, for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix, leaving both drivers to reflect on a great team performance.

“I mean, very happy with today, good job by the team,” said Norris. “My lap in the end I was very happy with. Pretty much put it all together. Tough, it’s not easy… it’s a short track, not too many corners, but the margins are very close. Especially Q2, I think it was... it was extremely close between everyone.

“I am happy with the session,” said Ricciardo. “I think Q3, it was a bit of handful through the second sector, even the first actually. It wasn’t completely hooked up and to be honest my lap in Q2 I was kind of like on the limit with trying to get everything out of it. It’s obviously been hard for me to really feel comfortable on the limit of this car.”

‘Norris and Ricciardo delighted with McLaren qualifying performance’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...2aP2KkC5A.html


De Vries pleased with qualifying debut despite accidental brake balance error
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted on 10th September 2022, 19:3710th September 2022, 19:41
Written by Will Wood and Claire Cottingham

Nyck de Vries says he had a “decent” first-ever qualifying session in Formula 1, reaching Q2 after an unexpected call-up to the Williams team. The 2019 Formula 2 champion and 2021 Formula E world champion will make his F1 debut in tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix in place of Alexander Albon, who was forced to withdraw from the weekend after contracting appendicitis.

After driving Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin on Friday’s first practice, De Vries admitted it had not been easy to adapt back to the Williams the following day, despite having driven the Williams FW44 during practice for the Spanish Grand Prix in May. “It was tricky,” said De Vries. “I think that’s the only disappointment I have from our qualifying session, because I felt like there was probably more in it, more potential, and we just didn’t quite succeed to put it together.

De Vries was on course to improve on his final lap in Q2 before an error under braking for the Roggia chicane ruined his final attempt, resulting in his elimination. The Dutch driver admits he mistakenly changed a setting on his steering wheel before the braking zone, which led to the mistake. “I do feel there was more in it – especially in the last run of Q2,” he said. “I hit a brake balance switch which moved the brake balance a percent rearwards and that’s why I locked up my rears going into four and lost my lap. But ultimately to get through to Q2 and be in the mix I think was a decent job on such a short notice.”

‘Accidental brake balance error’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/10/...balance-error/


De Vries performance "puts down a marker" for F1 future - Wolff
Saturday 10 September 2022 21:01
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has hailed Nyck de Vries for putting down a "marker" with his debut qualifying performance ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. The Dutch driver was called up at late notice on Saturday morning with Alex Albon sidelined through appendicitis, taking the wheel of the Williams FW44 for the second half of FP3.

Asked to assess his reserve driver's performance, Wolff said De Vries deserves a chance to drive in the championship full time. "Nyck was an official Mercedes driver until we stopped Formula E a few weeks ago and he won the championship for us, our first world championship," said Wolff.

"But we haven't got a management contract with him, we haven't got any influence on his career nor are we taking any cut of his future earnings. Nyck deserves to have a place in F1. He has shown that because of the limited experience he had from driving around with the rake in FP1. Then he was thrown into the cold in FP3, not even at the beginning but at the end - that is a line in the sand. It puts down a marker."

‘De Vries performance puts down a marker’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/91...nyck-de-vries/

Verstappen wins Italian Grand Prix as Leclerc strategy backfires.
It's an 11th win of the season for Max Verstappen and fifth in a row as Ferrari's gamble with Charles Leclerc backfired.
11/09/2022, ‎15‎:‎25
Author Jake Nichol

Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix for Red Bull as Ferrari's Formula 1 tyre gamble with Charles Leclerc did not pay off. Starting from seventh after his grid penalty, Verstappen was quickly up into the top two by Lap 5 of 53 at Monza, and began to close in on Leclerc who maintained the lead from pole position.

Verstappen was told to do the opposite to the Monegasque, and so did not pit and assumed the lead ahead of George Russell. The World Champion made his own switch to Mediums on Lap 25, with Ferrari immediately considering "Plan C" which turned out to be a two-stop strategy.

Verstappen had 13 lap fresher tyres than Leclerc and so on Lap 33, the latter pitted again for a set of new Softs. It left him 19.6s behind leader Verstappen, but Leclerc never thereafter showed the requisite pace he required - about one second a lap to hunt the #1 down. Verstappen crossed the line ahead of Leclerc under the Safety Car, with Russell completing the podium places in a quiet race for the Mercedes driver.

‘Verstappen wins’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...tegy-backfires


Race Results – 2022 Italian Grand Prix
Monza, Italy
11/09/2022, 15:32
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy

Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -53 laps
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +2.446
3. George Russell Mercedes +3.405
4. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +5.061
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +5.380
6. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +6.091
7. Lando Norris McLaren +6.207
8. Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri +6.396
9. Nyck de Vries Williams Racing +7.122
10. Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo +7.910

‘Italian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2022 F1 World Championship race at Monza’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-80074


AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the 2022 Italian Grand Prix
11 September 2022
Becky Hart [Special Contributor]
Formula 1.

‘AS IT HAPPENED’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...E3LXxlP9H.html


Leclerc frustrated by decision not to restart Italian Grand Prix
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted on 11th September 2022, 16:0311th September 2022, 16:08
Written by Hazel Southwell

Charles Leclerc was disappointed by the decision to finish the Italian Grand Prix behind Safety Car after taking second behind Max Verstappen. The Ferrari driver led the early stages of the race but was running second behind Verstappen in the closing stages after making two pit stops – the first under an early Virtual Safety Car period – to his rival’s one.

A late Safety Car period, triggered when Daniel Ricciardo stopped at the side of the track, appeared to offer all the drivers an opportunity for a sprint to the chequered flag. But the race was never restarted, and Leclerc was followed Verstappen home as his rival took his fifth win in a row. “The end was frustrating,” Leclerc said. “I wish we could have ended up racing, unfortunately we were second at that point because of what happened before so it’s a shame but overall I gave it all, P2 today.”

Jeers from the crowd rang out after the anticlimactic end to the race. “I wish I could have won in front of the amazing Tifosi we have here but I just couldn’t today,” Leclerc added. He indicated he wasn’t convinced Ferrari’s call to pit early, during that first Virtual Safety Car, had been correct. “We didn’t know what they were going to do behind so we took that choice,” he explained. “Obviously we finished P2 so I’m not extremely happy with the race but we’ll work on that.”

‘Frustrated Leclerc’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/11/...an-grand-prix/


Max Verstappen booed across line in controversial finish at Italian Grand Prix
MAX VERSTAPPEN clinched yet another victory at Monza and the Ferrari-mad crowd were not best pleased.
15:33, Sun, Sep 11, 2022
By Charlie Gordon

Red Bull star Max Verstappen was booed across the finish line at the Italian Grand Prix as the Ferrari-dominated crowd vented their frustration at a decision to finish the race behind a safety car. Charles Leclerc consequently had to settle for second place after being denied the chance to launch a late challenge for top spot. Leclerc started Sunday's Grand Prix on pole after a superb qualifying performance saw him pip Verstappen. The Dutchman ended up starting way back in seventh as he, along with several other competitors, accepted grid penalties.

Verstappen quickly weaved his way through the pack and ended up in second place, behind Leclerc, in the early stages of the race. Superior pace eventually told and the Red Bull star had surpassed Leclerc and built up a commanding lead by the time Ferrari committed to one last throw of the dice by fitting the 24-year-old with soft-compound tyres for the final 20 laps.

The Monegasque didn't have the pace to close a 20-second gap, although it looked like he had been thrown a lifeline when Daniel Ricciardo's malfunction brought out a late safety car. A cherry picker was required to move the Aussie's McLaren and, much to the home fans' frustration, it meant that the race was finished under safety car conditions.

‘The Monegasque didn't have the pace to close a 20-second gap’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...d-bull-f1-news

Fans were booing the FIA more than Verstappen at end of Italian GP – Binotto.
“Booing a driver is never great, especially if the driver has been Max, which today was the fastest driver on track and deserved the win,” Binotto told media including RaceFans. “So that’s not good.”
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted on 11th September 2022, 17:55
Written by Keith Collantine

Formula 1 fans at the Italian Grand Prix were booing the FIA for their handling of the race, not winner Max Verstappen, Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes. Verstappen scored his 11th win of the season on Sunday at the expense of Charles Leclerc, who started from pole position for home favourites Ferrari. Some spectators were heard booing after Verstappen was acclaimed as the winner.

“Booing a driver is never great, especially if the driver has been Max, which today was the fastest driver on track and deserved the win,” Binotto told media including RaceFans. “So that’s not good. But I think that the booing from our tifosi [fans] was more toward the FIA and simply by booing the first and the winner it was trying to boo the FIA. The reason was I think because the people out there believe that the Safety Car could have been ended before and give still a couple of laps for the show today, for battles on track.”

Verstappen said he wasn’t bothered by the reaction even if the jeers had been aimed at him. “When it happens, of course, everyone speaks to me about it with the booing and stuff,” he said. “But I mean at the end of the day I’m here to try and win the race, which we’ve done. Some people, of course, they can’t appreciate that. But that’s, of course, because they’re very passionate fans of a different team and it is what it is. I mean, it’s not going to spoil my day. I’m just enjoying the moment.”

‘Booing a driver is never great’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/11/...an-gp-binotto/


Max Verstappen issues response to Charles Leclerc fans booing him at Italian Grand Prix.
MAX VERSTAPPEN secured his 11th win of the season as he edged out Charles Leclerc at the Italian Grand Prix.
20:56, Sun, Sep 11, 2022
By Andrew Gamble

The Monza crowd booed the anticlimactic finish, while Verstappen also received jeers during his post-race interview with Martin Brundle. Booing has not been commonplace during the 2022 season, but it became fairly prominent during Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton’s title battle last year.

Verstappen insisted the boos from the Ferrari fans were fair as they were simply supporting Leclerc. He assumed they thought the Monegasque driver was denied the chance to fight him for the win at the end.

When asked about the booing, Leclerc suggested F1 fans should not do it while flares were seen in the Monza crowd. Two flares were thrown on the track during Dutch Grand Prix qualifying last weekend. He said: “I think nobody likes booing and I think it shouldn't happen. That's it.”

‘Boos from the Ferrari fans were fair as they were simply supporting Leclerc’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-Grand-Prix


The rules that forced controversial end to F1’s Italian GP.
12/09/2022, 05:38.
By Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race.

Formula 1’s anti-climactic yet controversial Italian Grand Prix finish under the safety car was the result of the rules being applied in the consistent manner many have demanded. Given the criticism directed at the FIA – everywhere from team bosses in the Monza paddock to commenters on social media – it’s worth understanding the rules that meant the race ended the way it did.

Especially as the FIA says there were no delays in any of the race control procedures. “It felt like the safety car picked up the wrong car,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. “And that delayed things further for what looked like a reasonably trivial incident.”

Once this delay was in effect, there was nothing more race control could do. The cars were released, but they only caught the back of the queue as Verstappen started the final lap. This meant there was not enough time to then allow lapped cars to overtake and for the safety car to come in at the end of the following lap – let alone for there to be any green flag racing. There is no mechanism in the regulations for unilaterally throwing a red flag and suspending the race without just cause. So there was no alternative but to finish behind the safety car.

‘The rules that forced controversial end to F1’s Italian GP’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-r...1s-italian-gp/


F1 fans 'gutted' as Aussie driver Daniel Ricciardo was robbed of a points result in Italian Grand Prix due to yet another McLaren stuff-up
Published: 01:19, 12 September 2022
By Josh Alston For Daily Mail Australia

Dumped Aussie McLaren star Daniel Ricciardo's F1 season has lurched from one disaster to the next after he suffered another engine failure in Italy with a points result in sight. With around half the field copping points penalties for engine modifications, including leader Max Verstappen, Ricciardo started from the second row of the grid. He was within six laps of a morale-boosting points finish at the Monza track when his engine developed an oil leak and he slowed and lurched to the right side of the track.

Because the nature of the engine failure meant he car was stuck in gear, his McLaren could not be moved easily which forced the remainder of the race to be completed behind the safety car. Ricciardo tried to remain positive after yet another McLaren disaster.

'It was a busy race, trying to hold on, do what I could and then yeah, felt like we got a little bit of a rhythm on the hards (tyres) with 10-15 laps to go but then the engine just switched off out of turn six,' he said. 'I had to pull over straight away because it was stuck in gear and so I couldn't roll to a safe place. It would have been nice to get some points, but it wasn't meant to be today.'

‘Yet another McLaren stuff-up’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ren-error.html


Sergio Perez brands his Monza race a ‘mess’ after early brake disc fire
Sunday 11th September 2022 8:00 PM
Jamie Woodhouse

Sergio Perez was forced to address a fiery right front brake disc early in the Italian Grand Prix which turned his race into a “mess”. Perez was one of many drivers carrying a grid penalty into the Italian Grand Prix, leaving him to start from P13, although he still had reason to be optimistic of a strong result in the Red Bull RB18, currently the fastest car on the grid.

His race encountered rocky waters early on, Perez forced to pit by lap eight with smoke coming from the right front wheel on his Red Bull. He returned to the track with flames starting to develop. Perez thought that could have been the moment when his race ended, but he was able to keep his RB18 in a healthy enough state to continue. But by this point, he said the damage was done.

“It was a mess, my race,” he told Sky Sports F1. “It all started with the front right disc early on and that really compromised our race because we had to ‘box’ pretty early. Then the first laps on the hard tyres I had to lift and coast like crazy to bring them (the brakes) back to temperature. Because otherwise I think we could have retired the car. I spent a few laps with the right disc on fire a bit, so it wasn’t ideal and I think at the end I could have got to the end with the hard tyres, but we had to stop.”

‘Early brake disc fire’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...nza-race-mess/


De Vries keeps Monza points following F1 stewards investigation
Nyck De Vries has been issued with a reprimand by Formula 1 stewards for "erratic" driving in the Italian Grand Prix, but will keep his points finish.
11/09/2022, ‎17‎:‎21
Author Jake Nichol

De Vries started in eighth, alongside Max Verstappen at Monza, after grid penalties, but drove a composed race to bank two points for ninth place, just behind 2020 Italian GP winner Pierre Gasly.

However, during the late Safety Car period, the stewards deemed De Vries to have driven "erratically", and so summoned him for a hearing. After the investigation, the 2020/21 Formula E champion was just hit with a reprimand - his first of the season.

It means he gets to keep the points he earned, and will not incur any further penalties should he be required for Singapore if Albon has not recovered from the surgery he requires.

‘Issued with a reprimand by Formula 1 stewards for "erratic" driving’;

https://racingnews365.com/de-vries-k...-investigation

Helmut Marko to fly to Tokyo as Red Bull scramble to reignite Honda partnership.
Red Bull adviser, Dr Helmut Marko, says that the team are still weighing up their options for 2026, but confirms that any relationship with Porsche is now dead in the water.
by James Clifford
13 September 2022

Red Bull's relationship with Honda, as it stands, is set to end ahead of the 2026 season. The Austrian team had initially purchased Honda’s intellectual property to construct their own powertrains when the Japanese motoring giant announced its intention to leave Formula 1 at the end of last year.

At the moment, Red Bull are developing well to become a works team in 2026. “No, that’s over too,” Dr Marko told Osterreich newspaper. “The first engine we developed has already run on the test bench, so we’re doing very well for ourselves there too.” There is every chance that the Milton Keynes-based side might also continue their deal with Honda in four years.

“That is being negotiated, I will be flying to Tokyo between the Singapore and Suzuka races in early October,” explained Dr Marko. Red Bull’s owner and founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, was unable to oversee negotiations with Porsche, but Dr Marko confirmed that this had “nothing to do” with the deal falling through, before revealing his compatriot’s son, Mark was in Monza last weekend.

‘Helmut Marko to fly to Tokyo’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/helmut-ma...a-partnership/


Max Verstappen on brink of beating Fernando Alonso feat as he eyes record-breaking season
MAX VERSTAPPEN already has 31 Grand Prix wins to his name after his latest triumph at Monza.
15:28, Mon, Sep 12, 2022
By Fraser Watson

Max Verstappen is hunting down the career markers of Fernando Alonso after the Red Bull man continued his dominance of the 2022 season in Italy. Verstappen beat Ferrari's Charles Leclerc after the Scuderia tried a questionable two-stop strategy, although he was booed across the line with the leaders finishing behind a safety car.

It was Verstappen's fifth win a row and 11th race victory this year, already one more than he achieved in 2021. Monza represented the 31st F1 win of Verstappen's career, drawing him level with Nigel Mansell, and moving him just one shy of sixth-placed Alonso on the all-time list.

When the inevitable happens, only Lewis Hamilton (103), Michael Schumacher (91), Sebastian Vettel (53), Alain Prost (51) and Ayrton Senna (43) would then sit above him. Verstappen also looks like he has a chance to eclipse the record of most wins in a season (13), shared by Schumacher and Vettel.

‘Max Verstappen on the brink’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...Alonso-F1-news


Helmut Marko believes Max Verstappen can secure 14 wins this season
Monday 12th September 2022 5:00 PM
Sam Cooper

Helmut Marko has predicted Max Verstappen could reach 14 wins this season, which would set a record for the most in a single campaign. Before the 2021 season, Verstappen had 10 career wins to his name but now, just one and a half years later, he has more than trebled that figure.

He has 31 wins in his career, the joint seventh most in F1 history alongside Nigel Mansell, and could quite easily break the record tally for the most in a single season. The record currently stands at 13 with both Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013) having achieved that figure.

Verstappen has been backed by Red Bull senior adviser Helmut Marko to break the record and the Austrian predicted 14 wins was a realistic target for the driver and the team. “He managed it relatively easily again,” Marko told Sky Sports Germany when discussing the Italian Grand Prix. “It was a pity the race ended under the Safety Car. We had the upper hand but it was amazing how quickly he took the lead.”

‘Helmut Marko believes Max Verstappen can secure 14 wins’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/helmut...appen-14-wins/


Verstappen compares 2022 F1 season to his final year in karting
Red Bull's Max Verstappen draws a parallel between his current F1 season and his final year in karts
September 12, 2022
By Rahul Sharan

Red Bull Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, compared his current campaign to his final year in karting, where he won six out of the eight championships he contested. Despite starting seventh in Monza, Verstappen proved to be the class of the field claiming his eleventh win of the season and fifth in a row. His latest triumph means the Dutchman could mathematically wrap up the driver’s title in Singapore with the Red Bull driver now 116 points ahead of second-placed Charles Leclerc with six rounds left to go.

The Dutchman is inevitably heading for his second F1 Drivers’ Championship in as many years following his win at the 2022 Italian Grand Prix. “Yes, my last year in karting,” Verstappen said to Motorsport-Total when asked if he had enjoyed a season as dominant as the one in 2022.

“But it is very different in terms of feelings. At that moment, Formula 1 is your goal. Of course, you enjoy what you achieve, but you also think that there is still a long way to go so it feels different. But the last year in karting was also beautiful.”

‘Verstappen compares 2022 F1 season to his final year in karting’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/ver...-year-karting/


Red Bull reveal they’ve received ‘surprising enquiries’
Porsche are reportedly now looking at McLaren and Williams as options for 2026.
12 September 2022
by Nick Golding

“If it turns out that there are synergies and benefits, then we are open. Now that Porsche’s cancellation has become official, we have received some surprising enquiries.

“We are in talks with Honda,” he revealed. Porsche are reportedly now looking into a potential partnership with McLaren or Williams, as they push on to find a suitable partner for 2026.

“As we are now, we are in a good position,” said the Austrian. “We have the fastest driver until 2028. We have Adrian Newey, the best engineer. And we have an engine factory that will be fully operational within 55 weeks. “The first engine has already fired up. That means we are completely self-sufficient.”

‘Red Bull in a good position’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/red-bull-...ing-enquiries/

‘Ferrari can’t win anymore, the F1-75 eats its tyres’.
“Ferrari can’t win anymore” declared a damning indictment from Auto Motor und Sport, with Mattia Binotto left to rue Ferrari’s race pace at the Italian Grand Prix.
Monday 12th September 2022 1:00 PM
Michelle Foster

Although Charles Leclerc started Sunday’s 53-lap Monza race from pole position, the Monégasque driver P1 for the eighth time this season, he was unable to match Max Verstappen’s pace in the grand prix. Aware of this, Ferrari threw the dice with an early pit-stop when the Virtual Safety Car was deployed on lap 12 with that decision putting Leclerc onto a two-stop strategy.

But even with the brand new set of soft tyres he took on at his second stop, he was unable to chase down Verstappen and was 16 seconds behind when the Safety Car was deployed, ending the day’s action. Auto Motor und Sport’s Michael Schmidt says Ferrari’s biggest problem is their race pace due to the F1-75’s high tyre degradation. “Ferrari can’t win anymore,” he wrote. “It’s still enough for pole position but no longer for victory.”

“The speed in the F1-75 is still there, but over the distance the red car eats its tyres. That puts all the trump cards in Max Verstappen’s hand. Monza was no exception. Even if Charles Leclerc gave the Tifosi hope, it was deceptive.’ Ferrari, he added, “suspect the aerodynamics – that the search for more downforce has reduced the working window and thus the scope for set-up”.

‘Ferrari can’t win anymore’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrar...nymore-report/


Martin Brundle sees 'major problem' for Ferrari after 'punchy' comments from chairman
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto is under mounting pressure after company chairman John Elkann fired a "warning shot" following a host of errors this season
16:40, 13 SEP 2022
BY Mark Whiley

Martin Brundle believes key personnel at Ferrari could be axed if the Italian squad loses second spot in the constructors’ championship to Mercedes. Sky Sports F1’s Brundle interviewed Binotto over the weekend and hopes he can weather the storm, but admits being overtaken by Mercedes would represent a hammer blow to him and the team. “I think he’s under a lot of pressure. I always say in Formula 1 that you’re either giving pressure or taking it, and he’s taking a lot,” said Brundle.

“They’re over 100 points behind in the drivers’ championship. They won two of the first three races and, if you add up all of the reliability issues, the strategy problems, the driver errors, they should be pushing Red Bull really hard in the closing stages of this World Championship. Every time they make a mistake, Red Bull and Max Verstappen gain from it as well.

“I asked him how much pain you will take if you finish behind Mercedes. I think it’s a major problem for them. We see it in football a lot, the changes of managers. If you want to change your team principal, fine, but who with?”

‘Major Problem For Ferrari’;

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...nn-f1-27982277


Binotto deconstructs message from Ferrari boss Elkann
13 September, 2022
Paul Velasco

Ferrari’s invisible Chairman John Elkann turned up at the Italian Grand Prix reaffirming his faith in Mattia Binotto’s leadership and talking-the-talk of “Formula 1 titles before 2026” which needed some deconstructing by the team principal.

Asked if support from the Big Boss took the pressure off his shoulders, Binotto replied: “Is it a relief? First, I know and the team knows that we’ve got the full support of our chairman so we do not need an article or an interview to know that so we got. We are continuously in contact.

“We are commenting races, post-race. We are discussing race preparation, so he’s a person that is certainly a lot interested in what we are doing and supporting the team itself. Is it a relief? I think more for external – let me say – judgements rather than internal, so internally we were focused, we were okay and had no concerns but seeing such an interview certainly is great because it’s somehow confirming what we already know,” explained Binotto.

‘Message From Ferrari Boss Elkann Deconstructed’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/09...ns-message-f1/


Sam Bird: Ferrari are running scared of Red Bull’s and Max Verstappen’s pace
Tuesday 13th September 2022 5:00 PM
Thomas Maher

Formula E racer Sam Bird believes Ferrari have been spooked by Red Bull’s pace, which is causing them to make questionable decisions. With Ferrari having jumped at the chance to pit under the early Virtual Safety Car at Monza, it left Charles Leclerc with a steep mountain to climb as he faced a 40-lap stint on the medium tyres.

Unsurprisingly, this strategy did not work out despite Leclerc gaining back the lead when Verstappen pitted at the race’s halfway mark, Verstappen quickly closing the gap back up to Leclerc.

However, an on-track battle did not unfold as Ferrari pulled Leclerc back in for a second stop before Verstappen got within striking distance. With Ferrari stuck in a sub-optimal strategy after the VSC, Bird believes this is indicative the Scuderia are going in with the mentality they are simply slower than Red Bull.

‘Running Scared’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sam-bi...ared-red-bull/


Ferrari encouraged by Leclerc’s “comfortable” margin over Russell at Monza
2022 Italian Grand Prix
Posted on 13th September 2022, 17:36
Written by Ida Wood and Claire Cottingham

WhileCharles Leclerc failed to convert pole position into victory at the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari drew encouragement from his margin over Mercedes, who were a significant threat in previous races. Now Binotto thinks Ferrari has a better understanding of why Red Bull have pulled away and Mercedes have emerged as a greater threat to them on race days.

“On the race pace, we are suffering tyre degradation and I think that in that respect the Red Bull is a better car,” he said. “So they have been capable of developing their car for a better balance, but certainly as well for a better car in terms of tyre degradation, that we didn’t. The reason is something that we are looking at because we need to address it, if not for us this season, certainly for the next.”

‘Ferrari encouraged’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/13/...sell-at-monza/


Ferrari 'not to blame' for Monza loss despite strategy gamble - Leclerc
Tuesday 13 September 2022 12:52
Ewan Gale

Charles Leclerc has insisted Ferrari is not to blame after a strategy gamble failed to pay off at the Italian Grand Prix. The Monégasque led from pole at Monza but rival Max Verstappen was behind in second having climbed from seventh on the grid in the first five laps.

When Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin broke down on the run to Ascari on lap 12, a virtual safety car was called, allowing for a potential 'free' stop where less time is lost due to the reduced speed of rivals on the track. But after taking the risk as Verstappen stayed on track, the VSC ended whilst Leclerc was in the pits and therefore took away at least half of the advantage the Scuderia would have gained with the ploy.

"If it was a clear mistake? I don't think so because it was just our choice and looking back at it, you just cannot predict whenever the VSC is going to end. If I was not stopping, Max will have pitted and he will have had the same problem as I did. So nothing to blame on anybody there, just a little bit unlucky, and probably missing a little bit of pace too."

‘Ferrari Not To Blame';

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/91...arles-leclerc/

‘Horrible luck’: Oil leak robs Daniel Ricciardo of points finish in Italian Grand Prix.
This hurts. Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was less than six laps away from clinching a points finish in the Italian Grand Prix before engine failures robbed the 33-year-old of a much-needed morale boost.
September 12th, 2022 7:10 am
Nic Savage from News.com.au

Ricciardo’s McLaren sat idle on the edge of the Monza track for the final stage of Sunday evening’s race due to an oil leak, forcing the event to end behind a safety car in anticlimactic scenes. Because Ricciardo’s car was stuck in gear, stewards were unable to quickly remove the stranded McLaren from the side of the track.

“I felt like I was doing a good job to hold off (Pierre) Gasly but didn’t have much more to show than that,” Ricciardo told reporters after the race. “It was a busy race, trying to hold on, do what I could and then yeah, felt like we got a little bit of a rhythm on the hards (tyres) with 10-15 laps to go but then the engine just switched off out of Turn Six.

“I had to pull over straight away because it was stuck in gear and so I couldn’t roll to a safe place. It would have been nice to get some points, but it wasn’t meant to be today.” McLaren team principal told Speedcafe.com: “Daniel commented on the radio that he lost the engine and it looks like that we had an oil leak, but what exactly the root cause of the oil leak (is) something we need to analyse once the car is back.

‘Less than six laps away from clinching a points finish in the Italian Grand Prix’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...54cd7e5b1ab2a1


‘Everything shut off’ – Ricciardo explains his Lap 47 DNF at Monza that triggered late Safety Car.
11 Sep 2022
Formula 1.

“If I could have done anything else I would have,” says Daniel Ricciardo after he was forced to leave his McLaren on the side of the track which triggered a Safety Car that ran to the end of the Italian Grand Prix.

‘Everything shut off’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...639547663.html


Ricciardo says 'everything shut off' as he reveals disappointment at late DNF in Italian GP
13 September 2022
Formula 1.

Daniel Ricciardo was running in eighth place at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix and looking set for a first top-10 finish since France. But a late DNF on Sunday meant it was fourth consecutive point-less outing for the Australian, much to his disappointment.

And speaking after the race, Ricciardo explained: “The car switched off. I don’t know the details but in simple terms just everything shut off, so I was in Lesmo 1, fourth gear and then immediately off and then obviously stuck in gear. I just tried to pull over to the inside of the track as quick as I could.

“But then when I got out of the car, even for me to find an opening was difficult, so I was surprised there wasn’t an opening sooner or I guess I passed it when I was trying to pull off. Then I found out after that the race ended under Safety Car. If I could have done anything else, I would have but that was all I could do.”

‘Disappointment at late DNF in Italian GP’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...CDiSm10uJ.html


Daniel Ricciardo ‘wished the race had ended on lap one’ after strong start
Sunday 11th September 2022 10:00 PM
Henry Valantine

Daniel Ricciardo retired from the Italian Grand Prix and having moved up to third place on the first lap, admitted he had hoped to have seen the chequered flag there and then.

He had been running high up the order for most of the race, holding off Pierre Gasly behind, before retiring on lap 47, prompting the Safety Car period which saw the remaining drivers finish under yellow flag conditions at Monza. This came in part as Ricciardo’s car was stuck in gear after retiring, which meant the marshals could not move it back to safety between the two Lesmo corners.

But the Australian said there was not much else he could do in that situation. “Car switched off, I don’t know the details but in simple terms just everything shut off,” Ricciardo told Formula1.com. “So I was in Lesmo 1, fourth gear and then immediately [switched] off, and then obviously stuck in gear so I just tried to pull over to the inside of the track as quick as I could.”

‘Wished the race had ended on lap one’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/daniel...2022-reaction/


F1 fans 'gutted' as Aussie driver Daniel Ricciardo was robbed of a points result in Italian Grand Prix due to yet another McLaren stuff-up
Published: 01:19, 12 September 2022
By Josh Alston For Daily Mail Australia

He was within six laps of a morale-boosting points finish at the Monza track when his engine developed an oil leak and he slowed and lurched to the right side of the track.

Ricciardo tried to remain positive after yet another McLaren disaster. 'It was a busy race, trying to hold on, do what I could and then yeah, felt like we got a little bit of a rhythm on the hards (tyres) with 10-15 laps to go but then the engine just switched off out of turn six,' he said.

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said it was a disappointing finish to what was shaping as a strong weekend. 'It is obviously very unfortunate for Daniel, for us, that after a strong weekend on his side of the garage, the strong race today, that ultimately we couldn't score the points that he deserves this weekend.'

‘Driver Daniel Ricciardo was robbed of a points result’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ren-error.html


Daniel Ricciardo reveals Oscar Piastri’s manager apologised to him
Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the year.
9 September 2022
by James Clifford

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo showed his class by speaking to Mark Webber and Oscar Piastri recently, assuring his compatriots that there are no hard feelings. The 33-year-old has not had an easy time of it since he joined the British side last year, and he has often struggled to find common ground with a stubborn car.

‘Oscar Piastri’s manager apologised to him’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/daniel-ri...ogised-to-him/


Ricciardo offers thoughts on 2023 plans
14/09/2022, ‎17‎:‎00
Author Michael Butterworth
Co-author Dieter Rencken

A difficult 2022 for Ricciardo has resulted in McLaren cancelling his contract one year earlier than planned, in order to replace the Australian with compatriot Oscar Piastri for 2023. Ricciardo had previously stated his intention to remain on the F1 grid in 2023, but possible openings at teams such as Alpine, Haas and Williams seem destined for other drivers.

In recent days, Ricciardo intimated that he would settle for a role as a third driver for 2023 with a view towards returning to a race seat in the future, and speaking after the Italian Grand Prix, the Australian said he was ready to consider an enforced sabbatical next year. "I've certainly accepted if I'm not to be on the grid next year, I'm okay with that," Ricciardo told media including RacingNews365.com.

"I've accepted that I'm not going to do everything, or my [management] team is not going to do everything just to put me on the grid if it's not right, or it doesn't make sense. If I am on the grid, I want to know that it's a place that I can enjoy and feel that like I can thrive in, so I don't want to just jump into a car for the sake of it."

‘Ricciardo offers thoughts on 2023 plans’;

https://racingnews365.com/ricciardo-...-on-2023-plans

George Russell: Mercedes W13 sidepods not the performance differentiator.
George Russell says that the sidepods are not the main influencer of performance for Mercedes’ inconsistent W13.
Tuesday 13th September 2022 8:15 AM
Jamie Woodhouse

Their W13 has shown flashes of leading performance, Russell taking his first career pole in Hungary, while Lewis Hamilton was in contention to win the Dutch Grand Prix, but, as the Belgian and Italian rounds showed either side of those GPs, the W13 is not yet capable of competing against Red Bull and Ferrari at the front on a consistent basis.

Mercedes went down a very different route with the design of their 2022 car, most striking were the narrow sidepods, commonly referred to as a ‘zero-pod’ concept. The Silver Arrows must decide whether they wish to stick with this concept for 2023.

Put to him by Sky Sports F1 that the W13 seems to be a real “Jekyll and Hyde” car, Russell replied: “Yeah, I think we understand exactly why at circuits like Zandvoort and Budapest, why we were competitive, and we understand why on circuits like this [Monza] and Spa we were uncompetitive.

‘W13 Jekyll And Hyde Car’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george...-not-to-blame/


Mercedes expect 'difficult' races to come despite better W13 understanding
08 September 2022
Ben Issatt

Mercedes admits more "difficult" weekends are to be expected despite a better understanding of their 2022 car. After overcoming the porpoising and bouncing problems that dominated the first half of this season, the Brackley-based team is still trying to more consistently find the sweet spot of the W13 on all kinds of circuits.

In Zandvoort, Mercedes did just that and was firmly in the battle for victory, but Wolff concedes there will be races where that won't be the case. “Our performance is fundamentally ingrained in the car concept as it is, but we are now understanding better how everything interacts,” said team boss Toto Wolff via Motorsport.com.

“I think we can tune the car more precisely to fit and to target the performance window. Having said that, there will be races that are better for us and there might be some on the calendar that will be very difficult. So you need to stay realistic in my opinion. We won’t be fighting for pole positions on all the other race tracks, but at least we need to really get us back to this point for next year."

‘Tuning the car more precisely to fit and to target the performance window’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula...-understanding


Martin Brundle makes Lewis Hamilton observation at Italian Grand Prix
LEWIS HAMILTON recovered from a back of the grid start to finish P5 at the Italian Grand Prix.
11:47, Wed, Sep 14, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth

Lewis Hamilton “didn’t look impressed” after the Italian Grand Prix despite a comeback drive from P19, reckons Sky Sports' Martin Brundle. Hamilton was forced to start at the back after Mercedes fitted him with a new power unit ahead of the weekend.

However, the seven-time champion slicked through the field to secure good points for the Silver Arrows. But, Sky Sports host Brundle has stressed the Briton was not too happy moments after the chequered flag.

Writing in his column, Brundle said: “Lewis Hamilton was less spectacular in his progress but nonetheless finished a fine fifth from 19th on the grid, although he didn't look that impressed as he walked through parc ferme as I waited to interview the top three.” Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate, George Russell, secured his seventh podium of the season with P3.

‘Lewis Hamilton didn’t look impressed’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...d-prix-f1-news


Valtteri Bottas fires jibe at Toto Wolff
Valtteri Bottas signed with Alfa Romeo for the start of the 2022 season.
14 September 2022
by James Clifford

Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas feels that he can “trust” his current employers more than he could Mercedes.

Bottas was put straight up against Sir Lewis Hamilton, and he won three races in 2017… The now 33-year-old was unfortunate not to win a grand prix in 2018… Two more one-year arrangements would follow after 2021, but the lack of job security at the Brackley-based squad became too much of a burden on Bottas’ shoulders, so he had to leave.

He landed in Switzerland with Alfa Romeo, and they gave him a contract until the end of next season, so he feels as though he can relax his shoulders and race without anything hanging over his head. “I can work here without feeling any negative pressure,” Bottas told Auto Bild. “I only ever had a one-year contract so I never knew if I would be continuing or not, that sucked.”

‘Lack of job security too much of a burden on Bottas’ shoulders’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/valtteri-...at-toto-wolff/


George Russell admits Ferrari pace at Monza caught Mercedes by surprise
Tuesday 13th September 2022 8:00 PM
Henry Valantine

George Russell has spoken of the “goose bumps” he felt on the podium at Monza – where Ferrari’s surprising pace stopped him from standing higher on the rostrum. He soaked up the atmosphere after the race but said it was far from the strongest weekend Mercedes have had this season.

“Certainly standing on the podium at Monza is a really special feeling and I’d say [part of] a driver’s bucket list is to be standing on the top step at Monza, [it] would be really special,” Russell told Sky Sports F1 after the race.

“It kind of gave me goose bumps up there, but the race was pretty uneventful. Definitely wasn’t our strongest race of the season by far, car wasn’t feeling great. We lost quite a bit of performance since FP1 on Friday and we don’t really know why. But I think the biggest thing was the pace of Ferrari surprised us.”

‘Ferrari pace at Monza caught Mercedes by surprise’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george...onza-surprise/


Wolff says it’s ‘all to play for’ as Mercedes target second-placed Ferrari in the championship
13 September 2022
Formula 1.

Toto Wolff is hopeful that Mercedes can push Ferrari for the runner-up spot in the 2022 constructors’ standings after “maximising” their Italian Grand Prix points haul “on a track that doesn’t suit us”.

On race day, however, Russell capitalised on a host of grid penalties to convert a front-row start into another podium finish, while Hamilton fought his way through the field from P19 to claim fifth – adding important points to Mercedes’s tally.

Having recovered plenty of lost ground after their early-season struggles, and with six races left to run, Mercedes are just 35 points down on second-placed Ferrari in the constructors’ standings. With tracks coming up that should be better suited to their W13, Wolff is excited to see whether his team can overhaul the Scuderia during the final stages of the season.

‘All To Play For’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...heAWpC4aW.html


Ferrari Fail To Win at Monza, at Least They Extend Lead Over Mercedes
11 Sep 2022, 15:37 UTC ·
by Bogdan Bebeselea

Ferrari had many ups and downs this season, but there is one race where all their sins could have been forgiven. There is one win that would have wiped the slate clean and taken some pressure off both the drivers and team principal Mattia Binotto. However, the taste it left was bittersweet. Instead of bringing the Tifosi some much-needed hope, they gave up another race win to Red Bull.

Ferrari is surely out of the fight by now. But there is still the matter of second place in the Constructors Championship. While it is by no means a crown, it is a consolation prize. One that comes with a lot of money, too. Considering how poorly the season went after their promising start, the fact that they at least managed to get some more points over Mercedes is the small victory they need right now.

‘The matter of second place in the Constructors Championship. While it is by no means a crown, it is a consolation prize’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/f...es-198345.html

Guenther Steiner admits Mick Schumacher’s weakness as Haas mull replacements.
“To be honest, we don’t know if Mick will stay or not. He delivered very good races in Canada, England and Austria, but he lacks the consistency to perform well. We’re in no hurry on the driver issue and Mick still has chances to show what he can do.”
14 September 2022
by James Clifford

Mick Schumacher is out of contract with Haas at the end of 2022. Schumacher has also been linked with the vacant seat at Alpine after Fernando Alonso signed with Aston Martin, while Oscar Piastri agreed to join McLaren in 2023.

Schumacher’s performances of late have given a sense of optimism that he may remain on the grid next season, but as it stands, he is out of contract at the end of this year.

There has been no guarantee from Haas that they will retain the former F2 champion, and there are also rumours that he will be splitting with Ferrari at the end of the year.

‘Lacks the consistency to perform well’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/guenther-...-replacements/


Are Schumacher’s days in Formula 1 numbered?
14 September, 2022
NewsDesk

Reports suggest that Mick Schumacher may have just six races to save his Formula 1 career, however, his future is yet to be decided by Ferrari according to Mattia Binotto despite a number of drivers being linked with the Haas seat.

While media have all but written off Schumacher’s chances of remaining on the grid, Binotto has not pulled the plug yet: “With Mick, as we said at the start of the season, it’s important for Mick this season to improve. “We will in a few races sit down with him, make a balance of the season, and we’ll do that as well together with Haas and decide for his best future.”

Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi replaced Schumacher in the car for Friday’s first practice at Monza and has been linked as his full-time replacement at Haas next year, while others in the frame for the drive include F1 veteran Nico Hulkenberg who is emerging as a favourite.

‘Formula 1 Days Numbered!’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/09...la-1-numbered/


Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher not included as three drivers to have Alpine trial
ALPINE are selecting their new driver after Oscar Piastri left the team for McLaren.
14:54, Wed, Sep 14, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth

Neither Mick Schumacher or Sebastian Vettel will fight it out for Alpine’s 2023 seat in a special test but Nyck de Vries is expected to take part. It is understood Vettel did hold talks with Alpine over a possible 2023 race seat.

Schumacher is battling for his F1 future amid rumours Haas could replace him at the end of the season, but Express Sport understands despite reports, he will not test with Alpine. Meanwhile, De Vries starred in his F1 debut with Williams at the Italian Grand Prix and is one of several drivers competing for the seat.

Rossi also admitted Alpine wanted to make “the right decision” over their driver line-up and stressed there was “no hurry”. Pierre Gasly and Daniel Ricciardo have also been talked about in relation to the Alpine drive but are not expected to take part in the test.

‘Mick Schumacher not included in Alpine test’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...r-alpine-drive


Mattia Binotto gives Mick Schumacher deadline as Ferrari to decide if Haas will sack him
Mick Schumacher is without a contract for the 2023 season, and Mattia Binotto has given the German racer a deadline.
14 September 2022
by Nick Golding

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto discussed Schumacher’s future following the Italian GP, where he explained that “hopefully” an option for the German would be made possible with Haas.

“It was another unfortunate weekend for Mick, he had problems with the car and couldn’t drive much before qualifying, which is why he had to start from the back,” Binotto told Sky Germany. “We still have a few races, then we’ll sit down with Haas and hopefully find the best decision for him and his future.”

The American team clearly feels like they have all the cards in their hands, which is arguably the truth. The vacant Haas seat is one of the final seats to be filled for 2023, with four drivers having all been linked to it.

‘Mick Schumacher deadline’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/mattia-bi...will-sack-him/


BINOTTO HINTS FERRARI TEST DRIVER COULD RACE IN SCHUMACHER’S F1 SEAT
17:10 Tue, 13 Sep 2022.
Abby Bathurst
FormulaNerds

Speculation around Mick Schumacher's future in F1 has risen and Mattia Binotto has revealed a driver who could possibly be in the Haas seat for 2023. However, while the speculation increases around Schumacher’s future, Binotto has hinted at a potential replacement for the American team.

Could this driver be a successor to Schumacher’s seat at Haas? Robert Schwartzman is the current test driver for Scuderia Ferrari. He finished the 2021 F2 championship in second, behind Oscar Piastri by 60 points.

Schwartzman was a part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, much like Schumacher, but didn’t get an F1 seat after leaving F2. Instead, he has supported Ferrari in a testing capacity, not racing competitively.

‘Robert Schwartzman is the current test driver for Scuderia Ferrari’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/bi.../?nowprocket=1


Guenther Steiner admits Haas could replace Mick Schumacher with Nico Hulkenberg
Haas are yet to announce who will partner Kevin Magnussen in 2023.
13 September 2022
by Nick Golding

Times are tough at Haas at the moment, as the team have taken a turn for the worse ever since they introduced their only upgrade of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the American side currently occupying seventh in the Constructors’ Championship by one point.

The team aren’t appearing to be in a hurry to announce Magnussen’s team-mate for next season, with team principal Guenther Steiner revealing that the team are considering “everybody with a superlicence. Everybody with a superlicence is on the list,” Steiner said.

‘Guenther Steiner admits Haas could replace Mick Schumacher’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/guenther-...co-hulkenberg/

‘Every team’ interested in signing Nyck de Vries for 2023.
Former Formula 1 driver, Timo Glock, reckons that Nyck de Vries is now “clearly” in the mix for a seat on the grid in 2023.
14 September 2022
by James Clifford

Nyck de Vries has joined the extensive list of drivers looking for a seat next season. “In my opinion, it is relatively clear what this means for the driver market,” Glock wrote in his column for Sky Germany. “He has been one of the candidates all along, but of course he has brought himself even more clearly into the conversation with such an appearance as at the weekend.”

“He will definitely appear on the list for every team now, I’m also sure we’ll see him in one of the cars next year. For Mick Schumacher, this means there is another competitor for the remaining cockpits,” added Glock.

“Of course, that doesn’t make it any easier for him. In my opinion, however, he also – perhaps a little more under the radar – also performed greatly. With 16 laps all weekend [in practice] and the many problems he had, to move up to 12th place with a car that didn’t have speed at Monza is really a good performance. And he also had a clear grip on his team-mate.”

‘Every team’ interested in signing Nyck de Vries’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/every-tea...ries-for-2023/


Palmer: Multiple F1 teams will look to sign De Vries
Ex-Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes that multiple Formula 1 teams will be chasing Nyck de Vries following his impressive debut last weekend at Monza.

by Fergal Walsh

“Alex Albon has been putting in stellar drives all season at Williams and de Vries’ Monza effort was Albon-esque in its delivery,” Palmer wrote in a column for Formula1.com. “Relatively understated, but by plugging away the result turned up at the end, made all the more impressive by it being a debut.”

“Surely for Williams now, the prospect of having two potential point scorers will be too appealing to turn down for 2023. But it won’t just be them that are keen on de Vries’ signature now. The rise in fortunes for the former F2 champion couldn’t have been clearer after a wonderful cameo which showcased his ability. Any reserve driver outing is an opportunity, and Nyck de Vries grabbed it with both hands in Monza.”

‘Multiple F1 teams will look to sign De Vries’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...sign-de-vries/


Lauda would have 'taken hat off' for de Vries debut - Wolff
Wednesday 14 September 2022 04:00
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
GPFans

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has provided a glowing appraisal of Nyck de Vries' F1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix and insisted triple world champion Niki Lauda "would have taken his hat off", such was the quality of the performance. Assessing his performance, Wolff said: “I like him. He is just a good young man.

“He’s not only fast and has shown that in the junior categories, but he is also intelligent and a good team player, that is why he deserved it here. I don’t think that anyone else could have possibly done a better job in what he did. You are in an Aston Martin, you are driving around with a rake and then you are being drafted in at the last minute in a different car, you are beating your team-mate by quite a margin, you are starting eighth and you finish ninth.”

Lauda passed away in 2019 having held the position of Mercedes non-executive chairman, with his legacy continuing with the team. Suggesting the Austrian would have been thoroughly impressed with de Vries' effort, Wolff added: "Niki would have taken his hat off as a driver.”

‘Triple world champion Niki Lauda "would have taken his hat off",’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/91...lauda-tribute/


Damon Hill issues brutal Nicholas Latifi verdict as Nyck de Vries stars at Italian GP
Nyck de Vries was one of the stars of the Italian Grand Prix, finishing ninth for Williams having only been called up as Alex Albon’s replacement on Saturday morning
18:16, 11 SEP 2022
BY Mark Whiley

As the Sky Sports F1 team discussed De Vries’s performance, presenter Simon Lazenby expressed his sympathy for Latifi, but former world champion Damon Hill, a former Williams driver, was having none of it.

“I’m sorry but this is the way it is,” he said bluntly. “In this case, Nicholas hasn’t got the pace that he needs to stay in that position in Formula 1. He’s had some good moments but along comes a guy who’s not even driven in the Grand Prix before, and he’s done a fantastic job.”

“I know he [De Vries] had grid penalties and stuff like that, which helped him up the grid, but he still delivered in qualifying and didn’t really make a mistake. He’s done enough for us to be talking about him, he’s got Toto [Wolff] talking about him. That’s what you need to be doing to be a Formula 1 driver.”

‘Damon Hill issues brutal Nicholas Latifi verdict’;

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...-hill-27964564


Martin Brundle: Nyck de Vries has debunked a ‘fickle’ theory about F1
Wednesday 14th September 2022 10:45 AM
Jon Wilde

Martin Brundle believes Nyck de Vries’ impressive debut at Monza has given the lie to a theory that future F1 talents are in short supply. And not only did the Dutchman outperform his beleaguered temporary team-mate Nicholas Latifi, he also added 50% to Williams’ prior total of World Championship points for the season by finishing an excellent ninth.

Brundle, writing in his post-race column for Sky Sports, says he has heard suggestions there is a lack of depth among the youngsters currently pushing to get to Formula 1. “Nyck de Vries did an outstanding job stepping in on Saturday at Williams for Alex Albon, who needed his appendix removed in a procedure which ended up with a few complications,” said Brundle, referring to the London-born Thai driver having to be taken to intensive care due to respiratory problems. “Hopefully he will be fit soon.”

“De Vries qualified well, started eighth after penalties had been applied, stayed out of trouble and ran with the likes of Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly all race to seal ninth and two World Championship points on his debut. And the fans’ Driver of the Day. That will surely have sealed a seat for him somewhere next year.”

‘The fans’ Driver of the Day’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/martin...fickle-theory/


‘No doubt’: George Russell’s honest assessment of Nyck de Vries F1 debut
Nyck de Vries scored points on his debut at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend.
14 September 2022
by James Clifford

Mercedes’ George Russell has offered his congratulations to Nyck de Vries for the way he performed during the Italian Grand Prix last weekend. The 24-year-old reckons it was harder for de Vries as, unlike Russell’s call-up while he was already at Williams, the former Mercedes EQ driver was not on the grid.

“I think it was probably tougher for him to be honest than it was for me because I was obviously a full-time race driver,” explained Russell in the post-race press conference. “Equally as well for him jumping from Aston Martin on Friday into a Williams, it’s a different car and the seating positions are different.”

“I remember when I was doing testing with Mercedes and Force India, and driving in F2, it took quite a few laps to get used to a different feeling of how those cars reacted. To score points on your debut in a Williams is pretty spectacular no doubt.” De Vries’ result lifts him up to 20th in the championship, ahead of Latifi, whose future next year is now under even more scrutiny.

‘To score points on your debut in a Williams is pretty spectacular no doubt’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/no-doubt-...ries-f1-debut/


Williams’ Dave Robson: “Nyck drove an excellent race today”
September 14, 2022
By Jamie Partis-Nelson

After an FIA Formula 1 World Championship debut at the Italian Grand Prix to remember for Nyck de Vries, Williams Racing’s Head of Vehicle Performance Dave Robson has heaped the praise on the Dutch driver stating that de Vries ‘drove an excellent race’ at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.

Dave Robson was left particularly delighted by how de Vries was able to turn in such an impressive performance given the short amount of time he had to prepare for the Grand Prix.

“Nyck drove an excellent race today and was able to defend when required as well as keeping constant pressure on the cars ahead. We gave him an ambitious strategy which would push his Soft and Medium tyres to the limit. The late safety car offered some protection in the final laps and also helped him manage a hot front brake disc.”

‘Williams Racing’s Head of Vehicle Performance Dave Robson has heaped the praise’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...oday%ef%bf%bc/

Hakkinen: Elkann comments 'only add more pressure' to Ferrari.
Mika Hakkinen believes the public comments made by Ferrari chairman John Elkann ahead of last weekend's Italian Grand Prix likely added more pressure to an already tense atmosphere at the Scuderia.
15/09/2022 at 14:48
Phillip van Osten

"Ferrari has always had a lot of pressure," Hakkinen wrote in his post-Italian Grand Prix Unibet column. "And it is something unique to them. "Of course, at McLaren we felt the pressure of competing to win, trying our best, not being satisfied if we were not winning.”

"But Ferrari has always had this additional pressure of being a kind of national team." Hakkinen believes therefore that Elkann's comments perhaps only served the purpose of piling on more pressure on a team in need of calm and composure to perform.

"There is always the feeling of extra pressure, and this cannot be easy on the management or drivers who need to keep working hard, pushing together and making sure they do not start to blame each other when things go wrong," he added.

‘Only Add More Pressure';

https://f1i.com/news/454492-hakkinen...o-ferrari.html


Hakkinen on pressure at Ferrari – 'It's a national team'.
Former World Champion Mika Hakkinen says there is an additional pressure involved in driving for Ferrari, likening it to an Italian national team.
14/09/2022, ‎07‎:‎55
Author Michael Butterworth

Hakkinen's comments come after Ferrari chairman John Elkann gave a rare interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, in which he said the F1 team was making too many mistakes and needed to improve.
"Ferrari has always had a lot of pressure, and it is something unique to them," Hakkinen wrote in his column for Unibet, also referencing his nine-year spell with McLaren, in which he won 20 Grands Prix and two World Championships.

"I think this season has been difficult because they started with a quick car, race wins and a lot of confidence, but Red Bull have operated so efficiently, making so few mistakes and improving the car."

'It's A National Team';

https://racingnews365.com/hakkinen-o...-national-team


Mattia Binotto admits he has no idea why Ferrari's performance has fallen behind Red Bull.
For all of Ferrari's reliability issues and strategy disasters this year, they still had a car capable of going toe-to-toe with Red Bull's machine – but that no longer seems to be the case.
18:05, 15 Sep 2022
By Daniel Moxon
F1 Writer

Ferrari have admitted they still need to figure out why they have lost pace compared to Red Bull as Max Verstappen continues to establish his dominance of this season.
Team principal Mattia Binotto has noticed the decline in performance since they raced in Budapest before the summer break, but admits his team is still unsure as to exactly why.

"I think we do not only look back at the previous two [races] but the last three because I would include as well Hungary," he said. "In the last races, I think that the performance of the Red Bull has been better than ours. Not in qualifying, because I see that in quali we have still got a good pace – so let me say the pure performance is still there.”

“But then with the race pace, we are suffering tyre degradation. In that respect, I think the Red Bull is a better car, so they've been capable of developing that car for a better balance that we didn't. The reason? I think it is something that we are looking at, because we need to address it. If not for this season, certainly for the next one.”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...notto-28002713


Jean Alesi wants Ferrari to provide Mattia Binotto with ‘reinforcements’
Wednesday 14th September 2022 11:30 AM
Jon Wilde

Jean Alesi has called for Ferrari to back up Mattia Binotto with “reinforcements” after another frustrating weekend at the Italian Grand Prix. The Frenchman praised Binotto for not pointing the finger at those who report to him, such as the strategists whose mistakes have been under the media microscope this year, just as Mercedes have guarded whoever was chiefly responsible for the design of their disappointing all-new W13 car.

“Honestly, I believed it. I thought Leclerc could win at Monza after that crazy lap in qualifying,” said Alesi in his columm for Corriere della Sera. “That was not the case and I have some friendly and affectionate thoughts to pass on to Mattia Binotto. I admire his righteousness. As a true leader, he protects his men. That’s the right attitude, always. Nobody, for example, knows the name of the designer who chose the wrong path at Mercedes, just as anyone who makes a mistake under pressure during a race must be protected.”

“As a fan, I am also convinced Binotto can seek, without fuss, some reinforcements for the future. On the strategy front, where a more aggressive approach would perhaps be useful; on the quicker understanding of set-ups, something Red Bull seem to be doing more readily. I’m not talking about revolutions but about consolidation on some decisive aspects to counter first-rate adversaries.”

‘Provide Mattia Binotto With Reinforcements’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jean-a...einforcements/


Flavio Briatore: Incredible how Ferrari manage to mess it up in every race
Wednesday 14th September 2022 10:00 AM
Michelle Foster

Flavio Briatore has had a go at Ferrari for messing up their Italian Grand Prix strategy – but Christian Horner says he understands the timing of Charles Leclerc’s first pit-stop. Former Renault team boss Briatore has billed it as just another Ferrari mistake. “It’s incredible how Ferrari manage to mess it up in every race,” he told F1-Insider.com.

Binotto, though, defended Ferrari’s strategy, telling Auto Motor und Sport they knew their F1-75 did not have the pace to win and so rolled the dice. “The Red Bull was the faster car,” said the Italian. “If we had gone up against him with the same strategy, we would never have beaten him.”

“Two stops were basically not wrong because you never know what will happen later in the race. “For us, playing poker was without risk.” Told of Binotto’s comment, Briatore replied: “Incredible!”

‘Flavio Briatore: Incredible’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/flavio...-ferrari-mess/


Laurent Mekies: United Ferrari accepting setbacks ‘with a smile’
Thursday 15th September 2022 3:30 PM
Thomas Maher

Ferrari’s sporting director Laurent Mekies says his team are conscious of errors made in 2022, but are accepting them as part of a strengthening process. Mekies believes that Ferrari’s significant step forward in 2022 proves the team are on the right path, and are now uncovering the weaknesses that have stopped them from challenging more strongly for the titles.

Speaking to Channel 4 at the Italian Grand Prix, Mekies said a diligent approach is being taken by the Scuderia. “If you look at Sundays, we’ve had a few races where we didn’t have the right pace, but it was not the majority of them,” he said.

“We have had a few reliability issues, and we have made a few mistakes. If you add all of that, it’s simply telling us that we’ve made great steps forward this year with a faster car, but we need more work to do to be stronger all around and that’s what we are working on.”

‘Accepting Setbacks With A Smile’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lauren...etbacks-smile/


Ferrari upgrades coming for Singapore with more planned for later – report
Thursday 15th September 2022 6:02 AM
Jamie Woodhouse

Apparently rejuvenated by their Monza display, Ferrari are now reportedly planning two further 2022 upgrades, the first coming for Singapore. Ferrari now find their title challenge in 2022 effectively over, with the chance that their hopes of a first Drivers’ title since 2007 could be dashed as early as Singapore.

While Verstappen did win the race, by a margin that would have been comfortable without a Safety Car to conclude proceedings, Ferrari were certainly far more competitive than at Spa, having claimed pole via Charles Leclerc on the Saturday. So, according to the Italian branch of Motorsport.com, this has given Ferrari a spark which was needed to lift the mood at Maranello as they continue to put resources into the 2022 campaign.

They (Italian branch of Motorsport.com) report that for Singapore an upgrade to the floor and the wings will be introduced, with the Singapore Grand Prix “seen as a great opportunity” to end Verstappen’s winning streak at five as Formula 1 action returns to the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the first time since 2019. The report mentions Mexico as the venue where this second upgrade could be introduced, which would give Ferrari three races with its services. “The season is not over and we will continue to fight for victory,” said team principal Mattia Binotto, adding that the 2023 Ferrari “is coming along nicely”.

‘Ferrari Upgrades Coming’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrar...grades-report/

Alpine A522 set for ‘massive step of downforce’ in Singapore.
Alpine says its A522 contender will benefit from a new floor and a “massive step of downforce” at F1’s next race in Singapore.
15/09/2022 at 17:24
Michael Delaney

The update will be a timely development for the Enstone squad who heads into the final stretch of the season just 18 points ahead of McLaren as the two teams battle for fourth in the Constructors’ standings. Alpine sporting director Alan Permane insists his team’s low-key performance at the Temple of Speed was a one-off, insisting the French outfit will be back where it belongs in the pecking order in Singapore.

“For sure, 100% it's an outlier," commented Permane. "We've got a new floor coming for Singapore, which has got a massive step of downforce. We'll be back where we should be, and we're really looking forward to there and especially Suzuka with this car. It's going to be fun."

Permane admitted however that he was somewhat caught out by Alpine’s relative performance at Monza, a pace deficit that still requires a few answers. “We didn't expect to struggle,” he said. “I thought we would be okay. We ran absolutely fine on Friday and that's the tricky thing, that's what we don't understand.”

‘Alpine A522 set for massive step of downforce’;

https://f1i.com/news/454502-alpine-a...singapore.html


F1 podcast: Alpine’s 2023 options + what its test will achieve
18:32 Thu, 15 Sep 2022.
The Race

Who should Alpine sign to partner Esteban Ocon in the 2023 Formula 1 season? That’s a question we answer in the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast. Ben Anderson and Scott Mitchell-Malm join Edd Straw to run through Alpine’s very lengthy shortlist, and the significance of the upcoming test using a 2021 car at the Hungaroring.

While Pierre Gasly is the team’s first choice for the drive – or rather, it’s third first choice after losing out on Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri – there are a plethora of other candidates. We also explain why Colton Herta has a part to play in deciding Alpine’s driver line-up, even though his anticipated test outing for the Enstone team doesn’t mean he is a contender for the seat.

‘Alpine’s 2023 options’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/f1-po...-will-achieve/


Alpine earmarks four drivers for private F1 test in Hungary
15/09/2022 at 10:53
Michael Delaney

Alpine has reportedly earmarked four drivers for an upcoming private Formula 1 test that is scheduled to take place at the Hungaroring.

It was reported earlier this week that Colton Herta was in line for the outing that will take place as part of F1's Testing of Previous Cars provision, meaning drivers will be entrusted with a 2021-spec Alpine A521 car. In addition to Herta, Alpine junior Jack Doohan will be in action in Hungary as well as Nyck de Vries and Antonio Giovinazzi.

Save for Herta, who is hopeful of racing with AlphaTauri next season if the American is granted a superlicence exemption by the FIA, all drivers taking part in the test are considered as candidates to fill the seat that will be vacated at Alpine by Fernando Alonso at the end of the season.

‘Alpine earmarks four drivers for private F1 test’;

https://f1i.com/news/454472-alpine-e...n-hungary.html


Four drivers set for Alpine shootout — but will any get the 2023 F1 seat?
Only three F1 seats remain realistically open for 2023. As Alpine prepares to host a four-driver test, Adam Cooper reveals that there's still a lot more going on behind the scenes
September 15th 2022
F1 Author: Adam Cooper

If not Gasly at Alpine, then who? Gasly is still at the top of Alpine’s list, and it’s been made clear that any past personal rivalry between the 2020 Italian GP winner and potential future team mate Esteban Ocon will have to be overcome, should be get the drive.

Alpine has made it clear that it is in no hurry to make a decision, and thus in effect it can wait for the Gasly situation to play out. The risk is that in waiting it might lose other potential candidates. One solution is already onboard. Alpine might have lost Piastri, but it still has Jack Doohan, whose stock has been rising recently. Alpine has made its open-minded position clear by inviting Nyck de Vries and Antonio Giovinazzi to join the young Australian and Herta at the Budapest test.

De Vries raised his stock with his brilliant drive to ninth at Monza with Williams, and some would argue that Alpine should have signed him there and then. It remains to be seen whether someone else does take him even before the Alpine test can happen. Schumacher cannot be completely ruled out at Alpine, while Daniel Ricciardo should be an obvious candidate, but his name is not being mentioned.

‘Four drivers set for Alpine shootout’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...-2023-f1-seat#


Fernando Alonso wanted ‘longer’ deal at Alpine, but to them it ‘didn’t make sense’
Friday 16th September 2022 7:45 AM
Henry Valantine

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi has said offering Fernando Alonso a longer contract “didn’t make sense” given the deal they had with Oscar Piastri. “We wanted him (Alonso) to continue with us as an endurance and/or Dakar Rally driver,” Rossi told Formula1.com’s Lawrence Barretto.

“We spoke about it at length last year. Why did we only offer him two years? We only had two years of option with Oscar. “Fernando had a desire to drive longer in F1, which we couldn’t match or we would have lost Oscar. It didn’t make sense for us.”

“More than likely, we couldn’t match other conditions that were offered too. So with Fernando, we would have loved to continue. He’s an amazing champion, he will remain a legend of our brand – but it didn’t work and that’s life.”

‘Longer Deal At Alpine Didn’t Make Sense’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...deal-no-sense/


‘One of the hires I’m most proud of’ – Alpine CEO on Szafnauer
14:59 Thu, 15 Sep 2022.
By Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi rates team principal Otmar Szafnauer as “one of the hires I’m most proud of” and says he is doing an “excellent job” despite the losses of Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri. Szafnauer joined Alpine ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 season beginning, having left Aston Martin over the winter.

He has been the face of the team in the wake of Alonso agreeing a deal to join Aston Martin when Alpine thought the two-time world champion was set to sign a new contract, and Alpine’s long-term hope Piastri signing for McLaren instead. Alonso’s previous contractual dealings had been with Rossi, and Szafnauer said recently he only got involved from July’s French Grand Prix onwards.

“Otmar is, by the way, one of the hires I’m most proud of, because he’s delivering every day since he arrived,” said Rossi. “On topics like that [driver contracts] we stay close. So we knew all of the developments. We would agree sometimes on maximums, limits, boundaries. Because, of course, we need to be aligned, and I need to know. But there was no real disconnection between us.”

‘One of the hires I’m most proud of’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/one-o...-on-szafnauer/

Zak Brown on Oscar Piastri legal battle: ‘We kept our mouths shut deliberately’
Oscar Piastri will line up alongside Lando Norris at McLaren in 2023.
14 September 2022
by Nick Golding

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has spoken out about winning the Oscar Piastri saga, for the first time since the FIA’s Contract Recognition Board concluded that the Australian was legally allowed to race for the Woking-based team next season.

Piastri is, of course, Alpine’s reserve driver and has been a profound part of their driver academy. Following Fernando Alonso’s announcement after the Hungarian Grand Prix that he’d be leaving Alpine and joining Aston Martin, the Enstone-based team released a statement of their own announcing Piastri as his replacement.

Whilst Piastri was being congratulated on social media, the 21-year-old quickly turned the situation incredibly ugly by releasing his own jaw-dropping statement. The Aussie announced that he hadn’t agreed to race for Alpine in 2023 and wouldn’t be doing so either. It soon came to light that he’d signed a contract with McLaren to replace Daniel Ricciardo; however, Alpine insisted that Piastri was contracted to race alongside Esteban Ocon next season.

‘We kept our mouths shut deliberately’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/zak-brown...-deliberately/


Brown takes potshot at Szafnauer following Piastri furore.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer was left looking "a little silly" throughout the recent Oscar Piastri saga.
Thursday 15 September 2022 18:20
Ian Parkes

The upshot was that the Contract Recognition Board sided with McLaren, leaving all at Alpine red-faced in failing to sign up its reserve driver and in whom it had invested so much time and resources over the previous years.

Explaining McLaren's positioning in the lead-up to the CRB hearing, speaking to NBC Sports, Brown said: "It was very noisy", in contrast to his team opting not to 'comment on anything'. He added: "It was better just to let things play out and give a little bit of colour afterwards.”

‘McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer was left looking "a little silly"’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/91...mar-szafnauer/


Daniel Ricciardo breaks his silence to make it clear McLaren DID sack him - and insists he's not finished in F1 despite getting offer to make big switch to American racing
• Aussie F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo confirmed he won't be with McLaren in 2023
• Told Instagram followers news was 'bittersweet', is determined to keep racing
• Fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri in line to replace Ricciardo at McLaren next season
Published: 03:27, 25 August 2022
By Andrew Prentice For Daily Mail Australia

Dumped Aussie F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is adamant his days at the pinnacle of motor sport are not over as he made it clear McLaren made the decision to end his contract a year early.

Taking to Instagram, Ricciardo confirmed the worst-kept secret in the sport - and made it abundantly clear it was ultimately the team's decision, not his.

By saying 'the team has decided' the Aussie went against McLaren's statement that he and the team 'agreed to part ways mutually'.

'The Team Has Decided';

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...nished-F1.html


‘First I’ve heard’: McLaren signed Piastri despite publicly backing Ricciardo for 2023
September 3rd, 2022 12:54 pm
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports

Daniel Ricciardo says he didn’t know McLaren had already signed Oscar Piastri on a two-year deal on 4 July, a month before the team issued him notice that it intended to sack him for 2023.

Piastri’s contract with McLaren was validated by the FIA’s contract recognition board on Friday after Alpine claimed it still had rights to the young Australian, who is a member of its young driver academy.

The board’s statement revealed McLaren had lodged a contract covering the 2023 and 2024 seasons signed on 4 July, the Monday after the British Grand Prix.

‘McLaren signed Piastri despite publicly backing Ricciardo for 2023’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...4addc4e86ccaaf


Ricciardo "not aware" Piastri had signed McLaren 2023 deal
‎03‎ ‎September‎ ‎07‎:‎00
Author Jake Nichol

The CRB ruled that McLaren had rights on Piastri for 2023, but Ricciardo says he wasn't aware of the deal. Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he wasn't aware McLaren had signed a deal with Oscar Piastri to replace him in Formula 1 next season.

The Woking squad were rumoured to have signed Alpine junior Piastri to replace his fellow Australian, but remained tight-lipped as the case went through the FIA's Contract Recognition Board.

The CRB ruled on Friday that McLaren does have a legally binding deal with Piastri - hence he will partner Norris in 2023. However, speaking at Zandvoort following a strong day in Friday practice for the Dutch Grand Prix, Ricciardo admitted he was not aware of any deal.

‘Ricciardo "not aware" Piastri had signed McLaren 2023 deal’;

https://racingnews365.com/ricciardo-...aren-2023-deal


Did McLaren manipulate and lie to Daniel Ricciardo?
Oscar Piastri will partner Lando Norris at McLaren next season.
3 September 2022
by James Clifford

Interestingly though, the contract recognition board (CRB), who checked Piastri’s contract with McLaren and found it to be legal, stated that it had been signed on 4 July. This is where things are even more confusing, because Ricciardo, after his employers had already signed another driver, put out a statement out nine days after Piastri’s signature stating that he was committed to staying until the end of his contract next year.

McLaren team principal, Andreas Seidl, has since insisted that the 33-year-old was told of the decision at the time, leading to questions as to why he would put out a statement revealing that he was staying if he knew that he was not.

The German called himself “transparent” at this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, indicating that nothing underhanded had taken place. Intentional or not, the situation is cruel on Ricciardo who, at best, was accidentally misled, and at worst, was directly lied to about his future.

‘Did McLaren manipulate and lie to Daniel Ricciardo?’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/did-mclar...iel-ricciardo/


“If I’m not on the grid next year, I’m okay with that” – Ricciardo
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on 15th September 2022, 0:01
Written by Keith Collantine

“I’ve certainly accepted, if I’m not to be on the grid next year, I’m okay with that,” said Ricciardo following Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix. “So I’ve accepted that I’m not going to do everything, or my [management] team’s not going to do everything just to put me on the grid if it’s not right or it doesn’t make sense.

“Obviously this year’s been challenging and if I am on the grid, I want to know that it’s a place that I can enjoy it and feel like I can thrive. An environment I feel I can thrive in. I don’t want to just jump into a car for the sake of it.”

Last year’s Italian Grand Prix winner retired from Sunday’s race while running in eighth place, having started fourth. “Days like this certainly are pretty frustrating,” he admitted. “But give it 24, 48 hours and I’ll get over it and try to understand what’s best for next year. Not in an overconfident or cocky way, but it’s not meant to be, then I’m totally okay with that. I’m not going to be too proud. We haven’t certainly given up on it, but that’s kind of where my head’s at, at the moment.”

‘I want to know that it’s a place that I can enjoy it and feel like I can thrive’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/15/...nd-up-15-09-5/

Schumacher axed.
MICK SCHUMACHER is facing the sack from American team Haas, meaning the famous family name is unlikely to be on the Formula One grid next season.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2022.
JONATHAN MCEVOY
Mail+

‘Schumacher axed’;

https://www.mailplus.co.uk/edition/s...chumacher-axed


Haas are ready to SACK Mick Schumacher, son of legendary Ferrari driver and seven-time world champion Michael, with Nico Hulkenberg identified as No 1 replacement target.
Sportsmail understands Haas have already deemed him surplus to requirements.
Mick Schumacher is set to be sacked by Haas as they eye Nico Hulkenberg
It means the iconic racing name of the Schumacher family is set to not be on grid.
Published: 22:30, 16 September 2022
By Jonathan McEvoy for the Daily Mail

Sportsmail understands Hass boss Gunther Steiner has already decided that Schumacher, the 23-year-old son of legendary seven-time world champion Michael, is surplus to requirements.

Haas have instead installed Nico Hulkenberg, Schumacher's 35-year-old compatriot, as their No 1 target after he impressed as a Covid super-sub, scoring in two of his four appearances for Racing Point/Aston Martin when he filled in for corona-stricken drivers.

Hulkenberg brings the experience of 181 starts mostly racked up before he left Renault in 2019. He also enjoys a good relationship with Steiner. As for Schumacher, he has scored just twice - in Britain and Austria this year after a crash-strewn early season - since making his Formula One debut in 2021.

‘Sportsmail understands Haas have already deemed him surplus to requirements’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...al-season.html


Nico Hulkenberg close to replacing Mick Schumacher at Haas
Nico Hulkenberg has made five appearances since he left Renault in 2019.
16 September 2022
by James Clifford

Reports linking Nico Hulkenberg to the currently vacant Haas seat next year have strengthened in recent days. Mick Schumacher is out of contract at the end of the year as it stands. The German struggled to put points on the board in the opening nine rounds, and crashes in Jeddah and Monaco did not help with that.

His Italian boss seemed particularly disgruntled after the latter, but the 23-year-old has found his feet since then. Schumacher deserved points at the Canadian Grand Prix before a reliability failure put pay to his chances, but he would manage his first championship points in Silverstone two weeks later.

‘Reports linking Nico Hulkenberg to vacant Haas seat, strengthened in recent days’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/nico-hulk...acher-at-haas/


Nico Hulkenberg in the mix to join Haas for 2023
Published: 16 Sep 2022, 09:17
By George Dagless

Nico Hulkenberg is said to be firmly in the mix for the vacant Haas seat next year, with him the potential replacement for Mick Schumacher.

Haas have one drive available for 2023 as things stand, with Kevin Magnussen already committed to another year after an impressive return to Formula 1 this season.

Indeed, it’s Mick Schumacher that is currently on the other side of the garage but the German’s future with the team and even in terms of on the grid is still in doubt, with several other names being linked with replacing him at Haas.

‘Nico Hulkenberg in the mix to join Haas’;

https://www.givemesport.com/88060319...-haas-for-2023


Hulkenberg closes on Haas deal
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
GrandPrix.Com

Gene Haas’ dislike for having rookies driving for him is playing right into Nico Hulkenberg’s hands, according to Team Haas insiders. Haas re-hired Kevin Magnussen and the Dane’s results against Mick Schumacher, especially at the start of the season, reinforced his conviction that he’s much better off working with veterans.

With Mick Schumacher on his way out of the Ferrari Driver Academy and unsure if he wants to remain with Haas, feeling the team is now biased towards Magnussen and resenting Gunther Steiner’s public criticism, Haas told the Austro-Italian he wants a veteran alongside Magnussen and has set his sight on Nico Hulkenberg…

‘Much Better Off Working With Veterans’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/hulke...haas-deal.html


Mick Schumacher urged to leave Haas and make ideal career move amid Ferrari exit links.
EXCLUSIVE: Karun Chandhok has weighed in on the long-term future of Mick Schumacher in the F1 paddock.
12:23, Sun, Sep 11, 2022
By Archie Griggs

Mick Schumacher would be the perfect driver to replace Nicholas Latifi at Williams if he leaves Haas and cuts ties with Ferrari's junior programme at the end of this year, according to ex-F1 driver Karun Chandhok.

"He’s come on a bit, at the start of the year he was being beaten by Kevin Magnussen, but in recent races he’s stepped up a notch," Chandhok exclusively told Express Sport when quizzed on what the future may hold for Schumacher.

"At Zandvoort his qualifying was really good. I wonder if a team like Williams for example, if they are looking to replace Nicholas Latifi, then he could be a good fit there. He’s got a couple years of experience and they’ve got Alex Albon there, who is a good lead driver.”

‘Mick Schumacher would be the perfect driver to replace Nicholas Latifi at Williams’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...errari-F1-news


Long-time Kimi Raikkonen engineer to partner Kevin Magnussen permanently
Tuesday 13th September 2022 11:59 PM
Henry Valantine

Haas have confirmed they have brought in Mark Slade to partner Kevin Magnussen as his full-time engineer from the Singapore Grand Prix after a lengthy search.

Slade, who had worked at McLaren alongside Kimi Raikkonen, had most recently worked at ‘Team Enstone’ under their Lotus, Renault and Alpine guises for a decade until leaving at the end of last season, and has now taken on the role of guiding Magnussen through his race weekends with Haas.

Magnussen’s former engineer Ed Regan had been moved into an office role after confirming he will be leaving the team towards the end of the season, with Dominic Haines having taken on the role on an interim basis while Haas’ recruitment process took place, advising the Dane at Spa, Zandvoort and Monza.

‘Long-time Kimi Raikkonen engineer guiding Magnussen through his race weekends with Haas’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mark-s...haas-engineer/

Ross Brawn, Formula 1 Managing Director of Motorsport, who has been integral in the introduction of the new aero regulations is set to exit the sport in 2022, reports have claimed. hellodear.in

teatv download

DE VRIES AND MARKO ARE SAID TO HAVE “AGREED” ON DE VRIES GOING TO ALPHATAURI
Auto Hebdo have reported that Helmut Marko met with de Vries in Graz in Austria. According to their reports, the Red Bull advisor met with the Dutchman to discuss his move to AlphaTauri.
12:54, 17th Sept 2022.
Abby Bathurst
FormulaNerds

De Vries impressed the paddock whilst racing in Monza for Williams. Auto Hebdo stated that Marko and de Vries are said to have: “agreed on a move of [de Vries] to AlphaTauri next season, where he is expected to race alongside Yuki Tsunoda.”

This would be an interesting move for the Dutchman as he is currently the Mercedes Reserve Driver and has raced for Mercedes in Formula E. Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ Team Principal, said earlier this year that Mercedes “can’t really tell any team to look” at de Vries because it would “be felt as interference.”

De Vries also commented on his future after Monza, saying that getting on the Formula One grid is “out of [his] control”. But many thought he was likely to have secured his seat at Williams after out-performing Latifi. However, with the potential of a seat at AlphaTauri, de Vries’s future is now up for more speculation.

‘Agreed on a move of [de Vries] to AlphaTauri’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/de.../?nowprocket=1


Nyck de Vries set to be rewarded with Formula 1 seat as Alpha Tauri are ‘close’ to agreeing move for Italian Grand Prix debutant star, allowing Pierre Gasly to complete Alpine switch
17th September 2022, 4:45 pm
Connor Andrews

The 27-year-old decimated fellow Williams driver Nicholas Latifi in both qualifying and the race, and with only Albon signed for next season, the Canadian’s seat appeared to be in jeopardy.

De Vries outscored Latifi’s point tally for the season in just a single race, while his two points make up 33 per cent of Williams’ 2022 total in the constructors standings.

However, Williams’ inactivity in nailing down De Vries has been pounced upon by Alpha Tauri, with reports in the Netherlands claiming a deal is ‘close’ to completion. De Telegraph report that once current Alpha Tauri driver Pierre Gasly has sealed his move to Alpine, De Vries will step in as his replacement.

‘Nyck de Vries set to be rewarded with Formula 1 seat as Alpha Tauri’;

https://talksport.com/sport/motorsport/1197348/


AlphaTauri contract for De Vries ready
Today, ‎15‎:‎45
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Ruud Dimmers

Dutchman looks set to join AlphaTauri in 2023 after meetings with Helmut Marko in Austria. Nyck de Vries has been a man in demand for several teams including Alpine and Williams, however it looks like Red Bull will snatch up the Formula E world champion RacingNews365.com has learned.

After meeting with Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, the Dutchman looks set to join AlphaTauri for 2023 and pair with Yuki Tsunoda. Things still depend on whether Red Bull will enable Pierre Gasly to make a switch to Alpine to replace Fernando Alonso, as previously reported.

‘Dutchman looks set to join AlphaTauri’;

https://racingnews365.com/alphatauri...de-vries-ready


De Vries linked to possible AlphaTauri agreement
17/09/2022 at 13:49
Andrew Lewin

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Saturday morning that the Dutchman paid a visit this week to the Graz office of Red Bull motorsports consultant Dr Hellmut Marko. This has subsequently been confirmed by RacingNews365.com

Now French publication AUTOHebdo has gone further than that, and stated that the discussion was more advanced than originally thought and that an agreement has already been reached on the move

In a tweet (translated from the original French), AUTOhebdo said it was "able to confirm the information that de Vries and Helmut Marko have met in Graz, and they are said to have agreed on a move of the 27-year-old Dutchman to Alpha Tauri next season, where he is expected to race alongside Yuki Tsunoda."

‘An agreement has already been reached’;

https://f1i.com/news/454609-de-vries...agreement.html


Nyck de Vries to replace Alpine-bound Pierre Gasly at AlphaTauri – report
Saturday 17th September 2022 3:10 PM
Jon Wilde

How would Mercedes view Nyck de Vries joining the Red Bull camp? It does beg the question of how Mercedes would feel about seeing a driver who has been immersed with them for three years, winning a Formula E World Championship, to up and leave for Red Bull.

Toto Wolff has said more than once he is extremely limited in what more he can to do help De Vries fulfil his F1 dream, for which he has been waiting since he won the Formula 2 title in 2019.

“I can’t really help him,” said the Mercedes head of motorsport after De Vries drove in FP1 for the Silver Arrows at the French Grand Prix in July.

‘How would Mercedes view Nyck de Vries joining the Red Bull camp?’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/nyck-d...i-link-report/

Alex Albon will 'aim high' for Singapore return after health scare.
After his health scare in Italy, Alex Albon will "aim high" for a return at the Singapore Grand Prix.
17 September 2022
Ben Issatt

Last weekend at Monza, the Williams driver was sent to hospital with appendicitis on Saturday morning and underwent successful surgery.

However, it was later revealed Albon suffered complications following the operation that led to respiratory failure and saw him moved into intensive care and briefly put onto a ventilator.

By Tuesday though, Alex's progress was such that the returned home to Monaco to continue his recovery.

‘Albon will 'aim high' for Singapore’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula...r-health-scare


Alex Albon back home after release from hospital
September 17, 2022
By Joe Briley

There have been further updates today that have said the Thai driver has been released from the hospital back to his home in Monaco, after he spent a further two days in hospital after he was released from intensive care. It is also rumoured that Albon is planning to race in Singapore on 2 October.

A Williams Racing Statement on Monday read: “Following surgery, Alex suffered with unexpected post-operative anaesthetic complications which led to respiratory failure, a known but uncommon complication. He was re-intubated and transferred to intensive care for support.”

“He made excellent progress overnight and was able to be removed from mechanical ventilation yesterday morning. He has now been transferred to a general ward and is expected to return home tomorrow. There were no other complications.”

‘Alex Albon back home’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...from-hospital/


‘The goal is to be ready by Singapore’ – Albon provides update to fans on recovery from appendicitis complications
16 September 2022
Formula 1.

Alex Albon has addressed his fans on social media following his release from hospital after contracting appendicitis, with the Thai driver saying his goal is now on getting fully fit for the Singapore Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.

Ahead of final practice for last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, it was announced that Albon had been diagnosed with appendicitis – with the Williams driver then suffering “unexpected post-operative anaesthetic complications which led to respiratory failure” according to a statement from his team, with Albon transferred to intensive care and put on mechanical ventilation.

However, having been discharged from hospital on Tuesday, Albon addressed his fans on Friday night, telling them that he was working to get fit for the Singapore Grand Prix – with Dutch driver Nyck de Vries having stood in for Albon at Monza. “I feel pretty good, I feel okay,” said Albon, in a video posted on his social media accounts. “Obviously on Saturday I had a slight issue and the doctors did an amazing job, and I’m very grateful that they got me in good health and out of the hospital by Tuesday.”

‘The goal is to be ready by Singapore’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...pOzb4Otsk.html


Albon: It will tough to be ready for Singapore
17 September, 2022
Reuters

Williams driver Alex Albon said he hoped to race in the Singapore Grand Prix after missing last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix with appendicitis but recognised it would be tough. The 26-year-old Thai was replaced at Monza by Dutch reserve Nyck de Vries, who finished ninth on his debut, while Albon was hospitalised and receiving treatment.

Albon was released from hospital on Tuesday and is recovering at home in Monaco ahead of the Singapore round which starts with practice on Friday, 30 September. “I feel pretty good, I feel OK,” he said in a video message on social media. “Obviously on Saturday I had a slight issue and the doctors did an amazing job. I’m very grateful that they got me in good health and out of the hospital by Tuesday.

“I have been in Monaco since then. I’ve started to walk around and the goal is to be ready for Singapore, which is going to be tough. It’s one of the toughest races that we go to, so it’s not an easy one.

‘It will tough to be ready for Singapore’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/09...re-grand-prix/


Jost Capito thinks Abu Dhabi crash has affected Nicholas Latifi’s driving.
Jost Capito believes the negative response to Nicholas Latifi’s Abu Dhabi crash has affected his driving this season. Latifi became the accidental star of the controversial season ending when his late crash brought out the Safety Car which would go on to dramatically alter the title race.
Sunday 18th September 2022 7:45 AM
Sam Cooper

Despite the unintentional nature of it, that did not stop some social media users from sending the Canadian death threats online. The abuse got so bad that Latifi said he beefed up his security and came off of his social media platforms. Williams team boss Capito has said that the team felt it was important to not push him too much following the abuse as they believed it was only going to make things worse.

“We had to keep giving him the confidence,” Capito told the High Performance Podcast. “We said that there is was nothing wrong, everything was fine but it’s very difficult to up them because that was the end of the season, they all went on vacation, they said they have to take the time off. So he was not around here every single day and it’s also we didn’t interfere there too much as we knew what was happening, we knew was going on that he switched his social media off but if we would have interfered too much, I think we would have made the situation even worse.”

“That’s something everybody has to get over himself. He was fully aware that he had our backing, that were absolutely convinced he didn’t do anything wrong. The crash, of course, it shouldn’t have happened but if you’re racing, you know, crashes can happen. And when we never blame a driver for that, it’s possible to crash. Because otherwise you have to stay at home if you don’t want to crash.”

‘Abu Dhabi crash has affected Nicholas Latifi’s driving’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jost-c...tifis-driving/


CAPITO: SARGEANT IS “READY” FOR F1 BUT HE JUST “NEEDS SOME POINTS”
Jost Capito has given his thoughts on Logan Sargeant
13:35 Sat, 17 Sep 2022.
Abby Bathurst
FormulaNerds

Jost Capito has spoken about Logan Sargeant as potentially replacing Nicholas Latifi at Williams for next season. Logan Sargeant joined the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2022 for his rookie season. He’s racing for Calin and has partnered with Liam Lawson.

With only one round left of the F2 season, Sargeant is third in the standings. He has 135 points, but those behind him aren’t too far away. Recently in the past five rounds, since Le Castellet, Sargeant has suffered at least one DNF over a race weekend. However, the American has had some great performances this year, notably his back-to-back feature race wins at Silverstone and in Austria.

At the end of last year, Sargeant joined the Williams Driver Academy. For Sargeant, this has given him the opportunity to drive the Williams at COTA during the FP1 session in front of his home crowd. It has also meant that he could potentially be up for Nicholas Latifi’s seat next year on the F1 grid. The Canadian, along with Niko Hulkenberg, has failed to score points this season.

‘CAPITO: SARGEANT IS “READY” FOR F1’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ca.../?nowprocket=1


WILLIAMS WILL LOOK ELSEWHERE IF SARGEANT CAN’T GET THE POINTS
With Nicholas Latifi not performing, a replacement for the Canadian is highly anticipated
19:43 Sat, 17 Sep 2022.
Nathan Hartley
FormulaNerds

A replacement for Nicholas Latifi at Williams for next season is more than likely, as the Canadian continues to struggle. Formula 2 driver Logan Sargeant is the latest to be rumoured replacing Latifi but only if he gets the points.

Williams are open to taking a rookie. Logan Sargeant currently finds himself third with 135 points in the Formula 2 championship in his rookie season. The American has impressed many during his debut season. The move for the 21-year-old would make sense for Williams as the American is part of their academy system.

Last weekend at Monza, Williams boss Jost Capito made it clear that the team are open to taking a rookie for next season. He said that “there’s a good choice of drivers”. Within that pool, Sargeant is a strong candidate. Capito said he thinks Sargeant is “ready” to make the step up to Formula 1. The American has just entered his debut season in Formula 2, but the German is still “confident”.

‘WILLIAMS WILL LOOK ELSEWHERE’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/wi.../?nowprocket=1

Bottas – Slow upgrade production a ‘weakness’ of Alfa Romeo.
In the round-up: Valtteri Bottas says that development speed is “one of the weaknesses” of his Alfa Romeo team.
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on 18th September 2022, 0:01
Written by Will Wood

Valtteri Bottas says that improving how quickly Alfa Romeo produce upgrades for their car is a “high priority” for the team. Alfa Romeo currently sixth in the constructors’ championship on 52 points, but have only scored a single point in the last eight races after scoring 51 over the first nine. Bottas admits the team have been unable to maintain the development pace of some of their fellow midfield teams.

“I think the rivals – like for example, McLaren and Alpine – they have made more development than us and they’ve had more constant upgrades than us,” said Bottas. “We still have some things to come, I think it’s probably maybe Austin or Japan, some things, but I guess that’s going to be more or less it.”

“I think we were one of the very few teams in the beginning of the year who were at the weight limits. I think many teams were overweight, but as they’ve come down now, so maybe that has made an effect as well. We know one of our weaknesses is the production speed, which is a high priority for the team for the future. We’re definitely aware of that.”

‘Slow upgrade production a weakness’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/18/...nd-up-18-09-5/


Zhou: Lack of upgrades hiding my improved performances
18/09/2022, ‎18‎:‎00
Author Luke Murphy
Co-author Jesse Janse

Guanyu Zhou believes that his development over the season has been hidden by Alfa Romeo's drop-off in competitiveness. Guanyu Zhou believes that his own performances have improved over the course of the season, but a lack of car performance has prevented better results.

A tenth-place finish for Zhou at the Italian Grand Prix gave Alfa Romeo their first top ten finish since the Canadian GP back in June. The Chinese driver benefited from the numerous grid penalties applied after qualifying at Monza to line up ninth, but was powerless to prevent the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez from storming through the field.

Speaking after the Italian GP, Zhou believed that his own points tally would be much higher had Alfa Romeo kept up with the development pace of the other midfield teams. "I think in every weekend it's important to score points, but it [performance deficit] is more to do with what [pace] we have," Zhou told media, including RacingNews365.com.

‘Lack of upgrades hiding my improved performances’;

https://racingnews365.com/zhou-lack-...d-performances


Bottas reveals Hamilton battle with Mercedes
Sunday 18 September 2022 12:59
Sam Hall

The pair raced alongside one another at Mercedes for five years between 2017-2021, helping the German manufacturer clinch five constructors' titles in each season, while Hamilton won four drivers' crowns. Such domination was achieved by the entire team working as one cohesive unit to such an extent the drivers were often refused the set-up direction they requested as the data suggested more favourable routes.

"It is just how a top team works," said Bottas. "I feel like Lewis felt the same as well. He sometimes wanted to go in his direction but the engineers would be like ‘No, the computer says this’. So it was sometimes a bit of a battle but it is good to discuss those things and it's just the way it is.”

"They have pretty advanced technology and simulation tools that allow it and quite often the computer was right but not 100 per cent."

‘No, the computer says this’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/91...lton-mercedes/


Zhou Guanyu reveals why he didn’t try to overtake Nyck de Vries
Zhou Guanyu scored points for the first time since the Canadian GP.
15 September 2022.
by Nick Golding

The Alfa Romeo driver had a look at making an overtake several times; however, De Vries was very late on the brakes on a number of occasions and was moving in the braking zone. This made any attempt to overtake the Dutchman extremely dangerous for Zhou, who prior to Monza hadn’t scored points since the Canadian Grand Prix all the way back in June.


Zhou was asked by F1TV how it felt to be back in the points, with the driver saying it felt “amazing”. “It’s amazing, I think it’s the best place to do it for the team, home race,” said Zhou.

“A lot of pressure coming into it because starting top 10, we knew we had the chance of all the races here. It was quite a tough one of course behind the DRS train, the Williams is super-quick on the straight, but very happy to be finally back in the points [for the first time] since Montreal.”

‘De Vries was very late on the brakes’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/zhou-guan...nyck-de-vries/


Alfa Romeo’s Frédéric Vasseur: “There’s no denying we wanted more from Spa and Zandvoort”
September 8, 2022
By Paul Hensby

Vasseur, the Team Principal at Alfa Romeo, feels the Monza track should see Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu be more competitive than they have been in recent races, and they will be looking to break their pointless run on Sunday afternoon. “We head to Monza this week for the final part of the triple-header and, more importantly, for our home race,” said Vasseur.”

‘As predicted, they did!’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...and-zandvoort/


Zhou insists there’s ‘no hurry’ on 2023 Alfa Romeo deal, as Vasseur says decision will be made this month
16 September 2022
Formula 1.

Alfa Romeo’s rookie Zhou Guanyu says there’s “no hurry” to renew his contract with the team for 2023 after Team Principal Fred Vasseur revealed the team will made a decision on Zhou's future by the end of September.

At Monza, Zhou ended his and Alfa Romeo’s run of six point-less Grands Prix with P10 finish, but with the season now into its final third, the Chinese driver was inevitably asked about his future. The 23-year-old’s contract runs out at the end of this season.

“Yeah, we're talking about it,” said Zhou. “And there's no hurry, myself and the team are very happy with each other, the job we've done so far. It wasn't an easy season, let's say, for the rookie campaign. But for my side, I'm quite happy working with everyone in the team. And yeah, we're talking about it. Nothing has been confirmed but hopefully I get more information soon and I get it all done.”

‘There’s ‘no hurry’ on 2023 Alfa Romeo deal’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...emv1aUXKI.html

Fernando Alonso jokes about El Plan as he’s quizzed on racing with Aston Martin in WEC.
Last season, Alonso coined the phrase, “El Plan,” which essentially entailed coming back to F1 and returning to the top step of the podium.10 September 2022
by James Clifford

Fernando Alonso is joining Aston Martin in 2023. Last season, Alonso coined the phrase, “El Plan,” which essentially entailed coming back to F1 and returning to the top step of the podium. It became a popular meme, but he does not want to get caught up in that gimmick again. His ambitions, though, have not changed.

“Let’s not start that again, because there was already enough trouble with El Plan. These things are always created in social media,” joked Alonso. “If it has to be the mission, then it’s the mission. Do I believe in it? We all have to believe.”

“But what happens in F1 is that you start in one position and you are going to finish in that position. It’s not like football where a small one can beat the big one. In F1 everything is too exact and mathematical for that. There are few moments of surprise. That’s the big problem. You can create an illusion but then in the 24 races it can be very monotonous to keep doing the same thing and frustrating for the fans.”

‘El Plan: Where a small one can beat the big one!’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/fernando-...martin-in-wec/


Fernando Alonso has James Bond request for Aston Martin after ditching Alpine
FERNANDO ALONSO raised eyebrows with his move from Aston Martin to Alpine
12:09, Thu, Sep 8, 2022
By Andrew McLean

Fernando Alonso has asked Aston Martin if he can feature in a James Bond film after making the eye-catching move to the team from Alpine. The British car manufacturer is best known for making the cars driven by the fictional secret agent and now the Formula One icon wants to take advantage of that to make his way on to the big screen.

The 41-year-old is considered to be one of the best drivers in the history of the sport having ended Michael Schumacher’s F1 dominance in 2005 with two consecutive title wins for Renault. He has won 32 races during his two-decade-long career with many believing he could have challenged the statistics put up by Lewis Hamilton if he made different career choices. Moves to traditional frontrunners Ferrari and McLaren went pear-shaped as the teams failed to offer him a vehicle capable of regularly performing at the front.

Now it appears he has set his sights on further fame by taking advantage of his move to Aston Martin, steeped in history with the beloved 007. Speaking on Instagram live in his native Spanish, Alonso joked about getting onto the silver screen, stating: "I would like to be featured on a James Bond movie, now that I signed for Aston Martin.”

‘EL PLAN: James Bond’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...rmula-One-news


Aston Martin envisage extended partnership with 'racing machine' Alonso.
Aston Martin believes "racing machine" Fernando Alonso could stay beyond his initial two-year deal.
31 August 2022
Ben Issatt

Alonso pointed to a greater desire from Aston Martin to sign him as his main reason to join from Alpine, with team boss Mike Krack denying any special incentives were included. “There's been talk in the media of him being offered things like number one status and a huge salary, but I can assure you Fernando is not doing it for either the status or the paycheque," he said.

“Of course, the package has to be commensurate with a driver of Fernando's calibre and experience, but the speed with which the agreement was made tells you that things like salary or the detail of the deal were not the prime motivators for Fernando. What convinced Fernando is the opportunity to be part of a team that's progressing and where he can make a real impact.”

Krack also claimed the Aston Martin project is one that matches Alonso's passion and motivation. “Fernando is a machine – a racing machine. He's totally focused on racing,” he continued. "He's determined to perform and compete at the highest level and sees Aston Martin F1 as the team that will enable him to do that.”

‘Racing Machine Alonso’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula...machine-alonso


Aston Martin want Fernando Alonso to ask them ‘uncomfortable’ questions
Sunday 18th September 2022 3:00 PM
Henry Valantine

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack wants to see Fernando Alonso challenge the team to try and help push them forward next season. The two-time World Champion will head to the team next season on a multi-year deal to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel, after the Spaniard and Alpine reached a sticking point in their negotiations regarding the length of his deal. Aston Martin were quickly willing to offer Alonso what he had been after, agreeing a move in a matter of days after Vettel’s retirement announcement.

Despite staying at Alpine being Alonso’s initial preferred option, he will want to hit the ground running with Aston Martin next year, and the team principal hopes to see the team challenged to make the most of their potential. Krack said to Sky F1: “Well, he’s a champion. There is a reason why they are [champions] and it is because they are very competitive.”

“They are asking the right questions, they are pushing the teams to the limit, and we feel, for us, it’s important to have someone like that to ask some also uncomfortable questions. And it pushes us one step further. So I think for the team, it is the right thing to have people like that.”

‘Want Uncomfortable Questions’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/aston-...ble-questions/


Aston Martin: Alonso can help to drive us forwards
14 September, 2022
Paul Velasco

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough explained why they chose Fernando and what it means for the team: “Watching him from the outside this year and last year, he’s particularly competitive and really wanting to do well. We see the job he’s doing at Alpine week-in, week-out.”

“Really looking forward to getting him into our team,” continued McCullough. “To see what we can learn with him and how he can help continue to drive us forwards. I expect him to be there, week-in, week-out, getting the most out of the car in qualifying, racing really well.”

“He’s a very tenacious racer: you saw last weekend in Zandvoort, at one point, the way the timing of the Virtual Safety Car and Safety Cars had gone, he found himself in the middle of a tight midfield bunch on older Soft tyres than others – but he still comes out looking pretty good.”

‘Drive us forwards’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/09...e-us-forwards/

Next two months of development “crucial” for Mercedes’ 2023 chances – Wolff.
“We lacked the tools, the simulations and the understanding of uncovering the problem that we would create with the way the car was developed,” said Wolff.
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on 19th September 2022, 0:01
Written by Will Wood

In the round-up: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says that the next two months of development work on their 2023 car are “crucial” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says that the next two months of development work on their 2023 car are “crucial” to their hopes of being race winning and championship contenders for next season.

The eight-time consecutive constructors’ championship winning team will almost certainly lose their crown to Red Bull this year after failing to secure a race win so far in 2022, with Mercedes’ W13 often performing differently on track to how the team’s simulations predicted. Wolff says that the coming weeks are critical to their work on making sure their 2023 car performs more predictably.

“We lacked the tools, the simulations and the understanding of uncovering the problem that we would create with the way the car was developed,” said Wolff. “That we couldn’t run it where we wanted to run it. Aerodynamically and mechanically, it was never in the sweet spot. It took us months to undo some of the steps we’ve done. It’s not like that I believe we’ve discovered the Holy Grail and we understand everything and it’s going to be a blast next year. This is now a crucial period. Literally over the next one-to-two months we need, with a certain degree of precision, to understand what needs to be done for next year.”

‘Next two months of development crucial’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/09/19/...nd-up-19-09-5/


Wolff: Engine penalty points won't solve "problem" of grid penalties
19/09/2022, ‎12‎:‎33
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Qualifying for the Italian GP was marred by confusion over the final grid after penalties. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff does not believe the idea of penalising Formula 1 penalty points is a good deterrent for those taking engine grid drops.

The recent Italian Grand Prix featured nine drivers taking grid drops for exceeding their allocation of engine components and also confusion about the provisional starting grid. It took nearly four hours for one to be drawn up, with extra doubt about Max Verstappen's place after a five-place grid drop from second.

Some thought he was set for seventh - the standard drop - but as others behind him also had drops, it could have meant he was shuffled back up to fourth.

‘Penalty points won't solve problem’;

https://racingnews365.com/wolff-engi...grid-penalties


Wolff defends 'complicated' grid penalties for new engines
17/09/2022 at 12:37
Andrew Lewin

Eight drivers were hit by penalties for taking additional power unit elements at Spa, with Max Verstappen among those receiving a 'back of the grid' sanction after having won pole position in qualifying.

And in Monza the figure was up to nine drivers, with Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton this time sent to the back of the grid while Verstappen served a 'mere' five place penalty for the start of the Italian GP.

The situation was so complex that it took four hours for the race officials to publish a provisional starting grid, with AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly jokingly asking Twitter whether anyone could tell him his starting position. It's left many fans fuming about how it's made qualifying into a farce, with the starting grid bearing no resemblance to the order at the end of Saturday's session.

‘So complex that it took four hours for the race officials to publish a provisional starting grid’;

https://f1i.com/news/454584-wolff-de...w-engines.html


Toto Wolff: Grid penalties needed or teams will ‘blow an engine every race’
Friday 16th September 2022 6:00 PM
Sam Cooper

Toto Wolff believes grid penalties are necessary in order to stop teams using 20 engines in a season. As the 2022 season has worn on, there has been an increasing number of drivers taking penalties as a result of new parts being fitted to their car. At the Italian Grand Prix, a total of nine driver received penalties with the likes of Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz all starting further back than they qualified.

This trend is only set to continue as teams battle against the wear and tear suffered each race and the confinements of the FIA regulations. Mercedes boss Wolff has pointed out that these penalties are a necessary evil as, unlike on the chassis, there is no cost cap for the engine.

“On the chassis side, we are cost capped, and we weren’t before,” Wolff said, as per Motorsport.com. “On the engine side, we are not cost capped yet. If there were no grid penalties, we would have qualifying engines. And not five of them, but 20! The big teams and the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) would spend what they want in order to have an advantage.”

‘Penalties needed or teams will ‘blow an engine every race’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...alties-needed/


Mercedes’ Toto Wolff: “I hope that we can continue our trend of better race pace than single lap”
September 11, 2022
By Jamie Partis-Nelson

After another qualifying performance that once again failed to pass Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team’s lofty expectations in the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season, Toto Wolff is left once again hoping that the W13’s race pace will push his team back into contention for a strong result at the Italian Grand Prix.

Mercedes finished qualifying in their usual place in the pecking order, as Hamilton originally qualified fifth fastest, while Russell was placed directly behind his Mercedes team-mate in sixth-place. Speaking after qualifying, Wolff was keen to praise Ferrari for their efforts at their home Grand Prix at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.

“Overall, that session was probably a little worse than we had hoped for – not in terms of our final positions, which were probably our maximum today, but with respect to the gap to the front of the grid. We started the weekend well and haven’t been able to continue that momentum through the weekend – and on the flip side, Ferrari did an awesome job here in qualifying.“

‘Hope that we can continue our trend of better race pace than single lap’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...an-single-lap/


Toto Wolff: ‘Niki Lauda would have taken his hat off to Nyck de Vries’
Friday 16th September 2022 11:59 PM
Sam Cooper

Toto Wolff has heaped praise on Mercedes reserve driver Nyck de Vries after he scored points on his F1 debut. Having driven for Aston Martin in FP1, De Vries was parachuted into the Williams ahead of FP3 after Alex Albon had been taken ill, suffering from appendicitis.

Wolff, who has spent a significant amount time with De Vries as boss of Mercedes, was very complimentary about the 27-year-old and said that no one else could have done a better job. “I like him,” the 50-year-old Austrian said.

“He is just a good young man. He’s not only fast and has shown that in the junior categories, but he is also intelligent and a good team player, that is why he deserved it here. “I don’t think that anyone else could have possibly done a better job in what he did.”

‘Niki Lauda would have taken his hat off to Nyck de Vries’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...nyck-de-vries/

Russell: Narrow sidepods not off the table for 2023.
George Russell revealed that, despite the W13 being a woeful piece of Formula 1 kit, its narrow sidepod design is not off the table as the team designs the 2023 Silver Arrow.
19 September, 2022
Jad Mallak

The W13 turned heads when it showed up at Bahrain’s pre-season testing at the start of this season, with its innovative non-existing sidepods, but the positives ended there, as the car turned out to be a Silver disaster on four wheels.

Mercedes kept the faith with the design, and made good use of the opportunities that came their way, as at least one of their drivers – Lewis Hamilton and George Russell – made it to the podium 11 times on 16 races. George Russell in particular has seven podiums to his name in 2022 and – except for the 2022 British Grand Prix, where he caused a first-lap pileup sending Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu into the barriers in spectacular fashion – was in the top five for all the races so far.

“But ultimately whether we have the wide sidepods or the narrow sidepods that isn’t the performance differentiator, there is more to it,” the Briton pointed out. Mercedes have shown inconsistent flashes of speed at some F1 venues this season, and Russell commented: “I think we understand exactly why at circuits like Zandvoort and Budapest why we were competitive. “We understand why at circuits like this [Monza] and Spa we were uncompetitive. That doesn’t mean that we can solve the issues overnight.”

‘Despite the W13 being a woeful piece of Formula 1 kit, its narrow sidepod design is not off the table’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/09...able-for-2023/


George Russell says Mercedes could stun Formula 1 with radical design.
George Russell currently sits higher than team-mate Sir Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship.
19 September 2022
by Nick Golding

Nobody could’ve predicted that Mercedes, the team who have won the Constructors’ Championship eight years in a row, would currently be sitting behind both Red Bull and Ferrari in the championship. The German team are comfortably the third best team this season; however, thanks to Ferrari’s inability to deliver a good strategy, they are in a fight with the Italian’s for second place.

Mercedes are desperate to win a race this season, with second place currently being the best they’ve managed. The team are continuing to develop the W13; however, Russell has revealed that the Brackley-based side have a “totally clear direction” on how to make next year’s car stronger than this season’s model.

“I think nothing’s off the table,” Russell told the Formula 1 website during the Italian GP. “For sure we’ve got a pretty unique design with the sidepods. It’s not off the cards that we will continue with that design, but it is equally not off the cars that we will completely change philosophy. But ultimately whether we have the wide sidepods or the narrow sidepods that isn’t the performance differentiator, there is more to it.”

‘Mercedes could stun Formula 1 with radical design’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/george-ru...adical-design/


'Nothing's off the table' for 2023 Mercedes design, says Russell
17 September 2022
Formula 1.

Mercedes’ W13 turned heads at the beginning of this season with its striking, slim sidepods and radical design, but according to George Russell the team are exploring numerous options for their 2023 car.

Asked whether Mercedes will change their radical design for 2023, Russell said: “I think nothing’s off the table. For sure we’ve got a pretty unique design with the sidepods. It’s not off the cards that we will continue with that design, but it is equally not off the cars that we will completely change philosophy. Mercedes did not expect to perform well at low-downforce, high-speed circuits such as Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, and while Russell said the team knew the underlying reasons, he explained that there’s no “overnight” solution.

“I think we understand exactly why at circuits like Zandvoort and Budapest why we were competitive, and we understand why at circuits like this [Monza] and Spa we were uncompetitive. That doesn’t mean that we can solve the issues overnight. “But we’ve got to keep on developing this car and next year will sort of be an evolution of this and I think now we do have a totally clear direction of how to develop the car.”

'Nothing's off the table' for 2023 Mercedes design’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...WJpPsMpu9.html


Russell offers theory on Mercedes' lack of qualifying pace
‎18‎ ‎September‎ ‎16‎:‎50
Author Luke Murphy
Co-author Dieter Rencken

George Russell has given his thoughts on why Mercedes have offered more of a threat in race conditions, rather than qualifying. George Russell believes that tyre management issues are the reason Mercedes generally struggle to compete with Red Bull and Ferrari in qualifying.

In a turbulent season for the reigning Constructors' Champions, Mercedes have increased their competitiveness versus Red Bull and Ferrari in the second half of the season. They have occasionally been outside challengers for race wins, and frequently claimed podium finishes.

Despite this, they have generally struggled to compete with the top two teams on 'qualifying' pace, and usually have to fight back in the race. Russell took his first Pole Position - and Mercedes' first of the season - at the Hungarian GP, but this has been an outlier in a below-par season for the team.

‘Russell offers theory on Mercedes' lack of qualifying pace’;

https://racingnews365.com/russell-of...ualifying-pace


Carlos Sainz warns Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell threat.
Ferrari have six races remaining to defend second place from Mercedes.
18 September 2022
by Nick Golding

With Red Bull having cleared off in the lead of the Constructors’ Championship, the Austrians now boast a 139-point lead over Ferrari with six races remaining. Ferrari have been left with no choice but to defend second place from Mercedes rather than attack Red Bull for first, with the Scuderia currently sitting just 35 points ahead of the Silver Arrows.

Sainz remains confident that despite all the issues at Ferrari, they can still beat Mercedes “fair and square”. “I think we know they’re going to be there pretty much in every Sunday, especially Sundays they seem to pick up a lot of pace compared to qualifying and they are always there,” said Sainz to reporters at Monza.”

“I’m always surprised how in qualifying they can be maybe one second off sometimes and suddenly come race day your engineer comes on the radio, and they tell you the lap times of Lewis and George and it’s like sometimes they are even quicker. We know they’re going to be there but I think we can still beat them fair and square.” Whilst reliability problems can’t always be avoided, strategic errors can.

‘Ferrari have been left with no choice but to defend second place from Mercedes’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/carlos-sa...ussell-threat/

Red Bull admits altering set-up for Perez costs it performance.
The admission comes after a run of Perez’s performances dropping off relative to team-mate Max Verstappen over recent months.
Sep 15 2022
By Edd Straw

Red Bull has conceded that if it modifies its 2022 Formula 1 car set-up to better suit Sergio Perez it will usually “lose a bit of performance”. Perez started the season strongly, taking his first F1 pole position in Saudi Arabia and winning the Monaco Grand Prix, and giving Verstappen a hard time on the street circuits in particular.

But from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix – where he started ahead of Verstappen but proved off his pace and finished a distant second – in June onwards Perez has struggled and has now taken just two podium finishes in the last eight races. Speaking ahead of July’s Austrian Grand Prix, Perez talked of the development of the Red Bull RB18 was “going away from me in terms of how comfortable I was in the beginning”.

Since then, he and the team have been working to improve matters but with limited success. After the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August, Perez said he was keen for Red Bull to “run the cars slightly different” in order to unlock more performance from him.

‘Red Bull admits altering set-up for Perez costs it performance’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/red-b...t-performance/


Red Bull: Development path of RB18 not to Perez's benefit
16/09/2022 at 17:03
Michael Delaney

Red Bull admits that the development this season of its RB18 has come to the detriment of Sergio Perez whose confidence has declined with the winning car's evolution. With eleven wins this season so far, Max Verstappen is on track to equal and perhaps surpass the record jointly held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel of 13 wins achieved in a single season.

But the onslaught of the Dutchman's dominance was gradual in the first part of the season during which Perez was very much a match for Verstappen, with the Mexican snatching a pole in Jeddah and winning outright after a brilliant race in Monaco. However, as the season unfolded, and Red Bull's 2022 car evolved, Verstappen came into his own while Perez helplessly lost ground relative to his teammate.

Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache says the development path chosen by the Milton Keynes-based outfit, as much as it has benefitted Verstappen by producing a more 'pointy' car, clearly hasn't suited Perez. "It is multiple factors, but the main factor is clearly the car balance and the confidence with the car compared to the beginning of the year when the car was a little bit more balanced for him and a little bit less for Max," Wache explained at Monza last weekend.”

‘Benefitted Verstappen by producing a more 'pointy' car, clearly hasn't suited Perez’;

https://f1i.com/news/454554-red-bull...s-benefit.html


Red Bull admit that car development has had impact on Perez form
‎16‎ ‎September‎ ‎11‎:‎35
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Dieter Rencken

The Mexican started the season strongly but has struggled to match Max Verstappen over recent races. Red Bull have admitted that its Formula 1 car development in 2022 has hampered the form of driver Sergio Perez compared to Max Verstappen.

Perez started the season strongly in the RB18, including a maiden pole in Saudi Arabia and a win in Monaco as Verstappen was not comfortable in the new ground effect machine. However, Verstappen, who likes a car to be strong on the nose and can live with oversteer, has subsequently hit a purple patch of form, winning the last five races from France to Italy and is on the cusp of a second world title.

Perez, who has been running a slightly different floor to his teammate, has struggled to match him, hauling 96 points since winning in Monaco to Verstappen's 210. And Red Bull have now admitted that its development plan in 2022 has cost Perez performance.

‘Perez, who has been running a slightly different floor to his teammate, has struggled to match Verstappen’;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-a...-on-perez-form


‘Danger zones’: Red Bull reveal cause of Sergio Perez brake fire
Sergio Perez finished sixth at last weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
17 September 2022
by Rob Kershaw

Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, has revealed that debris got caught in Sergio Perez’s brake duct at the Italian Grand Prix. The Mexican went into the weekend with a 10-place grid penalty for taking too many engine parts, and he started 13thhaving initially qualified fourth, lifted up one place by the back of the grid penalty for Carlos Sainz.

Perez had started to make some progress at the start of the race, but he had locked up on the opening lap, so he had to box early. When he did, smoke could be seen emanating from the front right corner as the mechanics put on the fresh set of tyres.

‘Red Bull reveal cause of Sergio Perez brake fire’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/danger-zo...ez-brake-fire/


The problem that led to Perez's Italian GP comeback drive
‎13‎ ‎September‎ ‎12‎:‎30
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Red Bull has revealed that a damaged tyre is what caused Sergio Perez's early pitstop during the Italian Grand Prix, triggering his comeback drive to sixth place. The Mexican had to pit early on after locking up into Turn 1 battling with Carlos Sainz on the opening lap, which caused damage to his Medium tyres.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner confirmed that Perez suffered from vibrations from the tyres and elected to pit him on safety grounds for a set of Hard tyres, with the attempt to run him until the end. "On the first lap he had a big lockup and then he had a massive vibration as a result, and we were started getting into danger zones in our thresholds. So that's why we we pitted him onto the Hard [tyre]" said Horner to media, including RacingNews365.com.

When he emerged from the pits, smoke started to appear out of front right wheel which the team later determined was a piece of debris that got lodged in the brake ducts. Horner added: "Some debris also gone into the [brake] duct, which was why that front right was smoking quite a lot. "Obviously it was gonna take a little while for that to burn off for the next couple of laps and the temperatures came back under control."

‘Perez's Italian GP comeback drive’;

https://racingnews365.com/the-proble...comeback-drive


Red Bull warned of ‘snowball effect’ hurting Sergio Perez
Sergio Pérez is currently 125 points behind team-mate Max Verstappen in the World Championship.
12 September 2022
by Nick Golding

Sergio Pérez is enduring a difficult spell at Red Bull currently, with the Mexican having arguably struggled for form ever since he won the Monaco Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver has gone from being a title contender, to suddenly being 109-points behind team-mate Max Verstappen, who is cruising to his second consecutive Drivers’ Championship.

The Mexican qualified fourth for the Italian Grand Prix but found himself nine-tenths of a second behind his team-mate, who qualified second. Pérez actually started the race from P13, following a grid penalty for a component change.

“You could see [the DRS] oscillating on a Red Bull,” Brundle said on Friday to Sky Sports F1 after FP1. “It can’t be helped with the downforce but you don’t need a whole lot of downforce there. What you don’t need either is a whole load of drag, so if it’s creating drag then it’s slowing it down. Sergio has definitely lost his way a little bit with the Red Bull car at the moment.”

‘You could see [the DRS] oscillating on a Red Bull’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/red-bull-...-sergio-perez/

Ferrari to investigate Red Bull pace deficit after discovering weakness.
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has vowed to investigate the reason behind the Scuderia's sudden race-pace deficit to Red Bull which has resulted in the hoped-for F1 title challenge slipping through its fingers.
Wednesday 21 September 2022 07:00
Ian Parkes

Asked as to where Ferrari had gone wrong with its development compared to Red Bull, Binotto said: “In the last few races, the performance of the Red Bull has been better than ours. Not in qualifying, because in quali we still have good pace, so we can see the pure performance is still there.”

“But then in the race pace, we are suffering tyre degradation and in that respect, the Red Bull is a better car. They have been capable of developing their car for a better balance but certainly as well, for a better car in terms of tyre degradation that we haven’t.”

Suggested to Binotto Red Bull had also made gains in weight saving with its RB18 compared to Ferrari with its F1-75, which for both teams has proven problematic his year, Binotto was sceptical. He added: "I don’t know what they are doing, where they are with the weight. I can only see what I read on the internet and not much more than that, so the comparison is certainly not the right comparison.”

‘Ferrari to investigate Red Bull pace deficit’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/91...tion-weakness/


Mattia Binotto gives Red Bull weight assessment
Red Bull are running away with the 2022 titles.
21 September 2022
by James Clifford

Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto, has conceded that he is not entirely sure what Red Bull have been doing to improve their performance, or save weight. The cars are heavier than ever this year, with the minimum weight set at 798kg due to the reintroduced ground effect aerodynamics under the new technical regulations.

“They have been capable of developing their car for a better balance but certainly as well, for a better car in terms of tyre degradation that we haven’t. The reason is something we are looking at because we need to address it, if not for this season then certainly for the next.”

It is difficult to emulate the success of your rivals when you do not actually know what they are doing, and Ferrari are not sure whether Red Bull have made minimum weight yet, or whether they are still getting there.

‘Difficult to emulate the success of your rivals’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/mattia-bi...ht-assessment/


Carlos Sainz begs Ferrari to "be more like Red Bull" in 2023 and hails Max Verstappen.
Ferrari have had a car fast enough this year to challenge Red Bull and should have created a close title race, but reliability woes and strategy errors have allowed their rivals to run away with it.
22:52, 20 Sep 2022
By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer

Ferrari "have to learn" from Red Bull this year in order to challenge them more convincingly next season, Carlos Sainz has declared. The Italian team started the 2022 season strongest, with a one-two finish in Bahrain. Charles Leclerc followed that up with victory in Australia to make it two wins from three, while Max Verstappen suffered some early-season reliability problems.

"I would like to have a steady end to the season, especially with the amount of things that have happened to us this year," he told Mundo Deportivo . "I would like to have a quiet last part of the season, with less things happening to us and to be able to get into a rhythm for next year, which will be a new opportunity."

In order to make the most of that chance, Sainz believes Ferrari have the perfect example to follow – that of Red Bull, who have shown them how it is done with their control of the championship this season. "We have a solid base from this year with a very good car and the team is making progress," the Spaniard added.

‘Carlos Sainz: "Be more like Red Bull"!’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...appen-28041656


Inside Ferrari’s 133-point disaster as brutal blunders put F1 boss firmly in the firing line
September 21st, 2022 1:45 pm
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports

Max Verstappen is on the cusp of claiming a second drivers championship with surprising ease, and Red Bull Racing will return to constructors title glory for the first time in almost a decade. With six races still to run, these are the cold, hard facts of what’s become an unexpectedly one-sided season. Those facts also state unequivocally that Ferrari has let them off the hook.

Elkann’s tenure at the head of Ferrari has been characterised by relative serenity compared to past leaders, who have often preferred to insert themselves into the running of the team — and this is despite the last two years of turmoil before the 2022 breakthrough. But with the full support of the board issued, the screws are now being gently turned. This butchered championship campaign must surely be the first and last of Ferrari’s missed opportunities.

THE PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE: “Our first goal was to be competitive,” Elkann said. “If you are not, then you have nowhere to go, whereas you can always work on reliability. “That’s why I believe that before 2026 Ferrari will once again win the constructors and drivers titles, with Charles Leclerc in pole position. We are lucky to have two great drivers, probably the strongest pairing in Formula 1.”

‘With the full support of the board issued, the screws are now being gently turned’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...5a5065e00f5e9e


Ferrari employees are ‘terrified of reprisals’
Ferrari are 139 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship with six races of 2022 remaining.
20 September 2022
by Nick Golding

Former McLaren employee turned broadcaster Marc Priestley simply believes that Ferrari aren’t ready to win the title, something they haven’t done in over a decade. “I don’t want to say Ferrari have stumbled across a great car because they haven’t,” Priestley told the Pit Stop podcast.

“They have built a fantastic car, the best car on many occasions this year, but they don’t have all the ingredients. They don’t have…I suspect and I know this to some extent, a lot of people I know work or have worked at Ferrari, and it feels like the culture isn’t right. You see it in races, you see it when they are a little bit hesitant on the [team] radio. A team like Red Bull or Mercedes, it feels like the people in that team have the freedom to make a decision that might be a little bit out there, a little bit outside the box, might be a risk.”

“But everybody’s trusted to just make that and if it goes wrong, that’s fine, you took the risk. You pay the price, but you learn from the mistake and all that. I think at Ferrari, if they take a risk, if anyone’s going to take a risky decision, they are terrified of the reprisals that are going to come from that.”

‘Terrified Of Reprisals’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/ferrari-e...-of-reprisals/

Jacques Villeneuve: George Russell ‘quickly developing into the leader’ at Mercedes.
Jacques Villeneuve believes George Russell’s proactive strategy call at Zandvoort showed he is “quickly developing into the leader” at Mercedes.
Tuesday 6th September 2022 7:30 AM
Jon Wilde

Russell finished second to Max Verstappen in the Dutch Grand Prix, passing his team-mate Lewis Hamilton on track to secure that position. But it was not exactly a level playing field at the time because Russell had stopped for fresh tyres during the Safety Car period at a decisive point, whereas Hamilton had not been given the opportunity to do likewise because the team wanted him to keep track position in the lead.

It worked out badly for Hamilton, who had earlier been compromised by a Virtual Safety Car period, and he took out his ire on the strategists with an expletive-ridden blast over the team radio. Russell, meanwhile, had urged the team to call him into the pits and his plea was the right one as he finished two places above his colleague, extending his advantage over Hamilton to 30 points in the World Championship.

In terms of their race head-to-head record for the season – Russell’s first with Mercedes – that now stands at 9-6 to the younger of the two Britons and, according to Villeneuve, the internal balance of power is very much shifting towards the 24-year-old. “I see a change within Mercedes,” said the 1997 World Champion in his column for Formule1.nl. “George Russell is quickly developing into the leader of the team.”

‘Proactive strategy call at Zandvoort showed he is “quickly developing into the leader” at Mercedes’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jacque...ussell-leader/


George Russell assesses "opportunity" Lewis Hamilton has given him to shine at Mercedes
• 22:23, 21 Sep 2022
By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer

Dubbed 'Mr Saturday' for his eye-catching qualifying results in an uncompetitive Williams car, this season he has morphed into 'Mr Consistency'. Mercedes have not been able to compete with Red Bull and Ferrari for pace, but still he has been a regular sight towards the front of the pack.

Those impressive results have seen him climb to fourth in the drivers' championship, just 16 points behind second-placed Charles Leclerc. Russell also has a 35-point advantage over team-mate Hamilton, but insists he would be nowhere near where he is had it not been for the seven-time world champion's support.

Russell is optimistic for the future and believes the team will soon be in a position to offer him the chance of the race wins he wants. "I think we understand exactly why at circuits like Zandvoort and Budapest why we were competitive, and we understand why at circuits like Monza and Spa we were uncompetitive," he told the F1 website. "That doesn’t mean that we can solve the issues overnight. But we've got to keep on developing this car and next year will sort of be an evolution of this and I think now we do have a totally clear direction of how to develop the car."

‘Dubbed 'Mr Saturday', morphed into 'Mr Consistency';

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-2022-28050372


George Russell to become Mercedes team leader after Lewis Hamilton’s ‘insulting outburst’
Sir Lewis Hamilton finished fourth at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.
10 September 2022
by James Clifford

1997 Formula 1 world champion, Jacques Villeneuve, believes that Sir Lewis Hamilton should have made the call to come into the pits towards the end of the Dutch Grand Prix. When Hamilton saw Russell pit behind him, he thought it would be in a bid to attack leader Verstappen, but it then dawned on him that the reigning champion had come into the pits for fresh tyres of his own.

The 37-year-old fumed over the radio and told the team that they had “screwed” him, and he was passed by Verstappen, Russell and Leclerc as he fell from first to fourth. Villeneuve, known for his hot takes, suggests that Hamilton ought to have made the call to pit himself. “I see a change within Mercedes, George Russell is quickly developing into the leader of the team,” the Canadian wrote in his Formule1.nl column. “He took the decision to go for the soft tyres himself. Hamilton, with all his experience and championships, could have done the same.”

Hamilton later apologised for the radio communications that were made in the heat of the moment, but the former Williams, Renault and Sauber driver criticised the way the Briton spoke to his team. “I was astonished by Lewis Hamilton’s outburst in the race and especially by the way in which he did it,” added Villeneuve.

‘Insulting Outburst’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/george-ru...ting-outburst/


Winging It F1 Podcast | Is Russell ready to lead Mercedes and when will Lewis Hamilton retire?
In the latest episode of the Winging It F1 Podcast, Nigel Chiu, Adam Dickinson and Freddie Coates discuss all things Mercedes for the rest of the 2022 Formula 1 season and beyond.
September 17, 2022
By Nigel Chiu

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have been forced to watch Red Bull and Ferrari fight or the win at nearly every Formula 1 Grand Prix this year, as Mercedes are set to not win the constructors’ championship for the first time since 2013.

Overall, the battle between the Mercedes pair has been close but has Russell done enough to how he can lead the Silver Arrows when Hamilton retires. When will Hamilton retire is another big question in itself and what will happen if both drivers are fighting for the title.

‘Podcast Links’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/win...milton-retire/


Lewis Hamilton judgement made by Damon Hill in George Russell comparison
LEWIS HAMILTON has struggled to match his Mercedes team-mate this season.
13:54, Tue, Sep 20, 2022
By Luke Chillingsworth

Lewis Hamilton has defied expectations for the wrong reasons as Damon Hill suggests he would not have predicted George Russell to beat the seven-time champion. Hamilton has secured just six podiums this season compared to Russell’s seven top-three finishes.

Former Williams star Russell has also finished in the top-five at every race this season when he has reached the chequered flag. His consistency has left him 35 points ahead of Hamilton in the championship with just six races remaining. Hill made the comments on the F1 Nation Podcast when he was asked if anyone would have predicted Russell to have more podiums than Hamilton. Hill replied: “No one. I wouldn’t have done. It's incredible.”

“If you come into F1 and you get a big crack at it and you come into a big team like that, he has definitely held his head way above water. Pretty solid.” Hamilton has only been beaten by teammates in the championship twice in his entire F1 career with both coming against world champions.”

‘Definitely held his head way above water. Pretty solid’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...e-russell-news


Mercedes may have another George Russell on their hands who can replace Lewis Hamilton
MERCEDES could be planning to use Nyck de Vries as a long-term replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
05:30, Tue, Sep 13, 2022
By Joe Krishnan

Thousands of F1 fans had packed into the Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit on Sunday expecting to see another thrilling race at the 'Temple of Speed'. But as Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominated once again with an 11th win from 16 races, it was the Mercedes reserve Nyck de Vries that left fans beaming with delight after a sensational debut drive.

Some would have expected the Williams novice to struggle to stay in the points given that Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez were all starting at the back of the grid. But he showed his composure in the cockpit that he had developed from his years racing in other driving categories and brought home the Williams in one piece to collect two world championship points.

It may just be the first step towards something greater in the future too. De Vries, as a Mercedes reserve, will be dreaming of one day putting on the Silver Arrows as one of their two drivers. Hamilton's contract expires in 2023, meaning he may need to bide his time with Williams for next season.

‘Another George Russell on their hands’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-GP-F1-news

Yuki Tsunoda keeps his F1 seat at AlphaTauri next year.
Tsunoda is in his second year in F1 with AlphaTauri and has a best finish of seventh this season at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in April.
23/09/2022, 11:55
FOX Sports

He is 16th in the 20-driver championship with 11 points. His best result for the team overall was fourth at the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP last December.

“Having moved to Italy last year, to be closer to the factory, I really feel part of the team and am glad that I get to carry on racing with them in 2023,” Tsunoda said on Thursday. "Our season isn’t over yet and we’re still pushing hard ... so I’m fully focused on finishing it on a high.”

‘Yuki Tsunoda at AlphaTauri in 2023’;

https://www.foxsports.com/articles/f...auri-next-year


Formula 1: Another seat confirmed in 2023 driver lineup.
23/09/2022, 11:32
Beyond the Flag (Weblog)

Yuki Tsunoda is officially set to remain with AlphaTauri for the 2023 Formula 1 season, leaving just five seats without confirmed drivers.

Yuki Tsunoda is officially set to return for a third Formula 1 season with AlphaTauri in 2023, the team confirmed on Thursday morning. The 22-year-old Japanese driver is the 16th driver to be confirmed as part of the 2023 driver lineup, and he is the 15th driver whose seat is solidified.

While AlphaTauri have struggled in 2022 compared to 2021, Tsunoda has been much closer to teammate Pierre Gasly in terms of points, average starting position, and average finish throughout the year than he was throughout his rookie season a year ago.

‘Another seat confirmed in 2023’;

https://beyondtheflag.com/2022/09/22...driver-lineup/


Yuki Tsunoda Is Staying with AlphaTauri for the 2023 Formula 1 Season
The much-contested second AlphaTauri seat is now officially taken.
22/09/2022, 11:30AM
By Elizabeth Blackstock

The fact that AlphaTauri is keeping Tsunoda is also telling in other ways. The driver has occasionally shown some stellar race craft, but that success has often been tempered by impulsivity and fiery moods.

Tsunoda has been working closely with a sports psychologist to help keep his temper in check, and he’s admitted that he had to stop looking at I due to their impact on his mental health.
In his first season with AlphaTauri, Tsunoda finished 14th in the World Driver Championship with 32 points to his name while his more experienced teammate Gasly finished in ninth.

This year has been far more difficult — Tsunoda has only scored 11 points so far thanks to a series of retirements or finishes outside of the top 10 that began in Monaco. With six races left in the season, he’s sitting in 16th in the Championship, while Gasly sits in 11th.

‘Much-contested second AlphaTauri seat now officially taken’;

https://jalopnik.com/yuki-tsunoda-is...-fo-1849567756


Beneath the swearing and silliness – a real racer exists within Yuki Tsunoda.
On Thursday, AlphaTauri announced a contract extension for Tsunoda, as team boss Franz Tost asserted "a driver needs at least three years to fully get to grips with Formula 1"
20:22, 22 Sep 2022
By Daniel Moxon F1 Writer

The announcement of a new contract for Yuki Tsunoda was met with a rather predictable response on social media. Many were pleased to hear the news – after all, the Japanese driver's fun-loving personality makes him an extremely likeable person, especially when taking part in silly challenges. The social media and content creation teams at Red Bull must be chuffed to bits.

There's no denying Tsunoda comes with baggage. The main takeaway from his first season in Formula 1 was that he was no stranger to a spin or crash in some pretty bizarre circumstances. Plus, as viewers of Netflix docu-drama Drive to Survive found out, he really is not a fan of Milton Keynes.

Sadly, his second season in the sport is also not likely to be remembered for anything he did specifically on the track – other than shout and swear a lot. Tsunoda's hot-headed actions under his racing helmet saw him labelled as a "problem child" by Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko earlier this summer.

‘A real racer exists within Yuki Tsunoda’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...eason-28059238


Franz Tost tells ‘problem child’ Yuki Tsunoda to get his emotions ‘under control’.
Yuki Tsunoda has been retained by AlphaTauri for 2023 but has been warned to improve.
22 September 2022
by Nick Golding

AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost has called for Yuki Tsunoda to “get under control his emotions”, after a recent run of avoidable incidents.

Tost’s comments came prior to the team announcing that the Japanese driver will be retained for a third season by the Faenza-based team, with Tost believing that “a driver needs at least three years to fully get to grips with Formula 1”.

2023 will, of course, be the 22-year-old’s third and potentially last season, especially if he repeats some of his 2022 antics. Tsunoda was handed a grid penalty at the recent Italian Grand Prix following his fifth reprimand of the year, after he ignored yellow flags during FP2 at the ‘Temple of Speed’.

‘Warned to improve’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/franz-tos...under-control/