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Alonso glad to finish 'most difficult race of the year' at Monza.
The Aston Martin driver only managed a best position of ninth, a far cry from their usual podium success. Fernando Alonso was glad to finish the Italian Grand Prix after branding it one of the 'most difficult races' of the year for Aston Martin.
03 September 10:00PM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
The Spaniard claimed that it was a difficult race when speaking to media including RacingNews365: "It was a very demanding race; mentally and physically to drive the car with very low grip which made it very tricky to drive," he said.
"So for me, it was one of the most difficult races of the year and it's the worst result. It's going to be an anonymous race, nobody will remember this but I will do in my head because it has been a tough one."
'EL PLAN: Most difficult race of the year';
https://racingnews365.com/alonso-gla...-year-at-monza
P9 at Monza ‘what we deserved today’ – Alonso
03 Sep 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin “were only good for ninth” in the Italian Grand Prix and will be looking at why they didn’t have any more pace on race day.
“EL PLAN: Were only good for ninth”;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...974586428.html
Alonso reveals why he will 'REMEMBER' torrid Italian Grand Prix
Monday 4 September 2023 14:27
Jay Winter
GPFans
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso has described the Italian Grand Prix as 'one of the most difficult races' for him this season, highlighting the intense mental and physical demands he faced at the 'Temple of Speed' in Monza.
Speaking to the media after the race, the 42-year-old, reflected on the 'demanding' Grand Prix. "It was a very demanding race; mentally and physically to drive the car with very low grip which made it very tricky to drive," he said.
"So for me, it was one of the most difficult races of the year and it's the worst result. It's going to be an anonymous race, nobody will remember this but I will do in my head because it has been a tough one."
' EL PLAN: One of the most difficult races';
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ly-grand-prix/
Alonso ‘anonymous’ despite personal best
Tuesday 5th September, 2023 - 1:22am
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
“Many, many lessons we need to take from this race,” said Alonso. “We weren’t competitive so that’s the main focus for us to try to understand, and on this type of circuit what we need to do differently for the future, and also for next year when we come here.”
“Race-wise, there is not much to talk about. We were slow from the beginning to the end, it was not possible to fight for better than ninth so we take these points, but also hopefully many lessons.”
Given what Alonso has achieved this season, and just a week after finishing second to Max Verstappen in the Dutch GP, the two-time F1 champion conceded to enduring obvious frustration.
‘EL PLAN: Anonymous’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/09/05...ymous-weekend/
Alonso wants 'new ideas' from Aston after 'anonymous' Italian GP
05/09/2023 at 09:06
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Fernando Alonso suggested that F1 fans would have been excused if they were left with the impression that he had sat out last weekend's Italian Grand Prix, for it was an "anonymous race that no one will remember" as far as the Aston Martin driver was concerned.
It's likely Aston always expected its high-drag AMR23 to struggle in Monza's low-downforce environment, so raking in a few points will have perhaps satisfied the team overall.
However, the low-key result reconciled with Ferrari's double top-four finish means that the Scuderia has progressed to third in F1's Constructors' standings, 11 points ahead of Aston Martin.
‘EL PLAN: Alonso wants 'new ideas' from Aston’;
https://f1i.com/news/486138-alonso-w...talian-gp.html
Krack demands Aston Martin improvement to help Stroll
05 September 3:10PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Mike Krack wants to see Aston Martin step up and help support Lance Stroll as the Canadian continues to struggle to match Fernando Alonso's results.
Since the Canadian Grand Prix, Stroll has scored just seven points in Grands Prix with an additional five coming in the Austrian Sprint race, with Alonso hauling a total of 57 in the same period with four more coming from his fifth place in that Austrian event.
"There is not a marked gap in performance, there is a marked gap in points," Krack told media including RacingNews365. "It is important to separate between the two. As a team, we are analysing the season from both perspectives on both drivers, and as a team, we need to do a much, much better job on that side of the garage.”
‘EL PLAN: Aston Martin improvement to help Stroll’;
https://racingnews365.com/krack-dema...to-help-stroll
Is Flexible-Wing Rule Hurting Aston Martin? – Study
September 6, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
Fernando Alonso is set on pushing Aston Martin ahead of Ferrari in the world constructors’ championship. The team headquartered in Silverstone didn’t perform well at Monza, fueling new gossip that the issue might be linked to the FIA’s recent restrictions on flexible wings.
“It’s not something that affects us,” said Red Bull’s Christian Horner when questioned about the clampdown, which becomes fully active at the subsequent Singapore Grand Prix. “We’ve seen a few rubbery nose boxes, shall we say,” he added.
Nonetheless, Aston Martin foresees better pace in the streets of Singapore, with Alonso contending that the Monza circuit simply wasn’t a good match for their 2023 vehicle. “Singapore will be better than Monza, that’s for sure,” he told Mundo Deportivo. “But we already know how hard it is to win a race.”
‘EL PLAN: Fueling new gossip’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/is-flexibl...-martin-study/
Aston Martin mechanic bets against Fernando Alonso…and pays the price
07 Sep 2023 2:15 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Fernando Alonso’s second podium as an Aston Martin driver led to his composite technician Sam Russell having to get a new tattoo, but that’s what you get for betting against Alonso. Heading to Saudi Arabia, the team downplayed their chances with team boss Mike Krack trying to temper expectations.
It seems Russell, Alonso’s composite technician, fell for it… And paid the price. “I lost a bet in Saudi Arabia with Mark, a guy I work with, he said ‘If we get a podium, I get to design the tattoo and pay for it, but you have to get it’.”
“And I was like, ‘Okay’. I didn’t think we would get one. It turns out the car was quite fast. So I need to get a pie on number two, I need to get it updated.”
“EL PLAN: I get to design the tattoo and pay for it, but you have to get it’.”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...chanic-tattoo/
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Bottas hopes lost F1 "fun" can fuel Alfa Romeo motivation.
The Finn has endured a poor season with just six points, but is hopeful of a brighter future. Valtteri Bottas feels the battle to return to the top table of Formula 1 is enough motivation after losing the "fun" of competing at the front.
07 September 3:00PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
Bottas joined Alfa Romeo ahead of the 2022 season after a five-year spell with Mercedes in which he claimed 10 Grand Prix wins and 58 overall podiums as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton. Since his departure, the best the Finn has managed is fifth-place in the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as Alfa hit the ground running in the ground-effects era, although this was largely to do with the C42 machine being on the weight limit with others over.
In 2023, Bottas has just six points to his name, with a season-best of eighth in the Bahrain opener and P10 finishes in Canada and Italy as Alfa has struggled. While Bottas has lost the feeling of racing at the very front, he believes the challenge to get back up there serves as enough motivation.
"For sure, I had to change many, many goals," Bottas explained to media including RacingNews365. "It is just not fun when you are not fighting for wins anymore, and it is definitely more fun when you are performing and up there. That is how it goes and you enjoy it more, but for now, the goal is the long-term, and the motivation is to get back up there for wins and podiums some day. That is the motivation and drive now, to work with a team and why I want to drive the best I can.”
‘The battle to return to the top table of Formula 1 is enough motivation’;
https://racingnews365.com/bottas-hop...meo-motivation
Bottas credits Alfa Romeo for ‘nailing the strategy’ as he grabs final point in Italy
03 Sep 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Valtteri Bottas managed to claim the final point on offer in the Italian Grand Prix by coming home in P10 – and said it was largely down to a perfect strategy from his team.
‘Nailing the strategy’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...585881949.html
2023 Italian Grand Prix - Sunday
September 3rd, 2023
Alfa Romeo Racing - Official Site
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Team Representative: “Before the race, we said our target today was to score at least a point, and it’s very important we were able to achieve it. We executed a perfect race and we were able to hit our target.”
Valtteri Bottas (car number 77): “Points were the target today, and we achieved that: it’s nice to be back in the top ten as it had been a while, despite all our hard work, and this point is for everyone at Alfa Romeo.”
Zhou Guanyu (car number 24): “I am glad to see Valtteri bring home one point from this race, a point that helps us close the gap to Haas. Considering the results we had on Friday and Saturday, we made a massive step forward, which is encouraging for the races ahead – especially as we are meant to bring further upgrades in Singapore, where we must make a further improvement.”
‘We executed a perfect race and we were able to hit our target”;
https://www.sauber-group.com/motorsp...d-prix-sunday/
Zhou Guanyu locked in two-driver battle to keep hold of Alfa Romeo seat – report
05 Sep 2023 10:30 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com10:53
Speculation about Zhou Guanyu’s Formula 1 future continues with Ted Kravitz reporting he is up against Theo Pourchaire for the second Sauber race seat.
Zhou was asked about that rumour and downplayed it to the media, including PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher, saying: “Of course, I have personal sponsors and I don’t feel like I lack any foundations on that. Rumours are made up, but all the details we need to talk about with the team because it is not like it is the first contract, the second one is more [focused] on details because it is your second contract in F1.”
“Nothing to be majorly worried about because I feel like what I show on track deserves to be in this paddock.” Kravitz, though, says the 24-year-old should be worried as he is in a fight with Pourchaire to partner Valtteri Bottas next season.
‘Two-driver battle to keep hold of Alfa Romeo seat’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/zhou-g...fa-romeo-seat/
Zhou 'very close' to decision over F1 future
07 September 6:20PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Zhou Guanyu is hopeful that an agreement over fresh Formula 1 contract with Alfa Romeo is "very close" as doubt remains over his future. "Nothing is sure until you sign the contract," Zhou replied when asked by RacingNews365 if he was convinced he would be staying for 2024.
"Obviously, nothing has been decided, but we are getting very close to that point. It's definitely been heading a lot further along since the summer break. I have less personal sponsors and I know what the rumours are, but I feel like I have a lack of any foundations.”
"That is on our side, and the rumours are there but we need to talk about the details with the team because it is not the first contract I have in Formula 1. The second [contract] has been more or less the details because it is your second contract, but there is nothing major to be worried about and I feel like what I show on track deserves to continuously [on the grid.]"
"Nothing is sure until you sign the contract";
https://racingnews365.com/zhou-very-...over-f1-future
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Nico Hulkenberg’s savage assessment of ‘unworthy’ Haas’ Italian GP performance.
Nico Hulkenberg savaged Haas after the Italian Grand Prix ended with the VF-23s the only two cars lapped, Haas failing to score a point for the ninth grand prix in a row.
04 Sep 2023 1:30 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
When all was said and done after the 51 laps, Hulkenberg was 17th to Kevin Magnussen’s P18. The Haas teammates were not only the last of the classified runners but also the only drivers lapped by race winner Max Verstappen. “We’re just eating the tyre, the balance is poor, we’re sliding a lot more than other cars, can’t keep the pace up using more tyre.”
“So yeah, it was one of the toughest and worst races of the season,” Hulkenberg told media including PlanetF1.com after the race. “The characteristic and the feel of the car was much better [in Zandvoort] than this weekend. So yeah, need to review that.”
“Obviously, that’s also a big miss, not having a front flap ready for the new front wing. I think we’re the only team who didn’t have any parts, any upgrades here this weekend, and quite frankly, we’re not point worthy also for that reason.”
‘Nico Hulkenberg savaged Haas’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/nico-h...as-italian-gp/
Magnussen brands the Italian GP ‘worst race ever’
03 Sep 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Kevin Magnussen finished P18 at Monza and said Haas have “a steep hill to climb” to rediscover their competitive edge. “[We] just no pace at all, the tyres are just falling apart, there was no balance,” he said afterwards.
‘Worst race ever’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...368818660.html
‘The start was the only positive’ – Hulkenberg on a tough day for Haas at Monza
03 Sep 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Nico Hulkenberg finished down in 17th place and said after the race it was a pretty miserable Grand Prix for the team, with his start – when he made up three places – really the only positive.
‘The only positive’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...719235370.html
Hulkenberg FUMES at own team after 'frustrating' Italian GP
Monday 4 September 2023 11:57
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Nico Hulkenberg was furious with his own team after a dismal day behind the wheel at the Italian GP. The German had forced his way into 10th on the opening lap but soon began to rapidly fall through the field and finished way outside the points.
Kevin Magnussen had an equally tough day, spending much of the race a lap down due to a pure lack of pace. Hulkenberg blamed the team for failing to bring any upgrades or specialist parts to the 'Temple of Speed'.
‘Hulkenberg FUMES at own team’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...nd-prix-fumes/
Haas will need 'magic' to turn around season - Hulkenberg
05 September 10:40AM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Nico Hulkenberg believes Haas will need "magic" to turn around their current season. When asked if they can turn things around, Hulkenberg told media, including RacingNews365: "To be honest Williams look like they're gone, them and McLaren obviously made huge progress this year. I don't see how we can turn this around, unless we come up with something really magic."
While the German does not expect the team to "pull up any trees" he is cautiously optimistic. "We're behind compared to the competition, and we were the only team to bring nothing to Monza," he told Sky Germany.
"If you do so little, you can't expect much and we were not worthy of points here, and were far from it. It is frustrating, but we have to accept it and move to a track [in Singapore] that maybe suits us a bit better.”
‘Does not expect the team to "pull up any trees"!’;
https://racingnews365.com/haas-will-...son-hulkenberg
KEVIN MAGNUSSEN MAKES DAMNING ADMISSION REGARDING 2023 FORM
The Danish driver has failed to score a single point in the last nine races and has only scored two points throughout the entire season so far
September 5, 2023
Rhiannon Temporal
FormulaNerds
The 2023 Formula One season has been particularly unfavourable for Kevin Magnussen. Following the Italian Grand Prix, where the Haas driver came home in P18, Speedcafe asked him if he was currently experiencing the most frustrating period of his career. The Danish driver responded:
“Certainly, one of the weakest, it seems. I still believe the team is in a stronger place than it has been, yet it’s just a paradox that we have probably one of the weakest cars we’ve had.”
‘Weakest cars’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ke...ing-2023-form/
Magnussen suffering ‘one of weakest periods of career’
Tuesday 5th September, 2023 - 4:30am
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Magnussen suffered another miserable weekend behind the wheel of the VF-23, starting 19th on the grid before going on to finish last of the 18 classified after retirements for AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon in his Alpine.
In a bid to propel Magnussen up the order, the Dane started on the hard tyres in the hope of running long, only to pit on lap 13. Adjustments were also made to the front-wing flap angle due to his difficulties in the first stint. At that stage, the writing was on the wall, with a second stop compounding his misery.
Asked by Speedcafe whether it was one of the more frustrating periods of his career, he replied: “Certainly one of the weakest, it seems.”
‘Magnussen suffered another miserable weekend’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/09/05...int-f1-career/
Haas 'cannot cry' over 2023 paradox - Magnussen
04 September 8:00PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Kevin Magnussen believes Haas "cannot cry" at its current lack of performance in Formula 1 as he identified a "paradox" within the team. Dane Magnussen, now in his sixth season with Haas, believes the car to be the worst he's had, but is optimistic of a reversal in fortunes soon.
"The work is being done in the background, and we just have to be patient on that until we can bring the parts to the car," Magnussen told media including RacingNews365. "At the end of the day, we've got a job to do and we need to crack on until we get those parts and we can't cry about what we've got at the moment.”
"We've got to work with what we have, and try to get something out of it no matter how difficult it looks. I still believe that the team is in a stronger place than it has ever been, it is just a paradox that we've probably got one of the weakest cars we've had with the strong foundations that I see in the team.”
'Cannot cry';
https://racingnews365.com/haas-canno...adox-magnussen
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Monza experience ‘super painful’ for Alpine – Gasly.
Pierre Gasly has stated that the Italian Grand Prix was “super painful” for Alpine as it failed to challenge for points on a poor weekend.
04 September 11:00AM
Author Fergal Walsh
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
"It’s been super painful," the Frenchman told media including RacingNews365. "We have such a lack of competitiveness compared to our rivals and we knew straight away from the start of the season, we knew that it would be a painful [race].”
"It was clearly very difficult out there and we saw it [during qualfiying]. We knew there would not be any magic overnight, but it's just pretty painful from inside the cockpit."
‘Super Painful’;
https://racingnews365.com/gasly-monz...ful-for-alpine
Gasly and Ocon reflect on 'very painful afternoon' at Italian Grand Prix as Alpine leave Monza point-less
06 September 2023
Formula One - Official Site
It was a weekend to forget for Alpine at Monza, with Pierre Gasly left to reflect on a “very painful” Italian Grand Prix, while Esteban Ocon called on the team to review their struggles after he was forced to retire for “safety reasons”.
Asked whether Alpine’s performance in Monza “was just a blip”, Ocon responded: “I don’t think it’s as simple as that, in Spa you are very low downforce as well and it’s a quick circuit also and we were very competitive there.”
“So, I think it’s more than just the fast circuits... so we need to reset and keep digging. I’m sure we will find answers and come back stronger. Full trust to the team and I’m sure we are going to get there.”
'Very painful afternoon';
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Hi9USDevz.html
CHAOS AT THE ITALIAN GP FOR ALPINE: OCON’S SAFETY RETIREMENT
Alpine face reliability issues, while Gasly Laments 'Painful' Weekend at Monza
September 6, 2023
Lena Ferle
FormulaNerds
Esteban Ocon has spoken out about the safety concerns that led to his retirement from the Italian Grand Prix. The Frenchman was in 15th place when Alpine decided to retire from the race with 12 laps to go. This was Ocon’s fifth retirement of the year as Alpine struggles with ongoing reliability issues at the races.
Ocon explained why he ended his race early, citing safety as the main reason. He mentioned problems with the steering, which caused it to lock up in the corners, and stressed the importance of preventing a complete steering failure to ensure safety.
The decision came on top of an already tricky weekend for Alpine. According to racingnews365.com, he explained why he had to retire: “For safety reasons. We had the steering locking into corners and we didn’t want the steering to lock completely. So, it was just safer to retire the car and not have more issues. That ended our weekend which has been a tough one.”
‘CHAOS’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ch...ty-retirement/
Ocon explains safety issues that caused Monza retirement
05 September 8:30PM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
The Frenchman was running in 15th when he pulled into the pits to retire with 12 laps until the end of the race. It is the fifth retirement for Ocon so far this year, as Alpine has struggled to get on top of its reliability issues in races, with Monza always expected to be a struggle for the team owing to its lack of engine power.
When asked why the team decided to end his race early, Ocon told media including RacingNews365: "For safety reasons. We had the steering locking into corners and we didn't want the steering to lock completely.”
"So, it was just safer to retire the car and not have more issues. That ended our weekend which has been a tough one."
‘Safety issues’;
https://racingnews365.com/ocon-expla...nza-retirement
Gasly: Alpine needs to understand "super painful" Monza F1 weekend
16:00 Wed, 06 Sep 2023.
By: Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com
While Gasly explained that Alpine had expected to struggle in Monza, that didn't make its weekend any less of a blow. "The most important thing is really to understand and quantify where that drop of performance is coming from and come back next year with a stronger package," he explained.
"Because I'm going past Carlos [Sainz] last week on track, same tyres, on pure pace, and this weekend he's standing on the podium, and I'm almost a lap down. We knew it's a very power-sensitive track, but still, it seems like it's not only [that], it's the whole package, which has got to be better for this track."
"I think we will have another update coming quite soon. There is a clear trend in terms of the type of tracks where we are more and less competitive. And I think that's something we need to work on for next year, to just have a package, more rounded package which works everywhere."
"Super Painful";
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/g...kend/10516678/
Gasly identifies positives following Alpine management upheaval
06 September 11:25AM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Pierre Gasly has seen a positive reaction at Alpine to the mass exodus of senior leadership just prior to the summer break. "With the changes, it can always go either way, people can receive it positively or negatively," Gasly told media including RacingNews365.
"It is out of my control, and coming back from the summer break, I really tried to assess the mood inside the team and try to understand from the mechanics' and the engineers' points of view as to how the change was received.”
"To be fair, it's been positive and there have been promotions within the team, such as Rob Cherry from Chief Mechanic to Team Manager. There have been a couple of promotions and people have seen it as a good opportunity. I don't want to make any conclusions as it needs time, but I must say that the mood [within the team] is definitely up."
‘Gasly identifies positives’;
https://racingnews365.com/gasly-iden...ement-upheaval
Alpine boss opens up on sackings: ‘They promised me things that were not kept’
08 Sep 2023 7:00 PM
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com
The Renault CEO said he was promised things that were not kept after a wave of firings within the Alpine F1 team. Otmar Szafnauer and Alan Permane both lost their jobs before the summer break while former Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi was moved away from the F1 operation to a vague ‘special projects’ role.
Renault boss Luca de Meo has been speaking about why he felt a change was needed. “They promised me things that were not kept,” he told the Italian edition of Motorsport.com. “When you tell your boss something, then you have to do it: it’s in the dynamics of a company.”
“It seemed like a brutal action, and it was, but we are behind what we set ourselves as goals. Not that I forced them to set targets, but they set them themselves: they communicated them and this didn’t work because we didn’t have the right trajectory.”
‘Brutal action’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine...mise-not-kept/
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Helmut Marko’s latest praise for Liam Lawson mounts pressure on Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo.
Helmut Marko has revealed Liam Lawson could be in contention for a full-time F1 seat if his great form continues, mounting the pressure on Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo.
6 Sep 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Lawson has impressed during his first two F1 outings, finishing a solid 11th at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend. The 21-year-old is expected to remain at AlphaTauri for the next two races as Ricciardo continues to recover from wrist surgery.
Speaking on ServusTV, Marko has been impressed with how Lawson has been performing in F1 2023, declaring “the speed is there”. “Liam has been with us for a while. He is a tough but very smart man in a fight, a bit like Bruce McLaren. This is certainly someone for the future. The speed was there [last weekend in Italy], and that is a good sign.”
“The speed is there”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103518...noda-ricciardo
Marko: ‘Things can move quickly’ with Lawson 2024 F1 chances
08:20 Sat, 09 Sep 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has said “things can move quickly” regarding Liam Lawson’s chances of securing a 2024 Formula 1 seat with AlphaTauri.
“He is now second in the Super Formula in Japan – a very tough class,” Marko discussed. “Those cars are faster than in Formula 2, but because it is in Japan, there is not much attention to it here. Maybe he can still win there.”
“Whether he will be in a car (full-time) or be a reserve driver? As we have already seen, things can move quickly, and we only have four seats. He has shown that he is good enough for Formula 1, and now he has to confirm that in the coming races.”
‘Things can move quickly’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...24-f1-chances/
Lawson disappointed to miss F1 points in Monza
Monday 4th September, 2023 - 11:33am
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Liam Lawson was left disappointed after missing out on a points-paying result for Scuderia AlphaTauri in the F1 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The New Zealander, in just his second Formula 1 appearance and his first full weekend at the wheel, finished 11th after 51 laps of racing.
“More and more comfortable, but just a little bit disappointed with the race,” Lawson said of his second Formula 1 race. “We maybe had the pace for points, I’m not sure, we have to look into it. I had a bad start, and that’s where we really lost the chance. A bit disappointed to be so close.”
“I had a bad start”;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/09/04...-points-monza/
Lawson describes 'lost chance' in Italian GP.
04 September 9:30PM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Lawson felt there was one area that prevented a points finish when discussing the race with media, including RacingNews365: "We maybe had the pace for points, I'm not sure we'll have to look into it. But I had a bad start that's where we think really lost the chance. I am a bit disappointed to be so close [to points]."
The AlphaTauri driver is still getting used to the longer F1 race distances, having mostly ran shortened races in Super Formula throughout the 2023 season. "These races are longer than I'm used to, so I’m definitely adjusting [to it]," said Lawson. "It's been something I've been working on for a while. For Singapore I have no idea what's going to happen right now [and if Ricciardo will come back], so I'll prepare like normal."
'Lost chance';
https://racingnews365.com/lawson-des...-in-italian-gp
Sky F1 pundit identifies ‘problem’ for Liam Lawson after eye-catching Monza display
04 Sep 2023 4:30 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Sky F1 pundit Anthony Davidson fears Yuki Tsunoda’s Italian Grand Prix DNS will make it tough for Red Bull and AlphaTauri to form a proper evaluation of Liam Lawson’s performance at Monza.
He said: “Some good overtakes there as he worked his way back through the field, so he didn’t lose his nerve when he got a bad start. The only problem to him, of course, is that he didn’t have his team-mate as a reference throughout the whole race.”
“As soon as we saw Tsunoda go out, I’m sure that was a negative effect, I feel, for Liam Lawson because I can’t look at the job he did today and have a barometer. So maybe the car was better than what he showed, we’ll never know.”
‘Barometer’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/sky-f1...-lawson-monza/
Lawson 'disappointed' to miss out on points in Italian GP
05/09/2023 at 10:24
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
F1 rookie Liam Lawson cast a disappointed figure after the Italian Grand Prix, the AlphaTauri charger left to ponder what may have been after just missing out on a top-ten finish at Monza. "More and more comfortable, but just a little bit disappointed with the race," Lawson said as he described his afternoon at the Temple of Speed.
At Monza, the Red Bull protégé enjoyed a trouble-free three days of running, in the dry, that proved invaluable for his experience and progress. "Much, much more prepared, to be honest, but unfortunately not enough to fight for points," he said. "It definitely helps with all the work we did leading up, and I feel much more comfortable with the car."
'Disappointed to miss out on points’;
https://f1i.com/news/486143-lawson-d...talian-gp.html
Tsunoda says ‘lots of positives’ to take from Monza despite failing to start race
05 September 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Yuki Tsunoda’s Italian Grand Prix failed to get going when on the formation lap he pulled over to the side of the track as smoke came from his AlphaTauri. However, the Japanese driver was still able to see the positive side of things as he looked forward to Singapore.
Speaking to the media after the incident, Tsunoda talked through what had happened, explaining: “First of all, I heard something with the sounds from the gearbox, or an engine sound. And after that I didn’t feel any torque or something like that from my engine or the gearbox.”
‘Lots of positives’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...yoAOGMJcV.html
Tsunoda enjoying Lawson relationship at AlphaTauri
Wednesday 6th September, 2023 - 2:46am
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Yuki Tsunoda has hailed the “good environment” inside AlphaTauri given his prior friendship with new team-mate Liam Lawson.
“He’s learning a lot,” said Tsunoda, when asked by Speedcafe as to how his partnership with Lawson was developing. “I don’t have to say anything to him. Obviously, if he asks something then I’ll always answer. But we’ve a good relationship. We were already friends from the past, so there’s been no awkwardness or anything like that.”
“We’ve been able to speak to one another quite naturally, as a friend, which has made for a good environment in the team. The team is supporting Liam a lot to build up his faith and confidence, but he’s doing quite a good job, so we’re happy.”
“Good environment”;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/09/06...-relationship/
Tsunoda ‘less worried than last year’ about AlphaTauri F1 future
15:47 Tue, 05 Sep 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
When asked about his thoughts on next year with his place on the grid not yet confirmed, Tsunoda said ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix last month: “I’m probably less worried than last year. Because like I said, I think as a driver position I am in the team a lot different compared last year.
“And so far I heard from Red Bull they’re happy with it, so… Still, I know what I can improve like what I can… I know I can have a big step [to be a] more better driver. So I’m not really worried about that, and I’m not really stressing with that. More focusing to what they want me to improve, and I know what they want me to improve.
‘Focusing to what they want me to improve’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...uri-f1-future/
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Marko’s comments about Perez have to stop.
This cannot keep happening to Sergio Perez. He deserves better than to have to grin and bear derogatory remarks from a senior figure in Red Bull’s Formula 1 organisation. The way Helmut Marko talks about him needs to stop.
14:51 Fri, 08 Sep 2023.
By Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
Marko’s questioning of Perez’s supposed ‘Mexican mentality’ is just the latest of many comments about where Perez comes from, used in a critical context. A non-exhaustive list includes suggesting Perez need not be scared about the nearby missile strike in Saudi Arabia last year because Mexico City (the city Perez isn’t even from) is also dangerous, joking that Perez may have been drinking tequila the night before the French Grand Prix because he was ‘asleep’ at a safety car restart, indicating that Perez has ups and downs because he is “South American” and making that same point (and geographical error) again with comments this week to apparently explain why Perez’s head is not as focused as that of Max Verstappen or Sebastian Vettel.
It’s one thing to scrutinise or even criticise Perez as an F1 driver for his performance. It’s quite another to lazily assert that perceived deficiencies exist because he is Mexican. It would seem odd if Marko set out to offend Perez or anyone else. But that doesn’t really matter, not least because ignorance is not an excuse for someone so prominent who has done this so often.
In the apology eventually shared on Marko’s behalf he stresses he does not advocate generalising about the people from any country, any race, or any ethnicity. But his various previous marks made it clear Marko believes the ‘Mexican mentality’ is not only a real thing but absolutely a factor to consider in explaining problems within Perez’s performances. Perez has talked about this before. Primarily, he experienced it before he got to F1. But it is a concern that has persisted. And if anyone believed it was fictionalised, Marko’s comments are a clear counterargument to that.
‘Marko’s comments about Perez have to stop’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/marko...-have-to-stop/
Marko’s Insensitive Slur on Perez’s Heritage Creates Uproar
September 8, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
The Red Bull advisor has been known to publicly criticise the Mexican driver on numerous occasions following Perez’s subpar performance in the first stint of the ongoing campaign. However, Christian Horner has been working to reassure Perez of his place in the team for the upcoming season.
Neither Red Bull nor Sergio Perez have issued a statement regarding the situation. However, Marko’s comments have sparked a significant backlash from fans. Helmut Marko had previously implied that Perez’s South American heritage might be a factor behind his inconsistent performance.
“As a South American, he generally has a lot of ups and downs,” Marko told Sky Germany in 2022. Max is not afraid, and Perez is very scared, although it isn’t different from how he lives in Mexico City.”
‘Christian Horner has been working to reassure Perez of his place in the team for the upcoming season’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/markos-ins...reates-uproar/
Mexico City GP throw support behind Sergio Perez after Helmut Marko comments
09 Sep 2023 1:00 PM
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com
The Mexico City Grand Prix organisers have defended Sergio Perez after Helmut Marko made another xenophobic slur against him. The Mexico City Grand Prix organisers have become the latest to support Perez.
“At the Mexico GP we express our support to the Mexican driver, Sergio “Checo” Perez,” the organisers said on social media. “Inappropriate comments have no place in any environment, including sport.”
“It is important that action is taken to prevent it and that apologies are made where necessary. We invite everyone to build a more respectful and united Formula 1 community, encouraging healthy competition both on and off the track.”
‘Mexico City GP throw support behind Sergio Perez’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/mexico...arko-comments/
Marko apologises for 'offensive' comment on Perez.
Helmut Marko has apologized for publicly suggesting that Sergio Perez's fluctuating form in F1 this season is rooted in the Mexican's ethnicity, after the Austrian was hit with a wave of criticism.
08/09/2023 at 18:08
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Marko found himself in hot water across the internet last Monday after his initial remarks, but the former F1 driver's awkward "clarification" properly submerged him on social media on Friday. The magnitude of the backlash was such that late in the day, the Red Bull motorsport boss felt compelled to issue a formal apology.
"Concerning my remark about Sergio Perez, ServusTV Sport and Talk, Monday September 4: I would like to apologise for my offensive remark and want to make it absolutely clear that I do not believe that we can generalise about the people from any country, any race, any ethnicity," Marko stated.
‘Apologized’;
https://f1i.com/news/486327-marko-ap...-on-perez.html
Helmut Marko issues public apology to Sergio Perez – F1 news round-up
08 Sep 2023 11:00 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko made reference to Sergio Perez and his nationality (both in a derogatory and incorrect fashion) when discussing his performances alongside Max Verstappen.
In praising his performance on Red Bull-owned ServusTV, Marko raised eyebrows for this line in particular: “Let’s remember that he is South American and so his head is not as focused as Max Verstappen or as Sebastian Vettel was, but racing is his forte and he had a very good race.”
‘Public apology to Sergio Perez’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-new...marko-apology/
Red Bull luminary apologises over Sergio Perez comments
Sat, 9 September 2023 2:06AM
Staff Writers Reuters
The West Australian
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko, one of the leading figures in the dominant Formula One team, has apologised for blaming Mexican driver Sergio Perez's fluctuating form on his ethnicity. It was not the first time Marko has referred to Perez as a South American, although the Mexican comes from Guadalajara which is geographically in North America.
South America has also produced more Formula One world champions than any country other than Britain and some of the sport's greatest drivers. An attempt by Marko to clarify his comments only dug a deeper hole.
The www.oe24.at website on Friday reported Marko as saying: "It wasn't meant that way. I meant that a Mexican has a different mentality than a German or a Dutchman. But who knows, maybe it's controlled." The initial comments made headlines in Mexico and across the internet.
‘South America has also produced more Formula One world champions than any country other than Britain and some of the sport's greatest drivers’ (Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, Juan Manuel Fangio);
https://thewest.com.au/sport/motorsp...nts-c-11847306
Marko releases statement following controversial Perez comments
Friday 8 September 2023 18:27 - Updated: 18:57
Sam Cook
GPFans
Red Bull's advisor Helmut Marko has apologised over comments he made about Sergio Perez, stating his mental focus isn't as consistent as Max Verstappen's because 'he's South American.' Perez has come in for lots of criticism from Marko for his below-par performances this season, but none quite so controversial as this.
Perez is currently second in the drivers' world championship, 145 points behind his team-mate Verstappen. Together, they have won every race this season in the dominant RB19 car but, whilst Verstappen has won 12 races, Perez has only managed two victories.
"I would like to apologise for my offensive remark and want to make it absolutely clear that I do not believe that we can generalise about the people from any country, any race, any ethnicity," he said. "I was trying to make a point that Checo has fluctuated in his performance this year, but it was wrong to attribute this to his cultural heritage."
"I would like to apologise”;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...rican-apology/
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Ferrari squeezed engines at Monza.
Dr Helmut Marko has backed Fernando Alonso's suspicion that Ferrari's sudden surge in performance at Monza last weekend might be short-lived.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2023
GrandPrix.com.
It is the Ferrari circuit, Spaniard Alonso, who raced for the Maranello based team for five years until 2014, said after Ferrari's impressive outing at the Italian GP.
For years they have put in a new engine or done special things like that for that race, but the world championship is 22 races, the Aston Martin driver added.
Red Bull team advisor Marko echoes Alonso's sentiments. We knew that Ferrari would put everything possible into Monza, he told Servus TV. "They went to the maximum and squeezed out the last horsepower.”
‘Ferrari squeezed engines’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/ferra...-at-monza.html
Vasseur says he ‘really appreciated’ Sainz and Leclerc’s intra-team tussle in closing stages of Italian GP
07 September 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Fred Vasseur has reflected on the late battle between his drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the Italian Grand Prix, the “completely unique” experience of being the Ferrari Team Principal at Monza, and the team’s progress in the championship.
Speaking after the action, Vasseur opened up on his decision to let the two drivers continue to fight, before explaining why he felt it was the right call to make for the team despite the risk of them potentially colliding with each other.
“On this, I tend to have the last call, and I told them to race but no risk,” said Vasseur. “But I was much more comfortable with this situation than to freeze… For sure it was a bit of a strange feeling, but I’m a fan of ‘let them race’.
‘Really appreciated’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...aOelgsLZh.html
Jacques Villeneuve’s ‘chaos’ theory which is exposing Charles Leclerc
07 Sep 2023 5:15 PM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Jacques Villeneuve believes Carlos Sainz is currently the stronger driver at Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc letting frustration get the better of him. Speaking to PlanetF1.com in an exclusive interview at Monza, 1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve said he doesn’t believe Ferrari will be the team to topple Red Bull from their perch at the top of F1.
Asked why he feels the Scuderia aren’t his pick, Villeneuve said there is a clear lack of direction currently within the Italian squad. “It’s chaos,” he said. “The car is difficult to drive and, right now, Charles Leclerc is not driving with confidence, and he’s making too many mistakes.”
“That’s not helping the team moving forward. But Carlos Sainz is the better driver right now at Ferrari. So there isn’t the driving force coming from the drivers the same way that Max [Verstappen] is doing, that [Fernando] Alonso is doing that, that Lewis [Hamilton] is doing. Drivers need to push the team and, right now, the Ferrari drivers aren’t really doing it.”
‘Jacques Villeneuve’s ‘chaos’ theory’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/jacque...aotic-ferrari/
Former F1 champ claims Leclerc under MORE pressure than Ferrari team-mate
Friday 8 September 2023 06:57
Sam Cook
GPFans
F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi has said that Charles Leclerc's seat at Ferrari is less secure than Carlos Sainz Jr's. "In my opinion, Leclerc is under more pressure than Sainz," two-time world champion Fittipaldi told Tuttosport.
"The Monegasque wants to achieve results that are not arriving, while the Spaniard seems to be more consistent in the race.” While both drivers' short-term future at Ferrari is certain, the team may look at other options if they produce a better car next season that isn't being converted into consistent podium-finishes.
Fittipaldi admits it is tough for Ferrari drivers, with the pressure being more than at any other team. "A certain pressure can be created in the team and on a mental level it can make things more complicated for Leclerc. He must act with more calm, so he will make fewer mistakes."
‘Leclerc under MORE pressure’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...more-pressure/
Ferrari promise 2024 challenger will be 'very different'
10 September 12:10PM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365
Ferrari's Head of Aero Development Enrico Cardile has claimed that the team's 2024 challenger will be "very different" compared to their current car. Cardile said the team will produce an entirely new concept, which RacingNews365 Technical Analyst Paolo Filisetti explored in a recent piece.
Next years car will not be an evolution: "It [2024 car] will be very different, because developing this year’s car we realised that some architectural choices we made were not right," Cardile explained to media including RacingNews365. It was constraining the development too much.”
"Next year’s car will not be an evolution of this year’s car like this year’s car has been compared to last year’s car. It will be a brand new car – different chassis with different design, different rear end to allow our aero [department] to better develop the car to achieve their targets."
‘It will be a brand new car’;
https://racingnews365.com/ferraris-2...very-different
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Max Verstappen winds up Toto Wolff with 'six-time world champion' jibe at Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen has fired subtle digs at both Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton by claiming the Brit has only won the world title six times.
12:32, 11 Sep 2023
By Daniel Orme Football Writer
The Mirror
Reigning World champion Max Verstappen has fired a dig at both Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton after comments the former made following his record-breaking victory at the Italian Grand Prix. Speaking shortly after his victory on home soil, he admitted that he wasn’t totally sure how many pieces of silverware his fierce rival had won.
"With Lewis, I don't know for sure but I mean for someone who has won six world championships, you must know,” Verstappen said, to which the reporter corrected him by stating that Hamilton actually has seven titles to his name. The 25-year-old then had a cheeky retort of: "Are you sure it's seven, not six?" That appeared to be an attempt to point to Felipe Massa’s attempts to be recognised as the 2008 world champion having agonisingly lost out to Hamilton.
The exchange between the journalist and Verstappen continued with the latter telling the current F1 leader to "look it up" as it is "in the history books". Verstappen then fired his dig towards Wolff with his final comment. "I mean, I'm not very sure, you know,” he added. "I don't read Wikipedia."
‘Subtle digs’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-jibe-30911453
Toto Wolff would throw a title away in the name of integrity
10 Sep 2023 9:45 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Toto Wolff insists when Mercedes eventually reel in Red Bull it will be done the right way as he’d rather lose a championship than “break the rules in an intentional way”. Unlike Lewis Hamilton who’d like the FIA to intervene for the “better” of the sport, Wolff believes it’s for the teams to reel in Red Bull.
“As a team principal, I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon that others have done in the past of saying we need to change the regulations because we can’t continue with the dominance of a team,” he told the media including PlanetF1.com. “If a team dominates in the way Max has done with Red Bull then fair dues, this is a meritocracy.”
“As long as you comply with the regulations; technical, sporting, and financial, you just need to say well done and it’s up to us to catch up. If that takes a long time then it takes a long time. I remember people crying foul when it was us. Entertainment follows sport and not the other way around. We can’t be WWE, with scripted content. We don’t want to be scripted content.”
‘Throw a title away in the name of integrity’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...-of-integrity/
Toto Wolff warns that F1 must not become “scripted content” like WWE wrestling
10 Sep 2023
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net
Toto Wolff does not want new regulations to slow down Red Bull - because F1 must not become “scripted content” like WWE wrestling. Red Bull are currently riding high in one of F1’s best-ever seasons - they have won all 15 grands prix in 2023, and Max Verstappen is cruising to a third consecutive championship.
But Mercedes team principal Wolff does not advocate for new rules which would slow down dominant teams, and enable others to catch up. "As a team principal, I don't want to jump on the bandwagon that others have done of saying 'we need to change the regulations because we can't continue with the dominance of a team'," Wolff said.
‘WWE wrestling’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103548...-wwe-wrestling
‘Mercedes don’t seem to have a clue how to do what Red Bull are doing’
11 Sep 2023 4:30 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
F1 commentator Peter Windsor feels there is no sign yet that Mercedes have “any clue” how to close the gap to F1 2023’s unbeaten Red Bull team. Appearing via a recent YouTube stream, he said: “You’ve got to say, if you’re the factory Mercedes team, the customer teams are uncomfortably close, aren’t they?”
“And when Mercedes have to say post-race [at Monza], ‘Wow, we were the third-quickest car after Red Bull and Ferrari’, it wasn’t that brilliant. I mean, who did they beat? Their customers, basically – that’s not much to write home about.”
“The fact that they are writing home about that just shows you the trouble that Mercedes are in and they don’t seem – on the face of it, what we’re seeing at the moment in the raw evidence – to have any clue yet how to do what Red Bull are doing.
“Not much to write home about”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/merced...clue-red-bull/
Toto Wolff slams Lewis Hamilton's F1 rivals in rant over Italian Grand Prix penalty
Lewis Hamilton was penalised for causing a collision with Oscar Piastri which damaged the front wing of the McLaren and ruined the Aussie driver's race at Monza
10:39, 4 Sep 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Lewis Hamilton was remorseful, though, as he made a point of going straight over to Piastri in parc ferme after the race to apologise. Mercedes chief Wolff expressed his pride with the way Hamilton had conducted himself. But, as he heaped praise upon his driver, he took a swipe at others on the F1 grid – without mentioning any names – claiming that few of them would have had the moral fortitude to do the same.
"That was Lewis' mistake," the Austrian said of the incident. "I think a five-second penalty for that is it what the menu says. These things happen, it's hard racing. You've got to overtake here and seen a few of these. So it's justifiable."
And regarding Hamilton's actions after, he added: "He's very sportsmanlike with these things. He is the only one that I see out there admitting, saying, he got this wrong. We just had a chat, he didn't see him on the right and it goes on [him]. I think that kind of sportsmanship is what you need to admire with him. Pretty much everyone [else] is always complaining and moaning, just to try to not get a penalty."
‘Toto Wolff slams Lewis Hamilton's F1 rivals’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...astri-30857076
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First Lewis Hamilton, now calls for Michael Schumacher to be stripped of maiden F1 title.
After Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 title triumph was the subject of a legal dispute by Felipe Massa, a respected F1 reporter has called for Michael Schumacher to be stripped of the first of his seven World Championships too.
Mon, 11 September 2023 at 9:30 pm BST
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Comments by former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone earlier this year prompted former Ferrari driver Massa to launch a legal challenge against the result of the 2008 World Championship, with the Brazilian’s unhappiness surrounding that year’s highly controversial Singapore Grand Prix.
In a recent interview with Swiss-German publication Blick about his long career covering Formula 1, legendary journalist Roger Benoit admitted he only regards Schumacher as a six-time World Champion – claiming the 1994 should not be attributed to him. Asked if he considers Schumacher to be the greatest racing driver of all time, Benoit said: “As a six-time World Champion, he certainly belongs in the top five.”
Pressed on why he referred to Schumacher as only a six-time title winner, he replied: “Of course, I know that he was World Champion seven times. But the 1994 title should actually be taken away from him, because he only won it because of his foul on Damon Hill.”
‘Roger Benoit admitted he only regards Schumacher as a six-time World Champion – claiming the 1994 should not be attributed to him’;
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/fir...203000479.html
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...pped-f1-title/
Felipe Massa "expecting" help from F1 ally in legal fight for Lewis Hamilton's 2008 title
Massa is trying to legally overturn the result of the 2008 F1 championship in his favour, having agonisingly lost out to Hamilton in the dying moments of the season finale
16:12, 6 Sep 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Earlier this year, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said in an interview that he and then-FIA chief Max Mosley knew about Crashgate in 2008, but did not act. His words alerted Massa, who quickly sought legal advice, believing that bosses' inaction over the matter denied him the championship.
A legal letter was sent to both F1 and the FIA by Massa's lawyers, who are reportedly seeking substantial damages for their client. And, judging by the Brazilian's latest comments to Italian broadcaster TG1, he also hopes to take that title from Hamilton.
"I have one certainty – that title is mine and it is Ferrari's 16th drivers' title," he said. "I have hired a team of very strong lawyers. We will fight to the end to obtain justice in this sport. I don't understand why a case of manipulation cannot be verified in the way right, even if a year, two years or 15 years later."
"I have one certainty – that title is mine and it is Ferrari's 16th drivers' title";
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...title-30878640
Brazilian lawyers give F1 and FIA new deadline in Massa 2008 case
11 September 3:25PM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365
The legal team that is advising Felipe Massa in the attempt to overturn the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship result has extended the deadline for the FIA and FOM to respond to a Letter Before Claim until mid-October. The initial deadline set in September was extended to October according to Bernardo Viana, a partner at law firm Vieira Rezende Advogados.
"The ball is on their court, we've been waiting for their response," Viana told Reuters. "They asked for more time, until mid-October, and in good faith we have agreed to that." Massa started his legal action earlier this year, following an interview that surfaced with Bernie Ecclestone.
The Brazilian's lawyers now expect to see Lewis Hamilton, who went on to win the 2008 World Championship, to support their claims. "He is an important ambassador for the sport and has always defended sporting integrity. He is an honorary Brazilian citizen and very well liked by Brazilians, so I hope he will support us," Viana said. "We have absolutely nothing against Hamilton."
"The ball is on their court, we've been waiting for their response";
https://racingnews365.com/brazilian-...assa-2008-case
Felipe Massa has one aim in legal battle for Lewis Hamilton's F1 title as lawyer opens up
Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has launched a legal claim to try and overturn the result of the 2008 Formula One Championship, won by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton
16:10, 11 Sep 2023
By Felix Keith Sports Reporter
It is an admission that Massa and his team believe means the race should have been cancelled. Massa’s lawyer, Bernardo Viana, has given the sport's governing body, the FIA, until mid-October to respond to a Letter Before Claim sent to them in August.
"The objective is to bring the trophy home. It's not financial,” Viana told Motorsport.com. "To get there, several measures will be taken with different aims, some to obtain information and others to obtain statements. We want everything that happened in 2008/09 to come to light.”
He added: “We understand that there is even more information that has not been made public." Massa has assembled a legal team which also includes Nick De Marco, the sports law barrister who represented Newcastle in their legal battle with the Premier League over the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund takeover.
‘Felipe Massa has one aim in legal battle’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-2008-30914501
Former F1 driver Felipe Massa ready to go to court as he claims he was 'robbed' of 2008 title
Published: 00:00, 1 September 2023
By Associated Press
Mail Online
SAO PAULO (AP) - Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa says he is ready to take Formula One's governing body to court to press his claims that he was "robbed" of the 2008 title, which he lost by one point to Lewis Hamilton. The Brazilian added he is "100% ready" to take the case to court if he hears nothing back before then.
"I trust and I really believe that for justice that we will show what happened was not correct," the 42-year-old Massa told the AP at his apartment in Sao Paulo. "I am the champion, and I feel that. I feel that I have the title. The 16th champion of Formula One for Ferrari. We proved that season that we deserved it."
Massa's claim centers around an infamous crash by Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr. in Singapore in 2008, which led to a drawn-out scandal the following year after claims that he had crashed deliberately in order to help teammate Fernando Alonso win the race.
‘Robbed of 2008 title’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap...008-title.html
Felipe Massa Won’t Attend Italian GP as F1 Ambassador Because It’d Be Awkward
Due to Massa’s legal action against F1 for his 2008 championship loss, F1 asked Massa not to attend the Italian GP at all.
PUBLISHED Sep 2, 2023 3:30 PM EDT
byChris Rosales
The Drive
You ever had a really big argument with your parents, but you still have to show up to a family dinner right afterward? Well, that’s Felipe Massa right now. Except he was asked not to show up at all to the 2023 Formula 1 Italian GP because of his pending legal action against F1 for his 2008 championship loss.
According to Autosport, a spokesperson for Massa said that “high-ranking” F1 officials called Massa on Monday and asked him not to attend the race. This comes after initial reports that Massa was asked not to attend as an F1 ambassador and could attend as a private individual. It seems that both parties came to an agreement after Massa purchased flight tickets to get to Monza.
‘It’d Be Awkward’;
https://www.thedrive.com/news/felipe...se-its-awkward
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Peter Windsor: Red Bull’s Rivals Should Feel ‘SHAME’ for Their Struggles.
Former Formula 1 team manager Peter Windsor has expressed strong criticism of Red Bull’s competitors, suggesting that they should feel a sense of disappointment in their ongoing struggle to keep pace with the dominant championship leaders.
September 10, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
Former Formula 1 team manager Peter Windsor has expressed strong criticism of Red Bull’s competitors, suggesting that they should feel a sense of disappointment in their ongoing struggle to keep pace with the dominant championship leaders.
“We’re now [in] 2023, they’ve had three years of working with this thing and they still can’t get the cars to work properly.”
“If it wasn’t for Red Bull you’d have to be saying: ‘There’s something wrong here. All these incredible Formula 1 teams with their sophisticated technology cannot get this thing to work on a consistent basis’.”
‘Red Bull’s Rivals Should Feel ‘SHAME’ ’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/peter-wind...eir-struggles/
Verstappen and Perez offer Singapore hope to F1 rivals
Monday 11th September, 2023 - 6:33pm
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have offered a crumb of comfort to their F1 rivals by suggesting that next weekend’s race in Singapore could be one where Red Bull finally struggles.
Offering his thoughts on how he feels he and Red Bull will fare in Singapore, Verstappen said: “A little bit more difficult, I think, for us, but we’ll see. We’ll do our best and, of course, we’ll try to go in there and win it again. But it’s not, let’s say, going to be the strongest weekend for us.”
Perez concurred with Verstappen, adding: “I think so. I agree with Max. It’s going to be a weekend where basically anything can happen, and hopefully we are able to have a very strong Saturday because if you don’t start on the front row, it’s very unlikely you will have a shot at the victory. Hopefully, we can repeat what we did there last year.”
“A little bit more difficult, I think, for us, but we’ll see”;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/09/11...-singapore-gp/
Horner makes Red Bull claim to achieve historic F1 record
11 September 7:30AM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Christian Horner believes Red Bull must "stay at the top of their game" if they want to achieve a historic 100% win record for their season. When asked what it will take to stop them from winning every race, Horner told media including RacingNews365: "There are so many elements whether its reliability, luck, strategy, a pitstop, pace, weather..."
"You've got to stay on top of your game. For me that's the most remarkable achievement this year so far; that we haven't dropped the ball. We've managed to keep operating at an incredibly high level and that's something which has not been seen before."
"Stay at the top of their game";
https://racingnews365.com/horner-mak...oric-f1-record
Legendary McLaren F1 car designer hails Adrian Newey as ‘the greatest ever’
11 Sep 2023 5:15 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Steve Nichols, the man behind the legendary McLaren MP4/4 car of 1998, has hailed Red Bull’s Adrian Newey as “the greatest ever” designer in F1 history. He told the Top Gear website: “I suppose I would have preferred to win [in Italy in 1988] but from a sporting point of view it’s quite nice that we missed the one race.”
“It gives somebody a good shot at having a perfect season. The way things are going this year, it looks like that may come to pass. Inevitably, it would be a great achievement. It’s a large credit to their designer Adrian Newey. He’s been a hero of mine and in my opinion he’s the greatest ever. He’s incredible, isn’t he? Such a long-lived career and so many successes. It’s really quite remarkable.”
“What we created that year in ‘88 was the most successful Formula 1 car that there’s ever been. I think it’s important to say ‘the most successful’ because it’s not necessarily the greatest Formula 1 car ever. You can’t compare the [1992 Williams] FW14B with the MP4/4, like we can’t compare the MP4/4 with the Lotus 25.
‘The greatest ever’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclare...-adrian-newey/
Gerhard Berger places Max Verstappen’s talent above that of both Schumacher and Hamilton.
September 10, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
Amidst a season where Max Verstappen is challenging the records of Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, Gerhard Berger openly rates the Red Bull driver higher than the two seven-time World Champions.
With five more years remaining on his Red Bull contract and no significant regulation changes until 2026, it’s not far-fetched to imagine Verstappen chasing after Hamilton and Schumacher’s seven World titles or Hamilton’s 103 race wins. This remarkable performance has led Berger to declare that Verstappen ranks alongside triple World Champion Ayrton Senna as one of the best Formula 1 drivers he has ever witnessed.
“Verstappen and Senna are unique in the business – they are the two best I have seen in the last 50 years,” he told Kronen Zeitung. “Schumacher and Hamilton are also exceptional drivers. Of course, you should always look at the statistics, they are both fantastic. But Senna died early – and Verstappen is still young.”
‘Verstappen ranks alongside triple World Champion Ayrton Senna as one of the best Formula 1 drivers he has ever witnessed’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/gerhard-be...-and-hamilton/
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Aston Martin: ‘Lucky for us’ Alpine cared about Alonso’s age.
Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack says the side remains grateful that Alpine failed to tie down Fernando Alonso last year due to concerns regarding his age.
09:37 Mon, 11 Sep 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Rumours emerged that Alpine was intent on only offering a one-year deal with an option included amid concerns about Alonso’s age rather than the guaranteed multi-year agreement the driver was searching for.
Krack alleviates no doubt about Alonso, 42, remaining at the top level, asserting that the thinking behind athletes dropping away with age is now an outdated belief.
“I think, with the right discipline and the right motivation, he will perform without problems. You look at Valentino Rossi, for example, or you look at tennis players, [like Roger] Federer, he had a very long career,” Krack told the Spanish side of Motorsport.com.
‘EL PLAN: Lucky for us’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...t-alonsos-age/
Mike Krack takes a dig at Alpine: Fernando Alonso’s age is just a number.
The 42-year-old Spanish F1 driver has left Aston Martin more than impressed in 2023.
September 12, 2023
By Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Aston Martin pounced to sign the Spaniard after Alpine dithered in offering a contract extension to Alonso given their concerns over his age, which then prompted a swap of Enstone for Silverstone. “It’s not a decision I make alone,” Krack said to Motorsport.com, regarding the drivers hired. “We have Lawrence [Stroll], we have Martin [Whitmarsh] and we discuss those things.”
“I can only say, that at the level he is working, age is just a number, with the right discipline and motivation, he will perform without a problem. You see Valentino Rossi, for example, or you see tennis players like [Roger] Federer, they had a very long career. Maybe we have to change our mentality a little bit.”
‘EL PLAN: Aston Martin pounced to sign the Spaniard after Alpine dithered’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...do-alonso-age/
Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin ‘don’t make big mistakes, like some of our competitors’
12 Sep 2023 9:00 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Despite losing third place to Ferrari at Monza, Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin can take encouragement from a season in which they’re “not making big mistakes like some of our competitors”.
Quick out of the blocks at the start of the campaign, Aston Martin struggled to maintain their position as the second quickest team on the grid and, as of Monza, have fallen to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. It’s been a notable decline with just two podiums in the last seven races compared to Alonso’s five in the first seven grands prix. He is, however, still sitting P3 in the Drivers’ Championship.
“I think we are doing the job of executing the maximum from the car,” he told the media including PlanetF1.com. “Sometimes unfortunately it’s ninth, sometimes it’s second. We are not doing mistakes. We are doing good strategy, good pit stops, not making big mistakes like some of our competitors, [like] they made at the beginning of the year.”
‘EL PLAN: Executing the maximum from the car’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...-big-mistakes/
Alonso looking to be 'candidate' for VICTORY in Singapore
Monday 11 September 2023 06:57
Sam Cook
GPFans
Fernando Alonso has said that he hopes to be a 'candidate' for the race win at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.. “Singapore will be better than Monza, that's for sure," he told Mundo Deportivo.
"But to win a race we already know how hard it is. With Red Bull performing at an incredible level every Sunday. We will see if we are one of the candidates for Singapore."
“EL PLAN: Singapore will be better than Monza”;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...re-grand-prix/
Alonso promised more aero efficient 2024 Aston Martin F1 car
12th Sept. 2023. 13:43
By: Adam Cooper
Motorsport.com
Alonso has urged the team to address efficiency, and McCullough agrees that it is a priority. "Fernando touched on the efficiency of the car," said McCullough when asked about the issue by Motorsport.com.
"It is an area where at the start of the year we were definitely one of the slower cars in the straight line. We worked on that with the base car, and also the rear wing levels that we brought [to Monza]. It's an area of improvement, and it is an area we need to improve more for next year, that's clear."
"The main architecture of the car, the whole car more than just the rear wings, the areas that we've worked on, there are a lot of elements that contribute to the efficiency of the car," he said.
‘EL PLAN: Address efficiency’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/a...-car/10519245/
Alonso wants 'new ideas' from Aston after 'anonymous' Italian GP
05/09/2023 at 09:06
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Fernando Alonso suggested that F1 fans would have been excused if they were left with the impression that he had sat out last weekend's Italian Grand Prix, for it was an "anonymous race that no one will remember" as far as the Aston Martin driver was concerned.
"I think the car and the efficiency of the car is maybe not as it should be for this kind of track," Alonso acknowledged. "It seems to have been our weakness and we know that. Now we need to get better and bring some new ideas. I think we are executing the maximum from the car. Sometimes unfortunately it’s ninth like today, sometimes its second like last week.”
"But we are not doing any mistakes, with the strategy or the pitstops – not making any big mistakes our competitors made at the beginning of the year so we have a good gap in terms of points. It’s getting closer, even Ferrari I think is ahead of us now with this result, so let’s bounce back in Singapore."
‘EL PLAN: Bounce back’;
https://f1i.com/news/486138-alonso-w...talian-gp.html
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IT’S RACE WEEK: 5 storylines we’re excited about ahead of the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
Eight rounds of the 2023 season remaining and it’s time for the flyaways to start once again with a stunning double-header in Singapore and Japan.
11 September 2023.
Chris Medland
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
There’s plenty to talk about as well after stepping off the plane so here are some of the topics expected to be doing the rounds at Marina Bay. Another challenge to Red Bull? The run of wins for Max Verstappen and Red Bull continued in Monza last time out, but they were both made to work hard for it, particularly in the first part of the race.
The intense battle for podiums: The beauty of that question above is that even if Red Bull retain an advantage over the rest of the field, the fight behind continues to be thrilling.
Final driver market pieces: On Thursday at the Italian Grand Prix, Mercedes announced contract extensions for both of their drivers that tie them into the team until the end of the 2025 season and leaves very few seats unconfirmed for next year.
The cost cap: One of the biggest pieces of news to come out since the paddock left Italy relates to the cost cap, as the FIA released their findings for 2022. All 10 teams have been found to be under the cap, in line with the Financial Regulations, and as a result have been issued their certificates of compliance.
A spectacular physical test: The original night race, Singapore has been one of the most iconic races on the calendar from its first appearance in 2008, with the stunning downtown location that sees the track winding its way through the city streets under floodlights.
‘5 storylines’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...0stgN0ZeR.html
Track changes, car changes, same winner? Six Singapore GP talking points
These are the talking points for the Singapore Grand Prix.
12th September 2023, 7:15
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
Trimmed-down track: After 13 races around the five kilometre street circuit with the only significant change being the removal of the unique but clumsy Singapore Sling chicane, this year’s Singapore Grand Prix will see the circuit take on a different look with the removal of the float sequence of turns 16 to 19 that saw drivers run along the waterfront before turning under the grandstand.
Flexibility clampdown: In response to concerns about how some teams may be skirting this rule, the FIA have issued a technical directive to all ten teams to make them aware that parts of the cars that could flex under load will be placed under increased scrutiny.
Stroll under scrutiny: It’s clear that Aston Martin need Stroll to raise his game if they are to have any chance of fighting for a top three finish over the final eight rounds of the championship.
Tying loose ends: Days after the Italian Grand Prix, the FIA announced all 10 teams that been certified as being under the 2022 budget cap, with no team found to have committed any material or procedural breaches of the financial restrictions over last season.
‘Singapore GP talking points’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/09/12/...alking-points/
POINTS PERMUTATIONS: Where and when Verstappen can become the 2023 F1 world champion
12 September 2023
Formula One - Official Site
With eight Grands Prix remaining, and three Sprints, there are still 232 points up for grabs, which means no chance for the Dutchman to mathematically end Perez’s hopes in Singapore and secure a third title on the bounce.
Instead, depending on results this weekend, the earliest Verstappen could clinch the title is the scene of his 2022 triumph, the Japanese Grand Prix, where he needs to depart with a lead of 180 points or more over Perez to put things beyond doubt.
Grand Prix Lead required afterwards
Japan 180
Qatar 146
United States 112
Mexico 86
Brazil 52
Las Vegas 26
Abu Dhabi -
‘POINTS PERMUTATIONS’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...DX0u0sIub.html
How Formula One Constructors' Championship can be won in Singapore
The 2023 F1 season is being dominated by Red Bull and their lead in the Constructors' Championship is so large they can win it as early as the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
18:39, Tue, Sep 12, 2023
By Liam Llewellyn
Daily and Sunday Express
Red Bull can clinch the 2023 F1 Constructors’ Championship at the Singapore Grand Prix - seven races before the end of the season. The team was dominant in 2022 but this season they have been untouchable and won every single race so far.
Following Sunday’s race, Red Bull will retain the Constructors' Championship if they lead the standings by 353 points or more. To have any chance of achieving this, Verstappen and Perez must finish first and second, just as they did at the Italian GP earlier this month.
‘1 – 2’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...nship-red-bull
Ferrari explains 'nasty' SF-23 traits that could affect Singapore chances
11 September 1:50PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Ferrari senior performance engineer Jock Clear has detailed some of the "nasty traits" of the SF-23 package that could make the Singapore Grand Prix a challenge for the team.
"Going into Zandvoort, we knew that it was a circuit that wasn't going to suit us and was going to expose the Achilles Heel of the car," Clear told media including RacingNews365. "We know that there are areas in this car that are really tricky, but it does remain a pretty quick car at most places, it just becomes trickier and trickier.”
"You saw that with Charles putting it in the wall in qualifying, so it is a car that is very much on the edge of circuits like that. With a perfect lap around there, we could have qualified third or fourth, which was the potential of the car, but that potential comes with huge risks at those circuits.”
'Nasty SF-23 traits’;
https://racingnews365.com/ferrari-ex...gapore-chances
Mercedes outline BOLD Singapore GP expectations after falling behind Ferrari
Sunday 10 September 2023 09:57
George Brabner
GPFans
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has expressed optimism for the Silver Arrows’ performance at the Singapore Grand Prix. Shovlin expects Mercedes to come back into their own on the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
He said in a Mercedes debrief after the Italian Grand Prix: “Well, we’re certainly hoping so [that Singapore will suit the W14 more than Monza], but there’s reason to think that the car will work better because Singapore is a maximum downforce circuit and our performance at the high downforce tracks, if you look at Barcelona, Budapest, even Zandvoort in the race the car was working well, we've had pretty strong performance.”
‘BOLD Singapore GP expectations’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...eorge-russell/
Mercedes has 'reason to think' fortunes will be better in Singapore
12 September 7:30AM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365
Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin expects the team's form will improve at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix. "The track though does throw up some pretty unique challenges and we've also got some layout changes for this year," said Shovlin.
"There is a sequence of four corners near the end of the lap that have been removed where the track used to go underneath a grandstand through a tunnel. That's now gone so we've got a longer straight which will change a little bit how the tyres are working.”
“There is a bit less energy there but it's also an abrasive tarmac. We've got the softest three compounds so it's a pretty tough race on the tyres and it's also a bumpy street circuit. Added to that, the race is run at night. Plenty of challenges for us to try and tackle then but we are going there optimistic for a strong performance.”
'Reason to think';
https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-h...r-at-singapore
AlphaTauri develop major upgrade as they copy Red Bull
AlphaTauri will start to adopt Red Bull's design philosophy this weekend at the 2023 Singapore GP.
12 September 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News
AlphaTauri are set to commence their final-stretch charge this weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix, where the Faenza-based team are reportedly going to introduce a major Red Bull-inspired upgrades package.
Bayer actually revealed to PlanetF1.com that they will start to adopt Red Bull’s design philosophy this weekend, as part of a major upgrade. “There are no quick gains,” Bayer told PlanetF1.com.
“I mean, this year, we’ve seen some amazing changes in the results scheme, when suddenly Aston Martin popped up, and then suddenly McLaren popped up, but I think that’s really down to the fact that they all understood that what Red Bull Racing did in terms of design philosophy is the right one with this new downforce element which everybody is following.”
‘AlphaTauri develop major upgrade’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/alphataur...copy-red-bull/
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What to expect from the 2023 F1 Singapore Grand Prix.
What can we expect as F1 returns to the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the Singapore Grand Prix?
13 September 2:00PM
RacingNews365
Marina Bay has undergone some temporary track changes for this weekend's race, the biggest since 2013 when the famous 'Singapore Sling' chicane was removed, as Turns 16-19 under the grandstand have been replaced by a straight. This is due to construction works with lap-times set to be trimmed by nearly 20 seconds.
The field will be hoping to catch Max Verstappen and deny him an 11th straight win, and extend the record he broke last time out in Italy. Verstappen has never won in Singapore and only has a second place as his best finish since his 2015 debut. Will the hoodoo continue or will the soon-to-be three-time champion finally chalk the race off his 'to-do list?'
‘Will the hoodoo continue’;
https://racingnews365.com/what-to-ex...ore-grand-prix
Gasly concerned by Singapore track changes hampering Alpine
13th Sept. 2023, 13:07
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Pierre Gasly concedes the track alterations in place for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix are likely to hamper Alpine’s chances. After encountering a challenging first half to his debut season with the team since his winter switch from AlphaTauri, Gasly headed into the summer break having secured third place in the Belgian Grand Prix Sprint Race.
“As a team we really experienced the highs and lows of racing across the last two events,” Gasly explained in Alpine’s Singapore Grand Prix preview. The podium in Zandvoort was fully deserved and we had a reasonable package there to compete for solid points.”
“In Monza, we expected it to be a challenge and, unfortunately, we lacked performance and could not put ourselves in contention. We had a very productive day on the simulator last week and I think we are in better shape for the next two races where we aim to return to the points.”
‘The highs and lows of racing’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...pering-alpine/
2023 F1 Singapore Grand Prix weather forecast
13 September 3:55PM
Author RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
According to our friends at WeerOnline.com, Friday practice is expected to be dry. The chance of showers is small, resting about 20% and the temperature will rise to about 33 degrees Celsius at the hottest time of the day.
However, over the weekend, the threat of rain will increase - on Saturday, the day of qualifying, there will be a 40% chance of a shower at the track. On Sunday, more showers will develop in the region and the chance of rainfall is over 60%.
However, most of the showers will fall in the afternoon and as both qualifying and the race do not start until the evening hours, it does not appear as though the track will be heavily saturated for the sessions.
‘Weather forecast’;
https://racingnews365.com/2023-f1-si...ather-forecast
THIS WEEK IN F1: 10 quiz questions on all the F1 news ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix
13 September 2023
Rob Burnett
Special contributor
Formula One - Official Site
The European leg of the Formula 1 season is over – and now we've moved on to the flyaway races, beginning this weekend in Singapore. F1 has been racing at the Marina Bay Circuit since 2008 and this weekend's Grand Prix will be the 14th held at the track since it joined the calendar.
To help keep you occupied until then, we've knocked up a quick quiz. It will test your knowledge of the history of the Singapore GP, and there's a few questions thrown in on the F1 news from the past week or so as well.
‘10 quiz questions’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...uiVZ2yh1z.html
Charles Leclerc hopes to be third-time lucky with Ferrari at Singapore Grand Prix
13/09/2023, 11:56.
Jonathan Wong
Assistant Sports Editor
The Straits Times
SINGAPORE – Charles Leclerc knows he is the fastest man at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. At least over one qualifying lap. After all, he has put his Ferrari on pole at the last two editions of the Singapore Grand Prix.
But staying in front of the chasing pack has been his Achilles heel. In 2019, he finished second behind then-teammate Sebastian Vettel and in 2022, he lost his lead to Sergio Perez before Turn 1 on the first lap, eventually settling for runner-up behind the Red Bull driver.
His Formula 1 record of five wins alongside 20 poles suggests a highly talented racer but perhaps not the ruthless winning machine his rival Max Verstappen (47 wins, 28 poles) has evolved into. No wonder Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur, who was with Leclerc at Sauber in 2018 and has a close relationship with him, has heaped praised on the flying Dutchman.
‘Third-time lucky’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...ore-grand-prix
Hamilton and Russell keeping COOL ahead of Singapore Grand Prix
Tuesday 12 September 2023 22:57
Sam Cook
GPFans
Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have been pictured keeping cool during their preparations for the Singapore Grand Prix, by taking an ice bath. Now, they are getting ready for this weekend's Singapore GP – which will be held in sweltering conditions – by taking an ice bath side-by-side.
Both Mercedes and Ferrari have proven themselves to be quick over one lap at times this season, suggesting it might not all be plain sailing for Max Verstappen as he looks to extend his record of 10 consecutive race victories.
‘Keeping COOL’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...re-grand-prix/
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What are the new changes to the Singapore track? As Max Verstappen aims to pick up his first win at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
The Red Bull star comes into this weekend's action off the back of a win at the Italian Grand Prix - becoming the first driver ever to win 10 races in a row.
Published: 09:35, 14 September 2023
By James Evans For Mailonline
Mail Online
Formula One is set to return this weekend after a two week hiatus with the Singapore Grand Prix. Ahead of this weekend's action, many fans will notice a few slight tweaks to the track ahead of this year's edition. Max Verstappen will be aiming to win his 11th race in a row at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The new layout will now become one long 397.9m straight, reducing the total number of corners from 23 to 19. The changes will put less stress on the tyres and give drivers a quick moment to take a breather. Work on the new track is set to officially be completed by the end of 2026.
‘A few slight tweaks to the track’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ore-track.html
Max Verstappen's Unconquered Frontier...Yet! 2023 Singapore GP Preview
Published Sep 13, 2023 11:01 PM
Inside Line F1 Podcast (Weblog)
Max Verstappen is yet to win in Singapore. Will we repeat this stat after the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix though? Heck, VER is yet to take pole position at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. In fact, Red Bull Racing never has.
Firstly, VER's five race winning streak of 2022 ended at Singapore. Could it be a repeat this year? Of course, this could be for no fault of his own, as we saw in 2022.
Secondly, will the driver breaking VER's ongoing race winning streak become popular or unpopular for breaking the streak? Yes, it is about who breaks the streak. If it's Sergio Perez, he will be unpopular, however, if it's any other driver, he'll be a popular one! The perils of racing along side Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, we guess.
‘Max Verstappen's Unconquered Frontier...’;
https://omny.fm/shows/inside-line-f1...-yet-2023-sing
Why Perez & Ferrari will hope to break Verstappen's streak: What to watch for at 2023 Singapore GP
September 13th 2023
Motor Sport Magazine
Can Perez maintain his reputation as street circuit specialist? Having found polarising success on street circuits in the past — winning in Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia — Perez’s next trip to Marina Bay signifies a shot at redemption. As written by Mark Hughes for Motor Sport, the Mexican’s advantage is due to his “simpler driver style”, which allows him to shave Armco and concrete barriers thanks to his handling of oversteer and very delicate throttle foot to optimise traction.
Could Ferrari be Red Bull’s biggest challenger in Singapore? “Like every race, we have had a competitive car everywhere so why should that not be the case in Singapore?” Helmut Marko told Motorsport.com. “But I have to say Ferrari and especially Leclerc is a specialist around there. If they are faster in qualifying, then it could become a problem for us because overtaking in Singapore is very difficult. But I’m still optimistic that the package we are bringing to Singapore is good enough to win.”
‘What to watch for’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
All you need to know about F1’s new Singapore GP layout
14th Sept. 2023, 07:32
By Valentin Khorounzhiy
The Race
Why the change? Although it intuitively feels like a change someone will have pitched in an effort to improve overtaking, the removal of the four corners is dictated by non-F1 matters, specifically the replacement of the Marina Bay Floating Platform that was located in this section of the track.
What it means? A shorter laptime is the obvious knock-on effect. Though the reduction in actual lap length is borderline negligible – around 100 metres, or two percent – the removal of four basically-90-degree corners will obviously do a lot for the average speed of the lap.
What else? The Singapore track was never the most demanding in terms of pure tyre degradation – hence the aforementioned use of the hypersoft – but it is a hot enough place to where tyre overheating is a particular worry.
Who wins out? This is still a relatively minor change, and over the rest of the lap the corners still come thick and fast to where it still looks firmly a high-downforce track.
‘All you need to know’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/all-y...ore-gp-layout/
Singapore Grand Prix could see race-day rain again
Formula 1
Posted on 14th September 2023, 7:15
Written by Ida Wood
RaceFans
The last round of the Formula 1 championship ended a string of rain-affected race weekends. But that may change again at the Singapore Grand Prix. There is a 20% probability that the Marina Bay street circuit will be rained on during daylight hours on Friday, with the first practice session not beginning until 5:30pm and two support series going out before then that can sweep away any standing water.
It’s a similar story on Saturday, with a 40% chance of daytime rain and F1 using the same session timing as Friday for third practice and qualifying. Forecasts predict it to be 30C for the final practice session and 29C for qualifying.
The chance of rain rises to 60% for Sunday, and some of those showers could be heavy and thundery. Whether they and the rain they deposit will linger long enough to affect the race, which starts at 8pm, is the key question. Temperatures of 30C will help to dry up any rain that does fall.
‘Could see race-day rain again’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/09/14/...ay-rain-again/
Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff agree as Mercedes face "unique" Singapore GP challenge
Singapore's Marina Bay Circuit is the next stop on F1's global tour and Hamilton and his Mercedes team are hopeful of a competitive showing over the course of the weekend
06:00, 14 Sep 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Toto Wolff shares the "hope" held by Lewis Hamilton that the Singapore Grand Prix could be a big opportunity for Mercedes.
The Austrian added his belief that it is a track which should be much better suited to Mercedes' W14 cars: "Singapore is a unique challenge for every team. The hot and humid conditions are tough on the drivers, team members and the cars. It's a bumpy track and there are some changes to the layout for this year, too.”
"It should make the lap more flowing and slightly kinder on the tyres. The battle with our nearest competitors is incredibly close. It's hard to predict just how the order will shake out each weekend. Nonetheless, we typically perform better on high downforce tracks, so we're hopeful of a competitive showing."
‘Track should be much better suited to Mercedes' W14 cars’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...re-gp-30933162
Ricciardo to skip Singapore Grand Prix as Kiwi rookie gets golden chance to shine
September 13th, 2023 9:51 pm
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)
Daniel Ricciardo will not race at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix to continue rehabilitation for his broken hand. New Zealand rookie Liam Lawson will remain in the cockpit alongside Yuki Tsunoda.
AlphaTauri hasn’t committed to a return date for the injured Aussie, with his injuries to be reassessed early next week. The Qatar Grand Prix on 1 October is firming as a likely return date, though the team is yet to rule out an early comeback at next weekend’s race in Japan.
Lawson has boosted his bid for a full-time race seat in 2024 with a pair of assured performances in Ricciardo’s absence. He made a Q2 appearance at just his second time of asking at the Italian Grand Prix, where he finished 11th and less than seven seconds outside the points despite being saddled with a slower strategy. Neither Ricciardo nor predecessor Nyck de Vries has finished higher than 12th this season, though Daniel finished 11th in Belgium’s sprint race.
‘Kiwi rookie gets golden chance to shine’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...aa99499420507f
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NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
Ahead of the event, Need to Know is your all-in-one guide with stats, trivia, insight and much more. You can also see how fans have voted using our F1 Play predictor game.
14 September 2023
Formula One - Official Site
The driver’s verdict:
Jolyon Palmer, former Renault F1 driver: Marina Bay is a long, complex circuit, and draining as well – a little bit like Monaco – with plenty of bumps. It’s all about the low-speed and having decent turn-in without losing the rear or suffering snaps of oversteer.
Strategy and set-up keys: Bernie Collins, former Aston Martin F1 strategist: Singapore is F1’s original night race and brings a whole host of challenges, from the intense heat and humidity to the demanding wall-lined layout, meaning drivers and teams are kept on their toes throughout the weekend.
Vital statistics
• First Grand Prix – 2008
• Track Length – 4.940km
• Lap record – N/A (due to 2023 layout changes)
• Most pole positions – Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton (4)
• Most wins – Sebastian Vettel (5)
• Trivia – Due to the physical demands of the climate and circuit, drivers can lose as much as 3kg in body weight over the course of a race in Singapore
• Pole run to Turn 1 braking point – 178 metres
• Overtakes completed in 2022 – 71
• Safety Car probability – 100%*
• Virtual Safety Car probability – 33%*
• Pit stop time loss – 29.83 seconds
‘The most important facts, stats and trivia’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...opUZr70yJ.html
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the build-up ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend
14 September 2023
Becky Hart,
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
Build-up to the Singapore Grand Prix. It is hot in Singapore, the drivers are already posting sweaty selfies on their social media accounts and everyone is in for a tough weekend. This is often the longest race on the calendar in terms of time and sometimes the laps don't get completed in under the two hour time limit.
‘Follow all the build-up’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...s1XqhouC6.html
Verstappen, Perez wary of 'really painful' Singapore GP
14th September 2023, 15:10
Wheels24
Runaway Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen conceded Thursday that his win streak was under threat at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, where his car is "not as competitive".
The Red Bulls have been unstoppable in 2023, winning all 14 races, with flying Dutchman Verstappen taking the chequered flag 12 times.
He said he would spare no effort to extend his record of consecutive wins to 11 but conceded the nature of Singapore's high downforce layout would enable Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin to get closer.
'Really painful';
https://www.news24.com/sport/motorsp...re-gp-20230914
Russell hopeful Singapore strength can aid Red Bull pursuit
14 September 2:20PM
Author Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365
George Russell has outlined his hope of competing closer to Red Bull during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. "Last year [in Singapore] we had a really fast car and unfortunately, we didn't make the most of it during the weekend,” Russell told media including RacingNews365.
"I think it's so close at the moment between ourselves, Ferrari and McLaren. Aston Martin are fluctuating in performance. Hopefully we can close the gap slightly on Red Bull here on the high downforce circuit."
‘Hopeful’;
https://racingnews365.com/russell-ho...l-in-singapore
Ferrari set for Singapore 'reset' after Monza success - Leclerc
14 September 4:30PM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Charles Leclerc expects Ferrari will find the Singapore Grand Prix tough, following its podium challenge at Monza. The team adopted a 'Monza special' aero package which enabled it to maximise the potential of the SF-23 at the high-speed track, but Leclerc expects the team to struggle more at the high downforce Marina Bay Street Circuit, which have proved a weakness for the package in 2023.
"I think it's the overall performance we'll have this weekend," Leclerc told media including RacingNews365 if he was optimistic about Ferrari's chances in Singapore - a track he has taken pole at in both 2019 and 2022.
"It's quite difficult to go from one weekend in Monza, where we are fighting for third position and we are clearly the second strongest team on track, to a weekend like this where we need to reset a little bit. We will be closer at least with Mercedes, McLaren, also Aston Martin. We just need to reset a little bit more."
‘Expects the team to struggle more’;
https://racingnews365.com/leclerc-ex...-monza-success
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Why Singapore’s F1 schedule operates on European time.
Singapore is Formula 1’s original night race - but there’s a reason behind the nighttime shift beyond the amazing spectacle…
15 September 7:30AM
Author Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365
Singapore’s nighttime serves a purpose that is deeper than creating fabulous imagery - it is part of the logistic challenge of hosting the race. Upon arrival at the location, team members and drivers operate on European time. Singapore is currently five hours ahead of Central European time, meaning that just as the sun is creeping up on the horizon, F1 personnel will be tucking themselves into bed.
Around lunchtime, they awake and have breakfast, meeting those who are taking their midday meals. It is a strange concept, but eliminates the threat of jet leg and ensures that there is no overhanging tiredness to disrupt the flow of the race weekend.
It also means that for those who are working back at the factory, there is little difference when it comes to work schedules and operating within the same time frame as those at the race track.
‘Operating on European time’;
https://racingnews365.com/why-singap...-european-time
Singapore GP: Thursday's build-up in pictures
14/09/2023 at 19:00
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
After a two-week break, it's back to the grind for Formula 1 this weekend at one of the most challenging events of the season: the Singapore GP.
Check out our pictures from Thursday's buildup to the race weekend at Marina Bay.
’49 Pictures’;
https://f1i.com/news/486614-singapor...ictures-3.html
Singapore GP: F1 technical images from the pitlane explained
Sep 14, 2023, 9:27 PM
By: Matt Somerfield
Co-author: Giorgio Piola
Motorsport.com
Red Bull has a new rear wing design at the Singapore Grand Prix, as the team follows in the footsteps of its rivals. This style of semi-detached tip section was first introduced by Alpine and has found its way onto the AlphaTauri and McLaren already this season.
An overview of Mercedes nose and front wing assembly, which has an elongated mainplane in the outer section, resulting in three elements with a much shorter chord thereafter.
Ferrari’s higher downforce rear wing assembly has a deeper spoon-shaped mainplane arrangement and squared-off tip section. To match the higher downforce rear wing selection, Ferrari has added a Gurney flap to the trailing edge of the upper flap on the front wing.
‘F1 technical images from the pitlane’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...ined/10520265/
Hamilton hopeful for Mercedes podium hunt
15 September 5:00AM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Lewis Hamilton hopes Mercedes can replicate last year's performance at the Singapore Grand Prix and fight for a podium. "I think we should we were relatively competitive," he told media, including RacingNews365.
"Last year, we had such a great race. But given the car we had last year, I'm hoping this [years] car has progressed quite a lot. Maybe we'll be a little bit closer, I'm hoping we can fight for the podium."
‘Mercedes podium hunt’;
https://racingnews365.com/hamilton-h...es-podium-hunt
Charles Leclerc bats off Helmut Marko comments in worrying Ferrari admission
Ferrari impressed everyone with their pace at Monza, but the Scuderia may be in for a tough weekend in Singapore.
16:24, Thu, Sep 14, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Charles Leclerc has claimed that he isn’t buying into Red Bull’s fears about Ferrari’s pace ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, suggesting that he is worried that the team could struggle in relation to their rivals on Sunday.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 about the team’s hopes for the Singapore GP, Leclerc said: “It’s nice to read that [Red Bull are worried about Ferrari], but I’m not buying it at all. I mean I really think that they will be the strongest this weekend, especially come race day.”
“In quali it may be close, but maybe not, I mean we don’t know. I think on a high downforce track like here, I expect us to struggle more than Monza, so I don’t think they will have any threat, I think they will be the fastest on track.”
“It’s nice to read that [Red Bull are worried about Ferrari]”;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-Marko-Ferrari
Norris handed biggest MCL60 upgrade since Austria for Singapore GP
14/09/2023 at 18:23
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Lando Norris will head into his Singapore Grand Prix weekend as the recipient of a major update on McLaren's MCL60, the biggest since the transformative upgrade introduced by the team in Austria.
Norris revealed that the primary objective of the revisions is to address the MCL60's weakness in low speeds this year. "Probably since Austria, it is the thing that we believe will kind of help us move forward the most since then," said the Briton as he described the magnitude of the upgrade.
McLaren enjoyed the impact of its Austrian update immediately. Norris says that swift fulfilment has strengthened McLaren's confidence that its latest package will also produce a speedy step forward. "Sometimes we would put stuff on and it's not really delivered to what we wanted or what it should have done," he said.
‘Biggest MCL60 upgrade’;
https://f1i.com/news/486657-norris-h...e-austria.html
F1 drivers campaigning for track changes ahead of Singapore GP
14 Sep 2023 4:30 PM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Will an additional DRS zone be added to the circuit layout in Singapore before the serious action of the weekend gets underway? Speaking on Thursday’s media day in Singapore, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez said the topic of adding on another DRS zone is one topic that will be discussed in the drivers’ briefing ahead of the weekend action beginning on Friday.
“I think we are all expecting and we are all trying to get an extra DRS with the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association), because we feel like it can be improved for racing,” he said. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was another to lend a voice of support for introducing a DRS zone, saying: “The FIA is concerned about safety in that little left kink. I reckon personally – and the other drivers too – that it’s not going to be an issue.”
“We are pushing at the moment to be able to try it at least in FP1, see how it feels and if it’s OK, potentially keep it. There’s no reason why we would not be able to keep it. Even if we want to be really safe, we just put [it after Turn 15].”
‘Will an additional DRS zone be added’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-dri...-singapore-gp/
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Leclerc fastest in Singapore first practice as lizards disrupt session.
Leclerc was fastest overall in the first session of the weekend as the teams got their first look at the updated Marina Bay Street Circuit.
September 15, 2023
By Matt Neill
Total Motorsport
The action on track was briefly interrupted for a yellow flag at Turn 8 due to a monitor lizard on track, with the drivers swerving to avoid the animal as it made its way slowly across the circuit – eventually making it safely back behind the walls.
Another appeared later on, this time at Turn 9, with another brief yellow flag to help them on their way unharmed, with a third bring up the reptile hattrick in the final stages of the session.
�� Max: “There’s a lizard again on the track. It’s a smaller one this time!”
�� GP: “Okay understood. Maybe Godzilla had a kid”
����#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/xngLSJ648r
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 15, 2023
‘Lizards disrupt session’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...srupt-session/
SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX: F1 FREE PRACTICE 1 RESULTS
Formula 1 took to the Marina Bay circuit for the first session of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend
September 15, 2023
Abby Bathurst
FormulaNerds
FP1 Results
P1: Charles Leclerc
P2: Carlos Sainz
P3: Max Verstappen
P4: Lando Norris
P5: Lewis Hamilton
P6: George Russell
P7: Sergio Perez
P8: Fernando Alonso
P9: Yuki Tsunoda
P10: Esteban Ocon
Lizard on track! ��
The yellow flags come out but he seems quite chilled ��#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/1YORJCZRh5
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 15, 2023
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/si...ice-1-results/
F1 Results Today: Singapore Grand Prix practice times
Friday 15 September 2023 12:39
Chris Deeley
GPFans
The most dramatic moment in the first practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix came when the yellow flag was deployed for a large lizard on the track not once, not twice, but three times, with drivers just starting to get used to the profile of the Marina Bay track.
Singapore Grand Prix FP1 practice results - Friday September 15
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): 1:33.350sec
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari): +0.078s
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull): +0.126s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren): +0.172s
5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): +0.190s
6. George Russell (Mercedes): +0.345s
7. Sergio Perez (Red Bull): +0.375s
8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): +0.624s
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri): +0.692s
10. Esteban Ocon (Alpine): +0.716s
‘Large lizard on the track not once, not twice, but three times’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ractice-times/
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from first practice for the Singapore Grand Prix
15 September 2023
Becky Hart
Special Contributor
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...wK8euDbzf.html
F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023 - Friday Practice: LIVE UPDATES!
15th September 2023, 09:57
Reporting By: Harvey Orgill
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-sin...e-live-updates
F1 Live - Singapore GP Free Practice 1 Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
15th September 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Free Practice 1 Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql_TNClw5Cs
‘Godzilla’s kid’ interrupts first practice at Singapore Grand Prix
15 Sep 2023 11:23 AM
Thomas Maher
There was a brief moment of levity in the first practice session at Marina Bay, with a big lizard running onto the track and causing a yellow flag at the Singapore Grand Prix.
This is not the first time that local wildlife in Singapore has made its way onto the circuit, with lizards having been a presence on the track in years gone by.
But this time around, a large lizard made its way onto the track on the exit of the Turn 8 hairpin, standing in the middle of the road and causing multiple drivers to take evasive action.
‘Godzilla’s kid’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/godzil...re-grand-prix/
Race guide for the Singapore Grand Prix
14 Sep 2023, 09:00
By Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
The ultimate test of man and machine: Over the past years, Singapore has established itself as a Formula One classic. With its total length of 5.063km, Singapore is one of the longest tracks on the current calendar. However, the street track rather became famous thanks to its layout. Drivers have to excel with their cars driving through a series of difficult corners and over very high kerbs. Singapore’s climatic conditions characterized by heat and high humidity also add another challenge to master.
‘Ultimate test of man and machine’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/24187
Extensive final McLaren F1 upgrade of 2023 revealed
15th September 2023, 10:38
By Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
The extensive McLaren Formula 1 car upgrade revealed at the Singapore Grand Prix is intended to improve slow-speed cornering performance as a priority. This is the third of three big packages McLaren planned for this season and the second to have been properly influenced by the revised technical structure that was implemented early in the year.
The Singapore developments include a revised front wing endplate, a new sidepod inlet, mirror mounting and halo furniture to work in conjunction with a new bodywork shape for the engine cover and sidepod and “fully revised floor” including updated fences, floor edge and diffuser.
‘Extensive final McLaren F1 upgrade’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/exten...2023-revealed/
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F1 Singapore GP: Sainz quickest from Leclerc by 0.018s in FP2.
Carlos Sainz outpaced Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in second practice for the Singapore Grand Prix, leading his Formula 1 team-mate by a scant 0.018s.
Sep 15, 2023, 3:10 PM
By: Jake Boxall-Legge
The Monza pole-sitter punched in a 1m32.120s to top the session amid the soft-tyre phase of running, which withstood a siege from Leclerc despite Sainz's inferior first and second sectors.
Being set at the same time of day as qualifying and the race, FP2 was considered the sole representative practice session as the track had cooled under the night sky.
Leclerc set the pace on the medium compound with his final run on the yellow-walled tyres, overturning team-mate Sainz's advantage at the top by approximately a quarter of a second as the Spaniard had largely bossed the top of the timing boards in the early phases of the session.
‘Ferrari 1 – 2’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...-fp2/10520613/
F1 2023 Singapore GP – Practice 2 results
Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari was fastest in Free Practice 2 at the 2023 Singapore GP
September 15, 2023
By John Smith
Total Motorsport
F1 2023 Singapore GP – Practice 2 results
Pos Driver Team Time
1 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:32.120
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.018
3 George Russell Mercedes +0.235
4 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.358
5 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.465
6 Lando Norris McLaren +0.591
7 Sergio Perez Red Bull +0.692
8 Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.732
9 Kevin Magnussen Haas +0.897
10 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +0.985
‘After claiming the top two positions in FP1, Ferrari once again showed their pace at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix with Carlos Sainz leading Charles Leclerc in Free Practice 2.‘;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ice-2-results/
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from second practice for the Singapore Grand Prix
15 September 2023
Becky Hart
Special Contributor
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...rK1jX1ldf.html
F1 Live - Singapore GP Free Practice 2 Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
Sep 15, 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Free Practice 2 Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAWxe2OHyTY
Verstappen ISSUES persist as Red Bull kept off top spot in Singapore Grand Prix FP2
Friday 15 September 2023 16:02
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
After the conclusion of FP1, it was clear that Verstappen was not entirely comfortable with the setup of his RB19. Yet sadly for the Dutchman things did not improve much for him in Friday's second practice session. It took just 20 minutes before he lost the rear of his RB19 past the Esplanade Bridge, proceeding to complain about a lack of grip.
Although the race pace of Verstappen's car will no doubt be strong come Sunday, there are signs that the two-time world champion's run of successive race wins might be in serious jeopardy. And if Red Bull are hoping that Perez can be there to pick up the pieces of his team-mate, a rather concerning radio message may just bring them back down to earth.
"It's just not coming mate," the Mexican told his engineer. 'Every braking zone I feel like I'm going to crash. The rear is just stepping out massively." A seventh and eighth place finish in FP2 for Perez and Verstappen respectively will leave plenty to ponder ahead of Saturday's action.
"It's just not coming mate";
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-bull-ferrari/
F1 results: FP2 timings from Singapore Grand Prix practice
15 Sep 2023 3:01 PM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Ferrari carried on where they left off in the morning session, by topping the time in the more representative hour under the spotlights. Claiming another 1-2, it was Carlos Sainz who came out on top of the intra-team battle.
Red Bull’s quest to win every race this year looks slightly under threat, with Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen only managing seventh and eighth, respectively.
Mercedes were the closest rivals to Ferrari, with George Russell popping into third, a quarter of a second down on the Ferrari duo, while Lewis Hamilton was fifth with a time another two-tenths back – the pair were split by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
‘Ferrari carried on where they left off’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-res...rand-prix-fp2/
Alonso accused of animal killing after LIZARD invasion in Singapore
Friday 15 September 2023 14:57
Chris Deeley
GPFans
Formula 1 fans have accused Fernando Alonso of killing one of the lizards which interrupted FP1 at the Singapore Grand Prix on Friday.
The evidence isn't conclusive (although it seems likely that someone will be asked about the incident later in the weekend) but a clip appears to show the Spaniard splatting the unfortunate critter as it wandered into his path through Turn 9.
It appears the FP1 lizard was struck by Fernando Alonso. Poor thing... #F1 #SingaporeGP
— Phillip Horton (@PHortonF1) September 15, 2023
Ofc it’s Alonso who brutally murdered the lizard
— Erik���� (@F1swe77) September 15, 2023
‘The evidence isn't conclusive’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...re-grand-prix/
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Vasseur buoyed by BEST Ferrari Friday of the season.
“This is our best Friday since the beginning of the season,” Vasseur told Sky Sports Italia. “Qualifying is tomorrow, and we need to be ready, but it’s always good to start the weekend in the right way.”
Friday 15 September 2023 19:42
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Fred Vasseur: “We need to concentrate on ourselves tomorrow. The set-up of the car and the tyres are our primary focus, but tomorrow will be a different story because different drivers will push a lot.”
“I focus on my team and don’t have time to think about Red Bull. I think tomorrow they will be more competitive. When you have a lot of pressure, you might make some mistakes. But we need to focus on ourselves and not the other teams.”
‘BEST Ferrari Friday’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...re-grand-prix/
Red Bull "way worse than expected" at Singapore Grand Prix as Max Verstappen left baffled
Runaway leaders Red Bull warned ahead of this trip to Singapore that the Marina Bay Circuit might cause them to struggle more than usual, and Friday practice backed up that concern
15:55, 15 Sep 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Verstappen cut a frustrated figure as he spoke after the session about the struggles he and his team were facing. "A little bit worse than expected today, struggling a lot with the balance of the car," Verstappen said.
"We tried a few things in FP2 – some worked, some didn't, but we never really got the car together. There are a few things to figure out tonight. There are a few things that we don't understand, so that's what we have to look into. I will try to improve, but it's quite a big gap. Ferrari is very fast, I think we're just way worse than expected."
"Way worse than expected";
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...rrari-30951815
Verstappen 'STRUGGLING A LOT' with Red Bull car at Singapore GP
Friday 15 September 2023 18:57
Sam Cook
GPFans
Verstappen has never won at the Marina Bay circuit, a run which dates back to his debut there in 2015. Although there were no races held there in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Red Bull have only won once in Singapore since 2013.
That was last year, when Perez came through to brilliantly take the victory, but Verstappen was hampered by mistakes in both qualifying and the race and could only bring his car home in seventh. It's quite astonishing given how much Verstappen has dominated both the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but Singapore seems to be a bit of a bogey track for him.
Red Bull will need to put in some serious thinking overnight if they are to challenge Ferrari, and indeed Mercedes who have also looked fairly quick so far this weekend, for pole position tomorrow.
'STRUGGLING A LOT';
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ling-red-bull/
Red Bull accused of ‘playing games’ after poor Singapore Grand Prix Friday
15 Sep 2023 4:22 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Red Bull looked all out of sorts on Friday ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, but Danica Patrick is not reading much into that. Patrick though does not believe we should read too deeply into Red Bull’s Friday struggles.
“I’m not always buying every time that a team has a bad day, or even a session,” the former IndyCar and NASCAR racer told Sky F1. “Because sometimes it just all of a sudden turns the other direction.”
“There’s probably games getting played, and then sometimes you just miss it. So yeah, not really counting them out. But they did come in saying it would probably be a little bit more of a struggle, and so far that’s been true…it’s only Friday.”
‘Accused of playing games’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/danica...mes-singapore/
Leclerc expects INCONSISTENT Ferrari at Singapore
Friday 15 September 2023 22:42
Sam Cook
GPFans
Leclerc thinks that the car will struggle around the Marina Bay circuit, one of the longest and physically demanding races on the Formula 1 calendar. “As you know, I love street circuits and this is undoubtedly one of my favourites,” he told the media before the weekend.
“But its characteristics will probably not suit our car that well, because in the past it has performed inconsistently on high downforce tracks. Better to keep our feet on the ground, see how free practice goes and then we will have a clearer understanding.”
‘INCONSISTENT Ferrari expected’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-inconsistent/
Hamilton criticises teams who blocked addition of fourth DRS zone
Formula 1
Posted on 15th September 2023, 17:10
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Lewis Hamilton criticised Formula 1 teams who did not support the addition of an extra DRS zone for this year’s Singapore Grand Prix. The FIA chose not to add a fourth DRS zone at this point on the circuit after canvassing the views of teams. “All the drivers, we all requested it from the FIA,” said Hamilton. “The FIA asked all the teams and there’s a couple of teams that turned it down.”
“So in the drivers’ briefing we’ll try to bring it up. But the teams should be for more racing, not against it. It’s interesting to have a few teams that are against it. But we’ll discuss it and try.” Sergio Perez said yesterday the Grand Prix Drivers Association was pushing for an extra DRS zone “because we feel like it can be improved for racing.”
‘A couple of teams that turned it down”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/09/15/...urth-drs-zone/
George Russell ‘Optimistic’ for Singapore Grand Prix Weekend after ‘Very Positive Friday’
September 15, 2023
By Paul Hensby
The Checkered Flag
It was a very positive Friday for us overall,” said Russell. “The car is feeling really good around the circuit. It definitely improved in the cooler temperatures of FP2 but equally, it still felt decent in the slightly unrepresentative conditions of FP1. The times were very tight between several cars.”
“Ferrari looked quick, particularly on the single lap. The long run performance across a number of competitors was also strong but we can be optimistic heading into the weekend. We will do our usual work overnight and hopefully find some improvements heading into Saturday.”
“I am really enjoying the new track layout. It makes the final sector, and the lap as a whole, much more flowing. It definitely improves the experience behind-the-wheel and should help create better racing on Sunday. The new track surface in turns one to five is also an improvement.”
‘Optimistic’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...sitive-friday/
Lawson enjoying ‘quite tricky’ Singapore challenge
15 September 9:30PM
Author Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365
With just one more session left to run before qualifying, Lawson says final practice carries great importance as he continues to get up to speed at the track. "Initially, it was quite tricky, but I think that’s expected with how this track is," the New Zealander said.
"But I enjoyed it, still learning a lot, still getting familiar with it. We need to make the most of FP3. So far it has been OK, we’ve just been gradually building, basically. But there’s still a bit more to come."
‘Quite tricky’;
https://racingnews365.com/lawson-enj...pore-challenge
Lando Norris fears McLaren upgrade gains still not enough against ‘way too fast’ rival
15 Sep 2023 5:53 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Lando Norris fears Ferrari remain “way too fast” for McLaren at the Singapore Grand Prix despite being pleased with the team’s latest upgrade package. Asked to sum up his day’s work, he told Formula 1: “Good, tricky.”
“I think it was a positive day. I think we weren’t expecting to suddenly be P1 or anything, so P1 maybe looked more positive initially but I think we’re always good at getting up to speed. I feel like it’s a good strength of mine, getting up to speed quickly on a tricky track.”
“So, good day. I think we’ve definitely taken some steps forward, the new bits are looking like they’re doing what they’re meant to do, which is always a good thing. A couple of little mistakes, maybe, which cost me a little bit of lap time, but plenty of things for us to improve on for tomorrow.”
‘Way too fast rival’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...grade-ferrari/
-
Verstappen FUMES as Ferrari keep Red Bull off top spot in Singapore Grand Prix FP3.
Carlos Sainz went fastest during the final practice session ahead of qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen could not hide his frustration after he suffered further issues at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Saturday 16 September 2023 12:41
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
After Ferrari took the fight to Red Bull during Friday's practice sessions, all eyes were on Verstappen and whether he could respond to their impressive pace in the final session before qualifying. The two-time world champion initially looked far more comfortable in his Red Bull on Saturday compared to the day before, yet there were still signs that things were not all going his way.
Aa bizarre moment during the early stages of FP3 saw Verstappen veer off track – at a rather pedestrian pace – before eventually spinning the car around at the escape road of Turn 14. And in a similar theme to Friday's running, it did not take long before the Dutchman revealed that he was not best pleased with his setup, taking to the team radio for an X-rated complaint over his upshifts that he would eventually label as 'unacceptable'.
Perez meanwhile also had issues regarding the rear of his RB19, insisting that it felt 'on the edge', as the Mexican fought to keep control of his car during FP3.
‘Verstappen FUMES’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...appen-ferrari/
(FP3) Third Practice Results – 2023 Singapore Grand Prix
16th September 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari -1:32.065
2. George Russell Mercedes +0.069
3. Lando Norris McLaren +0.238
4. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.313
5. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.316
6. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.470
7. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.665
8. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.719
9. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +0.831
10. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +0.880
‘Singapore Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the final practice for this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp3-third-...and-prix-83160
F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023 - Final Practice Results
16 Sep 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
2023 F1 Singapore Grand Prix - Free Practice Results (3)
Pos Driver Nat. Team Time
1 Carlos Sainz ESP Scuderia Ferrari 1m32.065s
2 George Russell GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 1m32.134s
3 Lando Norris GBR McLaren F1 Team 1m32.303s
4 Max Verstappen NED Oracle Red Bull Racing 1m32.378s
5 Charles Leclerc MON Scuderia Ferrari 1m32.381s
6 Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team 1m32.535s
7 Oscar Piastri AUS McLaren F1 Team 1m32.730s
8 Sergio Perez MEX Oracle Bull Racing 1m32.784s
9 Nico Hulkenberg GER MoneyGram Haas F1 Team 1m32.896s
10 Yuki Tsunoda JPN Scuderia AlphaTauri 1m32.945s
‘Results from final practice at the Singapore Grand Prix, Round 15 of the F12023 world championship’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/results/103...ts?language=en
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from third practice for the Singapore Grand Prix
16 September 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...ySKRIW8Sh.html
F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023 - Final Practice: LIVE UPDATES!
16th Sept. 2023, 10:21
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES’;
https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Singapore+GP
F1 Live - Singapore GP Free Practice 3 Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
16th Sept. 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Free Practice 3 Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-DeijLZNtQ
Singapore Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz quickest in FP3 as Red Bull’s troubles continue
16 Sep 2023 11:37 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Carlos Sainz secured the practice hat-trick for Ferrari in Singapore with a 1:32.065 in a session in which Red Bull looked to have overcome their issues only to falter. The first of the qualifying simulations began with 20 minutes to go with Russell lowering his benchmark to a 1:32.3. Lando Norris in the upgraded McLaren jumped ahead of the Mercedes teammates by 0.06s.
As the track conditions ramped up, Verstappen went P1 with a 1:33.6…. and then let rip at his “f**k” upshifts. But it wasn’t all bad as he did decline the opportunity to pit for a flap adjustment, telling his race engineer that he was “happy”.
‘Red Bull’s troubles continue’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/singap...3-2023-report/
FOR QUALIFYING;
F1 Live - Singapore GP Qualifying Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
16th Sept. 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Scheduled for September 16 at 1:30 PM’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVX7yDMy3Q0
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Verstappen FURIOUS as rookie dumps world champion out of Singapore GP qualifying.
The rest of the grid must be partying in the paddock seeing Red Bull finally struggle after the most dominant season perhaps ever in F1.
Saturday 16 September 2023 16:15
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Max Verstappen was furious after he and his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez were knocked out of Q2 at the Singapore Grand Prix. The championship leader had a big slide on his final qualifying lap and he could not make up the time in the ultra-tight session.
He hung on in 10th until AlphaTauri driver and Red Bull junior Liam Lawson stunned the paddock to reach Q3 for the first time in his career. Verstappen could yet start further back than 11th with two FIA investigations hanging over his head for impeding.
‘Verstappen FURIOUS’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...g-out-furious/
Qualifying Results – 2023 Singapore Grand Prix
16th September 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
Q3
1. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari -1:30.984
2. George Russell Mercedes +0.072
3. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.079
4. Lando Norris McLaren +0.286
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.501
6. Kevin Magnussen Haas +0.591
7. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.631
8. Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.689
9. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +0.824
10. Liam Lawson AlphaTauri +1.284
‘Singapore Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for tomorrow’s 2023 F1 World Championship race around Marina Bay’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-83165
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix
16 September 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it Happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...GmYFIF0uJ.html
F1 Live - Singapore GP Qualifying Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
16 September 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Qualifying Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVX7yDMy3Q0
Lance Stroll in terrifying crash at Singapore GP as Aston Martin car smashed to bits
Lance Stroll was caught in a huge collision during qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday.
14:25, Sat, Sep 16, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Lance Stroll was caught in a huge crash during qualifying ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix as his Aston Martin collided with the wall on the exit of the final corner. The young Canadian was battling to escape the elimination zone but was clearly struggling with the balance of his car, correcting a snap coming out of the final corner which put him on a collision course with the barriers.
Stroll was already fighting oversteer heading into the final string of corners when the car bottomed out coming off the kerb. The 24-year-old lost control of his car and collided with the barriers with a huge impact, ending the session early.
With such a huge impact, the immediate thoughts turned to Stroll's safety. When checked on by his race engineer the Canadian driver confirmed that he had escaped the incident without injury.
‘Aston Martin car smashed to bits’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ore-Grand-Prix
Max Verstappen storms off after Singapore GP qualifying embarrassment as F1 penalty looms
Verstappen has struggled with the balance of his Red Bull car throughout the Singapore GP weekend and paid for in in qualifying when he failed to even make it into the top 10
15:14, 16 Sep 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
Max Verstappen failed to qualify in the top 10 for the Singapore Grand Prix – and his day could be about to get worse with a potential grid penalty on the way. Verstappen was furious as he shouted over the radio after it was confirmed he was out. "I don't know if you saw that, but that was f***ing shocking. Absolutely shocking experience," he cursed.
After pulling up in the pit lane, he immediately got out of his Red Bull and stormed off. Clearly, the Dutchman needed to calm down before speaking to anyone about what had happened. Ironically, the man who condemned him to a start outside the top 10 was a driver for sister team AlphaTauri.
It was Liam Lawson, in just his third ever F1 race weekend, who made it through to Q3 for the first time at Verstappen's expense. It came after Verstappen had already turned the air blue with an X-rated rant over the radio about the traffic he faced at the end of Q1. "There are so many f***ing cars," he had shouted.
‘Max Verstappen storms off’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...apore-30957204
Ferrari and Mercedes share FRONT ROW for Singapore Grand Prix after Verstappen's qualifying NIGHTMARE
Saturday 16 September 2023 16:34
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
Carlos Sainz claimed pole during qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix, after both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez failed to make the top 10 in a chaotic hour of racing at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Sainz topped the timesheets with a lap-time of 1:30.984s, to start from P1 on the grid on Sunday ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc in second and third respectively.
Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton rounded off the top five in fourth and fifth, with Kevin Magnussen putting in a superb performance in his Haas to secure sixth.
‘Ferrari and Mercedes share FRONT ROW’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...perez-ferrari/
Sainz snatches Singapore GP pole amid Red Bull meltdown
16th Sept. 2023, 15:38
By Valentin Khorounzhiy
The Race
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz took pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, as the dominant Formula 1 champion-elect Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team floundered badly.
Verstappen faces two separate investigations for alleged impeding – one for stopping for several seconds at pitlane exit during Q1 and another for seemingly getting in the way of AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda in Q2.
But any penalties for either or both of those incidents are unlikely to make his Saturday that much worse given he was eliminated in Q2 on merit – having struggled with a suddenly-unruly RB19 all weekend – by Tsunoda’s stand-in team-mate Liam Lawson.
‘Sainz snatches Singapore GP pole’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/sainz...bull-meltdown/
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Ferrari face mighty challenge to hold off Mercedes in fascinating Singapore GP.
What a 2023 Singapore Grand Prix we have in store. We said pre-event that Red Bull would be susceptible at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, but nobody thought both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez would fail to reach Q3.
September 17, 2023
By John Smith
Total Motorsport
Carlos Sainz will start from pole position ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc on Sunday, all of whom are targeting to be the first non-Red Bull race winner in 2023. The heat and multiple traction zones mean Singapore is one of the higher degradation tracks on the Formula 1 calendar, so tyres will be vital and so will strategy.
Straight away, Mercedes and Ferrari are set to differ here. Russell and Lewis Hamilton have two new medium tyres in their bank, whereas everyone else only has one set of mediums. If tyre degradation is a major problem, the Mercedes pair can go medium-medium-hard and avoid the softs. If it’s a two-stop race, everyone else will be forced to use the softs since they have just one set each of the mediums and hards.
‘Ferrari face mighty challenge’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-singapore-gp/
Winners and losers from the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix qualifying
16 Sep 2023 6:20 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Winners
Carlos Sainz/Ferrari: Having followed up pole for Ferrari at Monza with another here – in the same car as Singapore specialist Charles Leclerc – these are the greatest days of Carlos Sainz’s Formula 1 career.
George Russell: The last non-Red Bull driver to win a grand prix? George Russell. Starting from second and with Mercedes invariably stronger in race conditions, is there a chance that he could repeat his Brazil 2022 heroics on Sunday?
Haas: Haas admitted after Alex Albon’s points finish at Monza that any hope of catching Williams for seventh place in the Constructors’ standings had gone.
Liam Lawson: Sport has a habit of delivering great stories and the one featuring Liam Lawson – the Red Bull junior in just his third appearance knocking Red Bull’s reigning double World Champion out of qualifying – was simply irresistible.
Losers
Max Verstappen/Red Bull: With Verstappen and Red Bull now staring down the barrel of the team’s first defeat in 10 whole months, how to explain their wretched performance this weekend?
Sergio Perez: Much of the focus of Red Bull’s failures will inevitably fall on Verstappen, but Sergio Perez does not escape here unscathed either.
Lance Stroll: Motor racing cannot simply be a rich kid’s hobby. It is a fundamentally dangerous sport with the capacity to bite. Hard.
‘Winners and losers’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/wi...ix-qualifying/
Verstappen rules out Singapore GP win after qualifying nightmare
Sunday 17th September, 2023 - 12:43pm
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Max Verstappen expects his winning streak to end after enduring a horror qualifying session for Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix. “You can forget about that,” he told the media in Singapore when asked about his chances of victory on Sunday.
“I want to win, but when it’s not possible you have to accept that. I don’t want to make it sound too dramatic, but it was of course a very tough weekend and today in qualifying it’s definitely been for a long, long time that in qualifying it has been like this.”
“Clearly we just don’t understand that issue,” he added. “You don’t make these kind of changes and it’s worse, so we are clearly not understanding the car this weekend around this track.”
‘Qualifying nightmare’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/09/17...ing-nightmare/
Perez blames engine problem for Q2 elimination at Singapore Grand Prix
16th September 2023, 18:13
Written by Ed Hardy and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Sergio Perez says an engine problem caused his early elimination from qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver qualified 13th as he and team mate Max Verstappen both failed to make the cut for Q3 in a shock off-day for the world champions.
“I’m really disappointed because we haven’t been able to make any progress. The fact that I had an issue with the engine on my final attempt for Q3 meant that I couldn’t make it into Q3, unfortunately.” He described the balance problems he suffered throughout the weekend so far. “Every corner is quite different, we were playing around with the tools quite a lot.”
‘Engine problem caused his early elimination from qualifying’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/09/16/...re-grand-prix/
Leclerc SLAMS fellow drivers after Singapore GP 'JUNGLE'
Sunday 17 September 2023 07:57
Sam Cook
GPFans
Charles Leclerc has criticised his fellow Formula 1 drivers for making the final sector a 'jungle' during qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix. “I struggle with the last sector, but it's nothing new," he told Danika Patrick after qualifying.
"I've been struggling with this car for the whole season. I always need to be quite aggressive, and sometimes I push too much. At the same time, we need to see the bigger picture, and we're in a better position than we were, for example, in Zandvoort.”
”It's like the jungle on the third sector now. We always had this 'gentleman agreement' between drivers where you shouldn't overtake in the last sector. Unfortunately, a few drivers didn't follow that rule this season, and then it was chaos at some point because no one is following that 'agreement' anymore.”
‘Leclerc SLAMS fellow drivers’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ifying-jungle/
Lando Norris identifies helping hand required in quest for Singapore podium
16 Sep 2023 6:00 PM
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com
McLaren’s Lando Norris has plotted the unlikely route needed for him to end on the podium in the Singapore Grand Prix. The McLaren man has a solution though – chaos.
“First lap, a sea of safety cars, pitstops,” he joked when asked how he could finish on the podium. “In terms of racing and overtaking it’s pretty impossible. It’s tough to say but there’s a lot of unknowns with degradation, I don’t think anyone’s really done more than 10, 12, 15 laps in a row. So a lot of things for us to find out.”
‘Chaos’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...gapore-podium/
Stroll cleared to start Singapore GP after heavy crash
Sunday 17th September, 2023 - 4:13am
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Lance Stroll has been cleared to start the Singapore Grand Prix after escaping injury in a hefty crash at the end of Qualifying 1 in Marina Bay. The Aston Martin driver crashed in the final corner, careering nose-first into the Tecpro barriers on the outside of the circuit.
Stroll will officially line up 20th for Sunday night’s race (though it’s more likely he’ll start from the pit lane) after being cleared to take part. “He got out of the car unaided and was taken to the medical centre for a precautionary assessment,” the team confirmed following the crash. Lance was cleared by the on-site medical team and returned to the team at track.”
First on the scene, Lando Norris believes Stroll was caught out by the car bottoming out as the Aston Martin rode the exit kerb. “He was still spinning and kind of coming back onto the track quite a bit,” the McLaren driver explained. “I hit the brakes quite quickly because I didn’t know if he was going to come across the road or what.”
‘Stroll cleared to start’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/09/17...r-heavy-crash/
FOR THE RACE;
F1 Live - Singapore GP Race Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
Scheduled for Sep 17, 2023
Racing Statistics
F1 Live Singapore Grand Prix Race Watchalong | Marina Bay Street Circuit F1 Live Timings, Updates and Commentary of all F1 Sessions with Racing Statistics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0uJPkIlZzU
-
Sainz wins thrilling Singapore F1 Grand Prix from Norris and Hamilton.
McLaren’s Norris finished in a brilliant second place with Hamilton third – teammate Russell looked like taking the third place spot but crashed on the last lap.
Sunday 17 September 2023 3:03 pm
Matt Hardy
City AM
The result brings an end to a season of dominance by Red Bull and Max Verstappen, who finished fifth. It is Sainz’s second win after the 2022 British Grand Prix. Sainz’ teammate Charles Leclerc finished fourth, Pierre Gasly was sixth and Oscar Piastri was seventh.
Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson and Kevin Magnussen completed the top 10. “An incredible feeling and an incredible weekend. All of Italy and all of Ferrari will be proud today,” Sainz said.
“It was all about managing [tyres] and making it to the target laps. We gave Lando some DRS [to help]. Carlos was very generous helping me get DRS,” Norris said.
‘Sainz wins thrilling Singapore F1 Grand Prix’;
https://www.cityam.com/sainz-wins-th...-and-hamilton/
Race Results – 2023 Singapore Grand Prix
17th September 2023
by Emer Hedderman
Results (Classification):
1. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari – 62 laps
2. Lando Norris McLaren +0.812
3. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +1.269
4. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +21.177
5. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +21.441
6. Pierre Gasly Alpine +38.441
7. Oscar Piastri McLaren +41.479
8. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +54.534
9. Liam Lawson AlphaTauri +65.918
10. Kevin Magnussen Haas +72.116
‘Singapore Grand Prix – Here are the provisional results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship race around the Marina Bay Street Circuit’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-83174
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix
17 September 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...zSzSRHyCR.html
F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023 - LIVE UPDATES!
17th September 2023, 12:17
Reporting By: Harvey Orgill
Crash.Net
It's race day at the Singapore Grand Prix! Follow all of the action here with the Crash.net live blog.
‘LIVE UPDATES’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-sin...3-live-updates
F1 Live - Singapore GP Race Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
17th September 2023
Racing Statistics
F1 Live Singapore Grand Prix Race Watchalong | Marina Bay Street Circuit F1 Live Timings, Updates and Commentary of all F1 Sessions with Racing Statistics. Lets Watchalong!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0uJPkIlZzU
George Russell chokes back tears in emotional first words after Singapore Grand Prix crash
George Russell was close to tears in the media pen after crashing out in the final lap of the Singapore Grand Prix.
15:43, Sun, Sep 17, 2023
By Stuart Ballard
George Russell was visibly emotional in his first interview after crashing out on the final lap of the Singapore Grand Prix as he pushed for a win in what ended up being a pulsating race. Mercedes looked as though they had got the strategy spot on after taking advantage of Esteban Ocon's retirement to put fresh medium tyres on both their cars.
Russell was leading the charge ahead of Lewis Hamilton with the pair quickly getting past Charles Leclerc to close down Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz. Sainz ended up using Norris to help both drivers keep Russell and Hamilton at bay heading into the final laps.
Russell screamed on the radio in despair at crashing out and emotions were clearly still high as he went into the media pen. The Brit had tears in his eyes as he apologised to his Mercedes team for not finishing the race and picking up valuable points.
‘Emotional first words - Russell screamed on the radio’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...d-Prix-F1-news
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David Croft mocked Toto Wolff as George Russell eyed victory.
Whilst Russell and Hamilton were charging after the podium places, Croft joked: “I haven’t seen Wolff smile much recently but if they win this I bet he will read the race report on Wikipedia afterwards.”
17 September 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News
Lewis Hamilton scored a podium for Mercedes at the 2023 Singapore GP, while George Russell crashed out on the last lap. Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft made a comical Wikipedia-themed joked aimed at Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff during the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.
Mercedes opted to pit both drivers again, to give them fresh tyres to fight through to the front. The plan ultimately didn’t work, although Wolff’s face on Lap 52 suggested that the Austrian was expecting a Mercedes victory to occur. Had Russell not crashed, then he would’ve claimed third ahead of Hamilton in fourth.
‘Wikipedia-themed joked’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/david-cro...-eyed-victory/
The emotional toll Russell’s ‘pathetic’ mistake clearly took
17th Sept. 2023, 18:14
By Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
An emotionally pained George Russell wanted to “curl up in a ball and be with nobody” after his “pathetic” mistake on the final lap of Formula 1’s Singapore Grand Prix. It was close to an hour after the crash by the time Russell completed his media duties, yet he still looked disconsolate after he finished his round in the TV pen and made his way over to the small group of written media, including The Race, that had waited for him.
And though the peak of the emotion, which included Russell being close to tears at one point, had faded slightly he still often had to pause at length, take time to find his words, and generally looked and sounded a mix of fed up and mentally and physically exhausted. “In those moments you just want to curl up in a ball and be with nobody,” Russell said. “It’s the most horrendous feeling in the world, when you’re so physically drained, mentally drained, missed out on an opportunity of victory, and then to make such a mistake. It is truly heartbreaking.”
That wasn’t the extent of Russell’s misery or self-flagellation. He said he was not just going to brush it off, and that he would feel “very different” if he had spun or locked up and hit the wall. “But to clip the wall on the last lap is just… it’s such a pathetic mistake,” Russell said. “It’s why it sort of feels so strange right now. It goes to show you just need to stay on it, doesn’t matter what the scenario is.”
‘The emotional toll’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-e...-clearly-took/
Mercedes Data Predicted First and Second Place Finish in Singapore GP
September 17, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
Toto Wolff shared that Mercedes utilized data to anticipate their drivers finishing in the first and second positions during the Singapore Grand Prix after executing their second pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car.
“Super that Lewis is on the podium. He had a brilliant race and had pace at the end. Just a shame for George because he worked hard for that,” said the Mercedes team principal. “It could have been a good third and fourth, lots of points, but now we lost 22 [points] against Ferrari.”
“It was so difficult to win the race if we were just static,” he added. “So we said let’s go for it and we just went for it and in the end it’s a podium for Lewis and that’s great. I don’t think we would have been able to win [by staying out] that’s why we took the risk. We knew worst case it was third and fifth, best case the win. When we came out with several laps, it [the data] showed first and second.”
‘Mercedes Data Predicted First and Second’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/mercedes-d...-singapore-gp/
Hamilton thought Mercedes could get 1-2 after late pit stop
17th Sept. 2023, 18:37
by Sam Tomlinson
Motorsport Week
Hamilton, who concedes his tough qualifying hindered his race prospects, asserts he was alert to the possibility of Mercedes seizing a remarkable 1-2 in the closing stages.
“It was okay. I think ultimately just not that great a weekend, but the team did a fantastic job with the strategy, the guys did a great job in the pit stop, just faultless on that side,” Hamilton said.
‘Possibility of Mercedes seizing a remarkable 1-2’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...late-pit-stop/
Wolff believes Russell deserved podium after last lap shunt
17 September 5:24PM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff believes George Russell deserved a podium, after crashing out of the Singapore Grand Prix on the final lap.
When asked about the closing stages, Wolff told Sky Sports: "Yeah super that Lewis was on the podium, also at the end he had pace. It's just a shame for George because he worked hard for that.”
Wolff believed this was the best option to maximise Mercedes' points, after Russell asked how he could win the race over team radio. "It was clear it was difficult to win the race if we were just static. I said: 'Let's go for it, the data is robust' and we went for it, but in the end, it was a podium for Lewis," said Wolff.
“Shame for George because he worked hard for that”;
https://racingnews365.com/wolff-beli...last-lap-shunt
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Jubilant Ferrari poke fun at rivals with 'GOOD JOB' message.
Unsurprisingly, Ferrari were quick to congratulate Norris for his efforts. Taking to Twitter, formerly X, after the race, they posted: "Good job Lando :)."
Sunday 17 September 2023 23:42
Dan Davis
GPFans
Ferrari have toasted Lando Norris' heroics at the Singapore Grand Prix with a cheeky social media message, after Carlos Sainz clinched a dramatic victory. In a nail-biting grandstand finish, Sainz pipped Norris and Lewis Hamilton to the chequered flag, albeit after his comfortable cushion at the front had vanished.
Much of the race resembled a procession, though a late safety car opened the door for a challenge from the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and George Russell. Both drivers, strapped up with fresh tyres, mounted a rapid charge on the podium spots and closed the gap on the leader Sainz and Norris in second.
However, despite Charles Leclerc's failure to defend, Norris delivered a steely resistance, preventing Russell and Hamilton from nipping in front. Ultimately, Russell's race was brought to a smoky end after he crashed out on the final lap, ensuring Sainz and Norris occupied the top two spots.
'GOOD JOB';
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-lando-norris/
Sainz would have been ‘dead meat’ without slowing tactics
19:38 Sun, 17 Sep 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Carlos Sainz reckons he would have been “dead meat” against the Mercedes drivers without slowing down for Lando Norris in the closing stages of the Singapore Grand Prix. “We have to be extremely proud of the weekend that we put together,” he said. “We’ve had one opportunity this year to win the race, which was here in Singapore, and we nailed it.”
“We didn’t put a foot wrong all weekend. There were a lot of moments out that we were a bit under pressure. We kept it calm, we kept our plan, our strategy. We had to play with tyre degradation, with pit stop gaps, with DRS. Playing with all that and managing to keep everything under control, we managed to bring home a win that was never easy, but that definitely feels incredible.” When asked how nervous he was about the Mercedes threat, Sainz responded: “At the beginning, not so nervous, because I felt like I had a lot of pace in hand to push the last 12-15 laps.”
“Then it surprised me quite a lot how quickly the Mercedes managed to pass Charles and close the gap on Lando and me. And at that point, I thought, it’s not going to be easy, and these last five, six laps are going to be a fight, and at that point, I had to change a bit the strategy. I had to give Lando a bit of a cheeky DRS boost, and that helped us to keep them behind and win the race and get the win for Ferrari that feels great.”
‘Dead meat without slowing tactics’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...owing-tactics/
The move that 'saved' Sainz's Singapore victory
18 September 8:45AM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
It was a close final few laps for Carlos Sainz as he defended from Lando Norris and the two Mercedes drivers. Carlos Sainz has described the moment that "saved" his Singapore Grand Prix victory, while under pressure from both Mercedes drivers in the final laps.
Sainz reduced his pace to give Norris the DRS and attempt to create a 'train' effect, which makes it difficult for faster cars to overtake. It worked but Sainz pointed out it was not without risk when speaking to media including RacingNews365: "It's always tricky. Because you always put yourself under extra pressure, no?," he said.
"Because then you know that then you cannot have a lock-up. You cannot have a single mistake or a snap because it means that Lando’s going to have a chance to overtake you if he's on DRS. At that point you decide to give him the DRS, hoping that that's going to be enough to keep the Mercs behind."
'Saved Sainz's Singapore victory’;
https://racingnews365.com/sainz-desc...gapore-victory
Lando Norris reveals why he didn’t try and pass Carlos Sainz for Singapore GP win
Lando Norris finished second to Ferrari's Carlos Sainz at the 2023 Singapore GP
September 17, 2023
By Ed Spencer
Total Motorsport
Lando Norris has praised Carlos Sainz’s late-race tactics after securing second place in Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix. Following Esteban Ocon’s retirement courtesy of a gearbox failure on Lap 43, Mercedes pitted George Russell and Lewis Hamilton for fresh tyres, allowing them to reel in Sainz and Norris, who stayed out.
The former McLaren teammates worked together to hold both charging Mercedes at bay by using the DRS to their advantage, with Norris holding onto second, securing his podium since Hungary. “It was protecting P2,” said Norris when the media asked where his focus was in the final laps. “George struggled to overtake me when he had a five or six-tenths advantage.”
“So the chances of me getting Carlos with maybe one-tenth advantage, there [was] no chance, so I think Carlos played it smart. There was no need for me to try and attack him. The more I attacked him, the more vulnerable I would have been from both the guys behind, and I wouldn’t be sitting here if I played it differently, so [it was a] stressful last few laps.”
“I wouldn’t be sitting here if I played it differently”;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...gapore-gp-win/
Singapore GP driver ratings: Was Carlos Sainz's performance the best from a Ferrari driver in over a decade?
17 Sep 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.net F1 journalist runs through his driver ratings for the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz - 10
After an impressive weekend at Monza, Sainz went one better to deliver the best performance of his entire F1 career.
Not only did he have the pace, his intellect and race IQ was outstanding to keep Norris behind in DRS range which ultimately allowed them both to fend off the two Ferraris.
An incredible performance from the Spaniard in Singapore - arguably the best from a Ferrari driver since Alonso in Valencia (2012).
‘Best from a Ferrari driver in over a decade’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/103...er-over-decade
Why Carlos Sainz’s win elevates him into F1’s ‘elite’ circle
18 Sep 2023 8:15 AM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Carlos Sainz’s win on the streets of Singapore was easily the most impressive drive of the Spaniard’s career, showing a measured and controlled mettle on his way to the chequered flag. There’s a particularly famous quote from Alain Prost that typified his measured approach to racing in F1, namely “I always say that my ideal is to get pole with the minimum effort, and to win the race at the slowest speed possible.”
It was an approach that served Prost well. Not that the French driver was slow, by any means, but his composure and calculated approach to racing was in stark contrast to the gung-ho heroics and theatrics that made rival and teammate Ayrton Senna the crowd-pleaser.
Carlos Sainz channeled his inner Alain Prost during the Singapore Grand Prix, coming home with the win after proving unflappable under extreme pressure for most of the race. Having kept Charles Leclerc at bay in Monza two weeks ago, Sainz picked up where he’d left off by controlling the pace of Leclerc throughout the opening stint at Marina Bay.
‘Channeled his inner Alain Prost’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/why-ca...-elite-circle/
Ferrari starting to purr as Red Bull quilt shows signs of fraying
Carlos Sainz's victory on Singapore ended a run of 15 successive wins for Red Bull, with second driver Sergio Perez hinting he may seek new pastures at the end of his deal
Sep 18, 2023
Byron Young
The National
Most things about Formula One are epic in scale. Certainly the enormous budgets, the eye-watering speeds, the endless globetrotting and, as the world discovered in Singapore, even the failures. The wheels came off Max Verstappen’s record-breaking run every bit as impressively as his recent run of success.
Singapore was more proof that Ferrari are starting to purr under new boss Frederic Vasseur. Charles Leclerc’s pit stop error aside they delivered in one of the toughest races of the year. Race winner Carlos Sainz used the inspired tactic of helping former teammate Lando Norris behind him race faster so he could delay the impending attack by the quicker Mercedes duo.
This was undoubtedly the best F1 race of the year so far but can the pattern continue? “This was an anomaly, Red Bull will be back in Japan,” said McLaren boss Zak Brown. Even in our good years we sometimes had problems in Singapore,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “We never knew why and I bet they don’t.”
‘Ferrari are starting to purr’;
https://www.thenationalnews.com/spor...ns-of-fraying/
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Lawson delivers season-best result to AlphaTauri in Singapore.
Liam Lawson became on Sunday in Singapore only the sixth Kiwi to score championship points in F1, the talented rookie also delivering at Marina Bay its best result of the year to AlphaTauri with P9.
18/09/2023 at 09:21
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
In only his third Grand Prix, Lawson made the top-ten shootout on Saturday, outpacing teammate Yuki Tsunoda to start his race from 10th on the grid. Looking back on his evening, as impressive as his performance appeared to be from the outside, Lawson singled out his start as an area where he needs to improve.
"For me, the start I need to get on top of because it’s now two weekends in a row that I’ve watched the start, basically, and lost a couple of positions," he admitted. "It’s just making our life more difficult, so that’s really the biggest loss of the race, and that’s on my part.”
‘Only the sixth Kiwi to score championship points in F1’;
https://f1i.com/news/487250-lawson-d...singapore.html
AlphaTauri update on Liam Lawson’s future after Singapore points
18 Sep 2023 11:00 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Liam Lawson’s audition for a 2024 AlphaTauri race seat will continue at Suzuka with the team’s CEO Peter Bayer telling ServusTV he will stand in for Daniel Ricciardo. Impressing on debut when he beat Yuki Tsunoda, this past weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix has firmly cemented Lawson as a candidate for a 2024 race seat.
And according to Bayer, he’ll have another chance to stake his claim on a 2024 seat with the CEO reportedly telling ServusTV he will race at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. The Austrian went on to say how impressed he’s been with the 21-year-old. “We are very happy with the performance. Two points and the best result of the season in his third race ever,” he said. “We’re happy with Liam’s performance, he fought like a lion.”
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also took note, telling the media in Singapore: “I think he’s done a great job. Obviously, he’s a Red Bull Racing driver on loan to AlphaTauri, as all the drivers are there. I think he’s done an impressive job considering the circumstances, he’s been dropped in the car and, at a track that’s very challenging, I think he’s done a great job.”
“He fought like a lion”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/alphat...lawson-future/
Red Bull faces AlphaTauri F1 driver dilemma as CRUNCH decision looms
Monday 18 September 2023 20:13
Jim Kimberley
GPFans
Liam Lawson is an F1 point-scoring driver following the New Zealander's Marina Bay heroics to cross the line in P9. Furthermore, he created headlines on Saturday after his Q2 effort kicked Max Verstappen out of the top 10, creating an unpredictable grid that battled for the race win. Showing such potential only three rounds into his F1 career means that Lawson has cannonballed, rather than thrown, his hat into the ring for a 2024 seat.
The coming weeks will be critical for Lawson, who looks set to get his fourth grand prix start at Suzuka, as he could claim another impressive finish in the Japanese GP and become the 2023 Super Formula champion.
‘CRUNCH decision looms’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...m-lawson-2024/
Daniel Ricciardo in danger as AlphaTauri decide on Liam Lawson plan after Singapore GP
Lawson continued to shine as a stand-in for the injured Ricciardo, recording AlphaTauri's best result of the 2023 season so far in the demanding Singapore night race
16:03, 18 Sep 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
AlphaTauri plan to decide their 2024 driver line-up "in the next few days". Chief executive Peter Bayer gave that timeline when speaking to German-language TV after the Singapore Grand Prix. He was reflecting on an excellent performance from Liam Lawson in just his third Formula 1 race.
The New Zealander has been standing in for Daniel Ricciardo since he broke his hand at Zandvoort last month. The Aussie underwent surgery shortly after and has been on the sidelines as he recovers. Lawson's result in Singapore has further strengthened calls for AlphaTauri to give him a race seat for 2024.
That would mean either Ricciardo or Tsunoda would loss their places on the grid in a potentially fatal blow to their F1 ambitions. Ricciardo will return to his seat when he recovers, but that won't be until at least Qatar next month with Lawson reprising his stand-in role again in Japan this weekend. But AlphaTauri might have already made a decision about his F1 future by then
‘Daniel Ricciardo in danger’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...unoda-30970212
Alpha Tauri driver talks in full swing
"Discussions" about Alpha Tauri's full-time driver lineup for 2024 are currently "in full swing".
18th Sept. 2023, 10:21
GrandPrix.com
That's what the Red Bull-owned team's new CEO Peter Bayer said in Singapore, as rookie Liam Lawson continues to impress in the injured Daniel Ricciardo's car. The latest rumblings suggest that New Zealander Lawson, 21, has been so impressive since stepping into Ricciardo's cockpit at Zandvoort that Yuki Tsunoda is likely to be shuffled into the Red Bull reserve role next year.
When asked if he has done enough to be told he will be staying put for 2024, Lawson said on Sunday: There's nothing at this stage. Still, he has clearly impressed the decision-makers at Red Bull and Alpha Tauri.
I was thinking 'his car is twice as wide as the others', Bayer enthused after Lawson fended off challenges from behind. Liam never lost his cool. He looked like a seasoned professional. He fought like a lion.
‘Most insiders agree that Ricciardo-Lawson is looking like the likely Alpha Tauri lineup for 2024’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/alpha...ull-swing.html
Ricciardo will not be at Suzuka
Liam Lawson will definitely keep filling in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo at Suzuka this weekend.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2023
GrandPrix.com
According to insiders, both Japanese Yuki Tsunoda and Ricciardo should be worried about the new 'Lawson factor' when thinking about their 2024 seats.
Ricciardo is watching someone score points in his car in their third race, former F1 driver Robert Doornbos told Ziggo Sport. That's bound to eat at you. I think it's obvious that Lawson will be offered a permanent seat next year.
As for this weekend's Japanese GP, meanwhile, CEO Bayer has some very good news for Lawson. Daniel is flying on to Australia now for his physiotherapy and will support us morally, but he will not be there (at Suzuka) live, he told Servus TV.
‘That's bound to eat at you’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/ricci...at-suzuka.html
-
5 Winners and 5 Losers from Singapore – Who impressed under the lights at Marina Bay?
After a steady start, the Singapore Grand Prix roared into life with four cars fighting for the win in the closing stages to set up a grandstand finish.
18 September 2023
Lawrence Barretto
F1 Correspondent & Presenter
Formula One - Official Site
Winner: Carlos Sainz - This was Carlos Sainz’s most complete weekend in Formula 1, the Spaniard having the edge on team mate Charles Leclerc throughout practice before delivering a scintillating lap to take back-to-back pole positions for the first time in his career.
Losers: Red Bull - The perfect season is over for Red Bull as they tasted defeat for the first time all year. Neither Red Bull driver reached Q3 for the first time since the 2018 Russian Grand Prix as the RB19...
Winners: Ferrari - Ferrari have had plenty of critics in recent times as they’ve struggled for performance, both with strategy and operationally – but in Singapore, when their best chance of a win in 2023 presented itself, they didn’t make a single mistake.
Loser: George Russell - George Russell was heartbroken after he crashed on the final lap when fighting to snatch second from Lando Norris, the Briton arguably the fastest driver in the field on Sunday.
Winners: McLaren - McLaren’s relentless development rate shows no signs of abating as the British squad brought an upgrade package to the track one race early...
Losers: Aston Martin - This was a weekend to forget for Aston Martin, who only started the Grand Prix with one car after Lance Stroll withdrew following a heavy crash in qualifying.
‘Winners: Liam Lawson, Kevin Magnussen. Losers: Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...ZxfU6RZGr.html
Ferrari dealt Carlos Sainz conundrum after Singapore Grand Prix masterclass
Carlos Sainz was unstoppable in Singapore, but his performance has given Ferrari plenty to consider.
15:35, Mon, Sep 18, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Carlos Sainz produced one of the most impressive drives of the season so far in Singapore on Sunday as he saw off the threat of Lando Norris and the two Mercedes drivers to become the first non-Red Bull Grand Prix winner of 2023. Once the celebrations in the Ferrari camp calm down, team principal Fred Vasseur will have plenty to consider...
The Scuderia have historically favoured a clear 1-2 structure and with Leclerc’s star power and race-winning pedigree, the Monegasque driver is seen as the team’s number one. However, Sainz’s performances are beginning to challenge that narrative. Vasseur now faces the prospect of upsetting his in-form driver if he opts to destabilise the power dynamic between the two Ferrari drivers at the next round of contract negotiations...
Sainz has made public his desire to stay with Ferrari long-term, but as of now, there is no new contract on the table. Leclerc is believed to be on the verge of signing a bumper, long-term deal, but with Sainz in demand and ahead of his team-mate in the standings, it is becoming harder and harder not to warrant a longer extension for both drivers.
‘Carlos Sainz conundrum’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ore-Grand-Prix
On Track GP Podcast: ‘Carlos Sainz is having a better season than Charles Leclerc’
18 Sep 2023 6:00 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Carlos Sainz took top honours for Ferrari in the first non-Red Bull victory of 2023 so far, while a charging George Russell missed out on a podium after a devastating last-lap crash in his Mercedes.
While Red Bull suffered an uncharacteristic off-weekend, it was Ferrari and McLaren that stepped up to the plate, with Mercedes bearing down on them in the closing stages of the race on Sunday.
But a combination of Sainz’s clever driving and speed throughout the weekend held off those behind him as he took his second career victory, and both On Track GP presenters were impressed with what they saw from the Spaniard in Singapore.
‘Carlos Sainz took top honours for Ferrari’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/on-tra...re-grand-prix/
‘Reap what we’ve sown’: The Singapore mistakes that led to the end of F1 giant’s golden run
September 19th, 2023 12:19 pm
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)02:50
Red Bull Racing’s Singapore Grand Prix performance wasn’t just poor; it was a historically bad weekend for a team used to bossing Formula 1. It’d been five years since Milton Keynes had last found itself with both cars out of qualifying before Q3 — the 2018 Russian Grand Prix...
But there were no regulation-related asterisks on the team’s 11th and 13th-place eliminations in Marina Bay at the weekend. That was pure performance — or “shocking” performance, as Verstappen put it. Before Singapore, Red Bull Racing had taken all but three pole positions — excluding Belgium, where Max Verstappen was fastest in qualifying but served a grid penalty. Its trio of defeats came at an average of 0.068 seconds.
In Singapore Verstappen was 0.734 slower than Carlos Sainz in Q2, which was 1.189 seconds off the eventual pole time. How did it go so wrong, and has a Red Bull Racing weakness been exposed? It’s not the first time the Singapore streets have tripped up a dominant car enjoying an otherwise completely untroubled season. Memories of Mercedes’s remarkable defeat in 2015 — having swept every pole up to that point only to find itself a remarkable 1.415 off the pace — were close to hand on Saturday night.
“Shocking”;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...b5164a1bb3addb
Christian Horner claims Red Bull were "completely screwed" at Singapore GP as streak ends
Red Bull endured a terrible weekend in Singapore as they lost their 100 per cent winning record and Max Verstappen's historic F1 winning streak came to an abrupt end
11:41, 18 Sep 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Christian Horner lamented his team's bad luck as Red Bull were "completely screwed" by the timing of the safety car during the Singapore Grand Prix. Reflecting on how the race had panned out, team principal Horner suggested the safety car had limited what his drivers could do. "I think we understood a lot more in the race and the pace of the car came much more back to what we expected," he told reporters.
"Coming here we expected to have closer competition. But I think it took us a bit by surprise just how far out we were on Friday. And I think that we were just not in the right operating window for the car, particularly over a single lap, and when you're not there then the tyres feel horrible, everything just doesn't work. So I think we got a very good steer in the race, I think that we saw, particularly in the latter stint, that Max's pace was very, very strong.”
“Unfortunately in the race, by starting on the hard, we took if you like a strategic gamble and the best way of that race paying us off is if you get an early safety car or a safety car later into the race. Now, the lap that the safety car came out in was probably strategically the worst possible lap for the strategy that we were on, because it gave the cars ahead of us a free stop. At the same time, whilst giving us track position, it made us take the restart with tyres that are very hard to heat up again, having done well over 20 laps. The safety car completely screwed it for us.
"Completely screwed";
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...stian-30966977
Christian Horner opens up on Max Verstappen’s fury during Singapore GP weekend
18 Sep 2023 4:30 PM
Thomas Maher
The Mirror
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has no complaints about Max Verstappen’s unhappiness with the handling of his RB19 throughout the weekend in Singapore.
However, Christian Horner said Verstappen’s temper isn’t something Red Bull concern themselves with, explaining that they expect the same standards of themselves as they do from their drivers. “He cares. And he wants it,” Horner said.
“He’s the most competitive driver we’ve ever worked with. That’s who he is. You know that, when he gets in the car, he’ll give you 110%. That’s exactly what he’s done today. He’s just a very honest guy, he doesn’t hide his emotions. I think that he was disappointed in yesterday, as the whole team was, but he brushed himself down and came back fighting today and put in a great drive.”
‘110%’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/christ...-prix-weekend/
Verstappen knows Singapore weekend was 'anamoly' - Horner
18 September 7:30PM
Author Fergal Walsh
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Max Verstappen knows that Red Bull's slump in performance at the Singapore Grand Prix was just an "anomaly", according to Christian Horner.
"Max has won 10 races in a row, he’s leading the World Championship by almost double the points of anybody else and he's got plenty of reasons to be happy with life at the moment," Horner told media including RacingNews365.
"He knows this was an anomaly and hopefully, we can be competitive again next week [in Japan]. He cares and he wants it, he's most competitive driver we've ever worked with. That's who he is. When he gets in a car, he'll give you 110%, and that's exactly what he's done [in the race].”
'Anamoly'
https://racingnews365.com/horner-ver...-f1-win-streak
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Fred Vasseur confirms ‘clever’ DRS ploy came from Carlos Sainz himself.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has revealed the tactic deployed by Carlos Sainz to deliberately bring Lando Norris into his DRS range in Singapore came from his driver himself, rather than from the pit wall.
18 Sep 2023 9:00 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Having made his way through to the chequered flag unscathed, the Ferrari team boss revealed it was his driver who took the initiative and tried something different on Sunday.
“It was the idea of Carlos, I don’t want to say it’s of use, but he knew he was more at risk with Mercedes than with Norris,” Vasseur told reporters after the race.
“With Norris we had the same tyres, almost the same pace from the lap one and we were not really at risk with Norris except if we lost the tyres, and it was a clever move from Carlos to keep Norris into the DRS.”
‘Clever DRS ploy came from Carlos Sainz himself’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fred-v...-carlos-sainz/
Lando Norris rubs salt into Red Bull wounds by laughing at Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen lost his unbeaten record this season at the Singapore Grand Prix over the weekend.
17:09, Tue, Sep 19, 2023
By Charlie Parker-Turner
Daily and Sunday Express
Lando Norris has admitted that he has laughed with Max Verstappen about his performance at the Singapore Grand Prix that saw the Red Bull star forfeit his unbeaten record. The Dutchman only managed to finish fifth at Marina Bay as Red Bull lost their flawless record, failing to win a race for the first time in 2023.
Verstappen could only manage fifth, though he has shared a laugh with Norris about the performance, the McLaren driver has revealed. He explained: "I don't know what they struggled with but when I watched his onboard yesterday I kind of laughed because I've never seen a car that bad before.”
‘Lando Norris rubs salt into Red Bull’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...en-F1-Red-Bull
Lando Norris pokes fun at George Russell as Mercedes star fights tears after F1 crash
George Russell was left on the verge of tears after crashing late on during the Singapore Grand Prix but his compatriot Lando Norris didn’t appear to be full of sympathy after the race
22:46, 18 Sep 2023
By Daniel Orme Football Writer
Norris, who was going head-to-head with Russell for second place, gave his verdict on the crash after the game and teased his countryman but still claimed he was full of sympathy. “I hit the wall in the same place, I did the same,” the McLaren star told media. “So I think he copied me and did it even worse!
“So I feel for him, he fought a tough race, he was the quickest I would say out there today. So it helped me a bit, the last couple of corners I could chill.” Whilst Norris could see the light of the situation, the same could not be said of Russell. He was immediately put in front of the cameras after being forced to retire and was visibly emotional.
‘Lando Norris pokes fun’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...appen-30973056
Oscar Piastri sends message to Martin Brundle after being snubbed on Singapore grid walk
Martin Brundle's grid walk in Singapore was a little more messy than Sky Sports viewers are used to.
08:41, Mon, Sep 18, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Oscar Piastri has sent a message to Martin Brundle after he was snubbed mid-interview at the Singapore Grand Prix, suggesting that the pair should reconvene to finish off the conversation in Suzuka this weekend. Brundle was attempting to grab drivers for his legendary grid walk segment on the Sky Sports F1 broadcast when he managed to stop Piastri and catch the 22-year-old for a chat. However, midway through this, the broadcaster became distracted.
With Alpine driver Esteban Ocon strolling past, Brundle dropped his conversation to try to catch the Frenchman in order to wish him a happy birthday. In the meantime, Piastri was left awkwardly waiting and decided to scamper off to his spot on the grid.
The young Aussie took to the social media platform X to message Brundle, posting: “Shall we finish that interview in Suzuka @MBrundleF1?” with winking and laughing emojis. Piastri then followed up that tweet by saying: “FWIW (for what it’s worth), I’d have done the same. Happy birthday @OconEsteban.”
‘Should reconvene to finish off the conversation’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...walk-Singapore
Mark Hughes: How Red Bull could still have won in Singapore
Sep 18, 2023
by Mark Hughes
The Race
With the Red Bulls starting 11th and 13th after their desperately bad qualifying, that sequence always looked like coming to an end around Singapore, a track demanding the second-highest pace difference of the season to pull off an overtake – and in a car which was just plain not as fast as the Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren.
And yet… had Logan Sargeant not brought out the safety car on lap 20 by hitting the wall and leaving a debris trail in his wake as he returned to the pits, a very different race, with a very different Red Bull result may have played out.
Verstappen lost around 29s to the frontrunners as a result of how that safety car punished Red Bull’s inverted strategy of starting him and Sergio Perez on the hards in combination with the free stop the others got. It could not have come at a worse time. In fifth place at the end a couple of tenths behind Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, he was just 21s behind the victorious Sainz. In the straight running of the race, without any safety car or VSC, Verstappen would have been in the thick of the action in the late stages, on newish medium tyres against the old hards of the Ferraris, Mercedes and Norris.
‘How Red Bull could still have won’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...-in-singapore/
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Red Bull coronation at Honda’s home track? Seven Japanese GP talking points.
For the best part of a year it seemed like no one could beat Red Bull. Then in Singapore last weekend not one, not two, but three of their rival teams beat them home.
20th September 2023, 7:15
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
Red Bull’s revenge? For the first time in over 300 days, Red Bull competed in a grand prix that they did not win last weekend. Rather than suffering an unexpected double breakdown or having both cars caught up in an accident with their rivals or even each other, Red Bull’s record winning run came to an end simply because they lacked the pace of their rivals.
McLaren eying fourth place: Aside from Red Bull, Aston Martin were the stand-out performers in the early stages of the 2023 season. Fernando Alonso secured six podium appearances over the opening eight rounds and the team held second in the constructors’ standings until the Spanish Grand Prix in early June.
AlphaTauri under the microscope: AlphaTauri may be a Red Bull-owned team based in Italy, but they will be in the spotlight more than most teams in Japan this weekend as a result of their two drivers.
Will they go all the way? The Japanese Grand Prix has not reached its 53-lap distance in the last five years. After Lewis Hamilton took victory in 2018, Valtteri Bottas did the same for Mercedes the following year.
‘Japanese GP talking points’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/09/20/...alking-points/
Verstappen primed to roar back at 'old school' Japan GP
Issued on: 20/09/2023 - 05:13
France 24
Suzuka (Japan) (AFP) – Runaway Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen will be determined to roar back at Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix after his record streak of 10 straight wins ended in Singapore.
The 25-year-old told reporters after struggling with Singapore's street circuit, where overtaking is all but impossible, that "this track is so different to Suzuka and it doesn't relate".
"We have learned a bit from today and have a few ideas with what we got wrong," he said after Carlos Sainz triumphed for Ferrari to ruin Red Bull's perfect record this season. I cannot go into details but I feel good about Suzuka."
‘Verstappen primed to roar back’;
https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...chool-japan-gp
Lance Stroll provides crucial Japanese GP fitness update after missing Singapore race
20 Sep 2023 7:39 AM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Lance Stroll has silenced all speculation by confirming that he will return to the Aston Martin cockpit for the Japanese Grand Prix.
With Aston Martin having played down the prospect of Stroll being absent from this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix too, the driver has now taken to social media to confirm that he is indeed fit and ready to get back to action at Suzuka.
“Thank you for all the kind messages,” he wrote in a post.
“Ready to race this weekend.”
Aston Martin will be hoping for a far smoother race in Japan after Singapore descended into a nightmare, Alonso calling the AMR23 “undriveable” at one stage in the race, with a poor Aston Martin pit stop also helping him on his way to a lowly P15 finish.
‘All speculation silenced’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lance-...ingapore-race/
2023 F1 Japanese Grand Prix session timings and preview
Sep 20, 2023, 7:03 AM
By: Rachit Thukral
Motorsport.com
Red Bull's winning streak came to an end in Singapore last weekend, with Carlos Sainz scoring an emphatic victory for Ferrari from pole position. However, all signs point to the status quo returning at Suzuka, with the Honda-powered Red Bull squad favourite to take top honors in front of Japanese fans.
Max Verstappen won last time out at Suzuka, leading a 1-2 for Red Bull ahead of Sergio Perez. The previous six races in Japan, dating back to the start of the V6 hybrid era in 2014, were all won by Mercedes.
‘Status quo returning at Suzuka’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/2...view/10522434/
Leclerc hopes Suzuka win 'possible' for positive Ferrari future.
19 September 4:06PM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Charles Leclerc hopes Ferrari can continue its run of competitive races at the Japanese Grand Prix for the sake of the team's future success. "I really hope it's possible to reproduce that in Suzuka," he told media including RacingNews365. "I'm really looking forward to seeing it because if we do that, then it's a really good sign for the future. As I've said in Zandvoort, we've done many tests.”
"In Monza, we wanted to reconfirm those tests and the understanding we had from the car, from here, we applied everything and it seemed to do a big step forward. Having said that, Singapore has historically been a very good track for us so we need to wait one more race to see whether we have done a really good step forward consistently, or whether it's one-off."
One of the main problems of the SF-23 has been the 'aero peakiness' which has made the car unstable through high-speed corners. Leclerc described how Ferrari has managed to find a compromise in its car setup, but admits that it could make it harder to drive in certain conditions.
‘Suzuka win possible';
https://racingnews365.com/leclerc-ho...ferrari-future
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What to expect from the 2023 F1 Japanese Grand Prix.
The circuit is one of the most challenging on the calendar, characterised by the long sweeping corners and small run-offs.
20 September 1:40PM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365
Following a thrilling race in Singapore the next flyaway race on the Formula 1 calendar is at Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix. The tropical weather also sometimes plays havoc with the weekend, although this weekend it looks like it could be straightforward.
Red Bull head into the race having had their 14 race run of victories unseated by Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, but will they finally achieve what has been a formality since the start of the season? Red Bull can wrap up the Constructors' Championship this weekend, after the team failed to secure it in Singapore with a difficult finish.
They are 308 points ahead of Mercedes and would need to outscore the team with both Verstappen and Sergio Perez, with the margin needing to be at least 309 points by the end of the weekend.
‘What to expect’;
https://racingnews365.com/what-to-ex...ese-grand-prix
Suzuka, you are special! 2023 Japanese GP Preview
Published Sep 20, 2023 1:32 PM
Inside Line F1 Podcast (Weblog)
The Formula 1 circus travels Far East to race in Suzuka, one of the most-legendary circuits on the calendar. The Japanese Formula 1 fans are special for their love for the sport transcends team-driver boundaries. But of course, they've got Yuki Tsunoda to cheer for, for yet another race. But will he be there in 2024? Should an extension announcement come this weekend?
The key question, though, is - will Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen resume their dominant ways? OR has the 'flexi' technical directive literally slowed them down this much? Will Charles Leclerc bounce back at Ferrari? We can't recollect when last was he out-qualified and out-scored by a team-mate for three races in row. Yes, Carlos Sainz has been in splendid form post-summer break.
‘Suzuka, you are special!’;
https://omny.fm/shows/inside-line-f1...ese-gp-preview
IT’S RACE WEEK: 5 storylines we’re excited about ahead of the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix
20 September 2023
Chris Medland
Special Contributor
Formula One - Official Site
How will Red Bull respond? Red Bull will want to put the last race behind them quickly, partly just because of the nature of the calendar meaning they need to be on form from the start of FP1 on Friday, but also because Japan provides them with their first chance to win the constructors’ championship this year.
The challengers looking to keep the pressure on: Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur attributes the recent performances to work done at Zandvoort after the summer break, and then Sainz being able to hit the ground running from the very first lap of FP1 at each of the last two venues.
Liam Lawson’s second home: He’s already raced at Suzuka in Super Formula and is set to do so again in October’s title decider, so it’s a track he has the most recent knowledge of outside of F1. Lawson is also likely to get a large amount of support given his local exploits and the fact he’s driving for a Honda-affiliated team, which perhaps means he now faces his first weekend with a form of expectation on his shoulders.
‘A special atmosphere (full main grandstand at Suzuka long after dark on a Thursday)’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...LIyL1fbTb.html
Stroll makes STATEMENT on his racing return after Singapore crash
Wednesday 20 September 2023 14:27
Lauren Sneath
GPFans
Lance Stroll has confirmed that he is ‘ready to race’ at the Japanese Grand Prix after missing last week’s race following a crash in qualifying. At the Singapore Grand Prix, as the Canadian driver attempted to make it out of Q1 he pushed too hard and sent the car hurtling into the barriers.
The car was severely damaged, and a huge amount of debris flew onto the track. Luckily Stroll walked away from the scene unhurt, but the team later announced that he was still ‘feeling the effects’ of the massive crash and would sit out the race the next day.
‘Ready to race’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...panese-suzuka/
Mercedes have plan to help Lewis Hamilton and George Russell ahead of Japan GP
Mercedes have hatched a plan to help improve their fortunes.
12:07, Wed, Sep 20, 2023
By George Glinski
Mercedes are expected to roll out a new set of upgrades towards the back end of the year. George Russell claims there are "a few more things to come" as the Silver Arrows battle it out for second place in the constructors rankings.
Mercedes are currently placed second in the standings, 24 points ahead of Ferrari and 72 in front of Aston Martin. However, they gave up ground on both at the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend. Mercedes are hoping to ensure they don't give up any more points to their rivals by rolling out some improvements to their cars with Russell revealing there are a few on their way.
"In all honesty, there'll be a few more little things to come towards the end of the season, which will aid our learning into next season," he said. Mercedes have struggled to replicate the success of the past decade in recent years but Russell hopes they can learn from their mistakes and come back stronger next season.
‘Roll out a new set of upgrades’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ussell-F1-news
Kannapolis-based Haas F1 Team says “Konnichiwa,” preps for Japanese Grand Prix
Published: Sep. 20, 2023 at 11:05 AM GMT+1
By David Whisenant
WBTV
Kevin Magnussen: Some drivers decide to stay in Singapore after the race while others choose to travel to Japan for a few extra days before activities begin in Suzuka. What was your travel plan?
“After the race, my team and I stayed in Singapore for a few days, hung out and did some training. It feels good at least to just chill out and train well the day after the race and do what we need to do physically to prepare for Suzuka.”
Nico Hulkenberg: Some drivers decide to stay in Singapore after the race while others choose to travel to Japan for a few extra days before activities begin in Suzuka. What was your travel plan?
“Japan is so far away that when you get an opportunity to explore for a couple of days, I think you should take it. Our engineering department, some other members of the team, and myself went to Tokyo. It’s also rare that I get to spend time with the team away from the track, so this was a fun way to spend it.”
‘Preps for Japanese Grand Prix’;
https://www.wbtv.com/2023/09/20/kann...se-grand-prix/
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Red Bull set for Suzuka celebration after Singapore Grand Prix shock.
Red Bull need score only a point more than Mercedes at Suzuka on Sunday (Sept 24) to retain their Formula One constructors' title and trigger celebrations after last weekend's Singapore shock.
Sep 21, 2023
Reuters
AsiaOne
After failing to win for the first time this season, and 15 victories in a row dating back to the end of last year, the champions look likely to be back to their dominant ways in Japan. Last year in a rain-shortened race Max Verstappen sealed his second championship with team mate Sergio Perez completing the one-two.
The runaway championship leader, now 151 points clear of Perez, must wait a while longer for his third title but Red Bull are set to complete their half of an inevitable double at a track owned by partners Honda. They currently have a 308 point advantage over Mercedes and 332 over Ferrari, with only 309 points -- including those from sprint races and fastest laps -- still to be won after Suzuka.
"I think we will be quick in Suzuka," Verstappen said last Sunday. "It should be good for our car. The track is always super-fun to drive so I hope as soon as we put the car on the track that it's in a good window."
‘Red Bull set for Suzuka celebration’;
https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/re...hock#gsc.tab=0
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the build-up ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend
21 September 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
Build-up to the Japanese Grand Prix. Hello and welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun...
The F1 circus is back in Japan, at one of the most iconic circuits on the calendar. The fast and flowing Suzuka has hosted many epic battles over the years, but what does 2023 have to offer?
‘The build-up’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...EkvB7om5t.html
Lewis Hamilton at odds with Toto Wolff as Mercedes boss misses Japanese Grand Prix
Toto Wolff will not be supporting Lewis Hamilton in person at Suzuka.
06:28, Thu, Sep 21, 2023
By Archie Griggs
Daily and Sunday Express
Lewis Hamilton has insisted that Mercedes will not be looking to completely 'bin' their current W14 challenger at the end of the year. The 38-year-old's verdict is at odds with that of Toto Wolff, who will not be in attendance at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix in order to undergo knee surgery.
Mercedes have made plenty of positive strides in recent months after ditching their unsuccessful 'zeropod' concept but remain some way adrift of Red Bull, who have been setting the pace virtually all year.
Despite this, Hamilton is not expecting the Silver Arrows to make an entirely fresh start in 2024, with the Brit insisting that his current car is still a 'masterpiece' regardless. "We won't ever bin this car, these cars are still masterpieces even if they aren't the fastest in the world," said the Brit in Thursday's press conference at Suzuka.
"There will be bits of it that we try to change, try to hold on to some of the positives. With the new direction we have it is far too early to say and be optimistic about next year's car, but I have full faith in the crew." It comes after Wolff suggested last weekend that Mercedes will completely ditch their W14 concept when the season draws to a close. The 51-year-old was adamant that while the current car is 'really fast', next year's W15 will be a huge step forward after many months of relentless work behind the scenes.
‘WOLFF: Completely ditch their W14 concept, VERSUS, HAMILTON: "We won't ever bin this car” ’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...d-Prix-F1-news
Liam Lawson: Previous Suzuka experience 'should help' but Japanese GP will be 'a steep learning curve'
21 Sep 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Having raced at Suzuka in other racing categories, AlphaTauri driver Liam Lawson hopes his experience will help him in the 2023 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
'A steep learning curve';
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...665049395.html
Japanese GP organisers left red-faced after Ferrari BLUNDER
Thursday 21 September 2023 04:57
Cal Gaunt
GPFans
Officials at the Japanese Grand Prix recently addressed a funny oversight involving Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in the lead-up to this weekend's race. The awareness of this issue arose only subsequent to the circulation of a viral photograph on Reddit, which prominently displayed the placement of Sainz's banner above both sides of the Ferrari garage.
Sainz has garnered considerable attention in recent weeks due to his noteworthy achievements, including securing pole position at Monza earlier this month and claiming a spectacular victory in last week's race in Singapore. His triumph at Marina Bay marked a significant milestone, as he became the only driver aside from the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez to clinch a race win in the 2023 season.
‘Sainz's banner above both sides of the Ferrari garage!!!’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...rrari-blunder/
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MAX IN SUZUKA: 'DON'T CARE WHEN I WIN THE TITLE'.
“I don’t mind if it’s on a Saturday or Sunday. I know it’s coming so I’m not thinking about it too much. Maybe it’s good to win it on a Saturday so we can go on a big night out. Maybe my reaction times won’t be as good on Sunday when the lights go out”, laughs Max.
Published on 21 September 2023
by Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl
Although the Oracle Red Bull Racing driver won last year’s Japanese Grand Prix, and with it his second world title, Max will not be able to secure title number three just yet. He will have to wait until later in the season, which could lead to the championship being clinched during a Saturday sprint.
Despite a ten race winning streak coming to an end, Max remains cool about the situation. “We’ve stopped winning for one race, these things happen. Before we won ten in a row”, smiles Max. “Of course I wanted to win, but we knew there was going to be a day where we wouldn’t win and things go wrong. Unfortunately, Singapore was that weekend. But we’ll keep going and try again this weekend.”
'DON'T CARE WHEN I WIN THE TITLE';
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5246/
Red Bull have clear path to clinching Constructors’ Championship in Japan
Published Sep 20, 2023 at 11:38 AM ET
TSN
Red Bull have a clear path to clinching a second straight Constructors’ Championship at Formula One's Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday. While the team saw its lead shrink amid struggles in Singapore, the title can be locked up with a return to form in Suzuka.
Red Bull will clinch the team championship if they outscore Mercedes by any margin and avoid being outscored by Ferrari by 24 points. The Constructors' title can be secured by @redbullracing in Suzuka ��#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/aZ32KY8V9n
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 20, 2023
‘Clinching Constructors’ Championship in Japan’;
https://www.tsn.ca/auto-racing/red-b...-tsn-1.2010046
Sergio Perez aiming to hit back at Japanese GP after Singapore disaster
Sergio Perez expects Red Bull to be back to form for the Japanese GP after a nightmare weekend in Singapore.
September 21, 2023
By Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Verstappen was easily passed by George Russell, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton under the lights at Marina Bay, and there was nothing the typically all-conquering driver-car package could do to stop them.
Despite theories circulating that the team has been hit by a Formula 1 technical directive aimed at stopping flexi-floors and flexi-wings, Perez has said that they expect to be back around Suzuka.
“Oh that’s definitely the target [winning],” Perez said to media ahead of the race at Suzuka. “We still don’t fully understand what went wrong in Singapore. We have some ideas. The track is very different, so there should not be a reason why we can’t be strong in Suzuka. Actually, this should be one of the best circuits for us.”
‘Red Bull to be back to form’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...pore-disaster/
Lewis Hamilton: “Something’s up” if Red Bull don’t win Japanese Grand Prix by 30 seconds
21 Sep 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Lewis Hamilton has predicted Red Bull to be “phenomenal” at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix as the team looks to bounce back from a disappointing race in Singapore. Looking ahead to this weekend’s race, Hamilton expects Red Bull to return to their pre-Singapore level of performance.
“I would think that if they’re not 30 seconds ahead like they have done in the past then something’s up… but no, it they had a difficult weekend at the last one but their car should be phenomenal here," he said.
“They have been phenomenal all year long with pace at pretty much every circuit and it is going to be great to watch that car in general.”
‘Lewis Hamilton has predicted Red Bull to be “phenomenal” ’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103610...-gp-30-seconds
Japanese GP: Thursday's build-up in pictures
21/09/2023 at 13:00
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Suzuka's heart-pounding track – one of F1's most appreciated venues, for drivers and fans alike – takes center stage this weekend as the championship moves on to round 16.
Check out our selection of pictures from Thursday's build-up to the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix.
‘Thursday's build-up in pictures’;
https://f1i.com/news/487485-japanese...ictures-4.html
Gary Anderson: Why McLaren's last big upgrade looks so good for Suzuka
Sep 21, 2023
by Gary Anderson
The Race
Lando Norris's second-place finish in Singapore might have been McLaren's first podium in four grands prix, but it nevertheless continued an impressive upward Formula 1 trend that stretches even further back, to the start of July and the Austrian Grand Prix.
Just as that Austria uptick came on the same weekend McLaren introduced the first part of a major upgrade for its MCL60, so too its Marina Bay rostrum followed the introduction - on Norris's car - of its last significant package of 2023.
As a result, big things are expected of McLaren this weekend at the Japanese GP, where both Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri will have that upgrade. F1 championship leader Max Verstappen thinks Norris could be a serious threat in qualifying at least, while Mercedes' George Russell reckons the Norris-McLaren combination might end up best of the rest behind Red Bull "with their high-speed performance".
‘McLaren's last big upgrade looks so good’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/g...od-for-suzuka/
Steiner predicts 'reality' to hit Haas at Japanese GP
21 September 5:10PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Guenther Steiner has predicted that Haas will be "hit by reality" in the Japanese Grand Prix after Kevin Magnussen's points finish in Singapore.
"I think with all honesty, it was to do with the track, a completely different layout, and our car car didn't suffer at the track," Steiner told media including RacingNews365 of the ability to score points at Marina Bay.
"We still had degradation in the race, but I am very happy for the points and qualifying was great. It was good to get the point home, but the car didn't fix itself over last weekend, it was track-specific. We will get hit by reality again here."
‘Car didn't fix itself over last weekend’;
https://racingnews365.com/steiner-ex...at-japanese-gp
Lawson reveals F1 'discussions' on horizon as AlphaTauri star issues 'NOT HAPPY' warning
Thursday 21 September 2023 15:57
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
Liam Lawson has stated that he 'wouldn't be happy' if he were to return to his role as a reserve driver in the 2024 Formula 1 season, as he revealed that 'discussions' are set to take place after the conclusion of the Japanese Grand Prix.
"I wouldn't be happy to go back to being reserve, but obviously, I know how hard it is to get into Formula 1," he told the media. "And I understand that that can be really difficult sometimes. So obviously, what will happen, will happen, but these things I just haven't really thought about too much. I'm just trying to make the most of this."
Yet Lawson revealed that any indication as to whether he will get a chance on the grid in 2024 has been put on the back burner until this weekend's racing has been taken care of. “To be honest, there hasn't been a huge amount of time to discuss the future," he added.
‘F1 'discussions' on horizon’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...iel-ricciardo/
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Verstappen strides ahead in opening Japanese GP practice.
World Champion Max Verstappen quickly cast aside his and Red Bull’s subdued Singapore weekend with an emphatic showing in opening practice for Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix.
22nd September 2023, 04:37
by Phillip Horton
Motorsport Week
Verstappen clocked a time of 1:31.647s around the figure-of-eight Suzuka circuit in a hot and overcast first 60-minute session on Friday lunchtime. Verstappen’s lap, set on the Soft tyre, left him a comfortable 0.626s clear of Singapore race winner Carlos Sainz.
McLaren’s drivers set their best times during the closing stages of the session, with Lando Norris moving into third place, while Oscar Piastri leapt from the lower half of the pack into seventh spot.
Sainz’s Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc was fourth while home representative Yuki Tsunoda was a surprise fifth for AlphaTauri, as the only other drivers within a second of pacesetter Verstappen.
‘Emphatic showing’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...e-gp-practice/
(FP1) First Practice Results – 2023 Japanese Grand Prix
22nd September 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:31.647
2. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.626
3. Lando Norris McLaren +0.745
4. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.927
5. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +0.950
6. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.003
7. Oscar Piastri McLaren +1.066
8. Alex Albon Williams Racing +1.344
9. Liam Lawson AlphaTauri +1.358
10. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.393
‘Japanese Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the opening practice session ahead of this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at Suzuka’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp1-first-...and-prix-83178
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from first practice for the Japanese Grand Prix
22 September 2023
Becky Hart
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...F4KQwGXVJ.html
F1 Live - Japanese GP Free Practice 1 Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
22 September 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Free Practice 1 Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrBvgbgKoQ4
Verstappen ROARS back as Ferrari rival Red Bull in Japanese Grand Prix FP1
Friday 22 September 2023 05:37
Shay Rogers
GPFans
The two-time world champion was the first man on track and showed clear intent to attack the session from the start, as Red Bull looked to make amends for a poor Singapore Grand Prix performance. It took him 15 minutes to lead the McLaren’s atop the timesheets by 1.6 seconds, as he showed a glimpse of the true performance they have in hand this weekend.
Although he had little to complain about during FP1, the Dutchman was less than pleased with George Russell’s efforts to get out of his way during a fast lap early on in the session. However, replays showed the Brit doing all he good to get out of the way, even touching the grass as he navigated the tight sector one.
‘Verstappen ROARS back’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-bull-ferrari/
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FP2: Verstappen leads Leclerc and Norris to stay on top during second practice at Suzuka.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull put the memories of a challenging Singapore weekend behind them as they doubled up during Friday practice for the Japanese Grand Prix, following up their pace-setting FP1 efforts with the fastest time in FP2, which was red-flagged late on when Alpine’s Pierre Gasly crashed out.
22 September 2023
In another session that featured prototype C2 tyre testing for the 2024 season, Verstappen was one of the first drivers to switch to the standard soft compound rubber, producing an initial benchmark of 1m 31.377s to continue where he left off earlier in the day.
Following runs from Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc at the halfway mark, which saw both briefly top the times, Verstappen rejoined the Suzuka track on softs to pump in a 1m 30.688s lap and move comfortably clear of the McLaren and Ferrari drivers.
Leclerc wound up three-tenths adrift and Norris four-tenths back, with Carlos Sainz – the winner at Marina Bay and pole-sitter for the last two races – making it two Ferraris in the top four positions, half a second down on Verstappen’s time.
‘FP2: Verstappen leads Leclerc and Norris to stay on top’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...zdrM8xw9P.html
(FP2) Second Practice Results – 2023 Japanese Grand Prix
22nd September 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:30.688
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.320
3. Lando Norris McLaren +0.464
4. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.549
5. George Russell Mercedes +0.640
6. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.804
7. Alex Albon Williams Racing +0.867
8. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.974
9. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +1.022
10. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +1.051
‘Japanese Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the second practice session ahead of this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at Suzuka’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp2-second...and-prix-83190
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from second practice for the Japanese Grand Prix
22 September 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...C76Bz9F5n.html
F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2023 - Friday Practice: As it happened
22nd September 2023, 08:20
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Here's what happened in F1 Friday practice at the Japanese Grand Prix.
‘As it happened’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-jap...ce-it-happened
F1 Live - Japanese GP Free Practice 2 Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
22 September 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Free Practice 2 Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH6RQCERpcg
Alpine suffer nightmare end to Japanese Grand Prix FP2 after CRASH causes red flag
Friday 22 September 2023 09:10
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
Pierre Gasly had an unfortunate end to his FP2 at the Japanese Grand Prix after he crashed into the barriers to cause a red flag. The Frenchman, who recorded the 19th fastest time of the session, locked up at Degner 2 and skidded through the gravel before making contact with the wall.
Alpine will have work to do to fix what looks to be some nasty suspension damage despite the relatively low impact. The crash came with just two minutes left in FP2, prompting an early end to the session.
‘Alpine suffer nightmare’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...pine-red-flag/
Max Verstappen 'impressed' by F1 rivals but makes clear demand of Red Bull in Japan
Max Verstappen is hoping to overcome a disappointing Singapore Grand Prix with a better Red Bull display in Japan.
09:10, Thu, Sep 21, 2023
By Sam Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Max Verstappen has heaped praise on McLaren ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend. McLaren have enjoyed a successful run of form in recent months, with Lando Norris finishing on the podium at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Piling praise on McLaren, Verstappen said: “What McLaren have done this year is quite impressive, from where they started to where they are now, so I expect them to be strong - but I expect to be ahead.”
He added of Red Bull’s chances in Japan: “It's important that we analyse everything, but there's no real rush. Singapore is so different to here in terms of how you set up the car, so I'm not worried that a weekend like that will upset our weekend here. [This track] felt nice on the simulator, so that is good.”
‘Heaped praise on McLaren’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...Red-Bull-Japan
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What we learned from Friday practice at the F1 Japanese GP.
Max Verstappen's headline times in both of Friday's Formula 1 practice sessions at the Japanese Grand Prix proved that Red Bull's misfortune in Singapore was a mere blip.
Sep 22, 2023, 1:36 PM
By: Jake Boxall-Legge
The championship leader atoned for a difficult weekend at the Marina Bay Circuit last time out by stamping his authority on FP1, capturing a 1m31.647s to sit above Singapore winner Carlos Sainz by 0.6s as Ferrari continued its recent resurgence with the runner-up spot in the noon-time session.
He proceeded to claim FP2 over the other Ferrari in the afternoon, outpacing Charles Leclerc by the smaller margin of 0.3s with a 1m30.688s while Lando Norris sat in the top three of both sessions to demonstrate McLaren's credentials as a podium contender at Suzuka.
Lewis Hamilton had predicted that Red Bull would be strong before any of the cars had turned a wheel, suggesting Verstappen should win Sunday's race by over 30 seconds and lauded the RB19's characteristics around a circuit such as Suzuka. The seven-time champion's early assessment appears to have been proven correct, owing to Verstappen's evident advantage through the first practice sessions.
‘The championship leader atoned for a difficult weekend’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/w...e-gp/10523715/
Max Verstappen boldly snubs Mercedes after Japanese GP practice masterclass
Max Verstappen bounced back from his tough Singapore GP with an immense start to Friday's practice action in Japan.
09:13, Fri, Sep 22, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
The Dutch driver endured a difficult outing in Singapore last weekend, failing to reach Q3 before recovering to finish fifth, comfortably out of the picture for the victory. However, Red Bull's star man was back to his unflappable best on Friday in Japan, finishing at the top of the timing sheets in both FP1 and FP2 as he sets himself up for a dominant weekend at Suzuka.
Verstappen was six-tenths faster than second-best Carlos Sainz in FP1, before finishing three-tenths to the good on his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in the second practice session of the day. Speaking to Sky Sports about his start to the weekend, Verstappen said: "Yeah it felt really good today. From lap one the car was enjoyable to drive again and it seems like we had a strong day on the short runs [and] long runs.”
"There is a lot of degradation so [it] will be quite tough I think on tyres in the race, but yeah so far I think we have a good start to the weekend." The Dutchman was then asked about who he sees as his biggest rivals for pole position on Saturday, responding: “It looks like it’s all a bit tight behind me between Ferrari and McLaren are close.”
‘Japanese GP practice masterclass’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ese-Grand-Prix
Lewis Hamilton openly admits he has NO CHANCE of victory at F1's Japanese Grand Prix after a 'really bad day' saw him finish 16th and 14th in practice
• Lewis Hamilton has discarded Mercedes' chances at the Japanese Grand Prix
• The seven-time world champion endured torrid practice sessions at Suzuka
Published: 12:55, 22 September 2023
By Ollie Lewis For Mailonline
Mail Online
Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he ‘definitely won’t be winning’ the Japanese Grand Prix after a day to forget in Suzuka. The seven-time world champion put in two underwhelming performances in Friday’s practice sessions, crossing the line in P16 and P14.
‘It was a really bad day, to be honest, he said. ‘A real struggle out there. [We were] a long way off, two seconds off in the first session and over a second off in the second. We're working away at just trying to fix the car's balance.”
‘We'll work on it overnight and turn it around for tomorrow, but we definitely won't be winning this weekend! If I in particular can move further up the order so I can at least back up George, who did a not-such-a-bad lap... yeah, tough one.”
‘P16 and P14’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rand-prix.html
Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton facing elimination in Japan
22 September 2023, 12:08
by Asher Fair
Beyond the Flag (Weblog)
Lewis Hamilton can officially be eliminated from 2023 Formula 1 world championship contention in this Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. For the first time since 2011, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is on the verge of being eliminated from championship contention for a third straight season.
That elimination can officially happen in this coming Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit, which Hamilton enters trailing two-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen by 194 points in the driver standings.
There are seven races remaining on the 22-race 2023 schedule. With 25 points going to the winner and one additional point going to the driver who records the fastest lap, provided he finishes inside the top 10, there are 182 points on offer throughout the rest of the season in Grands Prix themselves.
‘Facing elimination’;
https://beyondtheflag.com/2023/09/22...ination-japan/
Ferrari’s floor changes and five more teams’ Japanese Grand Prix updates
22nd September 2023, 12:51
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Japan’s round of the world championship may follow just one week after Singapore’s, but more than half the teams have nonetheless brought new bits for their cars.
Inevitably, the packages are not as extensive as those brought by the likes of McLaren and AlphaTauri to last week’s race. They are also more focused on efficient downforce generation, as Suzuka features several long acceleration zones in addition to medium and high-speed corners. Ferrari ran their new floor on Charles Leclerc’s car only in first practice, in order to compare its performance with the previous version which Carlos Sainz Jnr ran.
Four teams – Red Bull, Alpine, Alfa Romeo and Haas – have brought no updates this weekend. However the world champions are running the floor they introduced in practice for the Singapore Grand Prix but did not run in the race.
‘Japanese Grand Prix updates’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/09/22/...se-grand-prix/
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JAPANESE GRAND PRIX: F1 FREE PRACTICE 3 RESULTS.
The Japanese Grand Prix’s third and final practice session saw Max Verstappen back in first place on the timesheets.
September 23, 2023
Lena Ferle
FormulaNerds
The last sixty minutes of practice before qualifying were initially characterised by few cars on the track. Most drivers talked to their race engineers before getting into their cars.
The last ten minutes then saw the final rehearsal before qualifying. Verstappen returned to the track and moved up to first place with a 1:30.267, 0.240 seconds faster than Norris before. As time ticked down, both Ferraris went out for another fast lap, Sainz closely followed by Leclerc.
Sainz finished the lap with a 1:13.137 and Leclerc with a 1:31.022 – P4 and P5 until Sergio Perez also followed suit, clocking a 1:31.004 and sliding into 4th place. Traffic on the Suzuka track will be a problem in qualifying in a few hours – as it was just between Tsunoda and Magnussen. The Danish driver had to quickly move aside and raised his hand apologetically.
‘Max Verstappen back in first place’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ja...ice-3-results/
(FP3) Third Practice Results – 2023 Japanese Grand Prix
23rd September 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:30.267
2. Lando Norris McLaren +0.240
3. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.288
4. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.737
5. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.755
6. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.870
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.892
8. George Russell Mercedes +1.238
9. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.282
10. Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo +1.401
‘Japanese Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the final practice session ahead of this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at Suzuka’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp3-third-...and-prix-83202
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from third practice for the Japanese Grand Prix
23 September 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...e3h5HTDXW.html
F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2023 - Final Practice: LIVE UPDATES!
23 Sep 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
It's qualifying day for the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix. Follow all of the F1 action here with the Crash.net live blog.
‘LIVE UPDATES!’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-jap...e-live-updates
F1 Live - Japanese GP Free Practice 3 Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
23 September 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Free Practice 3 Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHjXyzosJh0
McLaren SURGE sees Verstappen rivalled in Japanese Grand Prix FP3
Saturday 23 September 2023 05:38
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Max Verstappen dominated his third consecutive practice session of the weekend in Suzuka, ahead of Lando Norris in second and Oscar Piastri in third. Sergio Perez finished fourth, alebit seven tenths behind his Red Bull team-mate, with the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in fifth and sixth.
Mercedes placed seventh and eighth, nearly a second behind Verstappen’s time, with Fernando Alonso and Zhou Guanyu rounding out the top ten.
As teams opted against doing much running in the early stages of the session, McLaren were the first to show any real pace, sitting 1-2 ahead of the Ferrari’s just 15 minutes into the session. Eventually, Max Verstappen came to play, lifting himself ahead of Lando Norris and into first place just two tenths ahead, and closer than many anticipated.
‘McLaren SURGE’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...rand-prix-fp3/
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“Mind-blowing” Max Verstappen pole at Japanese GP hailed as ‘one of the greatest qualifying laps in F1 history’.
Max Verstappen’s pole position lap at the Japanese Grand Prix has been labelled as “one of the great qualifying laps in F1 history” by Karun Chandhok.
23 Sep 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Verstappen had already done enough to seal pole with his opening salvo in Q3 but improved further with a phenomenal final effort that left Sky pundit Chandhok in awe.
"I'm still breathless watching that. I think that was one of the great qualifying laps in F1 history," ex-F1 driver Chandhok said. There's not much left on the table. The detail with which he drove - pinching little bits on the entry into Spoon Curve, 130R not using all the width.’
“He thought about every metre and for me that's a driver who's ahead of the car. If they didn't have Max in the car, they would be second on the grid.”
‘Greatest qualifying laps in F1 history’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103651...est-f1-history
Qualifying Results – 2023 Japanese Grand Prix
23rd September 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
Q3
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:28.877
2. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.581
3. Lando Norris McLaren +0.616
4. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.665
5. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.773
6. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.973
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +1.031
8. George Russell Mercedes +1.342
9. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +1.426
10. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.683
‘Japanese Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for tomorrow’s 2023 F1 World Championship race in Suzuka’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-83216
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix
23 September 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...sRhyAtG8q.html
F1 Live - Japanese GP Qualifying Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
23 September 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Qualifying Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drGN2jJecvI
Verstappen takes crushing Suzuka pole ahead of Piastri
Sep 23, 2023
by Josh Suttill
The Race
Max Verstappen and Red Bull are back on top in Formula 1 after crushing the opposition in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying.
There’s been zero sign of a repeat of Red Bull’s struggles in Singapore – where both cars were knocked out of Q2 – all weekend and that continued into qualifying with Verstappen delivering on his clear pole favourite status throughout. He held a four tenths of a second advantage over his nearest rival, Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, after the opening runs of Q3.
Verstappen delivered a 1m28.877s on his final run to extend that gap to almost six tenths. Piastri couldn’t improve on his second run but he’ll still line up on the front row in F1 for the first time in a grand prix, having done so in the sprint at Spa, and has managed that on his Suzuka debut too.
‘Crushing Suzuka pole’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/v...ad-of-piastri/
F1 ROOKIE joins Verstappen on the front row for Japanese GP after qualifying
Saturday 23 September 2023 09:19
Sam Cook
GPFans
Max Verstappen stormed home to take a dominant pole position during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.
He was 0.581 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger Oscar Piastri, the biggest gulf since Michael Schumacher's blistering effort around the same track in 2004, with the other McLaren of Lando Norris in third.
‘F1 ROOKIE joins Verstappen on the front row’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ition-mclaren/
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Japanese Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins the race and the teams’ title, Perez implodes.
It was business as usual for Max Verstappen as the reigning World Champion wrapped up the Constructors’ Championship for Red Bull with his 13th win of this season at the Japanese Grand Prix.
24 Sep 2023 7:37 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
The Dutchman was matchless at the Suzuka circuit as he romped to the victory by almost 20 seconds ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris with Oscar Piastri third. His 26 points meant Red Bull won the Constructors’ Championship as they took an unassailable lead in the standings.
However, it was a tale of two Red Bulls as Sergio Perez, twice pitting for a new front wing after hitting rivals, retired his RB19 from last place on lap 15 due to crash damage. The story of his race included two new front wings, two penalties, and a strange retired-unretired-retired situation.
https://www.planetf1.com/news/japane...ix-2023-report
Race Results – 2023 Japanese Grand Prix
24th September 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing – 53 laps
2. Lando Norris McLaren +19.387
3. Oscar Piastri McLaren +26.494
4. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +43.998
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +49.376
6. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +50.221
7. George Russell Mercedes +57.659
8. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +74.725
9. Esteban Ocon Alpine +79.678
10. Pierre Gasly Alpine +83.155
‘Japanese Grand Prix – Here are the provisional results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship race around the Suzuka Circuit’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-83232
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix
24 September 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...ajRUna9N6.html
F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2023 - As it happened
24th September 2023, 06:57
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘As it happened’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-jap...23-it-happened
F1 Live - Japanese GP Race Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
24 September 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Race Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLMZiMduea0
Verstappen dominates for Japanese GP victory as Red Bull secure back-to-back constructors’ titles
24 September 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Max Verstappen and Red Bull returned to winning ways in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix after surviving a dramatic first lap and pulling comfortably clear of McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, confirming another constructors’ title for the Milton Keynes team.
Verstappen was attacked by Piastri and Norris at the start but kept both of them at bay, navigated Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car periods and then romped into the distance, taking the chequered flag first for the 13th time this season.
As such, Red Bull mathematically put the constructors’ championship out of their rivals’ reach to back up their 2022 win and make it two triumphs on the bounce, underlining the outfit’s superiority under F1’s latest ground effect era so far, while adding to the teams’ titles they achieved in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
‘Red Bull secure back-to-back constructors’ titles’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...6nypqVPO6.html
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Toto Wolff must be tearing his hair out watching Mercedes from Monaco after Red Bull claim constructors' championship following Max Verstappen's victory in Japanese Grand Prix.
How, then, have Mercedes gone from cloud nine to the depths of despair in just one week? The first warning signs were cast by Hamilton on a humid Thursday afternoon in Suzuka.
Published: 10:03, 24 September 2023
By Ollie Lewis For Mailonline
Mail Online
On a humid Thursday afternoon in Suzuka.: ‘I would think that if they [Red Bull] are not 30 seconds ahead like they have been in the past, then something’s up,’ the seven-time world champion predicted, seemingly already defeated despite last week’s morale-boosting performance. It’ll be interesting to see how the weekend goes. I hope we’ll be closer, and I hope they’re not as fast as the 30-second gap.’
The proof was in the pudding as Hamilton crossed the line in 16th and 14th across both practice sessions, while Russell got his car up to fifth. ‘We'll work on it overnight and turn it around for tomorrow,’ Hamilton seethed. ‘But we definitely won't be winning this weekend.’ Pushed on why Mercedes were so far off the pace, Hamilton said: ‘It's figuring out what is wrong. We were much closer in the last race (in Singapore) but we didn't have many high-speed corners, only one, but not as high-speed as the corners here.’
It didn’t get much better in qualifying, either. On paper, Mercedes have the perfect duo to challenge Verstappen: Hamilton is, statistically speaking, the greatest qualifier of all time with 104 poles, while Russell was not dubbed ‘Mr Saturday’ during his stint at Williams for nothing.
‘Tearing his hair out’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rand-Prix.html
Toto Wolff stand-in responds to George Russell-Lewis Hamilton argy-bargy at Japanese Grand Prix.
Mercedes have no problems with how Lewis Hamilton and George Russell battled each other at the Japanese Grand Prix, describing it as “hard racing”.
24 Sep 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Mercedes have no problems with how Lewis Hamilton and George Russell battled each other at the Japanese Grand Prix, describing it as “hard racing”. Hamilton and Russell went head-to-head on track on several occasions at Suzuka. At one point, both drivers went off the track at Spoon as Hamilton defended the position from Russell.
The pair’s battle went down to the final laps, with a split in strategy resulting in convergence at the end of the race. Hamilton was able to get past Russell after Mercedes deployed team orders, leaving the latter vulnerable to Carlos Sainz behind.
Reflecting on the battle, Bradley Lord - who is acting as a Toto Wolff stand-in alongside Jerome d’Ambrosio - said: “They race each other hard on a hard-racing track. It’s easy to read a lot into those radio messages in the heat of the moment. As always, we talk about it away from the pressure and the high temperatures of the cockpit in the debrief after.
‘George Russell-Lewis Hamilton argy-bargy’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103664...gybargy-suzuka
Tempers flare between Hamilton and Russell at Suzuka
Andrew Lewin
24/09/2023 at 10:17
F1i.com
There was a noticeably fractious relationship between Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell during today's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka International Racing Course. “Who do we want to fight here, each other or the others?” Russell sniped as Hamilton went on to finish in fifth, while Russell subsequently also lost out to Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and ended seventh.
Talking of his early battle with Hamilton, Russell said: “Obviously made the first overtake, lost it down the straight which was annoying, and the second chance where he had his right to the line, so part of racing."
Team principal Toto Wolff wasn't in Suzuka this weekend, but Bradley Lord - who is standing in for him on the Mercedes pit wall alongside Jerome d’Ambrosio - was on hand to clarify what had gone on. "It’s easy to read a lot into those radio messages in the heat of the moment," he said. "As always, we talk about it away from the pressure and the high temperatures of the cockpit in the debrief. That’s where anything gets tidied up that needs tidying up."
‘Tempers flare’;
https://f1i.com/news/488044-tempers-...at-suzuka.html
George Russell fumes at "disaster" after Lewis Hamilton team order at Japanese Grand Prix
Hamilton finished the Japanese Grand Prix fifth, two places ahead of Russell, after Mercedes ordered the younger Brit to let his team-mate past in the latter stages of the Suzuka race
09:53, 24 Sep 2023
By Daniel Moxon
The Mirror
George Russell admitted his Japanese Grand Prix strategy failed and let to the order to allow Lewis Hamilton to pass, but was left to rue another "disaster". Russell had tried a bold one-stop strategy for the Suzuka race. Everyone else, perhaps sensibly, was banking on at least two visits to the pit lane on a track which is notorious for chewing up tyres.
It didn't really work out for the Brit. He was running fifth on the road in the final stages but on very old tyres and with Hamilton and Carlos Sainz close behind. Wary that Sainz might be able to get past both, Mercedes ordered Russell to let his team-mate through. He complained over the radio but eventually complied with the instruction.
‘Fumes at "disaster"!’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...japan-31014831
Mercedes’ call to help Russell using DRS “made no sense” – Hamilton
Formula 1
Posted on 24th September 2023, 10:41
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
Lewis Hamilton said Mercedes made the wrong call when he was told to slow down and help his team mate by giving him the opportunity to use his Drag Reduction System. “I needed to get as far clear ahead as possible and I was on my way, I was around two seconds ahead, and they asked me then to give George DRS so I had to come off the gas down the straight to get him 0.8 behind.”
“Then he got DRS, but then he got overtaken, which was going to happen because he was on a one stop and we were on a two. But then he got past him, and then he was right on my tail. So, not ideal. It made it very, very hard for the last couple of laps. But I think as a team we’ve got to be grateful for fifth and seventh – it’s better than sixth and seventh.”
‘Lewis Hamilton said Mercedes made the wrong call’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/09/24/...ense-hamilton/
Sainz "laughing in the car" as Mercedes repeated DRS trick in Japan
Carlos Sainz says he was "laughing in the car" during the Formula 1 Japanese GP when he realised that Mercedes had borrowed the DRS trick he used in Singapore.
Sep 24, 2023, 11:26 AM
By: Adam Cooper
Motorsport.com
In the closing laps of last weekend's street race in the Marina Bay track, Sainz slowed down to give DRS to the following Lando Norris in an attempt to keep George Russell and Lewis Hamilton behind on their fresher tyres.
In the end, the ploy worked, and Sainz and Norris finished first and second, with Hamilton taking third after Russell crashed on the last lap. At Suzuka, the positions were reversed with Sainz catching up with Russell and Hamilton, who were running fifth and sixth. Sainz admitted that he found the scenario unfolding in front of him amusing.
"Yeah, I found it [funny], actually," he said when asked by Motorsport.com about his comment. I was laughing in the car because I could see Lewis backing off in 130R to give the DRS to George. And I was like, I need to make sure I attack George into the chicane. If I don't throw him offline, it's going to be impossible to pass them.
"Laughing in the car";
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...rick/10524761/
Mercedes implode with strategy nightmare in Wolff's absence
Sunday 24 September 2023 10:39
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Friction behind the scenes? It had already been an uncomfortable watch for Wolff and those in the Mercedes garage as Hamilton and Russell went wheel-to-wheel on multiple occasions. The younger Brit had made a move into the final chicane only for Hamilton to fight back as he recovered from contact on lap one with Sergio Perez.
Later in the first stint, Russell tried another overtake around the outside of Spoon, only for Hamilton to push him off track. Russell jumped ahead thanks to his one-stop strategy and even though Hamilton was faster at the end of the race, the seven-time world champion had to be let through rather than making the move himself.
Had Wolff been at the track and on radio communications, you can almost guarantee he would have put an end to the madness and Mercedes might have kept Sainz at bay and scored a couple extra points.
‘Mercedes implode’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...f1-toto-wolff/
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Hamilton makes 2024 plea as McLaren emphasises Mercedes' plight.
Lewis Hamilton says the Mercedes Formula 1 team needs the "greatest six months of development" it has ever had if it is to compete with Red Bull in 2024.
Sep 24, 2023
by Jack Cozens
The Race
Having repeated his opinion that this year's Mercedes was "basically the exact same" as last year's in terms of feeling, Hamilton was asked how much he felt his comments about where the car could be improved were being taken on board and what Mercedes will require to have similar success to what Red Bull and Verstappen are enjoying next season.
"There are things that I've asked for, that we've gone... in part of the direction for next year," he told Sky Sports F1. "All the points that George and I give I think have been fully listened to. I have no idea where the car's going to be next year, but we're a long, long way away.”
"We've got to hope for... the next six months has to be the greatest six months of development that we've ever, ever had to close that gap, to be really banging on the door."
"Greatest six months of development";
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/h...rcedes-plight/
Hamilton says next six months are crucial for Mercedes
24th September 2023, 14:06
The Straits Times
With Mercedes-powered McLaren finishing second and third with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, Hamilton said Mercedes needed to take a good look.
"We can't turn a blind eye to that. We've got to look at what they've done and go in that direction. That is the direction. But I truly believe my team can do it," he said.
‘Next six months are crucial’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...l-for-mercedes
Lewis Hamilton has asked Mercedes to copy one of their biggest rivals as Max Verstappen continues to dominate.
08:42, Sun, Sep 24, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
While the result was a positive step forward from a difficult set of practice sessions and qualifying stint, Hamilton was not satisfied with Mercedes' overall showing with their lead driver ending the race 50 seconds back from Verstappen in P1.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 about what his team need to do in the factory, Hamilton said: "The next six months have got to be the greatest six months of development that we've ever, ever had to close that gap. To be really banging on the door.
"We've always been great at putting downforce on the car, it's just that with the way our car currently works, adding downforce isn't working - it just makes it bounce more. Hopefully with the change in philosophy we will be back to where this team deserve because this is a world championship team. We still are an amazing team and I have absolute faith in everyone. But decisions that are made in this period of time are critical for our trajectory."
‘Copy one of their biggest rivals’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...Max-Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton demands Mercedes listen to him as problems laid bare in Red Bull chase
Hamilton finished the Japanese Grand Prix fifth and a long way behind winner Max Verstappen, after which he spoke about the size of the task facing his Mercedes team
09:19, 24 Sep 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
He wasn't close to the podium, while there was a chasm between Hamilton and race winner Verstappen. It was a gap which, in the mind of the seven-time world champion, illustrates the improvements the Silver Arrows need to make.
Speaking after the Suzuka race, he stressed the importance of his own input in that quest. "There are things that I've asked for that we've gone in part of the direction for next year," he said.
Reflecting on how his race went, he said: "I'm exhausted, for one. Fighting with absolutely everything I have to get as high up as possible and get ahead of Ferrari, which had an upgrade this week so they were particularly quick. They have been quicker the last three races."
‘Lewis Hamilton demands Mercedes listen to him’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...s-car-31014708
Lewis Hamilton warned he made a mistake signing new Mercedes contract
Lewis Hamilton reportedly rejected an approach from Ferrari before signing his two-year extension with Mercedes.
23 September 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News
Fans of Lewis Hamilton have insisted that the British driver should’ve rejected a new deal at Mercedes and have joined Ferrari, following a concerning qualifying performance for the Silver Arrows at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Mercedes’ deficit has concerned Hamilton’s supporters, who don’t think the 38-year-old will ever return to the front with the Silver Arrows.
“They have no chance next year,” wrote @Jordan_F1 on Twitter/X.
“That team is hopeless now & Lewis shouldn’t have stayed there.”
Several fans agreed with this supporter’s take on the situation, with many having questioned why he rejected a move to Ferrari, who have improved considerably over recent races.
“Agreed. I honestly thought he would move to Ferrari but hey it’s F1, contracts, anything can happen,” said @jgc0.
‘Made a mistake’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/lewis-ham...edes-contract/
Lewis Hamilton despairs over Mercedes woes after Japanese GP with message to Toto Wolff
Lewis Hamilton salvaged a P5 finish at the Japanese Grand Prix but was left unhappy after the chequered flag.
08:21, Sun, Sep 24, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
When the chequered flag waved at Suzuka, Hamilton crossed the line almost 50 seconds back from Max Verstappen, highlighting the work that Mercedes still have to do over the winter if they're to close up to Red Bull.
The seven-time world champion has now sent a message to Toto Wolff, who missed this weekend to undergo knee surgery, and the rest of the team at the factory back in Brackley.
"The next six months have got to be the best six months of development we've ever had to close that gap. To be really banging on the door."
‘Lewis Hamilton despairs… … sent a message to Toto Wolff’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-GP-Toto-Wolff
Lewis Hamilton warns Mercedes of "critical" decisions and sets huge development target after F1 Japanese Grand Prix
24 Sep 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes need to pull off “the greatest six months of development” in order to catch Red Bull in time for the 2024 F1 season.
"Critical";
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103664...lopment-target
We are a long, long way away, admits Hamilton
24/09/2023
NEWS STORY
Pitpass
"It's tough on weekends like this," he told Sky Sports, "particularly when the car is such a handful. It felt just the same as last year, it's bouncing and sliding."
"The evidence is there, at McLaren, and we can't turn a blind eye to that, we've got to look at what they've done and go in that direction. That is the direction.”
“Long, long way away”;
https://www.pitpass.com/76246/We-are...dmits-Hamilton
