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‘Anything can happen’ – Perez ready for action in home race after taking P5 on the grid.
Sergio Perez has an army of Mexican supporters at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, and he’s hoping to give them something to cheer about on race day.
28 Oct 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Anything can happen’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...655849818.html
Perez Mexican homecoming: 'Boom, Checo's popularity has skyrocketed'
29 October 12:00PM
Author Luke Merkx
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Sergio Perez may be struggling for form in F1 but his popularity and status has never been higher. That's according to Fox Sports Mexico's Diego Meija, who sat down with RacingNews365.com in the build-up to the Mexico City Grand Prix. Asked if the growth in South and Central America had mirrored that of the United States, Meija replied: "Yes, certainly in Mexico. That's especially since Checo became a Red Bull driver.
"His popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. When he drove at Force India and Racing Point, he was a well-known sportsman. Now he is a real celebrity. He is on the same level as the most famous soccer players." On the arrival of Netflix hit docuseries Drive to Survive, Meija added: "That gave a big boost to the popularity of F1 in Latin America and Mexico. In doing so, we got a driver on the best team just when the sport was attracting more here.
"Boom, Checo's popularity was suddenly mega. When you're here, that's when you notice it. You see billboards and ads featuring him everywhere, both locally and internationally. The biggest Mexican brands want to tie themselves to him. They see him as the perfect ambassador for Mexico. He really is a star in the country. It's similar to the fan base a soccer team has. They continue to support him regardless of his performance."
'Boom, Checo's popularity has skyrocketed';
https://racingnews365.com/perez-is-h...larity-is-mega
Father insists Perez loves driving for Red Bull.
Sergio Perez's father says there is no doubt his son will still be at Red Bull in 2024.
OCTOBER 29, 2023
GrandPrix.com
Mexican Perez, 33, has a contract for next year, but rumours of strained relationships with Verstappen, Red Bull bosses and his performance slump will not go away. Perez's father Antonio Perez Garabay has often fanned the flames of the speculation, but on the occasion of the Mexican GP this weekend, he now says his son could not be happier at Red Bull.
Checo will be with Max in the same team for another ten years, he smiled to the Austrian broadcaster ORF. "And in these ten years Checo might win a world championship. I like that my son competes with the best driver in the world. And the best driver in the world right now is Max Verstappen,” Perez senior, a well-known motor racing and political figure in Mexico, added.
Amid wild rumours of a cut-throat rivalry between Perez and Verstappen early this weekend, Red Bull chiefs stepped in to insist that the pair actually get on well. Perez's father agrees: This is the best relationship with a teammate that Checo has ever had in his Formula 1 career.”
‘Perez loves driving for Red Bull’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/fathe...-red-bull.html
Perez rues decision to use extra set of new tyres in Q2 after qualifying fifth
Formula 1
Posted on 29th October 2023, 0:42
Written by Ed Hardy
RaceFans
Sergio Perez said tyre troubles were behind a disappointing qualifying session for the Mexican Grand Prix which left him on the third row of the grid. Perez was seventh after his first run in Q3 on a used set of soft tyres. He then joined his rivals in using a fresh set for his final lap, and jumped up to fifth. However he admitted that was still “not where we wanted to be” and said he shouldn’t have used an extra set of new tyres earlier in qualifying.
“I think we were missing a lot on that set of tyres, that second set of tyres for Q3,” he told Sky. “In Q2, we really didn’t need it. That was quite costly because the progression that we had in Q3 wasn’t ideal during that first run then going into the new. I felt like when I finished my lap, I felt like I undershot it a bit here and there and a tenth or two would have changed completely our lives today, so not ideal.”
Perez said there were big differences between each set of tyres for qualifying due to the circuit where “grip is extremely low.” “There is a changing temperature of two, three degrees,” he added. “You feel it whereas somewhere else you don’t really feel it. Every single set I had today felt differently, so the grip is extremely low.”
‘Perez rues decision’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/10/29/...lifying-fifth/
Perez points to Red Bull choice for Mexican GP qualifying deficit
29 October 1:57AM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365
Sergio Perez lamented a mistake that cost him a shot at qualifying higher for his home Mexico City Grand Prix.
Perez: We lost a [tyre] set in Q2: "[It was] very fine margins, actually. I think the progression that we had through qualifying wasn't great, especially Q3," Perez told F1 TV.
"We lost a [tyre] set in Q2, we put another lap on it, and just the progression in Q3 I felt like it could have been quite a lot better. Tomorrow it is a long race ahead, so anything can really happen. It will be an interesting one and let's see what we are able to do."
‘Perez: We lost a [tyre] set in Q2’;
https://racingnews365.com/perez-lame...ico-second-row
Sergio Perez doubts securing P2 target will ‘make any difference’ to Red Bull progress
29 Oct 2023 9:00 AM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Sergio Perez is unsure if finishing second in the Drivers’ Championship will feel like progress at Red Bull, as his focus remains set on the “ultimate target” of becoming World Champion. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has spoken of his desire to secure a first-ever 1-2 in the Drivers’ standings for the team this year, though he denies giving Perez an outright target to achieve that goal.
But if the Mexican ends up taking that accolade, he is unsure how it would make him feel in terms of progression at Red Bull. “I really don’t know,” Perez told Formula1.com when asked how securing P2 in the Drivers’ standings would help his mentality moving forward.
“I’ll tell you once I get this second-place trophy, but I don’t think it will make any difference. If there is a difference, it will be in how I achieve that. I want to achieve it with more victories this year, by finishing the season strong, and having great momentum to go into the winter – still believing that I can be champion in the future, which is the ultimate target.”
“I’ll tell you once I get this second-place trophy”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...ish-difference
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F1 Mexico GP: Verstappen breezes to record-breaking 16th win of 2023.
The victory gives Verstappen a new record for most F1 wins in a single season, this his 16th 2023 triumph after he scored 15 last year.
22:32 Sun, 29 Oct 2023.
AUTHORAlex Kalinauckas
Motorsport.com
Max Verstappen dominated a red-flagged 2023 Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, seizing the lead at Turn 1 where team-mate Sergio Perez crashed out.
At the start, Verstappen shot off the line as the two Ferraris ahead rather stuttered away, the Dutchman carving between Leclerc and Sainz to easily claim the inside line for Turn 1. There, Perez suddenly arrived on the far left of Verstappen and Leclerc, having got an even better getaway than his team-mate and then gained from the slipstream coming off the other RB19 and then Leclerc's Ferrari.
Perez's run was so good his wheels were the furthest ahead when the trio reached the turn-in point for the first corner, but with Verstappen swinging slightly back left just seconds before this, Leclerc got pinched between the two Red Bull cars.
‘Record-breaking 16th win of 2023’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...2023/10540216/
Race Results – 2023 Mexican Grand Prix
29th October 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -71 laps
2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +13.875
3. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +23.124
4. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +27.154
5. Lando Norris McLaren +33.266
6. George Russell Mercedes +41.020
7. Daniel Ricciardo AlphaTauri +41.570
8. Oscar Piastri McLaren +43.104
9. Alex Albon Williams Racing +48.573
10. Esteban Ocon Alpine +62.879
‘Mexican Grand Prix – Here are the provisional results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-83422
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix
29 October 2023
Becky Hart
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...H7qHIu07Y.html
F1 Mexico City Grand Prix 2023 - As it happened
19:38 Sun, 29 Oct 2023.
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Follow the 2023 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix here with the Crash.net live blog.
‘As it happened’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-mex...23-it-happened
F1 Live - Mexico GP Race Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
29 October 2023
Racing Statistics
F1 Live Mexico Grand Prix Race Watchalong | Mexican GP Live F1 Live Timings, Updates and Commentary of all F1 Sessions with Racing Statistics. Lets Watchalong!
‘Race Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJOO2kVt1SA
Sergio Perez suffers HEARTBREAK at his home Mexico Grand Prix as he is shunted off by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the first CORNER... before his Red Bull car is retired before it makes it round a single lap
Published: 20:13, 29 October 2023
By Jake Fenner For Dailymail.Com
Mail Online
Red Bull Racing's Sergio Perez had his day at his home race - the Mexico City Grand Prix - come to a sudden and unfortunate end before even completing the first turn. At the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Perez started the race P5 and got a great jump off the line.
But he went into Turn 1 three-wide - with teammate Max Verstappen on the inside and pole sitter Charles Leclerc in between them. Perez turned across Leclerc's Ferrari - with his right rear tire clipping Leclerc's front left. It caused Perez's car to bounce into the air and caused severe damage to the structure of his vehicle.
‘Sergio Perez suffers HEARTBREAK’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ingle-lap.html
RACE START: Perez forced out of Mexico City GP after collision with Leclerc in dramatic getaway
29 October 2023
Formula One - Official Site
There was plenty of drama at the start of the Mexico City Grand Prix as local favourite Sergio Perez collided with Charles Leclerc in a battle for the lead. Both Red Bull drivers had an excellent getaway, with Max Verstappen looking to challenge pole-sitter Leclerc into Turn 1 while Perez tried to find a way around the outside.
‘Plenty of drama’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...8xpV2LFgz.html
F1 fans in VISCERAL reaction to Perez Mexico nightmare
Sunday 29 October 2023 21:41
Lauren Sneath
GPFans
Formula 1 fans have reacted viscerally to Sergio Perez's sudden and dramatic retirement from his home grand prix ont he very first lap, after the Mexican driver clipped Charles Leclerc and flew off the track.
Emotions appeared to be running high for Perez after his retirement, as he banged his hands on his car in frustration. And that anger was also felt online, with F1 fans taking to social media to express their disappointment at the incident and, in some cases, air their grievances about Perez himself.
On the other hand, some fans called Perez's competency into question over the crash. When commentator David Croft expressed sympathy for Perez, some disagreed with his take on the incident.
‘F1 fans in VISCERAL reaction’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-social-media/
Perez on Mexican GP bust: ‘I saw the opportunity and went for it’
29/10/2023 at 21:53
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Sergio Perez says he “saw an opportunity” at the start of Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix and “went for it”, but the aggressive move ended in disaster for the local hero.
"I had a tremendous start, the gap was there and to be honest, where I was starting the race, I would have been disappointed if I'd been on the podium knowing there was a chance of victory and I didn't take it,” Perez explained.
‘Saw the opportunity and went for it’;
https://f1i.com/news/491865-perez-on...nt-for-it.html
Mexican GP crowd exit quickly as Sergio Perez gives emotional interview after retirement
Sergio Perez was visibly emotional after retiring from his home race in Mexico on the first lap.
21:34, Sun, Oct 29, 2023
By Stuart Ballard
Daily and Sunday Express
Sergio Perez has refused to lay the blame for his disappointing retirement from the Mexican Grand Prix on Charles Leclerc, insisting he could have pulled out of the move before colliding with the Ferrari driver. Perez got off the line quicker than anybody else and saw an opening to take the lead of his home race going into the first corner.
Fans in attendance for the Mexican Grand Prix were also disappointed it seems as they made quick exits from the circuit despite only a few laps of the race being completed. Perez "very sad" to have retired from his home race, but ultimately felt the opportunity to take the lead in the first corner was too good of a chance to miss.
‘Mexican GP crowd exit quickly’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...iew-retirement
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Horner, Verstappen defend Perez over Mexico Turn 1 move.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner and Max Verstappen have defended Sergio Perez’s attempted move at Turn 1 on the first lap that sent him out of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
30th October 2023, 09:03
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
After Perez conceded that his approach was centred on gunning for victory, Horner believes that “you can’t blame” the Mexican for trying to seize the lead at his home event.
“Yeah, absolutely two contrasting emotions,” Horner said. “One absolutely gutted to see Checo go out on the first corner. He had probably his best start of the season, got the draft and the tow from the three cars ahead, and so arrived with massive overspeed.”
“And you can’t blame him at his home race, going to try and take the lead of the grand prix. I think you have to call it a racing incident, because three into one doesn’t go. Charles couldn’t get out of it, he braked late.”
‘Horner added: “Yeah, just said to him, next race next week, you’re going for the lead in your home race, you wouldn’t be a racing driver if you weren’t going for it.”!’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...o-turn-1-move/
Horner “can’t blame” Perez for F1 Mexico Turn 1 move
30th October 2023, 08:22
AuthorFergal Walsh
Co-authorAaron Deckers
Motorsport.com
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner feels he can not blame Sergio Perez for wanting to be aggressive at the start of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Horner also revealed that he gave Perez words of encouragement while consoling him, reminding him that the next race is coming up straight away this weekend in Brazil.
"I think it's a tough moment for him, it's in front of his home crowd," said Horner. "He’s very emotional. I just said to him [that the] next race is next week [in Brazil], you're going for the lead in your home race. You wouldn't be a racing driver if you weren't going for it."
‘Horner also revealed that he gave Perez words of encouragement while consoling him’;
https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-c...r-mexico-crash
Max Verstappen critiques Sergio Perez’s role in disastrous Mexican GP crash
30 Oct 2023 6:45 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Sergio Perez’s Mexican Grand Prix was over before it even began with Max Verstappen arguing that while he should’ve left a “bit more room”, had his teammate pulled off the audacious fifth to first pass he would’ve looked “amazing”. The Dutchman gets why Perez tried to make the move, but believes he made one key mistake.
“I mean, I understand because it’s his home Grand Prix,” he said. “You want to be on the podium, I fully understand that. He went around the outside, and he tried. Looking at the footage, I think he could have left a little bit more space, but at the other end if it would have worked, you know, you look amazing. And of course, I think it’s just more like that excitement of wanting to be on the podium and this time it didn’t work out, unfortunately.”
Cutting a forlorn figure as he walked away from his stricken RB19, the Mexican driver told Spanish broadcaster DAZN: “I’m sad without a doubt because today was my opportunity. I had a very good start and I was only thinking of winning the race. I didn’t want to be on the podium. I’ve been on the podium two years in a row. I saw the opportunity and I went for it. In hindsight, I took a risk, but if I had pulled it off I would have come out of Turn 1 in the lead.”
‘Acknowledging the hurt for his home fans who watched his race end as soon as it began, Perez says he’ll still walk away with his head high knowing he gave it his all’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...xican-gp-crash
Red Bull win in Mexico despite heartbreak for home hero Perez
30th October 2023, 08:56
Charles Crook
CitiBlog
Red Bull won the Mexico City Grand Prix through Max Verstappen, although team mate Sergio Perez retired after one lap of his home race. A busy start had seen Verstappen bypass the two Ferraris, who had locked out the front row ahead of him.
Perez made his own flying start from fifth and as the field approached turn one, Perez attempted his own move on Charles Leclerc. This lead to contact between the Red Bull and the Ferrari at turn one, causing Perez’s Red Bull to briefly go airborne and suffer substantial damage to the side of the car.
Perez made it back to the pits but was retired, much to the disappointment of the majority of the crowd in Mexico City who had come to see him in his home race.
‘Heartbreak for home hero Perez’;
https://citiblog.co.uk/2023/10/30/re...me-hero-perez/
Mark Hughes: The very different Mexican GP we could've had
Oct 30, 2023
by Mark Hughes
The Race
Kevin Magnussen’s crash halfway through the Mexican Grand Prix and the red flag it brought gave a handy punctuation point for a significant proportion of the crowd to go home, disappointed as they were by the elimination of their hero Sergio Perez within seconds of the start.
It was one of those moments laden with poignancy and significance, Perez getting a fantastic start from fifth to be neck-and neck on the outside approach to Turn 1, with Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen to his inside – and him poised to go past them both, 200,000 people willing him on with bated breath.
On the line he was on, he might have swept past them both and assumed the lead. But it would have required Leclerc’s co-operation, would have needed him to have been intimidated into braking early to avoid contact. It was about five seconds into the race and the people had no-one to cheer for.
‘One of those moments laden with poignancy and significance’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...e-couldve-had/
Marko sympathetic towards Perez over costly Mexico crash
30 October 1:48AM
Author Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has reacted to Sergio Perez's crash at the Mexico City Grand Prix, insisting his contact with Charles Leclerc was a “racing incident”. “It was a racing incident, that can happen,” said the Austrian. “He saw an opportunity.”
“He was on the outside of Leclerc and wanted to steer inside. A racing incident. You can't blame Checo for anything. It's too bad we lost 19 points to Hamilton [in the Drivers' Championship]."
“Until the first lap of the race, he drove a super weekend and I am convinced he would have been on the podium." Marko also had praise for the Mexican fans in attendance at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez. “They were super! An incredibly sporting crowd and I have rarely experienced such an atmosphere," said Marko.
‘Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko: "How many times do I have to repeat this? Checo has a contract for 2024 and it will happen,” he said’;
https://racingnews365.com/marko-spea...r-clumsy-crash
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Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz blasted by own boss for 'losing control' of Mexican GP.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has revealed his frustration with drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz after the pair failed to make the most of a front-row lockout at the Mexican GP.
07:00, Mon, Oct 30, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz found themselves in hot water with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in Mexico. Speaking after the race the Ferrari boss said: "I'm not satisfied with the start of my drivers today. The start wasn't good, we gave everyone the slipstream, totally losing control of the situation.”
Charles Leclerc was caught up in a lap-one incident with Sergio Perez. "This put Carlos and Charles in a difficult position with both Red Bulls. Checo and Charles touched each other and we lost a piece of the front."
‘Blasted by own boss’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...inz-Mexican-GP
Ferrari boss blames drivers for ‘losing control’ of Mexican Grand Prix
30 Oct 2023 1:30 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
It was, Vasseur says, not a satisfactory result with the team boss pointing the finger at his drivers for making poor starts and not being able to shake off the chasing pack.
“I’m not satisfied with the start. It’s not a question of management, it’s that we started badly and gave the slipstream to everyone, losing control of the situation,” he told Sky F1. First of all, if you start badly you lose ground from the others and lose the slipstream.”
“This led Charles to being between Verstappen and Perez and, later, having contact with them. At that point part of the wing broke and we also had problems with Carlos. “But the underlying problem is that we started badly because Max is already in front of Carlos after a few meters.”
“I’m not satisfied with the start”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrar...can-grand-prix
Sainz says Ferrari need to look into cause of poor starts in Mexico
Formula 1
Posted on 30th October 2023, 17:17
Written by Ida Wood
RaceFans
“We need to have a look at the starts,” said Sainz after the race. “We both didn’t get a very good launch. I think Charles and I got away very similar and then Verstappen was just very quick off the line.” The team looked long and hard at how to improve its starts at the low-grip Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, said Sainz.
“We’ve been struggling a bit with the starts since FP1 at this surface and with this grip,” he explained. “We probably didn’t get everything perfect for this weekend after some very strong starts recently. So it’s something to look at.” Sainz said the first start was “very chaotic, like always in Mexico.”
“It was very tricky braking into turn one, everyone tries to outbrake themselves to try and keep position and I think Checo was the unlucky one, Charles probably a lucky one and it’s how it is, it’s racing and it’s always going to happen here in turn one in Mexico.”
“We need to have a look at the starts”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/10/30/...rts-in-mexico/
Leclerc surprised to finish Mexico GP after Perez clash
Monday 30th October, 2023 - 6:41pm
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Leclerc had started from pole but found himself flanked on the run to the first corner by Max Verstappen on his right and Perez on the left. “I had nowhere to go,” Leclerc, who ended the race third, said. “I was extremely surprised I could finish the race anyway.” The impact saw Perez fired into the run-off area with damage to the right-hand sidepod of the RB19. He managed to limp the car back to the pits where he retired, leaving him to describe it as the saddest moment of his career.
Leclerc picked up damage to his front wing in the encounter, the left end fence handing off the Ferrari for the first four laps. It eventually broke free, triggering a brief Virtual Safety Car, but the pole-sitter was able to carry on and ultimately changed the front wing under the red flag for Kevin Magnussen’s crash.
“We broke part of the front wing in Turn 1, and then on the radio they told me we were lacking I think 10 or 15 points [of downforce],” Leclerc said. “To be honest, I managed to drive around it and it didn’t feel too bad, so that was positive. Of course, it’s never ideal to lose so many points [of downforce] into Turn 1, but it’s like this and we then managed to do a good race from that moment onwards.”
‘Leclerc surprised to finish Mexico GP’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/10/30...r-perez-clash/
Sainz dismisses Russell complaints: 'He does it often'
30 October 3:10PM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Carlos Sainz has dismissed protests from George Russell over the Ferrari driver's weaving in the Mexico City Grand Prix. Defending fourth place, along the pit-straight into the Turn 1 braking zone, Sainz defended as is his right, but Mercedes' Russell felt the Spaniard was making more than one change of direction in the braking zone.
When asked about the manoeuvres, Sainz told media, including RacingNews365: "Well I was moving once and right before braking, which is what the rules allow. You cannot move on the braking but you can move right before braking and that's what I was doing.”
"When you're behind you open the radio, you complain about the guy in front and [hope] he gets a warning or a five-second penalty because it benefits you. It's the same as always, everyone does it. George does it a lot."
‘Protests dismissed’;
https://racingnews365.com/sainz-defe...dio-complaints
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Wolff shares BRUTAL Hamilton verdict over Mercedes progress.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has joked that Lewis Hamilton was happy with the performance of his W14 for the first time this year after the seven-time champion matched his season-best result of second in the Mexican Grand Prix.
Tuesday 31 October 2023 08:27
Tyler Foster
GPFans
Over the course of Hamilton’s 17-year career in Formula 1, the British driver has developed a reputation for whinging over the radio. Whether he is complaining that his tyres won’t last, or the pit strategy is wrong or even that the safety car is going too slowly, Hamilton is prepared to get his way.
Speaking after Hamilton’s second-place finish, team boss Wolff joked that it was the first time this season that he has been happy with the car. “Today I think it was a first where he said ‘the car is actually good!’ But it was a brilliant, brilliant drive and we have these oscillations in performance.”
“We don’t really know, sometimes the tyres stick, sometimes not. The smiles on our faces because the car was strong. I think once Lewis was in free air, we had so much margin on the medium, fastest lap at the end. It was good.”
‘BRUTAL Hamilton verdict’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...co-grand-prix/
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell given clear Toto Wolff order after Mexico GP
Mercedes showed strong race pace again at the Mexican Grand Prix but team boss Toto Wolff was left lamenting his team's performances in qualifying after the race
00:20 Mon, 30 Oct 2023.
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Toto Wolff demanded his drivers start qualifying better as he reacted to a strong Mercedes result at the Mexican Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton drove from sixth on the grid to finish second after avoiding trouble in an action-packed race. And George Russell also improved to finish sixth, fending off the challenge of Daniel Ricciardo in the final few laps.
Team principal Wolff was pleased with both drives and with the speed shown by his team's cars. But he feels there is more on the table for Mercedes in these final races of the season if they can qualify better.
"The smile on our face is because the car was strong," said the Austrian after the race. "Once Lewis was in free air, we had so much margin in the medium. The lap times were good and [he got the] fastest lap at the end.”
‘Clear Toto Wolff order’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...given-31312050
Toto Wolff decodes McLaren’s George Russell message and highlights ‘killer’ blow
30 Oct 2023 12:00 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Warning Lando Norris that George Russell was “all or nothing”, Toto Wolff surmises McLaren’s message to their driver in Mexico was to tell him “don’t crash we need those points”. “We know what Russell is like, he’s all or nothing. So you just have patience with him,” was the message from the McLaren pit wall.
Wolff was asked for his thoughts on that message and whether it was a sign of respect toward his driver. “I think that these two have probably had that race situation hundreds of times in their life so they will have known what to do,” he said. “I think it was more of a message like don’t crash we need those points.”
The team boss believes Russell’s efforts on Sunday were hampered by tyre issues with the Briton having hounded Carlos Sainz before being forced to back off when his tyres began to overheat. But cooling the rubber, Russell wasn’t able to regain grip and as a result lost pace and a position. “I think we need to understand what actually happened to George because he was pushing very, very strong behind Sainz, but so did Lewis,” he said.
‘Toto Wolff decodes message’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...george-russell
Martin Brundle calls out 'flippant' Toto Wolff following Lewis Hamilton comments
Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton have endured a turbulent last two races, and now they've attracted the attention of Martin Brundle.
18:34, Sun, Oct 29, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Martin Brundle has labelled Toto Wolff ‘flippant’ after the Mercedes team principal claimed that he has no regrets over Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification from the United States Grand Prix and that he would be happy to risk it again and fight for the win on sprint weekends.
Hamilton finished just two seconds behind reigning world champion and eventual race winner Max Verstappen at the Circuit of the Americas but was disqualified along with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc after both cars failed routine inspections later on Sunday. These disqualifications were partially caused by the sprint format with the singular practice session preventing teams from fully figuring out an optimal set-up for the weekend’s running.
This has triggered a wider debate about the future of sprint races in F1. Toto Wolff: "I would take the disqualification running for a race win and seeing the performance, rather than ending P3 and 25 seconds adrift. Every day of the week I would take the disqualification."
‘Toto Wolff labelled ‘flippant’!’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ilton-comments
Martin Brundle addresses ‘flippant’ Toto Wolff disqualification comments
29 Oct 2023 1:00 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Martin Brundle has called out Toto Wolff for his “flippant” comment that he’d risk a disqualification in a bid to win a race, the former F1 driver believing Lewis Hamilton’s plank was a “reasonable chunk” outside the regulations.
“I take a disqualification running for a race win and seeing the performance against running P3 and ending up 25 seconds adrift,” he told Sky Sports. “So every day of the week I’ll go for the disqualification.” That was put to Brundle, who was asked whether it was worth the risk with the former F1 driver replying: “Absolutely not. I think Toto is being a flippant there. Toto and Lewis have done a very good job this weekend of saying nothing to see here, look at all those others they must have been cheating as well or whatever.”
“Cheating is too strong a word -found to be outside of the regulations. But, you know, some teams lifted their cars to be certain because it was a Sprint weekend because it was bumpy, drivers taking kerbs, talk of a headwind pushing the cars down a little bit more even on the back straight. And I don’t believe that Mercedes was illegal by just a small amount, it was a reasonable chunk.”
‘Flippant Toto’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/martin...ation-comments
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Norris on his late charge to P5 in Mexico: ‘One of the best stints I’ve ever had’.
Lando Norris was down in P14 after the red flag restart in Mexico City, but charged his way all the way up to fifth at the chequered flag with some superb overtaking moves.
29 Oct 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘One of the best stints I’ve ever had’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...123428275.html
McLaren boss Andrea Stella lauds Lando Norris after recovery with Fernando Alonso-Valencia 2012 comparison
30 Oct 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has likened Lando Norris’ recovery drive at the Mexico City Grand Prix to Fernando Alonso’s epic Valencia win in 2012. Norris was knocked out in Q1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez after making a mistake on his final lap.
Speaking after the race in Mexico, Stella heaped praise on Norris, declaring his drive as one of the “best” he’s ever seen. “Well in fairness we were having exactly this conversation on the pit wall as his race engineer Will Joseph turned to me and said to me that’s one of the best of Lando. I said, ‘Will, that’s one of the best at all’.
“Overtaking, so many overtakings, in Mexico, where yesterday if you read the quotes everyone is saying it’s so difficult to overtake, while managing PU temperatures, having to do lift and coast. I’m just impressed. One of the best races for a driver that I’ve been part of, let’s say.”
“One of the best at all”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103976...012-comparison
Lando Norris takes swipe at McLaren rivals after barnstorming drive to fifth in Mexico City GP
Lando Norris scythed through the field to eventually finish fifth at the 2023 Mexico City GP
October 30, 2023
By Ed Spencer
Lando Norris has suggested drivers should be self-aware when in wheel-to-wheel combat after finishing fifth in Sunday’s 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix. “I enjoyed the whole thing apart from my restart if you saw it”, reflected Norris to the media after the race.
“I had to avoid a very big crash, just people coming across, not realising they can be three abreast. So I avoided two extremely big crashes, one would have been very nasty, so a bit of self-awareness from other drivers would have been great.”
“But that’s not why I lost out. I lost out because of a bad start. The pace was amazing from Lap 1, there was a lot of [tyre] management involved. I couldn’t push as much as I wanted to at times.”
‘Barnstorming drive to fifth’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...exico-city-gp/
Norris says rivals need ‘more self awareness’ after ‘avoiding extremely big crashes’
Formula 1
Posted on 30th October 2023, 7:15
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Lando Norris said some of his rivals showed poor awareness of other cars during the restart in yesterday’s Mexican Grand Prix. Norris climbed from 17th on the grid to finish fifth in yesterday’s race and said afterwards he “enjoyed the whole thing apart from my restart.”
“I probably had to avoid a very big crash,” he explained. “Just people coming across, not probably realising that people can be three-abreast. I avoided two extremely big crashes which would have been very nasty. So, a bit more self awareness of some drivers would be great.”
However he said the near-miss was “not why I lost out” at the restart and fell back four places. “I lost out because of a bad start, but I lost out even more because of these things.” Norris was thrilled by his car’s performance in the race as he recovered to finish fifth.
‘More self awareness’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/10/30/...y-big-crashes/
Piastri-Tsunoda battle ends in collision
Oscar Piastri and Yuki Tsunoda collided on lap 49 of the Mexico City Grand Prix, sending the AlphaTauri spinning off the track at Turn 1.
October 30, 2023 — 3.02pm
The Sydney Morning Herald
‘Piastri-Tsunoda battle’;
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsp...d-refresh=true
Piastri “hard racing” with seething Tsunoda
Monday 30th October, 2023 - 1:30pm
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Oscar Piastri felt he was simply “hard racing” with Yuki Tsunoda who was left seething following their collision during the Mexico City Grand Prix. McLaren driver Piastri produced a vigorous defence of his seventh position on lap 48 and again a lap later against AlphaTauri’s Tsunoda at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
“He chopped across,” said Piastri, who went on to finish eighth, whilst Tsunoda was four places further back as the incident ultimately compromised his race. Tsunoda fumed over the radio as he made his way back on track, using an expletive to express his frustration. To add to his ire, the stewards investigated both incidents but took no action.
Asked to discuss the incident post-race, a clearly angry Tsunoda said: “I don’t want to comment about these things. I already commented enough when I was driving! We were showing a good performance and it’s such a shame I ended up like that.” Pointed out to Tsunoda that the stewards took no action, he tersely replied: “As I expected.”
“He chopped across”;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/10/30...exico-city-gp/
Piastri and Tsunoda at odds over Mexican GP clash
31/10/2023 at 14:09
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
The two drivers had been locked in battle for P7 since the start of the second part of the race, after a red flag triggered by Haas’ Kevin Magnussen had paused proceedings. The fight intensified however on lap 48 of 71 when Piastri strengthened his grip on seventh as Tsunoda went on the attack.
The cars made contact twice, resulting in Piastri narrowly avoiding a spin as he exited Turn 1 and entered Turn 2. On the subsequent lap, Tsunoda once again attempted to overtake the McLaren, this time on the outside as they approached the first corner.
Although the incident was put under investigation by the stewards, they ultimately took no further action, a decision that didn’t surprise Tsunoda. “As I expected, they love the top teams,” said the Japanese driver who alluded to a preferential treatment for McLaren relative to AlphaTauri.
‘Aat odds’;
https://f1i.com/news/492138-piastri-...-gp-clash.html
Tsunoda: F1 stewards ‘love the top teams’ amid Piastri clash
31st October 2023, 10:18
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Yuki Tsunoda has again remarked that the Formula 1 stewards “love the top teams” following his clash with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix.
Having earned five points the previous weekend in the United States, Tsunoda’s Mexico weekend was compromised from the outset by the news that he would be placed at the back of the grid for exceeding his maximum allocation of power unit elements.
But Tsunoda moved up three places to 17th due to other grid penalties before making a storming start to gain another trio of positions on the opening lap of the race. After making the earliest pitstop of any driver at the end of Lap 11, Tsunoda displaced both Aston Martin drivers to rise to eighth by the time the race was stopped on Lap 35.
‘F1 stewards love the top teams’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...piastri-clash/
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Mercedes chief technical officer Mike Elliott resigns on the eve of Brazilian GP.
Mercedes have announced Mike Elliott has left the team as they continue to look for a first win in 2023.
October 31, 2023
By Ed Spencer
Total Motorsport
Mercedes chief technical officer Mike Elliott has resigned from his position at the team ahead of the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix. Elliott, who joined Mercedes in 2012 after a stint at Renault, rose through the team’s ranks, going from head of aerodynamics to technical director in nine years.
“It has been one of the great privileges of my career to be part of this Mercedes team,” said Elliott. “During my time, I have seen it grow from a group of people pulling together to win races, then a first championship, to winning a record eight consecutive constructors’ championships. – and I am proud to have made my contribution to that journey.”
“Although the last two seasons have not seen us winning races in the manner we aspire to, they have tested us in many other ways – and forced us to question our fundamental assumptions about how we deliver performance. During the past six months, I have enjoyed developing the technical strategy that we hope can provide the foundations of the team’s next cycle of success.”
‘Mercedes chief technical officer Mike Elliott resigns’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-brazilian-gp/
Mercedes chief 'suddenly quits' before Brazilian GP as barren Lewis Hamilton run continues
Mercedes are yet to win a single Grand Prix in 2023, with Toto Wolff's strategic reshuffle failing to bear fruit.
16:59, Tue, Oct 31, 2023
By Charlie Gordon
Daily and Sunday Express
Mercedes chief technical officer Mike Elliott has handed in his resignation ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix. The aerodynamics expert has been unable to inspire a turnaround in fortunes for the Silver Arrows this season, with Lewis Hamilton still chasing his first race win since 2021.
The first signs of Elliott becoming unsettled with the Silver Arrows emerged earlier this year. Back in April, he decided that his skills were not best suited to the role of technical director and swapped jobs with James Allison to become chief technical officer.
Only six months down the line, Elliott has once again requested a change, but this time it involves him leaving the team altogether. The 49-year-old is now on gardening leave, having completed his last day at the Brackley headquarters on Tuesday.
‘Handed in his resignation’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...n-mike-elliott
Wolff sets Mercedes expectations for 2023 Brazilian GP
Lewis Hamilton was second in the 2023 Mexico City GP
October 31, 2023
By Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport
Toto Wolff has hinted he’s hoping Mercedes might be able to repeat their stunning success of a year ago at the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix, after confirming the W14‘s newly upgraded floor has been a success.
“I think obviously the longer you have the upgrade on the car and collect data, the better you’re going to be able to tune it,” Wolff told the media. “I don’t want to set the expectations high, because last year came as a little bit of a surprise that we dominated that weekend.”
“So I think we have to go there knowing we have a good car, if we put all the ducks in one line then I think we can we can have a very strong weekend. Whether it’s good enough to beat Max… their package, driver car power, and is just very complete.”
‘Wolff sets Mercedes expectations’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-brazilian-gp/
Carlos Sainz bemoans recurring Ferrari problem ahead of Brazil
Carlos Sainz outlined Ferrari's continued weakness in F1 2023
October 31, 2023
By Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Carlos Sainz has criticised Ferrari‘s race pace following the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix which saw the team convert a front-row lockout in qualifying into a third and fourth place finish.
“It’s been the case the whole year. We can fight them in qualifying, we can beat them in qualifying,” Sainz told the media. “But then come the race we’re two, three, sometimes four tenths off the pace. Today it was six tenths at this track. It is the main weakness of the car and where we are focusing on.”
“I don’t think we struggled with our [tyre] degradation and we just struggled with the race pace of the car. Once the tyres are in overheating, once the tires more worn out, you don’t have the peak of soft tyre helping you to turn the car and to help with the traction, and our car is now in a much weaker state, and that’s where the Red Bull and Mercedes are quicker.”
‘Recurring Ferrari problem ahead of Brazil’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-ahead-brazil/
Alex Albon ‘worried’ about Daniel Ricciardo after Mexico City GP
Alex Albon secured a ninth place finish for Williams at the 2023 Mexico City GP
October 30, 2023
By Roman Brock
Total Motorsport
Alex Albon has admitted that the pace of the AlphaTauri cars at the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix is something to worry about from his and his Williams team’s perspective.
“Daniel’s pace is something to be a bit worried about,” Albon said to the press after the chequered flag in Mexico City. “They had a double points finish today, or they should have had. They only need another finish like that [to be close to us.] We still need to keep our heads down and try and finish high up.”
‘Worried’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...exico-city-gp/
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Alonso concedes Aston Martin ‘not fighting for anything’ in final races.
Asked about Aston Martin’s expectations for the next race in Brazil, Alonso said, as quoted by Motorsport.com: “Honestly, we are not fighting for anything.”
10:22 Tue, 31 Oct 2023.
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
Read Motorsport.
Fernando Alonso insists Aston Martin is “not fighting for anything” in the remaining three races of the 2023 Formula 1 season, with focus now shifting to next year. Aston Martin’s form has hit a downward spiral after the team’s confession that it went in the wrong direction regarding its in-season car development.
This has resulted in the Silverstone-baed outfit slipping from third in the constructors’ championship to fifth in just a matter of races. Alonso’s strong run of results early in the season saw him sit third in the drivers’ standings for much of the year, but the Spaniard has now fallen to fifth and has three drivers within 32 points of his current tally.
Fernando Alonso: “In the constructors’ championship, we are locked in in the position we are. In the driver’s championship, we will lose a couple of places. But I mean, it is incredible that we are in front of Ferraris, or George or Lando or whatever, but we will lose those positions. They have a very fast car. And yet, let’s see what we can do.”
‘Incredible that we are in front of Ferraris’;
https://readmotorsport.com/2023/10/3...n-final-races/
Alonso: Aston now ‘learning – not fighting for anything’
31/10/2023 at 08:22
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Alonso still hopes that the team’s current efforts to improve its fortunes will allow it to conclude its year “on a high”. "We are working as much as we can," he said. "It's not that we are just happy with the situation. It's not the position we wish we were, but at the same time, we are working very hard to reverse the situation.”
"And sometimes you learn more from the difficulties than from the celebrations. So right now we have a difficult time. And we are trying to do as many tests as possible, giving as much feedback as possible to the factory in Silverstone. And hopefully, as I said, finish on a high, and not on a low."
‘Learning – not fighting for anything’;
https://f1i.com/news/492109-alonso-a...-anything.html
Alonso: Aston can ‘learn more from the difficulties than celebrations’
09:07 Tue, 31 Oct 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin can “learn more from the difficulties than the celebrations” amid another tough weekend outing at the Mexico City Grand Prix. After encountering trouble with its latest upgrades in the United States, Aston Martin again lacked the pace of its competitors at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The two-time World Champion is under threat of also relinquishing places to the other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ George Russell.
“In the Drivers’ championship, we will lose a couple of places,” he continued. “But I mean, it is incredible that we are in front of Ferraris, or George or Lando or whatever, but we will lose those positions. They have a very fast car. And yet, let’s see what we can do.”
“Learn more from the difficulties than the celebrations”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...-celebrations/
Aston insists it's not lost - but the signs are very worrying
Oct 31, 2023
by Ben Anderson
The Race
The Mexican Grand Prix was objectively Aston Martin’s worst weekend of the 2023 Formula 1 season. Zero points for only the second time all year and star driver Fernando Alonso looking uncharacteristically out of sorts in a car he admitted he was “always not trusting”.
“This weekend has been particularly difficult for me,” Alonso added. “I always felt on the back foot and always not trusting the car. [It] seems we are not very confident now on the car, driving - we cannot extract the maximum and this is penalising us a lot.”
This is exactly the sort of sensation Lance Stroll explained amid his nightmare Qatar Grand Prix qualifying session. The subsequent upgrades - new diffuser, revised floor edges, new engine cover and beam wing - were meant to address this directly, and, in Stroll’s words, “make the car more predictable and easier to drive”. It would seem right now that this latest update has had the opposite effect.
‘Aston insists it's not lost’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/a...-stroll-krack/
Aston Martin not lost, Alonso not retiring
Amid a wild round of rumours this week, Fernando Alonso insists he is not yet ready to retire.
NOVEMBER 1, 2023
GrandPrix.com
“For now, no”, Fox Sports Mexico quotes the 42-year-old Spaniard as saying when asked if his long Formula 1 career might now be nearing its end. “I know I'm in the closing part of my career, but for now, I don't see it. I don't have a date to put an end to my career”, Alonso added.
“You may have the impression that we are lost”, team boss Mike Krack told DAZN. "But I think when you are lost, you don't pay attention to the data anymore which makes you try things that are unreasonable. And that's not the case”, he insisted.
“We want to compete and we don't like starting from the pitlane”, Krack said, "but it is very important that we understand the data. And the best way to understand what you're doing is to go back to something you already know to compare it.” Krack admitted that Aston Martin still don't know what specification of the 2023 car the team will field this weekend in Brazil.
‘Aston Martin not lost, Alonso not retiring’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/aston...-retiring.html
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Brazilian GP storm threat as Lewis Hamilton involvement in Mercedes departure speculated – F1 news round-up.
Was Lewis Hamilton involved in Mike Elliott resignation? Might Brazilian GP storm spoil Mercedes’ last chance?
22:12 Wed, 01 Nov 2022.
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
With Lewis Hamilton having previously indicated unhappiness with the direction of the Mercedes development and concept of the W13 and W14, Sky Sports journalist Craig Slater has suggested Hamilton’s influence might have played a part in Elliott’s decision-making. “The rearrangement at Mercedes over the last two years, not saying Lewis was negative in any way in 2022, but there was a kind sobriety and restraint about the way he would speak,” he said.
“And I sense now, he’s much more on the front foot again. I think he feels that yes, the building blocks and the right people are in place, in terms of where the car development is going. That little quote I made was almost, was that in reference to Mike Elliott, or the engineers who want to go a different way from the kind of Red Bull path that Mercedes has now adopted.”
Having won last year’s race in Brazil as Red Bull fumbled the ball, Mercedes’ best chance at pulling off a win in 2023 is likely this weekend’s event at Interlagos. In our preview for this weekend, Luke Murphy explores the likely favourites for what could be a chaotic weekend – what with it being (once again!) a Sprint race weekend, while the weather forecast is less than favourable…
‘Lewis Hamilton involvement in Mercedes departure speculated’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/brazil...-news-round-up
Toto Wolff points out Lewis Hamilton's big problem ahead of Brazilian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton has said he "can't wait" for the Brazilian Grand Prix after finishing second in Mexico last week, but Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has issued a warning about the car
16:05 Wed, 01 Nov 2023.
By Matthew Cooper Sports Writer
The Mirror
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff is hoping Lewis Hamilton and George Russell can "put on a good show" at this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, but admitted their car is still "tricky to master". Wolff has warned both Hamilton and Russell they could experience some problems with the car in Brazil. "We came away from Mexico with our advantage over Ferrari in the fight for second in the Constructors' intact," he said.
"That is an important battle for us and one we are focused on winning. Leaving Mexico with a second-place finish, given the challenging start to the weekend and our grid positions, was positive. The car showed very good race pace however we know we've got more work to do to extract the maximum from the W14 across all three days.”
“Lewis put in a very strong performance to score a podium and George gave it absolutely everything, even when his tyres had gone off at the end. We've got one last race in this triple header and it's in Brazil. We know we've taken a good step forward in recent races, but Mexico showed W14 can still prove tricky to master.”
‘Toto Wolff has issued a warning about the car’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...cedes-31336846
Massa likely to skip visit to Brazilian GP amid F1 legal challenge
09:12 Wed, 01 Nov 2023.
AUTHORJonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
The Brazilian has brought in lawyers to evaluate court action over what he feels was a conspiracy that resulted in him losing the 2008 world championship to Lewis Hamilton. He believes that at the time, the FIA and FOM (Formula One Management) did not act properly on the knowledge they had about Nelson Piquet’s deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore GP, which proved to have an influential outcome on the title.
With the Brazilian GP being so close to his home, and him being a local hero, it was thought that maybe he would make the effort to visit Interlagos. However, speaking to Motorsport.com, Massa has indicated that he is likely to avoid a trip to the F1 event – and he definitely has not been asked to fulfil any ambassadorial duties. Pushed on if he would go to the race off his own back, Massa said: “I believe I won't. I would [only] go to the races as an ambassador.”
But I 100% respect the [legal] situation that is happening at the moment, perhaps [to the point] of not going because of [all] that is happening.
“But there was no invitation and no conversation about my work as ambassador, so I don't think I should participate.” Massa has indicated several times that the aim of any legal action he plans is to overturn the outcome of the 2008 world championship.
‘Skip visit to Brazilian GP’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...enge/10541056/
Why is Brazil's F1 race now called the Sao Paulo Grand Prix?
01 November 9:50AM
Author Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
The Brazilian Grand Prix is one of the most iconic races on the Formula 1 calendar. Between 2005 and 2009, it was the place where the World Championship was decided with Fernando Alonso (twice), Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button all leaving Interlagos with one more World Championship than when they arrived.
It is the place where Ayrton Senna famously drove to the win in 1991 while stuck in fifth gear in the rain, suffering cramps before hoisting the trophy aloft. But officially, the last Brazilian Grand Prix was in 2019 - won by Max Verstappen. The race was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before returning under the Sao Paulo Grand Prix moniker in 2021.
The change in name is due to the new contract promoters agreed with F1 to keep the race at Interlagos until the end of 2025, staving off a threat from Rio de Janeiro. The name change reflects the increased involvement of the local authorities and also helps to promote the city worldwide.
‘Interlagos: Sao Paulo Grand Prix’;
https://racingnews365.com/why-is-bra...ulo-grand-prix
Perez labels Mexico result ‘devastating’ as he vows to bounce back in Brazil
01 November 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Sergio Perez has labelled his retirement from his home race at the Mexico City Grand Prix “devastating” – while vowing to fight back at this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
“Mexico was devastating for me,” said Perez. “But in this sport these things happen, and you can’t afford to keep going over what could have been. I wanted to win my home race more than anything but that is gone now and my full focus is on finishing second in the championship.”
“We need to have a great weekend in Brazil and I feel confident in our ability to get results right now. It felt like things were coming together last weekend with the direction we are taking.”
‘Bounce back in Brazil’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...ZV43bl9Pm.html
Ricciardo 'excited' for Brazil after Mexico confidence-booster
01/11/2023 at 18:11
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Daniel Ricciardo says he’ll head into his Brazilian Grand Prix weekend carrying the confidence he collected in Mexico City. Ricciardo’s standout performance also delivered to AlphaTauri its best result of 2023.
“Mexico was a great weekend from start to finish, and I was really happy,” he said in his team Brazilian Grand Prix preview. We had a good car and made the most of it. I stayed there for a couple of days after the race before coming down to São Paulo.”
Next weekend, Ricciardo will enjoy his fifth race with AlphaTauri, his third since his comeback in Austin which followed a two-month break to nurse his broken hand make to health.
'Excited for Brazil’;
https://f1i.com/news/492204-ricciard...e-booster.html
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Race guide for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Round 20 of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship sees teams and drivers head to the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, home to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
2nd November 2023, 11:53
By Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
A true rollercoaster: The 4.309km Interlagos track presents a totally different set of requirements to those seen in Mexico a week ago. Finding the perfect set-up usually proves to be quite tricky as the slow- and medium-speed sections require higher levels of downforce while the high-speed parts including the long start-finish curvature present a desire for low drag. Following the extremely long main straight, drivers arrive to an exciting section where finding the right lines and good rhythm is of key importance.
This combination of three bends known as Senna-S comprise the only high-speed corners of the entire circuit. The rear stability is tested by the elongated Turn 3 which then leads onto the second-longest straight of the circuit. With braking into Turn 4, drivers commence their trip into the second sector of the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace. The next uphill, undulating, curved section is taken at full thottle before drivers slightly touch the brakes to find the maximum speed which they can take Turn 7 at.
The next three medium-speed bends build an undulating section where drivers have to rely on the mechanical and tyre grip. Presenting the last corner of Sector Two, Turn 11 tests the rear stability of the cars. Arriving to Turn 12, drivers keep their focus on the very best acceleration as the upcoming uphill curved section that leads into the main straight is taken at full throttle.
‘ Sao Paulo-born Ayrton Senna’s success prompted the owners of the Interlagos circuit to revamp the track, the Grand Prix returned to Sao Paulo in 1990 where it has remained since’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/24272
What to expect from the 2023 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix
02 November 11:50AM
Author Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365
Sprint season finale: The sprint format has split opinions ever since it made its Formula 1 debut in 2021, with the number of weekends doubling to six for the current campaign. Sao Paulo will host the final sprint event of the season this weekend, with just one practice session in play before the drivers jump into qualifying.
Few will forget last year’s dramatic qualifying session in Brazil that saw Kevin Magnussen take a shock pole position for Haas. True, the weather on the day helped the Dane secure the top spot at the end of the session - but the forecast currently suggests that qualifying this time around could be wet once again and offer similar opportunities.
‘What to expect’;
https://racingnews365.com/what-to-ex...ian-grand-prix
Mercedes cautious over Brazilian GP prospects despite 2022 win
2nd November 2023, 10:13
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
Read Motorsport
Mercedes says it is not taking its prospects for this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix for granted despite being tipped to repeat its victory from last year. Last year’s triumph at Interlagos remains Mercedes’ last victory in Formula 1 as the Brackley-based outfit is still chasing its first win of 2023.
Asked if the 2023 Mercedes could increase the team’s chances of an even more competitive showing in Brazil than last year, team boss Toto Wolff, as quoted by Motorsport.com said: “To be honest I don’t know. I think we can see with all teams that there is a certain degree of correlation of last year’s performance and this year.”
“But there is not enough data to make that solid assumption, so I don’t know. Both feet on the ground and let’s see where we are at Interlagos.” Mercedes scored a second place finish in Mexico last weekend that made amends for Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification from a podium finish at the US Grand Prix the week before.
‘Mercedes cautious’;
https://readmotorsport.com/2023/11/0...pite-2022-win/
Lewis Hamilton goes double-leather in a bright green Ayrton Senna tribute outfit to honour the Formula One icon at his home Grand Prix in Brazil
Published: 13:26, 2 November 2023
By Luke Power For Mailonline
Mail Online
Lewis Hamilton wore a bright green double-leather outfit in tribute to childhood hero Ayrton Senna as he arrived at the track ahead of the Brazilian GP this weekend. The Mercedes driver wore a green and black jacket and also had a Brazil flag on his pants in tribute to the legendary driver who inspired him as a kid. On the back of his jacket, Hamilton had a visualisation of Senna wearing a helmet with his name in italics underneath.
Twenty-five years after his death, Hamilton said: 'I grew up watching videos of him. He's the most iconic driver we've had. He was the most iconic individual, a real leader and a master of his craft.'
‘Ayrton Senna tribute outfit’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ix-Brazil.html
CONTEST BRAZILIAN GP: WIN A BY MAX VERSTAPPEN SIGNED RBR DRIVER CAP 2023!
Published on 02 November 2023
by Niels Hendrix
Verstappen.nl
Every Grand Prix during the 2023 Formula 1 season, you can win great prizes in our contest. Hit the button below to participate.
For the Brazilian GP competition, you can win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing Driver Cap 2023! Check out all official and exclusive Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing merchandise on Verstappen.com.
‘WIN A BY MAX VERSTAPPEN SIGNED RBR DRIVER CAP 2023’;
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5305/
Would Max Verstappen repeat controversial 2022 Brazilian GP moment with Sergio Perez?
Max Verstappen caused a Red Bull scandal after snubbing Sergio Perez at Interlagos
November 2, 2023
By Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport
Max Verstappen refused to answer whether he’d move aside to help Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez at the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix, with the Mexican still locked in a battle with Mercedes‘ Lewis Hamilton for second-place in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship.
Verstappen controversially refused to help Perez in a similar situation 12 months ago at Interlagos, then exploded into an expletive-driven rant against the press when questioned about why he didn’t move aside for sixth place.
Ultimately it wouldn’t have impacted the final championship, but Verstappen dodged committing to an answer when asked if he’d act differently in 2023. “Good question, I think at the end of the day, I think that it shouldn’t always matter on me to get the points,” Verstappen told the media. “But I’m confident in Checo that he can stay ahead because I do think that we have the faster car on average.”
‘Controversial 2022 Brazilian GP moment’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-sergio-perez/
Perez ‘looking forward’ for final three races as Hamilton ready to take fight to Red Bull in Sao Paulo
02 November 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Sergio Perez is feeling optimistic for the Sao Paolo Grand Prix weekend after vowing to put his early exit last time out in Mexico behind him, while Lewis Hamilton – his increasingly close rival for P2 in the drivers’ standings – has warned that he’s ready to capitalise should Red Bull not be on their A game in Brazil.
There was heartbreak for Perez in front of his home fans at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez when his attempt to battle for the lead into Turn 1 on the opening lap backfired. The RB19 made contact with Charles Leclerc after attempting to pass the Ferrari on the outside, resulting in Perez being launched into the air and off the track.
One week prior to his DNF in the Mexico City Grand Prix, Perez progressed from ninth on the grid in Austin to end the race in P4, a result that seems to have given him hope for what he can achieve in Brazil, the final event of a triple-header. “I think the last two races have been really positive, we haven’t managed to really put it together,” Perez added. “I think we definitely have made a lot of progress and I’m optimistic for this weekend that we’ll finally get to show the pace that we have.”
‘Optimistic’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...tP5ZrifBl.html
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WEEKEND WARM-UP: The drivers get set for the final race of the triple header in Brazil.
It's the final race of the triple header with the drivers all getting set to contest the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. But before they go out on track, we head to the paddock, where our Weekend Warm-up crew are on hand to preview all the action.
02 November 2023
Formula One - Official Site
The gang first look at the big news this week from Mercedes, as they announced the departure of their Chief Technical Officer Mike Elliot. They asses the impact that may have on the Silver Arrows before giving their verdict on whether they will be the closest challengers to Red Bull in Brazil.
AlphaTauri’s performance in Mexico is also up for up discussion as they try to continue their fine form this weekend. They are in the battle for P7 in the constructors’ championship but do they have enough to overhaul Williams’ 12-point advantage?
Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, and Alpine all have hopes of scoring in Brazil, and the crew look at each team’s chances in the final Sprint weekend of the season.
‘Final race of the triple header’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...EQ9qRRIR2.html
First pictures from the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix weekend
21:39 Thu, 02 Nov 2023.
RaceFans
Pictures from the build-up to the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.
‘Pictures’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/02/...-prix-weekend/
FIA make crucial change to combat growing F1 issue ahead of Brazilian GP
02 Nov 2023 8:03 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
The FIA’s Formula 1 race director Niels Wittich has moved to ban drivers from stopping in the fast lane of the pit lane after recent impeding incidents.
A recent move to combat dangerous slow-moving traffic in qualifying, that being to impose a maximum permitted time for an out-lap, had led to an unintended consequence.
The United States and Mexican Grand Prix rounds both saw drivers picked up by the stewards for impeding in the pit lane by stopping their car in the fast lane, thus blocking others drivers behind them in the queue.
‘FIA make crucial change’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fia-ba...g-brazilian-gp
Leclerc enjoys “very special” visit to meet family of “my only idol” Senna
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on 3rd November 2023, 0:01
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans.net
In the round-up: Charles Leclerc met the family of his motor racing idol Ayrton Senna during the run-up to this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix. Ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, Leclerc visited the Ayrton Senna Foundation to meet the family of the triple world champion and admire some memorabilia from his racing career.
“Ayrton is the one and only idol I’ve ever had,” Leclerc said. “The foundation and the family invited me to the foundation in Sao Paolo. I had the chance to see the car he has been racing in, also a few helmets that he’s been using, and it was really, really emotional. Also the family has been welcoming me in the best way possible. Viviane [Senna’s sister] has explained me many stories, and also the stories of the helmets and the cars in there. And it was a very, very special moment for me for sure.”
‘Meet family of “my only idol” Senna’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/03/...nd-up-03-11-6/
F1 Practice Today: Brazilian Grand Prix 2023 start time, schedule and TV channel
Friday 3 November 2023 07:57
Cal Gaunt
GPFans.com
Free Practice - Friday November 3, 2023
Local time (Sao Paulo): 11.30am Friday
UK time (GMT): 2.30pm Friday
Central European Time (CET): 3.30pm Friday
United States (Eastern Time): 10.30am Friday
United States (Central Time): 9.30am Friday
United States (Pacific Time): 7.30am Friday
South Africa: 4.30pm Friday
Australia (Sydney/Melbourne): 1.30am Saturday
‘Brazilian Grand Prix 2023 start time’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...nd-tv-channel/
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Brazilian Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz on top in FP1 but Max Verstappen keeps rivals in the dark.
Late Soft run hands Ferrari the 1-2. Ferrari made a late swap to the Soft tyres with Sainz going quickest with a 1:11.732 to beat his teammate Charles Leclerc by a tenth with George Russell on the mediums only 0.025 further back despite running the Mediums.
03 Nov 2023 3:36 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Ferrari, who spent the bulk of the session, doing long runs made a late swap to the Soft tyres with Carlos Sainz up into P1 with a 1:11.7 while Charles Leclerc went second, 0.108s slower than his teammate. Russell dropped to third.
As for Verstappen, he finished FP1 down in 16th place, 1.061s off the pace, but he spent the entire session on the Hard tyres. Perez also didn’t run tyre other than the Hards. Sergio Perez closed the gap to Verstappen to 0.025s with the Mercedes teammates making gains as Lewis Hamilton shot up to third, 0.3s down.
Keeping rivals in the dark’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/brazil...023-fp1-report
(FP1) First Practice Results – Sao Paulo Grand Prix
3rd November 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari -1:11.732
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.108
3. George Russell Mercedes +0.133
4. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +0.196
5. Alex Albon Williams Racing +0.312
6. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.404
7. Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.452
8. Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo +0.749
9. Logan Sargeant Williams Racing +0.847
10. Kevin Magnussen Haas +0.860
‘Sao Paulo Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the only practice session ahead of this weekend’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at Interlagos’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/fp1-first-...and-prix-83436
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from first practice for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
03 November 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...PiA7J0Wi2.html
F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2023 - Friday Practice: LIVE UPDATES!
03 November 2023, 14:35
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Follow all of the action from Interlagos with the Crash.net live blog for the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. It's a sprint weekend so expect a hectic three days of action in Brazil.
‘LIVE UPDATES!’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-sao...e-live-updates
F1 Live - Brazil GP Free Practice 1 Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
03 November 2023
Racing Statistics
F1 Live Brazil Grand Prix FP1 Watchalong | Sao Paolo GP Live | Sao Paulo GP Live F1 Live Timings, Updates and Commentary of all F1 Sessions with Racing Statistics. Lets Watchalong!
‘Free Practice 1 Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASFSmvKSGZ8
Ferrari dominate Brazilian Grand Prix practice as SHOCK team make huge gains
Friday 3 November 2023 16:42
Sam Cook
GPFans
Ferrari backed up their supreme one-lap pace from the last few races, by topping the one and only practice session of the weekend at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
McLaren also seem to have strong pace, however, with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri looking very fast in the first two sectors of their fastest run, before aborting their laps and heading into the pits in a strange move.
Haas show surprising pace: After a disappointing Mexican GP in which Nico Hulkenberg complained about the upgrades made to his Haas car, the team were surprisingly fast during this practice session.
‘Ferrari dominate’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-practice-fp1/
F1 Brazilian GP: Sainz tops practice from Leclerc; Verstappen 16th
03 November 2023, 15:48
AUTHORFilip Cleeren
Motorsport.com
Carlos Sainz led a Ferrari 1-2 ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc in the only practice session for Formula 1's Brazilian Grand Prix.
All 20 drivers wasted no time getting out as the condensed sprint race format only leaves teams a single-hour practice to nail down their set-ups for the entire weekend. Because of the lack of practice time, duties were split between race runs and just a handful of qualifying sims, with all teams kicking off proceedings on a dry Interlagos circuit on Pirelli's hard tyre compound.
McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri propped up the timesheets after not setting times on the softest compounds, electing to save them for later. The session ran without noteworthy incidents, although Norris and Hulkenberg escaped damage when they made glancing contact at the final corner, which netted the German a trip to the stewards.
‘All 20 drivers wasted no time getting out’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...16th/10542131/
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Verstappen takes SUPREME pole as McLaren falter in Brazilian GP Qualifying.
Max Verstappen took a sensational pole position in a rain interrupted Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying session ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll.
Friday 3 November 2023 20:21
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Aston Martin topped an excellent day with Fernando Alonso joining his team-mate on an all Silverstone second row. Mercedes will lock out the third row as Lewis Hamilton will start ahead of George Russell on Sunday.
Lando Norris was disappointed with himself as McLaren were caught out and denied a chance to fight for pole position, instead finishing seventh and tenth following an Oscar Piastri mistake. Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez were two more drivers to fall foul of the conditions, and will start eighth and ninth respectively.
‘SUPREME pole’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ix-qualifying/
Qualifying Results – 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix
3rd November 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
Q3
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:10.727
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.294
3. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.617
4. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.660
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.742
6. George Russell Mercedes +0.863
7. Lando Norris McLaren +1.260
8. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +1.262
9. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +1.594
10. Oscar Piastri McLaren No time
‘Sao Paulo Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from qualifying for Sunday’s 2023 F1 World Championship race at Interlagos’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/qualifying...and-prix-83449
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
03 November 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...qjHKRH4Mi.html
F1 Live - Brazil GP Qualifying Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
3rd November 2023
Racing Statistics
F1 Live Brazil Grand Prix Qualifying Watchalong | Sao Paolo GP Live | Sao Paulo GP Live F1 Live Timings, Updates and Commentary of all F1 Sessions with Racing Statistics. Lets Watchalong!
‘Qualifying Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg897CVXXH0
Max Verstappen takes pole for the Brazilian Grand Prix after rain dominates final qualifying session with drivers only able to log one lap.
Max Verstappen will start on pole for the Brazilian Grand Prix after rain dominate the third qualifying session in Interlagos.
Published: 19:15, 3 November 2023
By Lewis Browning For Mailonline
Mail Online
After a delayed start to qualifying, rain arrived minutes into the final session and drivers were only able to get one lap in, setting the grid with the world champion on another pole and Charles Leclerc second.
Rain did impact a few drivers, with Oscar Piastri spinning out on his lap and ending up tenth, with team-mate and the quick Lando Norris seventh.
‘Max Verstappen takes pole’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Prix-rain.html
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Piastri explains his Q3 off after rain ‘throws a spanner in the works’ in Brazil.
McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri ran off the track at Turn 12 on his final run in Q3 as ran hit Interlagos at the tail end of qualifying.
03 Nov 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Throws a spanner in the works’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...777564218.html
Perez rues Piastri moment denying him Brazil front row slot
21:11 Fri, 03 Nov 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
“We were just incredibly unlucky today,” Perez rued. “I should have been in the front row. My lap was very close to Max’s until the last corner… and I found Piastri so I had to back off my lap. And meant that I was just nowhere. Very unfortunate because I felt we had a lot better.”
But Perez, who is bidding to rebound from retiring on the opening lap of his home grand prix last weekend, insists his qualifying pace provides optimism heading into the race. Asked if he retained confidence heading into the remainder of the weekend, Perez said: “Definitely, there are some good points and good opportunities to race from here.”
“Incredibly unlucky today”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...ront-row-slot/
Sergio Perez “should have been on the front row” of F1 Sao Paulo GP grid but frustrated to end up ‘P-nowhere’
3 Nov 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Sergio Perez says he was “incredibly unlucky” to have only qualified ninth at the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix and feels he had the pace to be on the front row. Perez was one of the last drivers out of the pits and was forced to abandon his lap when Piastri ran wide at the final corner, resulting in yellow flags.
Up until that point, Perez was convinced his lap would have been good enough to join Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, who claimed pole position, on the front row for Sunday’s race. “I should have been on the front row. My lap was very close to Max's until the last corner and I found Piastri, so I had to back off my lap. That meant that I was just P-nowhere. Very unfortunate because it felt like we had a lot better today.”
Perez will start the grand prix four places behind Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who he is 20 points ahead of in the battle to secure second place in the drivers’ championship.
“Should have been on the front row”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104004...d-end-pnowhere
Norris ‘gutted’ as conditions cost Piastri in qualifying
Saturday 4th November, 2023 - 6:00pm
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were left frustrated following qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after both were caught out by the rapidly changing conditions. Thunder and lightning arrived soon after officials red flagged qualifying with four minutes remaining.
Times in Qualifying 3 were slower than they’d been just minutes earlier, with Verstappen sealing pole with a best lap 0.6s down on what he’d managed at the end of Qualifying 2. Norris had been fastest in Qualifying 2 with a 1:10.021s, but was only able to deliver a 1:11.987s in Qualifying 3.
“Honest, the car was amazing,” Norris said of his qualifying session. “Easily probably quick enough to be quickest today and on pole, so pretty gutted it had to end the way we did. I don’t know what to feel about it. The car was amazing, it came alive a lot in qualifying and easily good enough to be quickest, as I say. Delivering that lap and putting it together in Q3 and everything is a different job. Disappointed,” he added.
‘Gutted’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/11/04...in-qualifying/
‘Insane’ weather hits Brazilian GP qualifying as Ricciardo ‘gets it wrong’, Piastri rues Q3 ‘shame’
November 4th, 2023 9:57 am
AFP with Fox Sports from Fox Sports
It was “hero to zero” for AlphaTauri and Daniel Ricciardo while Oscar Piastri and McLaren ran into issues in the final session of a wet and wild qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix. As for who excelled, Max Verstappen and Red Bull anticipated the weather conditions perfectly to secure pole position ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The newly-crowned three-time world champion clocked a best lap in one minute and 10.727 seconds to outpace Leclerc by 0.294 seconds with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso taking third and fourth places to lock out the second row of the grid for Aston Martin.
Q3 began in near-darkness under leaden clouds, with Alonso leading the way before Verstappen clocked 1:10.727, Leclerc going second ahead of Stroll and his Aston Martin team-mate before the weather turned wild. A blast of wind upset Piastri’s lap, Leclerc complained of “super weird conditions” and Alonso declared “it’s night” before the session was red-flagged.
‘Piastri rues Q3 shame’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...b752ca0ef4431f
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Russell, Ocon and Gasly hit with two-place grid drops after impeding incidents in Sao Paulo GP qualifying
23:30 Fri, 03 Nov 2023.
Formula One - Official Site
Mercedes’ George Russell and Alpine duo Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have been hit with two-place grid penalties for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix following impeding incidents in the pit lane during qualifying.
Russell – who won his first and so far only Grand Prix at the venue last year – will now start eighth for the race on Sunday, while Ocon and Gasly will drop to 14th and 15th on the grid respectively.
The penalties come after a rule specific to this weekend at Interlagos was laid out in the race director’s notes stating that any driver trying to create a gap to the car in front during qualifying must stay as far to the left as possible in the pit lane exit. This proved a flashpoint during Q1 when Russell was captured driving slowly down the pit exit…
‘Two-place grid drops’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...VmQum09CZ.html
F1 starting grid: What is the grid order for the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix?
03 Nov 2023 7:43 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
The Interlagos storm was not the only winner in Q3, it shared that honour with Max Verstappen who claimed Brazilian GP pole. Verstappen delivered a 1:10.727, a time which could not be matched on the opening runs, which turned out to be the only laps as the rain set in, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set to join Verstappen on the front row.
Aston Martin needed a confidence boost and certainly got that on Friday, Lance Stroll set to head row two alongside team-mate Fernando Alonso, while it was going to be an all-Mercedes row three, Lewis Hamilton ahead of George Russell, though Russell was later demoted two places for impeding at the pit exit.
Brazilian Grand Prix grid order
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
4. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
5. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6. Lando Norris, McLaren
7. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
8. George Russell, Mercedes*
9. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
10. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
‘F1 starting grid’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-sta...ian-grand-prix
Winners and losers from the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying
03 Nov 2023 9:00 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Winners
Max Verstappen/Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Red Bull paid the price here last year for not positioning themselves at the front of the queue in the pit lane, as the clouds rapidly darkened over Interlagos in the seconds before Q3.
Lance Stroll/Aston Martin: After six Q1 exits in a row, what a stunning result this was for Lance Stroll. If only he would tell his face. Stroll’s quite lukewarm reaction to his best result of the season revealed why so many struggle to warm to him and why his commitment to – and enjoyment of life – in F1 is so often questioned by onlookers.
Losers
Sergio Perez: Perez within two-tenths of Verstappen in Q1 and Q2. Then came Q3, positioned last in the queue for his only lap and having to ease off for the yellow flags caused by Oscar Piastri’s off-track excursion. The result, after his most encouraging performance for some time? Ninth. When your luck is out…
McLaren: As the tortuous wait for a first F1 win goes on, watching yet another chance slip through the net will not do much for Lando Norris’s mood. As Piastri went off at Juncao… Another huge opportunity lost, another punch to the guts.
AlphaTauri: Ricciardo was convinced there was more in it, but was undone by a mistake in to the Senna S on his final lap, while Yuki Tsunoda was left to shout over the radio about traffic, his usual hobby horse.
‘Winners and losers’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/wi...rix-qualifying
F1 photographer ‘nearly decapitated’ after roof collapses at Brazilian Grand Prix
Saturday 4 November 2023 08:42
Shay Rogers
GPFans
A Formula 1 photographer has narrowly escaped significant injury after reports emerged of a roof collapse at the Brazilian Grand Prix after weather caused chaos at the end of qualifying. A grandstand at the famous ‘Juncao’ corner – the last corner of the circuit, has seemingly collapsed after the session as a result of the storm, resulting in further chaos at the circuit.
Andy Hone, an F1 photographer for more than a decade, took to social media to reveal that he came incredibly close to a potentially fatal injury in the final stages of qualifying.
"What a scary 10 minutes on track!" he wrote. "A grandstand roof collapsed at the last corner and nearly got decapitated by falling debris!"
‘Nearly decapitated’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...an-grand-prix/
Brazilian Grand Prix: Grandstand roof at Interlagos COLLAPSES as violent storms sweep through Sao Paulo on F1 weekend
• Photographers captured the wreckage at the circuit that sent fans running
• Q3 was cut short due to the storm, with Max Verstappen claiming Sunday's pole
Published: 23:24, 3 November 2023
By Jake Fenner and Jonathan McEvoy for MailOnline
Mail Online
Fans were left streaming for the exits after heavy winds and lashing rain descended upon the Friday qualifying session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos. Those winds saw the roof on one of the grandstands near the final corner of the circuit at the storied Brazilian track collapse.
Track officials say that the grandstands will be inspected before being reopened for Saturday's sprint shootout and sprint race sessions. F1 photographer Andy Hone, who was trackside when the collapse occurred, tweeted: 'What a scary 10 minutes on track! A grandstand roof collapsed at the last corner and nearly got decapitated by falling debris!'
Multiple videos on social media appeared to show roofs being torn loose and blowing away. It's unclear how many grandstands were affected by this storm. Q3 had to be cut short as a result of this squall - with most drivers only able to complete one lap before the qualifying session was abandoned.
‘Grandstand roof at Interlagos COLLAPSES’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...1-weekend.html
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Lance Stroll did great to get P3 but it is very unlikely that he'll finish the race on podium.
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Lando Norris redeems McLaren with pole in Brazilian GP Sprint Shootout.
Norris edged out Max Verstappen for pole position in the Brazilian GP Sprint Race.
November 4, 2023
By Matt Neill
Total Motorsport
Lando Norris put a disappointing Brazilian GP qualifying behind him as he secured pole position in the Sprint Shootout at Interlagos. McLaren have looked competitive all weekend in Sao Paolo, but the team failed to capitalise on their pace in qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix after they mistimed their final runs of the session and were caught out by incoming rain which ruined their flying laps.
However, the Brit put that to bed for the Sprint race, edging out Max Verstappen by 0.061 seconds, with the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez to start from third on the grid. That was despite the fact that Norris appeared unhappy with the lap on the radio, seemingly surprised that the pace was good enough to keep the dominant Verstappen from claiming yet another pole.
Mercedes qualified fourth and fifth with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton respectively, with Yuki Tsunoda a strong sixth for AlphaTauri. Ferrari failed to translate their pace in practice onto the grid, with Charles Leclerc seventh and Carlos Sainz in ninth, split by the second AlphaTauri of Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri a disappointing 10th in the second McLaren on used soft tyres.
‘Norris appeared unhappy with the (POLE) lap on the radio’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...rint-shootout/
Sprint Shootout Results – 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix
4th November 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
SQ3
1. Lando Norris McLaren -1:10.622
2. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing +0.061
3. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.134
4. George Russell Mercedes +0.235
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.318
6. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +0.397
7. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.455
8. Daniel Ricciardo AlphaTauri +0.500
9. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.504
10. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.567
‘Sao Paulo Grand Prix – Here are the provisional results from the Shootout for this afternoon’s 2023 F1 World Championship Sprint at Interlagos’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/sprint-sho...and-prix-83463
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from the Sprint Shootout at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
04 November 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...LRGph56XY.html
F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2023 - Sprint: LIVE UPDATES!
04 November 2023, 13:58
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Follow all of the sprint action from Interlagos here with the Crash.net live blog.
‘Sprint: LIVE UPDATES!’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-sao...t-live-updates
F1 Live - Brazil GP Sprint Shootout Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
04 November 2023
Racing Statistics
‘Sprint Shootout Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdwd2_ZIP0c
F1 Brazilian GP: Norris beats Verstappen to sprint shootout pole
04 November 2023, 15:21
AUTHORJake Boxall-Legge
Motorsport.com
Lando Norris clinched the fastest time in the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix sprint shootout to beat Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez to pole.
Despite a first sector that was over two tenths slower than the best efforts from the Red Bulls, Norris found time over the rest of the lap to clinch pole position for Saturday's shortened race - albeit with some evident bemusement after feeling that his lap was not particularly special.
The Briton endured a nervy wait as the Red Bulls and Mercedes looked far stronger in the opening sector; Verstappen looked to be good value to usurp the McLaren having been up on Norris' split by the end of the second sector, but could not maintain that pace. Perez was then tracking in first having set the best opening split on his run, but fell behind team-mate Verstappen to collect third place on the sprint grid.
‘Evident bemusement after feeling that his lap was not particularly special’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...pole/10542660/
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Max Verstappen cruises to Brazil GP Sprint Race victory ahead of Lando Norris.
Max Verstappen comfortably won the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint Race from second on the grid as he overtook Lando Norris for the lead of the event on the opening lap.
November 4, 2023
By Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
After taking the lead at the start the reigning world champion opened up a gap to George Russell, who had also jumped Norris at the start, to control the mini-race with ease. On Lap 4, Sergio Perez cleared Lewis Hamilton for fourth-place whilst a lap later, Mercedes cars lost another place as Norris reclaimed second back from his British counterpart, Russell.
Perez temporarily shuffled Russell back down the order as he lost fourth to the Mexican but he was too eager in his overtake and the 25-year-old reclaimed the position at the end of the back-straight into Turn 4. But two laps later, Russell proved unable to hold back the Red Bull for much longer as Perez got the move done into Turn 1 at the second effort before he pushed on in an attempt to close up to the McLaren and his teammate for the battle for the lead.
Ricciardo, known as the honey badger for his aggression, was having a great race battling the Ferraris. He temporarily cleared Carlos Sainz before a mistake a corner later allowed the Spanish driver to slip back through and a scavenging Oscar Piastri used the chance to sneak by his fellow Australian into ninth.
‘Max Verstappen cruises to victory’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-lando-norris/
Sprint Results – 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix
4th November 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -24 laps
2. Lando Norris McLaren +4.287
3. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +13.617
4. George Russell Mercedes +25.879
5. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +28.560
6. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +29.210
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +34.726
8. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +35.106
9. Daniel Ricciardo AlphaTauri +35.303
10. Oscar Piastri McLaren +38.219
‘Sao Paulo Grand Prix – Here are the provisional results from today’s Sprint, the last of six that were scheduled for the 2023 F1 World Championship’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/sprint-res...and-prix-83481
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from the F1 Sprint in Brazil
04 November 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happens’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...IEnPad7WS.html
F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2023 - Sprint: LIVE UPDATES!
04 November 2023, 15:29
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Follow all of the sprint action from Interlagos here with the Crash.net live blog.
‘Sprint: LIVE UPDATES!’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-sao...t-live-updates
F1 Live - Brazil GP Sprint Race Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
04 November 2023
Racing Statistics
F1 Live Brazil Grand Prix Sprint Race Watchalong | Sao Paolo GP Live | Sao Paulo GP Live F1 Live Timings, Updates and Commentary of all F1 Sessions with Racing Statistics. Lets Watchalong!
‘Sprint Race Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuMecImp8YY
Brazil GP: Verstappen victorious in action-packed Sprint
04 November 2023
Ben Issatt.
Inside Racing
Max Verstappen claimed another comprehensive victory in the Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The reigning world champion took the lead at the start and didn't look back as he wrapped up his seventh win in the format.
At the front, however, it was an easy win for Verstappen by four seconds over Norris with Perez completing the podium. Russell followed in fourth Leclerc held on to fifth but sixth was still three crucial points for Tsunoda and AlphaTauri.
Hamilton was seventh as Sainz pipped Ricciardo by less than two-tenths over the line to take the final point in eighth. Piastri claimed 10th keeping Alonso at bay in 11th with Lance Stroll gaining five places upto 12th.
‘Action-packed Sprint’;
https://www.insideracing.com/formula...-packed-sprint
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EL PLAN: Stroll targets podium finish in Brazil after P3 in qualifying as Alonso insists Aston Martin 'know what they're doing'.
Lance Stroll has set his sights on a podium finish at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after the Aston Martin driver qualified in a season-high third place – while Fernando Alonso, who lines up fourth, says the team need that result.
03 November 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Aston Martin had showed a decent turn of pace throughout the opening day with Stroll going sixth in FP1. He followed that up with strong efforts in qualifying – ending up P6 in Q1 although he scraped through in 10th in Q2. But on his only lap in Q3, Stroll set a time of 1m 11.344s to go third just as the rain that brought qualifying to an early end started to fall. He wound up over six-tenths behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen, but sealing a first top three start since the Turkish Grand Prix in 2020.
Speaking after jumping out the cockpit, Stroll said: “Yeah, we are aiming for a podium. I think it’s going to be tricky though, I don’t think we have the third quickest car. “The McLarens are going to be quick on Sunday, we were fortunate with the rain that came in, so we got our lap in early. I don’t think everyone got their laps in. I’m sure [Sergio] Perez is going to be coming through the field, the McLarens, but we will see what we can do.”
‘EL PLAN: Stroll targets podium finish’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Gfq1NGI5E.html
“We need it” - Why Sao Paulo GP qualifying gives Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin “hope”
3 Nov 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin’s return to form at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix “proves we know what we’re doing”. Reflecting on qualifying at Interlagos, Alonso admitted Aston Martin ‘needed’ that result.
“We need it,” he said. “I think the last two races we were experimenting a little bit and starting from the pit lane - all these kinds of things. We needed a nice result here in Brazil for both cars to give some hope to the team and prove we understood a few things, and we are back being competitive. This proves we know what we’re doing and I am happy with that.”
Stroll starred in qualifying as he beat his veteran teammate. “The car was feeling good throughout the session,” Stroll added. “Q3 was really tricky. My lap was pretty bad but I think conditions changed a lot. I had a few lock-ups and missed some apexes but in the end, good enough for top three, which is a great result.”
“EL PLAN: We need it”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104004...on-martin-hope
Lance Stroll admits Aston Martin car ‘still felt like crap’ in Brazil qualifying
03 Nov 2023 10:45 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Stroll felt the team executed the session to perfection, but admitted the car did not feel great underneath him as a storm arrived at the start of Q3. He said: “I guess time will tell if we build on today and we can keep up this form at other places.
“I don’t think we were lucky today, I think we made our own luck. We did well going at the front of the queue and getting good track position. The weather was coming in, so I think that was smart. But I still really felt like crap in the car. It was really tricky in Q3 and then I think the wind changed direction.”
“So it’s still really tough, but I think we did a good job getting both cars, me and Fernando, at the front of the queue and the team did a good job of giving us an attempt [at] the front of the queue and before the bad weather came in. It looks like a lot of guys missed their laps or didn’t get them in for whatever reason, so I think we made our own luck today.”
“EL PLAN: I still really felt like crap in the car”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lance-...zil-qualifying
Stroll: Aston Martin F1 made own luck with third in Brazilian GP qualifying
20:53 Fri, 03 Nov 2023
AUTHORJake Boxall-Legge
Motorsport.com
Stroll managed to outqualify team-mate Fernando Alonso on their laps after the Spaniard was first onto the road but, as weather conditions worsened, pace began to decline and only polesitter Max Verstappen and runner-up Charles Leclerc overcame the Aston Martins.
"I don't think we were lucky today; I think we made our own luck," Stroll replied to a question asking if Aston Martin's result was largely through good fortune.
"I think we did well going to the front of the queue and getting good track position. And, yeah, the weather was coming in, so I think that was smart."
‘EL PLAN: Stroll managed to out-qualify team-mate’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...ying/10542373/
Fernando Alonso reveals relief of strong Aston Martin Brazil qualifying
The qualifying result is one of Aston Martin's best since the first part of the season after losing ground to rivals.
November 3, 2023
By Matt Neill
Total Motorsport
Fernando Alonso has said Aston Martin‘s lockout of the second row in qualifying for the Brazilian GP was a much-needed result after a series of disappointing races. Despite starting off the 2023 season at the second-best team on the grid, Aston Martin have fallen off the pace significantly as McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes have all jumped ahead in the development race.
The team were back in the top spots once again in Interlagos, as Stroll and Alonso took third and fourth respectively on the grid for the grand prix in a rain-disrupted qualifying session. “Yea, we needed it. I think the last two grand prix we were a little bit experimenting, starting from the pitlane and all these kinds of things,” Alonso told F1TV after the session.
“So we needed a nice result here in Brazil for both cars to keep up some hope in the team and prove that we understood a few things and we are very competitive, so this proves we know what we are doing and I am happy with that.”
‘EL PLAN: Relief of strong Aston Martin Brazil qualifying’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...il-qualifying/
Aston Martin’s pace in the Sprint is ‘a good sign for tomorrow’ – Alonso
04 Nov 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Fernando Alonso finished the Sprint outside the points in P11, but was encouraged by his car’s speed ahead of Sunday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
‘EL PLAN: A good sign for tomorrow’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...028819945.html
Alonso: Brazil masterstroke proves Aston Martin 'knows what it is doing'
04 November 1:50PM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365
Fernando Alonso has praised Aston Martin's quick work in identifying the threat posed by the storm during the final stage of Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying.
Aston Martin was able to capitalise on this by sending both Stroll and Alonso out early for their laps, with the two securing third and fourth on the grid - the team's best qualifying result of the season.
Alonso hailed the team for the call as it looks to arrest a slide backwards over recent races as it has fallen off in the development race. "We needed a nice result here in Brazil for both cars to give up some hope in the team and just prove that we understood few things and that we are competitive.”
‘EL PLAN: Brazil masterstroke - Alonso hailed the team for the call’;
https://racingnews365.com/alonso-bra...on-martin-hope
-
Winners and Losers from 2023 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix Sprint.
A fine indicator then of what we can expect during the first stint of the race itself, which is one of the biggest sticks with which to beat the Sprint format, among others.
05 November 12:30PM
Author Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
Winner - Sergio Perez: It is a start, nothing more for Sergio Perez but his climb to third is base from which he can build across the final three races. What did Perez say? "I had a terrible start and ended up losing a place to George and then another place to Lewis into Turn 4. From then on I was fighting and had to use all of my tyres, then I think I paid the price towards the end."
Loser - Daniel Ricciardo: This might be considered sacrilege in some quarters, but the one thing Daniel Ricciardo didn't really do in that outstanding Mexico City weekend was race. What did Ricciardo say? "F**k, F**k, F**k, F**k. Sorry guys. Just that f***ing DRS in Turn 2. You pass in [Turn] 1 and then you just get f***ed. It is impossible."
‘Winners and Losers’;
https://racingnews365.com/winners-an...nd-prix-sprint
Verstappen’s rapid pace looks too much for all bar compromised Norris
2023 Brazilian Grand Prix pre-race analysis
Posted on 5th November 2023, 9:14
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
Moments after crossing the line to secure fourth place in the sprint race for the Brazilian Grand Prix, George Russell had to satisfy his curiosity about the pace of his rivals ahead. “What was the pace of Max and Lando at the end?,” he asked. “Max at the end was doing 14.8, 14.7,” Russell’s race engineer Marcus Dudley replied. “And Norris…” “FOURTEEN eight?,” Russell interrupted, aghast. “Wowser. Okay…”
That leaves Norris in sixth as the better bet to move up the order through the grand prix, given his ability to largely match Verstappen through the bulk of the sprint race. And the McLaren driver was buoyed by vastly exceeding his own pre-weekend expectations on Saturday.
“Better bet to move up the order’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/05/...omised-norris/
Russell surprised at 'WEAK' Mercedes pace at Brazilian Grand Prix
Sunday 5 November 2023 14:27
Sam Cook
GPFans
George Russell has admitted his surprise at just how slow Mercedes were during Saturday's sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Russell reveals Mercedes inconsistencies: After being slammed with a two-place grid penalty for Sunday's main race which means he'll start down in eighth, it is looking unlikely that Russell will be able to repeat his heroics from last season's Brazilian GP, where he led home a Mercedes one-two.
"The pace we were missing was surprising," he told DAZN after the sprint race. "The degradation was not worse than expected. The wheels are very difficult to understand. Sometimes the teams are fast and, suddenly, they become slow. We will see tomorrow. Today was the weakest pace we've had all season."
'WEAK Mercedes pace’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...on-toto-wolff/
Lando Norris could prove Mika Hakkinen right at Brazil GP as Max Verstappen vulnerable
Mika Hakkinen tipped Lando Norris to provide a strong challenge to Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix and the Brit is feeling confident after finishing second in the sprint race
05 November 2023, 10:05
By Matthew Cooper Sports Writer
The Mirror
Mika Hakkinen tipped Lando Norris to provide a strong challenge to Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix and the Brit is feeling confident after finishing second in the sprint race. McLaren star Lando Norris is feeling confident ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, having been told he is one of only two drivers who could "stop Max Verstappen".
It will be a tough challenge though, with Verstappen on pole and Hamilton and Norris set to start fifth and sixth respectively. "In my opinion there are two drivers who can stop Max Verstappen from winning the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend," Hakkinen wrote in a column for Unibet.
"Max is going for win number 17 this season but the way Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris are driving at the moment I think it's possible they could cause problems for Red Bull. I thought both of them drove brilliantly in Mexico, there is a real fire in their driving, and if they can continue that momentum into Interlagos anything can happen.”
‘Mika Hakkinen tipped Lando Norris to provide a strong challenge’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...dprix-31364697
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...dprix-31364697
Red Bull learned lessons of a year ago to crack Interlagos
Monday 6th November, 2023 - 12:33am
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner claims lessons were learned from last year’s São Paulo Grand Prix that have stood Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in good stead for this weekend’s event. Explaining the turnaround from a year ago, Horner said: “Last year we got the setup wrong here, and you have such a short window with the one practice session. It was quite costly.”
“So we used the lessons from last year, applied them here, and it was great to win another sprint race, our fifth sprint victory of the year.” Horner has conceded to feeling a little apprehensive coming into the weekend, knowing Interlagos “doesn’t play to our strengths” as there are “not a lot of high-speed corners”.
Horner is now naturally confident Verstappen will convert his pole into what would be a record-extending 17th victory of his extraordinary season. “It is quite a tricky track but I think we found a good setup as you’ve saw, and that bodes well, hopefully, for the race tomorrow,” added Horner. “You’ve now got a reasonable amount of data to look at, in terms of what the relative performance and tyre wear were on the different cars.”
‘Lessons learned a year ago’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/11/06...ssons-learned/
Confidence gained in Austin propels Sergio Perez forward in Brazil
Sergio Perez eventually finished third in the 2023 Brazilian GP Sprint Race
November 5, 2023
By Ed Spencer
Total Motorsport
Sergio Perez believes his fourth-place finish in at the 2023 United States Grand Prix has given him renewed confidence after a poor patch of form as he was back among the top three in the Brazilian GP Sprint Race.
Perez was undeterred and bounced back from a disappointing Qualifying to finish third in the Sprint Race behind Lando Norris and teammate Max Verstappen, who won his third Sprint of 2023. “Well, I think from Austin onwards, we’ve been a lot better than we’ve shown on pace”, explained Perez to the press.
“But for some reason or another, we haven’t been able to put it all together. I think in Mexico, we were also strong, and obviously, here, it’s been a good solid day with the morning. We were very unlucky with the Q3 conditions and getting the yellow flag at the end, but other than that, I think it’s been a good pace.”
‘Confidence gained’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-brazilian-gp/
How the Ferrari strategists could give Charles Leclerc victory at Brazilian GP
Max Verstappen led Charles Leclerc and Aston Martin in qualifying for the 2023 Brazilian GP
November 5, 2023
By Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport
How can Leclerc conquer Verstappen? Focus on the start. Norris was really lazy off the line in the sprint, having got an equal launch to Verstappen there’s no way he should’ve left the inside line open, but it at least gives Leclerc a sliver of hope that he can take the lead early. Not that he should expect Verstappen to be as welcoming – see lights out at the Austin sprint a fortnight ago.
If Leclerc can hold track position early on then he has a genuine chance of defending it for the rest of the first stint. Interlagos is known for fantastic on-track action – Hamilton made 24 overtakes over the 2021 Brazilian GP weekend – but the back-to-back DRS zones in the first sector mean defending drivers aren’t powerless.
Red Bull‘s early-season DRS dominance has also been pegged back from the start of the season, but the undercut is a potent weapon at Interlagos so Ferrari strategists should be itching to pit Leclerc early.
‘Ferrari strategists’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...i-strategists/
Ricciardo "frustrated" with F1 Brazilian GP DRS zones after botched overtakes
November 5, 2023, 13:15
AUTHOR Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com
Daniel Ricciardo was left "frustrated" with Interlagos' DRS placement following his botched overtake attempts on Carlos Sainz in Formula 1's Brazilian Grand Prix sprint. "It certainly wasn't a boring race, so part of my fun box is fulfilled, but my frustration box is also very full," Ricciardo said about his early race fight with Sainz.
"Obviously had pace for points and every time I would pass Carlos, you then give them the DRS for Turn 2. I passed him, I felt like I got it done and then I just wave him by with DRS open. To make matters worse his second botched overtake left him vulnerable against McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who nicked his position into Turn 8.
‘Fun box is fulfilled’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/d...-drs/10542946/
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Verstappen beats Norris again to win Brazilian GP as Alonso denies Perez podium.
Max Verstappen led almost every lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix to take his 17th grand prix victory of the season ahead of Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso.
Formula 1
Posted on 5th November 2023, 19:12
Written by Will Wood
The world champion held off Norris at the restart after an early red flag stoppage and controlled the majority of the race to win by over eight seconds from Norris behind. Alonso claimed the final podium position in third after winning a long-running battle with Sergio Perez on the final lap by just five hundredths of a second.
Before the race began, the entire field left the grid for the formation lap on soft tyres, except for Logan Sargeant towards the back of the field. But while the field were making their way through Ferradura before the start, second-placed Charles Leclerc suddenly lost hydraulics in his Ferrari, sending him spinning into the outside barriers.
However, on the run to turn one, a clash between the two Haas drivers of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg and the Williams of Alexander Albon sent Magnussen and Albon into the outside tyre barrier. The Safety Car was deployed as both were out on the spot, with Hulkenberg damaged along with the cars of Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri due to debris caused by the collision
‘Verstappen again’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/05/...-perez-podium/
Race Results – 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix
5th November 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -71 laps
2. Lando Norris McLaren +8.277
3. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +34.155
4. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +34.208
5. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +40.845
6. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +50.188
7. Pierre Gasly Alpine +56.093
8. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +62.859
9. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +69.880
10. Esteban Ocon Alpine +1 lap
‘Sao Paulo Grand Prix – Provisional results from F1 World Championship race at Interlagos’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-83493
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix
05 November 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Zzclikqqx.html
F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2023 - As it happened
05 November 2023, 16:25
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-sao...23-it-happened
F1 Live - Brazil GP Race Watchalong | Live timings + Commentary
05 November 2023
Racing Statistics
F1 Live Brazil Grand Prix Race Watchalong | Sao Paolo GP Live | Sao Paulo GP Live F1 Live Timings, Updates and Commentary of all F1 Sessions with Racing Statistics. Lets Watchalong!
‘Race Watchalong’;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BsCG5Zlh9s
Brazilian GP red-flagged after mega crash KOs trio within seconds of F1 race starting
Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix lasted a matter of seconds before the race was red-flagged following a major crash that saw three drivers taken out of contention
05 November 2023, 17:24
BY TOM SUNDERLAND
Daily Star
The Brazilian Grand Prix came to a swift halt on Sunday after the Formula 1 race was red-flagged on the first lap following a major crash. Sao Paulo witnessed early drama after the Haas of Kevin Magnussen and Williams' Alexander Albon made contact almost straight out of the gates. Debris was seen flying across the track as both driver skidded into the tyre wall, but that wasn't the end of the fallout.
AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo was also caught up as collateral after it appeared his car was struck by a tyre from one of his obliterated opponents. That's in addition to McLaren's Oscar Piastri being told to pit after his team told him his car was unfit to drive.
‘Red-flagged’;
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1...crash-31366980
Max Verstappen breaks 71-year-old Formula 1 record with Brazil Grand Prix win
Sunday 5 Nov 2023 7:19 pm
Callum McAvoy
Metro.co.uk
Max Verstappen broke yet another unbelievable Formula One record as he claimed victory at Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix. The three-time world champion survived a chaotic start to the race to cruise to his yet another win at Interlagos.
He has now won 17 of the 20 races so far this season, and that means that no matter what happens in the final two races of the year, he’ll have a minimum win percentage of just over 77%. That breaks the record for the highest win percentage for an F1 season, which stood at 75% and had been held by Alberto Ascari since 1952.
The Italian won six out of the eight races that year as he claimed the second of his two world-titles 71 years ago. Given how the sport’s calendar has nearly tripled since then, it was one record that seemed unattainable to even the greatest racers, but that has changed thanks to Verstappen’s perfect driving and the dominance of the Red Bull RB19.
‘71-year-old Formula 1 record broken’;
https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/05/max-v...o=newsnow-feed
Lando Norris shines in Max Verstappen chase as Fernando Alonso thrills at Brazil GP
Charles Leclerc didn't even start a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix after crashing on the formation lap, leaving Max Verstappen alone on the front row to fight for the win with only Lando Norris for company
19:02, 5 Nov 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Charles Leclerc didn't even start a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix after crashing on the formation lap, leaving Max Verstappen alone on the front row to fight for the win with only Lando Norris for company
Tyre degradation was heavy for Hamilton and George Russell while their massive rear wing meant they were slow on the straights too – even with the DRS activated. It meant neither of them were ever a threat to Verstappen in the race.
To be fair, few others were either. Only Norris showed the pace to keep Verstappen honest settling for second after driving the wheels off his McLaren in pursuit of the champion. Fernando Alonso came close to joining them on the podium after Aston Martin binned their upgrades and took their car back to basics, fending off Sergio Perez late on to take third.
‘Lando Norris shines in Max Verstappen chase’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...ilton-31367238
Max Verstappen wins a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix after Daniel Ricciardo narrowly avoided being hit in the head by a flying tyre on the first lap... with Lando Norris second and struggling Lewis Hamilton finishing down in eighth
• Leclerc crashed due to a hydraulics problem before a red flag just two laps in
• Mercedes struggled for pace throughout the race with George Russell retiring
• Norris took second after a fast start and challenged Verstappen briefly to start
Published: 19:01, 5 November 2023
By Jonathan McEvoy For Mail Online
Mail Online
A flying 13kg tyre carcass narrowly missed Daniel Ricciardo’s head during a chaotic first lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix won by Max Verstappen. The left-rear tyre of Abon’s blue-liveried car came detached and flew in the direction of Ricciardo’s AlphaTauri further back. It missed the Australian by a few inches and instead caught his rear wing. Hulkenberg’s car was largely unharmed, though the tyre bounced worryingly close to the left of him before vaulting its way towards RIcciardo.
Ricciardo turned frantically left in reaction to the incoming stray rubber. ’I tried to miss it but the tyre was in the air and it clipped my rear wing,’ he said over the radio. The red flag was waved and Ricciardo, his car repaired, was ready for the restart. Verstappen, from pole, was in clinical charge throughout with Lando Norris second and Fernando Alonso third.
But what a sorry mess for Mercedes – as bad a day as any in their two years of serial non-achievement. At the end of Saturday’s sprint over just 24 laps, George Russell had been 26 seconds back and Lewis 35. This is light years in a sport of thousandths. And the real affair over 71 laps was even worse for being a longer-endured agony. Hamilton finished eight, one minute and three seconds back. Russell retired with rising oil temperature while running 11th – engine failure, baldy speaking.
‘Chaotic Brazilian GP’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...is-second.html
Leclerc details cause of Brazil GP formation lap shunt
05 November 2023, 18:17
by Sam Tomlinson
Motorsport Week
Charles Leclerc has explained the cause of the crash on the formation lap that saw his Sao Paulo Grand Prix come to an end on the formation lap. “Hydraulics. Why the f— am I so unlucky!” Leclerc exclaimed over the team radio.
While Leclerc was able to get his SF-23 moving again, he only dragged the wounded Ferrari as far as the nearest escape road to withdraw from the race. Despite a red flag for a subsequent multi-car incident at the race start, there would be no opportunity for Ferrari to examine or repair the damage to Leclerc’s car.
"Hydraulics. Why the f— am I so unlucky!”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...ion-lap-shunt/
-
Winners and losers from F1's 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Brazilian Grand Prix rarely disappoints and the 2023 edition was another that packed plenty in, with all three podium finishers having cause for celebration - but a painful race marking a particularly stark contrast for the team that won here last year.
Nov 5, 2023
The Race
A familiar winner, a welcome return to the podium, and a miserable turn of pace for Formula 1's former dominant force.
‘Here are our pick of winners and losers from Interlagos’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...-brazilian-gp/
F1 2023 Brazilian GP Review - Alonso's Defensive Master Class
6th November 2023, 07:24
Motorsport.com
The wait goes on for Lando Norris for his first win as Max Verstappen takes his 17th of the season, in a race that started with a bang. But while it straight forward for him others had misfortune and in some cases didn't make it to the start.
‘F1 2023 Brazilian GP Review’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/video/...-class/643076/
Brazil GP conclusions: Alonso’s genius, Perez’s pulse and Brundle’s gem
06 Nov 2023 6:00 AM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen claimed a record-extending 17th victory of the F1 2023 season in the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. The three-time World Champion dominated from pole position and was joined on the podium by Lando Norris, who equalled his career-best result of second for McLaren, and Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso, who came out on top in a thrilling battle with Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez.
With the DRS zones connected at Interlagos, it seemed inevitable late in the race that Perez would steal that much-needed podium finish for himself. Yet if there was one driver who is capable of holding back the tide – who thrives in situations when he has an obvious car disadvantage, when his back is pinned firmly against the wall – it is Alonso, ingeniously missing the apex at Juncao to carry as much speed as possible on to the main straight to counteract the Red Bull’s straight-line speed.
And when a leak did slip through – Perez finally forcing his way past on the penultimate lap – Fernando reached with all his plate-spinning might to somehow plug it and save the day, repassing him with the very last chance he had at Turn 4 on the final lap to complete one of his most heroic drives.
‘Brazil GP conclusions’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/br...23-conclusions
Norris: Verstappen had ‘an answer to everything’ in Brazil GP
21:30 Sun, 05 Nov 2023.
by Sam Tomlinson
Motorsport Week
Lando Norris had to settle for second place in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, insisting Max Verstappen had “an answer to everything”. “It couldn’t have gone much better, to be honest,” said Norris, who had qualified seventh on Friday.
“Good pace, similar to yesterday, which is the main thing,” continued Norris who also ended the Saturday Sprint as runner-up. “P2 is as good as you can get nowadays and for the time being,” the 13-time podium finisher added as Verstappen claimed a 17th win of the season. “At the second start I was just a little bit aggressive on it. I’m still happy.”
“There’s little bits where the tyres come back to you a little bit and then you can push on, but Max always seemed to have an answer to everything,” Norris rued. “Which is a shame, but fair play to him – he drove a good race. So tough with the wind conditions and everything, but P2 is a good result.”
‘An answer to everything’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...-in-brazil-gp/
Sergio Perez shows true colours after losing in Fernando Alonso photo finish at Brazil GP
Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso gave everything to beat each other to third place on the last lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix, culminating in a sprint to the finish line
21:12, 5 Nov 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
Sergio Perez shared an embrace with Fernando Alonso after cruelly losing a spot on the podium to the Spaniard. Alonso spent the vast majority of the race in that position (THIRD). But Perez had been saving his tyres for a late attack on the Aston Martin driver and launched that assault with a few laps to go.
It looked as though the Mexican had his rival's number after getting past on the penultimate lap. But Alonso used all his experience to make sure he got past the Red Bull on the final lap to set up a desperate dash to the line. The Red Bull driver was the one to miss out on a place on the podium. He sought out Alonso in the media pen to hug and congratulate his rival. And he was very complimentary towards the Spaniard as he reflected on how the conclusion of the Grand Prix had panned out.
"It was quite an intense battle – we tried everything," he said. "Unfortunately, we didn't succeed on that, but it was well deserved for Fernando. I think we had a great fight, very fair and to the limit. I think this is something that a lot of drivers can learn from because what we did, the way we fought today, it's how it should be done. I'm on the wrong side, I end up losing but it's fine because it was a great fight.”
‘Hug and congratulate his rival’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...razil-31368199
Sergio Perez's 9th-to-4th drive at Brazil GP not enough to silence gossip mongrels
6th November 2023, 04:43
Charlen Raymond
Wheels24
‘9th-to-4th drive’;
https://www.news24.com/sport/motorsp...grels-20231106
Sao Paulo Stroll and Sargeant's major F1 boost – five things Brazil GP headlines missed
Brazilian Grand Prix race reports led with Lando Norris challenging winner Max Verstappen and the glorious battle for third between Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez, but there were plenty of other stories which didn't get the limelight
6th November 2023, 07:14
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
Max Verstappen won the Brazilian Grand Prix, but Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso stole the show with their mad dash to the finish line. Both wanted desperately to stand on the podium alongside Verstappen and runner-up Lando Norris. But only Alonso earned the right to do so after a thrilling late battle which ended in a photo finish – the Spaniard just doing enough to hold off his Red Bull rival.
‘Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso stole the show’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...astri-31368695
Wolff bemoans Mercedes’ 'worst weekend' since F1 return
06 November 7:30AM
Author Fergal Walsh
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has labelled the São Paulo Grand Prix as the team's “worst weekend in 13 years”. “I think Sprint weekends haven't been our strengths,” he told media including RacingNews365.com.
“We are working ourselves out of problems on most weekends. But swings are not on from being almost quickest [in Mexico] to being eighth. For me personally, the worst weekend in 13 years.”
“Worst weekend in 13 years”;
https://racingnews365.com/wolff-bemo...ince-f1-return
Hamilton: Red Bull “so far away” they’ll remain ahead “for the next couple of years”
Formula 1
Posted on 6th November 2023, 7:15
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Lewis Hamilton has little hope of catching Red Bull in the near future after Mercedes’ poor Brazilian Grand Prix performance. “I knew that we would have a difficult day,” Hamilton told media after yesterday’s race. “Nothing changed in the car from yesterday to today so I knew it would be a tough one.”
“Yesterday I just ate through the tyres with an unexpected lack of pace. I think I drove better today in terms of at least making my stints, but we were just slow. The tyres were always overheating for us,” he added. “The tyres were overheating, slow on the straights, no grip in the corners.”
“So far away”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/06/...uple-years-f1/
'Guy Fawkes wouldn't have picked a Mercedes' - Brazilian Grand Prix hot takes
Monday 6 November 2023 09:27
Sam Cook
GPFans.com
Sam Cook - F1 Journalist: If Guy Fawkes was attempting a speedy getaway having been caught trying to blow up parliament on this day in 1605, he certainly wouldn't have picked a Mercedes F1 car as his mode of transport.
‘Where has all their pace gone to?’
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...kes-fireworks/
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Mercedes will RIP UP designs for next season's car after nightmare display at the Brazilian Grand Prix, admits Toto Wolff... with beleagured team boss claiming there is 'something fundamentally wrong'.
'This car, the development of this car, has been more plasters we put on something not right, and it shows that it is so unpredictable that it can swing either side.' Toto Wolff.
Published: 13:25, 6 November 2023
By Jonathan McEvoy For Mailonine
Mail Online
Beleaguered Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted he will rip up the Mercedes' car design for next year. The 51-year-old Austrian is under the biggest strain of his career to piece back together the threads of his once dominant outfit, and is at a loss to explain the extraordinarily poor performance in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton was 1min 3sec off winner Max Verstappen, while George Russell retired with engine failure. The Silver Arrows were way off the pace and only the sixth best team behind Red Bull, McLaren, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Alpine. Wolff said: 'A lot of change (is needed). We need a different car next year. And today proves that is the right thing to do.”
'At least we know that the trajectory of changing is right. It feels horrible for the whole team. And I wish we could start the new season concentrating on the new car. There is something fundamentally wrong mechanically. It's not a rear wing and it's not the car being slightly too high. Because we are talking a millimetre or two. That is performance but it is not the explanation for a total off-weekend.
‘Been more plasters we put on something not right’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...lly-wrong.html
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell humiliation confirmed after Brazilian Grand Prix result
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both suffered during the Brazilian Grand Prix as Mercedes struggled for pace.
14:33, Mon, Nov 6, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Mercedes’ miserable performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix means that Max Verstappen is now guaranteed to end the 2023 season with a points tally that is greater than that of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell combined. Hamilton could only manage a P7 finish in the sprint race on Saturday, even falling behind AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda before the chequered flag. Things got even worse for the seven-time world champion on Sunday as he dropped from third to eighth after the red flag restart.
Russell’s weekend was even more miserable than his team-mate's. The 25-year-old became agitated while stuck behind Hamilton during the early stages of the race before his form tailed off dramatically. He slumped to the outskirts of the top ten before an engine cooling issue forced the Mercedes crew to box the No.63 car and retire. This will add insult to injury for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who was left furious following their miserable weekend in Brazil. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race he said: “Inexcusable performance. There’s even no words for that.”
"That car finished second last week and the week before, and whatever we did to it was horrible. Lewis survived out there, but George, I can only feel for the two driving such a miserable thing. It shows how difficult the car is, it’s on a knife’s edge. You’ve got to develop that better for next year because it can’t be that within seven days you’re finishing on the podium, solid, with one of the two quickest cars, and then you’re nowhere and finishing eighth."
‘Humiliation’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-Grand-Prix
Mercedes and Ferrari progress hit setback after 'miserable' Brazilian Grand Prix
After the encouragement from Austin and Mexico, both teams had weekends to forget in Sao Paulo
6th November 2023, 04:41
Byron Young
The National
Wolff branded their sudden lack of form as “unacceptable” and “baffling”, saying Mercedes appeared to be racing on “three wheels not four” in their “miserable” car. Lewis Hamilton has predicted Max Verstappen’s staggering domination could continue for the next couple of years.
Hamilton’s analysis also rings true for Ferrari, who also suffered badly in Brazil. Having qualified on the front row, Charles Leclerc failed to make it to the start after a hydraulics failure pitched him into the barriers and teammate Carlos Sainz complained publicly about their troublesome clutch.
Bemoaning his misfortune, Leclerc joked he might detour before Vegas to the Christian religious site of Lourdes to try to turn his luck around. Such is Red Bull’s scorching pace under genius designer Adrian Newey, their nearest rivals in Brackley and Maranello are falling apart just when the foundations of next year’s challenge should be materialising.
‘Setback’;
https://www.thenationalnews.com/spor...an-grand-prix/
10 things we learned from the 2023 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix
PUBLISHEDNOV 6, 2023, 2:59 PM
AUTHORAlex Kalinauckas
Max Verstappen returned to sprint winning ways at the final much shorter event of 2023, following up his Austin sprint victory, after his surprise defeat to Oscar Piastri in the Qatar weekend’s first race. In Brazil, Verstappen quickly overcame the other McLaren of Lando Norris to earn his fourth sprint win of the year.
The weekend also included plenty of major news lines during the off-track moments – including surprise revelations about F1’s future tyres and the results of the recent US GP, plus a calendar contract extension for the Brazilian race. All that and more is included here in the pick of what we learned from F1's latest visit to Sao Paulo.
‘10 things we learned’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/1...prix/10543772/
Lando Norris equals unwanted F1 record with Brazilian Grand Prix podium
05 Nov 2023 9:30 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Lando Norris has joined Nick Heidfeld on the unwelcomed record of most F1 podiums without a win, following his P2 finish in Brazil. Norris was unable to turn his sprint pole into a victory on Saturday, but having been the only driver to show anywhere near enough pace to make the dominant Max Verstappen sweat, his prospects of a strong Brazilian Grand Prix showing were very high, even from P6 on the grid.
Lando Norris claims record-equalling 13th podium without win. For the sixth time in F1 2023, Norris took to the P2 podium step at Interlagos, while this marked the 13th Grand Prix podium in his career.
A first victory continues to elude Norris though, which has seen him join Heidfeld on 13 podiums without a win, an unwanted record in Formula 1. Heidfeld scored twelve of his podiums with Sauber, while his final F1 podium came in 2011 with Lotus-Renault.
‘Most F1 podiums without a win = 13’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-...podiums-no-win
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Ferrari make statement on Charles Leclerc after driver's Brazilian Grand Prix nightmare.
Ferrari have released a statement explaining that Charles Leclerc's formation lap incident was caused by a "loss of hydraulics supply", meaning he could do nothing to avoid hitting the barriers.
21:28, Sun, Nov 5, 2023
By Harry Smith
Charles Leclerc didn't even start the Brazilian Grand Prix as Ferrari endured an afternoon to forget at Interlagos. The Monegasque driver was meant to start the race from the front row alongside pole-sitter and eventual race winner Max Verstappen, but he never got the opportunity to see the green lights come on.
Leclerc was making his way around the Ferradura corner on the formation lap when he lost control of his SF-23, spinning into the barriers and out of the race in a shocking turn of events. Ferrari have since explained the cause of the incident, taking to the X social media platform to explain: "During the formation lap, Charles experienced an issue with one of our car systems which led to a loss of hydraulics supply, meaning he had no power steering and no gearbox command.
‘Ferrari make statement’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-Grand-Prix
Vasseur takes aim at social media over Leclerc crash: 'It's not his fault'
06 November 11:40AM
Author Fergal Walsh
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur has described the São Paulo Grand Prix as a “missed opportunity” following Charles Leclerc's non-start but admonished his driver of any blame. Leclerc was due to start on the front row alongside polesitter Max Verstappen and after a bold tyre strategy through the weekend aimed at maximising the race, Vasseur told media including RacingNews365.com: “It's very frustrating for Charles and for the team.”
“The issue also is that strategically over the weekend, we put all the effort into the long run to save tyres. We didn't put new tyres on for the Sprint and we didn't take the start [of the Grand Prix].”
“For sure it's frustrating, it was more than disappointing but I'm sure that he will be back we'll be focused on Vegas. It was not the Charles' fault at all that. Someone told me about social media, they were complaining about Charles but without the gearbox and the power steering, you can't do anything.“
'It's not his fault';
https://racingnews365.com/vasseur-ru...ercs-non-start
Electronics issue triggered Leclerc's Brazil F1 formation lap crash
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed that the Leclerc’s failure to get away from the accident scene had been caused by “the same issue, the system switched off the hydraulic and engine”.
11:38 Mon, 06 Nov 2023.
AUTHORAdam Cooper
Motorsport.com
"I went to the corner, I lost the power steering first, and then the engine cut off for safety reasons,” he explained. “And then the rear wheels locked up, and that made me spin.”
“So I had no control over the car to any point. Hydraulics, that is what I felt. But at the end, I don't think that is the issue, speaking with the engineers. We know what that is, but I cannot go too much into details.” Leclerc said he could have kept going as only his front wing was damaged in the accident if his electronics issue hadn't kept happening.
"I moved the car again. There was only the front wing that was damaged," he explained. "But apart from that, nothing else. I started again, I got the hydraulics for 15 seconds. But then exactly the same thing happened. I lost the hydraulics, and then the engine cuts off. And obviously, it was clear that I couldn't go forward anymore, because I went 20 metres."
‘Electronics issue’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/c...rash/10543508/
‘Why am I so unlucky?’ – Leclerc left devastated by formation lap failure in Brazil
06 November 2023
Formula One - Official Site
For the Monegasque, this latest failure was another blow in what has been an incredibly tough season. Starting from second on the grid and one of the few front runners still to have some fresh soft tyres in his locker, he had hoped to have a strong race. Instead, it all unravelled before the lights had even gone out.
“I turned into Turn 6, everything was fine and then as you can see, I basically lose the wheel because there is no power steering anymore, the steering wheel feels extremely stiff, then I go straight,” he said afterwards. “Then the engine stopped for safety reasons, which made the rear wheels lock, which made me spin. Then I touched the wall, I started to start the car again, I did 20 metres then exactly the same thing happened. So that’s it.”
Leclerc’s anguish was clear to see, the Monegasque driver holding his head in his hands in the cockpit. “Why the **** am I so unlucky, why the **** am I so unlucky?” he repeated down the radio to his race engineer, before climbing out of his cockpit and sitting on the wall, head bowed.
‘Why am I so unlucky?’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...nUuTkPLw9.html
LECLERC ADMITS 2023 IS ‘A SEASON TO FORGET’ WHILST SAINZ REFLECTS ON ‘MISSED OPPORTUNITY’ IN BRAZIL
2023 hasn't gone the way Charles Leclerc planned with him saying it's been a "season to forget" whilst Sainz hopes Ferrari can bounce back in Las Vegas
November 6, 2023
Abby Bathurst
FormulaNerds
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix was one to rue for Charles Leclerc after he failed to start the Grand Prix whilst Carlos Sainz reflects on the “missed opportunity” Ferrari had during the race. Speaking after his early retirement from the formation lap, Leclerc said: “I don’t know what to do anymore. Obviously, it’s been a season to forget. There’s been quite a few races where I felt I was on it and then for some reason or another it wasn’t the result I wanted on Sunday. And today’s part of that, so of course, the frustration is big today and it’s like this, now I need to get over it and focus on the last two races, which are still important.”
‘An eventful race’ for Sainz: The Spaniard had an “eventful” race having initially gone back a few places on the start, before being able to overtake those in front. Sainz was able to overtake both Mercedes drivers during the race, which was crucial for the Constructors’ Championship. LAP 37/71 Sainz picks off Hamilton in the run down to Turn 4 P6 for the Spaniard! #F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/9BfhjBZJ8S — Formula 1 (@F1) November 5, 2023
However, it wasn’t plain sailing for him as a clutch issue persisted all weekend. Speaking after the race, Sainz reflected on his race and the “missed opportunity” Ferrari had. He said: “Yeah, a bit of an eventful race. We had again a problem with the clutch in the two starts like yesterday in the Sprint. We’ve been struggling with this part all weekend.”
‘A SEASON TO FORGET’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/le...ity-in-brazil/
Leclerc frustrated with Brazilian fail but ‘I need to move on’
06/11/2023 at 15:06
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Charles Leclerc was dealt a bitter blow in Brazil when his car failed on the formation lap of the Sao Paulo GP, but the Ferrari charger says he needs to regroup and “move on”. “I'm annoyed because obviously, especially in the second part of the year I finally found the confidence with the car, and then you start second, you sacrifice a whole weekend for Sunday's race, you do six corners, and that's it.”
“So, I'm very frustrated for now but now I need to move on and obviously focus on the last two races, that's the best thing I can do as a driver.” Vasseur said that Ferrari will investigate the issue that befell the Leclerc, before setting off for next week’s round in Las Vegas. “Now, we have to stay calm to understand what has happened to avoid any issues in the future,” he said.
“I think the pace over the weekend was not that bad. We were in a good position today, and it is a missed opportunity because we were catching up with Mercedes a little bit over the weekend but with Charles on the front row with two sets of tyres, it could have been much better. We have still two attempts with Vegas and Abu Dhabi. Vegas could be a chaotic one and if we have the same pace as this weekend and Mercedes the same pace as this weekend, we have an opportunity.”
‘I need to move on’;
https://f1i.com/news/493067-leclerc-...o-move-on.html
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McLaren was gunning for Verstappen and Brazilian GP win – Stella.
McLaren set its sights on winning the Brazilian Grand Prix with Lando Norris but fell short as Red Bulls secured its 19th victory of the campaign while Norris had to settle for second place in Sao Paulo.
07 November 9:50AM
Author Fergal Walsh
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has explained how the team chucked everything it had at Max Verstappen after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix restart through Lando Norris. "I think certainly in terms of our approach, especially after the red flag, we wanted to win it,” Stella told media including RacingNews365.
"So we put, at the start, our best set of Softs on, we decided to start on a new set so that we could try and take the lead. From there, [we hoped to maybe] put Verstappen in an unusual position and see what we could do, maybe we can just cover any time he pits, and so on.”
“We couldn't take the lead at the start, we went very close to doing that on track [but could not]." Stella confirmed that McLaren tried all it could to reel in the Red Bull driver later in the race but was forced to concede defeat.
‘Gunning for Verstappen’;
https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-re...n-brazilian-gp
Verstappen: Norris early stint pace applied pressure in Brazil
11:23 Mon, 06 Nov 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Max Verstappen believes his route to victory in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix appeared easier from the outside than it was inside the cockpit of his Red Bull RB19 car. Verstappen aced two standing starts to be uncontested away from the line, but Lando Norris, who’d moved into second, maintained pace with the leader during the early stages.
Following one attempted overtaking manoeuvre on the seventh lap, Verstappen instantly pulled away out of DRS range to ultimately prevail over the McLaren by 8.2s. However, the reigning champion contends that the race was tougher than his winning margin suggested, citing how Norris was a match for him at the beginning of stints.
“I think it was good,” Verstappen said. “I mean, also, maybe it looks fully easy from the outside, but I think for most of every stint, Lando was matching my lap times. It was always like the last five to ten laps when it seemed like then, of course, we had better tyre deg. But yeah, the beginning of every stint, I definitely had to focus a lot and I couldn’t afford to make mistakes.”
“It looks fully easy from the outside”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...-in-brazil-gp/
Max Verstappen caught by surprise by ‘unexpected’ Lando Norris attack
05 Nov 2023 9:18 PM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Max Verstappen admitted he was caught on the hop by Lando Norris as the McLaren driver launched an attack early on in Brazil.
Opening up on how Norris had suddenly appeared on his gearbox as the duo started Lap 8, Max Verstappen told media how he had had to keep a close eye on Norris throughout the race as the McLaren’s pace proved enough to be a threat. “He suddenly closed a lot – I didn’t expect him to have a run into Turn 1!” he said.
“But yeah, I had to use my battery a bit for one lap, into [Turn] 1 and [Turn] 4 to defend and then I had to, of course, try and maintain that gap. But I think what also was very important at that stage of the stint was to really look after the tyres to make sure that you have a good lap to pit.”
‘Caught by surprise’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...nd-prix-attack
Norris says second is as good as he can get for time being
00:21 Mon, 06 Nov 2023
The Straits Times
As Norris pointed out, since the team brought a major upgrade to Austria in July he has scored more points than any driver other than Verstappen.
"Very good, couldn’t have gone much better, to be honest," said Norris of a race in which he seized second place into the first corner after starting sixth. P2 (second place) is as good as we can get nowadays and for the time being, but very happy for the rest of it."
Norris, who had started on pole position in Saturday's sprint race and also finished second, said there was no point where he felt Verstappen might leave the door open for him. "Max always seemed to have an answer to everything, which is a shame. But fair play to him, he drove a good race, so yeah, tough, with the wind conditions and everything but P2 is a good result," he said.
‘Second is as good as he can get’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...for-time-being
Norris: Verstappen Brazil GP pursuit ‘wasn’t worth the risk’
09:21 Mon, 06 Nov 2023
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Lando Norris believes a second overtaking attempt on Max Verstappen in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix “wasn’t worth the risk” of compromising his overall race.
Norris reckons he was capable of mounting another attack on Verstappen, but the prospect of being vulnerable to Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin deterred him.
“The opportunity to race against Max was only going to be for a few laps,” he said. “We weren’t going to find, all of a sudden, the pace we needed to compete against him for a whole race.”
‘Wasn’t worth the risk’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...orth-the-risk/
Lando Norris: McLaren have “plenty more to come” in 2024
November 6, 2023
By: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports
Lando Norris is very pleased with the progress at McLaren this year, revealing his optimism about the team’s chances for 2024. Speaking after the Brazilian GP, Lando Norris outlined his belief in McLaren for 2024:
“Since we bought this upgrade to Austria, I’ve been the second-highest-scoring driver on the grid… Considering we’re talking about fighting the Red Bull, I think it’s still a very, very good thing – what we’ve achieved this year. To go from where we were in Bahrain to getting close and talking about fighting a Red Bull, I think, are very good signs for us.”
“And we know we still have plenty more things to come next year. So I’m excited. Having that as a thought, it’s quite a faraway thought. I don’t want to think of that just now. There’s no point thinking of it until next year, but I’ll be optimistic, and I believe we can do it as a team.”
“Plenty more to come”;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...-come-in-2024/
Piastri accepts partial blame over costly start crash
06 November 10:00PM
Author Fergal Walsh
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Oscar Piastri has accepted he put himself at extra risk of contact on the opening lap of the São Paulo Grand Prix after a disappointing qualifying result.
McLaren repaired Piastri's car during the subsequent red flag period which allowed him back into the race, albeit a lap down on the rest of the field. “I hit the brakes for Turn 1 and then looked in the mirror,” Piastri told media including RacingNews365.com.
“I saw someone's tyre flying through the air and thought that didn't look very good. Sure enough, I got an impact after that, it's a shame. There was nothing I could have done.”
‘Partial blame’;
https://racingnews365.com/piastri-ac...ly-start-crash
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Fernando Alonso piles misery on Lewis Hamilton with Sergio Perez comments after Brazil GP.
Fernando Alonso may have performed heroics to pip Sergio Perez to third place at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but it was getting past Lewis Hamilton on the first lap that thrilled the Spaniard the most.
17:00, Mon, Nov 6, 2023
By Richard Garnett
Daily and Sunday Express
Two-time world champion Alonso has proved the doubters wrong this season by clocking up eight podium finishes for Aston Martin. The 42-year-old is currently fourth in the drivers' championship and now sits just 28 points behind Hamilton, who could only finish a disappointing eighth at Interlagos.
In a frantic finish to the race, Alonso finished just a tenth of a second ahead of Perez, but outscoring the Mexican's Red Bull was not the most satisfying part of the day for the Aston Martin man. As per the Mirror, Alonso said: "Obviously the last lap overtake was quite a lot of commitment. We were both just all-or-nothing in a few corners. But I think, to be honest, the most important overtake of the race was on Hamilton into turn four in lap one. That changed my race.”
‘Most important overtake of the race was on Hamilton’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...erez-Brazil-GP
Perez found ‘intense’ battle with Alonso ‘super enjoyable’ despite missing out on the podium
06 November 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Sergio Perez missed out on a top three finish in Sao Paulo by just 0.053s, as Fernando Alonso pipped him in a drag race across the finishing line. It was the perfect end to an epic battle that had been going on for many laps between the Red Bull and the Aston Martin, with the two racers giving it everything for that final podium slot.
It took until Lap 54 for Perez to get into DRS range of Alonso ahead, and the Mexican soon went for a move into Turn 1. But Alonso knew he was coming and took a wider line to cut back across the apex, preventing his rival from squeezing down the inside. That was the status quo for lap after lap, Perez harrying and Alonso defending for all he was worth.
But on the penultimate lap, the Mexican finally found a way past into Turn 1, and managed to almost break the DRS to ensure Alonso couldn’t return the favour into Turn 4. The Spaniard admitted that he thought his chance of a podium had gone, only for Perez to brake a fraction too late into Turn 1 on the final lap, giving Alonso a run into Turn 4 where he retook the position.
‘Super enjoyable’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...eyAPp3KHR.html
Trackside footage shows just how close Brazil GP finish was between Alonso & Perez
12:56 Mon, 06 Nov 2023.
By Mitchell Weaver
Give Me Sport
Alonso takes P3 just ahead of Perez in Brazil: On turn 4 of lap 71, Alonso had one last chance to use his DRS and attempt an overtake on Perez. The Spaniard made it look easy as he slipped round the outside of Perez, before making a brilliant defensive move on the next corner to keep his place. The two drivers then went on a pure sprint to the finish, leading to an epic finale that will go down as one of the highlights of the season.
As the two drivers made it down the final stretch to the checkered flag, Perez had time to catch up and get alongside the Aston Martin, with the nose of Alonso's car just making it over the line ahead of the Red Bull. The official time between the two drivers would go on to be confirmed as +0.053, making this one of the closest finishes the sport has seen, and providing an exhilarating finish for fans who have not had too much drama to cheer about this season.
‘Exhilarating finish for fans’;
https://www.givemesport.com/tracksid...-alonso-perez/
‘Well deserved’: Sergio Perez seriously impressed with ‘intense’ driver during Brazilian GP
18:07 Mon, 06 Nov 2023.
F1 Oversteer
Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez was full of praise for Aston Martin star Fernando Alonso after their intense battle in Brazil. Perez was speaking to the press after narrowly missing out on a much-needed podium on the final lap.
Perez hails Alonso after Brazil race: Speaking about their encounter in the final laps, Perez said: “It was quite an intense battle. We tried everything. Unfortunately, we didn’t succeed on that, but it was well deserved for Fernando. I think we had a great fight, very fair and to the limit. I think this is something that a lot of drivers can learn from because what we did, the way we fought today, is how it should be done. I’m in the wrong side, I end up losing but it’s fine because it was a great fight.”
“We’ve seen in the last couple of races that the pace has been there, that we’ve been really strong, and for some reason or another we haven’t been able to get the final end result, but I just know that it’s a matter of time.” Martin Brundle praised Perez’s overtaking in Brazil and he did get the better of Alonso on the penultimate lap. But the Aston Martin’s straight-line speed and the Mexican getting slightly out of shape going into turn one on the final lap was all the 42-year-old needed to retake third.
‘Sergio Perez was full of praise for Aston Martin star Fernando Alonso’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ser...-brazilian-gp/
Alonso “cannot wait” to tackle final races in rejuvenated Aston Martin
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on 7th November 2023, 0:01
Written by Ida Wood
Aston Martin claimed their second biggest points haul of the past three seasons in last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, and Alonso believes more of the same is possible after they turned around their mid-season slump in form. “I was a little bit concerned, no doubt, for the last few races and maybe the final part of the championship,” he admitted. “Now I cannot wait to go to Vegas. So it’s a very different energy when you have a performing car.”
After taking the final podium place by five hundredths of a second in Brazil, Alonso conceded a repeat may not be on the cards in the final two races, but he believes they will be “at least closer than Mexico” where they had failed to contend for points the week prior. “I think there are a couple of things that have been understood inside the team and the direction to go,” he said. “We had some hopes for this race and they proved to be right. And now, why not to be competitive in the last two?”
“Cannot wait”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/07/...nd-up-07-11-6/
-
'We both want the best': Verstappen and Lambiase on their 'fiery' Red Bull F1 partnership.
Max Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase have shared a few harsh words over the course of the 2023 season — even in the midst of overwhelming dominance.
November 8th 2023
Author: Cambridge Kisby
Motor Sport Magazine
In 2016, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collided at Catalunya‘s Turn 4, spilling both title-challengers into a gravel trap and out of the Spanish Grand Prix. With the dominant duo on the sidelines, a rare opportunity beckoned for a non-Mercedes win and the young Max Verstappen, in his debut race for Red Bull, seized it with both hands.
Guided by his own natural talent and, for the first time, the experienced voice of race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, the Dutchman fended off challenges from team-mate Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari‘s Kimi Raikkonen to claim his first F1 victory.
Seven years on from that auspicious day and Verstappen is now a three-time world champion, having claimed his 17th grand prix victory of the season in Brazil (and the 52nd win of his career so far). Through it all, Lambiase — known as GP — has remained a constant presence in his ear.
'We both want the best';
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
Lambiase opens up about Verstappen: 'Max is my little brother'
08 November 6:00PM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365
Lambaise: We've had a few ups and downs: Although Verstappen won his first race on debut with Red Bull, it did not bring instant success as the team struggled to match the might of Mercedes. "In 2018, 2019, and 2020 when the car wasn't quite as competitive as the team would have liked, especially for Max," Lambiase recalled.
"At that point you can see his frustration coming through already that he wasn't able to compete for the championships at that point. We had a few ups and downs I would say in that period; the middle, third, fourth, fifth year. But since 2021 - which was so intense - the relationship and the bond was cemented that year."
'Max is my little brother';
https://racingnews365.com/lambiase-o...little-brother
Ex-F1 racer Jolyon Palmer dissects the thrilling Alonso-Perez battle for P3 from a driver’s POV
08 November 2023
Former F1 Driver
Jolyon Palmer
Formula One - Official Site
Until the penultimate lap Alonso hadn’t had to cover the inside, but you could see him constantly scanning his mirrors, sizing up where Perez was. Finally the Mexican deployed as much energy as he could and grabbed an opportunity into Turn 1. Alonso covered a bit late and a bit half-heartedly and it looked like the move was done. After a dozen laps of stalking, the faster car had finally gobbled up it’s prey.
But that wasn't the end of the story – not with Alonso in this mood. Perez knew it as well and it was a mixture of his late race angst, Alonso’s driving and reputation that gave the Spaniard a chance to fight back against the odds. As Perez came through, Alonso was close enough to fight back into Turn 4 without looking seriously like re-passing.
Crucially the 42 year old kept harassing the back of the Red Bull for the next corners as well, making Perez drive in his mirrors, defensively through the fast Turns 6 and 7 of Ferradura, where it’s notoriously difficult to follow, as well as making the Mexican jink late to the inside to cover the inside of the next slower right.
‘Thrilling Alonso-Perez battle’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...fytdVbmTn.html
Perez on Alonso duel: “With 95% of the field, I would’ve crashed”
November 7, 2023
By: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports
Sergio Perez believes Fernando Alonso is one of the few drivers who can race wheel-to-wheel at the very limit in F1. Moreover, he explained post-race that very few drivers could have sustained such a duel:
“Slowly but surely, we got closer to Alonso until the end,” he told Spanish outlets at Interlagos. In truth, it was a really fun race. Because [I was] fighting with a driver like Alonso at the limit – I think with 95% of the grid, I would’ve crashed. But with Fernando, you can have these kinds of battles – and they are always entertaining.”
It is no surprise that Perez and Alonso have such respect for each other. Over ten years ago at the Malaysian GP, the two drivers battled for victory at the Sepang circuit. On that occasion, it was the Spaniard who secured the race win for Ferrari.
“With 95% of the field, I would’ve crashed”;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...uldve-crashed/
HORNER ADMITS ‘THIS IS THE CHECO THAT WE KNOW’ AFTER ‘CONFIDENCE’ BOOSTING DRIVE FOR PEREZ IN BRAZIL
Christian Horner has stated that Perez's strong drive at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix "was important for his confidence"
November 8, 2023
Oliver Brindle
FormulaNerds
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has claimed that it was a “very strong weekend” for Sergio Perez at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix despite losing out on a podium on the final lap. Despite this late knockback, Horner confirmed that he was impressed by Perez’s drive and was pleased with the 12-point gap he had gained on his Drivers’ Championship rival Lewis Hamilton.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Horner said: “I thought he drove brilliantly well, he had a little bit of a wobble at [turn] two, which allowed Fernando, who was pretty quick on the straights today, to have a go. He did his best to hang on to it though.”
“But I think for Checo to outscore Lewis [Hamilton] by 12 points this weekend, it’s been a very strong weekend for him. A third in the sprint, fourth from ninth on the grid with the yellow flag he got in qualifying. I think there’s been very good points for him.”
‘THIS IS THE CHECO THAT WE KNOW’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ho...rez-in-brazil/
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Pierre Gasly: Sao Paulo GP ‘one of our best races of the season’.
Pierre Gasly fought his way up from 15th on the grid to P7 in the race at Interlagos and was extremely pleased at his progress after the final lap.
05 Nov 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘One of our best races of the season’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...494633330.html
OCON REVEALS FRUSTRATIONS AMIDST GASLY’S SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX JUBILATION
The Alpine teammates secured a double-point finish in Brazil, with Pierre Gasly finishing P7 ahead of Esteban Ocon in P10
November 7, 2023
Rhiannon Temporal
FormulaNerds
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend saw a mixture of fortunes for the Alpine duo. Both drivers were eliminated in Q2 during qualifying for the Grand Prix. While Esteban Ocon was involved in a major crash during the sprint shootout. His collision with Fernando Alonso saw the Frenchman drop out of the first part of the session, with Pierre Gasly then out in SQ2.
‘FRUSTRATIONS’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/oc...ix-jubilation/
‘Incredible’: 27-year-old F1 driver admits he sacrificed qualifying in Brazil for Sunday’s race
12:06 Tue, 07 Nov 2023.
F1 Oversteer
Gasly hails qualifying set-up for Brazil success: Speaking about his display in Sao Paulo, Gasly said: “It was an incredible race, I’m very happy with the work as a team we have done this weekend. “We purposely decided to compromise the car set-up a bit for qualifying to improve our chances to race and have a bit more straight-line speed.
“And from P15, made up eight positions, managed to you know get in that group with Carlos, with the Mercedes, with Aston for quite a while, yeah, one of our best races of the season. Good tyre management, good pit stops, good strategy. Strong team race overall with Esteban in P10 and me P7 so very positive.”
Gasly will hope that Alpine can produce a car next year that doesn’t require him to sacrifice qualifying pace like he did in Brazil to compete during races. The team are the definition of mid-table right now and will hope they can replicate McLaren’s resurgence this season to fight at the front of the grid. They’ve got to make sure the team go in that direction and don’t get caught up in the fight between the bottom four teams instead.
‘Sacrificed qualifying’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/27-...-sundays-race/
Gasly backs 'compromised' Alpine plan on 'strongest weekend'
08 November 7:45PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Gasly supportive of Alpine 'compromise': "It was one of our best races of the year," Gasly told media including RacingNews365 after the team elected to opt for a skinny rear-wing set-up for the race.”
"I had two very, very strong starts, I managed to pass cars on both occasions and on the second start, I was able to get up the gearbox of [Carlos] Sainz. For pretty much the whole race, I was keeping up with Sainz, the Aston Martins in front and the Mercedes as well and we managed to make the two-stop work with good tyre management.”
"I passed George [Russell] and Lewis [Hamilton] on the race-track and in the end, I was lapping like a tenth away from Carlos. I'm very happy because we were struggling a lot on this track since we arrived. We knew that it was a compromise, we accepted it, and missed Q3 by four-tenths, and that is what we were seeing from the [data].”
‘Gasly supportive of Alpine compromise';
https://racingnews365.com/gasly-back...ongest-weekend
Gasly: Brazil GP recovery ‘one of our best races of the year’
15:01 Tue, 07 Nov 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Pierre Gasly was thrilled by his recovery to seventh place in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, hailing it “one of our best races of the year” amid a tough weekend for the Alpine team.
“I think it was one of our best races of the year to be fair,” Gasly reflected. “It was two very, very strong starts. Managed to pass cars on both occasions and [the] second start I managed to get in the gearbox of Sainz and pretty much the whole race I was, you know, keeping up with Sainz, the Aston in front, the Mercedes I had as well.”
“And we managed to make the two-stop work, good tyre management, good pit stop, pass George [Russell] and pass Lewis [Hamilton] on the race track and in the end I was managing to lap like a tenth from Carlos in the whole race. So I’m very, very happy, especially because we’ve been struggling a lot on this track since we arrived. So one of the best performances.”
‘Thrilled by recovery to seventh place’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...s-of-the-year/
‘Inside the team’: F1 journalist says mood inside ‘chaotic’ F1 team has really improved this Season…
09:37 Wed, 08 Nov 2023.
F1 Oversteer
The mood at Formula 1 team Alpine has improved during 2023 after widespread changes were made midway through the season. Journalist Frederic Ferret has shared the latest he’s heard from within the French outfit as the F1 season comes to an end.
The final two races of the season could earn plenty of teams in the paddock tens of millions of pounds if they pick up some positive results. Mercedes and Ferrari are fighting to finish runners-up to Red Bull and it’s still all to play for between McLaren and Aston Martin.
The bottom four teams are separated by just 16 points and there’s a huge difference in prize money between finishing seventh and last. There are only two teams who have nothing to play for in the Constructors’ Championship. Red Bull have more than doubled the points tally of Mercedes and Max Verstappen would be leading the standings on his own at this stage.
‘Mood inside ‘chaotic’ F1 team has really improved this Season’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/moo...d-this-season/
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Tsunoda: ‘P16 to P9 is still good… but I could have done more’.
Yuki Tsunoda drove a strong race in Brazil, making his way from 16th on the grid up to the points and P9 – though he said afterwards he could have done even better had he not had to manage an engine issue on his AlphaTauri.
05 Nov 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘P16 to P9 is still good’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...960589191.html
Yuki Tsunoda adds more Mercedes pain with Lewis Hamilton feedback
06 Nov 2023 7:30 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Yuki Tsunoda believes passing Lewis Hamilton would have been within reach in Brazil, had he not experienced car issues late on. But having had seven-time World Champion Hamilton in his sights late on, he felt frustrated to have not been able to mount a challenge.
“Yeah, I would say so,” Tsunoda said when asked if he was pleased with his performance in Sao Paulo. Definitely I could have done more, but yeah, sorry for the team. Also in the end I wasn’t able to push [to the] maximum for several reasons. But yeah, overall, I mean, P16 to P9 is still good. Well done to the team, I think it’s also unfortunate for Daniel that he had also been off on his side, we would have scored points.”
When asked what problems befell his car, he did not want to reveal too many secrets, but felt that the issue stopped him from piling more misery on Mercedes by pushing Hamilton further down the order come the chequered flag.
‘Experienced car issues late on’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/yuki-t...on-pain-brazil
Tsunoda 'sorry' he couldn't score more points in Brazil as AlphaTauri look to chase down Williams
08 November 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Yuki Tsunoda’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend brought some much needed points to AlphaTauri, as the racer finished P6 in the Sprint and P9 in the race itself. But despite those positive results, Tsunoda was still left believing he could have done more to help cement his team’s place higher up the standings.
With eyes now firmly fixed on chasing down Williams one place above – only seven points separating the teams in a congested area of the constructors’ standings – Tsunoda felt he could have helped narrow that gap even further in Brazil. “I’m happy for scoring points, but I definitely could’ve done more,” said Tsunoda. “I made a mistake in Turn 10, which caused me to lose one position, so I’m really sorry to the team.”
“I think more was possible, especially as we were managing some reliability issues that we’ll look into. It’s such a shame about Daniel as well because he was also really fast. I think we both could’ve scored points today. Looking at the positives, starting P16 and ending up P9 shows the strong pace of the car and that we’ve definitely made a big step in the last races since we introduced the upgrades in Austin.”
AlphaTauri look to chase down Williams’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...LVwYMMVCo.html
‘Like taking candy from a baby’: Sky commentators very impressed with ‘feisty’ driver in Brazil …
Paulo Grand Prix
Mon 6 November 2023 19:30
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda had one of his best weekends of the season in Brazil, scoring points for in both races this weekend. Commentating on Sunday’s race for Sky Sports F1, David Croft and Martin Brundle were both impressed with the young Japanese driver.
Watching the 23-year-old at Interlagos, Martin Brundle said: “This looks a bit feisty doesn’t it?” David Croft added: “Doesn’t it just? Yuki Tsunoda on Valtteri Bottas, it’s like taking candy from a baby that one. Yuki Tsunoda up to tenth place as the AlphaTauri gets past the Alfa Romeo after they started the race on level points.”
Tsunoda should have added to his points tally before arriving in Brazil with AlphaTauri looking very fast in Mexico City. Unfortunately, contact with Oscar Piastri saw him spin out and he could only recover to 12th on that occasion.
‘Like taking candy from a baby’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fei...lo-grand-prix/
‘We could have got a lot of points’ – Ricciardo rues getting hit by debris from Lap 1 crash.
05 Nov 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Daniel Ricciardo was hit by a flying tyre from the crash involving Kevin Magnussen and Alex Albon on the first lap in Sao Paulo.
‘Hit by a flying tyre’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...388250973.html
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Williams ‘just not quick enough’ to pick up points in Brazil – Sargeant.
Logan Sergeant just missed out on points in Sao Paulo, finishing in P11 – but he said after the race he just didn’t have the speed to finish any higher.
05 Nov 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Just not quick enough’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...992943155.html
Alex Albon’s dig at ‘traffic makers’ Haas after ‘big’ Brazil Grand Prix crash
06 Nov 2023 11:00 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Alex Albon says he is fine after a heavy shunt on the opening lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix, a racing incident triggered by the “backstop” Haas teammates. Lining up 15th on the grid, Albon made yet another flying start and looked to challenge the Haas teammates around the outside on the run-up to Turn 1.
Momentarily three abreast, Kevin Magnussen moved to the right to get a better line into the corner and tagged Nico Hulkenberg who in turn crashed into Albon. Hitting the rear left of the Williams, which pitched Albon to the right and he then speared into Magnussen’s VF-23 before sliding off the track at speed and into the barrier.
‘Traffic makers’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/alex-a...ilian-gp-crash
Alex Albon blameless in Brazilian GP crash, with Hulkenberg claiming he wanted a kiss
Three cars failed to make the first turn at Interlagos, including Albon
November 6, 2023
By Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Alex Albon says he felt he couldn’t do any more in an opening lap 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix crash that involved himself, Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen at Interlagos.
Hulkenberg made contact with both cars but managed to continue, but Albon and Magnussen‘s races were over before they even managed to get through Turn 1 leaving the Thai-British driver frustrated about the situation.
“Both cars attracted to me,” Hulkenberg said to press. “They wanted to come and give me a kiss, and they got to kiss. I think they don’t come again. There was minor damage on my car, which were able to repair in the red flag, but it was a shame because we lost the new set of soft tyres. Soft tyres were very handy today, they were almost definitely by far the best tyre to be on.”
‘They got to kiss. I think they don’t come again’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...g-wanted-kiss/
Albon: Being ‘number one’ on race starts factor in Brazil GP crash
17:03 Tue, 07 Nov 2023.
by Sam Tomlinson
Motorsport Week
Alex Albon has rued that making the ‘number one’ start amongst the Formula 1 field contributed to his crash with Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen on Lap 1 of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
“The last three races, so Mexico, the sprint race yesterday and today, we’ve been number one on starts,” Albon told Motorsport.com when asked about the race ending incident. “We’ve had very good starts, three in a row now. Sometimes it works for you like it did in Mexico. And sometimes it works against you, like it did here today.”
‘Number one’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...azil-gp-crash/
Albon laments first corner exit as rivals gain ground on Williams
07 November 9:30PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Alex Albon believes Williams opened the door for "championship rivals" to reel it in over the fight for seventh in the Constructors' following his first lap DNF in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Williams currently has 28 points, to AlphaTauri's 21, but Albon believes a chance was opened for the Faenza-based team to capitalise after the crash.
AlphaTauri is Williams' nearest challenger, with Yuki Tsunoda going onto bank two points for a ninth-place finish, coupled with the three he scored in the Sprint for a five-point haul. It moved the team onto 21 points, seven behind Williams with just two rounds remaining in the season.
‘Albon laments first corner exit’;
https://racingnews365.com/albon-lame...nd-on-williams
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United States Grand Prix result unchanged as FIA rejects Haas’ call for review.
Haas have failed in their attempt to have the FIA review the results of the United States Grand Prix.
Formula 1
Posted on 9th November 2023, 15:03
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans
The team petitioned the governing body of Formula 1 to reconsider the result of last month’s race using a ‘Right of Review’ request. However after considering the team’s request, the stewards decided Haas had not supplied any new evidence which met the standard required for a review to take place. The hearing, which was held via videoconference, began yesterday and was adjourned until today in order to give the stewards time to independently consider Haas’ submissions.
Representatives of Red Bull, Aston Martin and Williams were summoned to attend the hearing. Ferrari and McLaren also sent representatives. Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen finished 11th and 14th respectively in the race, which took place at the Circuit of the Americas. The team claimed the stewards did not to take into account track limits infringements by rival drivers and therefore failed to issue penalties which would have promoted one or both of their drivers into points-scoring places.
‘Result unchanged’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/11/09/...ll-for-review/
Our verdict on Haas's 'utterly futile' US GP appeal
Nov 10, 2023
The Race
The fact a four-and-a-half-page document was necessary to in no uncertain terms reject a Haas petition for a right of review of the United States Grand Prix result rather neatly summed up what a waste of time this particular process was.
Haas's case seemed to be based almost entirely on physical evidence of track-limits offences that stewards had previously noted was available but could not be acted on, so it was little surprise that the overwhelming majority of it was not deemed to reach the threshold of significant, new, and relevant information.
“Haas's case was a non-starter” Scott Mitchell-Malm.
“Could this have been dismissed sooner?” Ben Anderson.
“Frivolous appeals like Haas's need a deterrent” Glenn Freeman.
“An awkward process for a barely tangible outcome” Edd Straw.
‘Our verdict’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...ile-f1-appeal/
US Grand Prix result will not change as FIA reject Haas review despite 'clear evidence'
Haas boss Guenther Steiner is adamant that there was enough evidence to change the final race result.
15:17, Thu, Nov 9, 2023
By Charlie Gordon
Daily and Sunday Express
The FIA have rejected Haas' petition for right of review concerning the United States Grand Prix result. Team principal Guenther Steiner believes that there is 'clear evidence' which would have landed Alex Albon with a time penalty and promoted Nico Hulkenberg into the points.
Steiner and co were pursuing the case relating to Albon repeatedly violating track limits at Circuit of the Americas. The Williams star finished ninth despite being hit with a five-second time penalty, but with Haas' Hulkenberg only three seconds behind in 11th, another punishment of the same magnitude would have bumped him up into the points at Albon's expense.
However, for the case to be heard by the FIA, Haas had to convince F1's governing body that there was new information unavailable at the time Albon was initially let off the hook - which the team have ultimately failed to do.
‘FIA reject Haas review’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ner-alex-albon
FIA rejects Haas US GP track limits Right of Review
09/11/2023 at 17:11
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
The FIA has dismissed the Haas team’s Right of Review over alleged track limit infringements at last month’s US GP in Austin. However, the governing body’s stewards have called for a solution to be found for 2024.
Haas claimed that it had new evidence – onboard footage – proving its case, with Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll singled out as offenders. Initially, the FIA had recognized that the position of the CCTV cameras monitoring the action at Turn 6 did not provide a clear view of the alleged track limit transgressions.
The stewards there opted to delete the corner altogether from their monitoring. This justification was frowned upon by Haas, with the team subsequently petitioning the FIA for a review. The virtual hearing which was initially started on Wednesday but adjourned to Thursday included team managers from Haas, Red Bull, Williams, and Aston Martin, along with representatives from Ferrari and McLaren.
‘Dismissed’;
https://f1i.com/news/493233-fia-reje...of-review.html
Stewards Reject Haas F1 Team's Protest of U.S. Grand Prix Results
Stewards call for FIA to address growing number of track limit issues in Formula 1.
NOV 9, 2023
BY PHILLIP HORTON
AutoWeek
Haas’ petition for a right of review into the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix result has been rejected—but stewards have clamored for a solution to track limits issues ahead of the 2024 season.
“The evidence available to the Stewards (both then and now) was not sufficient to accurately and consistently (meaning for every car in every lap) penalize any (track limit) breaches occurring at the apex of Turn 6. Track limit infringements are almost universally enforced based on principal video evidence from a fixed CCTV camera of adequate resolution positioned to clearly see a car’s position in relation to the track limit boundary,” read the note from the stewards on Thursday.
‘Rejected’;
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/form...as-f1-protest/
FIA Haas ruling piles more scrutiny on an F1 policing flaw
Nov 9, 2023
by Jack Cozens
The Race
Haas's bid to have the United States Grand Prix result reviewed might have been picked apart by the FIA, but it might still achieve something else.
That's because it has piled more scrutiny on a Formula 1 track-limits system that is unfit for purpose - the US GP stewards having acknowledged in their decision to reject the Haas case that the "inability" to enforce and police track limits to the desired standard is "completely unsatisfactory".
‘Piling on more scrutiny’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f...nsatisfactory/
FIA stewards’ decision on Haas USGP right of review rejection in full
Friday 10th November, 2023 - 3:02am
By Speedcafe.com
Speedcafe
It was an unsurprising decision by the United States Grand Prix stewards to categorically reject Haas’ right of review into the track limits breaches that occurred during the race at Circuit of the Americas.
As noted by the stewards, there are a number of “high-bar” precedents, so Haas knew it faced a tough ask in attempting to get a full hearing.
If it was Haas’ intention at the outset, then the team has won a moral victory, of sorts, given the stewards have demanded “rapid solutions” are sought to ongoing track limits breaches at numerous venues on the calendar, calling for them to be in place ahead of next season.
‘Here is the stewards’ decision in full [1 – 30 points]’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/11/10...ision-in-full/
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F1 team to scrap 2023 design after tough season.
Alfa Romeo have announced that it will abandon its current concept and build a 'completely new car' for the 2024 season.
Friday 10 November 2023 11:27
Edward Hardy
Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi acknowledged the limitations of the current C43 concept, stating, "We simply miss some performance during the race. We need to investigate and to understand this because this has been a recurring problem during this season."
He further elaborated on the team's analysis, emphasising the need for technical solutions to address the issues. "It's not a matter of car balance; it's the overall package that we need to improve.
“We are lacking grip, especially in high-speed corners. This has been one of our weakness points this season." The change in direction comes as Alfa Romeo transitions away from its current title sponsor into the Audi Formula 1 team, set to hit the grid in the 2026 season.
‘F1 team to scrap 2023 design’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...uanyu-new-car/
Alfa Romeo plan for ‘completely brand new’ 2024 F1 car
13:20 Thu, 09 Nov 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Alfa Romeo Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi has revealed it will construct a “completely new car” for 2024 to resolve its current limitations. “We simply miss some performance during the race,” he acknowledged in Brazil. “We need to investigate and to understand this, because this has been a recurring problem during this season, where we have been alternatively quick in qualifying and the race and vice versa.”
“So, this is part of the analysis that we need to do, and where we need to go through the car understanding for next season, because I don’t think that this situation will change if we are not able to fix, with proper technical solutions, this problem.”
“It’s not a matter of car balance, it’s the overall package that we need to improve,” he added. “We are lacking grip, especially in high-speed corners. This has been one of our weakness points this season.”
‘Plan for completely brand new 2024 F1 car’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...w-2024-f1-car/
Sauber to design ‘completely new’ car for 2024 F1 season
10:01 Thu, 09 Nov 2023.
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
Read Motorsport
Sauber says it will roll out a “completely new” car ahead of its first season without Alfa Romeo’s backing next year. Despite earning its highest finish in the constructors’ championship in the V6 hybrid era in 2022, Alfa Romeo has slipped backwards this year and currently sits ninth in the standings.
The Hinwil-based squad recently welcomed back James Key, who returns as its new technical director following his departure from McLaren earlier this year. Key is already lending his expertise to Sauber’s 2024 challenger, which team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi confirmed would be a brand new design as it believes it cannot exploit the current concept any further.
“First of all, we are really happy about having James on board,” said Alunni Bravi, as quoted by RaceFans. “He started the first week of September, so he’s also contributing to next year’s car, to our C44 car. We reviewed completely the project together with him. Thanks to his experience we went through an in-depth analysis of all the areas of the car, taking decisions.”
‘Recently welcomed back James Key’;
https://readmotorsport.com/2023/11/0...024-f1-season/
Bottas suspects water pressure issue behind Brazil retirement
11:08 Tue, 07 Nov 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Valtteri Bottas suspects a water pressure issue on his Alfa Romeo car was behind his early retirement from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Starting 18th, Bottas capitalised on Charles Leclerc’s car failing on the formation lap and a collision on the run to Turn 1 impacting several drivers to gain six positions.
The Finnish driver was running in an encouraging 12th place when his race engineer, Alex Chan, informed him to return to the pitlane to retire the car on Lap 41. Having been involved in a close battle with Esteban Ocon, who eventually ended up 10th, Bottas believes Alfa Romeo squandered an opportunity to score some vital points.
Asked what the reason was for his abrupt exit, Bottas replied: “I don’t know, actually. I was told that I had to stop the car, so I did it, but I don’t know what the issue yet.” He added: “I think the water temperatures, the water pressure started to a level where they shouldn’t be, so there was something clearly wrong. We need to investigate what happened to both cars, but it’s a real shame, because today we really had a good pace.”
‘Water pressure issue’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...il-retirement/
F1 boss insists huge manufacturer WILL enter the sport
Monday 6 November 2023 15:57
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Alfa Romeo team representative, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, has reassured the public that Audi is committed to entering F1 in 2026. The German manufacturer will take over the entry currently run by Sauber in 2026, with Alfa Romeo as a brand leaving the team at the end of the 2023 season.
Audi is planning to offer some support to Sauber in 2025 to prepare the team for the new regulations but a few rumours surrounding a potential exit before they joined had emerged. Alunni Bravi moved to quash those doubts with Alfa Romeo's current involvement making communication with the public a challenge.
"Audi has a strong commitment to Formula 1 and, of course together with Sauber, this commitment comes from a decision not only of the board of Audi but also the advisory board of Audi and the Supervisory Board of Audi/Volkswagen," he said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
‘Huge manufacturer WILL enter the sport’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-manufacturer/
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POLE POSITION: Toto Wolff's finger-pointing has become a symptom of Mercedes' decline after the team hit a new low at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
“I wonder, however, whether he didn’t chuck the team under the bus in the remarks he made there and on Sky. ‘Unacceptable,’ was one adjective he used.” Jonathan McEvoy for MailOnline
Published: 23:51, 9 November 2023
By Jonathan McEvoy for MailOnline
Mail Online
Toto Wolff wasn’t going to do his published media routine after the sporting nightmare that unfolded in the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend. He did an interview on Sky Sports with Ted Kravitz in the Mercedes hospitality area, explaining why Lewis Hamilton had finished a regrettable 1min 3sec behind winner Max Verstappen and George Russell retired with engine failure while ailing in 11th.
That was going to be that. It was asserted by his PR team that, because the race had over-run, he was busy in the debrief. He declined his usual Sky Germany duties as a result. One guessed that Toto, who is usually accommodating in his media briefings, was sore about the fact Mercedes were only the sixth best team of the afternoon.
Red Bull, McLaren, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Alpine were all ahead of them. Indeed, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly swept past both Hamilton and Russell as if they weren’t there. Anyway, he relented and did speak in one press briefing
‘Chuck the team under the bus in the remarks he made!’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rand-Prix.html
Toto Wolff responds to Lewis Hamilton laughing at F1 team order after George Russell moan
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were involved in eye-catching radio exchanges with their respective Mercedes race engineers as the team suffered a horrible weekend in Brazil
07:11 Wed, 08 Nov 2023.
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
And Russell's mood had not improved by the 17th lap when he was asked by race engineer Ricardo Musconi to manage his tyres. "Do you want me to race or concede positions? With more management, I will go backwards," was his snappy retort.
And he was no more happy when, later in the race, he was sat on the gearbox of the slower-moving Hamilton unhappy that no order had been given for them to switch positions. "I haven't been on the radio because I thought it was quite obvious about the pace," was his message, dripping with sarcasm.
Later, when Hamilton's race engineer Pete Bonnington asked his driver to "use the tyres now", the seven-time world champion's response was to laugh. He then replied: "I have been for the last five laps, dude," both drivers clearly not happy with their tyre degradation and lack of pace.
‘Eye-catching radio exchanges’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...ssell-31387017
‘Dire’ Mercedes situation under question after Toto Wolff’s ‘emotional’ reaction
08 Nov 2023 5:00 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Mercedes’ dramatic result in Brazil led to an “emotional reaction” from Toto Wolff but Naomi Schiff and Damon Hill wonder if it’s as dire as the team boss out.
A visibly distressed Wolff launched a scathing attack on Mercedes’ W14 after a wretched weekend in Brazil in which the car suffered from drag and understeer, and destroyed its tyres.
After Lewis Hamilton, the only one of the teammates to complete the Grand Prix, did so more than a minute down on race winner Max Verstappen, Wolff’s tirade went from “horrible” to “miserable” to “this car doesn’t deserve a win”.
‘Visibly distressed Wolff’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/merced...eaction-brazil
Wolff ‘baffled’ by ‘nasty surprise box’ Mercedes
Saturday 11th November, 2023 - 10:36pm
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Toto Wolff has described the performance by Mercedes over the course of last weekend’s São Paulo Grand Prix as “a nightmare” that has left him baffled. Wolff has made clear there will be a fundamental redesign of a car Hamilton cannot wait to see the back of, and with the team boss already wishing it was the start of the 2024 campaign.
Wolff was at least able to point to other anomalies this season with competitors’ cars, such as Aston Martin’s dip in form with its AMR23 that gave Fernando Alonso six podiums in the first eight races, or Red Bull’s at-odds weekend in Singapore, the only blemish on Verstappen’s run of 15 wins in the last 16 grands prix.
Conversely, McLaren has gone the other way, from a car that was “not making it out of Q1 sometimes”, said Wolff, to one that is “now hunting Max”. “It (the car) is sometimes a nasty surprise box for all of us,” suggested Wolff, whose team “got it probably as bad as some of the other teams got it”.
‘Nasty surprise box’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/11/11...lo-gp-baffled/
Toto Wolff doubles down on Mercedes criticism after ‘worst weekend in 13 years’
11 Nov 2023 12:45 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Toto Wolff has said that Mercedes’ Brazilian Grand Prix woes were “just not on”, admitting they “didn’t look like a solid team” at Interlagos. Speaking to media post-race, Wolff did not keep his words soft nor sweet on a “baffling” Mercedes performance, one which left them not looking like a “solid team.”
“Totally baffling,” he said. “At the same time, unacceptable for all of us. We are a proper structure, solid team. And that didn’t look like a solid team today. Interestingly, that within three consecutive races, you’re finishing strong second in both of them, challenging Max and then a week later, you’re ending up nowhere. And I believe this is just not on.”
“TOTO: Totally baffling”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...mercedes-worst
Toto Wolff's wages suffer huge drop as Mercedes' F1 problems take their toll
Mercedes aren't profiting on the track the same way they are off of it.
11:14, Sat, Nov 11, 2023
By George Glinski
Daily and Sunday Express
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suffered a huge drop in wages in 2022. The Austrian's salary was cut in half last year as problems on the track continue to take their toll. According to Business F1, Mercedes have brought in £466.3million in revenue during the course of 2022, up 25 per cent on 2021, making them the most financially successful team on the grid.
Just over half of their revenue, £238m, comes from sponsors and licence fees while £139.9m is accumulated through prize money and £88.3m is earned via other activities outside of F1. Yet Wolff's annual salary has taken a nose dive from £6.7m a year to £3.5m.
Luckily for Wolff, he holds a 33 per cent stake in the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team so will get a healthy slice of the £24.5m in dividends shared with partners and investors. He also isn't short of money with a reported net worth of £1.3bn in 2023. Meanwhile, Mercedes is said to be worth £3.6bn as of this year.
‘Wages suffer’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-wages-F1-news
Formula 1: Is Toto Wolff the wrong leader for Mercedes?
11:42 Fri, 10 Nov 2023.
by Logan Ploder
Beyond the Flag (Weblog)
Wolff’s harsh public comments have been a developing theme over the last two years now, with several soundbites making headlines across the paddock. During the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, amidst all of the complaining from Hamilton over the radio, Wolff was heard saying, “Lewis, the car is bad, we know it. Please drive it.”
Then during the Italian Grand Prix race weekend, Wolff spoke about Red Bull rival Max Verstappen’s record-breaking 10th win in a row, saying “it’s for Wikipedia, and nobody reads that anyway.” These comments don’t even touch on the recent departure of top-level technical chief Mike Elliott, among others.
Negativity, malicious in intent or not, is no way to run a Formula 1 team, or any organization for that matter. Is Toto Wolff still the right man to lead Mercedes back to Formula 1 glory moving forward?
‘Toto Wolff Analysis’;
https://beyondtheflag.com/2023/11/10...ader-mercedes/
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Jean Todt highlights Ferrari trend which will worry Fred Vasseur.
Jean Todt fears pressure from the media and fans will push Ferrari into a change of team principal if the Scuderia’s progress slows.
10 Nov 2023 5:00 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Todt, who masterminded Ferrari’s dominance with Michael Schumacher at the turn of the century, believes the team are still slightly lacking what is required to win on a regular basis. And he has called for stability to allow the team to achieve their objectives, with the pressure on Ferrari from the outside doing them no favours.
He told French television station Canal Plus: “To win, you have to bring all the elements together, and today there is a little bit missing. Not a lot, but a little. Ferrari is a slightly different team because it creates emotion and passion like no other. Then, if it doesn’t work, the tendency is that with the pressure from the media and the tifosi we have to change bosses and that’s not necessarily a good thing.”
“I think that at the time when I was the boss, one of the advantages that I was able to have – and that later allowed us to be successful – was precisely that we were able to benefit from stability.”
‘Called for stability’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/jean-t...i-fred-vasseur
Constant change at Ferrari not good says Todt
NOVEMBER 9, 2023
GrandPrix.com
Despite eager anticipation from fans and the media, reports suggesting that Charles Leclerc's rumoured contract extension with Ferrari would be announced this week have been quashed. Hopes were stoked by a teasing social media post from the Italian team, which led many to believe a significant announcement was imminent.
Instead, it turned out that the buildup was for a less momentous revelation - Ferrari's special red overalls for the upcoming Las Vegas GP. Many thought it was about Leclerc's contract, but this is not the case, the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport remarked. At least for now.
Under new leadership of Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari still contends with the ghosts of its illustrious past. As the team endures a rough patch, echoes from its glory days come in the form of wisdom from Jean Todt, its most revered team principal and former FIA president.
‘Ghosts of its illustrious past’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/const...says-todt.html
Is Charles Leclerc set to sensationally quit Ferrari?
Charles Leclerc has been affiliated with Ferrari since 2016
November 11, 2023
By Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Charles Leclerc could be poised to walk away from Ferrari after seven years with the iconic team, as he finally loses faith in their ability to deliver a championship-calibre car to match his level of talent.
The conversation is flirted around the paddock every year with the Monegasque regularly being tipped to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes or to pair up with Max Verstappen at Red Bull, but he generally reaffirms his commitment to Formula 1’s oldest team – although he doesn’t rule out looking elsewhere.
“Of course, I think every driver has considered their different options,” Leclerc said earlier in the season. “Once they get the [possibility]. But I have a huge love of Ferrari. “My first target and my first dream is to become a world champion with Ferrari, more than anything else. So, if there’s a slight opportunity for it to happen, I will have no doubt about pushing to stay here at least.”
‘Could be poised to walk away’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...-quit-ferrari/
The moments where Leclerc and Ferrari lost precious points in 2023
09 November 7:00PM
Author Pepijn van der Hulst
RacingNews365
Bahrain (and Saudi Arabia) Grand Prix: New season, new opportunities. A year earlier, Leclerc looked set to compete for the world title, but the fast Ferrari ultimately couldn't keep up with Max Verstappen's even faster Red Bull.
Australian Grand Prix: Leclerc still drives to seventh place in Saudi Arabia, picking up his first points of the season.
Miami Grand Prix: In Miami, Leclerc himself goes wrong several times.
Spanish Grand Prix: The Spanish Grand Prix turned into a dramatic weekend for Leclerc.
Hungarian Grand Prix: At the Hungaroring, Leclerc crosses the line in sixth place.
United States Grand Prix: In the United States, Leclerc and Ferrari again lost precious points, this time due to an unusual disqualification
São Paulo Grand Prix: Unfortunately, the São Paulo GP is Leclerc's most recent day of bad luck. Qualifying second behind Verstappen, the 26-year-old driver openly spoke of a chance to take the lead at the first corner. Leclerc would ultimately never arrive there due to a hydraulic problem.
‘Lost precious points in 2023’;
https://racingnews365.com/the-moment...points-in-2023
Pundit points finger at ‘annoying’ engineer over Charles Leclerc Ferrari struggles
11 Nov 2023 10:00 AM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Former Ferrari team manager Peter Windsor suspects Charles Leclerc will get “annoyed” with his engineer “pussyfooting around” over the radio, something he feels does not help team nor driver. Xavier Marcos Padros has been Leclerc’s race engineer since the Monegasque driver joined Ferrari back in 2019.
Asked during his latest YouTube livestream how important a strong driver-engineer relationship is for car performance, Windsor replied: “I think it’s very important. Because the more you can just say in a few words, and then the race engineers knows immediately what you’re talking about and can get on with it, the more time you can save and the more you can spend on something else.”
“And I just think that’s one of the reasons Ferrari is struggling this year with Charles Leclerc particularly. I’ve got to say, that engineer they do have talking to Charles, I think if I was Charles I’d get a bit annoyed by that.”
“Pussyfooting around”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/peter-...eclerc-ferrari
Glock criticises repeated Ferrari failures: 'That can't happen with a top team'
10 November 6:00PM
Author Jake Nichol
Co-author Jesse Janse
RacingNews365
In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365, with thanks to LuckyBlock.com, former F1 racer-turned-pundit Timo Glock explains the failures that are costing Ferrari in its pursuit of Red Bull.
"In Brazil, Leclerc was again a main story because of the fact he didn't make the start due to the hydraulic problem and subsequent crash," Glock exclusively told RacingNews365, thanks to LuckyBlock. "That just can't happen at a top team.”
"If you compare it to Red Bull, they don't have problems on a technical level, and that is exactly what is going wrong with Ferrari. If they don't make a wrong strategic choice, they have a mechanical problem or a driver makes a mistake. That means Ferrari remains inconsistent, because of some circuits, they do have the speed to really compete.”
‘Repeated Ferrari failures’;
https://racingnews365.com/glock-pinp...ith-a-top-team
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McLaren uncover the Red Bull secret currently keeping them out of reach.
Team boss Andrea Stella has concurred that tyre management is the key advantage which Red Bull hold over McLaren.
Jamie Woodhouse
09 Nov 2023 10:00 AM
PlanetF1.com
“I think the difference is mainly in terms of lap time on used tyres,” said Team boss Andrea Stella, as per Motorsport.com. “But as soon as the tyres degrade, then it would appear like Max, Red Bull, they can just have less degradation. The tyres were degrading maybe one-tenth every two laps.”
“It’s a significant amount of degradation and if you can limit that, after 10 laps in a stint, this is tenths of a second, so I think that’s where they are superior at the moment. “Where we think the difference is made, we can’t do very much with this car.”
“The car has improved with the Singapore upgrade in terms of tyre management, but not enough to be able to compete, especially when degradation is high. And we saw some other cars degrading quite a lot, like Mercedes, Ferrari.”
‘Red Bull secret uncovered’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclare...wear-advantage
Norris sends Red Bull OMINOUS warning after McLaren improvement
Sunday 12 November 2023 09:58
Anna Malyon
GPFans
Lando Norris has claimed that McLaren have "plenty more" to deliver in the upcoming Formula 1 season following a string of positive results in the second half of the 2023 campaign.
McLaren have experienced a significant resurgence with upgrades introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix, resulting in nine remarkable podium finishes between Norris and Oscar Piastri.
This revival has also meant that McLaren have become Red Bull’s closest competitors with Norris snatching pole from Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race.
‘Plenty more to deliver’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...p-plenty-more/
GLOCK CLAIMS NORRIS IS THE DRIVER TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO VERSTAPPEN NEXT SEASON DESPITE CONTINUING RED BULL DOMINATION
Glock has admitted he wants "to see a final like we had in 2021" but stated Red Bull's domination isn't "unhealthy" for the sport
November 10, 2023
Oliver Brindle
FormulaNerds
Former Toyota driver Timo Glock has claimed that McLaren driver Lando Norris “is definitely one of the drivers capable of challenging Max [Verstappen]” but admits tighter rules are needed to prevent one team “domination”. Since the new regulations, Max Verstappen has undoubtedly been the star of the show as he continues to break record after record. The Dutchman currently holds a 266-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship over his teammate in second place.
Now, Glock believes the young Brit of Norris will be the driver to bring the fight to the Red Bull driver. Although Norris has yet to score a win in Formula One, the Bristol-born driver has achieved six podiums in his last seven races. However, the former German F1 driver suggested a solution that “if we took Max [Verstappen] out”, it would make for a more exciting race for the fans.
“He’s definitely one of the drivers capable of challenging Max. Lando was under pressure from Oscar on a few occasions, and you could see small mistakes made by Lando in qualifying. If we’re talking pure pace, though, Lando is very impressive. He manages to start at the back of the field and finish in the top five! He knows exactly what to do to not make these mistakes again, and he can definitely challenge Max if he has the right package around him.”
‘NORRIS IS THE DRIVER capable of challenging Max [Verstappen]’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/gl...ll-domination/
Lando Norris tipped as the driver who can “definitely challenge” Max Verstappen for F1 titles
10 Nov 2023
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Ex-F1 driver Timo Glock believes Lando Norris can “truly fight” Max Verstappen for world titles in the “right package”.
“It depends on what McLaren can offer him and if they can give Lando a car to truly fight for a championship,” Glock told Lucky Block. “I think he's definitely one of the drivers capable of challenging Max. Lando was under pressure from Oscar on a few occasions, and you could see small mistakes made by Lando in qualifying.
“If we're talking pure pace, though, Lando is very impressive. He manages to start at the back of the field and finish in the top five! He knows exactly what to do to not make these mistakes again, and he can definitely challenge Max if he has the right package around him.”
“Definitely challenge” Max Verstappen’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104055...stappen-titles
Norris: McLaren has "plenty more" to come in F1 2024
16:32 Fri, 10 Nov 2023.
AUTHORFilip Cleeren
CO-AUTHORJonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
McLaren has emerged as Red Bull's closest challenger since the summer after bringing a raft of highly effective upgrades to its MCL60 since Austria. The consistency of its resurgence, which has set it apart from the more fluctuating form shown by Ferrari and Mercedes, has raised expectations the Woking squad could take the fight to Max Verstappen and Red Bull in 2024.
When asked if that's a realistic prospect, Norris replied: "Maybe. I've just been just saying to Max, since we bought this upgrade to Austria, I've been the second highest scoring driver on the grid. I think we've been the second highest scoring team, potentially.
"Of course, we've taken some massive steps forward and at the same time, considering we’re talking about fighting the Red Bull, I think it's still a very, very good thing what we've achieved this year. We're talking about one of the best drivers in Formula 1 ever, in one of the most dominating cars.”
‘The consistency of its resurgence’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...come/10544867/
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Horner sends 'Street King' Perez message ahead of critical Vegas race.
Christian Horner suggests that the Las Vegas Grand Prix could serve as a pivotal moment for Sergio Perez, emphasising its potential to boost the struggling driver's confidence.
Sunday 12 November 2023 20:57
Anna Malyon
GPFans
Horner: Street tracks boost Checo's confidence: He further suggests that this could prove important not only for his confidence but also for the outcome of the championship. “It’s important for his confidence,” Horner told the media. “I think that was the Checo in Brazil that we know, and you know what he’s capable of. And that’ll give him just the boost he needs going into another street track that he’s always, you know, performed well out in.”
“I thought he drove brilliantly well. He had a little bit of a wobble at Turn 2 which allowed Fernando, who was very quick on the straights, to have a go at him. He did his best to hang on to it.”
“But I think for Checo to outscore Lewis by multiple points in Brazil, it was a very strong weekend for him. A third in the Sprint, fourth from nine from the grid, with the yellow flag got in qualifying, has been a very good weekend for him.”
'Street King Perez’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-las-vegas-gp/
Helmut Marko offers praise for Sergio Perez recent form
November 12, 2023
By: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Helmut Marko is pleased with Sergio Perez’s recent progress, outlining that his performances are where they should be.
Red Bull has enjoyed one of the most dominant campaigns in F1, but this hasn’t excluded the team from controversy. Much of the questions have surrounded their driver pairing for 2024, with Sergio Perez’s future often under scrutiny.
Marko positive about Perez: Speaking after the Brazilian GP, Helmut Marko gave a positive assessment of Perez’s latest form: “Since Austin, the pace has been right in both qualifying and the race. We now have a commanding lead over Hamilton of almost 30 points. That should now work out for second place.”
In some ways, it is only at Red Bull that a driver with a confirmed contract could be under such uncertainty. With Perez’s contract officially expiring at the end of 2024, it won’t take long before this subject is revisited in F1 circles.
‘Helmut Marko offers praise’;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...z-recent-form/
Massa speaks out against replacing Perez at Red Bull
13th November 2023, 07:07
Andrew Maitland
Grandpx.news
Despite Sergio Perez’s confirmed contract for 2024 and repeated team denials of any change, rumours about his position continue to swirl. However, former F1 driver Felipe Massa says Red Bull should definitely keep the Mexican at the wheel.
Felipe Massa, sharing his insights with the Dutch magazine Formule 1, agrees that Red Bull should maintain their current lineup. “As long as Max is happy and the team wins both the drivers’ championship and the constructors’ championship, I think it would be wise to leave things as they are now,” he said.
Massa further emphasized the strength of Verstappen, stating, “Max is visibly feeling good and wins almost every race. For him, any change would mean a deterioration.” He also questioned the potential impact of replacing Perez with another driver: “What Max is showing this season is of an unprecedented level. Even if you put Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso in the other car, I’m not sure much would change. Maybe a little bit, but believe me, they wouldn’t beat Max either.”
‘Wise to leave things as they are now’;
https://grandpx.news/massa-speaks-ou...z-at-red-bull/
Christian Horner issues clear response to Sergio Perez conspiracy theory
12 Nov 2023 10:00 AM
Mark Scott
PlanetF1.com
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has been forced to clarify his use of the word “intention” when asked about Sergio Perez’s future with the team. There is such clamour and desire from some sections of the F1 community to see Perez shown the door at the end of the year that every single word out of Horner’s mouth on the matter is being intensely scrutinised.
“I am absolutely confident and clear that Checo will be our driver next year,” Horner told the media in Brazil, as quoted by Motorsport.com. “Now, if he was injured or something like that, there are circumstances beyond our control. But the clear plan and therefore the clear intention is that he will continue. We’re planning to continue. We have announced the AlphaTauri drivers, we have our Red Bull Racing drivers. That is how we intend to go racing in 2024.”
Sky F1’s Martin Brundle has also been doing some snooping around the paddock to get the latest on Perez and his information on the subject is also very clear. “I’ll stand by what I’ve said in the last couple of races,” Brundle said. “I believe Red Bull absolutely want to keep running Sergio Perez next year. They’ll do everything to make that happen.”
‘Clear response’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/christ...umours-sparked
Whispers of Red Bull “major aerodynamic revolution” to 2024 RB20 car are ominous for their rivals
12 Nov 2023
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net
Red Bull are reportedly “preparing to amaze the paddock again next year” with their F1 2024 car. They have been tipped to bring a new car - the RB20 - which has potential to “annihilate” its competition, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
That is a major worry for the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari, who have lagged behind, and even for McLaren and Aston Martin, who have taken giant strides forward this year.
The RB20 has been described as “an extreme take on the concepts” of this year’s RB19. Crucially, its aerodynamic concept will differ from this season’s car. The vertical load will be distributed in a radically different way, the report claims.
‘Whispers’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104071...s-their-rivals
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F1's $500m transformation of Las Vegas ramps up as huge grandstands, towering fencing and VIP boxes are constructed around Sin City with locals trying to go about their business.
Formula One's $500million transformation of the Las Vegas strip is starting to take shape as organizers ramp up construction of the track ahead of this week's Grand Prix.
Published: 14:12, 13 November 2023
By Max Winters For Dailymail.Com
Mail Online
DailyMail.com reported on Monday morning that organizers remain confident they will sell out this weekend, despite reports that thousands of tickets remain unsold. Amid the glitz and the glamor, reports surfaced last week that tens of thousands of tickets remained unsold, and that ticket and hotel prices had plummeted as a result.
The first practice sessions will take place on Thursday night, with qualifying beginning at midnight on Friday night, and the race getting underway on Saturday night at 10pm local time. The first edition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix will make it the first time that there's a F1 race in Sin City since the 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix. It will be the third Grand Prix in the US to take place on the 2023 calendar after the Miami and the United States Grands Prix in Austin, Texas.
Furthermore, the Las Vegas Grand Prix will mark the first time since 1982 that there will be three races held in the US in a F1 season. The 3.803 miles (6.120 km) street circuit features 17 corners and a 1.181 mi (1.900 km) straight. The entire race's length is 190.065 miles (305.880 km). Drivers will have to complete 50 laps, with Red Bull's Verstappen the clear favorite to win.
‘First practice sessions will take place on Thursday night’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-business.html
Max Verstappen gives brutally honest view on Las Vegas Grand Prix and a furious Bernie Ecclestone agrees
13th November 2023, 2:41 pm
Robert Calcutt
talkSPORT
Max Verstappen says the Las Vegas Grand Prix is ‘more for the show’ and exudes very little excitement about taking to the track. Red Bull Racing star is far from the circuit’s biggest fan, with the track featuring a series of tight corner and long straights.
Speaking ahead of the Grand Prix, he said: “First of all, I think we are there more for the show than the racing itself if you look at the layout of the track. But you know, I’m actually not that into it. I’m more like, I’ll go there and do my thing and be gone again.”
Verstappen is not the only one who’s not one to buy into the hype of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with F1’s former boss Bernie Ecclestone critical of the event. “I’m not really looking forward to it. Why not? It has nothing to do with Formula 1,” he told Dutch outlet NOS.
‘More for the show’;
https://talksport.com/sport/1640442/
Unimpressed Bernie Ecclestone aims dig at F1 Las Vegas GP
13 Nov 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is not impressed with the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix. But former boss Ecclestone, who was ousted by Liberty Media when they took over the running of the sport in 2017, has been critical of the event.
"I'm not really looking forward to it. Why not? It has nothing to do with Formula 1,” he told Dutch publication NOS. "I am glad that the sport continues to develop around the world.”
“I am the one who took Formula 1 out of Europe and brought it to the rest of the world. We are competing for a world championship, not a European championship. It's good that it stays that way."
‘Unimpressed Bernie Ecclestone’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104077...1-las-vegas-gp
Bernie Ecclestone lays into Las Vegas Grand Prix that has 'nothing to do with F1'
Bernie Ecclestone helped grow Formula One globally but he has little time for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
15:19, Mon, Nov 13, 2023
By Richard Garnett
Daily and Sunday Express
Bernie Ecclestone says he is pleased to see Formula One continuing to become more of a global sport but doesn't have much time for the forthcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix because it has 'nothing to do with F1'.
During his time at the helm, Ecclestone was credited with taking F1 into the emerging Asian market, including races in Bahrain, China and Singapore, something that the British business magnate is particularly proud of.
He said: “I am happy that the sport continues to develop around the world. I am the one who brought Formula 1 out of Europe and to the rest of the world. We are competing for a World Championship, not a European Championship. It is good that that remains the case.”
‘Las Vegas Grand Prix that has 'nothing to do with F1'!’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...gas-Grand-Prix
Steiner says Las Vegas will ‘set the standard’ for sport as he looks ahead to final Haas home race of 2023
13 November 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has expressed his excitement ahead of this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, describing the event as “completely different” to any other on the F1 calendar – and any in the history of the sport.
“I think we all have an expectation, but we know what Las Vegas is about,” said Steiner ahead of the race weekend. “It’s hard to imagine exactly what it will be like, but it will be a very cool event and something completely different from anything done before in Formula 1.”
“To put such effort into racing in a city like Las Vegas is challenging, to say the least, and to make it happen a few years ago was impossible to think about, let alone say. Let’s see what it will be like, but it will surely set a standard for a lot of things in the sport going forward.”
‘Las Vegas will ‘set the standard’!’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...npVA48sqe.html
Haas take drastic action for Las Vegas GP with ‘nothing to lose’
13 Nov 2023 3:15 PM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Nico Hulkenberg will revert to an old aerodynamic specification for the Las Vegas GP with bottom-placed Haas convinced there is now “nothing to lose” with two races of the F1 2023 season remaining.
Team principal Guenther Steiner has revealed that the move has been made with the aim of giving each driver the best possible platform to score points in the final double header in Vegas and Abu Dhabi.
He said: “The main drive behind this was Nico feels that for him the old spec suits him better, and Kevin is the opposite. We’ve opted to give them what they want, we have two races to go and nothing to lose, so we’ve tried to do what we can.”
“Nothing to lose”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-las-vegas-decision
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The major risk F1's $500m Las Vegas gamble represents.
Formula 1's new Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend is a half-billion-dollar bet on a race in the self-styled sports and entertainment capital of the world. And F1 desperately needs it to work.
Nov 13, 2023
The Race
The race will take over Las Vegas. The expectation is that having a grand prix that races past the legendary Vegas hotels and casinos, which have starred in countless movies and TV shows, will supercharge F1’s growth, particularly in the United States.
But to do that, F1 has had to rip up its business model, put its hand in its pocket and invest heavily. This race isn’t being put on by an independent promoter that’s paying tens of millions for the privilege as per the usual model. Instead, F1 is promoting the race - and it will do so for at least 10 years.
The idea is simple. Las Vegas is a venue that will attract massive attention not just in the United States, which is F1’s priority growth market, but also globally. The race will bring in countless celebrities, high-rolling VIP guests and there will even be some everyday fans...
‘F1 is promoting the race’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f...dollar-gamble/
‘More celebrities’ than fans predicted to attend 2023 Las Vegas GP
13 November 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News
F1’s trip to Sin City this weekend will be drastically different to 41 years ago. A high-speed street circuit has been designed and built, with it set to feature part of the iconic Vegas Strip. It’s tipped to be an event like no other, something F1 have been pushing for given that they’re responsible for the promotion of the Grand Prix.
The teams and drivers have been talking about racing in Vegas for months, unlike local residents who aren’t thrilled about the impact F1 will have in Sin City this weekend. Several celebrities and sports stars are expected to be present, to the extent that former American racing driver Willy T Ribbs believes that the A-listers in attendance will outnumber the fans.
‘Local residents aren’t thrilled about the impact F1’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/more-cele...-las-vegas-gp/
Las Vegas F1 Race Ticket, Hotel Prices Plummeting
17:56 Mon, 13 Nov 2023.
Olivia Perreault
TicketNews
According to the Daily Mail, the motorsports website Oversteer48.com found that there are still 10,000 unsold grandstand seats in the circuit’s East Harmon Zone on Ticketmaster. The low prices could be caused by the weather — as Las Vegas is expected to receive rain and a temperature drop to 41 degrees this week — or due to Max Verstappen’s third-consecutive driver’s championship win earlier this month, nearly cementing the F1 season.
Enthusiasm for the race has seemed to decline, which could be from the expensive prices when the race was first announced. Compared to other F1 races, Vegas was billed as the most expensive event; the cheapest seats in Suzuka were found for $118 US, followed by $283 in Monza and $315 at Spa-Francorchamps. While Miami was one of the most expensive with grandstand seats at $850, Vegas still was offering more, with tickets over $1,500.
‘F1 Race Ticket, Hotel Prices Plummeting’;
https://www.ticketnews.com/2023/11/l.../?nowprocket=1
Column: F1 learns it overestimated fan demand for Las Vegas, the most expensive race of the year
Published: 18:45, 13 November 2023
By AP
Mail Online
LAS VEGAS (AP) - There is no such thing as a flawless first-year event, so go ahead and accept that there will be bumps and bruises in Formula One´s $500 million Las Vegas Grand Prix. The warning signs were as bright as The Sphere when early pricing opened for this week's extravaganza, the most expensive grand prix to attend on this year´s 24-race calendar.
But nothing about this weekend is targeted toward the new American fan, starting with the pricing or when cars are even on the track. The Saturday night race itself isn't scheduled to begin until 10 p.m. local - it is meant to be televised in Europe during the Sunday morning hours - and as such Las Vegas' nighttime temperatures are expected to make for the coldest race in series history.
There is plenty to do while waiting for the actual racing. The parties and special events run all week and feature "The Netflix Cup," a live event that will pit drivers from "Drive to Survive" and golfers from "Full Swing" in a match-play tournament.
‘Overestimated fan demand’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap...race-year.html
‘Mental’ Las Vegas Grand Prix prices under spotlight as big race approaches
13 Nov 2023 5:00 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Racing driver Richard Bradley has detailed some of the enormous prices associated with the Las Vegas Grand Prix, stating that a deluxe hotel stay at the weekend could also be put to use on track. Reports have circulated that hotel prices have dropped significantly ahead of the race this weekend as hotels seek to fill their rooms, but Bradley believes ticket prices “don’t need to be as high as they are” in the first instance.
“Just to put it into perspective how mental some of the costs were, I think it was at Caesars [Palace],” Bradley elaborated on the latest episode of the On Track GP Podcast, produced in collaboration between PlanetF1.com and DR Sports. “One of their hospitality packages for five people at the Grand Prix, having the suite, the full works, everything, I think it was $350,000 [£285,000].”
“Now, to put that into perspective, if you took that amount of money, and you contacted the Ferrari factory team as an amateur driver and said: ‘I want to race one of your official Ferrari factory GT cars for three races’, you could do that – and have 35 grand spare. That’s just to put it into perspective.”
‘Mental’;
https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1...x/Las+Vegas+GP
‘Trying to survive’: Inside Las Vegas’ wild F1 overhaul, billion-dollar gamble
November 14th, 2023 1:54 pm
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports (Australia)
At the corner of East Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane was a dusty, derelict car park Formula 1 decided would be the beating heart of its showpiece event — almost symbolically banishing memories of the sport’s first attempt to crack Vegas in the 1980s, when it ran a grand prix in the then expansive car park of the Caesars Palace casino.
The almost 16 hectares of derelict land was purchased by Formula 1 for US$240 million (A$377 million) and settled in cash, and from the dust-bowl block has risen the focal point of the race: a state-of-the-art permanent pit building and paddock area. The pit building is four-storeys tall and the largest in Formula 1 by footprint. The garages are commensurately spacious for the 10 teams, running to a depth of around 28 metres, or 1.4 times longer than the facilities of some of the calendar’s more dated venues.
On top of just the resurfacing work is the challenge of installing race infrastructure — the 1750 floodlights, the 18 temporary grandstands, the trackside barriers, the pedestrian bridges — all while people continue to commute and tour the 24-hour city. Setting up the race has come at considerable expense, with Liberty Media CFO Brian Wilding detailing capital expenditure costs of US$435 million (A$684 million) up to the end of September for the entire grand prix build, bringing the total cost of setting up the race to at least $1.06 billion.
‘Trying to survive’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...677954fcba8091
PRIX HISTORIC: Inside abandoned Vegas F1 track held in car park with bizarre layout now demolished for luxury hotel and shopping centre
The track was last used for F1 over 41 years ago.
Published: 16:10, 13 Nov 2023
Henry Tomlinson
TheIrishSun
WHEN Formula One takes over Las Vegas this weekend, it won't be for the first time. The Nevada-based city hosted two races in 1981 and 1982, however, it failed to become a success.
‘PRIX HISTORIC’;
https://www.thesun.ie/sport/11679609...ck-grand-prix/
We came to Sin City ready to win big... but we were racing in the hotel car park! As F1 returns to Las Vegas after 41 years, JONATHAN McEVOY tells the farcical tale of its ill-fated first gamble
Published: 22:36, 12 November 2023
By Jonathan McEvoy for the Daily Mail
Mail Online
It is countdown to Saturday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, not only the first, but the swankiest, most garish, most Super Bowl-like extravagance Formula One has ever staged.
The first? Well, that bit is arguable because the Entertainment Capital of the World — self-proclaimed in the bell-ringing, kaching-ing world of slot machines, roulette wheels and blackjack tables — hosted two races back in 1981 and 1982. They were held at Caesars Palace. In the hotel’s car park, in fact, and they failed to make the impression Bernie Ecclestone had hoped for.
The retreat which followed proved the truth that America has often been a hard nut for European-centric F1 to crack. The nadir came in 2005 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where only six cars started the farcical race over tyre safety concerns. F1 was booed out of town.
‘Ill-fated first gamble’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ed-gamble.html
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F1 drivers offered 'free sex' by Las Vegas brothel workers in racy Grand Prix deal.
All 20 F1 drivers have been offered '100 per cent complimentary coitus' in one of Sin City's brothels ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Formula One has taken over Las Vegas this week with Liberty Media stumping up around half a billion on purchasing the land and constructing the massive pit building on the Strip.
10:10, Tue, Nov 14, 2023
By Stuart Ballard
ily and Sunday Express10:13
Unlike other F1 races, there's set to be an opening ceremony on Wednesday which will feature music icons such as Steve Aoki, Swedish House Mafia, Thirty Seconds to Mars and Will.i.am. The whole week is set to be a party atmosphere and drivers will have their work cut out trying to stay focused on the job.
Las Vegas is renowned for its gambling, shopping, fine dining and entertainment with millions visiting the city every year. But Sin City also gets its nickname for Nevada being one of the few States in America where brothels are prohibited.
And two Las Vegas brothel workers have given F1 drivers an exclusive offer of 'free sex' during their stay in Nevada. Chicken Ranch brothel workers Addison Gray and Alice Little are excited about the F1 "It’s Formula One fever in Las Vegas this month and we’re all psyched up for the big event," Little said.
‘All 20 F1 drivers have been offered 100 per cent complimentary coitus';
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...nd-Prix-Nevada
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen offered free sex at Las Vegas GP as F1 hits Sin City
The Formula 1 circus rolls into Las Vegas this weekend and local businesses are touting their illicit services to stars like drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen
14th November 2023, 12:50
By Felix Keith Sports Reporter
The Mirror
Formula 1 stars are being offered “complimentary coitus” by two sex workers when they visit Nevada for this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Hamilton has said he is expecting a “wild experience” in Sin City and Addison Gray and Alice Little, workers at the Chicken Ranch brothel, are hoping that might involve them. "It’s Formula 1 fever in Las Vegas this month and we’re all psyched up for the big event," Little told TMZ. "Any driver that wants to get their hearts racing and celebrate the F1 with me and Addison will be treated to 100 per cent complimentary coitus."
‘Sin City: Local businesses are touting their illicit services’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...s-sex-31435030
Lewis Hamilton primed for 'wild experience' at Las Vegas GP despite Mercedes banFormula 1 heads to Las Vegas for an extravagant weekend of racing in the heart of the world's entertainment capital and Lewis Hamilton is excited for the change of scenery
10:10, 14 Nov 2023
By Felix Keith Sports Reporter
The Mirror
Lewis Hamilton is expecting a “wild” weekend when Formula 1 hits the Las Vegas strip this weekend. Mercedes star Hamilton doesn’t quite know what to expect, but he is excited for the 21st race of the 2023 season nonetheless.
"I just don't understand how we're gonna move around that place, I don't even understand how we're gonna get from the track to the hotel," he told Sky Sports. "It's going to be such a compact spot with so many people, but it's gonna be a wild experience.”
“The best thing is just to go with an open mind and not have any pre-determined ideas of what it's going to be like and just take it all in when you get there. Driving in the nightlights I'm going to feel like I'm in the Casino movie! It’s pretty cool.”
‘Primed for 'wild experience';
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...vegas-31433304
Lewis Hamilton admits he’s unsure if ‘mad and wild’ Las Vegas Grand Prix will work
Tuesday 14 Nov 2023 3:21 pm
Callum McAvoy
Metro.co.uk
Sir Lewis Hamilton says he is excited for this weekend’s ‘mad and wild’ Las Vegas Grand Prix, though is unsure how the event is going to work logistically.
The sport’s chiefs has gone all out to make the Las Vegas Grand Prix a show-stopping, star-studded event, with the hope that it will surpass Monaco as the jewel in F1’s crown.
It’s a huge gamble, made only bigger by recent concerns over the ridiculously high ticket prices and the disruption caused to local residents, with the famed Las Vegas strip actually forming part of the circuit.
‘Mad and wild’;
https://metro.co.uk/2023/11/14/f1-le...o=newsnow-feed
F1 2023 Las Vegas GP: COLDEST Race Brings the Unknown
14th Nov. 2023, 18:15
Motorsport.com
F1 heads to "The City that Never Sleeps," Las Vegas, for the first time since 1982. Unlike back then, this race is set to be the coldest race of the season, which is sure to create many unknowns for the F1 teams. To help understand what could happen this weekend, Martyn Lee is joined by Matt Kew and Sam Hall.
‘COLDEST Race’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/video/...nknown/643279/
F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix event chief reacts to temperature fears
14 Nov 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
The chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Renee Wilm, has responded to concerns about low temperatures over the F1 weekend. Expected cold temperatures are set to present F1 teams with an additional challenge on a brand-new street circuit at this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix, with Pirelli admitting the race will be a “step into the unknown”.
"And we have been working closely with the teams, the sporting department at Formula 1 and having conversations with Pirelli to ensure that we will have a high-quality degree of racing and that the tyres that will be brought to town for this event have been carefully chosen, given the variety of temperatures that could be experienced at night here in November.”
"The temperatures are going to be probably one of the biggest challenges," AlphaTauri chief race engineer Jonathan Eddolls recently said. "I think we're expecting circa 10C of ambient, so very much like the winter test. In many years, we've done winter tests in Barcelona at those sorts of temperatures. So it's not going to be completely new to us.”
“Step into the unknown”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104081...perature-fears
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Furious Vegas residents warn F1 ‘no one gives a crap’.
Local residents have criticised the impact Formula 1 has had on their lives ahead of the first Las Vegas GP since 1982.
14 November 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News
The teams and the drivers can’t wait to race in Vegas, whereas the residents can’t wait for them to be on their flights back home. “Life as I knew it ended when that construction started,” local author Lisa Lindell told Jalopnik. One of the biggest frustrations amongst local residents is the complete “lack of information and coordination”, with simple four-mile journeys having become four-hour slogs. There are reports that no hotel workers want to complete a shift whilst F1 is in town…
“The frustration, inconvenience and blatant disdain for residents living in Las Vegas is evident by the lack of information and coordination with everyone except the promoters of this exhibition,” a local Vegas resident named Celeste said. If the casinos don’t rake in enough money this weekend to make up for the “pain from construction and teardown”, then F1 has been warned that the “race will be dead”. “The casinos run this town,” another anonymous resident said.
“Liberty Media is used to bilking sponsors, municipalities, and remote race tracks. They are not accustomed to dealing with very high-powered corporations who are in the business of doing the bilking, not being bilked. If the casinos don’t see a massive recurring profit that offsets the pain from construction and teardown, then this race will be dead. No one gives a crap about the sport. No one.”
‘No one gives a crap’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/furious-v...-gives-a-crap/
Las Vegas Grand Prix: Tens of thousands of tickets remain unsold for the inaugural race on The Strip sending hotel and ticket prices plummeting... but a grandstand seat will still cost you $1,000!
Las Vegas knows how to throw a party, but this time they're facing a problem the city is not exactly used to: not that many people are interested in coming.
Published: 21:59, 10 November 2023
By Jake Fenner For Dailymail.Com
Mail Online
Organizers for the inaugural race on The Strip will have to scramble to fill hotel rooms and the grandstands as empty seats are becoming a much bigger problem than expected - as the race is just days away.
Motorsports website Oversteer48.com found about 10,000 unsold grandstand seats near the recently constructed Sphere and the circuit's East Harmon Zone when examining Ticketmaster data. That's in line with a report from Road & Track - which revealed that hotel room prices have fallen by about a quarter in the past month to around $280 a night.
A Formula One spokesperson told MailSport that they expect to sell out the event and are planning for an attendance of about 100,000 people for each of the three days of the grand prix.
‘Tens of thousands of tickets remain unsold’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ost-1-000.html
F1 should give Las Vegas GP a chance says Marko
NOVEMBER 15, 2023
GrandPrix.com
Dr Helmut Marko says he is reserving his judgement about the success or failure of Formula 1's unique, billion-dollar Las Vegas adventure.
When asked if the dead centre of a glittering American metropolis like Las Vegas is the right place for a serious sport like Formula 1, Red Bull team consultant Dr Marko isn't sure. “I'm the wrong person to ask about that, he told Osterreich newspaper.”
"But we have to give the event with all of its glamour a chance. I'll look at the whole thing first and give you my opinion later. I will allow myself to be surprised”, the 80-year-old former F1 driver added. “Everything is new, like the logistics - we walk to the paddock and so on. And no one knows how the low temperatures will affect things.”
‘Reserving his judgement’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/f1-sh...ays-marko.html
‘I don’t normally’: Nico Hulkenberg admits he might do something very unusual to prepare for Las Vegas GP
Wed 15 November 2023 08:30
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg has admitted he might do something at the Las Vegas Grand Prix that he never normally does. Hulkenberg was speaking to the club’s official website ahead of the penultimate race of the season.
Speaking about how he’s prepared for the race, Hulkenberg said: “No driver will have had extensive preparation for this one, so practice is going to be important. I don’t normally do a track walk, so let’s see if I do one here, could be a unique way of seeing all the sights of the Vegas strip.”
Haas will be hoping that their recent fortunes change in Sin City. They’re bottom of the Constructors’ Championship and the team will be running different specs on their cars this weekend. They need to score four more points than Alfa Romeo to lift themselves off the bottom of the standings which would also earn them significantly more prize money.
‘Practice is going to be important’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nic...-las-vegas-gp/
Wolff in the dark ahead of Las Vegas Grand Prix
14 November 7:30PM
Author Ewan Gale
RacingNews365
The Mercedes Team Principal doesn't know what to expect ahead of F1's inaugural race down the Las Vegas Strip this weekend. Teams face a venture into the unknown on a new track surface in the Nevada City, with the temperatures at night set to be below 10 degrees Celsius in the desert.
The extreme conditions are predicted to wreak havoc across the weekend and speaking to Bloomberg, Wolff explained: "The drivers have already been in the simulator and I spoke to Lewis [Hamilton] afterwards and he said that the straight was very long and impressive. "We don't know what to expect because we race at 22:00 and 00:00 and the Nevada nights I hear can be very cold.
"The only night races we have experience with are in Singapore and in the Middle East. This is a new circuit, with temperatures of about five degrees centigrade and with Pirelli tyres that have never been used in these kinds of temperatures."
‘Wolff in the dark’;
https://racingnews365.com/wolff-in-t...gas-grand-prix
Mercedes staff banned by Toto Wolff
Las Vegas is known around the world for its iconic casinos and overall gambling scene.
14 November 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News
Ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that the Silver Arrows’ staff will be told to keep their distance from the casinos and avoid gambling.
“I think everyone is looking forward to the Las Vegas race. Racing in this city is comparable to climbing Everest, hats off to Liberty Media for organising this race,” Wolff told the Spanish edition of Motorsport.com. “I don’t think I’m the only one in Formula One who has never been to this city, which is quite difficult to get around. We don’t know how to get from the hotel to the circuit and back, but I’m sure we’ll find a solution. I’m looking forward to the race.”
Wolff doesn’t personally gamble himself and is going to ensure that “no one else” in the team is spotted in a casino this weekend, although you’d imagine that this might change if the Germans are somehow victorious. “As I said, I’ve never been to Las Vegas, but we’ll do our best to make sure everyone in the team stays away from the casinos – I don’t gamble and I’ll make sure no one else gambles either!”
Las Vegas Casinos: Mercedes staff banned’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/mercedes-...by-toto-wolff/
