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Schumacher: Race Control should be ASHAMED after 'bad joke' restart.
"You can’t ask the drivers to slow down if you give them another chance like that. I’m sorry, but that’s a bad joke." Ralf Schumacher
Friday 7 April 2023 11:19
Dan Davis
GPFans
Ralf Schumacher has savaged Race Control for their "bad joke" of a restart during the Australian Grand Prix, a decision that resulted in multiple collisions. "Rules are one thing, foresight is another," he told Sport1.de. "They could have used a Safety Car to prevent chaos.”
"In Australia, chaos at the start is simply programmed so late in the grand prix. The first chicane is extremely fast, everyone wants to improve their position and goes into the dangerous first corner with over-motivation. I know what I’m talking about.
'Bad joke';
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-joke-restart/
Schumacher feels FIA should be 'ashamed' in vicious attack over Australian Grand Prix call
Ralf Schumacher has aimed fire at the FIA for the red flag drama in the Australian Grand Prix, causing a multi-car late crash.
07:47, Fri, Apr 7, 2023
By Alex Turk
Daily and Sunday Express
Ralf Schumacher has slammed the FIA's decision for a second standing restart in the latter stages of the Australian Grand Prix, labelling it a 'bad joke'. Red flag drama threw the Melbourne race into chaos, and the former F1 driver believes a Safety Car could've helped avoid the late carnage that saw several cars crash out.
Schumacher has pointed to the first chicane in Melbourne being 'very fast', suggesting such a late restart was asking for trouble. In Australia, you can expect chaos on a restart this late in the Grand Prix. The first chicane is very fast. Everyone wants to improve their position and go for dangerous moves in the first corner due to too much motivation. I know what I'm talking about. Race management should be ashamed.”
'Ashamed';
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...d-Prix-F1-news
Ralf Schumacher: ‘Race Control should be ashamed of itself’ for ‘bad joke’ restart
06 Apr 2023 2:00 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Ralf Schumacher has lambasted Race Control for what he called a “bad joke” of a restart at the Australian Grand Prix, one that ended in carnage with multiple cars crashing out. Sport1 expert Peter Kohl agrees with the German.
“In the end, the race management is responsible for a million dollar bill, which is likely to tear huge holes in the limited budget,” he said. “The level of anger and frustration is correspondingly high. Was the last red flag necessary?”
“The race management has to put up with the criticism that part of the field was burned up because of the show. A rolling start would also have been possible, which certainly would not have left nearly such a mess. The Show Must Go On! – but because of the show you shouldn’t and shouldn’t throw any rational thought overboard.”
‘Million dollar bill’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ralf-s...ntrol-ashamed/
Guenther Steiner predicts chaos with proposed new sprint format
15 Apr 2023 3:30 PM
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com
Guenther Steiner has warned F1 teams to prepare for “chaos” as Baku gets set to host two races in two days. The Azerbaijani capital is the venue for the first of six sprint races to be held in 2023 but unlike the other five host circuits, Baku is a street track and home to the narrowest section of any F1 circuit.
Haas team boss Steiner predicted there could be “chaos” at the race which is the next stop on the Formula 1 calendar. “It could be [chaotic], but that makes it interesting,” he told RACER. “Hopefully there is no chaos, but it could be. Baku is always a race…If you think in Australia we had three red flags can you imagine how many red flags we will have in Baku in two races?!”
“Absolutely, I brought it up last year for the first time,” Steiner said. “I said Saturday morning is just like watching grass grow basically because you are out there and you cannot do anything on the car, you just go round. Yeah, you learn something about tires, but is it worthwhile to do it? No. It will be much cooler like this.”
‘Prepare for “chaos””:
https://www.planetf1.com/news/guenth...sprint-format/
Boredom no reason to change F1 rules says Steiner
APRIL 12, 2023
GrandPrix.com
Gunther Steiner says Formula 1 must resist the temptation to react to Red Bull's dominance by changing the rules. "The sporting aspect is the most important thing to safeguard," he told motorsport-total.com.
"And I am confident that the others will catch up with Red Bull sooner or later anyway. I don't think they will have the same margin in the next 20 races," Steiner added.
"Everyone works hard and we must never forget that Red Bull received a penalty last year, the which will oblige them to have fewer hours of development in the wind tunnel, so theoretically they can't progress that much. Everyone will catch up, try to understand what Red Bull's advantage is and then copy it or do something similar," he predicted.
‘Boredom…’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/bored...s-steiner.html
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Former F1 driver SLAMS idea of fourth US race and says Las Vegas is 'too glitzy'.
“Vegas is too glitzy for me. Maybe I am old fashioned but I want to go to Spa, Monza, Budapest. I even want to go to Monaco but now that isn’t even glitzy anymore compared to what’s going on here.” Gerhard Berger.
Thursday 20 April 2023
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Formula 1 should not have so many races in the United States, according to former F1 driver Gerhard Berger. 2023 will see three races in the USA, with the addition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November – with Stefano Domenicali hinting that a fourth could be added down the line.
F1 already visits Austin, Texas for the United States Grand Prix and Miami, which will be the fifth race of the 2023 season. Berger, whose best F1 result in America was a fourth in the 1987 Detroit Grand Prix, admitted he would prefer to see the pinnacle of motorsport race at traditional tracks he was accustomed to.
‘SLAMS idea of fourth US race’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...usa-las-vegas/
F1 targets 24-race schedule in 2024 but accepts calendar “does drain people”
2024 F1 season
Posted on 20th April 2023, 8:1320th April 2023, 7:04
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans
“We have a calendar, some of which [for] historical reasons, [has] gotten to 24,” said president of F1 owners Liberty Media last week. “It does drain people and there’s a lot of travel.” However F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said achieving that is not straightforward due to the competing needs of different race promoters. “Of course every single promoter has some reasons to have a certain weekend, a certain opportunity,” he said.
“We try to make sure that in the year after year we have a quite leaner approach, as much as we can, in order to minimise the movement. Because of course we have a very ambitious target with our carbon neutrality 2030, that has a big effect. We are a world championship, we are not doing it in the one single region, we’re moving it all around the world. So we take that very seriously.”
“Does drain people”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/04/20/...-drain-people/
F1 aiming to minimise travel as it targets 24-race calendar in 2024
20th April 2023, 11:02.
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
Read Motorsport
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says it is “no secret” that a 24-race schedule is the target for 2024 but insists reducing travel between races is also under consideration. “Of course every single promoter has some reasons to have a certain weekend, a certain opportunity,” said Domenicali, as quoted by RaceFans.
“We try to make sure that in the year after year we have a quite leaner approach, as much as we can, in order to minimise the movement. Because of course we have a very ambitious target with our carbon neutrality 2030, that has a big effect.”
“We are a world championship, we are not doing it in the one single region, we’re moving it all around the world. So we take that very seriously.”
“No Secret”;
https://readmotorsport.com/2023/04/2...endar-in-2024/
Fans MOCK 'ridiculous' official F1 Instagram video.
Wednesday 19 April 2023 18:57
Chris Deeley
GPFans
The cartoonishly-styled video explains the basics of Formula 1 for newcomers, running through what a pitstop is, the qualifying and sprint race setups, and that the champion at the end of the season gets a trophy.
The comments weren't especially kind, not least to the American narration, one particularly heavily-liked comment just reading 'This is purely made for Americans'.
"Very bold of F1 to categorize Miami as an 'exciting street circuit'," read another, while a third joked that the video was clearly only made for fans who had come into the sport via Drive to Survive.
‘Fans MOCK’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...plainer-funny/
Williams expects F1 sprint format in Baku to cause ‘mayhem’
15:30 Wed, 19 Apr 2023.
by Fergal Walsh
Motorsport Week
The upcoming Formula 1 race weekend from Baku will see “mayhem” amid the sprint format, believes Williams Team Principal James Vowles. New plans that are being discussed would see two qualifying sessions, one each for the two races during the weekend.
As that would bring less practice time and more opportunities for teams around a circuit that has caused havoc in the past, Vowles believes that it could be a chaotic weekend. “Irrespective of whether the rules change or not, a sprint race weekend at that tight, twisty track where you go through the castle section is going to cause a little bit of mayhem.”
‘Mayhem sprint format’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...-cause-mayhem/
Michelin CEO explains why they 'CANNOT AGREE' F1 return
Thursday 20 April 2023 13:57
Joe Ellis
GPFans
Michelin and Formula 1 have discussed a return to the sport for the tyre manufacturer, according to Michelin CEO Florent Menegaux. Menegaux has come out and vehemently denied any imminent Michelin involvement in the sport because organisers demand a 'good show'.
"The question is, how do we leverage technology to have a good show?" Menegaux said. "And that’s where F1 comes into play, because we have been discussing with them for a very long time and we are not in agreement.”
"Because they say to have the show, you have to have tires that destroy themselves. And I think we don’t know how to do this. So, we cannot agree. Teams should be understanding tire performance and capitalising on the fact that the tire is going to be performing from the first lap around the circuit to the last.”
'CANNOT AGREE';
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-talk-problem/
Michelin not interested in F1 tyres that “destroy themselves”
20th April 2023, 10:53.
Tyrepress
According to comments from Florent Menegaux, we shouldn’t expect to see Michelin in Formula One from 2025. Speaking to US-based automotive site The Drive, the chief executive stated that Michelin isn’t interested in supplying tyres to F1 unless the FIA alters its view on how they should perform. In short, the French firm doesn’t want to make tyres that liven proceedings by falling apart.
“Destroy themselves”;
https://www.tyrepress.com/2023/04/mi...oy-themselves/
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Alonso Giving Aston Martin ‘an Extra Level of Motivation’ in 2023 – Mike Krack.
“He is leading by example at all times. He’s there very early, he’s working really hard, and it is this lead by example that everybody just sees and grabs on and gives an extra level of motivation.” Mike Krack.
April 18, 2023
By Paul Hensby
The Checkered Flag
Mike Krack says Fernando Alonso has brought a lot of ‘positiveness’ to the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team since his arrival at the Silverstone-based team ahead of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.
Alonso made the surprise move from the BWT Alpine F1 Team to replace the retiring Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin and has started the year with three consecutive podium finishes, which sees him also sit third in the Drivers’ Championship behind only the two Oracle Red Bull Racing drivers.
Aston Martin also sit second in the Constructors’ Championship thanks to his performances, and Team Principal Krack says Alonso has led by example since his arrival and has given everyone a lot of motivation. “I think it was a confirmation basically, of where he’s standing in the team,” Krack is quoted as saying by Motorsport.com. “He brought a lot of energy, a lot of positiveness when he arrived.”
‘Extra Level of Motivation’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...23-mike-krack/
Alonso ‘leading by example at all times’ says Krack as he reflects on Aston Martin’s journey to podium contenders
20 April 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack has heaped praise on driver Fernando Alonso for the leadership he has brought to the team – as he also reflected on their 12-month journey to currently sit second in the standings.
“He brought a lot of energy, a lot of positiveness when he arrived. He is leading by example at all times. He's there very early, he's working really hard, and it is this lead by example that everybody just sees and grabs on and gives an extra level of motivation.”
“I think the singing of the name was like a confirmation also for him that he really brought a lot into the team. And it was the 100th podium for him, so I think that is also a nice way of celebrating it. I think we were the only team who had not scored any points, with a car that was difficult to drive, very slow, and with drivers that were starting to lose confidence in the team, in the car,” said Krack.
‘Leading by example at all times’
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...3TdZHNkmA.html
‘Sebastian Vettel could not motivate Aston Martin like Fernando Alonso has’
19 Apr 2023 12:15 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Fernando Alonso does bring more to the Aston Martin party than Sebastian Vettel did, but Christian Danner says that’s based on motivation with the Spaniard all-in. Speed, though, isn’t the only thing Alonso has brought to the Aston Martin table, team boss Mike Krack recently talking up his “enthusiasm and seemingly inexhaustible energy.
He added: “He is truly fascinating to work with, he sweeps us all away like a powerful wave. You just have to listen to his comments on the radio. They are proof of his enthusiasm. [Alonso] says very clearly: I don’t have a plan B, I’m a racing driver, that’s it. That’s a big difference.”
“You just have to talk to Tom McCullough. It’s amazing how Alonso electrifies people. He has energy and can always implement what needs to be implemented. That’s something that Vettel could certainly be in the beginning, but he was so far away from Formula 1 last year with all his bee hotels and all the things he did there, that as a result he was no longer as good at [motivating the team] as Alonso is still.”
‘Inexhaustible Energy: “I don’t have a plan B”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/sebast...rnando-alonso/
ASTON MARTIN SET TO CHANGE ENGINE SUPPLIERS FOR 2026?
The Silverstone-based team, currently known as Aston Martin, has run Mercedes engines since the 2009 season. But could they switch to one of Mercedes's competitors for the 2026 Formula One season?
April 18, 2023
Rhiannon Temporal
FormulaNerds
Aston Martin could become Honda’s exclusive partner for the 2026 season onwards. Aston Martin has had a dream start to their Formula One 2023 championship campaign. They currently sit P2 in the constructors’ championship and have scored a podium at every race this season so far.
While the Silverstone-based outfit is experiencing unprecedented success, owner Lawrence Stroll is still demanding more from his team. Although the team doesn’t look able to challenge Red Bull on race day at the moment, they could be championship rivals in the future.
Along with building Formula One’s first smart factory, Aston Martin could be set to make more significant changes in the future. The Spanish edition of Motorsport.com is reporting a potential partnership between the Silverstone-based team and Honda for the 2026 season. They have said: “According to information collected by Motorsport.com, Honda’s leadership is currently only moving in one direction, and that is Aston Martin.”
‘Silverstone-based team and Honda’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/as.../?nowprocket=1
F1 rumours: The only F1 team that could facilitate Honda’s official F1 2026 return
19 Apr 2023 11:30 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
A surprise name has entered the running to partner Honda come 2026, Aston Martin said to be the team that the Japanese manufacturer “wants” to join up with. Honda have had an erratic return to Formula 1, winning the World title with Red Bull in 2021 only to withdrawn as their official engine supplier.
But they then did a U-turn, signing a one-year deal with Red Bull to support the Red Bull Powertrain division in powering the team and AlphaTauri for 2022, only to then extend that until 2025 with the teams effectively running rebadged Honda engines.
In the midst of Honda’s in or out, the company then went and signed up for Formula 1 2026, the year the new engine regulations come into effect, but Red Bull had already committed to Ford with Honda’s indecisiveness cited as the cause. Now Aston Martin is being named as the Japanese manufacturer’s likely destination.
‘Honda’s official F1 2026 return’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-rum...1-2026-return/
Could Aston Martin switch to Honda power in F1 2026?
Could the team that we currently know as Aston Martin be the recipient of a Honda power unit when Formula 1’s new rules arrive in 2026?
14:05 Wed, 19 Apr 2023.
By: Adam Cooper
Motorsport.com
That possibility is one of the more intriguing stories to have emerged during the sport’s April break, and while it may sound a little far-fetched, history has shown that anything can happen in F1, especially when it comes to juggling team identities and PU suppliers. Back in December, Aston technical director Dan Fallows stressed that there are no plans in place at the moment to reduce the reliance on Mercedes, but he left the door open for future changes.
“Honestly, what we look at in the future is all open, really. Lawrence is very open about his ambitions for this team, and I think we always have to evaluate what is the next thing that will help us become more competitive.” The key consideration is that once you have your own in-house gearbox capability, switching PU suppliers becomes much easier, as you are no longer relying on a package deal. It also gives you total freedom in terms of the car design and concept.
The above steps could happen even with a Mercedes PU in the back of the AMR26 in 2026, but a bespoke engine would be the ultimate step towards independence for Stroll. If anyone can find a way for an Aston chassis to run a Honda engine – with or without official badging from the latter – then surely Stroll is the man who can make it happen.
‘One of the more intriguing stories’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/a...2026/10458254/
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F1 media accused of staging tension between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
While claiming the rivalry between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez has been grossly exaggerated by the media, Dutch driver Michael Bleekemolen concedes Perez’s own words haven’t helped.
21 Apr 2023 1:00 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Both drivers have insisted several times that all is well, as too has their team boss Christian Horner, and yet the niggles over fastest laps, team communication and deleted tweets saying “I want to be a champion” have kept the media interested.
But it’s tension that Bleekemolen feels has been grossly exaggerated. “There is always a battle between two drivers in every team,” he told GPFans NL. “Not only in Formula 1, but everywhere. It is one thing that you have to be faster.”
“I also think that the media is a bit guilty of it. Everything is just thrown together with exciting statements. Phrases are cut out to stick it together differently. Then they suddenly turn into hateful comments towards each other. I think it’s not that bad. Still, I think they both want to finish for each other.”
‘All is well’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/media-...-sergio-perez/
Long-time F1 driver makes BOLD Perez prediction
Friday 21 April 2023 13:27
Harry Smith
GPFans
Ex-F1 driver Pedro De La Rosa has made a prediction about Sergio Perez's future in Formula 1 with Red Bull, suggesting that the Mexican could be around beyond the end of his current contract. Perez's current Red Bull contract carries him to the end of the 2024 F1 season, but the rumours regarding his future with the team have already begun.
These rumours have been further fuelled by Daniel Ricciardo's return to the Red Bull setup, while Yuki Tsunoda's impressive performances for AlphaTauri have also heaped the pressure on Perez.
Signs of this pressure were on show in Melbourne when Checo beached his Red Bull car into the gravel during qualifying, leaving him at the back of the field for the Grand Prix.
‘BOLD Perez prediction’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ro-de-la-rosa/
Pedro de la Rosa explains why Max Verstappen could retire before Sergio Perez
21 Apr 2023 6:45 AM
Michelle Foster
Racing for midfield teams for most of his F1 career, Pedro de la Rosa believes Sergio Perez will have more desire to prolong his time in the sport than his team-mate Max Verstappen.
Verstappen, 25, has often spoken about the longevity of his Formula 1 career with the double World Champion making it clear he won’t be doing a Fernando Alonso and racing into his 40s.
In fact his current Red Bull deal, which runs until 2028, could be his last with the driver keen on pursuing other racing activities outside of Formula 1. That’s in sharp contrast to Perez, 33, whose father recently stated he “will be in F1 for the next 10 years” such is his desire to succeed with Red Bull.
‘More desire to prolong his time’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/pedro-...-sergio-perez/
Red Bull 'definitely catchable' despite F1 clean sweep fears
21 April 8:55AM
Author Ewan Gale
RacingNews365
Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley believes Red Bull is surmountable despite a dominant start to the new Formula 1 season. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have shared the opening three pole positions and race wins with the RB19 proving too quick for rival teams, the duo untouchable on their way to victory.
Two-time champion Verstappen made light work of working his way through the field from 15th to second at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix having beaten nearest non-Red Bull rival Fernando Alonso to the chequered flag in Bahrain by 38 seconds.
Such has been Red Bull's performance in the opening rounds that rivals have warned each of the 20 remaining races could be won by Verstappen and Perez - a feat that is yet to be completed by any team in F1 history.
'Definitely catchable'
https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-d...hitewash-fears
Christian Horner suggests six teams have broken Formula 1 cost cap
21st April 2023, 10:05.
Kieran Jackson
The Independent
Red Bull were found guilty of a minor overspend breach of the 2021 financial regulations – but Horner says teams have stated in meetings that they are worried about breaking the 2022 budget cap. As many as six teams could be in breach of the Formula 1 cost cap for 2022, according to Red Bull chiefs Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
Controversy overshadowed Red Bull’s double world championship triumph last year when they were found to be guilty of a minor overspend breach of the 2021 F1 budget cap – the first year such regulations were enforced. Red Bull were fined £6m and docked 10% of their car development time
Yet there is now concern growing amongst the paddock about last year’s sums, which were submitted to the FIA on 31 March. As a result of the tough economic climate and inflation, Horner revealed that as many as six teams have made it known at F1 Commission meetings that they are at risk of missing the 2022 cost-cap figure, which stands at £111m.
‘Formula 1 cost cap’;
https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/f1-...-b2324125.html
F1 CEO ‘more than nervous’ as Red Bull says ‘six teams’ over cost cap
08:57 Thu, 20 Apr 2023.
by Fergal Walsh
Motorsport Week
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says he is “more than nervous” in anticipation of last year’s budget cap findings. A cost cap was first introduced in 2021 with the aim of reducing the spending gap between teams and making the sport more competitive in the long term.
It was issued a fine of $7m as well as docked time allocated to development at its factory. Final submissions of the 2022 accounts were submitted last month and are due to be reviewed by the Cost Cap Administration. “I’m more than nervous,” Domenicali told Sky Sports.
‘Six teams’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...over-cost-cap/
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Wolff makes big promise: We will consistently bring upgrades.
"The machine is continuing to run in Brixworth and Brackley at a fast pace," continued Wolff.
21 April 8:00AM
Author Luke Murphy
RacingNews365
When discussing the four-week break and the upcoming events, Wolff shared his excitement at the number of developments being brought to the race weekends, but fired a warning to keep expectations "realistic".
"But there is no such thing as a magic bullet that transforms the car, and it's about being realistic with your expectations. Hopefully we will see a steady improvement. What you see on track is only the tip of the iceberg, but the performance of the car and Power Unit is made in these two factories. The mindset is great, the spirit is there and I see a lot of buzz.”
"I believe 100 percent in our organisation, because our perspective is not always on a single race weekend, not even a single season. It's on trying to build our capability so we are successful over multiple years, while recognising the fact you are never going to win every single season, because no sports team has ever done it."
‘Lot of buzz’;
https://racingnews365.com/wolff-make...bring-upgrades
Lewis Hamilton may get what he wants as Toto Wolff issues update on Mercedes development.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has spoken out on what supporters can expect when Lewis Hamilton and George Russell return to the track.
22:58, Thu, Apr 20, 2023
By Charlie Gordon
Daily and Sunday Express
Lewis Hamilton may finally get the competitive car he desires as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has talked up recent behind-the-scenes developments. A four-week break from competitive action has given the Silver Arrows a chance to work intensively on this year's W14, which is still some way off Red Bull in terms of pace.
Thankfully for Hamilton, who has pulled no punches in publicly calling for engineers to take drivers' recommendations more seriously, Wolff believes that the team are on the 'right trajectory' from what he has seen at the factory.
"In terms of car development, it is encouraging to see that within three races, we understand the car much better, we have defined a clear direction where we need to go and I believe we are on the right trajectory," Toto Wolff told Mercedes' official website.
‘Pulled no punches’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...rcedes-f1-news
Toto Wolff says Mercedes are now on 'right trajectory' with W14 car but prepared for more setbacks
Last Updated: 20/04/23 6:34pm
By Jonathan Green
Sky Sports
Toto Wolff believes Mercedes are now on the "right trajectory" with their car although acknowledges there will likely be further setbacks in 2023.
However after an improved display at the Australian GP, in which Hamilton finished second to claim the team's first podium of the year, Wolff believes the team now know what is required to improve the W14.
'Right trajectory';
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...-more-setbacks
'No sense of entitlement about top spot' at Mercedes
20/04/2023 at 4:04
Andrew Lewin
F1i.com
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has scotched suggestions that his squad feels any sense of entitlement to a top spot on the grid in Formula 1. "We realised we weren’t coming out of the blocks where we expected to be," he acknowledged. "Having said that, we don’t feel any sense of entitlement.
"We [have been] successful over multiple years, while recognising the fact you are never going to win every single season, because no sports team has ever done it.
“This is the toughest competition in the world," he pointed out. "It wouldn’t be such a fantastic challenge if it was easy ... It’s about being realistic with your expectations. Hopefully we will see a steady improvement."
'No sense of entitlement’;
https://f1i.com/news/471776-no-sense...-mercedes.html
Wolff offers hope for 2023: We've 'defined a clear direction'.
Despite a "difficult" start to 2023 for Mercedes, team boss Toto Wolff is feeling hopeful about what is to come from the car in the next few races on the calendar.
20 April 12:15PM
Author Anna Francis
RacingNews365
With ups and downs expected along the way, Wolff hopes that the team can "stay rational" throughout the process.
"It's also important to keep on track and not oscillate too much between exuberance and depression; to stay rational and believe in our trajectory, believe in the capability of the team," he added.
"There will be setbacks but there will also be upgrades and plenty of work that will help us get closer to the front."
'Defined a clear direction';
https://racingnews365.com/wolff-offe...lear-direction
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Brown says both McLaren drivers are now ‘pushing each other’ as he praises Piastri’s motivation.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes his team have a driver line-up capable of “pushing each other” this season, with the American revealing that he expects rookie Oscar Piastri to soon match the pace of his six-time podium sitter team mate Lando Norris.
21 April 2023
Formula One - Official Site
McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes his team have a driver line-up capable of “pushing each other” this season, with the American revealing that he expects rookie Oscar Piastri to soon match the pace of his six-time podium sitter team mate Lando Norris.
Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix – Piastri’s first race in Formula 1 in his native Melbourne – Brown was asked what Piastri had brought to McLaren. He replied: “What we want to have… is two drivers that are pushing each other. And I think early indications are that Oscar will be on the same pace as Lando, and the two of them will push each other hard.”
“And that's what you want out of your two drivers, to know that it's kind of down to you, as a team, to provide them with a car to get to the front. So, I'm confident when you look down the list of things you need to have a winning team, having two Grand Prix drivers is critically important and I think we've got that.”
‘Pushing each other’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...W9srVKWDw.html
Norris highlights benefit of Piastri over Ricciardo
Sunday 23rd April, 2023 - 6:00am
By Ian Parkes
Speedcafe
Lando Norris feels he and Oscar Piastri are providing a consistency of feedback that is proving a benefit to McLaren in contrast to what he previously experienced with Daniel Ricciardo. The season so far has been a difficult one for both drivers given the limitations of a car which is forcing Norris to overdrive as he has been unable to get into a rhythm with the MCL60.
“I think he’s understood the car well,” said British driver Norris. “It’s obviously not an easy car to drive. I think that’s been made clear by past drivers and with comments I’ve made over the years. He did a very good job in Saudi (Arabia). He got into Q3 – the only Q3 this year so far (for McLaren). With regard to feedback and everything, our comments are probably a little bit more in line than what they have been in previous years, which again is a good thing.”
“Just because it’s a better dynamic for keeping the focus for the engineers, the aerodynamicists, and the rest of the team back at the MTC (McLaren Technology Centre). We kind of want the same thing in general, and I think that’s a good thing, It’s clear from our side. So yeah, from both sides – off track and on track – (it is) good stuff, and yeah, he is keeping me on my toes.”
‘Consistency of feedback’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/04/23...iel-ricciardo/
Nowhere near as bad as it seems - McLaren 2023 season review so far
Saturday 22 April 2023 14:57
Joe Ellis
GPFans
McLaren were perceived as perhaps the slowest car on the grid before the Bahrain Grand Prix, yet they find themselves fifth just three races later. In actual fact, the papaya presence has been so common at the front of the midfield that it came as a surprise to see them struggle to make Q2 in Sakhir. But their problems are nowhere near as bad as anybody is trying to make out right now.
Just looking at Bahrain, Oscar Piastri's debut Formula 1 race ended with him having electrical issues and Lando Norris' progress was curtailed by a persistent engine issue. Despite the need to pit every 10 laps as a result, Norris was still keeping up with the podium battle, albeit a lap down, which proved the speed in the car.
Despite being fifth in the standings after three rounds, McLaren won't be satisfied with their performance so far, and big upgrades are expected in Azerbaijan. Luckily for them, they know the main issue that needs to be resolved and they can focus a lot of their attention on it to get it solved. The car is just far too draggy right now, and it means they get little impact from the DRS when they get the chance to use it.
‘The papaya presence’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...season-review/
Why McLaren’s sure overhaul is no ‘wretchedly unworkable’ repeat
Apr 20 2023
By Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
McLaren’s overhauled technical organisation looks on the surface quite similar to a problematic and much-derided structure from the Formula 1 team’s not-too-distant past. An aerospace-inspired ‘matrix’ arrangement was adopted by McLaren under Martin Whitmarsh, sharing leadership responsibilities across multiple departments.
It led to patterns of three among the technical leadership – Adrian Newey, Tim Goss and Paddy Lowe, for example. Or latterly Goss, Peter Prodromou and Matt Morris. But the ‘three technical heads’ set-up was picked apart as Zak Brown assumed more control in the late-2010s and overhauled the structure.
But team principal Andrea Stella, who experienced the final years of the old, flawed arrangement, insists “the only common thing in that organisation and this one is the number three”. “The rest is completely different,” he says. “At the time, when I joined McLaren in 2015, there were three technical directors.”
‘Wretchedly unworkable’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/why-m...-team-blunder/
Brown reveals McLaren technical leadership changes were ‘in the works’ since late 2022
19 April 2023
Formula One - Official Site
McLaren boss Zak Brown has admitted that change was on the agenda inside the team from the closing stages of the 2022 season, with their rate of car development failing to live up to expectations.
“We had a Team Principal change at the end of the year and the first thing I did with Andrea was kind of help figure out, ‘Why aren’t we developing at the pace that we need to?’ He’s come up with a restructure, a model that really puts the three departments that you put together to build a fast race car: aero, concept and engineering.”
“Fortunately, Andrea’s very technical himself, so we have a technical Team Principal. Those three groups will come together and work hard to give us a fast race car, and I think they’ll have some impact yet this year.”
‘In the works’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...qFzGA6SUg.html
Stella: McLaren structure "completely different" from confusing 2015 F1 era.
McLaren Formula 1 team principal Andrea Stella says that the Woking outfit's three-way split of technical director responsibilities is not the same as a previous model that was deemed unsuccessful.
11:58 Thu, 20 Apr 2023.
By: Adam Cooper
Motorsport.com
Stella insists that the current arrangement cannot be compared with the earlier version. "I think the only common thing in that organisation and this one is the number three," he said.
"The rest is completely different. At the time, which is when I joined McLaren in 2015, there were three technical directors. I think the separation of competencies was very confusing. Even for internal people, it was quite difficult to understand who was doing what.”
“And the first difference is that now we know exactly what the criteria are for this separation. In the structure that we have deployed, we want to have clear leadership in relation to the three fundamental areas to make quick cars in modern F1, which are aerodynamics, car concept and engineering.”
‘McLaren structure "completely different" ’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...-era/10458605/
Brown slammed for axing Honda, Ricciardo at McLaren
16:23 Thu, 20 Apr 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has been criticised by former Ferrari and Williams team manager Peter Windsor for the decision to remove Honda and Daniel Ricciardo during his time at the helm. With McLaren struggling early in the 2023 season, Windsor, now an experienced F1 journalist, has questioned several of the calls Brown has committed to during his time in the hot seat at Woking.
“He got rid of Ron Dennis’s MP nomenclature, which upset Ron a bit. He’s got ‘MCL’ now,” Windsor began on his YouTube channel. “I think that was quite a big thing. It was a bigger thing than we realised at the time because Ron has taken that quite personally, because Ron likes to think MP4/1 was the start of the real McLaren.”
“Then, when he went in, he got rid of [the] Honda engines pretty quickly, which were free to McLaren, and replaced them with Mercedes, which he had to buy, and I think the number is £23million that he suddenly had to go from what they weren’t paying to what they suddenly had to pay as a Mercedes customer team. So he got rid of Honda. And Honda went on to win World Championships and he’s a Mercedes customer team. You have to say, looking back now, it was a pretty dodgy decision,” he remarked.
‘Slammed - Honda went on to win World Championships’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...do-at-mclaren/
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Lewis Hamilton branded a 'spoiled little boy' in vicious attack over 'whining' F1 antics.
“He’s a whiner, you know. The tyres, the strategy, he questions everything, and he has screwed up. When you have a [teammate] who is faster than you, it is normal to be quiet and put your head under your wing.” Joan Villadelprat.
14:22, Sun, Apr 23, 2023.
By Stuart Ballard
Daily and Sunday Express
Lewis Hamilton has been labelled a "spoiled little boy" by former McLaren and Ferrari employee Joan Villadelprat for being a "whiner" about Mercedes' lack of pace once again this season. It's been a disappointing campaign so far for the Silver Arrows after promising so much in the build-up to the 2023 season.
But Villadelprat believes Hamilton has voiced his opinion too much in a scathing attack on the British racing superstar. "Hamilton is fed up and, if he doesn’t win, he’s like a spoiled little boy: you either win or you break the toys,” he told El Confidencial. “I think he hasn’t lost but, after seven titles… What motivates you? Well, win another. And you’re not going to risk your skin if you don’t have that car.”
"What is evident is that Hamilton is not the same as his first or second championship.” Hamilton finished behind team-mate George Russell in the Drivers' Championship last year.
‘Vicious attack’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...lprat-Mercedes
'Leclerc talking to Mercedes' and the truth about Hamilton and Ferrari - F1 insider.
Sunday 23 April 2023 12:57
Graham Shaw
GPFans
The future of Lewis Hamilton is likely to be the biggest domino to fall in F1 in 2023, and what he does next will have a massive knock-on effect. If Hamilton does decide to end his love affair with Mercedes after claiming six world titles during a glorious run with the Silver Arrows, it will leave a prized seat to be claimed.
According to respected F1 insider Leo Turrini, the man who appears most likely to step into the breach is none other than Charles Leclerc, currently enduring a very frustrating time at Ferrari. Turrini then says current Ferrari president John Elkann enquired about Hamilton's contract situation in 2019, but the British star was very happy winning titles at Mercedes.
Turrini claims that Leclerc, contracted to the end of 2024 at Maranello, is already in contact with the Silver Arrows, explaining in his latest blog for Quotidiano Nazionale: "That Leclerc is talking to Mercedes is the open secret. Everyone knows it, from the remote garage in Maranello to the Indian Ocean.”
‘Massive knock-on effect’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ni-f1-insider/
‘Fed up whiner’ Lewis Hamilton ‘not the same driver’ any more
23 Apr 2023 11:30 AM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
A former F1 team manager has dubbed Lewis Hamilton a “spoiled little boy” and that he is no longer the same driver as when he won the title in 2008.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Spanish publication El Confidencial, Villadelprat, who worked for McLaren and Ferrari during his long F1 career as well as Benetton, Tyrrell and Prost, appeared distinctly unimpressed by the seven-time World Champion when asked about whether he feels Hamilton is struggling to match his new teammate George Russell.
Russell has out-qualified Hamilton on three successive occasions and had seized the lead of the Australian Grand Prix ahead of Hamilton in the early stages of the race in Melbourne until an engine issue took him out of contention.
‘Fed up whiner’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...e-same-driver/
Jordan urges Hamilton to consider Ferrari switch in ‘nonsense’ claim.
Pundit says “every great champion” needs to drive for the Scuderia
23rd April 2023.10:27
By Marc Mayo
Evening Standard
Lewis Hamilton risks going “stale” at Mercedes and should therefore consider a move to Ferrari, according to Eddie Jordan.
“I think he would like to win his eighth title but I have a passion in that I think he should go to Ferrari - but that’s just me talking nonsense,” Jordan told talkSPORT.
“I think if there’s an opportunity to go somewhere he should go to Ferrari because every great champion should at least have a spell at Ferrari because it just oozes with style and grandeur.”
‘Needs to drive for the Scuderia’;
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/b1076068.html
Lewis Hamilton’s public criticism has angered Toto Wolff
Mercedes is failing to keep up with its Red Bull rivals for the second season in a row, as it struggles to adapt to the new era of regulations.
22 April 2023
by Edward Hardy
Formula1News
Lewis Hamilton has not been afraid to be open about his thoughts on the performance of the Mercedes W14 so far this season, criticising the design. In front of reporters, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff supported Hamilton’s view, highlighting that he is also “not happy where the team, where the car has been developed to.”
However, former Formula 1 team boss Eddie Jordan believes that the comments from Hamilton will have caused a rift back at the team’s base between himself and Wolff. “As a team owner you wouldn’t have liked it,” Jordan told Express Sport.
“However, if I was a driver and I heard the team owner saying that ‘I think the engineers have let us down and they have missed something here, and they have missed something there’, I’m critical of Toto and I’m critical of the team.”
“Rift back at the team’s base”;
https://formula1news.co.uk/lewis-ham...ed-toto-wolff/
Lewis Hamilton has ‘gone stale’ at Mercedes says Eddie Jordan who compares star to David Beckham and says ‘it’s time to move on’
22nd April 2023, 1:43 pm
Connor Andrews
talkSPORT
Lewis Hamilton has been told to leave Mercedes to avoid ‘going stale’ by former Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan – who want him to join Ferrari. Jordan Grand Prix founder turned F1 pundit Eddie Jordan spoke to talkSPORT’s On Track show, and explained why he thinks it’s time for a move.
“I think he would like to win his eighth title but I have a passion in that I think he should go to Ferrari but that’s just me talking nonsense,” Jordan began. “The reason why is I don’t want him to become stale, and I think when he was at McLaren he did well but he moved quickly to Mercedes.”
“I was one of the people with Nikki Lauda who helped that happen, and then there was a refreshed, rejuvenated Lewis Hamilton, and we know what he’s done since then, however, I think it’s time he moved on. I think if there’s an opportunity to go somewhere he should go to Ferrari because every great champion should at least have a spell at Ferrari because it just oozes with style and grandeur.”
‘Gone stale’;
https://talksport.com/sport/motorsport/1402155/
Why Mercedes adversity will make Hamilton more dangerous
22 April 12:05PM
Author Ewan Gale
RacingNews365
Lewis Hamilton has been unable to avenge his 2021 defeat to Max Verstappen as Mercedes battle issues. But will the adversity faced by the seven-time champion make him a more dangerous rival when given competitive machinery? There have been so many moments in which Hamilton has overcome on-track adversity to secure success.
Who can forget the complete turnaround from disconsolation in the wake of prematurely giving up on his British Grand Prix qualifying attempt in wet-dry conditions in 2014, slipping to sixth on the grid? The dejection stoked emotion in anyone watching the post-session interviews on television, yet on race day Hamilton roared back to secure the victory.
What about the 2021 sprint event at Interlagos where Hamilton was controversially dropped to the back of the grid after qualifying when the FIA discovered his DRS slot gap did not conform to regulations? He put the disappointment behind him, despite the tension of battling for the title with Verstappen, to surge through the field in the sprint to finish fifth, before overcoming a further five-place grid penalty for an engine change to secure victory from 10th on the grid.
‘More dangerous’;
https://racingnews365.com/why-merced...more-dangerous
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Felipe Massa 'follows lawyer orders' after launching bid to strip Lewis Hamilton of title.
Lewis Hamilton could be stripped of his maiden world title after Felipe Massa launched a bid to bring legal proceedings into the Crashgate scandal of 2008.
12:57, Sun, Apr 23, 2023
By Benjamin Goddard
Daily and Sunday Express
Brazilian ex-F1 star Felipe Massa is reportedly 'following lawyer's orders' by keeping silent and refraining from making public statements after launching his bid to strip Lewis Hamilton of his 2008 world title. The 41-year-old finished second and a single point behind Hamilton in the 2008 Drivers' Championship - but that could now be overturned.
Comments made by F1 mogul Bernie Ecclestone could mean the result of the world championship being overturned 15 years after Hamilton won his maiden world title. The incident being challenged was during the Singapore Grand Prix when Massa dropped vital points after a pit stop error resulted in the Brazilian finishing 13th while Hamilton took third.
'Follows lawyer orders';
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...milton-F1-news
Bernie Ecclestone blamed for causing Lewis Hamilton title row as legal options discussed
Lewis Hamilton is at the centre of a surprise move from Felipe Massa to get the result of the 2008 F1 World Championship overturned.
09:08, Tue, Apr 11, 2023
By Stuart Ballard
Daily and Sunday Express
Bernie Ecclestone has caused a "fire" with his claim that Felipe Massa was 'cheated' out of winning the 2008 World Championship ahead of Lewis Hamilton. That's the opinion of Dutch racing driver Tom Coronel, who believes there is "zero" chance the title gets overturned.
Ecclestone caused a stir last month when he claimed the result of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix should have been cancelled after learning of Nelson Piquet Jr's deliberate crash. The former F1 supremo decided against taking a stand at the time, admitting he found out about the deliberate crash during the 2008 season, before the story eventually came out a year later.
‘Caused a "fire" ’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-legal-options
Ex-F1 driver tells Felipe Massa ‘there’s a time limit’ on Lewis Hamilton title dispute
18 Apr 2023 10:45 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Felipe Massa should stop all talk of seeking legal action over the 2008 World title with former British F1 driver Tiff Needell saying it’s too late for that. He told Express Sport: “You can’t cancel it now. From that race on people ran tactics from the points that were on the board.
“If he’d appealed for the race to be null and void but I guess they didn’t know it was deliberate. As soon as they had announced it, if they had put an appeal in then, then maybe. There’s a time limit.”
‘There’s a time limit’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ex-f1-...-2008-dispute/
‘Crashgate’ cost Ferrari that F1 title. So did a familiar fault
Apr 15 2023
By Mark Hughes
The Race
If the only races which counted towards the 2008 world championship were those which had not been illegally subverted, then Felipe Massa would be Ferrari’s most recent Formula 1 world champion. The defrauding of the outcome of Singapore that year lost Massa a race he would otherwise almost certainly have won and in hindsight it lost him the title.
Ferrari and Massa elected not to pursue legal resolutions at the time, when the scandal made its way out into the open. But Singapore 2008 has been in the news again as of late, due to Massa publicly reconsidering that stance.
‘Crashgate’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/crash...amiliar-fault/
Massa could have won title despite ‘Crashgate’ – Piquet Jnr
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on 15th April 2023, 0:0114th April 2023, 20:12
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
Nelson Piquet Jnr says the crash he caused during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix needn’t have cost Felipe Massa the world championship that year. Massa is seeking legal action over the race, which Fernando Alonso won after Piquet, his Renault team mate, deliberately crashed in order to cause a Safety Car period. During that period Massa pitted but suffered a botched pit stop which ended his chances of scoring any points.
Piquet insisted his crash wasn’t done “to affect a person directly – it was a team order to help someone within our team. It wasn’t to disturb Felipe,” he told the Pelas Pistas podcast. “It was nothing like that. We don’t know what happened, you know? Felipe could very well have won that race if that hadn’t happened at the pit stop.”
“It wasn’t to disturb Felipe”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/04/15/...nd-up-15-04-6/
McLaren brutally troll Felipe Massa on TikTok after threat to Lewis Hamilton's title
Felipe Massa is looking at taking legal action over Lewis Hamilton's 2008 F1 World Championship.
12:05, Thu, Apr 13, 2023
By Stuart Ballard
Daily and Sunday Express
McLaren have poked fun at Felipe Massa's plea to have the result of the 2008 F1 season overturned for being in 'denial' at Lewis Hamilton's title. Bernie Ecclestone sensationally revealed recently that he "decided not to do anything" to protect F1 from a "huge scandal" after learning of Nelson Piquet Jr's intentional crash at the Singapore Grand Prix.
‘Brutally Troll’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ton-2008-title
McLaren aim dig at Felipe Massa amid dispute over Lewis Hamilton’s first F1 title win
Thursday 13 Apr 2023 11:52 am
Callum McAvoy
Metro.co.uk
Sir Lewis Hamilton’s former team McLaren have jokingly slated Felipe Massa’s claim that the 2008 Formula One title belongs to him. It remains to be seen whether Massa, who retired in 2017 having never again challenged for an F1 title, will actually take the matter to court but the 41-year-old seems adamant that he should be considered a world champion.
‘I think if you’ve been punished for something that wasn’t your fault, and it’s the product of a robbery, a stolen race, justice has to be served,’ the 11-time grand prix winner told Motorsport.com. ‘In fact, the right situation is to cancel the result of that race. It is the only justice that can be done in a case like this.’
‘McLaren aim dig’;
https://metro.co.uk/2023/04/13/lewis...o=newsnow-feed
McLaren pokes fun at Massa as he considers action over F1 2008 title outcome
13:26 Thu, 13 Apr 2023.
by Motorsport Week
Ecclestone recently claimed that Max Mosley, then the president of the FIA, knew about the situation during the 2008 season but “decided not to do anything for now”. Massa said that he was “very sad” to hear that Mosley was aware of the incident, and understands that it is unlikely anything will change.
“There are rules, and there are many things that, depending on the country, you cannot go back after 15 years to resolve a situation,” he said. “But I intend to study the situation; study what the laws say, and the rules. We have to have an idea of what is possible to do.”
Amid the situation, McLaren has opted to post a TikTok using a viral sound that contains ‘Denial is a river in Egypt’ (a play on the words ‘The Nile’). Almost 24 hours after the video has been posted, it has over half a million views as well as over 100,000 likes.
‘McLaren pokes fun’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...title-outcome/
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All talk and no walk - Alpine 2023 season review so far.
The drivers are holding up their end of the bargain right now, they need the team to start doing the same and deliver on the hype they drummed up themselves before a wheel was turned.
Friday 21 April 2023 15:28
Joe Ellis
GPFans
All the talk coming out of Enstone before the 2023 Formula 1 season suggested that this year's Alpine car would be even better than 2022's edition. Podiums and fights with Mercedes and Ferrari were the aim for the French manufacturer, with a car below the minimum weight limit which would allow them to use ballast to gain a performance advantage.
But that extreme focus on weight loss has seemingly caused them to neglect the other fundamentals they need to be successful. They are still probably the pick of the midfield, but Alpine were hoping to be out of that conversation and among the big teams this year, similar to how Aston Martin have progressed.
‘All talk and no walk’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...season-review/
‘No Point Racing’ if Alpine Do Not Believe they can replicate Aston Martin-like Progress – Ocon
April 18, 2023
By Paul Hensby
The Checkered Flag
Esteban Ocon has full belief that his BWT Alpine F1 Team can contend at the front of the field much like the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team, and if he didn’t, he says there would be ‘no point in racing’.
Aston Martin made a big jump in performance ahead of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season and currently sit second in the Constructors’ Championship after the first three races of the season, three races where Fernando Alonso has finished on the podium. Ocon says that Alpine’s engineers should have the same kind of belief that they can make a big leap forward after seeing what Aston Martin have done, and they should give up in they lose that belief.
“We have to in our mind think it is possible, otherwise there’s no point racing,” Ocon is quoted as saying by Motorsport.com. “If you think about it, we finished the season in December and when we restarted it was end of February, beginning of March. So it’s about three, four months.
‘Think it is possible’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...progress-ocon/
Alpine dismiss concerns over impact of 'costly' Australia crash
23 April 8:55AM
Author Anna Francis
Co-author Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
The Australian Grand Prix ended in disaster for Alpine, with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon making contact at the penultimate race restart which resulted in both retiring. Team boss Otmar Szafnauer has explained whether this could affect the squad in terms of the cost cap. When asked about the ramifications from this on the budget cap, Szafnauer voiced his confidence that the team would not be too greatly affected.
"From a budget cap perspective, I think we are going to be okay, from everything I know," the Team Principal explained to media, including RacingNews365.com. "So I don't think there's any concerns. It will be costly so, from a money perspective, it probably would have been a lot less costly had it not happened."
‘Dismiss concerns’;
https://racingnews365.com/alpine-dis...ustralia-crash
Alpine boss reveals COSTLY issue ahead of Baku
Monday 17 April 2023 21:17
Sam Hall
GPFans
Team principal Otmar Szafnauer has revealed Alpine is battling to have enough parts ready for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon collided following a late-red flag restart at the Australian Grand Prix, with both drivers retiring as a result of significant damage sustained.
While the pair have apologised for the contact and moved on, Alpine faces a race against time to simultaneously build a parts store and manufacture upgrades ahead of the Baku weekend. Asked how tough it will be to be ready in time for Azerbaijan, Szafnauer said: "From getting parts ready for the next race, I don’t know yet. It’s a little bit too early to tell. But we will pull out all of the stops to get ample spares to the next race and the upgrade we have coming.”
‘Pull out all of the stops’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...stralia-smash/
Alpine expects Baku F1 upgrade to be a ‘reasonable step’
10:36 Wed, 19 Apr 2023.
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
Read Motorsport
Alpine chief technical officer Pat Fry says the team’s first major upgrade of the year at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix should be a “reasonable step”. The Enstone-based outfit has acknowledged it needs to begin making strides with its in-season development and is planning to introduce its first significant car updates for Baku.
“As last year, we’ve got a reasonable upgrade plan running,” said Fry, as quoted by The Race. “We should have a reasonable step for Baku and then more coming through, so at race four and race six [Imola] there should be some reasonable steps coming.”
‘Reasonable steps coming’;
https://readmotorsport.com/2023/04/1...asonable-step/
Alpine confident of challenging Mercedes in coming F1 races
10:41 Sun, 23 Apr 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer is confident the addition of some upgrades will enable it to take the fight to Mercedes in the coming Formula 1 races. Alpine is planning to debut an extensive upgrade package at the next round in Azerbaijan – plus further new parts a week later in Miami – and Szafnauer is confident the developments will bring the team nearer to its 2023 target of closing on the top three.
Asked if he is wary of Mercedes’ planned major upgrade for Imola in May taking the German team beyond Alpine’s grasp he said: “No, we think we can fight with them. Yeah, we too have a decent-size upgrade coming for Baku and then a little bit more only a week later in Miami, so we continue to push the upgrades out.”
‘Take the fight to Mercedes’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...ming-f1-races/
Alpine boss in favour of early F1 season break
Saturday 22nd April, 2023 - 11:49am
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer has suggested that the current three-week break early in the F1 season has merit. F1 was last in action on the opening weekend of April and will be back on track at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Round 4 of the championship, at the end of the month.
“Although not planned, in a calendar that has 23 races and some back-to-backs and triple headers, it’s nice to have a three-week break now, a three-week break in August, and a break for Christmas,” said Szafnauer. “Maybe, if it’s just so by luck that we gain the knowledge that it’s good to do it this way, maybe it should be by design in the future.’
‘Current three-week break early in the F1 season has merit’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/04/22...-season-break/
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Baku WOES expected for Ferrari after upgrade REVELATION.
Ferrari's upgrade package for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is not expected to solve the major issues with the car.
Monday 24 April 2023 12:57
Harry Smith
GPFans
Reports in the Italian media have suggested that Ferrari's upgrades for Baku will not allow the drivers to extract maximum performance from the car. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Ferrari's impending upgrades are not enough to unlock the car's maximum performance.
The report states: "The developments that will be seen in a week's time in Baku do not form part of the package of modifications defined to solve the problems that have so far prevented us from extracting the full potential from the Ferrari SF-23."
"The targeted development plan will unfold between Imola and Montmelò, with perhaps a sort of preview in Miami with regards to the wings." This will be a source of frustration for Ferrari fans, who will likely have to watch their team chase down Aston Martin and Mercedes once again in Baku.
‘WOES expected for Ferrari’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...prix-upgrades/
The Baku blow for Ferrari which could make them more vulnerable to rivals
24 Apr 2023 6:45 AM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has confirmed the team will not bring upgrades with them to Baku this weekend, but reassured “a flow of updates” will come to the SF-23 soon.
As the team are lagging behind Red Bull, along with the rest of the field, Vasseur also ruled out the possibility of the team running a full concept change this year – instead opting to try and “massively” upgrade what they already have.
“No, I don’t think so,” Vasseur responded when asked if Ferrari will take a different approach with their car design as 2023 progresses, as per Formula1.com.
‘Baku blow for Ferrari’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrar...-upgrade-blow/
Azerbaijan GP: Frederic Vasseur hands Ferrari fans a huge blow
Ferrari are set to introduce upgrades at several consecutive races, starting from the Miami Grand Prix.
24 April 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has dealt fans of the Italians a huge blow, after revealing that the Maranello-based team will not be taking any upgrades to this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Ferrari’s aim is to “update massively” the SF-23 in the coming races, in a bid to at least return to second in the pecking order. “I think that we will have a flow of updates that some will come,” Vasseur said, as reported by GPFans.
“Not at Baku, because Baku we have the aero package for the level of downforce, [and] with the Sprint race it’s not the easiest one. But from Miami, Imola, not Monaco, but Barcelona – each race will have an update on the car.”
‘Starting from the Miami Grand Prix’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/azerbaija...s-a-huge-blow/
Ferrari poach Red Bull engineers as Charles Leclerc eyes Maranello exit
Ferrari recently lost head of vehicle concept David Sanchez to McLaren.
23 April 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News
It has been revealed by Italian publication Corriere dello Sport that Ferrari have signed two engineers from rivals Red Bull, with the duo set to join the Maranello-based team next year.
The two engineers that Ferrari have signed are required to enter a “full gardening” leave, meaning they won’t be able to work with the Italians until 2024. This is fairly common when an engineer moves to a rival team, something Ferrari certainly are for Red Bull.
“Two engineers have just been hired and have ceased their activity at Red Bull, they are in full gardening [leave] and will be in force in Maranello in 2024,” reports Corriere dello Sport. “But their names are not yet known, nor is it known how much difference they can make. After all, the Cavallino has hired thirty technicians in the last three years – even from top teams like Red Bull and Mercedes”.
“Full Gardening” leave’;
https://formula1news.co.uk/ferrari-p...aranello-exit/
Charles Leclerc in Mercedes talks as F1 paddock's "open secret" may impact Lewis Hamilton
12:22, 24 Apr 2023
By Anna Malyon
The Mirror
Rumours regarding the futures of both Hamilton and Leclerc have been rife in recent weeks, given the looming expiry of their respective contracts with Mercedes and Ferrari. It is an "open secret" in the Formula 1 paddock that Charles Leclerc has been speaking with Mercedes amid speculation over his Ferrari future.
The Monegasque's contract with the Scuderia expires at the end of next season and, at the moment, there are no signs that a renewal is imminent. He has been heavily linked with Mercedes as a result, especially given the future of Lewis Hamilton is also far from set in stone.
According to renowned Italian F1 journalist Leo Turrini, if Hamilton chooses not to stay at the Silver Arrows the vacant seat would likely be taken by Leclerc. With both Ferrari and Mercedes not close to be competing with Red Bull this season, the two racers have been considering their futures.
"Open secret" may impact Lewis Hamilton’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-2024-29793844
