2023 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

Aston Martin assess chances of returning to second-fastest car.
Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack believes this car development war will impact their ability to return to second quickest.
Author Rory Mitchell
16 August 4:25PM
RacingNews365

Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack has assessed the team's chances of returning to being the second quickest car behind Red Bull.

"Under normal circumstances, you would say to gain three positions in such a field, over the short time of 11 events, it’s very hard and very ambitious.”

"On the other hand, the gaps are very small. We have seen how much we have lost, and I think the most important is to recover that and try to recover a little bit more."

“The gaps are very small”;

https://racingnews365.com/aston-mart...nd-fastest-car


Krack insists Aston Martin need to 'recover' and 'close the gap' after slipping down the pecking order
16 August 2023
Formula One - Official Site

Aston Martin Team Principal Mike Krack admits his team now have the fifth-fastest car on the grid but has given the reasons why his side have tumbled down the pecking order, as they now plot their route back on to the podium places.


He later added: “From our side we will try to improve the car further. There are a couple of things planned for Zandvoort, and we need to close that gap again.”

‘Need to recover';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...OIzhJg3oO.html


Aston Martin have "good" amount of budget left to spend on developing 2023 car
16th August 2023, 00:06
Ida Wood
RaceFans

Aston Martin remain in a position where they have money to spend within their 2023 budget on car development, and plan to use it later this year.

Aston Martin’s performance director Tom McCullough told RaceFans. “Our job is to understand what we’ve actually done to our car on track, relative to the development tool, where our relative competitiveness in low, medium, high [speed] corners, straight-line speed – with and without DRS. Obviously each track has different requirements as well. So that side of the analysis, I think we’ve understood what we’ve done to the car.”

“The developments that are coming in the second half of the season are already actually addressing some of the areas. Of course you try to address the areas you’re not as strong in. I think really from Zandvoort onwards, we’re going to have some continuous development as we’ve done all year. We still have good budget left to keep developing our car hard. And that’s our plan for the second half of the season.”

‘Good amount of budget left’;

https://www.racefans.net/2023/08/16/...nd-up-16-08-6/


Aston Martin send ominous warning to Mercedes
Aston Martin have fallen backwards in the pecking order since introducing a recent large upgrades package.
15 August 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News

Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough has revealed that the Silverstone-based team still have money to continue developing the AMR23, but noted that they will also focus on next season’s car.

When the second half of the season gets underway, further upgrades will be installed in the hope of rediscovering their early year pace, whilst they’ll also have an eye on 2024. “We’ve been targeting quite strong development throughout the year and we have budget to keep developing the car,” McCullough said.

“That’s our aim, so we are bringing some steps all the way to the end of the championship really – as much as we can do. At a certain point, you have to fully focus on 2024, but we’re in the phase now where we’re able to work on both cars.”

‘Fallen backwards’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/aston-mar...g-to-mercedes/


Lance Stroll dubbed ‘most stressed driver on the grid’ thanks to Fernando Alonso
15 Aug 2023 12:45 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Lance Stroll “sounds like the most stressed driver on the grid” on team radio, according to Le Mans winner Richard Bradley. While discussing mid-season driver ratings on the On Track GP Podcast, 2015 Le Mans winner Bradley believes that the Canadian has cut a “stressed” figure on team radio this year, but his achievements should not be forgotten either.

“It’s difficult at the beginning [of the season] because remember at the beginning he was injured as well, obviously there was a question mark over whether he’d miss the first couple of races when he fell off his bike,” he said.

“So it’s very hard to look at and rate those because it’s obviously [difficult] when you’re recovering from injury, I was going to say three, maybe a four [out of 10]. When you listen to him on the radio, he certainly sounds stressed – he sounds like the most stressed driver on the grid, maybe that’s just his personality.”

‘Most stressed driver on the grid’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lance-...rnando-alonso/


Q&A with Fernando Alonso
"IT HAS BEEN A DREAM START FOR US!"
AUGUST 15, 2023
GrandPrix.com

The Spaniard insists the first half of the 2023 World Champion has surpassed his and his team's expectations and vows to continue to fight to come back to the front of the field and, eventually, score that elusive 33rd Grand Prix win the whole of Spain seems to be desperately hoping for.

Q: More recently you had a couple of disappointed weekends, but in Belgium you finished ahead of one Mercedes, and the sole surviving McLarens, so is there some satisfaction that things are coming back in the right direction?
Alonso: I think so. I think the car felt fast on race day in Spa, the guys did an incredible job again on the strategy, also on the pit stops.

Q: Based on what's going on at Alpine, you're now certain you made the right decision coming here instead of staying where you were?
Alonso: Obviously you never know that. You know, it would be nice to have a crystal ball and before you make a decision in switching teams you know the future, but yes, at the end I'm happy where I am, and there is a project here into the future and I'm very proud.

‘Q&A EL PLAN’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/qanda...do-alonso.html

Watch out Ferrari and Audi: Red Bull’s F1 2026 engine is ‘miles ahead’.
Rather than Red Bull Powertrains struggling to hit targets, advisor Helmut Marko says they are “miles ahead” of Audi and Ferrari in the development of their new power unit for 2026.
15 Aug 2023 6:45 AM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

The regulations for 2026 are set, but recently Red Bull principal Christian Horner called for some revisions to be made, fearing that drivers were going to need to downshift on the straights in order to harvest electrical energy for these power units.

Mercedes principal Toto Wolff subsequently shut that possibility down, suggesting it was born from Red Bull perhaps fearing that their Red Bull Powertrains division, which has partnered with Ford, was not finding the desired success with their power unit.

It is quite the opposite though Marko ensures, who believes while Mercedes are about on a par with the development of their PU, Ferrari and newcomers Audi are lagging “miles behind” in the process. “I don’t think we are technically behind. We have brought in people from Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Cosworth [for the engine department],” Marko told Motorsport-Total.com.

‘Miles ahead’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/helmut...i-2026-engine/


Marko goads Mercedes as Red Bull chief THANKS F1 rivals for key staff members
Wednesday 16 August 2023 09:12
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans

Helmut Marko has claimed that Red Bull are 'miles ahead' of their Formula 1 rivals when it comes to their engine development, in part due to the team's aggressive recruitment strategy.

Marko also emphasised that Red Bull's new engine factory in Milton Keynes is 'state of the art', going on to insist that the team are clear of teams such as Ferrari and future F1 rivals, Audi.

"In August, we are still running a complete combustion engine with MGU-K and battery," he added. "There we are miles ahead of Audi, we are miles ahead of Ferrari, and Mercedes is about the same."

‘THANKS F1 rivals for key staff members’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-2026-changes/


Marko, Alonso and Verstappen united in PROTEST against FIA
Tuesday 15 August 2023 11:57
Luis Raya
GPFans

Helmut Marko has joined Alonso and Verstappen's protest for the reduction of weight and size of the current F1 cars. "The size complicates things more than the weight. In the early corners of the race, it's now difficult to position the car solely due to its size, not its weight. I think significantly reducing the weight of the cars will be tough, as hybrid engines will always be heavier than regular engines, and safety in these cars is also much greater," said Fernando Alonso.

Helmut Marko also took the opportunity to discuss his collaboration with Ford starting in 2026, which will coincide with a major rule change. "We have the best when it comes to internal combustion engines. And we have two very brilliant minds on the electric side," Marko said, confident in his bid for 2026.

‘United in PROTEST against FIA’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...t-against-fia/


David Croft demands major change: 'Stop the FIA being F1 rule-makers'
16 Aug 2023
Harvey Orgill
Crash.Net

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has made a bold claim on the rule-making process in F1, stating that Liberty Media should have more of a say. When asked about the subject and what he would like to see changed in Formula 1, Croft told the Sky F1 podcast: “First and foremost, I’d have to stop the FIA being the rule-makers.”

“That’s the trouble the commercial rights holder (Liberty Media) has, it’s that they don’t make the rules – they can have an influence because they have a standing on the F1 Commission, but they don’t make the rules… the FIA does. I think the time has come in F1 to actually bring the two parties a lot more closely aligned.”

While Croft admitted F1 had a large say in the current regulations along with the FIA, he still feels the sport should place more importance on it’s marketing by giving more power to Liberty Media: “They are a lot more closely aligned and these regulation changes had been driven by F1 rather than the FIA.”

'Stop the FIA being F1 rule-makers';

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103336...-f1-rulemakers


David Croft calls for drastic FIA removal that would rock F1’s foundation
16 Aug 2023 12:45 PM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Sky F1 commentator David Croft believes the FIA should have no further involvement in the evolution of Formula 1’s rulebooks. “That’s the trouble the commercial rights holder (Liberty Media) has, it’s that they don’t make the rules – they can have an influence because they have a standing on the F1 Commission, but they don’t make the rules… the FIA does.”

Croft also posited that the expanding race calendar for 2024, an expansion that has come about under Liberty Media’s watch, is pushing the limit of what fans can cope with – particularly with the inclusion of Sprint weekends. “I think we’re getting there with the Sprint,” he said.

“But, personally, I think we’re at the limit for the number of races. I don’t think we need any more races and sometimes less is more on that one. We’ll do 24 next year, and then we’ll revisit it again – maybe 24 might be a bit too much. Because to actually ask people to invest so much time in the sport for 24 races, as fans, is asking a huge amount. But I understand why it’s happening.”

‘Drastic FIA removal’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/david-...r-fia-removal/

Steiner impressed by Hulkenberg's speed in readapting to full-time F1 drive.
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner was impressed by the speed at which Nico Hulkenberg became reacquainted with the rigours of Formula 1 without a full-time seat for three years.
Aug 17, 2023, 12:31 PM
By: Jake Boxall-Legge
Co-author: Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com

Reflecting on his decision to sign Hulkenberg, Steiner explained that he feared the Rhinelander would need time to fully reacquaint himself with the day-to-day work as an F1 driver - but his anxieties were quickly relieved.

"I've been pretty, pretty impressed. We took him for one reason, because we know we can drive a race car. The doubt was after three years as not a full-time driver, how long does it take him to catch up?" Steiner explained.

"It didn't take him any time because he was there from day one, you know, which is very good. It's actually very impressive, but also as a human being, he tries to help the team and that's what we wanted with the experience, that's what I always said.”

‘Impressed by Hulkenberg's speed’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...rive/10508280/


Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg set to be retained by Guenther Steiner at Haas for F1 2024 season
14 Aug 2023
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net

Kevin Magnussen’s contract is expiring but he is reportedly set to remain at Haas next season. Guenther Steiner’s team are expected to want to keep the same driver line-up for the 2024 season. They brought in Nico Hulkenberg this year, as Mick Schumacher’s replacement, to team with Magnussen.

“Having had their hands burned trialling an inexperienced line-up that brought funding, Haas have flipped back to experience,” F1.com’s Lawrence Barretto reported. “It’s paying dividends with the American team in the fight to finish seventh in what would be their best finish since 2018.”

“It’s almost certain they will name an unchanged line-up for 2024.” Talks to extend Magnussen’s stay are “ongoing” and “believed to be very positive”, it was reported. Hulkenberg is also discussing a new deal with Haas.

‘To be retained’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103327...-driver-lineup


Two seats taken off the F1 driver market with new contracts imminent
F1's ‘silly season' is fast approaching with drivers up and down the grid searching for new contracts.
11:49, Mon, Aug 14, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

Haas duo Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen are both set to sign new contracts with the team for the 2024 season with no changes expected from Guenther Steiner, according to a recent report. With nine points to his name, Hulkenberg has brought in the lion’s share of the team’s tally this campaign with the issues in the team largely coming from the other side of the garage.

Even more impressive have been the German’s qualifying performances. While Magnussen has failed to reach Q3 on all but one occasion this season, Hulkenberg has appeared in Q3 in half of the Grands Prix this year, exiting in Q1 only three times in the process. These performances have made the decision to renew his deal a no-brainer for Steiner and Haas.

‘New contracts imminent’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...n-new-contract


Steiner: No alternative to Haas solution
Wednesday 16th August, 2023 - 12:12pm
By Ian Parkes, Mat Coch
Speedcafe

There is no current alternative to the way Haas operates its Formula 1 team, according to its boss Guenther Steiner. The American-registered operation employs arguably the most complicated model of all 10 current teams with offices spread across three counties.

However, given the choice, Steiner admits he would consolidate the Haas operation. “But I don’t have a choice in the moment,” he admitted. “If you would like to do something different, you need to come up with a good way how to do it. But in the moment, there is no good way how to unify the team like this.”

“The only thing would be to take the race team to Italy,” he added. “That is much easier than to take the design team to the UK, but that is also not possible because we have got 100 people working there and I will need to replace at least half of them, maybe more, because more than half of them wouldn’t come to Italy.”

‘The most complicated model’;

https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/08/16...haas-solution/


38: Steiner-FIA Spat Great For Netflix-F1 Show
In PodcastsPublish DateAugust 17, 2023
Kunal Shah
Kunal's F1 Blog

Guenther Steiner is a character that keeps giving, especially when it comes to the Netflix-F1 show. Thankfully, the star of season 1 of ‘Drive to Survive’ was let off with a small financial penalty.

‘Guenther Steiner is a character that keeps giving’;

https://www.kunalsf1blog.com/38-stei...tflix-f1-show/


Guenther Steiner casts verdict on ‘not normal’ sackings at Alpine
16 Aug 2023 7:30 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Sacking Otmar Szafnauer and Alan Permane on the eve of the summer holiday, Guenther Steiner concedes that’s not “normal” but “everybody does it their own way”. Having previously achieved success with Racing Point, a team that punched above its weight financially, Haas team boss Steiner feels Szafnauer’s exit makes little sense, and the timing of it even less. He, however, has backed the long-time Formula 1 team boss to recover “pretty quick” from his exit.

“It was done in not the normal way,” conceded the Haas team boss, “but everybody does it their own way. I think obviously Otmar will be disappointed, but he has been there before. If you are in this job, I think most of us have been there before. One door closes, another one opens. In the end, in this job, it is just a difficult job.”

“You are in the public eye; things can happen, and you just have to deal with that. I’m not saying that it’s nice to deal with it, but it’s part of it. I think Otmar will be over it pretty quick. As I said he has been there before, and these things they happen, it’s part of our life as a team principal.”

‘Not normal sackings’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine...ot-normal-way/

Massa lawyers start LEGAL ACTION to strip Hamilton of F1 title.
Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa's legal team have initiated legal proceedings against Formula One officials and the governing body FIA, alleging that a 'conspiracy' denied him the 2008 Formula One championship, according to Reuters.
Friday 18 August 2023 06:57
Jay Winter
GPFans

The legal action seeks substantial damages for the alleged manipulation that cost Massa tens of millions of euros in lost earnings and bonuses. In a formal 'Letter Before Claim,' Massa's lawyers have stated that the Brazilian driver was deprived of the championship title through actions at the highest echelons of the sport.

The letter was sent to Formula One's CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. It was dated August 15 and came from the London offices of Enyo Law. "Simply put, Mr. Massa is the rightful 2008 Driver's Champion, and F1 and FIA deliberately ignored the misconduct that cheated him out of that title," the letter claims.

‘Initiated legal proceedings’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-legal-action/


Ex-Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa claims he is ‘rightful’ 2008 champion not Lewis Hamilton
Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 8:53 PM
Mauricio Savarese
Sports.Yahoo.com

SAO PAULO – Former Formula One driver Felipe Massa has accused the auto racing series' governing body of conspiring to prevent him from winning the 2008 title, and the Brazilian claimed he is the “rightful” champion.

A member of Massa’s management team told The Associated Press on Thursday that the letter was also sent to Formula One Management, alleging the two bodies failed to act after learning that same year that Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr. had deliberately crashed at the Singapore Grand Prix to help then-teammate Fernando Alonso win the race.

Massa’s letter was triggered by an interview of former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who said in March that he was aware of Piquet’s deliberate crash in that same year but chose not to investigate it until Hamilton received the season’s title at an FIA ceremony.

‘Rightful 2008 Champion’;

https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-formula-...iGCm961aVLXuOZ


Ex-F1 star threatens F1 with legal action over ‘conspiracy’ to deny him 2008 title
August 18th, 2023 3:25 pm
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports (Australia)

Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has commenced legal action against Formula 1 and motorsport governing body the FIA over allegations a “conspiracy” denied him the 2008 world championship. The Renault F1 team had secured victory for Fernando Alonso by ordering his then teammate Nelson Piquet Junior to crash, triggering a safety car that put the Spaniard into the lead. Pole-getter Massa dropped from first place to outside the points. Title rival Lewis Hamilton finished third, extending his championship lead to seven points.

Hamilton won the title by one point at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix. Renault’s actions came to light in 2009 when Piquet Junior went public with his claims after being sacked by the team. In an interview with German website F1 Insider earlier this year former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone revealed that both he and then FIA president Max Mosley had known the race had been fixed during the 2008 season.

“We decided not to do anything at first,” Ecclestone said. “We wanted to protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal. We had enough information in time to investigate the matter. According to the (FIA) statutes, we should have cancelled the race in Singapore under these conditions. That means it would never have happened for the world championship standings. Then Felipe Massa would have become world champion and not Lewis Hamilton.”

‘Conspiracy’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...37d9184beda474


F1’s ‘Crashgate’ scandal returns as Felipe Massa seeks justice for a lost title
21:33 Thu, 17 Aug 2023.
By Madeline Coleman
The Athletic

One of Formula One’s most infamous scandals, “Crashgate,” is back in the headlines after Felipe Massa and his lawyers made a push for justice and understanding this week.

The incident went down during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix. Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed in that September race, triggering a chain of events that helped his teammate, Fernando Alonso, win the race and left Massa out of the points. That made all the difference at season’s end, when Lewis Hamilton bested Massa for the drivers’ championship by a single point.

In 2009, Piquet Jr. revealed he was told to purposefully crash. A subsequent investigation led to heavy punishments for Renault personnel, and the world moved on — until this season. In March,F1-insider.com published quotes attributed to former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, suggesting that he and then-FIA president Max Mosley decided not to investigate the potential breach, despite being aware of it.

‘F1’s ‘Crashgate’ scandal returns’;

https://theathletic.com/4785380/2023...son-piquet-jr/


Felipe Massa seek compensation for lost 2008 F1 title
18th August 2023.03:38
Malay Mail

LONDON, Aug 18 — Lawyers for former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa have started legal action against Formula One bosses and the governing FIA seeking substantial damages resulting from an alleged “conspiracy” that denied him the 2008 championship.

A formal eight-page Letter Before Claim, seen by Reuters, was sent to Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali and Paris-based FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem on August 15. Such a letter is a required formal legal notice before court proceedings. London-based Enyo Law said Brazilian Massa, now 42, had been “the victim of a conspiracy committed by individuals at the highest level of F1 together with the FIA and Formula One Management”.

It said Massa had lost out on tens of millions of euros in lost earnings and bonuses as a result of another driver’s deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix that was allegedly covered up before becoming a scandal in 2009. The crash cost Massa vital points in a season where he ultimately lost out by a single point to McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, the first of the Briton’s record-equalling seven.

‘Seek compensation’;

https://www.malaymail.com/news/sport...f1-title/85825


Massa taking legal action against FIA, FOM over crashgate - reports | RaceFans Round-up
18th August 2023, 00:06
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans

Former FOM chief Bernie Ecclestone claimed in an interview earlier this year that he and former FIA president Max Mosley were aware that Piquet’s crash was intentional but had not acted to avoid a controversy over the results of the championship.

‘Legal action against FIA, FOM’;

https://www.racefans.net/2023/08/18/...nd-up-18-08-6/


Massa steps up legal challenge over lost 2008 F1 world title
Felipe Massa has stepped up his legal battle over losing the 2008 Formula 1 world championship by sending a letter to the FIA and F1 laying out the details of his impending claim.
18:32 Thu, 17 Aug 2023.
By: Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com

In March (2023), Ecclestone was quoted in an interview by F1-insider saying the result of the Singapore race, in which Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed to help Renault team-mate Fernando Alonso win, could have been thrown out, which would have swung the title race in favour of the Ferrari driver.

In April (2023), Massa signalled his intention to take legal action against the results of the 2008 F1 world championship, which he lost to McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by a single point.

After assembling a legal team, Massa has now sent a so-called Letter Before Claim to the FIA and FOM (15th August 2023) which sets out the details of the case the Brazilian intends to pursue in court.

‘Letter to the FIA and F1 laying out the details of his impending claim’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/m...itle/10508519/

Dutch GP threatened by protest.
The upcoming Dutch Grand Prix could be interrupted by local taxi drivers, who are threatening to block the roads to the circuit in a dispute over services.
18 August 11:35AM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365

Taxi drivers have been informed by letter they cannot work during the Grand Prix weekend, as they will not be permitted to enter the area. This has caused uproar among drivers as the event expects over 100,000 visitors per-day, many of whom would be able to use these taxi services.

It is reported that 150 taxi drivers will be blocked from being able to get close to Zandvoort over the race weekend. This has led to the drivers demanding a solution from the municipality of Zandvoort or the Dutch GP organisers, otherwise they will come up with 'extreme measures' such as protests or blocking the access roads to the circuit.

‘Threatening to block the roads’;

https://racingnews365.com/dutch-gp-t...ned-by-protest


Huge protests threaten to DERAIL Dutch Grand Prix
Saturday 19 August 2023 09:12
Janice Kusters
GPFans

Over the past few months, several Grands Prix have encountered recurrent risks of protests and blockades, with climate activists frequently being the source of these challenges.

The tables have turned for the upcoming race in Zandvoort, as Dutch taxi drivers find themselves in a state of fury triggered by a recent alteration in the monitoring of taxi licensing for the Dutch Grand Prix.

Only Zandvoort-based taxis are being granted this coveted license. Meanwhile, taxis operating out of the nearby city of Haarlem are being denied. "There is no consideration for us at all, absolutely none," complained Samir Belgnaoui, a taxi driver from Haarlem who represents around 150 colleagues.

‘Protests threaten to DERAIL’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-protest-taxi/


Zandvoort bracing for Dutch GP blockade threat
18/08/2023 at 14:42
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

The municipality of Zandvoort says it is in talks with local taxi drivers who are threatening to disrupt F1's Dutch Grand Prix weekend with a blockade protest due to restrictions imposed on their services.

A proper certification is required for taxi drivers to gain access to a designated zone outside the circuit, but only a specific quota of 'Taxi-Pass' authorizations has been assigned and distributed.

The limitations that have been decided have arisen following an issue encountered last year by the event's organizers, when taxis illegally entered the restricted zone and wreaked havoc on the latter's organization, according to Walter Sans, a Zandvoort municipality representative.

‘Bracing for Dutch GP’;

https://f1i.com/news/484013-zandvoor...de-threat.html


Zandvoort respond to Dutch GP blockade threat
18 August 1:06PM
Author Rory Mitchell
Co-author Marnik Kok
F1i.com

Taxi drivers have threatened to disrupt the weekend either through protest or blocking the access roads to the circuit. The municipality of Zandvoort says they are in consultation with local authorities on how to deal with the matter.

"Now they say: we're going to block. What you get then is a situation just like with other demonstrations. You can do a protest in the Netherlands, you can demonstrate, so it goes like any other action," said the spokesperson. "There is consultation with the people who are about public order and security, such as the police.”

“Then we look at how such a demonstration can be managed. We have further explained why we have the rules [of the admission tickets etc]. Last year's evaluation report found that there has been too much nuisance due to illegal taxi pass-through certificates. So what we are doing now is entering into a conversation about the protests and demonstrations."

‘Dutch GP blockade threat’;

https://racingnews365.com/zandvoort-...lockade-threat


F1 Dutch GP promotes inclusivity and clamps down on flare use
16:05 Fri, 18 Aug 2023.
By: Adam Cooper
Motorsport.com

The sheer scale of the support for local hero Max Verstappen can be intimidating to overseas visitors or fans of other drivers, and Zandvoort is keen to avoid the sort of harassment issues that were reported in Austria last year.

One ongoing topic at Zandvoort has been the use of orange flares by fans, and Van Leeuwen has made it clear that they are not allowed at the circuit. "Because of the popularity of the sport and Max, fans brought in these flares in Austria a few years ago," he said. "The image looked great on TV, and they shot footage with the flares.”

"This is also dangerous for the drivers because I think two years ago during the formation lap in Austria, the drivers had poor vision. And that was something that a normal fan did not know. They just saw two guys with a flare and then there were four guys and then eight and 16 and 32. And now we have to bring it down."

‘Clamping down on flare use’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...down/10508168/


Dutch GP pokes fun at Verstappen trophy mishaps
20 August 3:25PM
Author Ewan Gale
RacingNews365

The Dutch Grand Prix X [formerly Twitter] feed has poked fun at Max Verstappen's recent trophy mishaps. Verstappen has been in sublime form this season, securing 10 wins from 12 races, including each of the last eight.

But whilst it has been smooth sailing on track, the Dutchman has had a rough relationship with winners' trophies at the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix. In a humourous post on social media, the Dutch GP has posted a picture of its winners' trophy wrapped in bubble wrap, captioned: "Let's break records, not trophies."

‘Wrapped in bubble wrap’;

https://racingnews365.com/dutch-gp-p...trophy-mishaps

Ecclestone claims to have 'NO MEMORY' of damning Crashgate interview.
Former chief executive of Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone, has said he ‘cannot remember’ comments he made which sparked Felipe Massa to take legal action against F1.
Friday 18 August 2023 18:57
Anna Malyon
GPFans

In March 2023, the Brazilian driver initiated legal proceedings after Ecclestone was quoted stating that he and former FIA President Max Mosley were aware of the intentional nature of the Singapore 2008 Grand Prix incident long before they came to light in the public – saying outright that Massa was 'cheated' out of the title.

However, in the incident referred to as ‘Crashgate’, Ecclestone now has insisted that he does not recall making these comments. "I don't remember any of this, to be honest. I don't remember giving the interview, for sure," Ecclestone said to Reuters.

'NO MEMORY';

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...nelson-piquet/


Bernie Ecclestone: “I don’t remember giving the interview.”
August 18, 2023
BaylaSportsF1

In a puzzling turn of events, Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula 1 supremo, has claimed he has no recollection of his previous assertion that he was aware of the intentional nature of Nelson Piquet’s crash during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Earlier this year, Ecclestone and former FIA President Max Mosley purportedly acknowledged their awareness of the premeditated crash but claimed inaction. However, recent reports from Reuters have quoted Ecclestone expressing uncertainty about the exact details of his prior statements, further deepening the intrigue surrounding the ‘Crashgate’ scandal.

“I don’t remember any of this, to be honest. I don’t remember giving the interview, for sure,” Ecclestone said, adding that neither Massa nor the Brazilian’s lawyers had approached him to ask what he might have said.

“Don’t remember”;

https://baylasportsf1.com/bernie-ecc...the-interview/


Ecclestone "cannot remember" key Crashgate interview
18 August 9:50AM
Author Michael Butterworth
RacingNews365

The 92-year-old has cast doubt over some quotations attributed to him regarding the 2008 Crashgate affair. Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said he does not remember saying that he knew in 2008 that then-Renault driver Nelson Piquet's crash in that year's Singapore Grand Prix was deliberate.

"I don't remember any of this, to be honest. I don't remember giving the interview, for sure," Ecclestone said, adding that neither Massa nor the Brazilian's lawyers had approached him to ask what he might have said.

"Cannot remember";

https://racingnews365.com/ecclestone...gate-interview


Ex-F1 supremo denies knowledge of comments central to Felipe Massa lost title claim
19 Aug 2023 6:00 AM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com0

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says he does not remember giving the interview which has led to a legal challenge from Felipe Massa over the 2008 World Championship outcome.

But, as Massa and his representatives now reportedly use this claim as grounds for legal action, Ecclestone has drawn a blank when it comes to his memory of speaking these words in such an interview in the first place.

“I don’t remember any of this, to be honest,” Ecclestone told Reuters. “I don’t remember giving the interview for sure.”

‘Denies knowledge’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/bernie...e-massa-claim/


Bernie Ecclestone drops fresh twist on Felipe Massa's legal battle on Lewis Hamilton title
Felipe Massa sought legal advice after Bernie Ecclestone said in March that he knew about 'Crashgate' in 2008 but was unable to act on it.
17:33, Fri, Aug 18, 2023
By Stuart Ballard
Daily and Sunday Express

Felipe Massa's legal action against F1 bosses and the FIA appears to have hit its first hurdle with Bernie Ecclestone backtracking on quotes he made earlier this year about the controversy surrounding the 2008 World Championship.

The Brazilian's lawyers have now started legal action against F1 and the FIA to seek millions in compensation. However, Ecclestone has told Reuters that he doesn't recall ever saying the quotes attributed to him from earlier this year.

"I don't remember any of this, to be honest," he said. "I don't remember giving the interview for sure."

‘Bernie Ecclestone drops fresh twist’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ton-2008-title

Newey’s ‘challenge the system’ F1 approach a boost to Red Bull success.
Adrian Newey’s willingness to ‘challenge the system’ at Red Bull has been singled out as a big benefit in helping the team push forward with its Formula 1 success.
15:40 Sun, 20 Aug 2023.
By: Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com

The legendary F1 designer is currently Red Bull’s chief technical officer and, although he admits the countdown to his retirement is now underway, he still maintains a hands-on involvement in the squad. Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache thinks that the manner of Newey’s involvement, in looking at the big picture, works really well in helping the team get the best out of itself.

“The structure is done to have people we trust in the system, either at the track or at the factory, and to be able to develop the work in the way we want to,” Wache told Motorsport.com. Adrian, he's going to each area where he wants to be able to interact with everybody and will challenge the system.”

“It's a chance for him to be able to go into small details in some areas, and then bigger pictures in others. When you do your job, and you have somebody at the side you know well, if you take that step back it can be a massive benefit.”

‘Newey’s ‘challenge the system’ F1 approach’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/n...oach/10508814/


Why Red Bull have no need to axe Sergio Perez as future rumours swirl
20 Aug 2023 4:00 PM
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Red Bull have been advised there are plenty of reasons to keep hold of Sergio Perez even if he is unable to challenge Max Verstappen. The 2024 Red Bull seat is one of the much-discussed topics in Formula 1 as although Perez is contracted for that season, Daniel Ricciardo’s return sparked rumours the Milton Keynes outfit may be looking at alternatives.

But even if Perez is never going to be in the same bracket as Verstappen, Red Bull have been advised he comes with other advantages. Although Perez’s run of poor form seems to be over for now, it has been a long time since he stood on the top step of the podium.

“Helmut Marko made a good point,” Le Mans class winner Richard Bradley said on the On Track GP podcast. “He’s still running second in the championship. He seems to get on okay with Max.” Bradley went on to suggest that another reason for keeping Perez is the boost in marketing it gives the team in the Americas. In the same way Verstappen has reignited Dutch passion for the sport, Perez has had a similar effect in Mexico.

‘Plenty of reasons to keep hold of Sergio Perez’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/richar...-sergio-perez/


Max Verstappen Bemoans Continuous Changes in F1
August 19, 2023
BaylaSportsF1

Two-time world champion, Max Verstappen, has urged Formula 1’s leadership to curtail the frequency of alterations to the sport, citing a perception that the current emphasis primarily revolves around financial gains. I am concerned about the sport that I have always loved,” the 25-year-old stated in an interview with De Telegraaf.

“And still like it, but to a certain extent. It’s not that I’m completely against change, as is sometimes said. But it must be adjustments that benefit Formula One. Why do you have to change certain things when things are going well? I think a traditional qualifying session is well set up in that form.”

“It shouldn’t just be about money. People may think: ‘he earns a lot of money, what is that guy complaining about?’ But it’s about well-being, how you experience things and not how much you earn. Sometimes I think I have to do too many things, and not do them.”

‘Continuous Changes in F1’;

https://baylasportsf1.com/max-versta...changes-in-f1/


Marko denies Verstappen Red Bull favouritism
20 August 2:20PM
Author Fergal Walsh


Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Dr Helmut Marko has again moved to clarify that the Milton Keynes-based squad is not favouring Max Verstappen. The performance differential between the duo has led to suggestions that Red Bull is developing its cars to suit Verstappen.

“No, that is not true. At the beginning of 2022 the car suffered a lot of understeer," Marko told Motorsport Magazin. "This was due to the car being overweight. In the long run, you will not be successful with an overweight car, but as the car became lighter, the car went more to a 'neutral' balance - or even a bit more oversteer.”

Its run of success has seen it set a new record for the most consecutive race wins in F1, sitting at 13 with the likelihood of Verstappen and Perez extending the streak. On why Red Bull had found such success, Marko said: "I think because we have a team that has been unchanged for years. So the continuity, the stability in the whole organisation and the flexibility to make quick decisions.”

‘Verstappen Red Bull favouritism denied’;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-a...en-favouritism


Verstappen ponders worth of remaining in F1
20/08/2023
NEWS STORY
Pitpass

Not for the first time, world champion Max Verstappen has hinted that his time in F1 may be limited. "Travel isn't the biggest problem," he insists, "it's more about all the extra stuff I have to do. Thursdays on a race weekend can be very long depending on where we are and outside the grands prix there's a lot of simulator work.”

"For example, I lose over a month per year to marketing. At a certain moment you just don't feel like doing all that anymore." His current deal with Red Bull sees him committed to the Austrian team until 2028, asked if he might look to quit the sport before then, especially if the 2026 rules overhaul should work against his team, he replied: "Things would have to be really bad for that to happen.”

"I don't expect the team to fall back that much with all the great people we have. But in this sport it's always possible you're not that competitive. It depends on what the prospects are," he added, "but yeah, I don't see myself touring in the midfield for three years. Then I'd rather stay at home or go do something else. But again, I don't expect that to happen."

‘Time in F1 may be limited’;

https://www.pitpass.com/75893/Versta...emaining-in-F1

Ferrari no longer working on 2023 car – boss.
Ferrari is no longer working on its 2023 in the wind tunnel, team boss Frederic Vasseur has revealed.
12:49, 21st August 2023.
ANDREW MAITLAND
Grandpx.news

The Maranello team is currently behind Red Bull, Mercedes and even Aston Martin in the constructors’ standings – meaning Vasseur is now looking at 2024 more than the rest of this season. “For this season we stopped development in the wind tunnel at the end of July,” the Frenchman told La Gazzetta dello Sport, “but we have pieces already approved that we will take to Qatar or Austin.

“For the 2024 machine, we are still at the philosophical concepts. We need to think differently and find margins so the drivers can race without always being at the limit. But the deadline for the new car is not the end of the year. We have to be ready for Bahrain in March so we still have many months ahead of us,” Vasseur added.

In the meantime, Vasseur has been busy trying to recruit new staff. “We have hired about 25 people, but we are looking for more,” he said, pointing out that it is hard for Ferrari to woo British-based top engineers. We have signed with a leading name,” Vasseur added, “which should start on 1 January 2025 but I am trying to convince Toto Wolff to release him sooner.

‘No longer working on its 2023 Car in the wind tunnel’;

https://grandpx.news/ferrari-no-long...2023-car-boss/


James Allison ‘stigma’ hanging over Ferrari in their search for top F1 talent
21 Aug 2023 12:00 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Respected Italian journalist Leo Turrini believes one of the reasons Ferrari struggle to bring in foreign engineers is because of yesteryear’s treatment of James Allison and the “stigma” it left behind. British designer and engineer Allison has a long history with Ferrari having initially joined the team in 2000 for five years before moving to Renault and then returning to Ferrari in 2013.

Taking on the role of technical chief, he abruptly left the team in August 2016 following the death of his wife in March of that year. How Ferrari dealt with Allison’s leave of absence after his wife’s passing is a stain that Ferrari are still having to deal with, says Turrini. “Quite a few foreign technicians hesitate in the face of Ferrari proposals because they know the Scuderia’s recent history,” he declared on his blog.

“And Allison’s story, unfortunately for [former bosses] Marchionne and Arrivabene, is a stigma across the Channel. “Some debts are not paid immediately, but later.” Joining Mercedes, Allison played an integral role in the team’s continued success through to 2021, the last season in Mercedes’ eight-year Constructors’ Championship run.

‘Stigma hanging over Ferrari’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrar...a-recruitment/


Ferrari drivers can ‘do better’ – Vasseur
21st August 2023, 08:27
ANDREW MAITLAND
Grandpx.news

As uncertainty looms over Ferrari’s driver lineup beyond 2024, team boss Frederic Vasseur admits both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz can “do better”.

It had been rumoured that Lewis Hamilton might be an option for Ferrari, especially given his closeness to Vasseur. “I talk to him at every race,” Vasseur admitted. “He raced for me 20 years ago and we’re still close. I helped him when he went to McLaren at the start of his career and we talk every now and then.”

“I don’t want to compare him to our drivers – it wouldn’t make sense. But the contribution of a top driver isn’t just driving, it’s also technical, strategy, help in hiring engineers. And in this case, if you have Hamilton or Verstappen but also Leclerc, it’s easier,” he said.

“Can do better”;

https://grandpx.news/ferrari-drivers...etter-vasseur/


‘Charles Leclerc will be rewarded for his patience with Ferrari’
21 Aug 2023 6:45 AM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Former F1 racer David Kennedy, a multiple Le Mans winner and a former junior category team boss rival of Fred Vasseur through his involvement with Status GP, believes Vasseur’s appointment as replacement for Mattia Binotto will eventually lead to stability and a more competitive Ferrari as he moulds the team in his image.

“Fred has earned his spurs in all the junior categories, and has an exceptional pedigree. He’ll know the business from nuts and bolts all the way through. This is a people business, and he will know who the stars are in terms of engineers and designers. He’s been at the coalface long enough and I think, given a little bit of time, and if Ferrari doesn’t do what they often do by getting wobbly knees and pulling the rug from under them, they’ll let him get on with it.”

“I remember when Jean Todt started, he had a tough couple of years till he got the pieces in place. And, when he did, they were dynamite, and I think Fred is in that process.”

‘Patience with Ferrari’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/charle...ience-ferrari/


HALF TERM REPORT: Ferrari – Fallen championship aspirations but an intense battle for second place looms
20 August 2023
Nadim Bart-Williams
Junior Staff Writer
Formula One - Official Site

Ferrari came into the 2023 season with championship aspirations following their second place finish last year. Instead they have slipped down the pecking order and currently find themselves in a battle for second. But, is it all doom and gloom? Here's their half term report…

Best finish: Charles Leclerc — 2nd in Austria
Qualifying head-to-head: Charles Leclerc 8 – 4 Carlos Sainz
Race head-to-head: Charles Leclerc: 7 – 5 Carlos Sainz

Best moment: Ferrari’s best moment this year came on the Friday and Saturday of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, as Leclerc put in an outstanding performance to take pole position for both Sunday’s race and for the Baku Sprint.

‘HALF TERM REPORT’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...cmaK74eFd.html


Charles Leclerc told career descending into ‘traditional Ferrari driver story’
20 Aug 2023 2:30 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

F1 business expert Mark Gallagher believes the career path of Charles Leclerc is following one typical of a Ferrari driver as rumours continue to swirl over his future. Aston Martin and Mercedes are among the teams Leclerc has been linked with and Gallagher, when appearing on the GP Racing magazine podcast, claiming it is “extraordinary” how it has come to this for a driver who not long ago was the Ferrari “golden boy”.

“It’s extraordinary really, watching the sport and seeing how careers develop, and the ebb and flow of careers, Charles has gone from the golden boy at Ferrari, that kind of rocket ship trajectory of his career, and here we are in the middle of 2023, his fifth season, and we’re wondering what he should do next,” said Gallagher.

“If I may say, it looks a little bit like a traditional Ferrari driver story, where you come in with great hope and then it just starts to slightly sour. Charles has made some driving errors over the years plus the team, apart from the fact that the team strategically, operationally, and personnel wise leaves a bit to be desired. So basically, every aspect of the team leaves a bit to be desired. You then have Charles with those few driving errors.”

‘Traditional Ferrari driver story’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mark-g...errari-career/

Wolff elevates d'Ambrosio to team boss 'reserve' status.
Toto Wolff says Jerome d'Ambrosio who stands next to the Mercedes boss' command post on race weekends is now the Brackley squad's reserve team principal.
20/08/2023 at 14:42
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com

D'Ambrosio – a three-time winner in Formula E who competed in F1 with Marussia in 2011– was appointed earlier this year by Mercedes as the team's new director of driver development, working alongside long-standing Mercedes-AMG driver development advisor Gwen Lagrue. The Belgian took over the responsibilities previously entrusted to James Vowles before the latter's move to Williams.

However, d'Ambrosio's perennial presence this season alongside Wolff in the Mercedes garage on race weekends is a clear indication that something bigger is at play for the 37-year-old former races, which Wolff has now confirmed.

"When I am absent on a race weekend, Jerome will replace me," the Austrian told French weekly Auto Hebdo. "It is true that in 11 years it has only happened three times, but it is a situation that we have to anticipate. Now, he has to gain credibility within the team and in the paddock, he still has time, but in case I can’t be there, he will be in my place."

‘Jerome d'Ambrosio: Team Boss 'reserve' status’;

https://f1i.com/news/484109-wolff-el...ve-status.html


Toto Wolff names his replacement as Mercedes team boss
20 Aug 2023 7:45 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Toto Wolff has announced former F1 driver Jérome D’Ambrosio, who joined Mercedes in March, will be the one to replace him if he can’t attend a grand prix this season. There was, however, no mention of D’Ambrosio doing so at the Dutch Grand Prix despite Wolff having suffered an arm injury during his summer break shenanigans.

He added: “Jérôme did a very good job last year with his role at Venturi. A small structure, which obviously has nothing to do with ours, which still has 2,500 people. However, he is involved and I must even say that half of his interventions during the grands prix are sensible.”

“I assure you that this is already a remarkable score, James Allison often told me that I said 50 percent intelligent things, and 50 percent nonsense. More seriously, you have to give him time, but I have the impression that he has the right profile to take on this role.”

‘James Allison often told me (Toto Wolff) that I said 50 percent intelligent things, and 50 percent nonsense’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...des-team-boss/


Wolff reveals DIFFICULTY of being Mercedes F1 team principal
Wednesday 16 August 2023 06:57
Neil Goulding
GPFans

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that the hardest part of being in charge of the Formula 1 team is 'being able to juggle' the different roles demanded of him within the job. The 51-year-old has worked with Mercedes for a decade and has a 33 per cent share in the company.

But even the hugely-successful Austrian entrepreneur has found it hard to manage a race team at the top level. “Getting the balance right is tricky,” said Wolff in Q&A on TikTok when asked about the challenges he faces in his role. “The hardest part of being a team principal is being able to juggle all the areas.”

"There’s the racing side and the regulations, and then to keep working with our sponsors and having a long-term view. What I would say to my young self is just keep your eyes open and grab the opportunities,” he said.

‘Juggle the different roles demanded’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ulty-juggling/


The Benz and the Billions: Along the Road with Mercedes F1 Boss Toto Wolff
17:56 Sun, 20 Aug 2023.
Shlomo Sprung
Boardroom

The celebrated racing exec speaks with Boardroom on his unique path as an entrepreneur, his relationship with Lewis Hamilton, and getting back to the top of Formula 1. The team’s tweaks and simulations, however, didn’t translate to the desired results on the track, marking another start to a Formula 1 season in which they had to revisit their fundamental approach to the car as the season carried on.

“There were a few really painful races,” Toto Wolff told Boardroom of the period before Mercedes decided to make what he called a radical concept change, which included a new front suspension, altered bodywork, and a new floor. “Now, we are on an encouraging path, but I wouldn’t want to say now we are out of the woods. But as long as the trajectory goes in the right direction — like an increasing share price, we’re still going to see oscillations up and down during the season. And that’s to be expected.”

As we’ve seen on TV, the 51-year-old Austrian is an intense, driven leader who has overseen several years of winning through a mix of racing acumen and entrepreneurial expertise — so much, in fact, that Forbes estimates Wolff to be worth $1.6 billion thanks to his reported 33% ownership stake in the Mercedes F1 team. Unlike so many in the billionaire class, however, this fortune was self-made.

‘A few really painful races’;

https://boardroom.tv/toto-wolff-merc...1-team-part-1/


Wolff recalls Nordschleife crash: ‘I thought I was dead’
20 August 12:10PM
Author Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365

Wolff suffered a puncture while travelling almost 200mph. Mercedes CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff has provided an insight into his high-speed crash at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 2009. The German track - nicknamed the 'Green Hell' - is known to be one of the most dangerous in the world and last held an F1 World Championship race in 1976.

Speaking on BBC's Desert Island Discs, Wolff explained that he returned to the track in 2009 to stamp his own mark at the venue. “It was said that only locals can be really fast there," said Wolff. ”And there were professionals who were very successful at an international level, who drove on the Nordschleife and were never able to get near the locals.”

“So I said to myself, I'll show them that I can beat the records. Niki [Lauda] had his bad accident there when he almost died in the flames. He said to me, 'Don't be so stupid. Nobody cares about the lap time on the Nordschleife. You could kill yourself’.”

“I thought I was dead’;

https://racingnews365.com/wolff-reca...ght-i-was-dead


Wolff says 'sails are set' as Mercedes shift focus to 2024 car and plot route to 'winning titles again'
15 August 2023
Formula One - Official Site

Toto Wolff insists there is “light at the end of the tunnel” for Mercedes in this frustrating season for the Silver Arrows – and has revealed the team's focus is now switching to next year's car.

“It’s a frustrating process because it takes time to change the car fundamentally, the concept and aerodynamics. But there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.” Asked what the team could do better with the car, Wolff answered: “Main areas of improvement is just about giving the drivers a more reliable car.

“It’s not about absolute amount of downforce but it’s just for them to know the car is going to be stable when they come into the corner, which isn’t the case at the moment.” Looking ahead to the second half of the year, which is set to kick off in Zandvoort with the Dutch Grand Prix on August 25-27, Wolff explained that Mercedes are looking forward to optimising the performance of the W14, with attentions already turning to their 2024 car.

‘shift focus to 2024 car and plot route to 'winning titles again’;

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


Wolff takes aim at 'CATASTROPHIC' life decision
Tuesday 15 August 2023 09:12
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has taken aim at people who put pineapple on their pizza, labelling the decision as 'catastrophic'. "Pineapple on pizza is catastrophic," he said. "It's called Hawaiian and every Italian will turn in his grave. It's like the same sin as drinking a cappuccino after 12 o'clock." Curiously though, the Austrian was a fan of pineapple, just not when served on top of a pizza.

Answering one fan who wanted to know his secret for looking so young. "I'm not sure I'm looking so young anymore," he jokingly replied. "In any case, my wife doesn't tell me that. I'm washing my face in the morning and evening with cold water. Somebody told me once, or I must have read it at the hairdresser, that it gives [your face] a natural lift."

"Pineapple on pizza is catastrophic";

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...neapple-pizza/

Aston Martin warn rivals it is not ‘game over’ as development race continues.
“I’m not an engineer, but I speak with our team, with all our members, and I get this very positive feeling that they know exactly what’s going on” Fernando Alonso.
22 Aug 2023 4:30 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

When pressed further on exactly has happened to see Aston Martin fall away from the front in recent races, the Spaniard was unable to put his finger on why – or would not give the game away – but added that he expects the team to keep pushing with the AMR23 for a little while yet.

“They know exactly where they have to focus on, and they’re focusing on [it], so I’m very relaxed. I want to congratulate other teams because they’ve done a fantastic job, but this is not game over. You know, it’s not like ‘ah, we are done, that’s it for the season.’ No way, we are still gradually improving our car.”

“And it gives you this sense of peace when you know where the areas of improvement are, because when you focus on the areas that are not that critical, you might lose a bit of focus, but we know exactly where the improvement areas are, and we’re working flat out.

‘EL PLAN: Gradually improving our car’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/aston-...not-game-over/


Alonso reveals biggest F1 regret
22 August 4:00PM
Author Michael Butterworth
RacingNews365

Fernando Alonso has said his failure to win a World Championship with Ferrari is the first thing he would change about his F1 career. "Winning a championship with Ferrari would probably be the first thing that I'd [change], if I could go back in time," said Alonso.

"In 2010 and 2012, we were within a few laps of winning a Championship, and that probably could have changed the outcome of many things, and the history behind a few things, and I was disappointed for sure to miss those."

Aside from his failure to win a title with Ferrari, Alonso also noted his regret at not enjoying the successes of his earlier career, acknowledging that, at 42 years old, his time in F1 is drawing to a close. "What I regret for sure was not enjoying [myself] more. My time, my career, I know that I'm at the end of it, and a new life, in few years' time, for me [will be] without driving.”

‘Biggest F1 regret’;

https://racingnews365.com/alonso-rev...gest-f1-regret


Third F1 title no longer ‘the highest priority’ for Alonso
21st August 2023, 14:36
by Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week

Two-time Formula 1 Champion Fernando Alonso has admitted he “would love” to win a third title but claiming that long-awaited championship isn’t his primary objective. The Spaniard missed out on a hat trick of titles in 2007 by a solitary point in a tumultuous year with McLaren.

More near misses occurred in 2010 and 2012 with Ferrari, but now, speaking on the High Performance Podcast, he is no longer concerned with chasing that elusive third title.

“I would love to win the championship once again but it’s not the highest priority,” he said. “I am enjoying the process, especially now with Aston Martin, to become a contender for the future.”

‘Enjoying the process’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...ty-for-alonso/


ALONSO: ‘I APPRECIATE FANS MORE AFTER COMING BACK TO F1’
The Spaniard discussed returning to the sport after early retirement
August 22, 2023
Dalila Zanardo
FormulaNerds

2-times World Champion Fernando Alonso came out of retirement in 2021 to join Alpine after having previously retired at the end of the 2018 season. Now, the Spaniard admitted his period out of the sport made him appreciate more fans.

“But when I stopped, the only thing that I received every time that I was meeting people or any fan or people at the airport or in the hotels or whatever was ‘you need to come back, you need to come back’, these kind of things. So the people, it was a surprise that they loved what we were doing because for me, the last few years before I stopped, it was like we are nearly anonymous here, no one is seeing us and the sport was not maybe great as it is now with all this Drive to Survive and Netflix. So I thought that it was much less interesting, but I was surprised at how much love I received from people.”

‘APPRECIATE FANS MORE AFTER COMING BACK’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/al...ng-back-to-f1/


Fernando Alonso brands Formula 1 "selfish and fake" compared to "more pure" motorsports
Fernando Alonso has opened up about his career, reflecting on his decision to leave Formula 1 in 2018 and his decision to return in 2021
13:00, 22 Aug 2023
By Matthew Cooper Sports Writer
The Mirror

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has suggested other motorsports are 'purer' than F1 in a stinging criticism despite sitting third in the standings for the 2023 season.

He also competed in the IndyCar Series and the Dakar Rally before returning to F1 in 2021 with Alpine. Reflecting on his time away from F1 in an appearance on the High Performance Podcast, Alonso said: "Formula One in motorsport is very different to any other category, much more selfish, much more glamorous in a way, but also more fake in another way.

"I think it's more pure motorsport in Le Mans, or Indy or Dakar but yeah, for sure Formula 1 has this appeal, you know, people wanted to attend the races, want to watch it on TV. I was also watching the F1 races on TV, I appreciated a little bit more all of the stuff as a driver I didn't like before.”

‘Brands Formula 1 selfish and fake’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...artin-30760269


Alonso opens up on 'SELFISH' and 'FAKE' F1
Tuesday 22 August 2023 08:27
Sam Cook
GPFans

He said that, despite trying out other motorsports during his two-year sabbatical from the sport, he missed the buzz around F1.

"Formula One in motorsport is very different to any other category, much more selfish, much more glamorous in a way, but also more fake in another way.”

‘ 'SELFISH' and 'FAKE' F1’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...fish-and-fake/


Fernando Alonso makes Michael Schumacher claim
Fernando Alonso defeated then-Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher to the title in 2005 and in 2006.
22 August 2023
by Nick Golding
Formula1News

Two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso has admitted that he “never doubted” that he could beat Michael Schumacher, something he did to the shock of the Formula 1 world. Whilst at Renault in 2005, Alonso ended Schumacher’s five-year reign, with the seven-time World Champion having won every title from 2000-2004 at Ferrari.

Alonso ended Schumacher’s dominance and started his very own, which saw him also claim the title again in 2006. Schumacher actually chose to retire at the end of 2006, before returning with Mercedes in 2010.

Alonso’s and Schumacher’s fights were epic, especially as very few drivers previously had ever been able to duel with the legendary German. 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen was able to at times but never over an entire season.

‘Alonso’s and Schumacher’s fights were epic’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/fernando-...umacher-claim/


ALONSO’S ASTON MARTIN JOURNEY: TRIUMPHS, CHALLENGES, AND AGELESS EXCELLENCE
Fernando Alonso excels with Aston Martin, securing podiums and defying age-related stereotypes in a thrilling 2023 Formula 1 season
August 22, 2023
Lena Ferle
FormulaNerds

Alonso’s perspective on the season remains positive and uplifting despite the challenges. According to motorsport.com, he describes it as “incredible,” a testament to the remarkable journey he’s embarked on.

“[It has been] a dream first half of the season. We are P3 in the constructors’ championship in front of Ferrari, we are P3 in the drivers’ championship together with Lewis. It was impossible to think this way in Bahrain,” Alonso said, reflecting on the team’s achievements.

“Incredible”;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/al...ss-excellence/


Revealed: The most valuable piece of advice Fernando Alonso has ever received
21 Aug 2023 8:15 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

“Second is the first loser. In this sport, you win, or you don’t’. ‘To finish second, seventh or 11th is the same. There is only one guy with the trophy and it’s not us. So I understand your emotion, but this is nothing to celebrate’.”

“It was shocking, because I was 13 and I thought that was really good and that was really bad for a kid. But then with time I understood that was good advice in general.”

‘Only one guy with the trophy’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/most-v...onso-received/