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F1 tyre chaos in Qatar leads to FIA bombshell.
The F1 2023 Qatar GP could see an unprecedented number of pit stops, with the FIA introducing a mandatory limit on stint length.
October 8, 2023
By: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports
As was the case in Free Practice 1, this issue has likely been caused by the high-frequency interference between the tyre sidewall. And the 50mm ‘pyramid’ kerbs used extensively at this circuit, aggravated by the propensity to ride those kerbs.
As a consequence, it has been decided by the FIA and Pirelli and after consultation with the teams on safety grounds, the following measures will be implemented for today’s Qatar Grand Prix:
• A mandatory limit of 18 laps of total tyre life per set will be imposed.
• The life of already used tyres will be taken into consideration.
• The FIA and Pirelli will communicate to the teams the remaining available laps for each set of used tyres at their disposal for the race and the criteria used to calculate that number.
• There is no direct mandate for at least three tyre-change pitstops during the race. However, this will be a consequence of the above guidelines should the race run its entire race distance.
• Any car deemed to have exceeded the tyre life lap limit will be reported to the Stewards as being run in unsafe condition.
• This information will be formally communicated to the teams in the Race Directors’ notes. Further updates will be issued as required.
‘Tyre chaos/ FIA bombshell’;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...gp-tire-chaos/
Drivers limited to 18 laps per tyre set at today’s F1 Qatar Grand Prix
8 Oct 2023
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net
Pirelli will limit drivers to 18 laps per set of tyres at today’s F1 Qatar Grand Prix. A three-stop pitstop strategy will not be enforced, however with the 57-lap distance and only 18 laps permitted per tyre set, it is inevitable that each driver will pit three times.
A driver will be black flagged and disqualified if they exceed an 18-lap stint on a single set of tyres. Pirelli met with the F1 drivers on Sunday, six hours before the race is due to begin at 6pm UK, to discuss the late change of rules.
If a driver needs to run used tyres, they will receive two extra laps for the slow in and out-laps. If a driver used a set of tyres for five laps in practice or qualifying, they can use those tyres for 15 laps in the race. Tyre and track limit issues have been a constant theme all weekend in Qatar.
‘Black flagged and disqualified if they exceed an 18-lap stint’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103765...tar-grand-prix
FIA double down on strict Qatar GP rules for F1 drivers despite "embarrassing" blast.
The FIA have announced a new approach to the Qatar Grand Prix after Max Verstappen was crowned a three-time world champion during Saturday's sprint race at the Losail Circuit.
8th October 2023, 14:30
By Daniel Orme Football Writer
The Mirror
Drivers could be forced into three or four pit stops as a minimum in the Qatar Grand Prix after the FIA confirmed that tyres will only be allowed to used for maximum of 18 laps amid safety fears.
The track has been narrowed at turns 12 and 13 in the hope of reducing the damage done to the tyres. Further analysis was also done following Saturday's Sprint race, with the call then being made to introduce the lap maximum.
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has already expressed his disdain at the forced changes in the face of tyre damage. Speaking in Qatar, he said: "It shouldn't happen, this should not happen in Formula 1.
"Embarrassing";
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...qatar-31135747
FIA Statement – Treatment of tyres for the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix - UPDATE
08.10.23, 14:05
FIA (Press Release)
Following the standard analysis of tyres used during Free Practice 1 yesterday, in which tyres that have been used for approximately 20 laps are examined by Pirelli to check various safety parameters, a separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords on many of tyres that were checked was discovered.
It is the view of the FIA and Pirelli that a significant number of additional laps on these tyres could result in circumferential damage of the tyres with subsequent air loss, and tyres analysed with lower lap numbers showed a much-reduced extent of the issue.
This issue has likely been caused by the high-frequency interference between the tyre sidewall and the 50mm ‘pyramid’ kerbs used extensively at this circuit, aggravated by the propensity to ride those kerbs.
‘Update’;
https://www.fia.com/news/fia-stateme...nd-prix-update
FIA confirm radical safety measures for Qatar GP after tyre concerns
08 October 3:08PM
Author Ewan Gale
RacingNews365
The FIA has confirmed F1 teams and drivers will be mandated to complete at least three pit stops during the Qatar Grand Prix. Pirelli analysis on Friday after free practice and qualifying showed that tyres which had been used for around 20 laps had signs of 'separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords'.
With the risk of blowouts increased for tyres that surpassed this stint length, changes were made to the track limits at Turns 12 and 13 as the issue was believed to have been caused by 'high-frequency interference' between the sidewall and 50mm 'pyramid' kerbs used at the circuit. FIA Single Seater Director Nicolas Tombazis was quick to stress that these kerbs were FIA-sanctioned and were not to blame for the issue.
‘Radical safety measures’;
https://racingnews365.com/fia-confir...-tyre-concerns
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2023 F1 Qatar GP results: Max Verstappen wins, Mercs collide.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the Qatar Grand Prix, the 18th round of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship, in a pitstop-filled race due to tyre fears.
8th October 2023, 19:43
By: Charles Bradley
Motorsport.com
Polesitter Verstappen, who started on medium tyres, led Russell and Hamilton on the long run to the first corner – the latter starting on soft rubber. As Hamilton lunged around the outside of those ahead of him, the Mercedes pair collided, sending Hamilton spinning into the gravel minus his right-rear wheel. Russell limped back to the pits for a new front wing.
That promoted Piastri to second, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso (who was delayed avoiding the spinning Russell), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and Norris.
The drama right from the start when the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton collided at the first corner, allowed three-time champion Verstappen to pull well clear out front. Sprint winner Oscar Piastri was best of the rest for McLaren, finishing just ahead of his team-mate Lando Norris. Russell recovered to finish fourth.
‘Max Verstappen wins, Mercs collide’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/2...lash/10530591/
Race Results – 2023 Qatar Grand Prix
8th October 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing – 57 laps
2. Oscar Piastri McLaren +4.833
3. Lando Norris McLaren +5.969
4. George Russell Mercedes +34.119
5. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +38.976
6. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +49.032
7. Esteban Ocon Alpine +62.390
8. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +66.563
9. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +75.181
10. Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo +76.127
‘Qatar Grand Prix – Here are the provisional results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship race around the Losail International Circuit’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-83287
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix
08 October 2023
Becky Hart.
Special Contributor.
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...1MgeglrT7.html
F1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023 - LIVE UPDATES!
8th October 2023, 17:15
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Follow the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix here with the Crash.net live blog.
‘As it happened’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/f1-qat...3-live-updates
Toto Wolff sends stern George Russell radio blast after Lewis Hamilton crash at Qatar GP.
Toto Wolff did not travel to the Qatar Grand Prix as he recovers from knee surgery, but had a radio line to his drivers which he used after Lewis Hamilton and George Russell crashed.
08 October 2023, 18:53
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror
An animated Russell swore loudly over the radio before shouting: "Come on! What the hell? Guys, come on. Two races in a row." He later went on to apologise and explain what he felt had caused the coming-together with his team-mate.
He said: "I'm so sorry guys, I wasn't even looking behind. I was just focused ahead and just came from nowhere. F***ing lost for words, honestly. Just seen the replays on the TV screen. I couldn't do anything, totally sandwiched."
He was dwelling on the incident so much that team principal Wolff, watching on from home as he recovers from knee surgery, to find a radio line to Russell to sternly remind him: "George, let's race now, let's make the best out of it."
‘Toto Wolff radio blast’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...eorge-31137518
Oscar Piastri made a cheeky comment in the aftermath of his second-ever F1 podium at the Qatar Grand Prix
19:42, Sun, Oct 8, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Oscar Piastri poked fun at Lewis Hamilton's lap one crash with his Mercedes team-mate in a radio message after the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.
Piastri went on to manage his race perfectly, keeping the now-three-time world champion in his sights and fighting off the advances of Norris to seal his second F1 podium finish, one day after taking his first win.
He made sure to thank Hamilton for his role in the result too. Speaking on the radio after the chequered flag, Piastri said: "Nice assistance from whoever bowled everyone in turn one, thank you!"
‘Cheeky comment’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...crash-Qatar-GP
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“Wow, thankyou Mercedes!” Astonished reaction in cooldown room after F1 Qatar Grand Prix.
The collision between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell astonished the podium trio in the cooldown room after the F1 Qatar Grand Prix.
8 Oct 2023
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net
Race winner Max Verstappen and McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were exhausted after the grand prix when they saw a replay of the headline clash between the Mercedes drivers. Hamilton took the blame for the incident which caused him to retire early.
Norris said: “George couldn’t do anything.”
Piastri asked: “Who caused it, at the start?”
Verstappen replied: “Lewis turned in too much.”
Norris said: “George couldn’t have done anything else.”
Piastri reacted: “What? Was it Lewis and George that crashed?”
Norris: “Yeah.”
Piastri: “Ha! Wow. Thank you, Mercedes.”
Norris: “Yeah, it made our lives a lot easier, huh? George was quite quick.”
Verstappen: “You know what they call that? The law of the jungle.”
A tired Verstappen joked that he was too weary to carry away the winner’s trophy.
He teased Norris: “Can you take it?”
Norris: “The trophy? I’ll break it, if you want!”
“Thank you, Mercedes”;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103774...-cooldown-room
'Russell and Hamilton will never be the same after this' - Fears for Mercedes duo after Qatar collision
Monday 9 October 2023 07:42
Ronan Murphy
GPFans
Formula 1 fans are concerned that the first-turn collision between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell could have a long-lasting effect on the duo. Both drivers were battling Max Verstappen at the start of the Qatar Grand Prix and with Hamilton trying to overtake on soft tyres, leaving his team-mate with nowhere to turn. At the time, Hamilton said "I've just got taken out by my own team-mate," but later told Sky Sports "I'm happy to take responsibility."
Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton never crashed in their 5 years as teammates. #F1 https://t.co/VNxnGh4WQC
— Unicorn�� (@hamburgerh0tdog) October 8, 2023
That’s quite frankly ridiculous. SURELY Russell, Hamilton and Mercedes KNEW AND DISCUSSED Lewis on softs was always going to get a better launch. Why would Russell defend him?
Utterly, utterly ridiculous
— DRS Open Podcast (@DRSOpenPod) October 8, 2023
george russell ruining lewis hamilton’s race every time he has a chance of winning needs to be studied.
— elle (@HAMLEWISIRR) October 8, 2023
Lewis Hamilton was ahead of Max Verstappen and George Russell at the start. #f1 #QatarGP pic.twitter.com/Gqb5wxb3u3
— Unicorn�� (@hamburgerh0tdog) October 8, 2023
‘Will never be the same’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...rix-collision/
Qatar GP conclusions: Lewis Hamilton alarm, pivotal moment for Max Verstappen
09 Oct 2023 6:00 AM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
On the day Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finally came to blows, here are our conclusions from Lusail… Lewis Hamilton: Yesterday’s man? When the Wolff is away, the Mercedes drivers will play. And not very nicely either.
With the Mercedes team boss absent as he recovers from knee surgery, Hamilton and Russell got too close to comfort on a number of occasions at the previous race at Suzuka, but with fifth place their limit on the day – and a deficit of almost a minute to race winner Verstappen to worry about first – the tension between the drivers was easy enough to drain away. But a first corner collision in Qatar, as both were lining up moves on Verstappen in the only chance Mercedes had all night to make an impression on Red Bull? Different story.
It will help that Hamilton took responsibility for the contact, albeit only after initially blaming Russell in the heat of the moment over team radio, but for the seven-time World Champion – guilty of not leaving enough room on the inside – this is the latest in what has become a worrying pattern of uncharacteristic mistakes stretching back to his previous opening-lap retirement at Spa last year.
‘Yesterday’s man?’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/co...tar-grand-prix
Hamilton fined $80,000 after Qatar crash
Monday 9th October, 2023 - 7:39am
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Officials have fined Lewis Hamilton more than AUD $80,000 after he crossed the track following his opening corner retirement in the Qatar Grand Prix. Hamilton came together with his Mercedes team-mate George Russell as they swept into the right-hander with enough force to break the seven-time champion’s right-rear wheel. He spun into the gravel, his race is over, venting his frustration over the radio to his team.
After climbing from the car, Hamilton then crossed the live race track behind the train behind the Safety Car his crash had triggered, but before Russell had emerged from the pit lane. While nothing came of the investigation into the crash itself, stewards did take issue with Hamilton crossing the racing surface.
“After crashing out of the race in Lap 1, the driver of Car 44 abandoned his car in the gravel and ran back to the pits,” the stewards noted in their report. “He thereby crossed the track that was live at this time and reached the inside edge of the track just seconds before Car 63 arrived at high speed after exiting the pits. He then continued to walk alongside the track until finally exiting the track.”
‘Hamilton fined $80,000’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/10/09...r-qatar-crash/
‘We had discussed it in the morning’ - Toto Wolff stand-in reacts to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell's crash
8 Oct 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Mercedes have described the first-lap collision between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell at the F1 Qatar Grand Prix as the “worst possible thing that can happen.”
"Worst possible start and the worst possible thing that can happen for a race team to see your two cars collide,” said Mercedes communications director Bradley Lord, who along with Jerome D’Ambrosio and Andrew Shovlin, is standing in for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff while he recovers from knee surgery. "For sure, on Lap 1 with George at the back and Lewis in the gravel, things didn't look brilliant at all.”
"To turn that around with George in P4 and outscoring Ferrari on an afternoon was not something we could have hoped for once we were one lap into the race. What might have been is clear to see. We were right on the pace of the McLarens, probably not within striking distance of Max, but there's a double podium that could have been today.”
‘Mercedes F1: “Worst possible thing that can happen”!’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103775...nrussell-crash
Nico Rosberg pins ‘100%’ blame on Lewis Hamilton for George Russell clash
08 Oct 2023 8:25
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Rosberg, who had multiple high-profile collisions of his own with Hamilton while they were duelling for titles at Mercedes, including at Spa in 2014 and Barcelona in 2016, believes his former team-mate was fully to blame for Sunday’s incident.
He admitted it was only a “slight misjudgement” on Hamilton’s part, but it was enough to see him out of the Qatar Grand Prix. “So Lewis had soft tyres, so he just tries to go around the outside, but it’s three people going into Turn 1, and it was 100% Lewis’ error there,” Rosberg stated on Sky Sports F1.
“It’s a slight misjudgement, and it’s not a big misjudgement, a slight misjudgement, doesn’t leave quite enough space for George there, so it’s all on Lewis – which actually he already admitted to, he kind of took responsibility for it.”
‘Nico Rosberg: ‘100%’ blame on Lewis Hamilton’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/nico-r...-russell-clash
Our verdict on Hamilton/Russell Qatar clash and consequences
Oct 8, 2023
The Race
Our writers give their verdict on what happened in the incident and the implications it has on the future.
Ben Anderson: Only one driver was at fault
Glenn Freeman: Credit to Hamilton for taking blame
Josh Suttill: Inevitable this was coming
Jack Benyon: Worrying incident for a driver of Hamilton's calibre
Sam Smith: Important to not over-analyse this
‘Our verdict’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/o...-consequences/
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Passing out and vomiting - F1 drivers' Qatar GP nightmare.
The extreme conditions Formula 1 drivers faced in the Qatar Grand Prix went “beyond the limit of what was acceptable” in a “dangerous” race that featured drivers “passing out in the car”, vomiting in their helmets, pulling out of the race and collapsing in the aftermath.
Oct 8, 2023
by Josh Suttill, Ben Anderson, Edd Straw
The Race
“This is the toughest race for every driver in Formula 1 of our careers for everyone, no exception. I don’t believe the one that says it’s not,” was Charles Leclerc’s stark post-race verdict. There were plenty of drivers in public agreement, with Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director George Russell labelling it an “absolutely brutal race” as he experienced a new level of exhaustion within the cockpit.
Seventh-place finisher Esteban Ocon was actually physically sick in his helmet “for two laps” in his Alpine less than a third of the way into the race. “That was the hardest-fought points that I’ve ever had to fight for,” Ocon said after the race. I was feeling ill, lap 15, 16, I was throwing up for two laps inside the cockpit. And then I was like, ‘S*** that’s going to be a long race'.”
F1 rookie Logan Sargeant wasn’t able to finish the race, voluntarily ending his grand prix due to the exhaustion, having been already “weakened by flu-like symptoms” earlier in the week. He and team-mate Alex Albon both visited the medical centre after the race, with Albon “treated for acute heat exposure”. Valtteri Bottas called the conditions “torture” while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll said he was “passing out in the car” and “fading in and out” due to the conditions.
‘Passing out and vomiting’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/p...-gp-nightmare/
Racing at Qatar makes F1 drivers sick – Up and down in Lu(o)sail
October 9th 2023
Author: James Elson
Motor Sport Magazine
The idea of racing in the UAE is usually vomit-inducing due to much of the region's human rights abuses against its own citizens and the horrifically bland tracks – but this time in Qatar things got even worse
Drivers were fainting and vomiting, the pitstops were flowing, but it was the same old story out front as Verstappen cruised so easily to a third title it looked like he barely noticed – giving the impression he kind of won the F1 2023 title by accident.
‘F1 drivers sick’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
Why were F1 drivers so sick at Qatar GP?
A number of drivers were seeking medical attention after an exhausting Qatar Grand Prix.
09 October 11:58AM
Author Ewan Gale
RacingNews365
Williams' Logan Sargeant pulled out mid-race due to illness whilst Alpine's Esteban Ocon was sick in his helmet early on. Alex Albon and Lance Stroll both struggled to extract themselves from their cars in parc fermé, whilst up in the podium cooldown room, Oscar Piastri took a lie down to regather himself.
The humidity was also high in Doha as the wind dropped from the first two days of running. With less cool air from the breeze to cool the effects of the temperature and humidity, one mitigating variable was removed. Drivers are affected by wasted heat from the car's mechanics, such as the power unit, as Fernando Alonso demonstrated when radioing his Aston Martin team to complain of his seat burning.
George Russell could be seen lifting his visor in the hope of finding cooling air when pitting for Mercedes, with Lando Norris pictured doing similar for McLaren. But on the race track, when Yuki Tsunoda attempted to get airflow into his helmet, the AlphaTauri driver was met with a face full of sand.
‘Drivers were seeking medical attention’;
https://racingnews365.com/why-were-f...ck-at-qatar-gp
F1 Qatar Grand Prix: Why so many drivers fell ill and update on Logan Sargeant's health
Williams driver Logan Sargeant retired during yesterday's Qatar GP due to health concerns
Published 9th Oct 2023, 09:43 BST
By David George
National World
The gruelling heat of Qatar caused major problems for F1 drivers at the weekend. Williams driver Logan Sargeant retired halfway through the grand prix, telling his team over the radio that he "felt sick" and eventually pulling into the garage. Meanwhile, Alpine driver Esteban Ocon threw up in his helmet during the race - something he said he's "never had" before. Ocon finished seventh for the French team.
Other drivers, including Sargeant's teammate Alex Albon and Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll, were seen struggling to get out of their cars at the end of the grand prix. Williams later confirmed that Albon was taken to the medical centre "to be treated for acute heatstroke" with Sargeant and numerous other drivers also getting assessed by doctors.
Dehydration was also an issue, and was the first symptom of Sargeant's condition. Drivers have fluids they can drink during the race, but in a bid to save weight many have been putting the bare minimum into the car. McLaren driver Oscar Piastri said: "It was a combination of a lot of things - the humidity, having three stops meant we were pushing flat out and just the nature of the track - there's a lot of high-speed corners that just naturally take its toll. Definitely the hardest race I've done."
‘Many drivers fell ill’;
https://www.nationalworld.com/sport/...health-4364543
F1 drivers admit huge health concerns at extreme Qatar GP
Monday 9 October 2023 06:57
Joe Ellis
GPFans
The Qatar GP was unprecedented in many ways and the physicality of the race certainly fell into that category. Rarely have we seen drivers voluntarily go to the medical centre after the race to get checked over for heat exhaustion and dehydration but that's what we got in Losail.
The high forces of the track coupled with immense heat, even at night, made the 2023 Qatar GP a brutal affair with no safety cars to break up the action after the opening lap. Every driver who completed a large amount of the race found it extremely tough, including the Grand Prix Drivers' Association Director, George Russell.
Lance Stroll admitted severe safety concerns over driving the last part of the race. "Everything goes blurry," the Aston Martin star admitted. "You know, I mean the last 25-30 laps, which is blurry in the high speed corners and blood pressure dropping and just passing out basically in the car in the high speed corners and high G forces. So you're relying just on your visual reference to the outside of the track and what that is. The last the last 20-25 laps, you can't really see anything because you're just fading as you're going through those corners."
‘Huge health concerns’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-lando-norris/
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‘I’m very proud’ – Emotional Jos Verstappen heaps praise on son Max after latest F1 title win.
Jos Verstappen expressed his pride and emotion as he reacted to son Max securing a third successive F1 championship title over the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, praising him for being “so dominant” all year long.
09 October 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Speaking to Sky Sports after the title was sealed, Verstappen senior, himself a former F1 racer, commented: “It’s the way he did it. He was so dominant this year and he delivered really well. I’m very proud of that.”
Jos, who played a key role in Max’s junior career and journey through the motorsport ranks, was asked if he always knew his son would go on to achieve such success. “I knew it a long time [ago] when he was in go-karts,” he said. “I think we made the right decisions in the beginning of his career and I must say now it’s up to him what he does.”
“I’m just very happy how he does it, how strong he is and the way he works for that [success]. The credit is definitely for Max.” With Verstappen joining an elite club of three-time world champions, the question on many people’s lips is how many the 26-year-old can rack up during his time in F1. “We will see, we don’t know yet,” added Jos, with Max’s Red Bull contract set to run through the 2028 season. “This is a good thing, we have to enjoy it, then we’ll see.”
‘I’m very proud’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...FyGyx6wF1.html
Max Verstappen has won the right to hold his head up high in F1’s most elite company
04:07 Mon, 09 Oct 2023.
David Tremayne
The Straits Times
It’s impossible to look back on the Qatar Grand Prix and not mention Max Verstappen and his third world championship. Like a young child, everything he has done in 2023 has been demanding and attention seeking, albeit in a very adult manner.
Has there ever been a driver so utterly in control of all of his circumstances, so dominantly successful?
‘In F1’s most elite company’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...-elite-company
Verstappen on the same level as Senna says Berger
With the championship now all decided and a full five grands prix left to run in 2023, column inches will be full of the proposition: Is Max Verstappen the best Formula 1 driver of all time.
OCTOBER 9, 2023
GrandPrix.com
F1 legend Gerhard Berger, a friend of the Red Bull team, is arguably best known for being teammate at McLaren to the great Ayrton Senna. The Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport asked him: is Verstappen even better than his fellow triple-world champion Senna was?
I've always seen Senna as the greatest of all time, Berger said. "But I have to say that Max is on the same level. He doesn't make mistakes, he is always fast in any condition - wet, dry, fast or slow tracks, he is always in front. He is truly an excellent driver. I think he and Senna are drivers we will remember forever.”
Another question that will be hotly debated in the remaining races of 2023 is whether Verstappen and Red Bull will be challenged any harder by their rivals next year. Berger answered: "You can never know about that. Next year everyone will have a new car and hope the gap will be smaller because it is more spectacular to see. But if we remove Max we can already see a good championship, because Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin and Mercedes are all on a similar level.”
‘Same level as Senna’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/verst...ys-berger.html
Verstappen equals Senna in F1 record books after bagging EPIC milestone
Monday 9 October 2023 17:29
Joe Ellis
GPFans
When it comes to the greatest in F1, many people will look at championships and races won but to see true brilliance, you have to look at another statistic. The term 'grand slam' is more commonly heard in tennis or even rugby but it is a rare thing to accomplish for an F1 driver.
It is when a driver takes pole position, fastest lap, wins and leads every lap of the race which is an incredibly hard thing to do in a sport where the smallest margins matter. At the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, though, it happened and Max Verstappen moved himself alongside some true F1 greats as he did so.
‘Verstappen equals Senna’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ix-grand-slam/
How ‘new breed’ Max Verstappen differs from Schumacher and Hamilton
09 Oct 2023 8:15 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill says the “new breed” Max Verstappen comes from a background where he was moulded as a racer from a young age by his father Jos, a figure which Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton did not have.
“He’s got a good head on his shoulders and he’s mature. He’s come into Formula 1 aged 17, before he could even drive a road car and was volatile and quick, and he’s managed to combine that youth and speed with experience now.
“And I think in the interview he gave at the weekend with Karun Chandhok, he was very clear that he was admitting that he understands now what the job is better, so he’s just getting better and better all the time.” With Verstappen now on 14 grand prix wins for F1 2023, he is on course to topple his own record of 15 wins in a single season, with five rounds of the campaign remaining.
‘New breed’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/how-ne...r-and-hamilton
Marko reveals two sides of Verstappen and how F1 champion has changed
Tuesday 10 October 2023, 08:27
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has stated that Max Verstappen has two different sides to him depending on whether or not he is behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.
Marko has now heaped praise on Verstappen, someone who the Austrian claims has a different side to him when his race helmet goes on. "Since his first world title in 2021, he has improved incredibly and at the same time found a certain calmness," he told Sky Germany.
"The current season is characterised by the fact that there were no slumps, there were no mistakes. Driving at such a level every weekend at that age is unique. He is absolutely down to earth," Marko added. "Lives his own life, but the focus is clearly on Formula 1. So as I said, outside of the car he is the ideal son-in-law. But things change drastically in the car."
‘No slumps’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...prix-red-bull/
Verstappen now a “very polished diamond” after third F1 title win – Horner
10th October 2023, 8:15
Written by Ed Hardy and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said Max Verstappen is now a “very polished diamond” after winning his third world championship. Verstappen sealed the title in Saturday’s sprint race at Losail International Circuit. The 26-year-old is the 11th driver in the sport’s history to win the championship three times.
“He’s always had the speed from the moment he sat in the car and I think that he now couples that with experience,” Horner, whose team also took Sebastian Vettel to four world titles, told media including RaceFans. “He arrived in Formula 1 as quite a rough diamond, he’s now a very polished diamond and I think that he’s maintained all those raw attributes that he had but now brings experience.”
“I think we’ve known it was coming from about the fourth or fifth race,” he said. “It’s been the most outstanding, unbelievable season.” However, it is still beyond anything Red Bull could ever have dreamed of as the team has won all but one grand prix in 2023 so far. “It’s exceeded all our expectations,” said Horner. “Max as a driver has just continued to evolve. The level that he’s now operating at, the way he’s able to read races, manage tyres, the mental strength that he has in the high pressure moments, it’s absolutely outstanding.”
“Very polished diamond”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/10/10/...le-win-horner/
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Sainz issues BLAME after Ferrari DNS nightmare in Qatar.
International Circuit were to blame for the petrol tank issue which left him unable to start the Qatar Grand Prix.
Monday 9 October 2023 19:48
Sam Cook
GPFans
"I found damage to the petrol tank and it could be due to the kerbs," he said. "A more in-depth investigation will be needed to understand what really happened and how. In any case, the damage was irreparable because we lost too much petrol."
Also speaking to Sky Sports F1, team boss Fred Vasseur agreed with Sainz on the potential cause of the Spaniard's issue.
“We haven’t had time to take the tank off yet, but probably [it’s due to the kerbs] because the leak seems significant, so there’s significant damage," he said. "It probably comes from the last laps of yesterday."
‘Could be due to the kerbs’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...-losail-track/
Sainz: ‘Impossible’ to detect fuel system issue before race day
09/10/2023 at 15:07
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Carlos Sainz says the fuel system issue that sidelined him from the Qatar Grand Prix went undetected due the relatively low levels of fuel run by Ferrari on Friday and Saturday. During the run-up to last Sunday’s race, the Scuderia mechanics identified a fuel system problem on Sainz’s car and the crews set out to fix the issue before the start of the race.
Sadly, with one hour to go, it became obvious for the team that a timely repair would not be possible, leaving Ferrari with no other choice but to pull out its #55 entry. A massively disappointed Sainz lamented missing an opportunity to put more points on the board after his recent series of solid runs that included his win in Singapore.
‘Fuel system issue’;
https://f1i.com/news/489682-sainz-im...-race-day.html
Carlos Sainz blasts FIA in brutal rant as Ferrari driver forced to miss Qatar GP
Carlos Sainz was forced to miss the start of the Qatar Grand Prix after a fuel system issue, capping off a miserable weekend.
15:22, Mon, Oct 9, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, team principal Fred Vasseur explained: “It was when we put the petrol in that the problem appeared, not before. You can say that we could have put the fuel in earlier but it doesn't work that way. There definitely wasn't enough time to change the tank. I honestly don't know [why it happened], we need to investigate.”
“There hasn't been time to remove the tank yet, but probably yes [it's due to the curbs], because the leak seems very large and therefore there is significant damage. It probably comes from yesterday's last laps."
If the Ferrari boss’ theory is proven true then this gives more credence to Sainz’s frustration about the way the FIA went about their changes in Qatar. He said: “There has been a resurface, a redoing of the curbs, and for some reason, the FIA persisted with this design of curbs that is killing Pirelli tyres.
‘FIA persisted with this design of curbs that is killing Pirelli tyres’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...rrari-Qatar-GP
Leclerc says fifth was the best he could do in Qatar as Sainz laments 'cruel' fuel leak that ruled him out of the race
09 October 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Charles Leclerc believes his fifth place finish at the Qatar Grand Prix was the best he could have done this weekend, while Carlos Sainz was left lamenting a fuel leak on his Ferrari that caused him to pull out of the race before it even started.
Asked if he was happy about his performance, Leclerc said: “Happy? No. Because when you see the race of George when he is out in Turn 1 and then manages to finish in front, [I] think it’s a surprise for us the pace of the Mercedes today.”
“At the end for us it was a bit damage limitation for the race today. Unfortunately, we had Carlos out straight at the start, [and] we had to take a bit more margin with the way I was driving, but all in all we maximised what we could have done.”
‘Maximised’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...kzn8RG87o.html
F1 races could be axed as FIA chief sides with Charles Leclerc after driver complaints
Numerous F1 stars were pulled up for track limits infringements at the Qatar Grand Prix.
13:51, Tue, Oct 10, 2023
By Charlie Gordon
Daily and Sunday Express
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has suggested that some circuits could be axed from the F1 calendar unless alterations are made. Track limits infringements dominated proceedings in Austria and Qatar, with Charles Leclerc among the drivers to complain about punishments dished out by the stewards at Losail Circuit.
Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon were all hit with multiple penalties for exceeding track limits in Qatar. A total of 51 infringements were pounced on by stewards - more than any other race this season apart from Austria. "We are speaking about centimetres at 280kph," moaned Leclerc after the chequered flag.
"In qualifying, when we are fresh, it’s possible to respect them. But then it’s just a nightmare at the end of the race. So, maybe there are things that we could do because these cars now are so quick in the high-speed corners, so when you are doing quali laps after quali laps, the G-forces we are going through for 57 laps with this heat is crazy."
‘Driver complaints’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...tar-grand-prix
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EL PLAN: Alonso pleased to feel ‘more competitive’ again in Qatar.
Fernando Alonso admits that he was pleased to feel “more competitive” than in previous rounds in Qatar.
09:28 Tue, 10 Oct 2023.
by Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Although McLaren closed further in the standings, Alonso was encouraged by Aston Martin’s weekend performance at the Lusail circuit compared to previous rounds. “I felt more competitive this weekend than the last few events,” he said. “Ninth in Monza, no points in Singapore, ninth in Japan, so I think a little bit better this weekend.”
Alonso, now in his 20th F1 season, believes Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix resides in the “top three” hardest races he’s ever encountered. “One of the hardest [races] for sure,” he noted. “I think when we were racing in Malaysia in Sepang in [the] daytime, I remember those to be very extreme. I think it was Bahrain 2005 it was like 41 degrees, extremely hot. And then here, for sure in the top three.”
‘EL PLAN: Encouraged by Aston Martin’s weekend performance’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/...gain-in-qatar/
Alonso calls Qatar pace ‘a positive surprise’ as Stroll’s penalties deny Aston Martin double points
10 October 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Fernando Alonso was able to capitalise on his strong qualifying performance and bring home his best result since Zandvoort with a solid sixth place finish in Qatar, but it was anything but a straightforward night for the Spaniard.
“The weekend was a little bit more competitive than what we thought so that was a positive surprise but we still need to improve in the next couple of races,” he said afterwards, with his points haul helping to keep Aston Martin just ahead of McLaren in fourth in the constructors’ championship.
“[McLaren are] very strong and better than us. There’s nothing we can do, we just have to respect their performance and they have this momentum but we still cannot give up. Hopefully in the next three races we have a strong weekend, score with both cars and they have a bad weekend and then we open the gap, but at the moment it is tough.”
‘EL PLAN: A positive surprise’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Ih4oLgn1d.html
Aston Martin forbidden by F1 rules as Fernando Alonso suffers ‘semi-burns’
10 Oct 2023 1:45 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Fernando Alonso has revealed he suffered a “semi-burn” on his right-hand side in the extreme conditions in Qatar with Aston Martin “not allowed” to throw water over him in a pitstop. Pitting shortly after the radio message was broadcast by FOM, Aston Martin did nothing but change the double World Champion’s tyres.
That’s because, Alonso says, throwing water over a driver is not allowed. “I think for Lance and myself, both of us, we were struggling a little bit with temperature in the seat on the right-hand side,” Alonso said.
“I got like burned in the first 15 laps so I even asked on the radio if they could throw me some water or something at the pit stop, which apparently is not allowed.” Reiterating that it was “not allowed, so they couldn’t help me on that” to Sky Sports, he added: “I have a very warm seat and by lap 15 I had a semi-burn on the right-hand side.”
‘FORBIDDEN EL PLAN: “I even asked on the radio if they could throw me some water”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...emi-burn-qatar
Alonso asked team to throw water on him in pits ‘but apparently it’s not allowed’
9th October 2023, 0:329th October 2023, 0:32
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Alonso said he was burned by his seat during the Qatar Grand Prix and was disappointed to discover his team was not allowed to throw water on him to cool the area during the race.
“I think for Lance [Stroll] and myself, both of us, we were struggling a little bit with temperature in the seat on the right-hand side,” said Alonso. “I got like burned in the first 15 laps so I even asked on the radio if they could throw me some water or something at the pit stop, which apparently is not allowed.”
Teams may not add liquids to their cars as it would increase their weight, which could be used as a way of getting around the minimum mass limit.
‘FORBIDDEN EL PLAN: Fernando Alonso was in desperate need of cooling during the Qatar Grand Prix’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/10/09/...nd-up-09-10-6/
Rare Lance Stroll sympathy emerges in Fernando Alonso ‘hammering’
10 Oct 2023 10:30 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Taking a hammering from Fernando Alonso on the track, David Coulthard says he understands Lance Stroll’s frustration but that doesn’t make it okay for him to shove his trainer. Stroll had yet another on a long list of trying Grand Prix weekends in Qatar, starting with the Aston Martin driver’s failure to make it out of Q1 on Friday night.
Back in the garage and with his night’s work prematurely curtailed, Stroll initially threw his steering wheel onto the nose of his AMR23, potentially damaging the £20,000 steering wheel and scratching the car. His behaviour went from bad to worse as approached by his personal trainer Henry Howe, Stroll was seen shoving the Briton out of his way.
“That is a meltdown which I feel for him,” Coulthard told Channel 4. “That’s not something I thought I would say very often for Lance but he’s just getting absolutely hammered by Fernando Alonso and he’s had a meltdown. His trainer is just trying to do his job, which is get him to the scales.”
‘Rare Lance Stroll sympathy’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ex-red...r-lance-stroll
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Marko insists Red Bull rivals 'BETTER' than F1 champions in key area.
Helmut Marko has revealed that McLaren is superior to Red Bull in 'very fast corners', emphasising the need to push themselves to their limits to overcome this challenge.
Tuesday 10 October 2023 18:57
Anna Malyon
GPFans
This resurgence has led to speculation that McLaren could be a strong contender for the championship in the upcoming season. And in an interview with Sky Germany, Ralf Schumacher claimed that McLaren would be Red Bull’s ‘biggest threat’.
Marko responded, saying: “They are fast and stable on all tracks. They are the most consistent and we have to say that the McLaren is better than our car in very fast corners. So, when it's like this, we really have difficulties and have to push ourselves to the limit.”
‘Helmut Marko: McLaren is superior to Red Bull’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ppen-champion/
Marko highlights McLaren as potential 2024 title contender
October 10, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
Dr Helmut Marko has spotlighted McLaren as perhaps the principal threat to Red Bull’s existing mastery of Formula 1 in 2024. His insight emerges after McLaren’s marked upswing this campaign after a somewhat lukewarm onset in 2023, with Oscar Piastri clinching the Qatar sprint race starting from pole, and his colleague Lando Norris following closely behind.
“They are our most regular pursuers now and they are still gaining momentum,” the Red Bull team counsellor Marko shared with Kronen Zeitung publication.
McLaren team leader Andrea Stella didn’t counter Marko’s projection. “It was a very positive weekend for us,” he conveyed to the Austrian channel ORF. “We are the second fastest car and that is really good for the future.
‘McLaren as potential 2024 title contender’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/marko-high...tle-contender/
Piastri Sprint win ‘very well deserved’
Tuesday 10th October, 2023 - 3:02pm
By Mat Coch
Speedcafe
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella believes victory for Oscar Piastri in the F1 Sprint in Qatar was “very well deserved”. Stella, who has often spoken highly of his young Australian driver, was full and adulation for the 22-year-old.
“This victory comes in, to me, in a dominant way,” he said. “He was P1 in the shootout [on Saturday] afternoon and then he was very strong in the race; a strong pace, he could match [Max] Verstappen’s pace in the final laps, there was a racing situation, being overtaken, re-overtaking, so very well deserved. It adds a bit of history, another piece of history, to his career after the first podium.”
‘Very well deserved’;
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/10/10...well-deserved/
How Piastri survived and thrived in F1’s ugly wasteland as McLaren power shift looms
October 9th, 2023 2:52 pm
Jacob Polychronis from Fox Sports
Before even turning the wheel of a F1 car in anger, Oscar Piastri was lauded as a special talent who had what it took to succeed in the most cutthroat sport of all. “He is absolutely the real deal,” said commentator David Croft in March. “He looks a champion in the making to be honest, and has done for some time now.”
If Croft’s words weren’t believed already, then they’re almost impossible to ignore now with Piastri arguably F1’s most in-form driver. His second-place finish on Sunday behind Max Verstappen saw him named driver of the day, while the night before he became a race-winner in his rookie season by claiming the sprint in Qatar.
Lewis Hamilton (2007) and Juan Pablo Montoya (2001) are the only two drivers this century to win an F1 race in their rookie season. Many are still waiting to do so years after their debut season, such as McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who noted at the start of his post-race interview: “First win — earlier than mine...”
‘The real deal,’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...c80295b503a79b
McLaren set all-time record with fastest F1 pit stop in Qatar Grand Prix
9 Oct 2023
Connor McDonagh
McLaren set a new all-time record for the fastest F1 pit stop during Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix.
As confirmed by DHL, Norris second pit stop on Lap 28 was timed at 1.8 seconds. The previous record was 1.82 seconds, held by Max Verstappen and Red Bull from the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix.
However, that respective time was done with the smaller, 13-inch tyres, rather than the heavier 18-inch ones that are used today. It capped off a remarkable weekend for McLaren, who won the sprint race with Oscar Piastri before securing another double-podium in the main event.
McLaren now sit just 11 points behind Aston Martin in the race for fourth in the F1 2023 constructors’ championship with five rounds to go.
‘Fastest F1 pit stop’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103778...pit-stop-qatar
Norris podium celebration goes awry AGAIN
Wednesday 11 October 2023 18:42
Lauren Sneath
GPFans
Lando Norris has celebrated standing on three successive podiums as the McLaren driver took P3 at the Qatar Grand Prix – but could not quite pull off his signature podium stunt.
Despite Norris’s best efforts, he could not get any champagne to fizz out of the bottle after giving it his best shot.
‘Goes awry AGAIN’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...ar-grand-prix/
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Mercedes 'have lost control' of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as Toto Wolff blamed.
Former F1 team manager turned pundit Peter Windsor believes that the dynamic between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell is out of control, placing the blame at the feet of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
11:50, Mon, Oct 9, 2023
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
After Hamilton got a positive start off the line he attempted to make a move around the outside into turn one but failed to leave enough room for Russell on the inside, making contact on his right-rear tyre and sending him spinning out into the gravel trap. Both drivers were left frustrated on the radio with Hamilton claiming he was “taken out by my own team-mate,” and Russell raging that he was left with nowhere to go after watching the incident from his cockpit on one of the big screens.
Discussing the crash after the Qatar Grand Prix, Windsor commented: “Just imagine if Mercedes were in the running for the world championship in any given situation, in any given year, imagine what it'd be like between Lewis and George Russell. The management have absolutely no control over them now, and there is nothing they could do about it because there is no way you can ever say to George Russell, ‘Lewis may well try to pass you on the outside, let him go.’ It's never going to happen.”
“It's not a conversation that George would even begin to listen to. And that of course is what Mercedes never considered, I guess, when they hired George rather than keeping Valtteri Bottas." Windsor believes Mercedes boss Wolff was always asking for trouble by pitting together two clear winners, insisting Hamilton needed someone like 'Bottas or Sergio Perez' to partner him.
'Have lost control';
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ell-Toto-Wolff
Hamilton will get new cockpit position – Wolff
October 12, 2023
by Andrew Maitland
Grandpx.news
Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton will be happier at the wheel of Mercedes’ all-new 2024 car. “We have to get back to basics,” team boss Wolff, who was absent at Suzuka and Qatar after knee surgery, told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. I don’t want to hear Lewis say anymore ‘My cockpit is too far forward’.”
However, he insisted that Mercedes has learned much more than that about why the 2022-2023 car concept wasn’t a success. “We know what we understand and will not pay attention to what we do not understand,” said Wolff. “The biggest problem is that the drivers have no confidence in the car. We have to give them a solid foundation to score good points.”
Wolff also admitted that part of the issue is simply that Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is so far ahead of the rest of the field. “There is only one man at the moment who stands head and shoulders above the rest,” said the Austrian. “Ferrari, Aston Martin, McLaren and us are all in the same situation. At least we are second in the constructors’ championship, because after all these years we have learned how to optimise our results. It’s just that no one comes close to Verstappen.”
‘New cockpit position’;
https://grandpx.news/hamilton-will-g...osition-wolff/
George Russell lives right next to Toto Wolff and meets Mercedes boss 'every day'
George Russell and Toto Wolff have been spending time together in Monaco.
09:13, Wed, Oct 11, 2023
By Archie Griggs
Daily and Sunday Express
It seems as though Russell is happy to mix work with pleasure when it comes to meeting Wolff away from the paddock, with the pair often linking up for coffee when they are not travelling the world with Mercedes. They only live down the road from each other and have recently been learning to freedive with the help of Hamilton, who accompanied Russell on his first time in the water.
"I see them all the time in Monaco [Toto and Susie]," said Russell during an appearance on the Beyond the Grid podcast. "We live about 200 metres from each other. We go to the gym together, have coffee together daily. We don't really talk about racing, to be honest.
"We're learning to freedive together at the moment. We went with Lewis on our first experience into the water. I'm a kid from the countryside in the UK, watersports activities were never a thing. Suddenly this life has exposed me to so much which I'm so grateful for."
‘Spending time together in Monaco’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...rcedes-F1-news
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff and Manchester United bidder Jim Ratcliffe share $92 million payout even as team’s ad value tumbles
12:19 Wed, 11 Oct 2023.
BY Ryan Hogg
Fortune
Mercedes Benz’s billionaire F1 chief Toto Wolff and fellow billionaire Man Utd bidder Jim Ratcliffe will take big cuts of the F1 team’s £75 million ($92 million) dividend, despite the team’s waning on-track performance severely hurting the value of its TV coverage.
In an annual financial report filed Monday, Mercedes Benz-AMG Petronas’s chief Wolff said it had confirmed the dividend to its shareholders in March. It represents a steep rise on a £55 million ($67.5 million) dividend paid out in 2022.
For years Mercedes, led by Wolff—who is also a director at the F1 team—dominated the F1 track. The team won eight constructors’ championships in a row between 2014 and 2021, while its main driver Lewis Hamilton won the drivers’ world championship six times in that period.
‘Big dividend’;
https://fortune.com/2023/10/11/merce...lion-dividend/
Mercedes hint Lewis Hamilton's replacement is already lined up in 'very talented' driver
Lewis Hamilton is coming to the end of his F1 career, but Mercedes have the perfect driver waiting in the wings.
07:01, Thu, Oct 12, 2023
By Harry Smith
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has claimed that he is totally content with his driver line-up moving forward but also acknowledged that teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli is seen as the future of the Silver Arrows.
Wolff moved quickly to secure a new contract for George Russell in the summer, adding another two seasons to his existing contract, while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton also put pen to paper on an extension that will keep him with the Brackley-based team into his forties.
What has remained up in the air is where Mercedes will go once Hamilton’s retirement does come. With Mick Schumacher in the reserve role and Frederik Vesti clearly not trusted to make the step up just yet, George Russell is without an obvious future partner.
'Very talented driver lined up’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...on-replacement
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Should F1 SCRAP the Qatar Grand Prix? YOUR COMMENTS after drivers slam 'dangerously hot' race which saw Esteban Ocon vomit inside his helmet and Lance Stroll briefly pass out inside sweltering cockpits.
Fans have called for Formula One's farcical Qatar Grand Prix to be scrapped after one driver briefly lost consciousness and another vomited inside his helmet amid the sweltering temperatures during the race.
Published: 11:55, 10 October 2023
By Sam Mcevoy For Mailonline
Mail Online
George Russell and Lando Norris hit out at the event on Sunday which went 'beyond the limit of what is acceptable' with many drivers saying they were feeling sick and close to passing out. Temperatures in the drivers' cockpits exceeded 50 degrees for the 57-lap race in Lusail which lasted one hour and 28 minutes. Canadian driver Lance Stroll said he faded in and out of consciousness because of the extreme heat and humidity during the race and was also seen stumbling towards an ambulance moments after he emerged from his Aston Martin.
And the news that drivers' health has been put at risk due to the extreme conditions has seen many of our readers call for the Gulf State race to be scrapped. One commenter said: 'Scrap the contract with Qatar. Driver safety should be number one priority. Imagine passing out while driving at over 300km/hr.'
Another agreed, insisting that drivers potentially passing out is not only a major safety risk for those in the cockpit but fans in attendance as well. 'Passing out in an f1 car turns into into a 1 ton bullet travelling at 300 kmph. Its not just a danger to the driver but others including fans. Qatar should be scrapped immediately,' they said.
‘Driver safety should be number one priority’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-cockpits.html
Mark Webber details alarming driver scene in gruelling Qatar GP fall-out
12 Oct 2023 3:00 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Mark Webber says there was a “lot of strife” evident as he walked through the post-Qatar Grand Prix parking lot with the drivers clearly suffering as they climbed out of their cars. According to reports several drivers fainted after the race while in-car camera footage showed Stroll and Alex Albon struggling to climb out of their cars with Williams thanking Alfa Romeo as their mechanics rushed over to help Albon.
“Myself and DC [David Coulthard] walked through the area where the drivers come out a car immediately and there was a bit of a war zone causing a lot of strife,” he said. “But these top three guys also, they don’t get to the sort of fluids, they can’t get to the people, their trainers and things.”
“I think there’s a few lessons where they immediately they need a bit more hydration, just something cold to start with after that length of race.” Craig Slater reported that “two or three drivers have their own accord of taking themselves to the medical centre because of dehydration” such were the conditions.
“Lot of strife”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/mark-w...scene-qatar-gp
FIA begin analysis into competing in extreme weather conditions following Qatar Grand Prix
10 October 2023
Formula One - Official Site
The FIA have announced that they have begun an analysis into competing in extreme temperatures following the Qatar Grand Prix weekend. In the aftermath of the weekend, the FIA announced that they would be working with Formula 1 to explore possible solutions in the case of facing similar conditions at future events.
A statement from the FIA released on Monday evening said: “The FIA notes with concern that the extreme temperature and humidity during the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix had an impact on the wellbeing of the drivers.
“While being elite athletes, they should not be expected to compete under conditions that could jeopardise their health or safety. The safe operation of the cars is, at all times, the responsibility of the Competitors, however as with other matters relating to safety such as circuit infrastructure and car safety requirements, the FIA will take all reasonable measures to establish and communicate acceptable parameters in which Competitions are held.”
“As such, the FIA has begun an analysis…”;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...BugfGeXxF.html
PALMER: The three key elements that made the race in Qatar such a test for the drivers
Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix became one of the most physical races in Formula 1 history, in conditions and circumstances that provided the perfect storm.
11 October 2023
Jolyon Palmer
Former F1 Driver
Formula One - Official Site
Firstly let's look at the ambient conditions. This element has obviously taken centre stage in the Grand Prix debriefs. It was officially 31 degrees on the timing screens throughout the race which is extremely hot, especially for a night race – but is actually lower than we’ve seen on other occasions this year. What made the conditions on Sunday harder than usual was the extreme humidity and stillness. Humidity was over 75%, which is an intense level, and with very little wind there was no natural ventilation either.
The second factor that compounded woes in the cockpit is the track layout in Qatar. It’s not just high temperatures that can strain drivers, but also sheer g force loads that go through the body. Circuits like Silverstone or Suzuka have plenty of long, fast corners and stress the drivers physically as well, even in cooler conditions. With g forces of up to 6g acting on the body for long durations, you are working up a sweat even before you add in other factors.
Finally, the icing on the cake came with the introduction of a mandatory three-stop race. Nobody was able to run a tyre beyond 18 laps as a precaution on such a challenging high speed circuit – particularly with the ‘pyramid’ kerbs used extensively at this track. What this meant for the drivers was that they could push flat-out in each stint. On Sunday, there was no knife edge balance between trying to eke out extra laps on a set of tyres to avoid an additional stop. Because the stops were enforced, saving tyres in the race became pointless.
‘Three key elements’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...mp45gwdQl.html
Martin Brundle under fire for ‘not helpful’ Qatar Grand Prix comments
11 Oct 2023 11:15 AM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Martin Brundle’s comments regarding the conditions of the Qatar Grand Prix have been addressed by a physiological expert. Speaking in an extended interview with PlanetF1.com, Associate Professor in Environmental Physiology at Roehampton University London, Dr. Chris Tyler, believes opinions like Brundle’s are somewhat dismissive of the genuine challenge that was put on the drivers.
Pointed out to him that it’s a safety concern, given that drivers were near fainting point behind the wheel, he (Martin Brundle) said: “I really appreciate your view but this is a highly regarded and paid challenge and that’s why there are (currently) only 20 F1 drivers in the world. It’s a dangerous and brutal business, deliver or leave, there are plenty more willing to take the chance.”
In the interview, which will be published in full on Wednesday on PlanetF1.com, Dr. Tyler explained how drivers can train to improve their ability to handle the extreme stresses of races such as what unfolded last weekend in Qatar. “You certainly can. Humans are very good at adapting to the heat,” he said.
‘Not helpful’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/martin...dr-chris-tyler
Sargeant says retiring ‘the last thing I wanted to do’ as he explains Qatar GP struggles
12 October 2023
Formula One - Official Site
Logan Sargeant has shared some initial comments after pulling out of last weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, with illness in the build-up to the event contributing to his discomfort behind the wheel.
Sargeant sent several radio messages to the Williams pit wall expressing that he felt unwell during a particularly hot and humid race at the Lusail International Circuit, ultimately returning his car to the pits after 40 of the 57 scheduled laps.
“The main thing is Alex and I are both okay,” said Sargeant post-race. “I’ve been feeling unwell all week which didn’t help with the dehydration in this heat. The last thing I wanted to do was retire the car, but I had to put my health first. Sorry to the team for not being able to reach the finish line. They’ve done an incredible job all weekend in these intense conditions.”
‘Retiring the last thing I wanted to do’;
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