Рубрика: Autosport News

Talk of an F1 title challenge is “stupid”

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Lando Norris is not looking ahead to potentially winning the Formula 1 title this season and labelled it “stupid” to increase the focus despite a dominant display at the Dutch Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver once again struggled off the line from pole position and fell behind reigning champion and local favourite Max Verstappen into the first corner.

However, Norris recovered in style, keeping tabs on Verstappen before passing the Red Bull with ease on lap 18 – never looking back as he stormed to a comfortable win.

He still had enough in his used hard tyres to set the fastest lap on his final tour and the winning margin of 22.896 seconds was the biggest in a race not won by Verstappen since Lewis Hamilton’s impressive victory at the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

But despite coming back from the summer break in scintillating form, as another upgrade proved to bring instant improvement, Norris offered a bullish response when asked by Autosport if he was confident he has a shot at the title.

“I’ve been fighting for the championship since the first race of the year. There’s no sudden decision now,” he said.

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images

“I need to do better. I’ve been working hard the whole year and I’m still 70 points behind Max. So it’s pretty stupid to think of anything at the minute. I just take one race at a time and just keep doing what I’m doing now because there’s no point in thinking ahead and thinking of the rest.

“I don’t care about it at the minute. I’m just focused on one race at a time, so it’s not a question that I need to get asked every single weekend.”

Whether Norris will be good enough over the course of the season to close the 70-point gap to Verstappen remains to be seen.

McLaren, though, was a class ahead of the rest in Zandvoort as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff conceded the Woking-based squad “annihilated” the pack.

With the Italian GP a week away, Norris refused to offer a positive take on whether he could make it back-to-back victories.

«Anyone could be on top,» he insisted. «Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, us. Ferrari was quite quick. We probably didn’t expect them to be as good as they were. Maybe Red Bull struggled a bit more.

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, 1st position, takes the chequered flag

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, 1st position, takes the chequered flag

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images

«I think that was probably more the factor that the Red Bull struggled a bit more than we were expecting. We just keep our heads down.

«There’s no point thinking how we’re going to do next weekend. We’ll just get there and work hard and wait till we get there. There’s no point thinking ahead.»

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Russell baffled after «dropping like a stone” in Dutch GP

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George Russell has conceded he was «left scratching his head» after going backwards in the Dutch Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver qualified in fourth place and had looked strong all weekend going into Sunday’s race but struggled for pace and finished seventh — one spot ahead of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Russell, 26, who came into this weekend having been denied victory in the Belgian Grand Prix after his car was disqualified for being underweight, said he was perplexed to be so far adrift.

«We just had no pace,» the Briton lamented. «I was just dropping like a stone — especially quite surprised versus Ferrari. We were expecting to be comfortably ahead of them, and Charles [Leclerc] was quicker, Carlos [Sainz] was catching me. Clearly, we got something wrong with the tyres.

«After the first couple of laps I thought we were on course for a podium here, I knew the overtaking was going to be difficult. I was really shocked at how fast McLaren was.

«Lando [Norris] just looked so comfortable out there, super impressive to see, but we’ve had six really strong races and then suddenly we’ve finished almost a minute behind the win, so you don’t lose all of that performance overnight.

«We qualified fourth and clearly didn’t get something right [in the race]. Honestly, right now I’m still scratching my head. It was very tough conditions, you know, this wind with the long corners. Right now I don’t have the answers.»

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Meanwhile, Hamilton was left ruing the cost of his three-place grid penalty imposed for blocking Sergio Perez and said that grid drop prevented him from a shot at the podium.

«I had a lot of fun today,» the seven-time world champion commented. «We planned to do a two-stop, started on the soft – the soft tyre was a very good tyre, it felt much better than the medium tyre in practice.

«The hard tyre was pretty decent, it was difficult to see what I needed to do. I was on a two-stopper, so I was trying to use up the tyre but I also wasn’t sure whether or not we might possibly go for a one [stop].

«Probably if I got on to the one-stop and managed a little bit better, then I could have done a one-stop and maybe finished one spot ahead.

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On whether the result would have been better without his grid penalty, Hamilton replied: «Yes, definitely, if I just qualified like I should have qualified.

«If I didn’t have the problem in qualifying then yes. I think I had the pace today to be in the top five – if I started fourth for example I would’ve finished at least fourth.»



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Norris and Piastri clear on McLaren’s rules of engagement at Dutch GP

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McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri insist they are aware of team rules when it comes to fighting one another during the Dutch Grand Prix.

Norris put in a stunning lap to take pole position in Zandvoort, while Piastri starts third with reigning world champion and local favourite Max Verstappen separating the pair.

Team orders have been a hot topic for the Woking-based squad recently after Norris was asked to let Piastri through for victory in Hungary, having initially undercut the Australian in the pits.

The championship-chasing British driver eventually did cede to his team-mate with CEO Zak Brown declaring before the return from the summer break that McLaren is running two number one drivers this season.

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Piastri will be on the second row and directly behind Norris when the lights go out on Sunday afternoon, but he revealed he was not planning to simply play rear-gunner in the Netherlands.

“If I can get myself into the lead, then that works well for me,” he said after initially greeting a question about supporting Norris to make sure he leads after the first lap.

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photo by: Erik Junius

“I think the start is always a good opportunity to make up ground if you can. Obviously, I want to finish as high as I can.

“If I can get into second, then obviously that makes life a little bit more straightforward for the team. But… I mean, I’m not going to do anything specific to try and make that happen. I want to try and win the race myself. Let’s see what I can try and do.”

With Piastri keen to look after his own interests, he was pushed on whether he and Norris were clear on the rules of engagement if they find themselves in a battle for lead.

“The rules are very, very clear and haven’t changed,» he insisted. “We’re free to race each other to try and win. Of course, we’re in a constructors’ championship fight and we know that there’s a lot at stake for the team.

“But we’ve shown time and time again that we can race each other well, race each other cleanly. We’re both free to try and win the race and that’s not changed.”

Norris simplified matters as he revealed the one rule that had been put in place: “There have never been any rules apart from ‘don’t crash into each other’.»

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images

The 24-year-old will be starting on pole for the fourth time in his career and will be looking for a fine showing after claiming on Thursday that he had “not performed at the level of a world champion” this season despite taking victory in Miami and proving to be Verstappen’s closest title challenger in 2024.

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The gap to Verstappen at the top of the standings sits at 78 points and Norris once again conceded: «It’s obvious… I know my starts have not been my forte,” he said.

“They’ve not been bad, honestly, I’m still up there with being one of the best average starters. I’ve just missed out on a couple of races and maybe slightly worse than what it’s been over the course of a season.

“There’s a couple of times when they’ve not been quite where they need to have been, a couple of times I’ve been on the front row. So, like I said, they’ve not been for any certain reason.

“They’ve been different things each time but I feel confident I put in a good amount of work to kind of try and make my starts a bit better.”



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Albon disqualified from Dutch GP qualifying over technical infringement

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Alex Albon has been thrown out of the Dutch Grand Prix qualifying results as the floor on his Williams was found not to be compliant with the FIA’s legality checks.

The Anglo-Thai driver had enjoyed an impressive Saturday afternoon at Zandvoort, and had hurled his newly upgraded Williams into eighth in qualifying to beat Lance Stroll and Pierre Gasly in Q3.

In their post-session scrutineering session, the FIA had found the Williams’ floor had lain outside of the maximum bounding box permitted by the regulations and thus reported to the stewards.

Autosport understands that when the floor was scanned by the FIA, it was found to be too wide — beyond the 1600mm width permissible by the regulations.

Williams had contended that its own measuring devices had shown that it was within the limits which the FIA did not dispute, but that its own scan had proven to be different.

The floor had been among the numerous upgraded parts that Williams had brought to the first race after the summer break; the team had also introduced new sidepods and engine cover bodywork in an effort to move up the championship order.

«The Stewards heard from the team representatives of Car 23 (Alexander Albon), the FIA Technical Delegate, the FIA Scrutineer conducting the measurement of the car and the FIA Single Seater Director,» read the stewards’ report.

Alex Albon, Williams FW46

Alex Albon, Williams FW46

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images

«The floor body of Car 23 was found to lie outside the regulatory volume mentioned in Article 3.5.1 a) of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.

«The team did not dispute the calibration of the FIA measuring system and the measurement of the car, but stated that their own measurements have produced different results.

«The Stewards determine that the result of the measurement conducted with the FIA system in Parc Ferme is the relevant one and the due process prescribed by the regulations has been followed.

«Therefore the standard penalty for such an infringement is applied.»

Williams said: «We are incredibly disappointed with this outcome and will be carrying out a thorough investigation and will provide an update soon.»

As a result, Albon will start from the back of the grid, and all drivers behind him will move up one position — Stroll will start from eighth in Sunday’s race, with Gasly ninth and Carlos Sainz 10th.

Williams also submitted a request to the stewards to allow Logan Sargeant to start, as the American’s heavy FP3 impact precluded him from participating in qualifying. This was granted, as Sargeant’s times in the earlier practice sessions were deemed to be satisfactory — per Article 39.4 in the F1 sporting regulations.

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F1 Dutch Grand Prix – Start time, starting grid, how to watch, & more

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Lando Norris will start from pole position for the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix. Here’s how and when you can watch the race.

The McLaren driver produced a storming lap to take pole position by 0.356s over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, with Oscar Piastri taking third place.

George Russell’s late improvement pushed him up to fourth for Mercedes ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull, as Charles Leclerc could only put his Ferrari sixth and almost a second off the pole position lap time.

Both Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz dropped out of contention in Q2 for Mercedes and Ferrari respectively, while Logan Sargeant sat out qualifying entirely for Williams after smashing up his car in a crash in final practice.

When is the F1 Dutch Grand Prix?

Date: Sunday 25 August 2024
Start time: 3:00pm local time/2:00pm BST

The 15th round of the 2024 F1 season, the Dutch GP, gets under way at 3:00pm local time on Sunday 25 August.

How can I watch Formula 1?

In the United Kingdom, Formula 1 is broadcast live on Sky Sports, with highlights shown on Channel 4 several hours after the race has finished. Live streaming through NOW is also available in the UK.

Sky Sports F1, which broadcasts the F1 races, can be added as part of the Sky Sports channels which costs £18 a month for new customers. Sky Sports can also be accessed through NOW with a one-off day payment of £11.99p or a month membership of £34.99p per month.

How can I watch the F1 Dutch GP?

In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports will be live broadcasting the Dutch GP.

The race will be shown live on Sky Sports F1, with pre-race coverage starting at 12:30pm BST on Sky Sports F1, ahead of the race start at 2:00pm BST. The race will also be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event, with pre-race coverage starting at 1pm BST.

• Channels: Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Main Event
• Start time: 12:30pm BST Sunday 25 August 2024, 1pm BST Sunday 25 August 2024

Autosport will be running a live text coverage of the Dutch GP.

When can I watch the F1 Dutch GP highlights?

In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 is broadcasting highlights of the Dutch GP at 6:30pm BST on Sunday. The full programme will run for two and a half hours, covering the pre-race, the race highlights and the initial post-race reaction to wrap up the major talking points of the race weekend.

For the entire 2024 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of every qualifying and race of each event. The highlights will also be available on Channel 4’s on demand catch-up services.

Channel: Channel 4
Start time: 6:30pm BST, Sunday 25 August 2024

Will the F1 Dutch GP be on the radio?

Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2024 F1 season will be available on the BBC Radio 5 Live, 5 Live Sports Extra stations, the BBC Sounds app and the via the BBC Sport website.

Live coverage of the Dutch GP will start at 2:00pm BST on the BBC Sport website and on the BBC Sounds app.

Weather forecast for the F1 Dutch GP

Current weather forecasts predict dry and cloudy conditions at Zandvoort, with a low chance of rain and moderate winds. The temperature is expected to be 18 degrees Celsius for the start of the race.

How many laps is the F1 Dutch GP?

The race is scheduled to complete 72 laps of Zandvoort, covering a total race distance of 306.587km.

F1 Dutch GP starting grid



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How the fight for F1’s final 2025 seats is shaping up

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Alpine’s announcement that it will promote Jack Doohan to a Formula 1 race seat in 2025 leaves just three cockpits available on next year’s grid.

But in reality there are not that many options available for drivers still trying to secure their futures, because in all likelihood there is just one vacancy left completely open.

While Mercedes, RB and Sauber/Audi have yet to officially confirm their line-ups, the first two squads are pretty nailed down with what they are going to do.

At Mercedes, it is now almost certain that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will get the nod to line up alongside George Russell as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement.

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An announcement could come as early as next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix – where the young Italian is also expected to take part in the first free practice session.

The situation at Red Bull and RB is slightly more fluid, but equally, it is more a case of three into two, rather than there being a door open for an outsider to swoop in.

With Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko suggesting ahead of the Dutch GP that Liam Lawson will get a seat at one of the squad’s two outfits next year, it means that either Sergio Perez (Red Bull) or Daniel Ricciardo (RB) will likely have to make way.

Liam Lawson, Reserve Driver, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, with Helmut Marko, Consultant, Red Bull Racing, Peter Bayer, CEO, RB F1 Team

Liam Lawson, Reserve Driver, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, with Helmut Marko, Consultant, Red Bull Racing, Peter Bayer, CEO, RB F1 Team

Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images

Both Perez and Ricciardo’s futures for the second half of this season had been in doubt after some mixed fortunes in the early stages of the campaign, but it was decided at the start of the summer break that both would be staying on for now.

Red Bull will want to see an improvement from both drivers if they are to stay for next year – and that is something that both are well aware of.

Speaking earlier in the Dutch GP weekend, Ricciardo said he had no doubts that Lawson deserved a full-time seat in F1 – something that it is understood Red Bull has to give him for 2025 as per his contract if he is not to become a free agent.

Ricciardo said: “I still know that performance is my best friend. If I do what I know I can do, and am capable of, then I think it puts me in a very good position to obviously stay somewhere in the family for next year.

“Speaking on Liam – I got to see him drive the car last year and I do think he did a great job. I do think he is worthy of a seat on the grid.

“So in a way, I’m happy for him and, if he is guaranteed a seat next year, then I think that’s good, because he is a deserving driver.”

But while from the outside a Red Bull choice of picking its best two options from the three candidates seems obvious, there could be another scenario that plays out – that of Lawson being loaned out and all three of its candidates racing in F1 next year.

Daniel Ricciardo, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

Daniel Ricciardo, Visa Cash App RB F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

This was something Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hinted could be a possibility amid the Lawson talk. Speaking to Sky Sports about Marko’s comments, referencing Lawson definitely getting a seat in 2025, Horner said: “I asked him [Marko], quite clearly, he said he’ll have a drive in Formula 1 next year. We could rent him out. Nothing is fixed.

“If we don’t take up the option on Liam, then he’s a free driver for 2025, so we’ve got specific time periods within driver’s contracts where that becomes prevalent.”

The only possibility for a loan deal is the Sauber/Audi team, which is considering its options in the wake of Carlos Sainz’s decision to turn down an offer he had and join Williams instead.

Autosport understands that Sauber’s previous bosses showed an interest in getting Lawson on loan for 2025 earlier in the year, before the trail went cold amid the management turmoil that led to chiefs Andrea Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann departing.

While those talks had fizzled out, it is not hard to imagine that the signing of Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley as Sauber’s new team principal provides an obvious link to get discussions rolling again – especially as he will be well-versed in knowing Lawson’s strengths.

Much will depend though on what new COO Mattia Binotto also thinks in terms of gunning for a youngster like Lawson as Nico Hulkenberg’s team-mate next year or opting for a more experienced hand.

If Sauber goes for the latter then the most obvious choice is incumbent Valtteri Bottas, who is in ongoing talks with Binotto about a fresh deal.

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Nothing is set in stone yet, but the Finn feels that there is some positivity in the way discussions are going – having not had a similar vibe from the previous management.

“It did feel for the last six months or so that I wasn’t the top priority,” said Bottas in Zandvoort.

“Obviously there was one signing before me and obviously the team and the management [were] looking for all the options with sometimes quite little communication. But now it feels a bit different.

“There was a clear reset, and now there’s a clear structure at the top in who’s doing what. I think that’s positive going forward.

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“Mattia comes from a team that has been super successful. He knows what a good team really needs so I think this is good for the future of this team.”

He added: “Obviously they make the decision in the end, but they’re evaluating all the options, no doubt, as they should. But I would imagine I should be in a strong position. But obviously, it’s down to Mattia and Audi.”

All eyes are now on Hinwil, which looks to be central to the next F1 driver market move.



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What we learned from Friday practice at the 2024 F1 Dutch GP

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Good. Right now, it really seems the multi-team scrap for victories that Formula 1 was enjoying before the 2024 summer break has been preserved. That’s even with a series of new parts arriving on cars across the grid.

Mercedes led the way on the opening day of practice for the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix thanks to George Russell’s headline effort, with McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finishing FP2 either side of Lewis Hamilton behind Russell. Home hero Max Verstappen was down in fifth, while (less surprisingly) Sergio Perez didn’t even make the top 10.

There is a mitigating circumstance for Red Bull in one key area, as we’ll go on to cover, while in another McLaren looks to have a significant advantage over the rest at this stage. Ferrari struggled on Friday amid reliability issues and unfortunate timing on qualifying simulations for Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc respectively.

But overall things really do look to be very close again between F1’s leading teams. This and much more is what we learned from the first two track sessions on the edge of the North Sea at Zandvoort on Friday.

The story of the day

The pre-FP1 car presentations had revealed the first of an eagerly awaited set of developments from McLaren, which was set to update the MCL38 in the post-summer break run after its last big package had come in Miami.

On this high-downforce track, the orange machine now features a new floor edge, its suspension sheaths are realigned on both axles, its brake ducts have been reshaped, and it now sports a new beam and rear wing.

These were only run on Norris’s car during FP1, as McLaren concentrated on back-to-back data-gathering with its previous arrangement via Piastri’s car. The two MCL38s were both in updated form in FP2.

Both McLarens were sporting updated bodywork in FP2

Both McLarens were sporting updated bodywork in FP2

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Norris led FP1, which began in dramatic storm conditions, as rain and wind gusts of up to 50mph battered the track. F1 cars are generally unruffled with wind speeds at half this level, but only really in consistent wind. Nico Hulkenberg tripped his Haas through several gravel traps as one of the few drivers that did venture out in the gales, where the full wet tyres were used early on.

As the track began to dry the times tumbled, with the course drying up enough for a flurry of laps on the softs to come in right at the end of FP1.

Norris’s average on the medium compound likely to be a critical race tyre for the expectedly dry Sunday conditions came in 0.555s up on Verstappen

Norris started this run with a 1m17.367s and while this was beaten by Piastri and mid-session spinner Verstappen, Norris re-established his position at the head of the order in the final minutes to end the session with a then best time of 1m12.322s.

FP2 overall times

POS Driver Team Time Gap
1 Russell Mercedes 1m10.702s  
2 Piastri McLaren 1m10.763s +0.061s
3 Verstappen Red Bull 1m10.986s +0.284s
4 Alonso Aston Martin 1m11.357s +0.655s
5 Tsunoda RB 1m11.374s +0.672s
6 Magnussen Haas 1m11.430s +0.728s
7 Leclerc Ferrari 1m11.443s +0.741s
8 Albon Williams 1m11.550s +0.848s
9 Gasly Alpine 1m11.644s +0.942s
10 Zhou Sauber 1m11.934s +1.232s

In FP2, the wind continued to play havoc for the drivers – particularly with the gusts (now down to 12mph but continuing to blow randomly) pushing the cars down the main straight and into the Tarzan right-hander. But the second time around, the absence of rain meant the drivers could head out en masse right away.

After a weather-blighted FP1, Ferrari's FP2 was hampered when Sainz's car developed a gearbox problem

After a weather-blighted FP1, Ferrari’s FP2 was hampered when Sainz’s car developed a gearbox problem

Photo by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images

The running was disrupted by Hulkenberg crashing at Tarzan, this time when his rear wheels locked in a moment he later theorised was due to him braking harder amid the wind problem at this stretch during the initial phase of running on the harder slick compounds.

When the session resumed after a short delay, Verstappen led the pack out on the softs. He duly went fastest, but the Dutchman’s skittish lap was bested first by Norris, then Piastri – before Russell came through to set a session-heading 1m10.702s.

Hamilton then split the McLarens, while Perez failed to make the top 10 cut in the other Red Bull. He later blamed Red Bull making dramatic set-up adjustments for his gap to Verstappen, but there was also a Turn 12 off that Perez said “lost a couple of tenths”.

At Ferrari in FP2, Sainz missed all but the first part of the session due to a now confirmed gearbox issue arising on his SF-24 and Leclerc’s qualifying simulation effort was only good enough for ninth. But there was mitigating circumstances for Leclerc, as Ferrari later explained he’d abandoned an earlier attempt with fresh softs due to hitting traffic.

What the data tells us

The strong chance of FP3 also being rain-affected this weekend (qualifying could also be spiced up with precipitation too) meant the teams were extra keen to switch to long runs after the mid-FP2 qualifying simulations.

Verstappen was first back out again, returning to the mediums, but, as can be seen from the table below, it was McLaren that caught the eye with its strong and impressively consistent pace on this rubber.

Norris’s average on the medium compound that is likely to be a critical race tyre for the expectedly dry Sunday conditions came in 0.555s up on Verstappen. He was also shaded, to the tune of 0.082s, by Hamilton for Mercedes, while Leclerc was 0.245s behind the Red Bull and 0.8s slower overall than Norris.

Long run pace on mediums for Verstappen was slower than McLaren and Mercedes

Long run pace on mediums for Verstappen was slower than McLaren and Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Two things should be noted here, anchored around Ferrari. The first is that Leclerc was running the mediums he’d already used right at the start of FP2 for his long run. The other is likely related in that Leclerc set off with times much gentler on his 11-lap stint compared to how Russell hit things harder for Mercedes and so the Ferrari encountered the degradation (thermal around here) rather later.

Medium long-run averages (top four constructors’ teams only)

POS Constructor Time Stint length
1 McLaren 1m15.567s 9 laps
2 Mercedes 1m16.040s 10 laps
3 Red Bull 1m16.122s 9 laps
4 Ferrari 1m16.367s 11 laps

In the soft averages (below), things do appear to be much closer, with Red Bull leading the way here.

Both RB20s are running the dramatically different bodywork compared to the car’s first iteration that was introduced at Hungary

This is also given because Verstappen completed more laps on the red-walled rubber having come in and switched to it (Perez stayed on the mediums in the other RB20 throughout his long-run data gathering), compared to Norris. In the other McLaren, Piastri’s more comparative nine-lap stint was 0.717s slower than Verstappen on the softs.

Sainz’s gearbox gremlin meant Ferrari missed out on the soft tyre long running, which could be a problem given the predicted low temperatures for Sunday here mean lengthy stints on the softs could be doable. Yuki Tsunoda managed 50 laps on it in similar conditions last year and Pirelli also didn’t see any signs of graining on the softs used in FP2 on Friday.

Soft long-run averages (top four constructors’ teams only)

POS Constructor Time Stint length
1 Red Bull 1m15.444s 10 laps
2 McLaren 1m15.488s 6 laps
3 Mercedes 1m15.545s 8 laps
N/A Ferrari    

How the drivers treat the tyres early in stints is set to be more important than ever here, given how Russell hit that high degradation early in his softs run, based on data Autosport has seen.

Avoiding heavy degradation early in the stints will be crucial

Avoiding heavy degradation early in the stints will be crucial

Photo by: Erik Junius

The FP1 rain will have left the track greener than usual in FP2 (with sand from the nearby beach also a factor), so the drivers will really have to learn from how they treated the tyres at the start of their likely only pre-race long runs this weekend.

At Mercedes, there are two other elements to note. One is that Russell also should’ve completed the reverse of the short final stints the McLarens and Verstappen logged, but he couldn’t go back to the mediums he’d started on early in FP2 due to them being damaged in a big Turn 9 lock-up that had him off in the gravel.

Russell also ran the new floor Mercedes had debuted and then pulled back off at Spa throughout Friday practice at Zandvoort, with Hamilton using the old one in FP1. He then joined his team-mate on the newer specification in the second session, while both W15s will keep the Spa floor for the remainder of the weekend.

At Red Bull, both RB20s are running the dramatically different bodywork compared to the car’s first iteration that was introduced at Hungary. There, Verstappen struggled, with the home hero also lacking confidence when pushing in FP2 here. Perhaps more worrying for Red Bull fans was his “we didn’t quite have the pace on the long and short runs and at the moment there isn’t a clear answer on how to improve this” comment that followed the second session.

A boon for them will be that the GPS data traces appear to show Red Bull was running a touch down on engine mode power punch in FP2, with the usual caveat notes about these and fuel loads of course applying. But the first time back at a high-downforce track since McLaren won 1-2 at the last one – Hungary – it looks to have started the Zandvoort weekend strongly in race trim.

Overtaking will be trickier here than compared to Spa, so it will want to avoid slipping behind Mercedes on ultimate pace again on Saturday. Meanwhile, the early-leading Silver Arrows squad aims to redress its one-lap/race-pace balance with set-up changes to come tonight.

Will set-up changes overnight for Mercedes redress its balance problems?

Will set-up changes overnight for Mercedes redress its balance problems?

Photo by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images



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Stella refutes Norris «not performing at world champion level» comments

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McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has refuted Lando Norris’ self-criticism of his efforts across the 2024 Formula 1 season, stating that the Briton is performing at «world championship level».

On Thursday, Norris stated that he was dissatisfied with the number of mistakes he has made over the opening 14 races, adding that he had not «performed at the level of a world champion» in his outside bid to close Max Verstappen down for the title.

Stella felt that Norris was exuding his typical self-deprecative «style» in his comments, and was keen to assert that not only did his driver share traits of past world champions in F1, he was already operating at a satisfactory level.

He added that it was up to the team to match Norris and ensure that it provided the Bristolian with the right opportunities to start winning races more regularly this season.

«The first thing I make of his comment is [it] kind of confirms his style. He’s quite self-critical. He tends to look occasionally at the half-empty part of the glass,» Stella reckoned.

«In reality, I think he definitely has the potential of a world champion, and he’s performing at world championship level. If we compare against perfection, then definitely we have opportunities [to improve].

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team, on the podium

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team, on the podium

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

«But I like that we compare ourselves against perfection, because this is what we need to do. And I’ve been very encouraged that every little opportunity has been actually analysed in great level of detail.»

The Italian added: «We do see some of the opportunities coming in the first lap, for instance, and trying to find the balance between being aggressive or simply like staying away from situation or accidents. We definitely have something to clean on the start itself, which is not only driver, it’s also team responsibility.

«I think he had a couple of situations in the races in which he might have taken some of the responsibility but I think it was the team responsibility. If the team had operated at higher standards, then Lando would have more points in the championship.

«Definitely as a team, we appreciate that he puts some of the pressure on himself, or he raises his hand and says it was on him. But I think I have enough experience to say, ‘Mate, don’t worry. It’s on the team. Keep doing a good job’.»

Stella explained that Norris and McLaren were not going to be intimidated by the gap between him and Verstappen in the drivers’ championship, which currently stands at 78 points.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

He added that, although there were moments that Norris would feel he could have achieved more, this was natural for any championship contender — and that he remained in the fight due to his own strong performances.

«He can win world championships. That’s a statement in capital letters,» Stella said.

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«In terms of this year’s championships, certainly we don’t give up numerically from a drivers’ championship point of view, it looks like there’s a big gap to fill and we are chasing Max Verstappen. Definitely it’s not going to make it easy for us, but we are excited to be in this position.

«And definitely Lando is not in this position because somebody helped him. Lando is in this position because he performs very strongly. That’s something that we should acknowledge and realise in terms of his achievements, not only in terms of the one, two, three opportunities in a season in which he could have done better. This is normal for every world champion in every season.»



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«Tough» for Hamilton to wait until 2025 to work with new F1 race engineer

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Lewis Hamilton will be forced to wait until 2025 to start building a relationship with a new Formula 1 race engineer at Ferrari.

Hamilton had hoped Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington, his long-serving race engineer, would follow him to the Italian team for next season, saying he was like his «brother».

However, the British engineer has been promoted to Mercedes’ head of race engineering and will remain with the Silver Arrows.

The terms of Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes prevent him from having technical discussions with his new team until his deal expires at the end of the year. And that has a significant bearing on forming the crucial relationship with his new race engineer.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, Hamilton said he understands the reasons for Bonnington staying with Mercedes, but admitted it will be «tough» starting a new relationship from scratch in January.

He said: «Was I hoping [he would join Ferrari]? I would have loved to continue with him. We have a great relationship. I love him, he’s like a brother, but I’m really, really happy for him.

«For me, I think it’s just about people doing what’s best for you. Packing up and leaving, I could only imagine — it’s not him and his partner. It affects both of them, so they have to do whatever is right for him.

Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

«I knew it would be an unlikely scenario that he would go with me, because it is such a drastic change in his life. But I’m really happy for us here in the team to acknowledge and make changes to his career pathway, so he can grow more. Either way we’re going to be family forever.

«We’ve spoken about it and we just want to make sure we finish on a high.»

When asked if he could only start speaking to his new race engineer in January when his new deal starts, Hamilton confirmed that will be the case and added: «It’s tough. That makes it really difficult but I think it’s probably the same for anyone moving into a new office. [It will] be a very heavy loaded start next year.»

Ferrari needs to decide who will oversee Hamilton’s side of the garage with the Briton only having worked with a handful of race engineers during his lengthy F1 career.

Hamilton said: «It’s got to be someone you get on with, it’s got to be someone that you ultimately are able to find it easy to build a relationship with and trust.

«And so the next one, that’s going to be a discovery process. We’ll know quite early on whether or not it’s going to work, and I think it’s just about communicating.»

With Bonnington’s switch ruled out, Hamilton was also asked if anyone else would be following him from Mercedes to Ferrari.

He added: «Not that I know of. There’s a few people there that I worked with in the past. There’s someone there that left me a long time ago, so I know him, he’s the one I know mostly there about from [Ferrari boss] Fred Vasseur.»



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