Рубрика: Autosport News

Formula 1 partners with Hamilton’s Mission 44 charity

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Lewis Hamilton’s charity, Mission 44, which was set up in 2021 with the goal of improving greater representation, diversity, and inclusion in motorsport, has joined forces with F1.

At this weekend’s British Grand Prix, students will be brought together from the Formula 1 Engineering and the Mission 44 MSc Motorsport Engineering scholarship programmes at a networking event.

Mission 44 has now become the latest charity to be «officially supported by Formula 1». Both schemes offer students crucial financial and career support and are targeted at students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Jason Arthur, CEO of Mission 44 said: «When Lewis Hamilton launched Mission 44 three years ago, it was with the ambition to create a fairer, more inclusive future for young people around the world.

«Together with Formula 1, we will be able to increase awareness and access to motorsport career opportunities, so young people, no matter their background, can succeed. Change requires collective action, and we’re excited to grow our partnership with Formula 1 to drive diversity in motorsport forward.»

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Ellen Jones, Head of ESG at Formula 1, added: «Over the last few years, it has been a pleasure to support Mission 44 in its efforts to make our sport more diverse and give students and young people their first taste of the world of F1 and motorsport.

«We look forward to working with Mission 44 in this new capacity and seeing how many doors we can open together to inspire the next generation.»

Read Also:

Writing on the Mission 44 website earlier this year, Jamie Elfenbein, Mission 44 Chief Growth Officer, explained how the charity worked with F1 Academy and the Miami Grand Prix to help support the next generation of STEM leaders around the world.

He said: «In the past two and a half years, our initiatives have already reached 300,000 young individuals across the United Kingdom and by the end of 2024, our reach will extend to Miami, Austin, Las Vegas, and Brazil.

“However, even with the extraordinary leadership of our founder — a seven-time Formula 1 world champion — we know that transforming the landscape of motorsport and fostering diversity across STEM industries requires collective action.»



Source link

British drivers to have won the British Grand Prix

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Not every F1 driver is lucky enough to have a home grand prix, as many world champions spent an entire career without racing in their native country.

That is especially true for Finnish trio Mika Hakkinen, Kimi Raikkonen and Keke Rosberg, as the Scandinavian country has never hosted an F1 race.

So, those from the United Kingdom should count themselves lucky as the British Grand Prix has been a staple of the F1 calendar since it hosted the championship’s inaugural race in 1950.

The grand prix has since been won by 12 British drivers, so who are they and who has claimed victory the most frequently?

Lewis Hamilton — eight British GP wins

Hamilton's 2019 Silverstone win, his sixth, established him as the most successful driver in British GP history

Hamilton’s 2019 Silverstone win, his sixth, established him as the most successful driver in British GP history

Photo by: Mark Sutton

Years active in F1: 2007 — present
Wins at the British GP: 8 (2008, 2014-17, 2019-21)

Lewis Hamilton is the king of the British GP, as his eight victories are the most of any driver in history. From the moment he entered F1 in 2007, the seven-time world champion has been fighting at the front as Hamilton claimed pole for his debut British GP — only to lose victory during the pit window due to a slow McLaren stop.

But Hamilton rebounded perfectly by dominating the 2008 British GP en route to his maiden world championship that year. He delivered a masterclass in the wet to win by 68.577s.

Hamilton had to wait until the turbo-hybrid era began in 2014 for not only his next world championship, but also his next British GP victory. In his second year at Mercedes, Hamilton had another large win margin of 30.135s, but was helped by team-mate Nico Rosberg losing his lead to a gearbox problem.

That started Hamilton’s run of four consecutive British GP victories — the second driver to achieve such a feat — which resulted in him tying Jim Clark and Alain Prost for the most wins at the event. He had to wait a little while to outright claim the record though.

In 2018, Hamilton lost the lead to Sebastian Vettel at the start, before a tag from Raikkonen caused him to spin at Turn 3 on the opening lap. But Hamilton returned to winning ways in 2019 at Silverstone with a record-breaking sixth British GP victory.

This started another winning run that culminated in Hamilton’s eighth and most recent British GP win in 2021, a race remembered for his famous clash with Max Verstappen at Copse on lap one.

Jim Clark — five British GP wins

Clark won the British GP five teams, all aboard Lotus machinery

Clark won the British GP five teams, all aboard Lotus machinery

Photo by: David Phipps

Years active in F1: 1960-68
Wins at the British GP: 5 (1962-65, 1967)

Before Hamilton, Clark was the first driver to win four consecutive British GPs. One difference was that not all of Clark’s victories came at Silverstone, as during his time in F1 the British GP alternated its host each year.

The old Aintree circuit was the venue for Clark’s first British GP win in 1962, where the Scotsman never lost position from pole to win by 49.2s and start his record-breaking run.Highlighting his dominance, Clark achieved all of his victories in that period from pole.

His second British GP win came at Silverstone, before claiming a third around Brands Hatch. The British GP returned to Silverstone for Clark’s fourth victory in 1965, but this time his winning run appeared in doubt as the Lotus 33 driver started losing oil pressure in the closing stages.

This caused Clark to kill the engine through the fast corners in an attempt to nurse his car to the end, a ploy that delivered him victory by just 3.2s.

The pace of Jack Brabham’s self-built Brabham BT19 car in 1966 proved too much, ending Clark’s winning streak, but he returned to the top step in 1967 by converting pole at Silverstone. Denny Hulme languished 12.8s behind in what proved not only his final British GP victory, but also his final home race before Clark was tragically killed in a crash at Hockenheim in April 1968.

Nigel Mansell — four British GP wins

Mansell's famous victory over team-mate Piquet came with a dramatic late pass into Stowe

Mansell’s famous victory over team-mate Piquet came with a dramatic late pass into Stowe

Photo by: LAT Photographic

Years active in F1: 1980-92, 1994-95
Wins at the British GP: 4 (1986-87, 1991-92)

Nigel Mansell once endured a lot of hard luck at his home event, as he retired from three of his first five British GPs while also failing to qualify in 1981. But that run was ended in the best of circumstances, as Mansell won the final British GP to be held at Brands Hatch in 1986 after overtaking Williams team-mate Nelson Piquet approximately a third of the way through an event the Brummie described as the race of his life.

Silverstone then became the British GP’s permanent host in 1987 — the year Mansell won his second home race in what proved to be a classic. Mansell again started from second behind Piquet and was on his team-mate’s tail before making a pitstop with 30 laps remaining, while the Brazilian attempted to nurse his tyres until the end.

Despite the delay, Mansell’s strategy proved to be the correct one. He reduced his 30s deficit to Piquet by breaking the lap record eight times, to the delight of the home crowd, then sealed the job by overtaking Piquet with three laps to go and won by 1.9s.

PLUS: Nigel Mansell’s greatest F1 and IndyCar drives

Two second-place finishes and a retirement at the British GP followed, before Mansell won his third home race in 1991 by holding off Ayrton Senna’s early attack to win from pole. The 1991 British GP is also famous for Mansell giving Senna a lift back to the pitlane, after the Brazilian’s McLaren ran out of fuel on the final lap.

And the iconic British GP moments for Mansell did not end there, as he claimed a fourth victory in 1992 en route to finally securing the world championship. During a dominant start to 1992, Mansell’s Silverstone triumph was his seventh win from the opening nine grands prix. Fans subsequently invaded the track and swarmed their hero during his victory lap.

David Coulthard — two British GP wins

Coulthard made it back-to-back British GP wins for McLaren in 2000

Coulthard made it back-to-back British GP wins for McLaren in 2000

Photo by: LAT Photographic

Years active in F1: 1994-08
Wins at the British GP: 2 (1999-2000)

David Coulthard joined F1 in the most tragic of circumstances, replacing Senna at Williams following the triple world champion’s death in 1994. Coulthard impressed over the following 18 months, which included his maiden grand prix victory in Estoril and third at the 1995 British GP, leading to the Scotsman moving to McLaren for 1996.

Although Coulthard largely played second fiddle to double world champion Hakkinen at McLaren, meaning he failed to clinch a title of his own, he still forged an impressive career that included two victories in front of his home crowd. The first came in 1999, as Coulthard was handed the lead when Hakkinen’s loosely-fitted rear-left tyre came flying off at the exit of Luffield, forcing him to retire with 25 laps remaining.

PLUS: David Coulthard’s top 10 greatest F1 drives

Coulthard went back-to-back at the British GP in 2000, showing strong pace in the early stages to climb from fourth to first, before holding on for victory despite a late gearbox problem. The Scotsman failed to finish higher than fifth in his subsequent British GPs, before retiring at the end of 2008.

Jackie Stewart — two British GP wins

Stewart was utterly dominant in his Tyrrell-Ford 003 in 1971 to notch his second Silverstone success

Stewart was utterly dominant in his Tyrrell-Ford 003 in 1971 to notch his second Silverstone success

Photo by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

Years active in F1: 1965-73
Wins at the British GP: 2 (1969, 1971)

F1 icon Jackie Stewart won the world championship three times, in 1969, 1971 and 1973, while spending much of his career campaigning for better safety regulations. It was during his first title-winning season that Stewart won his maiden British GP and the story behind it is quite remarkable.

The Matra driver started second at Silverstone, behind pole winner Jochen Rindt, and the duel between both drivers stole the show as they constantly swapped positions. This was until the closing stages when Rindt pulled alongside Stewart and the Scotsman signalled to his rival that his Lotus’s rear wing endplates were loose. When the Austrian decided to pit, it handed victory to Stewart, one lap ahead of runner-up Jacky Ickx’s Brabham.

PLUS: Jackie Stewart’s 10 greatest races

Stewart followed that up with another victory in 1971, also at Silverstone, but this one came much easier. He claimed the lead on lap four, before disappearing into the distance. Stewart only entered one more British GP (he retired the following year), in which the Tyrrell driver finished a disappointing 10th after spinning from second.

Stirling Moss — two British GP wins

Moss became the first British winner of his home grand prix at Aintree in 1955 aboard the Mercedes W196

Moss became the first British winner of his home grand prix at Aintree in 1955 aboard the Mercedes W196

Photo by: LAT Photographic

Years active in F1: 1951-61
Wins at the British GP: 2 (1955, 1957)

Another British great to have won his home race twice, the first of Stirling Moss’s two victories was also his maiden grand prix triumph. It came at Aintree in 1955, Moss winning from pole by just 0.2s from Mercedes team-mate Juan Manuel Fangio, as he also became the first Briton to win his home event.

Moss’ next British GP victory came in 1957, also at Aintree, where he shared the race winning car with team-mate Tony Brooks. That’s because the Vanwall squad agreed that if Moss’ #18 car hit trouble, then he would switch to the #20 started by Brooks as he was still recovering from a crash at the previous month’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

PLUS: Stirling Moss’ 10 greatest drives

When Moss’s engine caved in, he duly replaced Brooks. A brilliant charge from ninth, helped by reliability problems for others, saw a British car win the British GP for the first time. It remains the last time a grand prix was won by two drivers, which previously happened at the 1951 French GP (Fangio and Luigi Fagioli) and 1956 Argentine GP (Fangio and Luigi Musso).

Johnny Herbert — one British GP win

Herbert took full advantage of Hill clashing with Schumacher to record his maiden F1 win

Herbert took full advantage of Hill clashing with Schumacher to record his maiden F1 win

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Years active in F1: 1989-2000
Wins at the British GP: 1 (1995)

Johnny Herbert claimed his first of three career race wins at the 1995 British GP, as he took a shock trip to the top step after starting fifth. His Benetton had climbed up to third by lap 23 before inheriting the lead 24 tours later, when Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher both spun off at Priory after the Williams driver made an ill-timed lunge down the inside.

Herbert held on for the remaining 16 laps to beat runner-up Jean Alesi by 16.4s, which also happened to be the final time that Herbert recorded a points finish at the British GP.

Damon Hill — one British GP win

Hill scored the British GP win his father missed out on in 1994

Hill scored the British GP win his father missed out on in 1994

Photo by: LAT Photographic

Years active in F1: 1992-99
Wins at the British GP: 1 (1994)

Before Hill’s despair at the 1995 British GP, he had enjoyed jubilation the year before when he won his home race at the third time of asking. Not for the last time, it involved a controversy with Schumacher.

PLUS: Damon Hill’s 10 greatest races

The German driver, who started second, overtook Hill twice on the formation lap. This resulted in a five-second penalty for the championship leader and later a black flag, as he failed to serve it by lap 21.

Schumacher continued to race though, as Benetton claimed it had not seen the black flag, and served a stop-go penalty on lap 27. This allowed Hill to consolidate his lead and eventually win the British GP while Schumacher, who crossed the line second, was eventually disqualified post-race over the black flag drama.

John Watson — one British GP win

Watson picked up the pieces when others fell by the wayside in 1981

Watson picked up the pieces when others fell by the wayside in 1981

Photo by: LAT Photographic

Years active in F1: 1973-83, 1985
Wins at the British GP: 1 (1981)

John Watson had two visits to the British GP podium — 1976 and 1978 — before he finally stood on the top step in 1981 for his second grand prix victory. It came while driving for McLaren and some may consider it lucky as Watson, who started fifth, moved into third on lap 13 when Didier Pironi’s engine failed.

Four tours later, Prost also suffered an engine failure and retired from first, then the same problem struck his Renault team-mate and new race leader Rene Arnoux on lap 64. This left Watson in front, with the Ulsterman keeping his lead for the remaining five laps to claim his first victory since Austria 1976.

James Hunt — one British GP win

Hunt was disqualified after winning his home GP at Brands Hatch in 1976, but the world champion made amends at Silverstone in 1977

Hunt was disqualified after winning his home GP at Brands Hatch in 1976, but the world champion made amends at Silverstone in 1977

Photo by: David Phipps

Years active in F1: 1973-79
Wins at the British GP: 1 (1977)

James Hunt’s first British GP victory initially came in 1976, his championship-winning year, when the McLaren driver was involved in a first-corner crash at Brands Hatch that caused a red flag on lap one. Hunt, who started second, drove his damaged car back to the pits but took a shortcut by using the escape road on Cooper Straight, resulting in disqualification as he was not on the circuit when the red flag was waved.

This decision was then reversed and Hunt won the restarted race, prompting Ferrari, Tyrrell and the Fittipaldi team to protest his inclusion. Two months later, Hunt was disqualified from the race and Ferrari’s Niki Lauda became the winner of the 1976 British GP.

Hunt’s misery at his home race did not last for long as he bounced back by winning the 1977 edition held at Silverstone. Hunt started from pole yet dropped to fourth at the start with a clutch problem, but the pace of his McLaren proved too great as he fought his way back to first and finally won the British GP by 18.3s from Lauda.

Peter Collins — one British GP win

Tragedy followed shortly after Collins triumphed at Silverstone in 1958

Tragedy followed shortly after Collins triumphed at Silverstone in 1958

Photo by: LAT Photographic

Years active in F1: 1952-58
Wins at the British GP: 1 (1958)

Peter Collins became the third British driver to win his home race when he claimed victory in 1958 at Silverstone. The Ferrari driver started sixth, but benefitted from an electric start where he gained the lead on lap one and that set the precedent for the rest of the outing, as compatriots Moss — whose Vanwall later expired — and Mike Hawthorn could not match his pace.

Collins eventually led world champion-elect Hawthorn across the line by 24.2s in a Ferrari 1-2, the third and final victory of his all-too-brief career. The 26-year-old was tragically killed the following race in a crash at the Nurburgring.

Tony Brooks — one British GP win

Brooks (left) shared his Vanwall with Moss at Aintree in 1957

Brooks (left) shared his Vanwall with Moss at Aintree in 1957

Photo by: LAT Photographic

Years active in F1: 1956-61
Wins at the British GP: 1 (1957)

The only British GP win of Brooks’ career came in 1957 when he shared his car with Moss, as injuries from his Le Mans crash at Tertre Rouge took their toll. That was the first of six grand prix wins for the 1959 world championship runner-up, but he never really came close to victory at the British GP again. The next best finish for the late Englishman was fifth in 1960 — his penultimate season in F1.

PLUS: The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title



Source link

Which F1 driver has the most podiums and wins at their home race?

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Fourteen of the current Formula 1 drivers have home races across the 24-race calendar in 2024. Although all the drivers will be hoping for wins across the year nothing is more coveted than taking a win at their home grand prix.

Three British drivers are on the grid this season, with Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and George Russell all hoping to stand on the podium at the British Grand Prix. In 2023, Norris briefly took the lead in the British GP and although was eventually overtaken by Max Verstappen, he took second place, ahead of Hamilton in third.

Charles Leclerc is currently the only driver to take a home race win in 2024, when he claimed his first win in Monaco in May. The Ferrari driver had previously faced unfortunate luck when it came to the iconic race, having one retirement, one did not start and no podiums.

Drivers with the most wins at their home grand prix

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, celebrates after the race with a Union flag

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, celebrates after the race with a Union flag

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

1. Lewis Hamilton — Great Britain — 8 wins

• Home GP: British GP
• Home tracks: Silverstone
• Home race podiums: 13
• Home race wins: 8

Lewis Hamilton is the most successful Formula 1 driver when it comes to his home grand prix. The British driver holds the record for the most podiums and most wins at Silverstone for the British GP.

Hamilton qualified on pole position in 2007 and led the first 16 laps of the race, until he had an issue during a pitstop — jolting forwards prematurely when the ‘lollipop’ (formerly used to show when a driver should set off) was turned over. He had to stop and wait for the fuel hose to be detached before rejoining the race in fifth. Hamilton finished the race in third place and claimed his first home grand prix podium.

It was his ninth consecutive podium in the first nine races of his debut season and was followed by a further three, which saw Hamilton finish second in the drivers’ championship at the end of the year, just one point behind Kimi Raikkonen.

His first win at Silverstone came the following year, working his way from fourth to pole during the 60-lap race. Hamilton’s wet-weather drive is considered one of his best performances in F1, with McLaren at one point urging him to slow down over concerns that he was pushing too hard.

His win tied him with Felipe Massa in the 2008 driver’s championship, which Hamilton later won by just one point ahead of the Brazilian driver at the final race of the year.

His latest home podium at the British Grand Prix came in 2023, when he finished third behind Lando Norris in second and race winner Max Verstappen. Hamilton qualified in seventh and quickly worked his way up the grid before fending off Oscar Piastri for the final podium position. The two British drivers on the podium was the first time that two home drivers representing the UK had stood on the podium together at the race since David Coulthard and Eddie Irvine in 1999.

While he has stood on the Silverstone podium one additional time, it wasn’t for the British Grand Prix – he took second place at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix in 2020, which was held a week after that year’s British Grand Prix.

Race 

Tracks 

Podiums 

Podium years 

Wins 

Win years 

British GP 

Silverstone 

13 

2007, 2008, 2010, 2014-2023 

8 

2008, 2014-2017, 2019-2021 

2. Alain Prost — France — 6 wins

Race winner Alain Prost, Ferrari 641

Race winner Alain Prost, Ferrari 641

Photo by: Sutton Images

• Home GP: French GP
• Home tracks: Dijon-Prenois, Paul Ricard & Magny-Cours
• Home race podiums: 11
• Home race wins: 6

Alain Prost took his first French GP win at the 1981 race during his second F1 season and his first with Renault. The Frenchman had been forced to retire in his debut home race after his McLaren suffered a transmission issue.

Prost’s win at the Dijon circuit was the driver’s maiden win — the first of 51, which gave him the record for most grand prix victories until it was broken by Michael Schumacher at the 2001 Belgian GP.

He then took four more wins at the French Grand Prix, which was held at Paul Ricard, in 1983, 1988, 1989 and 1990. During his final win at the track, he qualified in fourth — the only time he didn’t win from pole — and took the 100th grand prix victory for Ferrari.

Prost’s final home race win came at the 1993 French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours for Williams. The victory marked his 100th F1 podium — making him the first driver to achieve the record.

Dijon, Paul Ricard & Magny-Cours 

1981-1983, 1985-1991 & 1993 

1981, 1983, 1988-1990, 1993 

3. Jim Clark — Great Britain — 5 wins

Jim Clark, Lotus 33 Climax

Jim Clark, Lotus 33 Climax

Photo by: Motorsport Images

• Home GP: British GP
• Home tracks: Aintree, Silverstone, Brands Hatch
• Home race podiums: 5
• Home race wins: 5

Jim Clark took five wins at the British GP and no further podiums at the event during his eight-season career between 1960-1968. His first British GP win came at the 1962 event at the Aintree, when he led the race from start to finish and won by 49.2 seconds from John Surtees.

The Scotsman then had a run of four consecutive wins at the British Grand Prix, including the 1963 and 1965 races, when he then claimed the drivers’ championship at the end of the season.

The 1965 race was his smallest margin of victory, when he led ahead of Graham Hill by just three seconds. With 16 laps to go, Clark’s Lotus started to lose oil pressure and he chose to kill the engine when going through the faster corners of the Silverstone Circuit. After pulling out a gap of 35 seconds from Hill behind, he was then losing around two seconds per lap, resulting in the fellow Brit closing the gap before the end of the race.

Aintree, Silverstone, Brands Hatch 

=4. Michael Schumacher — German — 4 wins

Podium: Michael Schumacher, Benetton B195 Renault

Podium: Michael Schumacher, Benetton B195 Renault

Photo by: Sutton Images

• Home GP: German GP
• Home tracks: Hockenheim
• Home race podiums: 7
• Home race wins: 4

Michael Schumacher took his first home race podium during his first full F1 season in 1992. The German finished in third place after working his way through the grid from sixth, to finish behind Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna in first and second respectively.

He took his first home grand prix win in 1995 for Benetton, as he fought to retain his drivers’ championship title. Schumacher took the lead from second place at the first corner of the second lap after the leader Damon Hill spun off into the barrier after a driveshaft failure caused his rear wheels to lock.

It wasn’t for another seven years that Schumacher would take a win at his home race, where he won from pole position in his Ferrari. His win in 2002 came during the seven-time world champion’s longest consecutive run holding the drivers’ championship title, which he held for 37 races.

1992-1993, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2004 & 2006 

=4. Nigel Mansell — Great Britain — 4 wins

Nigel Mansell, Williams FW11B Honda, Nelson Piquet, Williams FW11B Honda

Nigel Mansell, Williams FW11B Honda, Nelson Piquet, Williams FW11B Honda

Photo by: Motorsport Images

• Home GP: British GP
• Home tracks: Brands Hatch & Silverstone
• Home race podiums: 6
• Home race wins: 4

Nigel Mansell did not claim his first British podium and win until 1986 — his sixth full season in F1 — at Brands Hatch. Mansell, who qualified in second, got a bad start at the beginning of the race, dropping into fourth. However, a large crash involving four drivers at the start saw the race red-flagged and restarted.

The Brit had broken something in his car at the start and was allowed to begin again in the spare Williams. After an intense battle with his team-mate Nelson Piquet, Mansell won the race by five and a half seconds.

He took a second consecutive win in 1987, this time at Silverstone, in what has been described as one of his best performances in F1. Mansell would yet again face a tight battle with his Williams team-mate Piquet, who had qualified ahead of the British driver. Both drivers had intended to not pit for fresh tyres, but Mansell was brought in with a dislodged wheel balance weight.

He did not lose his second-place position during the pitstop but was left almost 30 seconds behind the leader. During the next 30 laps he hunted down Piquet, before pulling off an impressive overtake and finishing 1.918 seconds ahead of his team-mate.

Brands Hatch & Silverstone 

=4. Juan Manuel Fangio — Argentina — 4 wins

Juan Manuel Fangio, Mercedes-Benz W196

Juan Manuel Fangio, Mercedes-Benz W196

Photo by: Motorsport Images

• Home GP: Argentine GP
• Home tracks: Buenos Aires
• Home race podiums: 4
• Home race wins: 4

Juan Manuel Fangio took four consecutive wins at his home Argentine GP between 1954 and 1957, the same years that he took four of his five drivers’ championship wins. In 1955, he won the race for Mercedes after starting third. The summer temperatures were so hot that he was one of only two drivers — the other being fellow Argentine Roberto Mieres — to complete the full race without giving their car to another driver.

Fangio didn’t escape unscathed though, as he suffered severe burns to his leg which had been rubbing against the chassis which struggling with the heat coming from the exhaust. It took him three months to recover from the injury and he was left with a permanent scar.

7. Max Verstappen — Netherlands — 3 wins

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB16B

Photo by: Erik Junius

• Home GP: Dutch GP
• Home tracks: Zandvoort
• Home race podiums: 3
• Home race wins: 3

Max Verstappen has claimed every win at the Dutch GP in Zandvoort since the event returned to the calendar in 2021. He won the inaugural race after its 31-year absence and was the first Dutch driver to claim a win at their home race.

The 2023 Dutch GP was a predominantly wet-weather race and was filled with plenty of action. A small sprinkling of rain started before the race that turned into a heavy shower on the first lap and prompted many teams to run a split strategy. Verstappen was left out on slick tyres and dropped down into fourth place.

Once the rain initially cleared Verstappen was able to reclaim top spot, but a late red flag saw the Dutchman fight in a seven-lap final sprint to take the win. The win was Verstappen’s ninth in a row, which then equalled the record with Sebastian Vettel set in 2013.

Drivers with most podiums at their home grand prix

Here are the top F1 drivers with the most podiums at their home grand prix:

2007-2008, 2010, 2014-2023 

1981-1983, 1985-1991, 1993 

Dijon, Paul Ricard & Magny-Cours 

1992-1993, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2006 

2003, 2005-2007, 2010, 2012-2013 

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 

Brands Hatch & Silverstone 

Silverstone, Aintree & Brands Hatch 

Aintree, Silverstone, Brands Hatch 

Silverstone & Brands Hatch 

Jacarepagua & Interlagos 



Source link

Mercedes F1 team set for clothing partner switch to Adidas

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The Mercedes Formula 1 team is set to switch team clothing partner next year as it moves to Adidas, Autosport has learned.

The deal comes as the German sportswear brand looks for a high-profile replacement for the loss of its iconic sponsorship rights to the German national football team – with Nike taking its place from 2027.

Just a fortnight ago, Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden spoke positively about F1 and said he was in discussions with a number of teams about potential deals.

In the interview with Bild, Gulden said that F1 was a “sport that has strong growth — also among the younger generation.»

He added: «We are talking to several teams. Most Formula 1 contracts run until 2026, so I hope we can come to a conclusion.»

Now, following a report that has appeared in the same German newspaper saying an Adidas/Mercedes deal is done, sources have confirmed to Motorsport.com that everything is now lined up.

However, there has not yet been any official announcement about the deal being completed, and Mercedes has declined to comment about the matter when contacted.

Discussions between Mercedes and Adidas certainly appear to be at a very advanced stage though, with sources even suggesting that mocked-up team shirts for next year were spotted at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix as part of the evaluation process ahead of next year.

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, in the post Qualifying Press Conference

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, in the post Qualifying Press Conference

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

The shirts featured the famous Adidas three stripes on the shoulders to highlight the brand’s involvement.

A move to Adidas will bring an end to Mercedes’ current team wear sponsorship deal with Puma, which was a deal that was ironically put together by Gulden when he was CEO of the rival brand.

The future of other Mercedes clothing partner Tommy Hilfiger remains unclear. That deal had heavily revolved around Lewis Hamilton, who is leaving the German manufacturer at the end of 2025 to move to Ferrari.

One certainty though is that if Tommy Hilfiger does not stay at Mercedes, it will not be following Hamilton to Maranello.

Speaking to Autosport sister site Motorsport-Total.com, Hamilton said recently: “To be honest, I don’t know what the team is planning. But Ferrari has its own things going on. That’s why they won’t be coming to Ferrari with us.”



Source link

McLaren criticism of Verstappen «wrong and unfair»

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Red Bull Formula 1 team boss Christian Horner has labelled criticism aimed at Max Verstappen by McLaren counterpart Andrea Stella as «wrong and unfair».

Horner also insisted Verstappen is «not going to change» his aggressive approach after colliding with Lando Norris in the Austrian Grand Prix.

After sparring for several laps for the lead towards the end of Sunday’s race, Verstappen made contact with McLaren driver Norris at Turn 3, with both puncturing a tyre each.

Verstappen finished fifth after a tyre change, while the damage to Norris’s McLaren was too severe to continue.

Afterwards, Norris and his McLaren team principal Andrea Stella were extremely upset with Verstappen’s aggressive defending tactics, feeling the Dutchman moved under braking several times before running Norris out of road on Lap 64.

But Horner says Verstappen «won’t change» his approach, suggesting Norris is now finding out how hard the world champion races.

«Certainly, from Max’s side, he’s not going to change,» Horner told Sky Sports.

«There’s an element, I think, of Lando learning how to race Max and they’re discovering that.

«Inevitably, there is going to be more close racing between the two of them as the cars look so close over the forthcoming races.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battle for the lead

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battle for the lead

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

«Max is a hard racer — he’s probably one of the hardest racers on the circuit and everybody knows that if you’re going to race against Max, he’s going to give as good as he gets.»

Horner added that Verstappen and Norris had already cleared the air in private after letting tempers cool down post-race.

«I understand they’ve spoken already, I don’t think there is any issue,» he said.

McLaren chief Stella suggested Verstappen’s aggressive tactics were emboldened by his 2021 campaign racing against Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton, when Stella felt Verstappen wasn’t punished adequately whenever he crossed the limit in their title fight.

Horner thought that notion was unfair, although he accepted that a clash between Verstappen and Norris «had been building» since the Miami Grand Prix.

«He raced incredibly hard in 2021, he’s a tough racer, and he hasn’t really been racing anyone for two years because he’s been out front so much,» Horner said.

«The conflict between the two of them has been building over two, three, four races where they’ve been racing each other closely and hard, and at some point that was always going to spill over — and it did at Turn 3.

«He was punished in 2021 if he did something wrong just as Lewis, who he was racing so hard that year, was for things he did wrong.

«I think it’s wrong and unfair to label a driver like that and I’m sure in the heat of the moment it was frustrating for Andrea, but that’s just tough racing.

«He worked with Michael Schumacher [at Ferrari] for so many years — he of all people should know that.»



Source link

Hill on Norris silencing critics

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO



Damon Hill says Lando Norris has silenced critics following his first Formula 1 victory in Miami.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, 1996 world champion Hill stated that Norris breaking through at the 110th attempt will have proven a vocal minority who doubted the McLaren driver’s credentials wrong.

In the races since, Norris finished a close second in Imola, Montreal and Barcelona before contact with Red Bull rival Max Verstappen while contesting the lead at the Austrian Grand Prix forced his retirement.

«Lando was keen to silence his critics, who wanted to make an issue of him not having won,» Hill said.

«I mean, we’re surrounded by criticism today with social media. There isn’t a thing you can do that doesn’t get criticised in some way, and you mustn’t get let that get to you, because you don’t want to be defined by people who are determined to diminish you.

«So he did respond to that. And now they can’t answer it.

«You might say in the last couple of races, he could have won and didn’t. But it is difficult to win a Grand Prix, especially when you’ve got someone like Max Verstappen, or in my case, I had Michael Schumacher, trying to prevent you.

 

«You can be the best tennis player, you could be Andy Murray. And unfortunately, you’ve got either [Roger] Federer or [Rafael] Nadal or [Novak] Djokovic, who comes along and you just you’ve got to get past them to get to the finish line.»

George Russell was the beneficiary of the clash between Norris and Verstappen to take a surprise victory for Mercedes at the Red Bull Ring, the second of his career after his maiden win came at the Brazilian GP in 2022.

Hill, the 1994 British Grand Prix winner, added that the two young chargers «both believe they’re gifted enough to deliver a championship if they get the opportunity» but had to be prepared for the intensity that comes with fighting for world titles.

«It takes a lot out of you even if you are the very best,» he said.

«I remember Michael Schumacher after he equalled [Juan-Manuel] Fangio [by securing a fifth world title at the 2002 French GP], he was in tears. He literally was.

«It takes a lot out of anyone, even if they are the very, very best driver to keep doing this and keep delivering exceptional performances every time.

«What would it take for someone like Lando or George? They need the car.

«You could argue that Lando’s got the car now; I don’t think it’s better than the Red Bull, but I think it’s possibly as good.

«He’s going to need a bit more than that, I think from the car to be able to reduce the deficit to Max and stop Max winning.

«That’s the only way you’re going to turn this into a close championship by the end.»

Hill is riding the Etape of the Tour de France, raising awareness and funds for Neuro UK, this Saturday.

You can find out how to support him on the charity’s fundraising page here.



Source link

British GP gets ticket sale surge after Norris and Verstappen Austrian F1 clash

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Formula 1 fans have been snapping up the remaining tickets for this weekend’s British Grand Prix following Lando Norris’s explosive collision with Max Verstappen in Austria.

British Grand Prix bosses have noticed a surge in ticket sales for this week’s race as fans lapped up the action at the Red Bull Ring.

George Russell’s shock victory for Mercedes, plus the fallout from Norris and Verstappen’s coming together on track has seen fans scramble for tickets for the final race in this triple-header.

Last year’s event saw a total attendance of 480,000 across the grand prix weekend and Silverstone chiefs expect Sunday’s race to be a sell-out, despite some criticism about the price of tickets.

Lewis Hamilton had said that the Northamptonshire circuit should focus on making it more affordable with prices increasing on previous years amid a cost of living crisis. However, that has not put off punters eager to watch the live action with tickets left in their hundreds, rather than thousands.

Autosport earlier reported that Silverstone chief Stuart Pringle had suggested that ticket sales had originally been slow at the start of the year due to Verstappen’s success, adding «it’s certainly been a lot harder with Red Bull dominating».

That drew a response from Verstappen who said any failure to sell tickets was not down to him and rested with the promoter.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battle for the lead

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, battle for the lead

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Pringle also added: «As a promoter, you have to get your ticket pricing strategy correct. You could make these things go quicker if you reduce price.

«But we have got expensive bills to pay, not less the promoter fee, so it’s about hitting a strategy and making sure it works, which we’re pretty comfortable with.»

In the run up to this weekend’s race, Silverstone says it noticed a spike in sales even when Verstappen won the Spanish GP in Barcelona.

Read Also:

It comes after the circuit enjoyed its fastest ever sell-out in 2022 with 142,000 tickets snapped up for race day shortly after being put on sale.

And last year’s figure showed continued growth, however, for this year the circuit deliberately reduced capacity as it felt it would offer customers a better experience.

It also decided to invest in fan entertainment by booking rock band Kings of Leon as the headline act to open the weekend, while rapper Stormzy will play on Friday, Pete Tong Presents Ibiza Classics on Saturday and drum and bass act Rudimental will close a four-day music festival on Sunday.

Watch: F1 Austrian GP Analysis — Never Give Up VS Never Back Down



Source link

Who’s on the Formula 1 grid next year?

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


‘Silly season’ is a common term in F1 referring to the time of year in which many teams announce their driver line-up for the following season.

It usually takes place during the summer as that’s when the market is at its most frantic, with driver changes causing doubt over the futures of others.

But, silly season started a lot earlier this year due to Lewis Hamilton announcing his move to Ferrari for 2025 back in February 2024.

So the driver market is arguably the craziest it has ever been, especially when many other driver contracts were due, or are due, to expire at the end of this season.

With over half of the 2025 grid now confirmed, who has been announced and what does the future behold for other drivers?

Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team

Pierre Gasly, Alpine F1 Team

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Alpine 2025 F1 Drivers

• Pierre Gasly — multi-year contract
• TBC

Alpine endured a difficult start to 2024 as it failed to score any points in the opening five rounds. Although its form then picked up slightly — double points finishes in Canada and Spain for example — Alpine is still currently one of the four worst teams on the grid, highlighting regression for the Enstone squad as it has not finished lower than sixth in the championship since 2016.

Despite that, Pierre Gasly was delighted to sign a multi-year contract extension with Alpine, a team he joined in 2023, as its willingness to offer a long-term deal was understood to be a key factor.

Another factor that’s believed to have influenced his decision is the impending departure of team-mate Esteban Ocon — his childhood rival with whom he shares a fractious relationship. This came to a head at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, when Ocon made a risky move down the inside of Portier on the opening lap, which caused the two Frenchmen to collide.

It angered team management and just eight days later, Alpine announced that Ocon will depart the squad at the end of 2024. Although it is understood that the decision was not based entirely on the Monaco incident, it did play some part.

So, this leaves an open spot alongside Gasly, and Autosport exclusively revealed that Alpine has made a bid for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who needs a new team due to Hamilton’s arrival next year. However, Sainz is wanted by several teams and the grand prix winner is keen to take his time in deciding who he wants to join.

If Sainz says ‘no’ to the French squad, then other options may include reserve driver Jack Doohan who competed in F2 last year, Alpine’s World Endurance Championship driver Mick Schumacher who was dropped by Haas at the end of 2022 or Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Aston Martin 2025 F1 Drivers

• Fernando Alonso — contracted until the end of 2026
• Lance Stroll — contracted until 2025 and beyond

Aston Martin is just one of three teams so far to have announced an unchanged driver line-up for 2025, with that figure expected to go no higher than four constructors. The Silverstone-based squad first confirmed the future of two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, who impressed during his debut season at the team with eight podiums in 2023.

Six of those podiums came in the opening eight rounds though, and Aston Martin has since failed to replicate such form with the fifth-place team now a cut adrift from the top four. This is a long-term project though, one which Alonso is invested in so the 42-year-old signed a two-year extension in April.

Aston Martin then announced in June that Lance Stroll will stay on for 2025, though that was expected given his father Lawrence owns the team. It will be Stroll’s seventh season racing for the squad and his contract length has never been formally disclosed, but that seat is basically his for as long as he and his father want to continue their F1 dream.

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Ferrari 2025 F1 Drivers

• Charles Leclerc — multi-year contract
• Lewis Hamilton — multi-year contract

Ferrari caused a stir when it confirmed the shock news that Hamilton will join the team in 2025. The seven-time world champion has a long history of being linked to Ferrari, but it initially seemed like that would only ever be rumours — especially when Hamilton signed a two-year extension with Mercedes during the 2023 season.

The second year of that deal though was understood to only be an option, which has allowed Hamilton to make the switch just one season into his contract. It means his stint at Mercedes will end after 12 campaigns as Hamilton, whose last championship victory came in 2020, cited a need for a new challenge.

That will come alongside Charles Leclerc, who signed a multi-year contract extension in January with the team he joined in 2019. During that time, Leclerc has won six grands prix and has been Ferrari’s leading driver, but it will be interesting to see how the dynamic changes when Hamilton arrives.

Regardless, the goal is clear: to end Red Bull’s dominance and deliver Ferrari, who finished third in the 2023 constructors’ standings, its first championship-winning season since 2008. With a regulation overhaul coming in 2026, that may present Ferrari its biggest opportunity to do so.

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, with his engineers in the garage

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, with his engineers in the garage

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Haas 2025 F1 Drivers

• TBC
• TBC

Haas is the only team yet to confirm either of its 2025 drivers, however it is expected that F2’s Oliver Bearman will fill one of the seats. The 19-year-old is a Ferrari junior who has so far competed in four FP1 sessions for Haas due to the American outfit’s close ties with the Scuderia.

Bearman also raced for Ferrari at the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP due to Sainz having appendicitis, and the Briton impressed by finishing seventh after holding off late charges from Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris.

Who will claim the second seat is a bit more up in the air though, due to current Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg signing with Sauber for the 2025 season. There is also a lot of doubt over Kevin Magnussen’s Haas future, as the 31-year-old has consistently failed to match Hulkenberg’s pace since the German joined in 2023.

This has resulted in Ocon emerging as a leading candidate for that Haas seat and, if it happens, he would become the first grand prix winner to ever drive for the team. Fellow grand prix winner Bottas is believed to be another candidate, as his future is unclear due to Hulkenberg’s switch amid Sauber’s preparations for an Audi takeover in 2026.

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, in the pit lane

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38, in the pit lane

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

McLaren 2025 F1 Drivers

• Lando Norris — contracted beyond the end of 2026
• Oscar Piastri — contracted until at least the end of 2026

McLaren’s level of improvement since the beginning of last year has been remarkable, as it was sixth after eight rounds in 2023 before mid-season upgrades helped it to finish fourth with nine podiums and a sprint race victory in Qatar.

The British outfit has carried that form into 2024 with a victory in the Miami GP amid a run of seven consecutive podiums, which leaves McLaren as arguably Red Bull’s biggest threat. Both drivers have contributed to McLaren’s form so will remain as team-mates for a third consecutive season in 2025.

Oscar Piastri was the first to commit his future to McLaren, as the 23-year-old signed an extension towards the end of his impressive rookie season with his deal running until at least 2026.

There was a lot more chatter over Norris’ future though, whose previous contract lasted until the end of 2025. Many wondered if McLaren could actually help Norris in challenging for the drivers’ championship, but the Briton has full faith as he signed an extension which lasts beyond 2026.

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, 1st position, on the podium with his trophy and Champagne

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team, 1st position, on the podium with his trophy and Champagne

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Mercedes 2025 F1 Drivers

• George Russell — contracted until the end of 2025
• TBC

August 2023 saw Mercedes announce that Hamilton and George Russell had both signed contract extensions which run until the end of 2025. Next season will be Russell’s fourth at Mercedes — the team he joined as a junior in 2017 and clinched his maiden grand prix victory with.

There is a constant discussion over who his next team-mate will be though, given Hamilton’s shock decision to leave. The leading candidate is 17-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is regarded as one of the biggest talents in motorsport having already won four single-seater championships.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has also spoken publicly about how much the team believes in its junior driver, but there are still question marks over Antonelli’s readiness to compete at the front given his tender age.

Max Verstappen was another driver to have been linked with the seat, but in the build-up to June’s Austrian GP he confirmed he will remain at Red Bull next season. Regardless, Wolff wants to take his time to decide as Mercedes is more focussed on improving its car, which has won just two grands prix since the Silver Arrows claimed an eighth consecutive constructors’ title in 2021.

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

RB 2025 F1 Drivers

• Yuki Tsunoda — contracted until the end of 2025
• TBC

Yuki Tsunoda is set to remain at the Faenza-based squad for a fifth consecutive season after signing a contract extension into 2025 with RB. This followed an impressive start to 2024, as the long-term Red Bull and Honda protege consistently beat team-mate Daniel Ricciardo and scored over half of the team’s points tally.

That led to hope amongst some that Tsunoda would finally receive a promotion to Red Bull for next season, but Sergio Perez signing an extension in June despite a run of disappointing results shut that door.

It’s not yet known who will partner Tsunoda in 2025 though, as there is much doubt over Ricciardo’s future given his poor form. That doubt then increased when motorsport advisor Helmut Marko reiterated that RB is a junior team and Ricciardo is anything but an F1 junior given he is 35-years-old.

So, if Ricciardo is not re-signed then the seat will likely go to current reserve driver Liam Lawson, who drove five grands prix for the team in 2023 — then known as AlphaTauri — due to the eight-time grand prix winner breaking his hand at Zandvoort.

Lawson impressed during that run with a points finish in Singapore, leading to Red Bull boss Christian Horner claiming that the New Zealander will be a full-time grand prix driver one day. While that opportunity has not yet come in 2024, there is a strong possibility of it happening in 2025.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, congratulates pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, in Parc Ferme after Qualifying

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, congratulates pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, in Parc Ferme after Qualifying

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Red Bull 2025 F1 Drivers

• Max Verstappen — contracted until the end of 2028
• Sergio Perez — contracted until the end of 2026

Red Bull is another outfit who will retain its driver line-up for 2025 with Verstappen and Perez set for their fifth season as team-mates. The two have enjoyed a very successful period together, as Verstappen looks likely to claim his fourth straight drivers’ title in 2024 while Red Bull is going for its third consecutive constructors’ crown.

That’s despite Perez consistently being under pressure for his poor results, as he scored less than half of Verstappen’s points tally in 2023 while 2024 has not been much better either. Despite that, Horner has publicly stated his faith in Perez on a constant basis and it’s led to him signing an extension which runs until the end of 2026.

There was also some doubt over Verstappen’s future, despite him being contracted until the end of 2028. That doubt emerged during Red Bull’s early 2024 management war — which followed an investigation into Horner’s behaviour towards a female employee — and how Verstappen strongly backed Marko, whose future at the time was unclear.

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Sauber 2025 F1 Drivers

• Nico Hulkenberg — multi-year contract
• TBC

Sauber is currently working through major changes, as it is set to become the Audi F1 team from 2026. One of the first things that CEO Andreas Seidl did in preparation for the switch was to sign Hulkenberg on a multi-year contract, the 36-year-old with whom he won the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours at Porsche.

Although Hulkenberg being German is understood to be one of the factors in Audi wanting him, it also follows a string of impressive performances at Haas in which he has been its leading driver. Sauber is keen to partner Hulkenberg with Sainz in 2025, but the Spaniard is stalling over his decision.

Should Sauber not land its main target, then that could present an opportunity for Bottas to remain with the team he joined in 2022. The 34-year-old is one of many parties waiting on Sainz to decide his next move, before clarifying his own future.

That means it is very unlikely that Zhou Guanyu will contend a fourth season in F1, having failed to impress much during his three-year stint with the Swiss outfit. Regardless of who Hulkenberg’s team-mate is though, wholesale improvements are needed at the team which finished next-to-bottom in the 2023 standings and so far has zero points in 2024.

Alex Albon, Williams Racing

Alex Albon, Williams Racing

Photo by: Williams

Williams 2025 F1 Drivers

• Alex Albon — multi-year contract
• TBC

Williams is another squad to have made a bid for Sainz, and team boss James Vowles publicly stated that the Spaniard is the British outfit’s number one target. At one stage, the likelihood of Sainz joining Williams seemed quite strong but Alpine’s late bid has since cast doubt over that.

If it isn’t Sainz, then Bottas and Ocon are both options for Williams, as is Antonelli should Mercedes decide he is not yet ready for the Silver Arrows. Williams has a history of fielding Mercedes, the team it gets its engines from, drivers, as Russell joined the squad as a rookie in 2019 before eventually moving to the German manufacturer after three years.

These drivers are all in contention for the seat alongside Alex Albon, who signed a multi-year extension in May as his previous contract was due to expire at the end of 2025. That was a major coup for Williams, as Albon has impressed since joining in 2022 which made him a left-field player in next year’s driver market — but the 28-year-old spoke of his faith in the team’s long-term project, so signed the deal.

While his fate is secure, the future of team-mate Logan Sargeant looks bleak as the 23-year-old has scored just one point since joining F1 at the beginning of last year. He has simply struggled in motorsport’s top category and has not beaten Albon in grand prix qualifying yet, leading to Vowles stating that Sargeant must improve to keep his seat.



Source link

Autosport Podcast: Austrian GP review

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO



Just when it looked like Max Verstappen had a comfortable win at Red Bull’s home track in Spielberg, a poor final stop and a questionable tyre choice opened the door for another Lando Norris chase. Only this time, the two drivers collided at the Turn 3 hairpin, with George Russell picking up the pieces for a shock win!

Joining Bryn Lucas is Alex Kalinauckas and Filip Cleeren as they breakdown the actions that led to the clash, the questionable racecraft as both Norris and Verstappen battled for the win, and ponder whether McLaren team boss Andrea Stella was right to question whether their fight was a product of the stewards.

Also, the trio discuss another missed opportunity of a weekend for Ferrari, whether the new implementations of track limits worked despite a controversial penalty for Oscar Piastri in qualifying, and the best weekend of the year so far for Haas as they scored a dozen points to solidify seventh in the standings.

 



Source link