F1 teams downplay risks of ‘sprint cars’ with new parc ferme rules
The Shanghai round was the first event where F1’s latest sprint format has been deployed –with the parc ferme restrictions on car adjustments relaxed between the two Saturday sessions. This opened the possibility for teams to run very experimental set-ups in the shorter races – especially for cars starting outside the top 10 on the […]
F1 might never have a driver with Alonso’s longevity again
Alonso’s recent Aston Martin contract extension means he will carry on racing until at least the end of the 2026 F1 campaign, by which time he will be 45. That would make him the oldest F1 driver to compete since Graham Hill in 1975. Alonso already holds the record for the most grand prix races […]
History of the F1 points system with proposed structure for 2025
F1 has changed its points system several times over the years, with the first structure used in 1950 looking very different to what it is now. There is even another change on the cards for the 2025 season and a decision over if to introduce it or not will be made later this year — […]
Mercedes taking action to cure F1 car’s “underlying balance” problem
The German manufacturer has endured a challenging start to the 2024 campaign, with its W15 showing flashes of speed but struggling to deliver consistency through race weekends. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have battled a ‘knife-edge’ feeling at times, as Mercedes has failed to nail a set-up that exploits the potential that it believes is […]
Ricciardo felt «rapid» before Stroll F1 clash in China
Under a mid-race safety car, Aston Martin driver Stroll clattered into the back of Ricciardo at the hairpin, which forced the Australian to retire with car damage. Ricciardo was furious with Stroll’s refusal to take blame for the incident, while the Canadian labelled his penalty a «joke». But amid a tough a thus far point-less […]
Ferrari «made too many mistakes» for podium fight at F1 Chinese GP
Ferrari has been the 2024 season’s second-best team so far, but didn’t live up to those expectations at last weekend’s Shanghai event. Having had at least one driver on the podium across the first four races, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz only qualified sixth and seventh respectively, six-tenths off Max Verstappen. The pair managed to […]
McLaren «surprised» by China F1 race pace after sprint struggles
McLaren’s Lando Norris started on pole for Saturday morning’s 19-lap sprint race but after going off at the start he fell down to seventh. That became sixth at the chequered flag due to Fernando Alonso’s retirement, finishing in front of team-mate Oscar Piastri but behind both Ferraris. Its race pace relative to the Scuderia seemed […]
Sargeant baffled about not being told of illegal F1 safety car overtake
During the caution period to remove Valtteri Bottas’s stricken Sauber, Sargeant was running down the start-finish straight towards Turn 1 as his Haas rival emerged from the pits following a change of tyres. But while Hulkenberg reached the critical safety car line that determines the running order a split second in front, Sargeant’s speed offset […]
Leclerc start battle cost Ferrari in F1 China GP
Leclerc and Sainz lined up sixth and seventh respectively, but both lost positions to Mercedes driver George Russell and Haas man Nico Hulkenberg as they crossed paths in Shanghai’s first corner complex. Sainz was pushed wide in Turn 2 by an understeering Leclerc, who visibly struggled to get his tyres up to temperature, further illustrated […]