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Hamilton points out the ‘biggest issue’ he faced on the way to P5 in Saudi Arabia
FIA to issue rule clarification ahead of Australian Grand Prix after Alonso podium drama in Jeddah
Sainz says it's 'difficult to take positives' from Ferrari's Saudi Arabian weekend
2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend F1 driver ratings | 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Fernando Alonso lashes out at the FIA
Double world champion Fernando Alonso hit out at the FIA for putting on a “poor show” after Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, following a podium fiasco that took several hours to solve.
Alonso once again performed brilliantly for Aston Martin at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, with the Spaniard having claimed a second consecutive podium for the Silverstone-based team.
The 41-year-old finished third despite having served a five-second time penalty during his one and only pit-stop, after starting outside his grid slot.
Whilst the Aston Martin driver was busy celebrating on the podium, though, it was announced that Alonso had been awarded a 10-second penalty, after the FIA deemed that the rear jack had been touching the car whilst the penalty was being served.
READ: Michael Schumacher would’ve prevented Mick’s Haas mistreatment
This left Alonso and Aston Martin furious, given that the Spanish driver served his penalty on Lap 19/50.
The team were only informed about a further investigation on the final lap of the race, outside of article 16.3.
Article 16.3 of the Sporting Regulations states: “Any decision or communication concerning a particular Competitor should be given to him within twenty-five (25) minutes of such decision, and receipt must be acknowledged.”
The FIA, therefore, failed to comply with article 16.3, whilst they later also agreed that the rear jack was simply touching the car and not “working” on it, which is illegal whilst serving a penalty.
It meant that George Russell was promoted to third for roughly four hours, before Alonso’s podium was reinstated.
The FIA are set to clarify the rules ahead of next weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, to avoid further confusion.
Before his podium was reinstated, Alonso criticised the FIA for not putting “on a good show for our fans”, with their decision having become the biggest talking point.
“I was on the podium, I did pictures, I took the trophy, I celebrated and now I have apparently three points less. I don’t have 15, I have 12,” Alonso told Sky Sports F1.
“I think it is more FIA, poor show. You cannot apply a penalty 35 laps after the pit stop. They had enough time to inform about the penalty. If I knew that, maybe then I open up 11 seconds to the car behind.
“Today, we didn’t put on a good show for our fans. I know the team is trying to review it with the stewards now because we didn’t understand fully the second penalty.”
Sebastian #Vettel becomes lead investor in performance drink brand https://t.co/aGi0ryaCOK
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) March 20, 2023READ: Will Buxton criticises FIA after 2023 Saudi Arabian GP
Team principal Mike Krack revealed after the 10-second penalty was announced that “no advantage” came from the rear jack touching the car, something the FIA seemingly agreed.
“The regulation said you may not work on the car, it’s maybe a little bit ambiguous but this is something that we need to look at,” said Krack.
“We have a clear procedure for it, we have a countdown, and everything was fully safe. No advantage came from it.”
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Mercedes “have more performance in the locker” for coming races – Russell | RaceFans Round-up
Fernando Alonso dismisses copying accusation after Sergio Perez’s joke
Ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the design of Aston Martin’s AMR23 was a big talking point, with both Red Bull and Mercedes having accused the Silverstone-based team of copying their design.
The debate started ahead of the 2023 season-opener in Bahrain, after Aston Martin demonstrated during pre-season testing that they are a real threat to the usual leading trio this season.
Aston Martin’s solid pre-season was backed up by a podium at the season-opener, with Fernando Alonso having finished third at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
What followed Alonso’s podium was claims that Aston Martin had imitated the current leading teams, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner having recognised similarities between the British side’s 2023 car and the Austrians’ dominant 2022 challenger.
READ: ‘With wrinkles and dry skin’: Ralf Schumacher fires shot at Guenther Steiner
“They say imitation is the biggest form of flattery,” said Horner at the Bahrain GP, “and it’s good to see the old car going so well.”
Even during the post-race press conference, Sergio Pérez joked that there were three Red Bulls on the podium, with Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko having added that the employees who moved to Aston Martin “have a good memory”.
“There’s a reason for that. Not only did Fallows change, but also some other employees and they obviously have a good memory,” Marko told Sky Deutschland.
Marko went on to admit that all the comments directed at Aston Martin were simply “humorous remarks”, not that Alonso cares much anyway.
“I don’t care about the comments at all,” Alonso told Marca, when asked for his thoughts on Red Bull’s and Mercedes’ claims of copying.
“I’m not fazed except to focus on my team and improve… But you can clearly see that there are differences between the two cars at a glance.”
Whilst Red Bull’s copying claims are more chassis and sidepod-related, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has labelled the AMR23 as “half ours”.
Being a Mercedes customer team, Aston Martin have the same engine, rear suspension, and gearbox as the Silver Arrows, whilst they also both use the same wind tunnel.
Wolff’s comment in particular left Alonso feeling perplexed, with the double world champion having added that Red Bull’s and Mercedes’ concepts are the complete opposite of each other.
“Visually they are different and an example of this is that Mercedes says that 50 percent of their car is ours [engine, gearbox and suspension] and Red Bull says that 50 percent is theirs… and there can be no two more different concepts than those two,” said Alonso.
#Ferrari announce replacement for head of vehicle concepts https://t.co/4XK8arDZ2V
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) March 19, 2023READ: Christian Horner demands Sergio Perez be on his ‘A-game’ not just with Max Verstappen
“That clearly indicates that neither of the two theories is true.
“We have a different concept than those two cars although it is true that visually all the cars look a bit alike. If you take the black cars, well, the Ferrari, the Haas and the Alfa Romeo also look very similar to each other.”
Given that Alonso will start this weekend’s Saudi Arabian GP from the front row, the likelihood is that further imitations comments will be made at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday.
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Martin Brundle claims Lewis Hamilton using new negotiation tactic for Mercedes contract
Lewis Hamilton’s contract situation was the topic on everybody’s lips over the winter break, with both the seven-time world champions and his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirming that their relationship will continue.
Strangely however, the 2023 season has now begun and Hamilton is still yet to put pen to paper on a new deal, with rumours now starting to emerge that he could depart Mercedes at the end of the year.
The Silver Arrows have started the season poorly, with their W14 concept not allowing them to compete with the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari for the title this season.
Lewis Hamilton has stunning suggested that his team owe him an apology, claiming that he knew exactly what needed to be done last season but Mercedes refused to listen to him.
READ: ‘How can you say that?’ Jenson Button laughs off George Russell claim
Whilst these comments have led some fans to speculate that the Brit might bid farewell to Mercedes at the end of the season, Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle has suggested that it is all a part of Hamilton’s contract negotiation tactics.
“We have to remember Lewis is in the middle of a negotiation as well,” he said.
“I’m 100 percent certain Lewis would always follow the performance and not the money, but you aren’t going to turn down a big pay cheque if you can get it as well.
“They might be some pressure at Mercedes-Benz to reduce his pay, as it were. So there’s a bit of negotiation and a bit of game-play in this as well.”
With Mercedes struggling to compete so far this season, Brundle has suggested that Hamilton has every right to question his team’s decisions, with the zero sidepod concept clearly being the wrong one once again this year.
“I don’t think Lewis is in any different position to say Lando or Charles at Ferrari of stamping their feet a little bit and saying: ‘hang on, what are you doing about this?” Brundle explained.
Andretti hire technical director amid #Formula1 entry plans https://t.co/Wj3uo0YovU
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) March 15, 2023READ: Karun Chandhok makes bold Max Verstappen claim ahead of Saudi GP
“Tell me what we’re going in terms of updates, in terms of personnel, in terms of moving this game forward because it looks an awful lot like last year at the moment.”
Hamilton has been linked with a move to Ferrari next season, with the 38-year-old previously admitting that he is a Ferrari fan and that he would have liked to have driven for the team.
The seven-time world champion has however told the media that he will be at Mercedes next season no matter what, expressing his confidence in Mercedes’ ability to get back to the top.
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Max Verstappen admits he could retire from Formula 1 because of this
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has confirmed once again that he is “seriously thinking” about retiring from Formula 1 in just five years’ time, when his lucrative Red Bull contract expires.
Verstappen’s future post-2028 is something that’s been discussed several times, with the Dutchman having admitted several times that there are other things he wants to do in his life other than race at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Remarkably, if the 25-year-old does decide to quit F1 at the end of 2028, then he’ll retire from the sport at just 31 years old.
By that point, he could be an eight-time world champion, if he wins the championship every year until his contract expires.
READ: More Ferrari employees to defect after engineer set to join McLaren
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has recently revealed that Verstappen is the sort of person who would leave the sport when his contract expires, should he have “had enough”.
“If Max has had enough after 2028, he will stop,” Marko said.
“He is just the type who can make such a decision.”
The double world champion is against spending his “best years physically just in F1”, with Verstappen being completely against the calendar continuing to expand.
In the Red Bull driver’s eyes, 23 races is simply too much, with it being too demanding for the drivers to keep up with.
He seemingly already knows what he wants to do when he does decide to leave F1, suggesting that he really considering retiring in 2028.
“Yes, I am seriously thinking about it,” Verstappen.
“I know I’m very lucky to drive a Formula 1 car. I can do what I want, but at some point it doesn’t matter. I already have a lot of plans for what I want to do.
Sergio Perez handed boost in fight with Max #Verstappen after Helmut Marko makes surprising claim https://t.co/HWVu6jmbWJ
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) March 14, 2023READ: ‘Maybe in Jeddah’: Mike Krack fires Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll warning
“It’s also about quality of life,” he explained.
“There are other things in life besides Formula 1. I have a contract until 2028 and after that I’ll see.
“I don’t want to spend my best years physically just in Formula 1. With the races multiplying, 23 or 24 a year is far too many.”
Verstappen would still have had a 14-year career in F1 should he retire at the end of 2028 despite his age, with the Dutchman having, of course, made his F1 debut in 2015 at just 17 years old.
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Fernando Alonso delivers stunning response to Red Bull copying accusations
After weeks of Aston Martin being accused of copying Red Bull and Mercedes, double world champion Fernando Alonso has responded by saying that the Silverstone-based team are the ones being copied.
Red Bull and Mercedes have both questioned Aston Martin’s concept, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff having gone as far as stating that the bulk of the AMR23 is in fact the Germans.
Aston Martin boasts the same engine, rear suspension, and gearbox as Mercedes, with the duo also using the same wind tunnel.
Alonso had to deal with several comments after finishing third at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, with Sergio Pérez having joked that there were “three Red Bulls” on the podium at the Bahrain International Circuit.
READ: McLaren explain ‘cautious’ approach to upgrades as Lando Norris running low on patience
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko made similar comments, before backtracking on what he said ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“That’s not meant to be an accusation either. Those are just joking remarks. If you look in the field, the Aston Martin is the car most similar to the Red Bull,” Marko said following claims that the Austrians believe Aston Martin copied their concept.
The likelihood is that Aston Martin and Alonso will have to put up with more “imitation” comments after Sunday’s race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, given that Alonso starts on the front row alongside Pérez.
Alonso has a great chance at claiming back-to-back podiums on Sunday, something which will likely further frustrate Red Bull and Mercedes.
“I don’t think, you know, two Red Bulls are on the first row tomorrow. I think they are very different,” said Alonso.
“Red Bull said that the cars were the same, but they are very different. And also Toto said that the cars were the same: the Mercedes and the Aston because we share 50 per cent of the car or something like that.
Charles #Leclerc praises Oscar Piastri in Saudi Arabia https://t.co/Qn9hOp9tOk
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) March 19, 2023READ: Lewis Hamilton claims he’s pleased for George Russell
“But it seems that everyone is an Aston Martin now.”
Whilst Alonso has been busy responding to the claims made by Mercedes and Red Bull, Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack is refusing to get involved in a “war of words” with his counterparts at the leading sides.
“I mean, we always decided we will not go into any war of words.”
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FIA invites tyre manufacturers to bid for F1 supply contract from 2025 | 2023 F1 season
FIA launches F1 tyre supply tender from 2025
While the Italian manufacturer is fully expected to apply once again and then retain the rights, the motorsport governing body has issued a customary invitation to tender for the ...Keep reading
VISTA Las Vegas GP: The best way to experience the new F1 race
VISTA Las Vegas in association with McLaren offers guests a chance to overlook the track from the rooftop of the Cromwell. This exclusive party will be attended by F1 legends and celebrities, as a more exclusive way to experience F1 in Vegas.
There will be live ...Keep reading
How Red Bull handled Perez and Verstappen’s scrap for fastest lap in Jeddah | 2023 Saudi Arabian GP team radio transcript
James Vowles reveals Red Bull and Max Verstappen ‘doubt’
New Williams team principal James Vowles doesn’t believe Red Bull “will dominate all through the season”; however, he does expect the Austrians to be the fastest.
Red Bull started 2023 emphatically, with double world champion Max Verstappen having dominated the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Pérez claimed a comfortable second for the Austrians at the Bahrain International Circuit, to give the Milton Keynes-based team the perfect start to the year.
With Red Bull having looked so strong, many have already written the title off, with the Austrians having looked unstoppable.
READ: George Russell claims Mercedes ‘overshot’ after porpoising woes
Vowles, though, sees things slightly differently, with the former Mercedes senior figure expecting Ferrari and Mercedes to get “a lot closer” to the reigning world champions as the season develops.
“Do I think Red Bull will dominate all through the season? No, I doubt it,” Vowles said.
“I think you’ll see Ferrari a lot closer to them here, and it’d be tracks like Silverstone, Barcelona, where Mercedes will be mighty as a result of what I know of their package.
“However, on balance across the season, do I think they’re the fastest? Yes.
“But they still have a wind tunnel deficit,” Vowles said, in reference to Red Bull’s wind tunnel penalty.
“It’s not as big as I necessarily think it should be to balance things out, but it’s still there, and it will still mean across the season that you’ll see other people moving towards them.
“And with the rules carrying over to next year, you have to keep developing this car, so things will close up.”
Verstappen’s cruise to victory in Bahrain has seen some predict that 2023 will be a boring season, with the opening day at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix having also suggested that the Dutchman will be the likely favourite for victory.
Vowles again, though, doesn’t believe Verstappen cruising to victories will make for a boring season, with their being other battles throughout the field.
Aston Martin boss opens up on Fernando #Alonso ‘infecting’ the team https://t.co/1nbuGZ6i5A
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) March 18, 2023READ: Lewis Hamilton in shock at 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
“What makes an exciting championship? For me, you need odd races, not necessarily every single race, where there’s competition, and you can’t predict who’s going to win the race, and I think you will see that this season,” Vowles added.
“As long as, on average at most tracks, you have a fight between two gladiators properly duking it out, rather than what happened in Bahrain, where Verstappen was just cruising, then you’re not damaging the championship at all.
“If we have 20-odd races like that, clearly, it won’t help our championship, but I don’t think that’s what we’re going to have.”
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Ten things we learned at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
But, it was a somewhat different story from Bahrain, as – for the first time in their time as team-mate's – Perez took the top spot with Verstappen just one step down. That was in large part down to the Dutchman's qualifying driveshaft ...Keep reading
James Vowles dismisses Max Verstappen theory
New Williams team principal James Vowles has rejected any idea that 2023 is going to be a boring year for Formula 1, with Max Verstappen looking set to dominate once again.
After cruising to victory at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen has gone on to top all three practice sessions at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, suggesting that the reigning world champion could be in for another comfortable victory.
Verstappen dominating the championship, though, isn’t seen as a reason by Vowles for 2023 to be classed as boring, with the former Mercedes senior figure believing you only need some “odd races” to make a season “exciting”.
“What makes an exciting championship? For me, you need odd races, not necessarily every single race, where there’s competition, and you can’t predict who’s going to win the race, and I think you will see that this season,” Vowles said.
READ: Lewis Hamilton in shock at 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
“As long as, on average at most tracks, you have a fight between two gladiators properly duking it out, rather than what happened in Bahrain, where Verstappen was just cruising, then you’re not damaging the championship at all.
“If we have 20-odd races like that, clearly, it won’t help our championship, but I don’t think that’s what we’re going to have.”
Vowles, of course, has dealt with people labelling a season as boring before, with the Williams boss having been an integral part of Mercedes during their dominant spell.
Despite Mercedes having won eight consecutive constructors’ championships, Vowles doesn’t believe the Silver Arrows were always the best side, with the team principal having labelled 2018 and 2019 as a “scrap”.
“As much as everyone called it dominance, in 2019, we weren’t leading the championship, it was a scrap, the same in 2018,” Vowles said.
Aston Martin boss opens up on Fernando #Alonso ‘infecting’ the team https://t.co/1nbuGZ6i5A
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) March 18, 2023READ: Frederic Vasseur refuses to discuss ‘contract details’ amid Ferrari brain drain
“In 2016, we did our own really good job of basically trying to throw it away, so you always get stories throughout the season that create what you’re looking for.
“And I’m pretty sure that the scrap you’re going to see behind that is enough that it becomes unpredictable, and a story.
“I just think this year, the camera panning back a little bit to see who else is competing for the podium, you’ll still see some good racing through the field.”
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Verstappen: Saudi GP vibrations similar to Q2 driveshaft failure
Thanks to Red Bull's majestic pace and a well-timed safety car, the two-time world champion sliced through the field to take second behind team-mate Sergio Perez, who executed a perfect race to win from pole.
But the Dutchman survived another driveshaft scare in the second ...Keep reading
Max Verstappen admits he’s ‘not happy’ after 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The 2023 championships already look Red Bull’s to lose, with the power of the RB19 not being something that any other team on the grid can match.
Sergio Perez took pole position and cruised to victory after a brief battle with Fernando Alonso, despite a safety car triggered by Lance Stroll’s retirement threatening to hinder Perez’s race in Saudi Arabia once again.
A driveshaft issue in qualifying forced Max Verstappen to start the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in P15 and this allowed the Dutchman to show off the true capability of the RB19.
The 25-year-old had made it all the way up into the podium places by the halfway point in the race and went on to finish in P2, some way ahead of Fernando Alonso who finished third.
READ: George Russell to be stripped of podium as Aston Martin to undo Fernando Alonso penalty
Verstappen even managed to steal the fastest lap point off of Sergio Perez on the final lap of the race, despite his team telling him not to worry about doing so.
A second one-two finish in two races for Red Bull so far this season rounds off a phenomenal start to the season, but Verstappen is still not happy.
Speaking after the race, the Dutchman admitted that whilst the result was good for the team, his driveshaft issue in qualifying was simply unacceptable.
“I recovered to second which is good and in general the whole feeling in the team is happy,” he said.
“But personally I am not happy. I am not here to be second, especially when you are working very hard back at the factory to come here in a good state and making sure everything is spot on.
Sebastian #Vettel becomes lead investor in performance drink brand https://t.co/aGi0ryaCOK
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) March 20, 2023READ: Charles Leclerc fumes at engineer in Jeddah as his patience with Ferrari runs out
“When you are fighting for a championship and it looks like it is just between two cars you have to make sure the two cars are reliable. We have to do it better, absolutely – a cleaner weekend would be nice.”
Verstappen will head to the Australian Grand Prix a point ahead of his teammate after snatching the fastest lap, with the title battle seemingly only between the two Red Bull drivers.
Sergio Perez cannot be underestimated this year, which makes Verstappen’s reliability concerns understandable as he targets a third consecutive world championship.
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