F1 News
BEYOND THE GRID: Scott Speed on his journey to F1, his ‘absurd’ Red Bull contract, his Toro Rosso exit and crazy final race
How McLaren's F1 hopes rest on a "game of millimetres"
The first fruits of that labour appeared at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as McLaren introduced a revised floor that, if you looked closely, had some very alternative treatments around the edges.
The fact that the McLaren ...Keep reading
Upgrades delayed and relief for Gasly: The sporting implications of Imola’s cancellation | 2023 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Daniel Ricciardo handed boost as he targets 2024 F1 return
Daniel Ricciardo has been given an encouraging boost of support in his bid to return to the Formula 1 grid, as the Australian looks to find a way back into the driving seat.
Ricciardo was unceremoniously dropped by McLaren, with the Papaya outfit cutting his contract short after two disappointing seasons.
Having failed to find a new seat, Ricciardo returned to his old team Red Bull in the form of a reserve driver, tasked with media appearance and supporting the development of the RB19.
While a popular driver with fans and teams alike, Ricciardo has found it challenging to get back on the grid due to the limited number of options, especially as he wants to join a team that has a competitive chance.
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With Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes seemingly all content with their line-ups, it’s not clear where Ricciardo would be able to go next season.
Valtteri Bottas’ trainer Antti Vierula has revealed his thoughts on the Australian’s extended break, believing that the time away from the driving seat could be more beneficial for Ricciardo in the long run.
“There is an impact of having a long break, but it can have a positive impact if it’s not too long,” Vierula told Grosvenor Sport.
“If you sit out a season after racing for years, I don’t see too much impact, he’s been good straight away.
“There are not too many examples of comebacks, although Michael Schumacher did back in the day and I hope Daniel can find a seat too.
Felipe Massa makes huge claim about Max #Verstappen amid Red Bull penalty https://t.co/9TLJezuMIj
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 17, 2023READ: Lewis Hamilton’s ex-trainer lifts lid on working with him
“He’s young and talented, keeping himself busy, so I don’t see the issue. Maybe the first few days of testing will be difficult, but I think it would be fairly quick.”
Ricciardo’s best option of a return could come at Red Bull’s junior team, with the Australian having been floated as a potential replacement for Nyck de Vries should the Dutchman not improve swiftly.
Currently, de Vries is one of two drivers to be pointless after five rounds, having failed to match his teammates performance of two top ten finishes.
The post Daniel Ricciardo handed boost as he targets 2024 F1 return appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk.
Ferrari donate €1m to Emilia-Romagna flood rescue efforts | RaceFans Round-up
Brazilian driver comments on ‘bad guy’ Fernando Alonso
Reigning F2 Champion Felipe Drugovich has lifted the lid on his working relationship with two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso.
Drugovich joined the AMF1 Driver Development Programme two days after winning the F2 champion, stepping into the driver’s seat at Aston Martin during pre-season testing after Lance Stroll suffered an injury.
The F2 title-holder and the Spaniard were both fresh faces at Aston Martin this season, with Alonso having joined the team from Alpine.
Alonso has built up a reputation as the “bad guy” of Formula 1, something he has embraced in recent years, even joking about being seen as the villain during the latest series of Drive to Survive.
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“He’s a really cool guy,” Drugovich said.
“I really like him. He’s a great character and amazing.
“I just have such big respect for him, even more now. I see how hard he works even at 41 years old and pushing like he’s just 20 years old. So it’s impressive to see that.
“People talk about him being the bad guy and stuff like that but he’s really cool guy and is really nice with me.”
Alonso’s addition to Aston Martin has powered the team up the grid, seeing them rise to P2 in the Constructors’ Standings thanks to his four podium finishes in five races.
George Russell reacts to Emilia Romagna Grand Prix being cancelled https://t.co/LeDqqB6e2W
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 17, 2023READ: ‘They owe us money’: Russia demands compensation from Formula 1
The Spaniard has shown he still has the skill that saw him win two world championships, with Alonso confident that he still has the chance to fight for a third title.
While younger, Drugovich also brings a championship-winning mindset to the team, having won the 2018 Euroformula Open title, Spanish Formula 3 Championship, 2022 Formula 2 championship and more.
“The more you keep going, the more you winning and and doing well, I think that intention of being a racing driver just grows and grows,” Drugovich said.
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Max Verstappen breaks silence on Ferrari poaching strategy
Max Verstappen has revealed that he is “very happy” Adrian Newey has agreed to extend his contract with Red Bull beyond the current season, as the technical chief’s design has powered the team to success.
The RB19 has been head and shoulders above the rest in 2023, as it has delivered every race win of the season so far for the title-leaders.
Red Bull has looked untouchable, building up a lead of more than double the points of their nearest rivals Aston Martin.
Horner poached Newey to Red Bull shortly after the team joined the grid, with the technical chief making the jump from McLaren to the team in 2006.
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Newey helped transform Red Bull into championship material, handing them four consecutive Constructors’ titles from 2010-2013.
While Newey took some time away from F1, his return to the sport saw Red Bull scoop the 2022 title under the new era of regulations.
Newey’s specialism when it comes to ground effect aerodynamics has helped the Red Bull car shoot to five consecutive Grand Prix victories this year – the best start in the team’s history.
Despite being happy to see Newey remain at the team, Verstappen was frank that it will not impact any decision he makes over his future.
Former #Mercedes engineer reveals ‘touching’ Lewis Hamilton moment https://t.co/wvvH9Bbhvd
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 18, 2023READ: Lando Norris and George Russell trade blows online
“Well, nothing will influence anything to ‘28 because I have a contract so but yeah, I’m very happy of course, that Adrian stays, but that goes for everyone in the team, right?” Verstappen said.
“I mean, when you’re doing really well, you want to try and keep that whole group together. And that’s of course also the target for the team for the future,” he added.
With Verstappen on course for a third consecutive Drivers’ title and Red Bull firmly on their way to a second consecutive Constructors’ championship, it’s unlikely the Dutchman will not step away anytime soon.
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Forbes reveal how many millions Max Verstappen has earned
Being the most dominant driver in Formula 1 currently has come with a very nice perk for reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, who was announced as the third highest paid athlete aged 25 and under.
It was revealed by Forbes that the Red Bull driver made $64 million from May 1 2022 to May 1 2023, with $60 million of his recent earnings having come from racing.
$4 million of his earnings from the past year consists of off-track income like sponsorship deals, whilst the rest is made up from his Red Bull salary, bonuses and prize money.
It’s certainly been a successful 12 months for the 25-year-old, who claimed his second consecutive Drivers’ Championship at the end of 2022.
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As well as that, he’s won 15 races within the mentioned dates, putting him comfortably clear of his competitors.
His earnings weren’t enough, though, to pip PSG footballer Kylian Mbappe or NFL star Kyler Murray.
After earning $70 million within the timeframe, Murray claimed second on Forbes’ list, whilst Mbappe claimed the number one spot by some margin.
The Frenchman earned around $120 million from May 1 2022 to May 1 2023, almost double what Verstappen earned in the same time period.
It’s likely not something which will particularly bother Verstappen, with $64 million certainly still being a staggering number.
He’s actually the highest-paid F1 driver as things stand; however, there are suggestions that seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton could eclipse his salary once he signs a contract extension with Mercedes.
Verstappen’s current contract with Red Bull isn’t set to expire until the end of 2028, meaning he’ll likely be earning over $60 million a year until his deal reaches its end.
Ralf #Schumacher delivers massive blow to Sergio #Perez https://t.co/TojwqJX4gb
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 18, 2023READ: Former Mercedes engineer reveals ‘touching’ Lewis Hamilton moment
As things stand, 2023 is set to be another profitable year for Verstappen, with the two-time World Champion sitting at the top of the Drivers’ Championship once again.
He leads the standings by 14 points following the opening five races of the season, with him having finished no lower than second.
Verstappen has won three times and finished second twice to far this year, ahead of next weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
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Rumours swirl over Lewis Hamilton’s love life
Lewis Hamilton has been linked to pop star Shakira, as rumours swirl over a new reported relationship in the Formula 1 paddock.
Hamilton is no stranger to famous faces, having been seen in public in recent weeks alongside a series of A-list stars, including Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio at an LA Lakers game.
According to reports though, Hamilton’s connection to Shakira goes beyond friendship, with suggestion that the pair are in a relationship.
Hamilton has been discreet in the past about his love life, choosing to keep that side of his life private and separate from his work in motorsports.
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TMZ Sports claimed that Hamilton and Shakira were seen partying on a boat after the Miami Grand Prix, stating that this isn’t the only time the pair have been seen together recently.
The duo apparently met at a restaurant in Miami, with Shakira visiting Hamilton at his Florida home after the race.
French outlet Gentsu fuelled the rumours with reports that Shakira had been picked up from her Miami home by Hamilton personally.
‘Calm down’: #AstonMartin boss hits out at rival team principals https://t.co/EqU3CnBMds
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 17, 2023READ: ‘They owe us money’: Russia demands compensation from Formula 1
Shakira’s current relationship status has not been confirmed by the singer but she recently splity from her partner Gerard Pique, a well-known footballer.
The allegations about Hamilton and Shakira comes weeks after speculation was rife that Fernando Alonso and Taylor Swift were in a relationship.
Despite the paddock and even Alonso himself enjoying the humour of the rumours, it appears that the Spaniard and pop star weren’t romantically involved, as Swift has now been linked to the frontman of The 1975 Matty Healy.
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Ex-F1 champion criticises Fernando Alonso’s behaviour
1996 Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill is hopeful that Fernando Alonso has become a “changed man” following his switch to Aston Martin, with the two-time World Champion having “lost a lot of friends” at his previous teams.
Alonso has certainly taken an incredibly positive mindset to Aston Martin following his switch from Alpine, a side he often criticised publicly once his move to the Silverstone-based team was announced.
The Spaniard has constantly praised Aston Martin’s work ethic and determination since the start of the season, with it almost appearing to be a match made in heaven.
As things stand, his positive and bubbly approach to the team is working a treat, with Alonso having claimed four podiums from the opening five races.
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He’s taken Aston Martin towards the front of the field, with the former midfield-team having been second in the pecking order for the vast majority of the year so far.
Aston Martin have comfortably beaten Ferrari and Mercedes so far this season, resulting in them being second in the Constructors’ Championship.
Alonso’s positive energy was very much on show during the Miami Grand Prix, where he praised team-mate Lance Stroll over the radio after seeing the Canadian pull-off a strong overtake.
Alonso was able to watch the overtake on TV, with him having been running in a lonely third.
His behaviour is certainly the complete opposite of what it was like at McLaren and at Alpine, where he was often quick to criticise his team.
Alonso famously labelled Honda’s power unit as like a “GP2 engine” whilst racing for McLaren, with the 41-year-old having also caused issues at Ferrari.
As a result, Hill revealed that Alonso “lost a lot of friends”.
“He overplayed his hand at McLaren, and then he did something similar at Ferrari. He insulted Honda because he called it a GP2 engine, he lost a lot of friends,” said Hill on the F1Nation podcast.
He certainly hasn’t lost any friends yet this season, with him presumably gaining them with his positive approach.
Ralf #Schumacher delivers massive blow to Sergio #Perez https://t.co/TojwqJX4gb
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 18, 2023READ: Former Mercedes engineer reveals ‘touching’ Lewis Hamilton moment
Hill believes Alonso has perhaps “matured” since making the move to the British team, or he’s just making sure to behave appropriately.
“He’s on his best behaviour, or maybe he’s a changed man,” added Hill.
“I like to think it’s the latter, I think he has changed, matured and became a massive asset to the sport.”
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Larson wants to “feel I’m prepared enough to win” in 2024 Indy 500 debut with McLaren | IndyCar
Lance Stroll opens up on Fernando Alonso relationship
Lance Stroll has revealed that he used to be a “fanboy” of two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso when he was growing up, with the Canadian having first met his Aston Martin team-mate when he was 12 years old.
Stroll became a huge fan of the Spaniard’s when he claimed back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, after he defeated seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher.
Fast forward to 2023 and the duo are now team-mates, with Alonso having been signed by Stroll’s father to replace four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel.
Their partnership has certainly started exceptionally well, with the Silverstone-based team being second in the Constructors’ Championship.
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Alonso’s four podiums from the opening five races has catapulted the British side to the front of the field, with only Red Bull behind ahead of them.
Aston Martin have consistently beaten Mercedes and Ferrari so far this year, with Alonso’s arrival and strong performances having created a “great dynamic” amongst the team.
“I wouldn’t say we had a relationship back when I was 12,” Stroll told the official F1 website.
“I was just a fanboy. But yeah, there’s a great dynamic in the team at the moment.”
Whilst Stroll hasn’t been able to match Alonso’s impeccable performances, the Canadian has been heavily praised by the former Alpine driver, who views the 24-year-old as a star of the future.
Alonso has often spoken highly about Stroll over the team radio and to the media this season, most recently during the Miami Grand Prix.
Alonso congratulated Stroll on an excellent overtake mid-race, having seen his team-mate make the move whilst driving past a TV screen.
Max #Verstappen’s secret to success revealed https://t.co/evJcI2MUNA
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 18, 2023READ: Former Mercedes engineer reveals ‘touching’ Lewis Hamilton moment
Stroll is certainly enjoying working the Alonso, with the Canadian admitting that he has a “lot of respect” for how determined Alonso still is, despite having raced in F1 for over 20 years.
“I definitely enjoy working alongside him,” Stroll continued. “He’s incredibly talented, knowledgeable, experienced, and hungry to get the most out of himself every day. I have a huge amount of respect for him, because he’s been doing that for a long time.
“He’s been at the top of his game for… how many years has he been in F1 now? Like, I don’t know, more than 20 years? So, I think just to see that determination and focus and motivation every day, I have a lot of respect for that.”
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Lewis Hamilton takes aim at FIA as he refuses to accept responsibility
Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he does “understand” why fans are labelling this season’s races as “boring”, with the Briton seemingly taking aim at the FIA’s regulations for allowing Red Bull to build such a large advantage.
Red Bull have enjoyed a sensational start to the 2023 Formula 1 season, with the Austrians having won every race so far this year.
If that wasn’t enough, they’ve also claimed four 1-2 finishes, something which has seen them build a 122-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship already.
The Milton Keynes-based team have been remarkable since the start of the new aerodynamic regulations, to the extent where they’ve won 22 of the 27 completed races since the start of 2022.
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Ferrari have claimed four wins since the start of 2022 whereas Mercedes have been victorious just the once, highlighting the Austrians superiority.
Hamilton seemingly believes the regulations are to blame for Red Bull’s dominance, with the 38-year-old having admitted that changing the regulations “never seems to work” when it comes to making the grid closer.
“I’m challenged every single day to get back to the front, so it’s definitely not boring from my perspective,” said Hamilton.
“But as a racing fan watching, I can understand because there’s not as much competition as there perhaps is in the NFL or the NBA at the moment.
“That’s not my doing. As a sport they have already tried to bring the teams closer but it never seems to work. All I can say is that we’re working as hard as we can to close up and get back and give them more of a fight.”
Max #Verstappen’s secret to success revealed https://t.co/evJcI2MUNA
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 18, 2023READ: Former Mercedes engineer reveals ‘touching’ Lewis Hamilton moment
Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell shares a similar view, with the 25-year-old noting that the fight for third is more exciting than watching who’ll win the race, given that it’ll most likely be Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez.
“The competition we’ve got at the moment between Ferrari and Aston Martin, at every race we go to it’s really close between us in qualifying, the pace is really close in the race,” said Russell.
“It’s obviously just a shame that there’s two more cars well out in front. So forget about those two and just watch the race for P3. It may be a bit more exciting.”
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Christian Horner reveals Red Bull’s ‘get out of jail’ card with Netflix
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has opened up about the agreement the team has with the producers of the popular series ‘Drive to Survive,’ as drivers claim the show is changing the sport.
Horner revealed that, to allow the series access to the paddock while protecting drivers and personnel behind the scenes, teams can veto any content that they don’t want aired.
Calling it a “get out of jail free card”, Horner explained how things that can be blocked include team members swearing and intimate details of the car being revealed.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with the Financial Times, Horner stated that: “What you’ve got to remember is that it’s a TV show. They capture hours and hours of content. The problem is they put a microphone on you at the beginning of the day and you forget that they’re there.
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“Then you get to the end of the season and they tend to send you the clips of just you and your team.
“You think ‘Did I really say that? Did I really call someone a ‘See You Next Tuesday’?’ We can say ‘you can’t put that in there, there’s a part of the car you can’t show’. That’s the only get out of jail card we have.”
Verstappen didn’t feature in several series of the show over his irritation about the way they overhyped the drama, returning this year as the reigning Drivers’ champion.
Max #Verstappen’s secret to success revealed https://t.co/evJcI2MUNA
— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) May 18, 2023READ: ‘Calm down’: Aston Martin boss hits out at rival team principals
The insight into the popular series comes as Red Bull dominates the sport in a way that it has never done before, having adapted perfectly to the new era of regulations.
Red Bull currently holds a 100% win record this year, with Max Verstappen having taken three victories, while Sergio Perez has secured the other two.
With five rounds under their belt, Red Bull has a lead of 122 points over nearest rivals Aston Martin, making them the clear favourites to retain the Constructors’ title.
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Brown says F1 cost cap impeding sustainability progress
These include a 22% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from a 2019 baseline and a 19% reduction in total waste compared to 2019 with nothing sent to landfill.
F1 has made a significant sustainability push in recent years, with the sport publicly targeting to be net zero carbon ...Keep reading
Ferrari donates €1 million to Emilia Romagna flood relief fund
This decision, made following discussions on Wednesday morning, was based on the safety concerns for the race and the extra strain it would place on the emergency services.
Essential ...Keep reading
Mercedes sticks to F1 upgrade plan for Monaco GP
However, the extreme weather situation that prompted the calling off of the Imola event meant the opportunity for a first run on a more traditional track has now been lost.
Imola’s cancellation could have prompted a major rethink about Mercedes’ ...Keep reading
Imola circuit to refund ticket holders for cancelled grand prix | 2023 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Imola F1 ticket holders to receive full refund for cancelled race
After crisis talks on Wednesday between F1, FIA and the local organisers and authorities, the decision was made to call off this weekend's event, so all focus could go to emergency relief for the local population.
Questions were soon raised over whether ticket holders ...Keep reading