Year: 2021

22 Apr 2021

Cost cap makes big F1 accidents “quite a concern”

This year, F1 introduced an annual $145million cost cap, followed by a further $5million year-on-year reduction in subsequent seasons. The cap meant F1’s largest teams have had to downsize to operate as close to the spending limit as possible, with little margin for unforeseen costs such as accident damage. When F1 teams agreed to trial… […]

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22 Apr 2021

Dovizioso’s Aprilia MotoGP bike feedback “similar” to Espargaro

Dovizioso, who is taking a sabbatical from racing in 2021 after losing his Ducati ride last season, spent three days riding the Aprilia at Jerez earlier this week. The 15-time MotoGP race winner worked primarily on getting used to the RS-GP having spent eight years riding the Ducati and didn’t give much away about the […]

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22 Apr 2021

Imola F1 car updates may be stronger at other circuits

Alpine looked to bounce back from a disappointing opening race of the year in Bahrain by debuting a number of car updates at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The team once again struggled to keep up with midfield leaders McLaren and Ferrari at Imola, with Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso only qualifying ninth and 15th, […]

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22 Apr 2021

“Not fair” Aprilia fast in MotoGP after Gresini death

Double 125cc world champion and veteran team boss Gresini passed away in February after a two-month battle with COVID-19. MotoGP has carried several tributes to the late Italian since, including a moment of silence ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, while Aprilia – whose factory entrant is run by Gresini Racing – carries its late […]

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22 Apr 2021

Red Bull breaks ground on ambitious F1 powertrain division

The team has broken ground on construction of a new facility that will become the centrepiece of its Red Bull Powertrains division. As the team prepares to take over the Honda engine project from next year, team boss and powertrain CEO Christian Horner has outlined its plans to ensure its reputation for engine development is […]

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22 Apr 2021

Miller “in the trenches” after poor MotoGP run

Miller came into the 2021 season pegged as a title favourite, but currently sits 47 points off the championship lead down in 12th having amassed just 14 points from the first three rounds. The Ducati rider crashed out of last weekend’s Portimao race in the early stages chasing down Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, having made a […]

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22 Apr 2021

Ricciardo had to “swallow pride” in Imola swap with Norris

Norris was the quicker of the two McLaren drivers over the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend but started behind Ricciardo after his best qualifying time was deleted for track limits. During the opening stages Ricciardo and Norris were running line astern in fifth and sixth when Norris informed his team over the radio that he […]

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22 Apr 2021

F1 and MotoGP to honour late Fausto Gresini on Sunday

Veteran MotoGP team boss Gresini sadly died in February following a two-month battle with COVID-19. The Italian – who was 125cc motorcycle grand prix world champion in 1985 and 1987 – was a highly respected figure in the world of motorsport, with MotoGP observing a moment of silence during the Qatar Grand Prix weekend in […]

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22 Apr 2021

How Mercedes has turned the corner on its knife-edge W12

It had to face up to the reality that new regulations had appeared to hamper the low rake runners more than their high rake counterparts. However, while fellow low rake runner Aston Martin has continued to struggle to maximise its package in response to this, Mercedes has made clear progress with its car. For although the W12 […]

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22 Apr 2021

MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix qualifying

Francesco Bagnaia ended Friday practice on top at Portimao for the factory Ducati squad to maintain a run of Ducati riders finishing on top of FP2, following the Qatar double-header. The Italian rider beat Doha GP winner Fabio Quartararo, who also saw his final lap cancelled for a yellow flag infringement. Defending MotoGP world champion […]

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