It is the second time this year that the Monegasque has tested positive, having also contracted the virus in January after coming into close contact with another case. According to a team statement posted on Twitter, Leclerc is suffering from mild symptoms but “feeling fine” and will self-isolate at home. The team tweeted: “Scuderia Ferrari […]
Year: 2021
Mercedes deserved “more reward” for 2021 season
In the wake of the Hamilton’s defeat to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi, the result of the FIA’s safety car restart call which allowed Verstappen to make a final lap pass in their winner-takes-all showdown for the drivers’ championship, the Mercedes driver and his boss declined to take part in the annual prize-giving event. Hamilton’s […]
Ricciardo “clearly” needs to make another step in F1 2022
The Australian struggled for most of this year to get on terms with team-mate Lando Norris, especially over one lap in qualifying, which in turn made his life harder in races. While his form improved and victory in the Italian Grand Prix was an obvious high, Ricciardo finished the season in eighth place on 115 […]
KTM’s MotoGP young rider approach “not correct” – Lecuona
Lecuona was drafted in to replace Brad Binder at Tech3 for 2020 when the South African was promoted to replace Johann Zarco at the factory KTM squad. But Lecuona – then 19 – had only made his circuit racing debut in 2015 after a formative career in supermotard, and by the start of the 2020 […]
Alonso set for surgery in January to remove plates from jaw
Ahead of his return to F1 with Alpine in 2021, Alonso was struck by a car while cycling in Switzerland, leaving him in need of surgery to repair a jaw fracture. Alonso was able to get on-track for pre-season testing with Alpine, but by his own admission took time to get up to speed with […]
The technology on show in Abu Dhabi F1 testing ahead of new-look 2022
Mercedes W10 brake detail 1/18 Photo by: Giorgio Piola A look inside the brake drum assembly of the 2019 Mercedes W10 that’s been repurposed for the test. The teams will be much more limited in the aerodynamic assistance that can be provided in 2022, with more of a brake cooling focus seen here. You’ll note […]
FIA launches probe into F1 Abu Dhabi safety car controversy
The decision by F1 race director Michael Masi to only allow select backmarkers to unlap themselves behind the safety car, and restart the race one lap before the sporting regulations dictate, has prompted a huge backlash from fans and media. While the FIA stewards rejected a protest from Mercedes that the sporting regulations had been […]
F1 agrees to ditch MGU-H as part of new engine rules
The complicated technology, which generates electrical power from exhaust heat, has proven to be expensive and complex since it formed part of the new turbo hybrid rules that were introduced in 2014. With F1 eager to attract new manufacturers from 2026, the presence of the MGU-H was viewed as a key part of the discussions. […]
O’Ward sees two-year window to make F1 switch happen
Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar driver O’Ward took part in the young driver test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday as a reward for scoring his first victory earlier this year, having made a bet with McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. O’Ward completed 92 laps in the McLaren MCL35M at the Yas Marina Circuit, and said afterwards […]
Shwartzman puts Haas on top as F1 post-season testing ends in Abu Dhabi
Ferrari junior Shwartzman was the only young driver taking part in Wednesday’s test running at the Yas Marina Circuit, with the remainder of the field using modified mule cars on the new 18-inch tyres for 2022. Teams were only allowed to field a young driver on one of the two days of testing, with all […]