A first trial of an idea at Silverstone in July did not yield the results hoped for, with the wheel-fairings used only reducing the spray thrown up by a small amount. F1 chiefs know that a much bigger step is required if they are to limit spray enough to help cars race more in rainy […]
Month: September 2023
Why Sauber was F1’s “best deal” for Alfa Romeo
The Italian GP was the last home race for the Milanese marque as its six-year relationship with Sauber approaches its conclusion. The occasion was celebrated with a special livery featuring the Italian flag, while Alfa also used the weekend to unveil the new 33 Stradale, a model that reflects the sporty image that its involvement […]
MotoGP’s lack of spectacle under fire again after “no show” Misano round
Last weekend’s Misano round featured the exact same top four in both the sprint and the grand prix, with Jorge Martin leading Marco Bezzecchi, Francesco Bagnaia and wildcard Dani Pedrosa. Across both races, there was one overtake between the top three, when VR46’s Bezzecchi passed Bagnaia for second – though his move in the sprint […]
Why rivals don’t want BOP tweaks to help stop Red Bull F1 dominance
Construction work around the final sector of the Marina Bay city circuit means four of the characteristic 90-degree turns have been ditched. The replacement, a longer back straight, will ease the strain on the rear tyres. That could leave the door open for Ferrari in qualifying. The anticipated limited effectiveness of DRS will then slow […]
Mir not ruling out racing Honda’s 2024 MotoGP bike this season
Monday’s post-race test at Misano was seen as a critical moment for Honda in its hopes of convincing eight-time world champion Marc Marquez to honour his contract for 2024. But after the initial test of the first 2024 RC213V prototype, which focused largely on a new chassis, Marquez admitted Honda was “still far” from where […]
Why Williams F1 team believes it’s no longer a “one-trick pony”
If as team principal James Vowles suggests the FW45 is no longer a “one-trick pony” and can be a points challenger at tracks that are not dominated by long straights, then it’s certainly a strong possibility. Williams currently has 21 points, ahead of Haas on 11, Alfa Romeo on 10, and AlphaTauri on three. A […]
Singapore F1 track changes set to help brakes and tyres
Due to construction work, the sequence of four near 90-degree corners towards the end of the lap which led the track under a grandstand has been removed for this year’s race. In its place is a new, longer straight section that leads from the gentle left-hander at Turn 15 to the tight right-hander at what […]
Aston Martin promises that 2024 F1 car will have more efficient aero
The Silverstone-based team concedes that this year’s car has been weak in that area, which is why it endured such a difficult weekend at Monza. Fernando Alonso had his least competitive showing of the season at the Italian Grand Prix, struggling to finish ninth, while Lance Stroll was out of the points in 16th. Alonso […]
Williams “gone” for P7 unless Haas F1 finds some “magic”
Haas has yet to get on top of its 2023 car’s severe tyre woes, which have left the American-owned team unable to replicate its often-reasonable qualifying pace over a whole race stint. The Ferrari customer squad particularly struggles on hot and twisty circuits where Pirelli’s tyres are tested the most, with its disastrous performance in […]
Marketing aspects main hold up in Hamilton deal, say Mercedes
The German manufacturer and the seven-time world champion ended months of speculation ahead of the Italian Grand Prix when they announced that they were extending their commitment to each other until at least the end of 2025. There had been some hope of getting the new deal sorted out earlier in the year, but the […]