Tag: F1

13 Jun 2022

No ‘holy cows’ on W13 F1 car as it ponders 2023 concept revamp

The Brackley-based squad endured another challenging weekend in Baku as both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell battled the excessive porpoising that has blighted it all season. While it remains hopeful it can unlock the inherent performance it believes its current W13 has to help it fight Red Bull and Ferrari, Wolff says that wider scale […]

Continue Reading
13 Jun 2022

Bottas suspects fundamental issue behind lack pace in Azerbaijan GP

Bottas endured a frustrating weekend in Baku after his pace completely vanished from Saturday onwards. In the race, he was a sitting duck, finishing a lapped 11th while team-mate Zhou Guanyu was on course for points until he retired with a technical issue. On Friday, Bottas finished one tenth ahead of Zhou in each practice […]

Continue Reading
13 Jun 2022

Unfair if FIA changes rules over F1 porpoising complaints

The return of ground effect with F1’s new generation of cars for 2022 has resulted in a porpoising phenomenon which has impacted some teams worse than others. The issue hit a new peak over the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend as drivers struggled with their cars bouncing along the street circuit surface, particularly at the end […]

Continue Reading
13 Jun 2022

South Africa in contention for 2023 F1 calendar slot

South Africa last hosted a grand prix at Kyalami back in 1993, which also staged the race between 1967 and 1985 before returning in 1992 following the end of apartheid. As part of F1’s push to race on all continents and fully embrace its world championship status, talks have been ongoing about a potential return […]

Continue Reading
13 Jun 2022

“Tough” to stay behind Ricciardo after McLaren Baku F1 orders

The two drivers started on different strategies, with Norris on the medium tyre, and Ricciardo behind him on the hard. Ricciardo had decent pace behind Norris in the first part of the race, and just prior to the latter’s pit stop he obeyed an instruction to wait behind when he had a chance to pass. […]

Continue Reading
13 Jun 2022

Wolff concerned Hamilton’s back pain could put him out of Canadian GP

Hamilton was seen hobbling away from his Mercedes after finishing fourth in the Azerbaijan GP on Sunday, with his back having taken a pounding from the excessive bouncing and bottoming out. Afterwards, the seven-time champion said he could not express how much pain he endured throughout the race, as he was forced to clench his […]

Continue Reading
12 Jun 2022

“Right call” not to fight Verstappen for Azerbaijan GP lead

The Mexican driver led the early laps in Baku after beating polesitter Charles Leclerc off the line, but struggled to match the race pace of Verstappen after the first virtual safety car periods. Perez suffered a similar dip in pace after a second virtual safety car period when Kevin Magnussen stopped on track for Haas, […]

Continue Reading
12 Jun 2022

Ferrari lacking answers over F1 Azerbaijan GP engine problems

Leclerc was leading the race he was forced to retire with an engine failure, just two races after a similar disappointment in Barcelona, while Sainz had reported a brake-by-wire failure after going down an escape road, with the team clarifying that it was a hydraulic issue. Haas driver Kevin Magnussen also retired with an engine […]

Continue Reading
12 Jun 2022

Hamilton ‘praying for end’ of Azerbaijan F1 GP with back pain in Mercedes

Mercedes’ problems with bouncing and porpoising re-emerged at the bumpy Baku street track this weekend, with both Hamilton and teammate George Russell complaining of back pain after practice and qualifying. The seven-time world champion complained of back pain over his team radio during the race, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff apologising to him for […]

Continue Reading
12 Jun 2022

Failed Hamilton experiments won’t force Mercedes F1 change of approach

For the third race running, Hamilton has ended up behind teammate George Russell on the grid as the pair continue trials of new developments that are not delivering the progress hoped for. But while those tests have especially hindered Hamilton in recent races, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insists the learnings for the team are far […]

Continue Reading