Racing

Ferrari has announced another change in a senior position within the company with the arrival of Lorenzo Giorgetti as chief racing revenue officer. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Giorgetti will report to CEO Benedetto Vigna, and arrives at the team while continuing to be part of the Global Esports Federation’s board. Prior to that he was the chief commercial officer at Italian football club AC Milan and worked at the RCS Media Group leading the commercial management of its sports portfolio. He joins Ferrari seven years after the company was publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange. “With his experience and leadership, Ferrari will further develop long-term collaborations with our sponsors across all sport activities, including the emerging Esports world, and with our passionate global fan community,” said Vigna. Ferrari’s racing activities have also expanded for 2023, with the F1 and GT racing programmes now joined by an entry into the World … [Read more...] about Ferrari hires Esports expert as racing revenue officer · RaceFans

Two anticipated trends in 2023 Formula 1 car design were evident in the first new chassis presented for the upcoming season today. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free While Red Bull, Haas and Williams relied on models or old cars to reveal their new liveries over the past week, Alfa Romeo became the first team to show something approaching a genuine 2023 machine. Their video broadcast showed Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu revealing the car in a similar configuration to what they will run when testing begins in Bahrain in two weeks’ time. The team also issued images of its car in launch specification. One obvious change is the shift towards a darker livery, just as fellow Ferrari power unit customers Haas have done. Teams have been removing paint and exposing the carbon fibre beneath for years in an effort to save weight, but the introduction of new regulations last year prompted many to go a step further. It’s striking that Alfa Romeo, who began last … [Read more...] about The major change Alfa Romeo made after being “stuck in a corner” last year · RaceFans

Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu says he feels “more ready than ever” going into this year’s Formula 1 season after returning to his home country for the first time in two years. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The Chinese driver returned home in December to visit family and friends but also to conduct several sponsor and media engagements. Prior to that, the last time he had been in China was to be part of the presenting team for the F1 Esports series China Championship in Shanghai in January 2021. “We tried to switch fully off [over winter] because from my side, of course, was the two years haven’t been back [to China], and obviously family and friends,” Zhou said at the launch of Alfa Romeo’s 2023 F1 car. “So that was a very nice time spending there over the holidays, and I really feel more ready than ever because it was first great to catch up with all the people back home in China. “Coming back here, I feel like I was able to train harder, put even more … [Read more...] about F1: Zhou “more ready” after first trip home in two years · RaceFans

Two statistics lay bare the astonishing impact Covid-19 has had on Formula 1. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free First, since the pathogen intensified its spread across world in March almost half this season’s scheduled 22 races have been cancelled or (optimistically, in the view of some) postponed. Second, the obligatory annual team shutdown – usually a three-week break in summer – has now been in place for three times as long. Although speculative calendars are increasingly doing the rounds, these count for nought as long as authorities restrict the movement of people across the world. What use is a calendar which schedules races in countries which refuse to admit foreigners or make concessions for sport activities? The pandemic’s effect on the 10 teams has been disastrous . Most have furloughed staff, some are expected to be ‘retrenched’, ‘de-hired’ or similar, while a number of independent teams have availed themselves of advances on future F1 revenues … [Read more...] about Why the pandemic’s economic impact on F1 goes far beyond a disrupted calendar · RaceFans

After hiring former Pro Bowl linebacker and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as head coach last week, the Houston Texans have wasted no time pursuing potential coordinators. Some early candidates started to emerge shortly after Ryans was hired, with 49ers offensive passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik, Cincinnati Bengals receivers coach Troy Walters, New England Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley, New York Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel and San Francisco defensive pass game specialist and secondary coach Cory Undlin being linked to the job prior to last Thursday's introductory press conference. According to KPRC's Aaron Wilson , the Texans have recently requested permission to interview Washington Commanders secondary coach Chris Harris for their defensive coordinator position as well, in addition to Manuel. Ryans described the type of coaching staff is looking to build while speaking with the media last week, while not providing any … [Read more...] about Houston Texans coordinator search: Candidates to be next OC, DC

Listen to this article The #12 Verizon 5G Chevrolet was driven to championship glory by Power last year, the second time that he, Penske and Verizon have won the title together. The Verizon colors first adorned Power’s car in 2009 as he competed in select IndyCar races during his first season with Team Penske. The technology, communications, information and entertainment company then came onboard fulltime as Penske took on Power for the full 2010 season, and has remained the primary sponsor of Power throughout his 15-year career with the squad. “Verizon has been a great partner of Team Penske since our first season together in 2009,” said team owner Roger Penske. “With their commitment to cutting-edge technology and performance, Verizon has been an integral part of our success in IndyCar competition and the company continues to deliver for our team and for the IndyCar Series. We are excited to build on our success together for the future.” 37 of Power’s 41 IndyCar wins … [Read more...] about Verizon, Penske announce multi-year extension of partnership

Listen to this article Zhou says that he never felt more nervous than he did before his first grand prix start in Bahrain last year, a race in which he scored a point with 10th place. As the only newcomer on the 2022 grid, he went on to enjoy a solid season, despite being hit by reliability issues that cost him valuable points, and the team took up its option to keep him for this year. "For sure less," he said when asked if he felt pressure ahead of the 2023 season. "This year of course I need to perform, I need to make a good step up, and I need to do much better than last year. "Last year for me everything felt very new, and you don't know how you can do. "You can do as many simulator runs as you can but it's not the same on track, and also handling the pressures. Here with the team, more the outside world, for me last year was the pressure that I really need to let's say show my potential. "Which I was very happy that I was able to do. But coming to this … [Read more...] about Zhou: Less pressure this year after “nervous” start in 2022

Alfa Romeo have unveiled their new car for the 2023 season but former racer turned pundit Martin Brundle believes there is a problem with it. In a change from last season’s offering, Alfa went for a predominantly black car with a shade of the company’s red across the top. The new livery, which was unveiled at the team’s Switzerland base on Tuesday, received the approval of the fans but one expert believes there could be a problem when it takes to the track. Brundle has been a long-time pundit on Sky Sports F1 so knows what he is talking about when it comes to how cars will look both on the track and on people’s TVs, and believes the black plus the carbon finish will make it an issue. “Love the back of the rear wing,” Brundle tweeted. “This new low weight carbon finish is becoming very prevalent in F1, weight limit drops by 2kgs this year and most teams were struggling before. “But this car will be hard to see on TV or trackside on an overcast day.” PlanetF1 recommends … [Read more...] about Martin Brundle spots a problem with Alfa Romeo’s new C43 livery

Once again propping up the standings last season, Alex Albon admits Williams have “got a long road ahead” but believes they’re “definitely” in a better position now than they were 12 months ago. Last season the arrival of Formula 1’s all-new ground effect aerodynamic cars didn’t herald the recovery Williams had hoped, instead the team once again found themselves bottom of the log. Their fourth P10 in the past five seasons, Williams are a long way from their last spate of glory days in the 1990s when Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve were winning World titles. Such were their troubles last season, Albon speaking of “pretty obvious weaknesses” with the FW44, it’s hard to see Williams making significant progress this season. The driver, though, believes they are in a better position today than they were 12 months ago. PlanetF1 recommends F1 stats: Which drivers have scored the most points without winning a race? Gallery: All the angles as Williams unveil Gulf-inspired … [Read more...] about Alex Albon: Williams in a better position but there’s still a long road ahead