Even before a single lap has been run in the 2023 Formula 1 season, never mind a race result decided, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has twice been asked to pin his colours to the mast – Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz. He went with neither, adamant it’s too early to back one driver over the other. “But,” he wrapped up the first time around, “if at one stage we have to take action, I will take action.” The second time, he ended with “and if at one stage I have to take action for Carlos or for Charles, I will do it.” It’s an action that, should it come, will have long-term consequences. Team-mates at Ferrari for the first time in 2021 it was widely-speculated that Leclerc could have the measure of Sainz, but that wasn’t to be with the Spaniard winning the first round – although only by 5.5 points. However, that was a season in which Ferrari were still trying to get their horse (powers) into order in the wake of their 2019 engine scandal. Once they’d sorted that out, … [Read more...] about Ferrari need to pick Charles Leclerc as No.1 driver, or risk losing him to a rival team
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Fred Vasseur didn’t share his Ferrari plans with Audi until after he’d signed
Fred Vasseur did not speak with Audi before signing with Ferrari, but once he did, he was told “you couldn’t refuse an offer from Ferrari”. Within moments of Mattia Binotto handing in his resignation in November there were rumours claiming it was only a matter of time before Ferrari confirmed Vasseur as his replacement. But as the days dragged on it was suggested the hold-up related to the Frenchman needing to exit to his contract with the Sauber Group where he was team boss at Alfa Romeo. Once that was finalised, Ferrari confirmed the 54-year-old with Andreas Seidl taking up the reins at Sauber. Reins that will be rebranded to Audi come 2026. Vasseur played a role in the German carmaker’s decision to buy a stake in Sauber, the first of those transactions having gone ahead in January. And yet, he revealed, he didn’t speak with Audi before signing with Ferrari. PlanetF1 recommends ‘Charles Leclerc is Ferrari’s key man, like Max is in Red Bull and Hamilton was for … [Read more...] about Fred Vasseur didn’t share his Ferrari plans with Audi until after he’d signed
The F1 hopefuls who need big results in F2 this year · RaceFans
The 2023 Formula 2 field contains a wide array of experience. At one of the spectrum is Roy Nissany, who is entering his ninth year at this level, while nine others are new to the series. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free There’s one sixth-year driver who has actually only completed one full season, and even the third-year drivers are trying to prove they haven’t missed the F1 boat and can emulate last year’s champion Felipe Drugovich by using their experience to take the title. There’s a lot resting on the shoulders of several of this year’s competitors, but it’s an especially critical season for a handful of those seeking promotion to Formula 1 in 2024 . Theo Pourchaire The driver who needs a big season more than anyone else is actually the one who has already achieved the most in F2 from this year’s entry list. Theo Pourchaire went without a pole in 2022, but with three feature race wins he still did enough to be championship runner-up. However the … [Read more...] about The F1 hopefuls who need big results in F2 this year · RaceFans
Bizzarrini Giotto Debuts With Naturally Aspirated V12, Giugiaro Design
Bizzarrini was founded by former Ferrari and Alfa Romeo engineer Giotto Bizzarrini in the 1960s to build high-end, low-volume sports cars. Before going his own way, the talented man was directly involved in the development of iconic cars such as the 250 GTO and the 250 GT SWB "Breadvan." Not only that, he also worked on Lamborghini's first V12 engine through his engineering company Societa Autostar. He also worked for Iso Rivolta before founding Societa Prototipi Bizzarrini (Bizzarrini S.p.A) in 1964. Some 140 vehicles were assembled at a plant in Livorno before the company went bust in 1969. Fast forward to 2020, Pegasus Brands acquired the rights to the "Bizzarrini" name in a bid to revive the brand. The 5300GT was brought back to life as a continuation model for a limited production run of 24 units, and now, Bizzarrini is previewing an all-new car. Bizzarrini Giotto 7 Photos … [Read more...] about Bizzarrini Giotto Debuts With Naturally Aspirated V12, Giugiaro Design
LUMMA CLS 730 RS Released with G-POWER 730hp Bi-Supercharger System
A German tuning/design company has just released a new performance tuning package for the BMW M5 E60. Winterlingen-based Lumma Design has been working with the engineers at G-Power on an upgrade kit to the M-badged version of the 5-series. The result is a car that uses all 730 horsepower of a bi-compressor V10 to reach a maximum speed of over 367 km/h (228 mph). The 700 Nm of torque helps the car go 0-100 km/h time in 4.2 seconds, reaching 200 km/h in just ten seconds. 300 km/h is achieved in 29.5 seconds. The companies claim this is the "most powerful engine" ever seen on a "road-legal BMW." It is certainly a huge development over Lumma's CLR 500 RS released in 2007. That car saw a "paltry" 560 horsepower. Certainly, these figures require non-stock brakes. Lumma Design's own six-piston front, four-piston rear caliper brakes are used along with drilled 405mm discs. Ultralight, three-piece forged 10x21 and 12Jx21 wheels at the nose and tail look great on the 45mm … [Read more...] about LUMMA CLS 730 RS Released with G-POWER 730hp Bi-Supercharger System
Pedro de la Rosa tells Spanish F1 fans to stop living in the past and embrace ‘golden age’
Pedro de la Rosa has told Spanish F1 fans to stop living in the past and appreciate that they have two drivers on the F1 grid in Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. And while they aren’t winning World titles at the moment, there are still race wins and podium results. The last time Spain celebrated a World Champion was back in 2006 when Alonso won his second successive championship with Renault. He went onto record runner-up results in 2007 with McLaren and twice with Ferrari in 2010 and 2012 but wasn’t able to add a third title to his tally. This season Spain could be in the hunt but with a different driver, Sainz. Last year the 28-year-old clinched his maiden race win, P1 at the British Grand Prix, while overall he managed nine podium results. De la Rosa says Spanish fans should appreciate that they have two drivers rather than lament the 16-year draught for World Championship titles. PlanetF1 recommends ‘Charles Leclerc is Ferrari’s key man, like Max is in Red Bull … [Read more...] about Pedro de la Rosa tells Spanish F1 fans to stop living in the past and embrace ‘golden age’
Mercedes give fans rare insight into how F1 pedals and drinks system work
Mercedes have offered a unique demonstration of how the pedals and drinks systems work in a Formula 1 car. Over the course of a dramatic Formula 1 Grand Prix, it’s easy to forget that the modern-day gladiators piloting the Formula 1 cars are mere humans and, as a drawback of that, have human needs such as basic hydration. During a tough Grand Prix, particularly in the hot sweaty climes of the likes of Singapore, drivers can lose several kilos during the race – it’s critical that drivers are able to have as much fluid as they can drink during the ordeal. Kimi Raikkonen may have become a meme in the final years of his F1 career after suffering a few ‘drinks bottle’ failures, ie. “No, Kimi, you will not have the drink”, but it’s a potentially serious failure if a driver was to suffer from complete dehydration. Of course, the cars aren’t literally fitted with a drinks bottle, nor with refrigeration. The fluids are put into what is essentially a bag, with a tube linking the bag to … [Read more...] about Mercedes give fans rare insight into how F1 pedals and drinks system work
Haas are now starting to embrace American roots with Andretti-Cadillac bid developing
With a new American sponsor behind them, it seems Haas are finally embracing their American heritage. Although Haas have been established since 2014 and have always branded themselves as the ‘American team’ it is not until now that statement seems justified. Of course, their base is in North Carolina but with offices also in the UK and Maranello, it is understandable that some American fans have felt no great affinity towards their supposed team. Team boss Guenther Steiner has suggested moving the team away from their European bases and to America would actually set them back but there are other parts of their operation which suggest they are trying to appeal to their home country a bit more. For starters, out goes the Russian Urakali and in comes the American MoneyGram, a move that will have won them support in the US and it comes at a time when Formula 1 is exploding in the region including three races Stateside in 2023. Perhaps then it was once Andretti began threatening … [Read more...] about Haas are now starting to embrace American roots with Andretti-Cadillac bid developing
Prying eyes: Neighbors win privacy feud with UK Tate gallery
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 LONDON (AP) — The U.K. Supreme Court says people who live in glass houses have a right to privacy too. The court ruled Wednesday that a viewing platform at London’s Tate Modern art gallery made residents of glass-walled luxury apartments next door feel like animals in a zoo, and impeded “the ordinary use and enjoyment” of their homes. The justices overturned earlier lower court rulings that sided with Tate Modern in the long-running privacy battle between the gallery — one of London’s biggest tourist attractions — and residents of four apartments in the neighboring Neo Bankside complex. Justice George Leggatt said that the platform was visited by hundreds of thousands of people a year, who “frequently take photographs of the interiors of the flats and sometimes post them on social media." “It is not difficult to imagine how oppressive living in such circumstances … [Read more...] about Prying eyes: Neighbors win privacy feud with UK Tate gallery