Engine push start

The first dry qualifying session of 2014 saw Mercedes continue their monopoly on pole position this year – though this time it was Nico Rosberg , not Lewis Hamilton, on the top spot. But while a Mercedes front-row lockout was predicted by most, there were some interesting upsets and incidents throughout the rest of the field that could also be heard playing out over team radio. Romain Grosjean has often sounded unhappy on the team radio this year but for once his frustration wasn’t directed at his uncompetitive Lotus. Grosjean fumed at Adrian Sutil who got in his way during Q1, for which the stewards later penalised the Sauber driver . An unusual message from Valtteri Bottas pointed to a new kind of problem for drivers to cope with. It appears he was directed onto the weigh bridge between sessions and when a marshal turned his steering wheel to manoeuvre his car they accidentally changed some of his settings . Sebastian Vettel complained of gear change problems … [Read more...] about 2014 Bahrain GP qualifying team radio transcript · RaceFans

The only surprising thing about Mercedes’ sweep to a front-row lockout in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix was that it was their first of the season instead of their third. They won the first two races comfortably and seem to have a slightly larger performance advantage in Bahrain – perhaps because the circuit doesn’t play to the strengths of Red Bull, who until now have been their closest competitors. But while Bahrain’s switch to a night race may mean cooler temperatures for the grand prix, no team is exempt from the ever-present concerns about the reliability of these complicated new power units. Most drivers are using the same engine for the third race running this weekend. As they can only use five complete power units for the 19-race season, most of their engines will have to do four grand prix distances, and if they reach the chequered flag they will be well on the way to achieving that. It was at this stage of their engines’ lifespans during testing that the … [Read more...] about 2014 Bahrain GP pre-race analysis: Reliability may decide – F1 Fanatic

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 11 FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Union is taking another big step toward cutting its energy ties with Russia. The 27-nation bloc is banning Russian refined oil products like diesel fuel and joining the U.S. and other allies in imposing a price cap on sales to non-Western countries. Europe's ban takes effect Sunday following its embargo on coal and most oil from Russia. The move is meant to further slash reliance on Russian energy and payments into the Kremlin's war chest as the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine nears. The newest energy sanctions have risks: Diesel prices have already jumped since the war started on Feb. 24, and there's uncertainty about how the EU embargo and price cap by the Group of Seven major democracies will affect the market for a fuel crucial to the global economy. Most things people buy or eat … [Read more...] about How will EU ban and West’s price cap on Russian diesel work?

Listen to this article Like Pierre Gasly before him, Albon found life difficult as Max Verstappen's teammate, especially given the Dutchman's particular driving style which the team had developed the car around. While the Thai driver was retained by the Red Bull family as Sergio Perez came in to replace him, a season in the DTM only made him more determined to prove his worth. Albon admitted being nervous going into 2022, but off the back of solid performance on track and signing a new multi-year deal at Williams, those early nerves made way for a sense of calm. "I’d say there's a sense of calmness with everything," Albon told Motorsport.com in an exclusive interview. "I guess the last two years, one of those years being very stressful, and the other one being nervous, and I guess gearing up for the year I didn’t know what to expect. "I’ve signed a contract which is maybe one of the best feelings, long-term. It's a privilege in Formula 1, if I’m honest. I’m feeling very … [Read more...] about Analysis: How Albon made the most of his second F1 chance with Williams

On the back of Ferrari’s strongest Friday – and Red Bull’s weakest – for many months in Hungary, cynical observers questioned just how Ferrari would manage to end up being beaten to pole position on Saturday. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free As it turned out, those expectations were well founded. But it was not Max Verstappen who denied Carlos Sainz Jnr and Charles Leclerc pole position at the Hungaroring and nor was it Sergio Perez. It was not even the man with the most poles in the history of Formula 1 – Lewis Hamilton. Instead, Ferrari were stunned by George Russell , who delivered a fantastic final lap to deny Sainz and take a shock maiden pole position of his career, despite not setting a single fastest sector in the process. For Mercedes, it was a stunning turnaround from their poor Friday – and no one was more stunned than the team themselves. “It’s a total unknown,” Russell admitted. “We’ve turned the car upside down since yesterday.” … [Read more...] about Is Mercedes’ mystery “big step forward” enough for Russell to beat Ferrari? · RaceFans

The year 2026 will mark the start of a collaboration between Ford and Red Bull Powertrains, giving birth to Red Bull Ford. Starting this year, the companies are working together in designing a power unit that adheres to the new technical regulations set to take effect. The unit will consist of a 350-kilowatt electric motor and be capable of using eco-friendly fuels. Ford will lend its technical know-how in areas such as combustion engines, battery cells, electric motor tech, control software for the power unit, and analytics to aid Red Bull Powertrains in the development process. But the Red Bull Ford partnership doesn’t end there. Ford CEO Jim Farley told MotorTrend in an interview that the Blue Oral is also working on an electric vehicle with the 2022 F1 World Constructors' champion. Gallery: Red Bull Ford Powertrains 16 Photos When asked by MotorTrend … [Read more...] about Ford, Red Bull Working On A New EV That’s “Strategically Important”

Listen to this article The famous Ford team launched the latest version of its Shell V-Power livery using the #17 entry that will be raced by Will Davison this year. As expected there is little in the way of changes to the livery itself, the team sticking to a look similar to what it has been using since 2017. The only major change is the door sills and mirrors which are now yellow, having been red and white in 2022. The familiar look is now draped over the new Gen3 Mustang which DJR has had a significant hand in developing as the Ford homologation team. The team is set to start shaking down its new cars at Queensland Raceway tomorrow. “The car looks fantastic," said Davison. "It’s different – as soon as you see it, it looks tough, it looks fast, it looks slick! "With our cars built here we’ve been able to really refine the build and now it’s time for us to get in and get comfortable. "There’s a lot of new things ahead of us that we need to understand, but … [Read more...] about Covers come off DJR Gen3 Mustang

Mattel is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Matchbox brand by introducing a line of limited-edition die-cast vehicles that pay tribute to its heritage of producing highly detailed toy vehicles. The celebratory line will feature special platinum details and be available in seven different assortments, showcasing iconic vehicles from around the world over the past seven decades. The limited-edition toy vehicles will be available throughout the year and are the first of several celebrations that the brand has planned for 2023. "We are so excited to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Matchbox and the trusted legacy this brand has imprinted on kids and collectors all over the world," said Roberto Stanichi, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Vehicles at Mattel. "We look forward to continuing to redefine the die-cast category as we move towards a more sustainable future." In line with this, a portion of the 70th-anniversary collection is made from recycled zinc. It's also … [Read more...] about Matchbox Marks 70th Year With Toy Vehicles Made From Recycled Zinc

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton said that Formula 1 can be like the NFL with the amount of people who are changing teams. As all 10 teams go to battle on the track, there is an army of personnel at each team making that possible, and these days, the people have an even more important role to play. With a budget cap now active in Formula 1, it means that the talent level within the team’s personnel, rather than the size of their budget, is key. It is no surprise then that the teams are constantly battling to bring the best people onboard, and Hamilton says this leads to changing faces on a regular basis. Recently Red Bull brought in a chunk of staff from Mercedes for Red Bull Powertrains, while Aston Martin’s recruitment drive has seen them snatch several people from Red Bull, including their former head of aero Dan Fallows, who is now Aston Martin technical director. “In my team there are 2000 people,” Hamilton said in a UBS/Mercedes interview. “It is actually over 2000 … [Read more...] about Lewis Hamilton likens in-team ‘silly season’ to NFL player trading