F1 engines

Former Force India and Red Bull Racing engineer Blake Hinsey has questioned Haas’ decision to bring in Nico Hulkenberg, calling it a “really weird appointment”. Haas announced on the eve of the 2022 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix they would not be renewing Mick Schumacher’s contract. Instead the team went with “solid, reliable racer” Hulkenberg. The German will partner Kevin Magnussen in an over-30 line-up, Hulkenberg at 35 years of age the third oldest driver on the grid. Although Hulkenberg hasn’t had a permanent race seat for three seasons, team boss Guenther Steiner firmly believes he’s the right man for the job, saying every team he has been with “always made a step forward” because he knows “exactly what needs to be done to make the team better”. But Hinsey, who worked with Hulkenberg at Force India, isn’t convinced. “I like Niko, because he was on the other car when I was at Force India,” he said as per GPFans . “He’s a good driver. “Is he going to be better … [Read more...] about Former F1 engineer questions Nico Hulkenberg’s ‘really weird appointment’ at Haas

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

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

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

Former Red Bull and Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat will make the switch to endurance racing in 2023, after landing a seat with Prema. Daniil Kvyat has landed his first full-time racing seat since the end of his Formula 1 career in 2020, with the Russian racer landing a seat with Italian team Prema for their LMP2 efforts in the World Endurance Championship. Kvyat lost his seat with AlphaTauri at the conclusion of the 2020 Formula 1 season, and switched to Alpine as a reserve driver for the 2021 season. The Russian driver was due to make the switch to the WEC in 2022, having signed a deal to race with Russian team G-Drive. But, following the commencement of economic and sporting sanctions on Russian competitors in the wake of Russia’s commencement of military action in neighbouring Ukraine, G-Drive withdrew from the championship. PlanetF1.com recommends George Russell and Lewis Hamilton kick off 2023 track action with tyre test Former F1 engineer questions Nico Hulkenberg’s … [Read more...] about Ex-Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat makes the switch to WEC after landing Prema seat

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

Mercedes’ new reserve driver Mick Schumacher will also be made available to their customer team Mclaren this year as part of a long-running arrangement between the two. Schumacher, the 2020 Formula 2 champion, raced in Formula 1 for Haas over the past two seasons and scored two times. He lost his drive at the end of 2022, as well as his place in the Ferrari Driver Academy, and was then signed by Mercedes. Mercedes’ previous reserve drivers have been shared with their engine customers – Aston Martin, McLaren and Williams – over the past few seasons, and last year Nyck de Vries was called up to race for Williams for a race as a result of this arrangement. “McLaren will be able to call on Mick as a reserve driver during the 2023 F1 season as part of our arrangement with Mercedes. Welcome to the family, Mick,” McLaren posted on social media. “Full circle. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella worked closely with Mick’s father, the legendary Michael Schumacher, as his performance … [Read more...] about Mick Schumacher to be reserve driver for McLaren too · RaceFans