Fernando alonso

Team boss Otmar Szafnauer has “absolutely no worries” about Fernando Alonso mentally checking out of Alpine before the end of the season. Alonso shocked many in the paddock when he announced, as he headed off for his summer break, he would be leaving the team to take Sebastian Vettel’s vacant seat at Aston Martin. His decision surprised Alpine too as the team thought they had been closing in on a one-year extension with the double former World Champion, Szafnauer previously revealing he had no warning. But despite the untimely announcement, at least on Alpine’s part, the team are confident Alonso will be fully committed through to his very last lap as an Alpine driver. “I have absolutely no worries about the rest of the season,” Szafnauer said, quoted by Autosport. “Our goals are pretty clear. We want to finish at least fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. I think third is a step too far. “ Fernando realises that too. He’s a professional. He’s a … [Read more...] about Otmar Szafnauer has ‘absolutely no worries’ about Fernando Alonso’s focus

There’s always talk of which Formula 1 junior driver will be next in line for a promotion at their respective team, whether that be to a test, reverse or race driver role. And there is also plenty of attention drawn whenever juniors are dropped or part ways from their backers too. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Junior drivers don’t have to be realistic contenders for future F1 seats, they’re another tool in the marketing arsenal more than anything else (see Ferrari’s F1 struggles while their juniors swept everything before them). It’s only once you get to the highest level of junior single-seater racing when the expectation emerges to reward strong performances on track with F1 opportunities. Alpine have struggled in that regard with reigning Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri. His private F1 test programme initially happened only because a fellow junior driver’s finances enabled it, then his free practice debut was held back for so long that he’s now on his … [Read more...] about Academy outsiders – the best young drivers who lack F1 team backing · RaceFans

It’s day two of this year’s first pre-season test. I’m in McLaren’s hospitality suite, awaiting McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. He hadn’t planned on granting one-on-one interviews, but made an exception to discuss the team’s rebuilding programme with RaceFans. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free McLaren had clearly learned from last year: having ditched Honda in favour of Renault, the team was bullish about 2018. But, as the record shows, in terms of hard results 2018 was little better than the year before. So I wonder how Zak will play it. How does he plan to push the team forward to the stated objective of race and championship-winning form without raising expectations uncomfortably high? “Our expectations are the same as everyone’s expectations of McLaren expectations,” Zak says without hesitation. On first hearing it sounds like gobbledygook from the American sponsor guru turned team boss. But his statement adds up: there are expectations, and not only … [Read more...] about “We needed to reboot”: McLaren F1 CEO Zak Brown talks to RaceFans

With Ferrari and Mercedes unwilling to give Netflix behind-the-scenes access to the championship battle, the programme makers had to look elsewhere for rivalries. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free In episode two they focused on F1’s two Spanish drivers in the 2018 season, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jnr. It makes for a study in contrasts, and the story of Sainz arriving in F1 in time to race against his childhood hero writes itself. Even so, you get the sense the pair don’t quite fit the bill of rivals in the way the authors hoped they might. “I really want payback” remarks Sainz in a voiceover following some confusingly-assembled footage of the Chinese grand Prix. Payback for what? It’s never made clear. As with Daniel Ricciardo in episode one , we follow Sainz to his home town and get some fascinating glimpses of his life with his double world rally champion father. Alonso and McLaren are introduced as former champions struggling to recapture … [Read more...] about F1 Netflix review: “Drive to Survive Episode 2: King of Spain” – RaceFans