Ferrari 2017 f1

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

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 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

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’

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 only existing Formula 1 car used by an American driver to win the world championship will be put up for auction at the end of the current season. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Mario Andretti’s Lotus 79 chassis number four will be auctioned by Bonhams at this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The auction house estimates it will sell for between $6.5-9.5 million (£5.25-£7.68m). The 79 chassis was tremendously successful, with all bar one of its six wins coming courtesy of Andretti. However his team mate for much of the 1978 season, Ronnie Peterson, who scored the car’s other win, died after crashing at the start of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Andretti clinched the championship at the same race with two rounds remaining of the season. That marked the last title win for a Lotus driver in F1 and also the team’s seventh and final constructors’ championship title. Lotus made great advances with ground effect aerodynamics with the 79 which made the car … [Read more...] about Andretti’s title-winning Lotus F1 car tipped to fetch up to $9.5 million at auction · RaceFans

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur believes the current furore surrounding FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem will soon fade away. The FIA President has found himself at the centre of a media storm in recent weeks, due to a series of incidents that have attracted the ire of Formula 1. The most egregious incident occurred when Ben Sulayem took to Twitter to offer his thoughts on the report from US publication Bloomberg that Liberty Media had turned down a $20 billion bid from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to purchase the sport. “As the custodians of motorsport, the FIA, as a non-profit organisation, is cautious about alleged inflated price tags of $20bn being put on F1,” Ben Sulayem tweeted. “Any potential buyer is advised to apply common sense, consider the greater good of the sport and come with a clear, sustainable plan – not just a lot of money. “It is our duty to consider what the future impact will be for promoters in terms of increased hosting fees and other … [Read more...] about Fred Vasseur predicts Mohammed Ben Sulayem storm will ‘disappear’ when F1 returns

In the round-up: Mercedes executive director Toto Wolff says Nico Rosberg had so much difficulty getting his tyres to ‘switch on’ it was as if his car was damaged. Motorsport Extra episode two Episode two of Motorsport Extra was recorded yesterday with myself and Ben Evans. Get it as soon as it becomes available by subscribing to any of these: Subscribe to the Motorsport Extra podcast Subscribe to the Motorsport Extra podcast on iTunes Subscribe to F1 Fanatic on YouTube Links Your daily digest of F1 news, views, features and more from hundreds of sites across the web: Moving aside tough pill to swallow for Rosberg - Toto Wolff Q&A (F1) "Nico's car was almost like a damaged car – and that is why we took that decision. It was not an easy thing to do, but it was clear that here was a problem on the car." Hamilton thanks Rosberg, reveals Massenet pass plan (Crash) "With Hamilton revealing a 'rule' in Mercedes that stipulates the faster driver be … [Read more...] about F1 Fanatic round-up: Rosberg’s car ‘like it was damaged’ – Wolff

Was Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix a top-drawer cracker or one to forget? The race received an underwhelming average score of 6.5 out of ten from F1 Fanatic readers, who gave very mixed verdicts on the contest: Loved this race. A real cracker. Best race of the season for me by far. The contest was close, tighter than we’ve seen in a long time. Sure there wasn’t as much ‘action’ but those who are disappointed with such a contest where the drivers are challenged, and cracks are shown, I don’t think should be watching F1. An F1 race should not about ‘overtakes per race’ or any other such silliness. The closeness of the contest between the teams, and the drivers, is what makes F1 for me. And this race had that essence of the competition in spades. Tristan It was a good race and it had its moments but it wasn’t a classic, if a race like this had happened at a circuit where I had low or no expectations before the grand prix I probably would have enjoyed it more as there would … [Read more...] about F1 underwhelms at popular Montreal · RaceFans