Ferrari

The drops of champagne had barely dried in Montreal before Red Bull’s attention turned firmly to the British Grand Prix. With six victories in succession, 2022 has rapidly become that sort of season for Red Bull and the races cannot come quickly enough as Max Verstappen continues to march towards a second consecutive World Championship. With memories of last year’s event – and the first-lap collision at Copse between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton – still fresh in the mind, though, it is clear Silverstone is not just another race in the minds of Red Bull. “We’re going there fired up and trying to put right what happened last year,” team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports underneath the podium in Canada. They may have elevated themselves to a whole new level in 2022, but Red Bull have never quite been able to let go of the bitterness and resentment that followed the sudden and violent ignition of the Verstappen-Hamilton rivalry a year ago. Their displeasure has … [Read more...] about Max and Red Bull will be out for revenge at Silverstone

Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley has said Charles Leclerc has the ability to raise the team in the same way Michael Schumacher did. Although he finds himself trailing both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in the Drivers’ Standings, little blame can be attributed to Leclerc himself. The Ferrari driver has taken a step up this season and had it not been for car issues as well as poor team strategy then he would no doubt be up there challenging Verstappen for the lead of the World Championship. Smedley, who spent 10 years at Ferrari most notably as Felipe Massa’s race engineer, has said he can see the same qualities in Leclerc as he did in Schumacher. “He, [Leclerc] Max and Lewis [Hamilton] are able to raise the level of the whole team, dragging others along and conveying a winning spirit,” the 48-year-old told Gazetta . “The same ability that Michael Schumacher had at Ferrari, when he was a catalyst, surrounded by [Jean] Todt, [Ross] Brawn and [Rory] Byrne. From … [Read more...] about Smedley: ‘Leclerc able to raise the team like Schumacher’

Kevin Magnussen admitted he thought his qualifying session was over when he spun into a gravel trap in Q3. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free But the Haas driver was able to re-join the action and went on to equal his best qualifying performance to date by taking fourth place. “I’m super pleased,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans after qualifying. “It’s another unbelievable result for us. “The car was just great, so fast and a joy to drive. So proud of the team.” Asked about the spin which nearly ended his session, Magnussen said: “I ran out of talent.” He spun backwards into a gravel trap at Acque Minerali, but managed to keep his car moving and eventually extracted himself from the run-off area. But Magnussen admitted he feared he would go no further as he spun off the track. “I touched the white line and then it was gone and I thought I was going to hit the wall,” he said. “Then I went into the gravel and slowed down quite a lot. I … [Read more...] about Magnussen relieved to take fourth after “lucky” gravel trap escape · RaceFans

Stefano Domenicali has rubbished Mark Webber’s suggestion that Max Verstappen is romping his way to an early title victory. Although the early season results went in Ferrari’s favour, once Red Bull had resolved their reliability issues, their package became the one to beat. Verstappen has won five of the last six races, seven in total, to race out to a 46-point over his team-mate Sergio Perez. Charles Leclerc is third, a further three points off the pace . The season is shaping up to be a very different one to last year when Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton fought for the World title through to the very last lap of the championship. Former Red Bull driver Webber reckons Verstappen will have this year’s title wrapped up sooner rather than later . “Red Bull have pretty much an answer for anything at the moment, Max could wrap it up with three races to go,” the Aussie said as per the Guardian. Domenicali doesn’t agree. The F1 boss told Standard Sport: “If you remember … [Read more...] about Domenicali rubbishes talk of an early win for Verstappen

Several of Lewis Hamilton’s rivals have spoken up in support of him on social media after one of his fellow Formula 1 champions referring to him using a racist expression. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Formula 1 and the FIA condemned the language used by Nelson Piquet to describe Hamilton in a recording made late last year which recently gained wider attention. Alpine driver Esteban Ocon said “enough is enough” and stressed racist language “has absolutely no part in our sport and our society.” Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said others should treat Hamilton in the same “extremely respectful” manner he adopts towards people. McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo praised Hamilton for “all the work he has done both on and off the track to not only spread messages of equality but combat that hate.” “Each time his response to the hate is motivated by maturity, positivity and educating the world on how we should act,” Ricciardo added. George Russell was the … [Read more...] about F1: Hamilton’s rivals speak out over Piquet’s racist comment · RaceFans

Listen to this article F1 2022 is the 13 th successive official game created by Codemasters’ Birmingham outpost. For the most part, you know what to expect – a driving video game with all the real world F1 stars, tracks and cars that is both authentic and accessible. Except, this time, it’s not called F1 2022, but EA SPORTS F1 22, and there is an electronic dance music soundtrack, Oakley sunglasses and Ferrari road cars. With the development studio purchased by Redwood City-based publishing giant Electronic Arts last year for $1.2 billion , this is the season where the change of ownership has clearly taken hold. The EA influence predominately takes the form of F1 Life. In essence, a swanky living area where you can alter the look of the wallpaper and furniture, before creating your own avatar with branded clothing – more of which can be purchased with in-game currency, either earned or purchased with real-world money. Oh joy. This forms the backdrop to the main … [Read more...] about F1 22 game review: A worthy upgrade, despite glamorisation

Twenty years ago today, in the middle of one of the most frantic final laps a Formula One race has ever seen, a cool-headed Michael Schumacher found the time to help out his little brother. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free He did it while winning the race for himself, inflicting another surprising defeat on Williams and Jacques Villeneuve . 1997 French Grand Prix qualifying Two weeks on from his humiliating defeat at home, Villeneuve arrived in France trailing Schumacher in the championship. But the home race for engine builder Renault, who had won the last two races on the French track, promised to be a strong venue for Williams. His weekend got off to a troubled start, however. Villeneuve crashed ahead of qualifying, meaning he had to begin the session in his spare car. He eventually switched to his regular race chassis but was held up by Mika Hakkinen spun at the Lycee chicane. “We just stuck it on the car and I honestly don’t know how much … [Read more...] about Inspired Schumacher takes ’11-point win’ at Magny-Cours · RaceFans

Sebastian Vettel has apologised for his collision with Lewis Hamilton in a statement issued on his website. The Ferrari driver also said he intends to apologise to Hamilton directly for the incident. “Concerning the incidents of Baku I’d like to explain myself,” Vettel wrote. “During the re-start lap, I got surprised by Lewis and ran into the back of his car. With hindsight, I don’t believe he had any bad intentions.” “In the heat of the action I then overreacted, and therefore I want to apologise to Lewis directly, as well as to all the people who were watching the race. I realise that I was not setting a good example.” “I had no intention at anytime to put Lewis in danger, but I understand that I caused a dangerous situation.” Vettel met with FIA president Jean Todt today in Paris. The sport’s governing body later confirmed he will receive no further sanction for the incident. “I would like to apologise to the FIA,” Vettel added. I accept and respect the decisions that … [Read more...] about Vettel issues formal apology for Baku clash with Hamilton · RaceFans

Lewis Hamilton is yet to respond officially on the FIA’s decision not to give Sebastian Vettel any further penalty for the collision between them in Azerbaijan. An Instagram user with the name Tillykeeper_zackfan posted the following , which was ‘liked’ by the three-times world champion: “Lost all respect for the FIA, Scuderia Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel after that ruling. The message this sends is that you can do whatever you want on track, smash into each other but if you suck up and just apologise and you get away with it! If that was Lewis, he’d get banned, fined and points deducted. FIA are a bias set of fools towards Ferrari, always have been and always will!” Vettel ran into the back of Hamilton’s car during a Safety Car period in Baku. He then pulled alongside Hamilton and swiped into the race-leading Mercedes. The Ferrari driver was given a ten-second stop-go penalty during the race last week. Following a meeting with FIA president Jean Todt yesterday he … [Read more...] about “Lost all respect for the FIA” – Hamilton endorses fan’s view on Vettel ruling · RaceFans