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Lewis Hamilton admits there are times where he does not want to climb into the cockpit, but his intra-team battles with Mercedes team-mate George Russell provides that shot of motivation. The union of Hamilton and Russell is now into its second season, Russell having been brought in for the start of F1 2022 to replace Valtteri Bottas as Hamilton’s team-mate. And while a pairing which is yet to produce any major flashpoints, the tensions are starting to heat up somewhat. Lewis Hamilton has days where does not want to compete Speculation over Hamilton’s Formula 1 career has rumbled on for several years between contract extensions, though his latest has put such talk to bed for now with the seven-time World Champion signed up at Mercedes until the end of F1 2025. Now at the age of 38, it is safe to say Hamilton did not always expect to still be a Formula 1 driver as he closed in on 40 years of age, though he admitted that he “underestimated” his love for the sport. That being … [Read more...] about Lewis Hamilton reveals George Russell role in his F1 ‘love-hate story’

It is Qatar race week everyone! And we kick things off with another busy day full of talking points from the world of Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton admitted that his relationship with Formula 1 is “love-hate” these days, though battling team-mate George Russell plays a positive role, while Hamilton also offered insight as to why “casual” Ferrari talks have never resulted in a signed deal. All this and much more, so let us dive into the action… Andretti F1 application approved by the FIA The biggest news of the day came as Andretti Formula Racing saw their application to join the F1 grid accepted by the FIA, but that does not mean they are becoming the 11th team just yet. Andretti, who have secured an engine partnership with General Motors through Cadillac, now face another arguably even bigger hurdle to overcome, as they enter commercial talks with FOM and try to convince Formula 1 officials that they deserve to expand the grid. The FIA said Andretti’s was the only application … [Read more...] about Andretti application approved as Lewis Hamilton talks F1 ‘love-hate story’ – F1 news round-up

McLaren have started a Formula 1 season with victory on 13 occasions, and in a further seven seasons they managed to win by the second race. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free But after two grands prix in 2023, the team have finished no higher than 15th and sit last in the constructors’ standings. Have they ever started a season this badly before? 1966 Monaco GP: DNF, Belgian GP: DNS In McLaren’s first year as a manufacturer team in F1, founder Bruce McLaren raced a single M2B and did not even enter all of that season’s races. The team’s debut came in Monaco, where McLaren put his car tenth on the grid. He only went nine laps before an oil leak ended his day, but did briefly make it up to sixth place after some thrilling wheel-to-wheel action. His short time in the race was also recorded for the ‘Grand Prix’ film that was released in cinemas later that year. Later, points finishes at the British and United States grands prix meant McLaren finished … [Read more...] about Two races, no points: How 2023 compares to McLaren’s worst starts to a season

Lewis Hamilton has called on those in positions of power to do more to improve human rights in countries such as Saudi Arabia, where Formula 1 is racing this weekend. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Following reports 81 men were executed in Saudi Arabia on a single day earlier this month, Hamilton revealed he had been contacted by Abdullah al-Howaiti, who is on death row in Saudi Arabia. Howaiti was sentenced to death in 2019 over a robbery which occured three years earlier, when he was 14, which his family insist he was not involved in . “It’s obviously mind-blowing to hear the stories,” said Hamilton during Friday morning’s FIA press conference. “I’ve heard that there’s a letter sent to me, for example, from a 14-year-old that’s on death row. At 14 you don’t know what the hell you’re doing in life.” Last year Hamilton described Saudi Arabia’s legislation against its LGBTQ+ community as “terrifying.” Yesterday he said: “My position’s still the … [Read more...] about Hamilton urges more action on human rights after letter from death row inmate

Sebastian Vettel responded to Canadian politician Sonya Savage’s description of him as a hypocrite by stating: “Yes, I am.” Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The Aston Martin driver said he was disappointed the Alberta politician resorted to a personal attack in reaction to his environmental activism. Vettel is wearing a special helmet design at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix highlighting the environmental impact of Canada’s oil sands mining. He was also pictured in a T-shirt of similar design earlier this week. The Athabasca, Peace River and Cold Lake oil sands combined form the world’s third largest known deposit of crude oil. However, extracting oil from the heavy sands is three to five times more energy intensive than pumping it from wells and has devastating environmental effects. The deforestation required to access the mining sites, and emission of run-off and oil-infused sand, has created what is called the world’s most … [Read more...] about “Yes I am a hypocrite” admits Vettel after politician’s broadside over oil sands helmet

The curse of sport is that unless you are number one, you are condemned to live under a cloud of failure. For no matter how many races you win, poles you take or points you score, there can only be one champion. The rest all fall short. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Red Bull know this only too well. After being deposed from F1’s Mount Olympus with the onset of the V6 turbo hybrids, their journey back to the top was as frustrating as it was humbling. But that decade of discontent reached its end over the past two seasons, and Red Bull head into a new year as undisputedly and unequivocally the best team in their sport. Emerging bruised, bloodied but victorious from their brutal year-long battle against Mercedes in 2021, Red Bull knew they were vulnerable going into Max Verstappen’s first year sporting the coveted number one on his car. But when Mercedes faltered, Ferrari faced up to Red Bull in their place. However, Ferrari’s implosion as the season … [Read more...] about Will Red Bull dominate again as their development handicap bites in 2023?

Jean-Pierre Jabouille, whose victory for Renault in the 1979 French Grand Prix heralded a new era of turbo-powered Formula 1 cars, has died at the age of 80. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free It was a deserved breakthrough victory, the culmination of years of development work and repeated failures of turbo engines. While it came in Jabouille’s third season with the team, it was only their second points-scoring finish. Alpine, the F1 team run by Renault, issued a statement expressing that it was “incredibly saddened” by Jabouille’s death. “A humble racing driver, brilliant engineer, and a pioneer of our sport. Jean-Pierre was a true racer,” Alpine said in the statement. “He spearheaded Renault’s journey into F1 in 1977 with his resilient and dare to do attitude. He was Renault’s first Grand Prix winner in 1979, a landmark moment in Renault’s journey in Formula 1. His determination and dedication to succeed inspired many, and these values remain central to … [Read more...] about Jean-Pierre Jabouille, 1942-2023

Andretti has formally announced it intends to submit an entry to compete in the Formula 1 world championship in collaboration with General Motors brand Cadillac. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The two companies plan to submit an Expression of Interest when the FIA begins the process which was announced by president Mohammed Ben Sulayem last week. Michael Andretti – former F1 driver, IndyCar champion and son of 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti – has long sought an opportunity to enter F1. Andretti Global announced the construction of a major new headquarters in Indianapolis last year. Its F1 operation would be based in the US with a “support facility” in the UK. “We are continuing to grow Andretti Global and its family of racing teams and always have our eyes on what’s next,” said Andretti. “I feel that we are well suited to be a new team for Formula 1 and can bring value to the series and our partners, and excitement for the fans.” Andretti’s team … [Read more...] about Andretti and Cadillac announce plans to enter Formula 1

Formula 1 has agreed another new deal to continue racing at the Red Bull Ring just four months after the last was announced. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The series announced a contract extension with the Austrian venue in March, keeping it on the calendar until 2027. The new deal adds a further three years, meaning F1 will race at the track until at least 2030. The event at the Red Bull Ring returned to the schedule in 2014. As well as holding a race every year since then it put on extra grands prix during the pandemic-affected 2020 and 2021 seasons. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the team behind the Austrian event is “exceptional”, and paid tribute to Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away last year. “The vision and passion of Dietrich Mateschitz, a man who loved this sport, made this all possible and it is a very special moment and a tribute to him that we can confirm we will be racing at this incredible venue until 2030. “The … [Read more...] about Austrian GP agrees second F1 contract extension in fourth months