Few records in Formula 1 are truly unbeatable. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Ayrton Senna’s haul of 65 pole positions was once thought likely to stand the test of time, but Michael Schumacher beat it. And though Schumacher’s tally of 91 wins may seem insurmountable , the same was once said of Alain Prost’s 51 victories. As the saying goes, records are there to be broken. But there are some records which won’t be under threat any time soon. From geriatrics on the podium to sharing a single point between seven, here are ten F1 records that are in it for the long haul. Narrowest pole position winning margin 1997 European Grand Prix: 0.000s between first, second and third The 1997 European Grand Prix at Jerez is chiefly remembered for Michael Schumacher’s unsuccessful attempt to eliminate his title rival , Jacques Villeneuve , from the race. But F1 anoraks also recall the astonishing events of the previous day’s qualifying session. It saw … [Read more...] about Top ten: Unbeatable Formula One records
Mclaren nfs most wanted 2005
‘Gloves are off’ at Alpine as Luca de Meo has hit the ‘reset button’
Alpine’s turbulent year of change in upper management is Renault CEO Luca de Meo ‘hitting the reset button’ for a rebuild, according to a former team manager. Alpine are currently under the leadership of interim team boss Bruno Famin, following the ousting of previous principal Otmar Szafnauer heading into the summer break. On top of that, Alpine stalwart Alan Permane also departed the team at the same time after 34 years of loyal service. Former Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi was also moved aside to concentrate on ‘special projects’, while the team also welcomed new investment from a consortium including Wrexham owners and Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Luca de Meo is ‘impatient’ and ‘underwhelmed’ by Alpine performance Appearing on the GP Racing podcast, former Jordan Grand Prix and Cosworth head Mark Gallagher addressed the fallout from the Alpine revolution from a commercial perspective, pointing at Renault CEO Luca de Meo as being eager to set about his … [Read more...] about ‘Gloves are off’ at Alpine as Luca de Meo has hit the ‘reset button’
Helmet rows, hot mics and more forgotten motorsport stories from 2022
The 2022 Formula 1 season was full of drama on track and in the paddock, some of it leftover from the previous year’s controversies. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free With all that going on, it was easy to overlook some of the strange and surprising stories of the last 12 months. Red Bull ‘launched’ a show car Formula 1 car launches always attract huge interest as they can give the first indication of how the teams will compare against each other for the season ahead with any innovative designs. That was especially the case this year as teams produced their first designs for radically new regulations. Preferring not to give the opposition an early peek at their real RB18, Red Bull instead presented a repainted show car at their launch on February 9th. The real thing, which appeared in testing two weeks later, looked very different. Red Bull presents first images of new car for 2022 F1 season Magnussen’s F1 return has big repercussions After … [Read more...] about Helmet rows, hot mics and more forgotten motorsport stories from 2022
Fernando Alonso proven wrong over ‘too optimistic’ ambition for F1 2023 season
The results Fernando Alonso has achieved in Formula 1 in 2023 came as something of a shock, even for the Spaniard… With six podiums from the first eight races this season, Fernando Alonso briefly looked capable of challenging for the runner-up spot in the Drivers’ Championship. However, in the last eight races, Alonso has only scored one podium and has slipped to fourth. Worse, he now has to look over his shoulder at the approaching Ferrari drivers, both of whom could still displace him further by the end of the championship. Fernando Alonso: Aston Martin wants to make the next step next year With Alonso slipping away in the championship as a result of Aston Martin’s slow but steady decline as the team have struggled to keep pace through the relentless development cycle of the established front-running teams, Alonso said he never even thought the results he’s achieved this season would have been possible when he first put pen to paper to join the Silverstone-based squad. “To … [Read more...] about Fernando Alonso proven wrong over ‘too optimistic’ ambition for F1 2023 season
FIA invites applications for up to two new teams to enter F1 from 2025
The FIA has started an applications process for new teams to enter Formula 1 from 2025. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The governing body of motorsport announced “the official launch of an application process to identify prospective teams seeking to participate at a competitive level in the FIA Formula One world championship.” Successful new applicants may choose to enter in 2025, 2026 – when new technical regulations are due for introduction – or 2027. The FIA says it will determine which if any candidates are chosen based on “the overall long-term interests of the championship, together with the applicable regulations and governance arrangements.” Its criteria for judging which teams are permitted to enter will cover eight points. These include “the technical ability and resources of the team” and “the ability of the team to meet and comply with its obligations under the F1 Sporting, Technical, and Financial Regulations.” Applicants will also have … [Read more...] about FIA invites applications for up to two new teams to enter F1 from 2025
Has F1 hit ‘peak penalties’? Fewer sanctions in 2016
Driver penalties became a major talking point in 2016 as teams urged stewards to ease up on the number of sanctions being handed down . 2011-16 penalties data 2011 penalties index 2012 penalties index 2013 penalties index 2014 penalties index 2015 penalties index 2016 penalties index Just last week Derek Warwick , one of several ex-F1 drivers now involved in F1 officiating, urged the FIA to “take away all these penalties” and “get back to harder, harsher racing” . However following a record-breaking 2015 during which over 100 penalties were issued the total number of sanctions fell slightly in 2016. As the calendar had grown from 19 races to 21, that meant the average number of penalties per race fell by 15%, from 5.3 to 4.5. The number of investigations dropped by almost 20%, from 8.6 to 6.9. This graph shows the total penalties handed down over the last six seasons, whether they were incurred by a driver or team, and how many … [Read more...] about Has F1 hit ‘peak penalties’? Fewer sanctions in 2016
Sergio Perez points to George Russell crash as evidence of nationality bias
Sergio Perez believes the fact he’s Mexican plays a part in how he is perceived and treated by the F1 media. Perez’s nationality has made headlines in recent weeks, due to the Mexican driver being singled out by Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, in which the 80-year-old Austrian alluded to his nationality playing a part in his failure to match Max Verstappen this season. Perez was damned with faint praise by Marko, who told ServusTV: “Let’s remember that he is South American and so his head is not as focused as Max Verstappen or as Sebastian Vettel was, but racing is his forte and he had a very good race.” Helmut Marko apologises for Sergio Perez comments Marko came forward to issue an apology through ServusTV, stating, “Concerning my remark about Sergio Perez, ServusTV Sport and Talk, Monday September 4: I would like to apologise for my offensive remark. “I want to make it absolutely clear that I do not believe that we can generalise about the people from any … [Read more...] about Sergio Perez points to George Russell crash as evidence of nationality bias
Jordan’s original Formula 1 factory to be demolished next summer
Aston Martin plan to knock down their former headquarters, which has been used by Formula 1 teams since 1991, next year. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The old base is being destroyed to make way for the new facility Aston Martin is building at a cost of up to £200 million . Eddie Jordan Racing’s eponymous boss commissioned the creation of the factory, which sits on a road opposite British Grand Prix venue Silverstone , in 1990 when he wanted to take his successful junior single-seater team into F1. It was used by Jordan from his team’s debut in 1991 through to the end of 2005, when it was sold to the Midland Group. The team raced as Midland in 2006, as Spyker in 2007 and then as Force India from 2008 to 2018. When a Lawrence Stroll-led consortium then bought the team after it faced financial struggles, it rebranded to Racing Point and then last year became Aston Martin. Cars designed and constructed in the factory have won five grands prix. The … [Read more...] about Jordan’s original Formula 1 factory to be demolished next summer