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
Mycobacterium bovis antibody test kit
Records smashed and winning runs wrecked: The 2022 F1 season in stats
The 73rd season in the Formula 1 world championship was a record-setting one in a variety of ways with new all-time benchmarks set and some long-running sequences coming to an end. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free A 15-year continuous run ended for Lewis Hamilton , as did a peculiar record held by Daniel Ricciardo. And something happened in 2022 that has not occurred in Formula 1 since the 1979 season. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these are some of the most outstanding records that were either set, broken or ended in the 2022 season… Record breakers Max Verstappen soared to unparalleled heights in 2022. As well as successfully defending his world championship title from 2021, he set a new all-time record for most wins in a single season with 15, breaking clear of Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher’s previous record of 13. Despite the incredible achievement, Verstappen’s season win percentage (68.18%) was actually lower than both … [Read more...] about Records smashed and winning runs wrecked: The 2022 F1 season in stats
Vettel removes image of disputed flag from “No War” helmet after complaint to FIA
Sebastian Vettel has removed the image of a disputed flag from the special helmet he is wearing at testing in Bahrain after a complaint was made to the FIA. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The Aston Martin driver drew the ire of the Cyprus Automobile Association after featuring the flag of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on his helmet. The territory, formed after the annexation of part of northern Cyprus, adopted the flag after declaring its independence in 1983. However its identity is only recognised by Turkey. Vettel revealed a special helmet design at the start of testing in Bahrain yesterday. It features the message “No War” and draws attention to the conflict in Ukraine using the country’s blue and yellow colours. The base of the helmet also features representations of many different flags. Among them is the flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Its white background and red details resembles a Turkish flag with … [Read more...] about Vettel removes image of disputed flag from “No War” helmet after complaint to FIA
Will Red Bull dominate again as their development handicap bites in 2023?
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?
Rossi sees advantage for McLaren over rivals in unique F1-IndyCar team set-up
Alexander Rossi sees benefits in the McLaren’s unique combination of Formula 1 and IndyCar programmes, having joined the latter operation for 2023. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free He arrives at McLaren after seven years at Andretti Autosport, which is seeking to emulate its rival team by adding an F1 entry alongside its existing IndyCar squad . McLaren go into their fourth season in IndyCar since their full-time return to the series this year. In that time they have won four races, all with Rossi’s team mate Pato O’Ward, and have also expanded to race in Extreme E and now Formula E. They added a third full-time IndyCar entry in order to field Rossi this year. “It’s been very cool to kind of watch them evolve and expand over the past couple of months,” their new driver said. “Obviously I don’t have a benchmark of what they were before, but certainly the commitment to kind of performance and results goes without saying. It’s apparent throughout every … [Read more...] about Rossi sees advantage for McLaren over rivals in unique F1-IndyCar team set-up
Top ten: Unbeatable Formula One records
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
Aston Martin Doesn’t Want The Valkyrie To Be A Garage Queen
In the world of million-dollar supercars, there's a growing appreciation for those who do more than just park their prized possessions in climate-controlled garages. While owning an automotive masterpiece is undoubtedly a symbol of prestige and luxury, the true essence of these incredible machines lies in their ability to be driven, be it daily or as hobby cars during the weekends. It seems that Aston Martin understands this sentiment and is on a mission to encourage owners of the Valkyrie to unleash the beast on the tarmac rather than merely keeping it as a collectible. "Ultimately it’s up to the customer what they do,” says Marek Reichman, Aston Martin's creative boss, in a recent interview with Top Gear . "If they want to buy a Valkyrie and stick it in a museum, great. But you want to hear and see them. You want to look at Instagram feeds of Valkyries driving through tunnels. That’s why we make them. You want people to enjoy them.” Gallery: Aston Martin Valkyrie … [Read more...] about Aston Martin Doesn’t Want The Valkyrie To Be A Garage Queen
2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness First Drive Review: Keep On Trekking
– Springdale, Utah Subaru knows its owners better than most other carmakers. The company actually spends time camping with core buyers to see exactly how their vehicles are being used and what they want going forward. And that led directly to the new 2024 Crosstrek Wilderness. As the first name implies, it's a new version of the recently redesigned Crosstrek that was so warmly received. And the Wilderness badge makes it the latest Subaru vehicle to get more serious about off-roading, following the Forester and Outback Wilderness models before it. Quick Specs 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Engine 2.5-Liter Four-Cylinder Output 182 Horsepower / 178 Pound-Feet Drive Type All-Wheel Drive Trim Base Price $33,290 On-Sale Date Fall 2023 Tougher By Nature Under the hood is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that's good for 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. That's the upgraded engine … [Read more...] about 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness First Drive Review: Keep On Trekking
Subaru Crosstrek, la prova del nuovo crossover
Si chiama Subaru Crosstrek e per quanto da noi possa sembrare un modello inedito, è in realtà la nuova generazione della già nota XV, che cambia nome per allinearsi alla gamma statunitense, dove, appunto, la XV si chiama Crosstrek da sempre. L’auto, resta fedele al concetto di crossover da 4,5 metri di lunghezza che l’ha resa una vera e propria bestseller della Casa delle Pleiadi e anche nel look conferma la voglia di dare una continuità. Ma se a un primo sguardo qualcuno potrebbe quasi parlare di restyling, tali e tanti sono le migliorie che il fatto che si sia davanti a un salto generazionale è presto evidente a tutti. L’auto è cresciuta dal punto di vista del comfort, delle finiture e della dotazione ed è stata sottoposta a un fine lavoro di messa a punto che emerge da numerosissimi dettagli. Forse è per questo che Subaru, nel presentarla alla stampa europea, ha voluto che ci si alternasse alla guida della nuova (Crosstrek) e della precedente (XV). Ma andiamo con … [Read more...] about Subaru Crosstrek, la prova del nuovo crossover