Formula 1 drivers are today having their first taste of Pirelli’s 2019 tyres which it is hoped will improve the standard of racing next year. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Pirelli faced criticism from drivers towards the end of the year over how high levels of tyre degradation shaped some races. However the sport’s official tyre supplier pointed out the degradation levels were set down in the ‘target letter’ given to it by F1. For 2019 Pirelli has set out to improve the performance of the higher compounds, which were often considered too conservative, and to widen the performance gaps at the softer end of the range. The naming convention for the tyres will also change. The three compounds chosen for each race will always be referred to as hard, medium and soft. But the full range of compounds, which will reduce from seven to either five or six, will be referred to by number. ‘One’ will refer to the hardest compound’. “The compounds we are developing … [Read more...] about What’s changed in Pirelli’s new F1 tyre range for 2019 · RaceFans
New season of game of thrones
Warriors down Rockets 121-108 to snap 11-game road skid
HOUSTON (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 30 points and Klay Thompson added 29 as the Golden State Warriors snapped an 11-game road skid with a 121-108 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday night. The game was close most of the way before the Warriors used a 12-2 spurt early in the fourth quarter to pull away and hold on for their first win away from home since Jan. 30 at Oklahoma City. “It’s been a long time,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I don’t remember the last road game we won. It’s been a while.” When told that it had been almost three months since the Warriors last got a victory on the road, Kerr continued. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 8 “Thanks,” he said. “That doesn’t make me feel any better. We needed it.” Added Thompson: “It’s nice to snap an ugly streak like that. That (was) gross.” The Rockets used an 11-2 run, led by six points from Kevin Porter Jr., later in the fourth … [Read more...] about Warriors down Rockets 121-108 to snap 11-game road skid
Vettel admits he wasn’t “at the top of my game” in 2018 · RaceFans
Sebastian Vettel admitted he wasn’t at his best in 2018 after being beaten to the drivers’ championship by Lewis Hamilton. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free A series of mid-season errors by the Ferrari driver boosted Hamilton’s lead in the championship, which he won with two races to spare. “I don’t think I ever had any problems raising my hand if I made a mistake,” said Vettel/ “Knowing as well, as a racing driver, how quickly things can go wrong, how things could have gone differently this year, I think I have to review a couple of things. “But there’s other things that I think went wrong and don’t need a lot of reviewing and not over-complicating things too much. I think I know what I need to do. “Certainly, here and there, looking back I haven’t been at the top of my game so I look at myself first. I think I can be better than I was at times this year. “Having said that though, I think we also had a lot of races where we got everything out of the … [Read more...] about Vettel admits he wasn’t “at the top of my game” in 2018 · RaceFans
New year, same story for Rockets as Splash Brothers fuel blowout loss
The James Harden era in Houston may feel like a distant memory for Rockets ' fans, but the team's main rival in Harden's tenure is still rolling along as the 2022-23 season comes to a close. The more things change at the Toyota Center, the more they stay the same for Stephen Curry and the Warriors. It hasn't exactly been business as usual for Curry and the Warriors this season. Golden State's title defense is on relatively rocky ground even after Monday's 121-108 win over the hapless Rockets, with the defending champions now sporting an ugly road record of 7–29. But Monday's return to Houston helped the Warriors look largely like their dynastic selves. Curry led all scorers with 30 points, Klay Thompson added 29, and a late surge Golden State made all look right in the Bay Area. For Warriors coach Steve Kerr, returning to the Toyota Center brings a bit of a spark for his veteran group. "This is a great reminder every time we come to the Toyota Center of some amazing battles with … [Read more...] about New year, same story for Rockets as Splash Brothers fuel blowout loss
FIA can bypass teams to impose new 2021 F1 rules · RaceFans
Formula 1’s governing body does not agreement from teams to impose changes to the rules for the 2021 season. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Approval from the Strategy Group and F1 Commission is needed to ratify rule changes for seasons prior to 2021. But as F1’s commercial agreements will expire at the end of 2020, that governance structure does not apply to subsequent seasons. Therefore the FIA can impose changes for 2021 without the approval of teams. This includes the switch to 18-inch wheels, as FIA race director Charlie Whiting confirmed when asked by RaceFans. “That’s part of the regulation package for 2021,” Whiting confirmed. “It doesn’t have to go through the Formula One commission because it’s for 2021.” Asked whether that means the FIA has a “free hand” when it comes to determining F1’s future rules, Whiting said: “We have – there’s no need for regulations to go through the Strategy Group because that governance expires. We don’t have a new … [Read more...] about FIA can bypass teams to impose new 2021 F1 rules · RaceFans
Could Pirelli have a new rival? FIA launch tyre supplier tender from F1 2025 season
Formula 1 could soon have a new tyre supplier after the FIA opened the process to bidders for the 2025 season onwards. While tyre wars in Formula 1 used to be commonplace, they became a thing of the past when Bridgestone first became the exclusive provider and the sport has since only leaned on one company for its tyre needs. In 2011, that company became Pirelli who continue to supply tyres until this day but their monopoly on the sport’s rubber could soon change with the FIA opening the door for another manufacturer to come in. Following the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the FIA announced it was seeking potential suppliers for the 2025 season onwards in a deal that could last for four seasons. The successful applicant will also gain the contract for the Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships. The brief is not too dissimilar from the current contract with the F1 tyres set to remain at 18 inches but, in line with the sport’s push for more sustainability, the successful candidates … [Read more...] about Could Pirelli have a new rival? FIA launch tyre supplier tender from F1 2025 season
W Series names 55 eligible drivers for inaugural 2019 season – RaceFans
W Series, the new championship targeted exclusively at female racing drivers, has confirmed an initial list of 55 drivers it says are eligible for its first season of racing. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The series received over 100 applications for the 18 places in the championship. The 55 chosen drivers will under three days of testing including assessments of their driver and fitness. Former F1 drivers David Coulthard and Alexander Wurz and former McLaren racing director Dave Ryan are among those who will be involved in the judging process. W Series CEO Catherine Bond Muir said they are “thrilled but perhaps not surprised by the response. “Even today there is a massive gender imbalance in motorsport and W Series is making the first step to correct that. Drivers from all over the world have stepped forward, so it’s clear that with the right framework we can make the changes this sport desperately needs.” The list features drivers from 26 … [Read more...] about W Series names 55 eligible drivers for inaugural 2019 season – RaceFans
Netflix reveal actor who will play Senna in new series · RaceFans
Netflix has announced Brazilian actor Gabriel Leone will play the role of Ayrton Senna in its upcoming dramatisation of his life. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Leone, 29, was born the year before Senna died in a crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. He rose to fame for his role in Dom, a Brazilian television series produced by Amazon. The announcement of his casting was made on what would have been Senna’s 63rd birthday. He is also due to appear in another upcoming motorsport film. Leone has been cast in Michael Mann’s film Ferrari as Alfonso de Portago, the first Spanish driver to finish on the podium in Formula 1. De Portago died along with his co-driver and 10 spectators when he crashed during the Mille Miglia sports car race in 1957. Netflix, which also screens the popular F1 series Drive to Survive, announced its plans for a fictionalised drama about the life of Senna in 2020. Originally announced as an eight-part series which would appear … [Read more...] about Netflix reveal actor who will play Senna in new series · RaceFans
Thrilling things to do with kids in Las Vegas that are low cost or free
Las Vegas is often referred to as Disneyland for adults, but there's plenty of magic in Sin City for the whole family to enjoy. Gondola rides, surreal art installations, chocolate factory tours, hiking trails and more are sure to please travelers of any age. And perhaps the best part? You can visit the city on a budget by booking a cheap flight from Houston and adding free and low-cost activities to your itinerary . To help you plan your trip, we've curated a list of the best things to do in Las Vegas with kids that won't break the bank. Take a sweet tour of a chocolate factory If you're looking for sweet indoor activity to do with kids in Las Vegas, the Ethel M. Chocolate Factory is at your service. Located 20 minutes off the Strip, the gourmet chocolatier offers free self-guided tours of its factory where you can watch confectioners at work (and, yes, there are complimentary samples involved). Stick around to explore the three-acre botanical cactus garden the factory … [Read more...] about Thrilling things to do with kids in Las Vegas that are low cost or free