F1 2023 is fast approaching as teams take the covers off and reveal their colours ahead of a brand new season of action. There is every reason to be excited about the F1 2023 season, teams having had the chance to put their wealth of learnings about the new Technical Regulations to use with their second attempts, the 2023 challengers. And the first key step ahead of seeing these new creations on the track is launch season, as the teams, while often hiding many of their clever innovations, are at least more than happy to show us what their cars are going to look like. Our luck really is in because with 10 teams making up the grid, you guessed it, that means we have 10 different livery reveals to enjoy. So, let’s take a look at the designs which we will clap eyes on in F1 2023… Haas Haas did the honours of kicking-off launch season for 2023 when they revealed the livery for their 2023 challenger, the VF-23, on January 31. The American outfit struck a new title … [Read more...] about F1 2023 liveries: See all the new season looks as they are unveiled
Pierre gasly x hawkers bel air crosswalk
Five ideal candidates to replace Sebastian Vettel as GPDA director
Although Sebastian Vettel has been given more time to decide if he will stay on as a GPDA director, a successor may soon need to be chosen. The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association acts as the trade union for the F1 drivers and was particularly important at the Saudi Arabian and Japanese Grands Prix last year. With former F1 driver Alex Wurz as chairman, he has three directors to work alongside which are currently George Russell, lawyer Anastasia Fowle and Vettel. The four-time World Champion has been in the role since 2010 but with him now stepping away from the sport, there are question marks as to whether he will stay on with the GPDA. But if he does choose to step away, who will take over? Here at PlanetF1.com, we’ve taken a look at five likely candidates for the role. Valtteri Bottas Following Vettel’s retirement and Daniel Ricciardo’s departure from the grid, Bottas became the active driver with the fourth highest number of race starts behind only Fernando Alonso, Lewis … [Read more...] about Five ideal candidates to replace Sebastian Vettel as GPDA director
Why the pandemic’s economic impact on F1 goes far beyond a disrupted calendar · RaceFans
Two statistics lay bare the astonishing impact Covid-19 has had on Formula 1. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free First, since the pathogen intensified its spread across world in March almost half this season’s scheduled 22 races have been cancelled or (optimistically, in the view of some) postponed. Second, the obligatory annual team shutdown – usually a three-week break in summer – has now been in place for three times as long. Although speculative calendars are increasingly doing the rounds, these count for nought as long as authorities restrict the movement of people across the world. What use is a calendar which schedules races in countries which refuse to admit foreigners or make concessions for sport activities? The pandemic’s effect on the 10 teams has been disastrous . Most have furloughed staff, some are expected to be ‘retrenched’, ‘de-hired’ or similar, while a number of independent teams have availed themselves of advances on future F1 revenues … [Read more...] about Why the pandemic’s economic impact on F1 goes far beyond a disrupted calendar · RaceFans
Christian Horner rues having to spend on porpoising floor changes that were ‘probably not needed’
Christian Horner says floor tweaks imposed by the FIA this season to minimise porpoising came at “quite a lot of expense” and were “probably not needed”. Making the change from over-car airflow to ground effect aerodynamics last season, many of the teams were caught out by porpoising. Some more than others. While Red Bull, their RB18 designed by Adrian Newey who is said to be able to ‘see air’, had hardly any bouncing, their 2021 title rivals Mercedes had it to the extremes. Such was the ferocity of the W13’s porpoising, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell complained of back pain, head aches with Hamilton also saying “there’s a lot more bruising after the races nowadays”. But with Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff advocating for the FIA to get involved, citing long-term health concerns, Horner said if his RB18 had the same problem he’d also be telling his drivers “ to bitch as much as they could over the radio and make as big an issue out of it as they possibly could”. As … [Read more...] about Christian Horner rues having to spend on porpoising floor changes that were ‘probably not needed’