Pre season testing f1 2019

Ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season, most of the teams will carry out at least one ‘filming day’ to shakedown their new machines. Haas became the first of the 10 teams to reveal their 2023 look earlier this week, with the American-based squad showing off the livery their VF-23 will race with. However, the VF-23 itself won’t be shown off until after the team have taken to the track with the car for the first time – Haas will hold a ‘shakedown’ of the car at Silverstone on February 11th. Most of the teams will elect to hold a shakedown of their new cars before the start of official pre-season testing in Bahrain in late February, as such shakedowns allow for any unforeseen mechanical or technical issues with the build of the new cars to be spotted and ironed out before the start of the critical three days of track testing. But how do these shakedowns fit into the current rules – how are teams able to carry out private track testing with a current car? F1 teams make use of an FIA … [Read more...] about What are F1 teams permitted to do with their cars on ‘filming day’ shakedowns?

Mercedes have headed to Paul Ricard for a two-day test of Pirelli’s 2023 tyre compounds, with both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in action. Paul Ricard plays host to the first meaningful track action of the 2023 Formula 1 season, as Pirelli are carrying out the first of three planned tyre tests ahead of the start of official pre-season testing. As revealed in November 2022, Pirelli have worked with the FIA to put together some additional tyre testing for their 2023 compounds, having been unable to fit in enough sessions during the frantic second half of the 2022 schedule. All 10 F1 teams are offered the opportunity to carry out tests on behalf of Pirelli over the course of the season, with Mercedes carrying out a two-day test at Paul Ricard on February 1st and 2nd. George Russell will take the wheel of the Mercedes W13 for Wednesday’s track time, with seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton getting the opportunity to blow off the winter cobwebs on Thursday. Pirelli’s … [Read more...] about George Russell and Lewis Hamilton kick off 2023 track action with tyre test

Listen to this article Blanchard Racing Team made Supercars history at Winton today by becoming the first team to shake down its Gen3 race car . The CoolDrive-backed Mustang cut its first laps with team co-owner Tim Blanchard behind the wheel this morning, before new signing Hazelwood took over the rest of the day. According to Hazelwood his starring role in the test came with an unexpected level of pressure given all eyes were on the BRT Ford. That was combined with it being this first day on the job with the single-car team since his off-season move from Matt Stone Racing. Given the attention on the car, Hazelwood was thrilled to finish a full day without any major issues. "It was a weird pressure that I didn't anticipate, to be honest," he told Motorsport.com. "You know, when it's your first day with the team you always want to do the best job possible. And for me it was the first time I had ever had a brand new chassis at my disposal. "So you've got the … [Read more...] about Hazelwood reflects on maiden Gen3 test

The 2023 Formula 2 field contains a wide array of experience. At one of the spectrum is Roy Nissany, who is entering his ninth year at this level, while nine others are new to the series. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free There’s one sixth-year driver who has actually only completed one full season, and even the third-year drivers are trying to prove they haven’t missed the F1 boat and can emulate last year’s champion Felipe Drugovich by using their experience to take the title. There’s a lot resting on the shoulders of several of this year’s competitors, but it’s an especially critical season for a handful of those seeking promotion to Formula 1 in 2024 . Theo Pourchaire The driver who needs a big season more than anyone else is actually the one who has already achieved the most in F2 from this year’s entry list. Theo Pourchaire went without a pole in 2022, but with three feature race wins he still did enough to be championship runner-up. However the … [Read more...] about The F1 hopefuls who need big results in F2 this year · RaceFans

Former Force India and Red Bull Racing engineer Blake Hinsey has questioned Haas’ decision to bring in Nico Hulkenberg, calling it a “really weird appointment”. Haas announced on the eve of the 2022 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix they would not be renewing Mick Schumacher’s contract. Instead the team went with “solid, reliable racer” Hulkenberg. The German will partner Kevin Magnussen in an over-30 line-up, Hulkenberg at 35 years of age the third oldest driver on the grid. Although Hulkenberg hasn’t had a permanent race seat for three seasons, team boss Guenther Steiner firmly believes he’s the right man for the job, saying every team he has been with “always made a step forward” because he knows “exactly what needs to be done to make the team better”. But Hinsey, who worked with Hulkenberg at Force India, isn’t convinced. “I like Niko, because he was on the other car when I was at Force India,” he said as per GPFans . “He’s a good driver. “Is he going to be better … [Read more...] about Former F1 engineer questions Nico Hulkenberg’s ‘really weird appointment’ at Haas

The only existing Formula 1 car used by an American driver to win the world championship will be put up for auction at the end of the current season. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Mario Andretti’s Lotus 79 chassis number four will be auctioned by Bonhams at this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The auction house estimates it will sell for between $6.5-9.5 million (£5.25-£7.68m). The 79 chassis was tremendously successful, with all bar one of its six wins coming courtesy of Andretti. However his team mate for much of the 1978 season, Ronnie Peterson, who scored the car’s other win, died after crashing at the start of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Andretti clinched the championship at the same race with two rounds remaining of the season. That marked the last title win for a Lotus driver in F1 and also the team’s seventh and final constructors’ championship title. Lotus made great advances with ground effect aerodynamics with the 79 which made the car … [Read more...] about Andretti’s title-winning Lotus F1 car tipped to fetch up to $9.5 million at auction · RaceFans

Pedro de la Rosa has told Spanish F1 fans to stop living in the past and appreciate that they have two drivers on the F1 grid in Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz. And while they aren’t winning World titles at the moment, there are still race wins and podium results. The last time Spain celebrated a World Champion was back in 2006 when Alonso won his second successive championship with Renault. He went onto record runner-up results in 2007 with McLaren and twice with Ferrari in 2010 and 2012 but wasn’t able to add a third title to his tally. This season Spain could be in the hunt but with a different driver, Sainz. Last year the 28-year-old clinched his maiden race win, P1 at the British Grand Prix, while overall he managed nine podium results. De la Rosa says Spanish fans should appreciate that they have two drivers rather than lament the 16-year draught for World Championship titles. PlanetF1 recommends ‘Charles Leclerc is Ferrari’s key man, like Max is in Red Bull … [Read more...] about Pedro de la Rosa tells Spanish F1 fans to stop living in the past and embrace ‘golden age’

Listen to this article Alonso returned to F1 with Alpine in 2021 after taking a two-year break to race in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Indy 500 and the Dakar Rally. Alonso's third stint at the Enstone outfit got off to a slow start but once he got back up to speed the Spaniard re-found his old form, frequently suggesting he was driving at his best-ever level in 2022, a season which was blighted by reliability issues. For 2023, Alonso jumped ship to Aston Martin, which struggled last year to finish seventh in the constructors' championship. While the team is a step down from Alpine in the short term, the Lawrence Stroll-led outfit managed to convince Alonso with its long-term project, answering to Alonso's desire to stay in F1 for years to come. And the 41-year-old says he wouldn't have accepted to continue if he didn't think he was still capable of performing at his peak, or if he wasn't convinced that Aston can close the gap while he is still around. … [Read more...] about Alonso “wouldn’t accept” continuing in F1 at less than 100%

Even before a single lap has been run in the 2023 Formula 1 season, never mind a race result decided, Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has twice been asked to pin his colours to the mast – Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz. He went with neither, adamant it’s too early to back one driver over the other. “But,” he wrapped up the first time around, “if at one stage we have to take action, I will take action.” The second time, he ended with “and if at one stage I have to take action for Carlos or for Charles, I will do it.” It’s an action that, should it come, will have long-term consequences. Team-mates at Ferrari for the first time in 2021 it was widely-speculated that Leclerc could have the measure of Sainz, but that wasn’t to be with the Spaniard winning the first round – although only by 5.5 points. However, that was a season in which Ferrari were still trying to get their horse (powers) into order in the wake of their 2019 engine scandal. Once they’d sorted that out, … [Read more...] about Ferrari need to pick Charles Leclerc as No.1 driver, or risk losing him to a rival team