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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

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

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?

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’

Mercedes have offered a unique demonstration of how the pedals and drinks systems work in a Formula 1 car. Over the course of a dramatic Formula 1 Grand Prix, it’s easy to forget that the modern-day gladiators piloting the Formula 1 cars are mere humans and, as a drawback of that, have human needs such as basic hydration. During a tough Grand Prix, particularly in the hot sweaty climes of the likes of Singapore, drivers can lose several kilos during the race – it’s critical that drivers are able to have as much fluid as they can drink during the ordeal. Kimi Raikkonen may have become a meme in the final years of his F1 career after suffering a few ‘drinks bottle’ failures, ie. “No, Kimi, you will not have the drink”, but it’s a potentially serious failure if a driver was to suffer from complete dehydration. Of course, the cars aren’t literally fitted with a drinks bottle, nor with refrigeration. The fluids are put into what is essentially a bag, with a tube linking the bag to … [Read more...] about Mercedes give fans rare insight into how F1 pedals and drinks system work

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

Fred Vasseur did not speak with Audi before signing with Ferrari, but once he did, he was told “you couldn’t refuse an offer from Ferrari”. Within moments of Mattia Binotto handing in his resignation in November there were rumours claiming it was only a matter of time before Ferrari confirmed Vasseur as his replacement. But as the days dragged on it was suggested the hold-up related to the Frenchman needing to exit to his contract with the Sauber Group where he was team boss at Alfa Romeo. Once that was finalised, Ferrari confirmed the 54-year-old with Andreas Seidl taking up the reins at Sauber. Reins that will be rebranded to Audi come 2026. Vasseur played a role in the German carmaker’s decision to buy a stake in Sauber, the first of those transactions having gone ahead in January. And yet, he revealed, he didn’t speak with Audi before signing with Ferrari. PlanetF1 recommends ‘Charles Leclerc is Ferrari’s key man, like Max is in Red Bull and Hamilton was for … [Read more...] about Fred Vasseur didn’t share his Ferrari plans with Audi until after he’d signed

Mercedes’ new reserve driver Mick Schumacher will also be made available to their customer team Mclaren this year as part of a long-running arrangement between the two. Schumacher, the 2020 Formula 2 champion, raced in Formula 1 for Haas over the past two seasons and scored two times. He lost his drive at the end of 2022, as well as his place in the Ferrari Driver Academy, and was then signed by Mercedes. Mercedes’ previous reserve drivers have been shared with their engine customers – Aston Martin, McLaren and Williams – over the past few seasons, and last year Nyck de Vries was called up to race for Williams for a race as a result of this arrangement. “McLaren will be able to call on Mick as a reserve driver during the 2023 F1 season as part of our arrangement with Mercedes. Welcome to the family, Mick,” McLaren posted on social media. “Full circle. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella worked closely with Mick’s father, the legendary Michael Schumacher, as his performance … [Read more...] about Mick Schumacher to be reserve driver for McLaren too · RaceFans