Sprint cup races

FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem has denied greed was behind the FIA’s decision to say no to doubling the number of sprint races in 2023. Last season, Formula 1 introduced a new format dubbed sprint qualifying and trialled it at three races. It was met with mixed reviews but by and large it was declared successful, leading to talks of increasing the number to six for this season. That plan failed when the teams said no, but it was back on the table at last month’s F1 Commission meeting with the suggestion being to hold six sprint events in 2023. This time, the FIA said no with Sky Sports’ Craig Slater saying he had been informed “unjustifiable financial requests” are behind the FIA’s opposition. “The word ‘greed’ was actually used to me,” he added. “And a couple of teams said in their view, the FIA do not incur significant extra costs by replacing a practice session with a sprint event. They are shocked the FIA have taken this position.” Ben Sulayem has responded … [Read more...] about FIA president ‘did not ask for more money, but if I had…’

Roman Stanek has taken Formula 3 pole around Barcelona with a late run that saw him set the best time at the chequered flag. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free F3’s practice session had been uninterrupted, with Victor Martins looking confidently ahead of the pack in the times. Arthur Leclerc and Stanek had been second and third fastest, respectively. With 30 cars out on track for qualifying there were almost immediate queues at the final chicane, as soon as drivers started their flying laps. Caio Collet held the fastest time for the first half of the session, after Martins’ initial run had been slightly interrupted by a pit lane incident that nearly saw him in an unsafe release. However, times began falling dramatically in the second half of the session and Martins claimed the top spot with a 1’33.568, Alexander Smolyar within half a tenth slower in second. Drivers all went back into the pits with ten minutes to go or final adjustments before heading back … [Read more...] about Stanek snatches F3 pole from Martins at chequered flag · RaceFans

Listen to this article This is the category's first visit to the rural Victorian since 2019, plans to race there over the past two seasons scuppered by the pandemic. Last year the Winton round was cancelled just days out due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria. With border closures now a thing of the past in Australia the Winton SuperSprint is clear to return with 27 cars set to take to the circuit this weekend. That includes the 25 regular entries plus two wildcards, one from Erebus Motorsport/Image Racing for Jordan Boys and one from Walkinshaw Andretti United for Jayden Ojeda . The rapid-fire two-day format returns with Supercars running restricted to Saturday and Sunday and Friday dedicated to the support categories. The Supercars actions kicks of on Saturday morning with a pair of half-hour practice sessions. Three-part qualifying will then determine the grid for the first of three 110-kilometre sprint races on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday there … [Read more...] about 2022 Supercars Winton SuperSprint session times and preview

Jack Doohan has taken Formula 2 pole in a tactical qualifying session where drivers attempted to predict when grip levels would be at their highest. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Felipe Drugovich had been fastest during the F2 practice session, which was disrupted by two red flags following a crash at turn nine for Olli Caldwell and Marcus Armstrong’s car needing to be retrieved after he spun on – and then off – the track. In qualifying, Liam Lawson, Logan Sargeant and Theo Pourchaire were the first to set times, each improving on the one before for Pourchaire to set a 1’30.083. Marino Sato and Jehan Daruvala then further improved, both into the 1’29s with Daruvala putting together a 1’29.512. Clement Novalak set the second-fastest time. However, puzzlingly, his MP Motorsport team mate Drugovich remained in the pits, without having set a lap, with 22 minutes left in the session. Drugovich still did not go out and was one of four drivers with no time … [Read more...] about Doohan takes Barcelona pole in tactical F2 qualifying session · RaceFans

The turbulent 1982 season took another tragic turn 30 years ago today. Young Italian racer Riccardo Paletti, making only his second F1 start, was killed when he crashed into Didier Pironi’s Ferrari at the start of the Canadian Grand Prix. The recovery effort was hampered by an inferno which erupted moments after the crash. Paletti later succumbed to the injuries he suffered in the initial impact. After the race was restarted, Nelson Piquet scored the first win for BMW’s turbo engine. But the second F1 fatality in consecutive months plunged the sport deeper into gloom. “It won’t be the same without Gilles” The circuit on the Isle Notre Dame was held the Canadian Grand Prix for the fifth time in 1982. But it was missing the crowd’s local hero. Following the death of Gilles Villeneuve at Zolder a few weeks earlier, the track had been renamed after him. Race organiser Normand Legault did not attempt to disguise the effect Villeneuve’s death would have on the race. “Let’s … [Read more...] about 1982 Canadian GP: Paletti killed in startline crash – F1 Fanatic

Twenty years ago today the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend opened at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, 40 miles north-west of the tiny republic which lent its name to Italy’s second round of the world championship. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free As the fiercely partisan Italian crowd flocked to the stands, paddock intrigue was centred on their beloved Ferraris, following the discovery of an illegal traction control device on their cars at the Pacific Grand Prix two weeks earlier. But F1’s latest political row was soon forgotten. What unfolded over the following days was one of the direst weekends in the sport’s history. The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend would forever be remembered for the deaths of two drivers from opposite ends of the grid: the little-known Austrian racer Roland Ratzenberger , who arrived at the track with a single race start to his name, and Brazil’s heroic three-times world champion Ayrton Senna . Years of … [Read more...] about Barrichello survives horror crash as Imola 1994 begins – F1 Fanatic

Ralph Boschung’s Campos team has confirmed that he will withdraw from the Barcelona Formula 2 round after suffering neck pain during free practice. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Boschung, the most experienced driver on the F2 grid, did not crash at the last round in Imola but Campos said that his pain had developed during that event. In a statement, the team explained that “unfortunately, our driver Boschung will not be able to participate in this weekend’s round in Barcelona. “The Swiss driver began to have significant neck pain after round three in Imola. However, he was confident he would be able to race this weekend but after today’s free practice he realised that he could not drive to the best of his abilities and has decided to withdraw from the event and focus on his recovery to try to be 100% for the next round in Monaco. “Obviously the team fully supports his decision and wishes him a quick recovery.” After generally fighting at the top … [Read more...] about Boschung withdraws from Barcelona Formula 2 round due to neck pain · RaceFans

Listen to this article As revealed last month , Sicard has been recruited to take on a newly-created job as part of the response to last year's Abu Dhabi GP controversy. The long-time DAMS managing director will leave his position with the French organisation on Monday, having served out his notice over the past six weeks. The FIA's sporting director title was previously one of several held by Michael Masi. However, the job description has been revamped, positioning Sicard between FIA single-seater department head Peter Bayer and the governing body's key F1 players. His F1 responsibilities will include writing and updating sporting regulations, as well as maintaining an overview of race control and the stewarding system on behalf of the FIA. His job will also cover similar ground in F2, F3 and F4. Sicard has not previously worked directly in F1. However, he has been involved with several drivers who subsequently graduated to grand prix racing, and he has liaised … [Read more...] about Sicard to start in FIA sporting director role at Monaco GP

Listen to this article While most teams have new parts for Barcelona, Haas has decided to wait and introduce one bigger package which is currently scheduled for the French GP in late July. Although other midfield teams look to set to make steps in performance in Spain and beyond, Steiner says he doesn't expect any "pain" to result from the team's strategy of waiting a few more races. Steiner added that Haas had a "substantial" package in position for France, and that it would affect the majority of the VF-22 car. "I have no idea about what updates other people are bringing," he said. "If I would know that, I would be a smart guy! "We know exactly, we made a plan, why we do this. So we just go along with our plan, and don't jump on what other people do, and react to it." "[It covers] everything; you will see when we bring the upgrade, it's everywhere, we will make a nice package. "I wouldn't say everywhere, that's exaggerated, but quite a big one, it's not just a … [Read more...] about Haas expects no “pain” from two-month wait for F1 updates