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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

After Liberty Media took over Formula 1 at the end of 2016 it installed former team principal Ross Brawn in charge of the series. Reinvigorating what had become an increasingly uncompetitive championship ranked highly among his priorities. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The new owners ousted Bernie Ecclestone, whose favourable commercial deals with F1’s top teams ensured the richest outfits received the greatest financial rewards, which in turn guaranteed their continued success and gradually eliminated competition for the top places. Changing that deeply entrenched advantage would prove an enormous challenge. After Liberty Media’s first two seasons in charge, Brawn reflected that the domination of F1’s podium positions by Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari had only been broken on two occasions in that time. “ Two podiums from a total of 123 is unacceptable ,” he said. “Especially when it comes with an ever-increasing technical and financial divide. … [Read more...] about Red Bull’s dominance risks triggering the reaction they are anxious to avoid · RaceFans

Formula 1’s managing director of motorsport Ross Brawn has warned the wide gap in performance between the top three teams in the rest is “unacceptable”. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Brawn pointed out just two podium finishes in the last two years were scored by a team other than Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull. “Two podiums from a total of 123 is unacceptable,” said Brawn, “especially when it comes with an ever increasing technical and financial divide. “It’s a problem we are tackling together with the FIA and the teams, because the future of Formula 1 depends on it.” Formula One Management is planning technical and sporting changes for the 2021 season which will include the introduction of a budget gap to improve the competition between the largest and smallest teas. “There are various solutions on the table and we must all accept that we can’t go on like this for too much longer,” said Brawn, who said those not in the top three teams were … [Read more...] about Formula 1 cannot go on like this, warns Brawn · RaceFans

Formula 1 teams are likely to continue using one-stop strategies to win races next year despite changes to tyres, according to Pirelli. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The sport’s official tyre supplier is considering whether to be more conservative with its selections for next year. Pirelli’s sporting director Mario Isola pointed out that its move towards more aggressive tyres this year largely failed to encourage teams to make more pit stops. With next year’s tyres already designed, Pirelli now has a week to decide its tyre nominations for the first race of the season. But Isola said it isn’t clear what F1 wants from its tyres next year. “The range and the construction are defined,” said Isola. “We cannot change it now, what we can change is the selection. I discussed that with drivers and also with teams, but there is no clear indication on the direction to take. “That’s why I want to involve them and the teams in the selection, because it is not … [Read more...] about F1 may have to accept more one-stop races in 2019 – Pirelli · RaceFans

If a single 2018 incident demonstrated just how disjointed Formula 1 has become, it was the Haas versus Force India protest filed late on Thursday in Abu Dhabi. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Significantly, the protest came within F1 hours of scrutineering and ahead of the season’s final championship round. Also crucial to proceedings is that Abu Dhabi steward Garry Connelly also officiated in Belgium, where Racing Point Force India was declared a new team holding a new entrant license. Thus there was no cause to postpone or reconvene the matter at a later date, enabling both the hearing and the crucial (and expected) outcome – namely that the Force India cars were legal – to be handed ahead of FP3 on Saturday. However, Force India’s victory actually represents a defeat as we outlined here immediately after verdict. The road map of the mess F1 found itself in has been detailed in these pages since Force India plunged into administration at end-July. But … [Read more...] about Haas’s protest a legacy of F1’s missing Concorde Agreement – 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

Last month we outlined how precariously Formula 1’s fortunes hinge upon its share price , in turn driven by factors surrounding the sport and the subsequent opinions of investment analysts. Yet, many of these have seldom – if ever – seen a grand prix live or on TV, and base their (critical) analyses on developments that profoundly affect stock value. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free In a nutshell, uncertainty immediately knocks the price; positive, hard news gradually boosts it. At the time we flagged two dates: November 8th, on which F1’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media would field investor calls on Q3 earnings; and November 14th, Liberty Media’s Annual Investor Day, at which the results and prospects of group entities are presented to shareholders. F1 in particular seemed to leave the investment community distinctly lukewarm. During the investor call F1’s share prices – A Class FWONA and C Class FWONK – dipped. Steeper falls followed the call’s … [Read more...] about RacingLines: What is and isn’t behind F1’s share price moves – 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

In the round-up: Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says the team is now dedicating its development effort to its new car for the 2019 F1 season . Become a RaceFans Supporter and go ad-free RaceFans operates thanks in part to the support of its readers. In order to help fund the development and growth of the site please consider becoming a RaceFans Supporter. For just £1 per month/£12 per year you will also be upgraded to an ad-free account. Sign up and find out more below: Become a RaceFans Supporter RaceFans Supporter FAQ What they say Steiner was asked whether the team had decided to switch its focus to its car for next year. We decided. We are doing the ’19 car. We have to because otherwise you fall too far behind. And also when you look at our car now in the midfield we are quite solid so it’s no point to keep on working on this one because we have to look at the future. We make developments and we will bring them to the car in the next races. They … [Read more...] about RaceFans round-up: Haas switches car development focus to 2019