The 73rd season in the Formula 1 world championship was a record-setting one in a variety of ways with new all-time benchmarks set and some long-running sequences coming to an end. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free A 15-year continuous run ended for Lewis Hamilton , as did a peculiar record held by Daniel Ricciardo. And something happened in 2022 that has not occurred in Formula 1 since the 1979 season. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these are some of the most outstanding records that were either set, broken or ended in the 2022 season… Record breakers Max Verstappen soared to unparalleled heights in 2022. As well as successfully defending his world championship title from 2021, he set a new all-time record for most wins in a single season with 15, breaking clear of Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher’s previous record of 13. Despite the incredible achievement, Verstappen’s season win percentage (68.18%) was actually lower than both … [Read more...] about Records smashed and winning runs wrecked: The 2022 F1 season in stats
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Will Red Bull dominate again as their development handicap bites in 2023?
The curse of sport is that unless you are number one, you are condemned to live under a cloud of failure. For no matter how many races you win, poles you take or points you score, there can only be one champion. The rest all fall short. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Red Bull know this only too well. After being deposed from F1’s Mount Olympus with the onset of the V6 turbo hybrids, their journey back to the top was as frustrating as it was humbling. But that decade of discontent reached its end over the past two seasons, and Red Bull head into a new year as undisputedly and unequivocally the best team in their sport. Emerging bruised, bloodied but victorious from their brutal year-long battle against Mercedes in 2021, Red Bull knew they were vulnerable going into Max Verstappen’s first year sporting the coveted number one on his car. But when Mercedes faltered, Ferrari faced up to Red Bull in their place. However, Ferrari’s implosion as the season … [Read more...] about Will Red Bull dominate again as their development handicap bites in 2023?
AlphaTauri will ‘take more parts from the Red Bull menu’ for 2024 car overhaul
AlphaTauri’s new car for the 2024 Formula 1 season will be significantly different to the AT04 as they have been told to use more parts from senior team Red Bull. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free While Red Bull have dominated the 2023 world championship, winning all bar one of the 16 races so far, the junior squad languishes at the bottom of the championship table with just five points. AlphaTauri is at risk of ending the year with their worst championship result during Red Bull’s 18-year ownership of the team. Their lowest championship finish in that time was 10th place with eight points in 2009, when they were known as Toro Rosso. The two teams have used the power units, now known as Honda RBPT, since 2019. They also share some other parts. But after AlphaTauri diverged from the world champions’ design in some areas this year, Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko said its future approach should be “based on Red Bull Racing, as far as the … [Read more...] about AlphaTauri will ‘take more parts from the Red Bull menu’ for 2024 car overhaul
Which was F1’s best down-to-the-wire title fight?
For the 30th time in 71 seasons of the Formula 1 world championship, the drivers’ title was decided in the very final race of the season. But what was F1’s best ever final showdown? Recap all thirty of the final race title deciders below and then let us know which one you feel was the best climax seen in a Formula 1 season. 1950: Fangio vs Fagioli vs Farina The first world championship produces the first title showdown at Monza. Fangio needs a win or second place to become the inaugural world champion, but Fangio retires twice in two separate cars, opening the door for Farina who takes the win and the first ever world title. 1951: Fangio vs Ascari vs Gonzalez The next year, another threeway showdown for the title at the season-ending Spanish Grand Prix around the streets of Barcelona. Going into the final round with the lead, Fangio holds off Ferrari’s Jose Froilan Gonzalez to take the chequered flag and secure his first of five titles. 1956: Fangio vs Collins Peter … [Read more...] about Which was F1’s best down-to-the-wire title fight?
Helmet rows, hot mics and more forgotten motorsport stories from 2022
The 2022 Formula 1 season was full of drama on track and in the paddock, some of it leftover from the previous year’s controversies. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free With all that going on, it was easy to overlook some of the strange and surprising stories of the last 12 months. Red Bull ‘launched’ a show car Formula 1 car launches always attract huge interest as they can give the first indication of how the teams will compare against each other for the season ahead with any innovative designs. That was especially the case this year as teams produced their first designs for radically new regulations. Preferring not to give the opposition an early peek at their real RB18, Red Bull instead presented a repainted show car at their launch on February 9th. The real thing, which appeared in testing two weeks later, looked very different. Red Bull presents first images of new car for 2022 F1 season Magnussen’s F1 return has big repercussions After … [Read more...] about Helmet rows, hot mics and more forgotten motorsport stories from 2022
Ferrari power unit reliability concerns “a little bit bigger” after Monaco – Steiner
In the round-up: Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says that concerns over the reliability of the Ferrari power unit grew after the Monaco Grand Prix In brief Ferrari PU reliability concerns “a little bit bigger” after Monaco – Steiner Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says that concerns over the reliability of the Ferrari power unit grew after the Monaco Grand Prix. The team had to retire driver Kevin Magnussen’s car during the race due to a water leak with his car’s ERS. Two days earlier, Valtteri Bottas had missed almost the entire first practice session due to a Ferrari power unit problem in his Alfa Romeo. Steiner says that following the multiple problems in Monaco, concerns about the reliability of the Ferrari power units has grown. “Obviously we had some issues, mainly in Monte Carlo – before we didn’t have any big issue with it – but Monte Carlo, there were issues for us and Alfa [Romeo], so … [Read more...] about Ferrari power unit reliability concerns “a little bit bigger” after Monaco – Steiner
Austrian GP agrees second F1 contract extension in fourth months
Formula 1 has agreed another new deal to continue racing at the Red Bull Ring just four months after the last was announced. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free The series announced a contract extension with the Austrian venue in March, keeping it on the calendar until 2027. The new deal adds a further three years, meaning F1 will race at the track until at least 2030. The event at the Red Bull Ring returned to the schedule in 2014. As well as holding a race every year since then it put on extra grands prix during the pandemic-affected 2020 and 2021 seasons. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the team behind the Austrian event is “exceptional”, and paid tribute to Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away last year. “The vision and passion of Dietrich Mateschitz, a man who loved this sport, made this all possible and it is a very special moment and a tribute to him that we can confirm we will be racing at this incredible venue until 2030. “The … [Read more...] about Austrian GP agrees second F1 contract extension in fourth months
Aston Martin admits it must turn around trend of F1 season
The Silverstone-based outfit began 2023 as Red Bull’s main challenger, with Fernando Alonso rolling off five podium finishes from the first six races. He also had a shot at winning the Monaco Grand Prix. But since the midpoint of the season, Aston Martin’s form has fallen back, and Alonso has had just one podium – second place in the Dutch GP – in the last eight races. It has also slipped back to fourth in the constructors’ championship and now runs the risk of falling to fifth, behind the resurgent McLaren squad, if it does not lift its performance over the rest of the year. Team principal Mike Krack is aware of the need for things to improve, as he acknowledged it would be bad for morale if the team ended the year on the back foot. Asked if it was critical Aston Martin did not see out 2023 drifting backwards, Krack said: “Yeah, I 100% agree. This is very important. It's a bit of the opposite of last year. “If you have a good start, and then others are overtaking … [Read more...] about Aston Martin admits it must turn around trend of F1 season
‘Gloves are off’ at Alpine as Luca de Meo has hit the ‘reset button’
Alpine’s turbulent year of change in upper management is Renault CEO Luca de Meo ‘hitting the reset button’ for a rebuild, according to a former team manager. Alpine are currently under the leadership of interim team boss Bruno Famin, following the ousting of previous principal Otmar Szafnauer heading into the summer break. On top of that, Alpine stalwart Alan Permane also departed the team at the same time after 34 years of loyal service. Former Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi was also moved aside to concentrate on ‘special projects’, while the team also welcomed new investment from a consortium including Wrexham owners and Hollywood stars Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Luca de Meo is ‘impatient’ and ‘underwhelmed’ by Alpine performance Appearing on the GP Racing podcast, former Jordan Grand Prix and Cosworth head Mark Gallagher addressed the fallout from the Alpine revolution from a commercial perspective, pointing at Renault CEO Luca de Meo as being eager to set about his … [Read more...] about ‘Gloves are off’ at Alpine as Luca de Meo has hit the ‘reset button’