Wolff admits Mercedes situation is ‘brutally painful’
RACER » Formula 1
by Chris Medland
5m ago
Mercedes is in a “brutally painful” position three races into the Formula 1 season, team principal Toto Wolff concedes. Mercedes has only scored a best result of fifth place so far this season, with both cars retiring from the last round in Melbourne. Lewis Hamilton was out early with a power unit issue, while George Russell crashed in the closing laps chasing Fernando Alonso. A post-race penalty for Alonso cost Aston Martin two points and dropped it behind Mercedes into fifth in the constructors’ standings, and Wolff insists there is reason for optimism but he doesn’t know when Mercedes will ..read more
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Steiner calls for greater clarity on defending after Alonso penalty
RACER » Formula 1
by Chris Medland
5m ago
Formula 1 needs to be more clear about what is and isn’t an acceptable level of defensive driving in the wake of Fernando Alonso’s penalty at the Australian Grand Prix, according to Guenther Steiner. Alonso was given a retrospective drive-through penalty — converted into 20 seconds of race time — for driving in a “potentially dangerous” manner when slowing ahead of George Russell on the approach to Turn 6 late in Sunday’s race. The decision has sparked debate on what counts as skillful defense and when it crosses a line, but speaking after being announced as a new Miami Grand Prix ambassador ..read more
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Two sides to Alonso's Australian GP penalty argument
RACER » Formula 1
by Chris Medland
21h ago
It was a bit of a bizarre end to the Australian Grand Prix when it came to the incident involving George Russell and Fernando Alonso. But while I’m going to stand up for Alonso to some degree, I’m also not against the fact that the stewards issued a penalty for what happened. The first viewing hadn’t caused me to raise any eyebrows, and my focus was instead on Russell losing control and his car ending up on its side in the middle of the track. The summons for both drivers to see the stewards was issued shortly after the checkered flag, and as that meant an investigation was being launched it g ..read more
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Mercedes identifies correlation issues between sim and on-track performance
RACER » Formula 1
by Chris Medland
21h ago
Mercedes has identified an area of its simulation models back at the team’s factory that could be a correlation weakness to address, according to technical director James Allison. The first three races of the season have seen flashes of strong pace from George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, but a best finish of fifth place in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Both drivers retired from the last race in Melbourne where Allison again says the car was looking competitive for a spell, and he believes there is an aspect of the correlation between factory and the track that needs improving. More Fo ..read more
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Blame for Williams chassis issue is on me - Vowles
RACER » Formula 1
by Chris Medland
21h ago
Williams team principal James Vowles says he has to take the blame for the lack of a spare chassis that left the team with just one car racing in the Australian Grand Prix. Alex Albon’s crash in FP1 damaged his chassis, and with Williams still yet to have manufactured a spare, it was left to the team to decide which of the two drivers would get to compete in the rest of the race weekend. Vowles opted to withdraw Logan Sargeant, leaving Albon to take over his teammate’s car and finish 11th in the race. But after describing the situation as “unacceptable,” Vowles says he takes responsibility. “I ..read more
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Ricciardo blocking out negativity as he stays confident of turnaround
RACER » Formula 1
by Chris Medland
21h ago
Daniel Ricciardo feels that he is on the verge of delivering stronger performances and results because he is feeling so good behind the wheel, despite a tough Australian Grand Prix. The Australian arrived at his home race off the back of a frustrating start to the year, failing to score in either of the first two races and struggling in Jeddah with his car’s handling. RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda outqualified him comfortably in Saudi Arabia and again in Melbourne — where he went on to finish an impressive seventh — while a Q1 exit limited Ricciardo to 12th, but the 34-year-old insists he’s in a go ..read more
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Steiner named ambassador for Miami GP
RACER » Formula 1
by Chris Medland
21h ago
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has become an ambassador for the Miami Grand Prix to try and continue Formula 1’s growth in North America. Steiner left his position at Haas over the winter after nearly a decade in charge of the team, and has since taken on duties as a pundit and analyst within F1. As an ambassador for the race in Miami, Steiner will help promote the event both in the build-up and by making appearances during the race weekend itself, to help continue the evolution of one of the three American races on the calendar. More Formula 1! Two sides to Alonso's Australian GP ..read more
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The RACER Mailbag, March 27
RACER » Formula 1
by Marshall Pruett, Chris Medland, Kelly Crandall
2d ago
Welcome to the RACER Mailbag. Questions for any of RACER’s writers can be sent to mailbag@racer.com. We can’t guarantee that every letter will be published, but we’ll answer as many as we can. Published questions may be edited for length and clarity. Questions received after 3pm ET each Monday will appear the following week. Q: Thermal. What a joke! I turned it off at the start of the second race. Stupid idea, worse than F1. Rich Shiroky, Toms River, NJ MARSHALL PRUETT: Most of the comments I’ve read on social media have been highly critical of all aspects of the racing, and the other comments ..read more
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Horner won't rule out Red Bull approach for Sainz
RACER » Formula 1
by Chris Medland
3d ago
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says Carlos Sainz cannot be ruled out as an option for 2025 if it opts to replace Sergio Perez next year. Sainz won the Australian Grand Prix just 16 days after having his appendix removed and missing the previous race in Saudi Arabia, while Perez only finished fifth after a grid penalty and then getting visor tear-offs stuck to his floor. The result ended a run of nine straight Max Verstappen victories, and while Yuki Tsunoda again impressed for the junior RB team with seventh place, Horner says Sainz is showing himself to be a strong option on the dri ..read more
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Alonso 'surprised' by post-race Melbourne penalty
RACER » Formula 1
by Chris Medland
4d ago
Fernando Alonso says the way drivers have to get creative to try and defend positions at times is “part of the art of motorsport” after being surprised by the penalty he was given after the Australian Grand Prix. The stewards handed Alonso a retrospective drive-through penalty – converted into 20 seconds being added to his race time – for driving in a “potentially dangerous” manner when defending against George Russell on the final lap of the race in Melbourne. More Formula 1! Norris felt he could have split Ferraris in MelbourneAlonso dropped to eighth after penalty in MelbourneMelbourne win ..read more
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