Tag: LewisHamilton

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F1 2024 Season

Silly Season Begins!

2024’s ‘silly season’ could be one of the most interesting we have seen in a while with 15 of the 20 drivers having contracts that expire at the end of 2024! Sergio Perez, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri Bottas, Logan Sargent, Alex Albon, Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Niko Hulkenburg, Kevin Magnussen, and Charles Leclerc are all at risk of not making a return in 2025.

Source: SkySports.com

January 25th saw the first of the announcements made with Charles Leclerc extending his contract with Ferrari beyond the 2024 season. Leclerc has been with the Scuderia Ferrari team full time since 2019 and has so far achieved 5 race wins and 23 pole positions. When the announcement was made, Leclerc commented “I’m very pleased to know I will be wearing the Scuderia Ferrari race suit for several more seasons to come”. The announcement was not a surprising one to F1 fans as Leclerc has become Ferrari’s ‘golden boy’ and he has always said he wants to win a World Driver’s Championship with Ferrari.

Team principal Fred Vasseur commented “Charles’ bond to the Scuderia goes beyond that of just a driver and a team, as he has been part of the Ferrari family for eight years now, dating back to a time before he first sported the Prancing Horse emblem on his race suit. His values and those of our team are intertwined and so it was natural for us to be in agreement on extending our collaboration.”

Source: MonocoAddict.com

The next announcement was made a day later on the 26th January as McLaren and Lando Norris announced they were continuing their successful relationship beyond 2024. Norris joined McLaren’s F1 team as a driver in 2019 and was promoted to number 1 driver in 2023 when rookie Piastri joined. Norris’ announcement was unexpected as the deal signed in 2022 saw him staying with the team until the end o0f the 2025 season. However, with the successes the team have been enjoying with him as a driver they have decided to extend that contract into another multi-year deal. With Piastri signing a new contract in September 2023, the McLaren team is set to run the same line up for the next 3 seasons!

Source: RacingNews365.com

Norris’ comment on the new contract was that: “It’s a great feeling to be staying in papaya, I’ve grown up with McLaren and feel at home here, the team are like family to me.”

The most unexpected announcement of silly season 2024 came on February 1st when Sky Sports F1 unexpectedly announced they had a reputable source who had told them Hamilton would be moving to Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season! After a day of rumours flying around social media, F1 and Mercedes-AMG F1 made the official announcement that Hamilton had activated a release option in his contract ending a 17-year relationship with Mercedes-Benz and an 11-year relationship with the Brackley team. As of the end of the 2024 season, Hamilton will be partnering Leclerc at Ferrari which is a team up no fans saw coming. 

Source: SportsKeeda.com

Hamilton’s statement on the news was: “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together. I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”

With Hamilton’s unexpected move to Ferrari being announced it now means there is an open seat at Mercedes that nobody saw coming leaving drivers to fight for a seat with one of the top teams! It also reveals to fans that Ferrari will not be renewing their contract with Carlos Sainz leaving him looking for a new team to race for in 2025. 

What do you make of silly season so far!? Leave a comment below!

Written by Cesca.

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F1 2024 Season

1 MONTH TO TESTING!

With just 27 days to go until F1 pre-season testing begins in Bahrain, let’s take a quick look at why the testing period is so crucial for teams!

Source: RacingNews365.com

Over the winter break teams finish building the cars they will use to compete in the following season. With regulations staying mostly the same in 2024, teams already have a good idea of what works and what doesn’t, but testing is just as important! Having spent a year working with one car, testing provides a vital opportunity for drivers and teams to get to know the new car and what it is capable of before taking it to the first race on March 2nd.

The day is normally divided into 2, with a morning and afternoon session of track time where teams can send out one driver at a time. Drivers become accustom with the car they will be spending many hours in over the following months! Testing also allows teams to test the reliability of their new cars as well as any new design features. They can assess the data and figure out how to get the best performance from their car and drivers. 

Source: AutoRacing1.com

Testing is typically the place where rookies get their first proper go behind the wheel of the car they will be responsible for. It allows them to get better acquainted with the extreme speed of the car and understand the technology the teams have in place. In a rare occurrence for F1, the 2024 grid remains the same as the grid competing at the end of the 2023 season, meaning drivers have a minimum of a year of experience behind them.

While the drivers are out on track, the engineers will be collecting data to ensure it matches with the simulations they have been working with in wind tunnels and driving simulators. It also gives the pit crew a chance to practice the all-important pit stops with the new car. Over the course of the weekend, you might see some strange things! For example, teams will put devices and special paint on the front of the cars to measure the air flow around the car to report back to the aerodynamics teams!

Source: PlanetF1.com

Testing is being held in Bahrain in 2024 meaning teams can gather data and practise driving the circuit before the first race is held there the following week. It should be a great first race given the amount of track time the cars and drivers will have had in the space of 7 days! 

F1.com will run live text commentary throughout the testing weekend so fans can keep up to date with everything going on! Not long now until F1 is back on our screens!

Testing Schedule:

Practise 1: 21st February 2024, 07:00 – 16:00 GMT

Practice 2: 22nd February 2024, 07:00 – 16:00 GMT

Practice 3: 23rd February 2024, 07:00 – 16:00 GMT

Written by Cesca.

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Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday: Hungary 2014!

Taking a look back to one of Daniel Ricciardo’s finest hours in his F1 career, this week we head back to the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix which saw a drying track cause chaos and a charging Daniel Ricciardo come through to take the win!

Source: F1Madness.com

The starting grid saw Nico Roseburg on P1 for Mercedes with Sebastian Vettel in P2 for Redbull. Ricciardo started P4 for Redbull behind Valtteri Bottas in the Williams. The cars started out on intermediate tyres as the track was still very wet from rain earlier in the day. Despite the clean start, many drivers quickly had issues with Lewis Hamilton, Marcus Ericsson, and Romain Grosjean spinning off the track. 

Source: Pittas.com

On lap 23, Sergio Perez in the Force India hit the barriers down the start/finish straight bringing out the safety car. It was under the safety car that Ricciardo’s team made the tactical decision to swop to a two-stop strategy. Drivers continued to spin with Vettel being the next to take the long way down the straight!

On lap 54, Ricciardo made his second pitstop and began to place race leader Fernando Alonso under pressure in his Ferrari. Hamilton was also chasing Alonso for the lead, but his tyres began to fade making an overtake easy for Ricciardo. Ricciardo went on to win the race, claiming his second podium of the year! Ricciardo finished 5 seconds in front of Alonso making it one of the most impressive drives of his career.

Source: SCMP.com

Ricciardo would go onto win again in Belgium and claim his best finish in the Driver’s Championship, finishing the season in 3rd. Despite the intense chaos of the race and multiple drivers spinning and going off track, Pastor Maldonado in the Lotus Renault was the only driver to not finish the race!

Do you remember Hungary 2014? What were your thoughts!?

Written by Cesca.

Categories
F1 2023 Season

THE BEST OF THE REST!

RedBull Racing and Mercedes are clear front runners when it comes to F1 with both teams being the only winners of the Constructors Championship since 2010! Ferrari have mounted a number of attempts to reclaim their top spot, but it has not been possible when faced with the technology and drivers of the RedBull and Mercedes cars. With the dominance of RedBull in the 2023 season it could be said that it was 2nd place Mercedes who were “the best of the rest” but let’s first consider those further down the table!

Source: F1Chronical.com

In 2023 Aston Martin made a comeback through the first half of the season with driver Fernando Alonso putting them on the podium multiple times. It was clear the upgrades brought to the car through the second half of the season were not up to the same standard allowing McLaren to claw themselves back into the fight with Ferrari for third place. 

There was a clear divide in 2023 between the top 5 in the Constructors Championship and the bottom 5 with 5th place Aston Martin scoring 280 and 6th place Alpine scoring 120. Alpine could be considered “the best of the rest” as they were consistently in the lower end of the points and began a good fight with Aston Martin towards the end of the season, it just came a bit too late!

Source: Goodwood.com

However, a strong contender for this title is Williams. Williams had a much better season in 2023 than they have had for a while with Alex Albon scoring 27 points landing himself 13th in the Drivers’ Championship and securing 7th place in the Constructors Championship. It is clear that Albon has huge potential as an F1 driver and would score even more consistently in a car that could keep up with him.

With Alfa Romeo rebranding themselves for the 2024 season as Stake F1 with new sponsorships it will be interesting to see if there is an elevation to the standard of the car. Despite having experienced point scorer Valtteri Bottas as a part of their team in 2023, the best they could achieve was 9th in the Constructors Championship. 

Source: MotorsportWeek.com

Overall, Alexander Albon’s hard work in the Williams takes the win for the 2023 season as he proved himself as a brilliant driver worthy of a place in a top team. It appears under the management of James Vowels and the driving of Albon, Williams have managed to break their downward streak and have started heading back up the tables of both the Drivers’ World Championship and the Constructors World Championship. We can only hope for move improvement from this historic team.

Who do you think will shine in 2024? Leave a comment below!

Written by Cesca.

Categories
Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday: Monza 2020!

Source: MostlyF1.com

With 2023 coming to an end, it is time for our last Flashback Friday of the year! Monza 2020 was an epic event with an unexpected podium after it was the first race since Hungry 2012 to not have a Mercedes, RedBull, or Ferrari on the podium! Pierre Gasly accomplished his first Formula 1 race win and emotions were high for everyone involved. 

It was Mercedes teammates, Lewis Hamilton and Valteri Bottas who sat on the front row of the grid with eventual race winner Gasly starting in 10th for Alphatauri Honda. It was an exciting first lap with Hamilton getting a good start and heading into the lead of the race. Bottas on the other hand had an awful start letting both Mclaren’s of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz past him.

Source: F1.com

Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari had a break failure in lap 6 sending him through the polystyrene barriers but coming to a stop safely off the track. On lap 19 the Haas of Kevin Magnussen experienced engine issues, coming to a stop on the side of the tack. The safety car was brought out to allow for its safe removal. The pit lane was closed at the same time the safety car was deployed however Hamilton and Mercedes still came in to change tyres. On lap 22 the pit lane reopened with all cars except Hamilton coming in to change tyres and the green flag to go racing again came on lap 24.

Lap 25 saw Charles Leclerc send his Ferrari into the barriers at the Parabolica in a huge accident, bringing the safety car straight back out. Due to the immense damage to the tyre barriers, the race was red flagged to allow for necessary repairs. Hamilton received a 10-second stop-go penalty for entering the pitlane while closed.

Source: GrandPrix247.com

The race resumed with a standing grid start on lap 28 with Hamilton still in the lead and Lance Stroll for Racing Point close behind him. Gasly restarted the race in third but overtook Stroll on the restart putting him into second place. When Hamilton pitted on lap 29 and served his penalty it sent him tumbling down to the back of the grid in 17th place. Lap 31 had Max Verstappen in the RedBull retire due to engine issues. 

It was a close race the end end with Sainz and Stroll fighting hard against Kimi Raikkonen for podium places. Hamilton began to move back through the field, and it was close, tight racing all the way through. The battle for first was intense with only 0.3 seconds being between Gasly and Sainz during the final lap.

Source: TheRace.com

In the end it was Gasly who prevailed, finishing 0.4 seconds in front of Sainz. It was Stroll who took the last podium place of Monza 2020. Fastest lap went to Lewis Hamilton who had worked his way back up to 7thposition. It was an emotional day for the Gasly and the Alphtauri Honda team and not one they would forget any time soon.

Written by Cesca.

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F1 2024 Season

Sprint Season!

Once again, the F1 Sprint is back for 6 of the 24 weekends in 2024, but which countries have been given the honour?

“F1’s Sprint calendar is designed to feature circuits which encourage overtaking and make for close and entertaining racing” according to F1.com. Brazil is set to host its fourth Sprint weekend, with Austria to host its third, Austin and Qatar returning for a second year, and China and Miami joining the line-up for the first time. The returning circuits have held successful sprint events before and are set to be strong weekends once again.

Source: SkySports.com

China and Miami are interesting addition to the sprint calendar as F1 goes racing in China for the first time since 2019! There are still reservations amongst fans that the weekend will go ahead given the strict covid measures and current political climate that have resulted in the race being cancelled for the last 3 years. Miami will be entering its third hosting weekend in F1 history and has been improving every year. As a circuit it has had several successful overtakes that have been great to watch so is a good choice for Sprint weekend. Will someone be able to make history by winning two Sprint races in the same country!?

Source: MotorsportTickets.com

It is Azerbaijan and Belgium who have not had their Sprint contracts renewed for the 2024 season and given the difficulty drivers have with both circuits this is a positive move.

The Sprint calendar for 2024 is as follows:

China – Shanghai – April 19-21

United States – Miami – May 3-5

Austria – Spielberg – June 28-30

United States – Austin – October 18-20

Brazil – Sao Paulo – November 1-3

Qatar – Lusail – November 29-December 1

Source: FIA.com

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA said: 

“The addition of Shanghai will be a challenge for the teams and drivers as Formula 1 heads back to China for the first time since 2019, while a Sprint in Miami will add a new dimension to an enthralling weekend. We must continuously develop and adapt to ensure we are doing what is best for the sport, and as such we are working with FOM and the teams to define the future direction of the Sprint format.”

F1.com

Written by Cesca.

Categories
F1 2023 Season

The Best Battles of the 2023 F1 Season!

It’s hard to believe that the F1 season is officially over, it feels like just yesterday we were still hopeful for a competitive championship battle. The season was one of incredible predictability and extreme dominance but, there were still some battles that kept us on our feet throughout the year, with all of that being said here are my top five!

5: Ocon vs Leclerc, Austria

Esteban Ocon (FRA) Alpine F1 Team A523. 01.07.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 10, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria, Sprint Day. – http://www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images

This first battle was one that stuck out to me because it was a picture perfect example of what is the appeal of the F1 Sprint. Two drivers putting it wheel to wheel for a sprint point and providing excellent racing in a shorter more condensed version of the main event. This battle had everything needed to be a top 5 battle from the late braking to the near contact and the line selection, the only thing keeping it from being higher on this list is that it was very short in length and didn’t really change the outcome of the race.

4: Piastri vs Perez, Hungary

This battle is still hilarious to me because it shouldn’t have ever been a thing given the equipment and experience levels. Yes, the McLaren was great in the second half of the season but it was nowhere near the same level as the Red Bull at this point if at all especially with a rookie behind the wheel no matter how generationally talented that rookie is. Perez should’ve never had to have this battle in that car but thankfully for the sake of this list, he did. Piastri battling to maintain 4th in this battle showed just how bright his future in this sport is by fearlessly going wheel to wheel with a driver as accomplished as Perez and never backing down. Even without DRS Piastri was keeping it close with Checo and overall just making it a pain to attempt the move. It would have been higher up on the list if it were longer and had a more significant impact on the overall result.

3: Sainz vs Perez Austria

(L to R): Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing RB19 and Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari SF-23 battle for position. 02.07.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 10, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria, Race Day. – http://www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Coates / XPB Images

Now we get to the podium places and what is more fitting than a battle for the podium in Austria. This is the Perez I wish we got more of in 2023, he battled ferociously with Sainz and overall just looked like himself again. Sainz had unreal misfortune this year but here it was the opposite, both drivers gave it everything. This battle brought the best out of both drivers and made for an excellent visual or fans who by this point were embracing the fact that the season was decided, but this battle gave us hope for next year.

2: Alonso vs Hamilton, Bahrain

Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR23 leads Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14. 05.03.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain, Race Day. – http://www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Images

This battle was special. This was nostalgia overload, it was like we were back in 2007 again, Fernando Alonso and Sir Lewis Hamilton battling for a podium place under the lights will never get old and this was no different. The Aston Martin was among the worst cars on the grid the previous year so when we woke up and saw it running down a Mercedes for P3 we couldn’t help but look away. This battle had longevity and overtakes galore, it took everything we missed about close racing and compiled it into one segment of a race. Seeing Alonso without DRS close in on and overtake Lewis was jaw dropping and then Lewis came back and once again you needed to pick your jaw up from the floor, I didn’t want it to end but was glad we got something out of it.

1: Leclerc vs Perez, Vegas

WHO SAID VEGAS WAS GOING TO BE A COMPLETE FAILURE!? I did… but I take it back a thousand times over, this was the race of the year. I could’ve done a top 5 battles from this race alone and it would’ve been sufficient. Vegas proved that America deserves multiple races especially if they’re going to deliver these results, but I digress. This battle was incredible, it wasn’t just Leclerc vs Perez it was Leclerc vs Red Bull and it was the first time in a long time that it was actually competitive to the end. Once Verstappen pulled away it kind of dampened it but then we got Leclerc vs Perez and all was right again. Perez overtook and was pulling away with only a handful to go and we thought it was another RB 1-2 when all of a sudden on the LAST LAP Leclerc from out of nowhere dives in to take P2 and would go on to finish there, it was spectacular and it wins battle of the year in my eyes.

Thank you for reading and here’s to hoping this is a harder list to make next year! (In a good way)

Written by Andy

Categories
F1 2023 Season

The 2023 season comes to a close!

Source: SkySportsF1.com

With the last race of the season coming up this Sunday at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi, what is left to decide in the World Driver’s Championship and the World Constructors Championship!? Red Bull successful wrapped up both championships with races to spare so the winners are not in doubt going into the final race, however it’s still all to play for further down in the championship. 

With Hamilton failing to score points in the penultimate race of the season in Vegas, Sergio Perez has secured second in the WDC with Hamilton remining being him in third. Unlike the Constructors Championship wherever position matters, after 3rd place in the Drivers’ Championship, there are no prizes or money on offer, so they are competing for personal pride and Instagram bragging rights!

Source: SkySportsF1.com

Spaniards Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso are tied on 200 points in fourth and fifth places respectively, with the Ferrari driver officially ahead of his Aston Martin countryman by virtue of his race win in Singapore. McLaren’s Lando Norris is five points back from Alonso with Charles Leclerc close behind. George Russell remains comfortably in front of Oscar Piastri and Lance Stroll, the Canadian could still switch places with the Aussie if Stroll scored big and Piastri does not. The other close battle is for 11th and 12th places which are occupied by Alpine team-mates Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon who are separated by just four points after the latter’s fine drive to fourth in Las Vegas. There are 12 points separating the drivers between 14th and 21st with Liam Lawson outscoring Logan Sargent to come 20th despite only driving in 4 races this season. However, every full-time driver has already scored points this year too, something that doesn’t always happen in a season!

Source: X.com/LiamLawson

Mercedes and Ferrari head to Abu Dhabi in a fight for what is a distant second-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship for the second successive season. Four points separate the two historical giants with Mercedes’ 392 points playing Ferrari’s 388. Only champions Red Bull and sixth-placed Alpine are absolutely guaranteed to finish in the places they start the weekend. Although it’s relatively small consolation for Mercedes and Ferrari, given their grander ambitions in F1, finishing second compared to third does come with a useful additional prize-money boost, which is thought to be around $10m.

McLaren remain strong favourites for fourth but their difficult outing in Vegas has given Aston Martin, who finished fifth and ninth last weekend, an outside shot at overhauling them in the last round. McLaren’s advantage is 11 points. Williams also look well set for seventh in what would be their best placing since 2017. AlphaTauri would need to score at least seven points to overhaul them, which they haven’t done since June 2022.

Source: McLaren.com

However, AlphaTauri do have a useful five-point cushion over Alfa Romeo, whose advantage over last-placed Haas is four points. Despite a good start to the season, Haas have scored just one point in the last 12 events.

Where will everyone finish the 2023 season, tune into Sundays race to find out!

Written by Cesca.

Categories
Flashback Friday

Flashback Friday: France 2021

France 2021 was another instalment of the exhilarating 2021 Formula 1 season. It once again witnessed the intense battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen for the 2021 World Drivers Championship.

Source: Motorsport.com

The strategists predicted a one-stop race in France, but Red Bull gambled after Verstappen’s lap 1 mistake by pitting for a second time. It was then a question of whether he had the pace to get close and then pass Hamilton, who opted to stay out on a one-stop. In the end he did – though he only pulled it off two laps before the chequered flag, leaving racing fans in suspense!

The race captivated fans up and down the grid with drivers fighting for vital championship points. On lap 11, Alonso, Ricciardo, and Norris battles it out for 8th, 9th, and 10th place. Strategy played a huge part from the start of the race with drivers starting their first round of pitstops on lap 17. For many, it was a question of a successful undercut in the pits or a two-stop strategy.

Source: gp-videos.com

Lap 20 saw Hamilton pit and Verstappen pull of his undercut, taking the lead of the race. Lap 32 saw Verstappen pit for the second time, giving up the race lead to Hamilton. Norris pulled off several impressive overtakes to get himself into the points scoring places.

Lap 42 was the start of Verstappen’s charge on Hamilton needing to pass the other Mercedes of Bottas, who on lap 44 made a mistake, going wide in a corner and allowing Verstappen to go sailing through. With the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez also passing Bottas a couple of laps later, both Mercedes drivers began complaining on the radio about the strategy calls the team had made by only stopping once as their tyres were not up to racing the Red Bulls on fresh tires.

Source: PlanetF1.com

Verstappen overtook Hamilton on the penultimate lap of the race, and it finished with Verstappen in 1st, Hamilton in 2nd, and Perez in 3rd.

What did you make of the 2021 French GP?

Written by Cesca.

Categories
F1 2023 Season

Vegas Baby!

Source: SportsIllustrated.com

This weekend, 17th – 19th November, will see the most highly anticipated race of the season take place! The weekend is a unique part of the season with the track events taking place between Thursday and Saturday, rather than the standard Friday to Sunday.

Drivers will be taking to the Vegas streets in the late hours so the full effect of the bright lights can be enjoyed by spectators around the world. The street race will be a true test for drivers and teams as colder than normal conditions are expected to impact the cars and tyres.

Source: GPFans.com

Formula 1 has taken to the streets of Vegas before with the last race being held in 1982! It was known as the Caesars Palace Grand Prix and the track was heavily criticised for being a flat track that reached high temperatures of 37 degrees. 

Ross Brawn, a former F1 managing director, admitted that the series had not considered the low temperatures faced in Vegas at the end of November when initially assigning the track a spot on the 2023 calendar. Many are concerned about how the lower temperatures will impact performance and safety on track.

Source: F1.com

The coldest F1 race in history was the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix where temperatures in the air reached 5 degrees in Montreal. The race was held in early October and those standing on the podium were wrapped in winter jackets as snow began to fall. Especially with rain forecast for parts of this weekend Vegas is on track to beat this record! 

Are you excited for the Vegas race? Leave a comment below!

Written by Cesca.