In the round-up: Mercedes give an update about Hamilton’s next contract and what he will do once out of the cockpit, with Helio Castroneves doing the same.
In brief
Only “trivial things” holding back Hamilton’s contract signing with Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton is technically a free agent at the end of the 2023 Formula 1 season, but Mercedes are convinced he will be signing a contract soon that will keep him with them for at least the next two seasons.
However questions have been asked why his next contract is yet to be signed, and Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff recently answered them.
“We’re not talking about an ambassadorial role post his retirement, nor is part of the contract negotiations,” he said. “I think he has many years to go as a driver within this team and therefore it’s only about cleaning things up in the contract.
“I know it looks a little bit ‘why is this not being done and dusted’, but it’s simply down to trivial things that just need to be cleaned up in contracts and we need to find the time.
“He’s been a Mercedes driver since his beginning when he was, god knows, eight or ten years old. He had the AMG visor, and then over these years through McLaren within the Mercedes family and then these ten or 11 years in the Mercedes works team.
“I think he’s synonymous for Mercedes, which is synonymous for his career. We’ve gone through so many ups and downs, so many situations that were difficult on a human side, on a professional side and so many more hugely positive moments and I think that just made us stick together, trust each other, whilst being able to have tough love and the odd argument. I think there is such a strong bond that makes him so loyal and us too.”
Castroneves open to do more, not less racing with switch to part-time IndyCar drive
Four-times Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves will return to being a part-time IndyCar driver next year after two full seasons with Meyer Shank Racing, but the 48-year-old denies that it means he’s headed towards retirement.
He has bought into MSR and committed to racing for the team in the 2024 Indy 500, having won the race with them in 2021, as well as helping Tom Blomqvist who will become MSR’s new full-time driver.
MSR are convinced that Castroneves will stay in the cockpit for several years beyond that, potentially in their sports car racing efforts.
“I want to be very clear: I am not retiring, OK?” said Castroneves. “I just want to make sure people understand that. Actually, my [schedule] is open now to do other series. I can do Superstar Racing Experience, IMSA, NASCAR, stock cars in Brazil, whatever the [opportunity].
“Obviously, the main focus is IndyCar in my role [with] different hats and also [the Indy 500]. I still have a lot of fire inside me, a lot of energy that I want to burn. A great thing is the experience that I [bring] and built all these years.”
FIA to get involved in land speed record attempt
The FIA, the global governing body for car-based motorsport , has announced it is collaborating with its motorcycling counterpart the FIM this week in an attempt to break a land speed record.
Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt lake, will be used to form a 24-kilometre course and it’s hoped that this week’s runs will make the venue a rival to the famed Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA.
Jim Knapp will drive a 3,500 horsepower car which he hopes will exceed 737.794kph, which is the FIA-recognised record for the top speed achieved by a wheel-driven car (as opposed to jet-powered record-breakers). Higher speeds have been achieved, as a world record-breaking 776.744kph run was achieved at Bonneville in 2019, with a top speed of 810.034kph at the mile exit of a one-way run.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
How we’re building the F1 campus of the future (Mercedes-AMG F1)
”Our focus now moves to some of the outside areas. We are going to build a brand-new building to house a gym, a restaurant and general wellbeing centre. At the front of the site, we are going to build another new building which will house marketing, finance, commercial and create something that is truly impressive when you drive onto the site.”
Antonelli and Stenshorne heat up their FREC battle before summer break (Formula Scout)
‘There was an end-of-term feeling during the latest FREC round at Paul Ricard. The baking weather ensured teams’ inflatable pools got plenty of use as drivers tried to cool down between hot battles on track. Normally it’s experienced drivers fighting at the front, but this year it’s been rookies stealing the spotlight.’
Just eight points separate Palou from his second IndyCar title (IndyCar)
‘Palou holds a 101-point lead over Chip Ganassi Racing team mate Scott Dixon, and has a margin of 105 points over Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden, who was struck by the cartoon anvil on multiple occasions last weekend.
If Palou places ahead of both rivals at Gateway, it could be a case of game over as all he needs is to achieve a lead of 109 points to become a two-time IndyCar champion. A maximum of 108 are available across the penultimate race in Portland and the finale at Laguna Seca’
‘Australia’s Silverstone’: New facility opens at SMP (Speedcafe)
‘The Australian Racing Drivers Club is hoping that Sydney Motorsport Park can become the home of the country’s motor racing and technology industry with the opening of the new Australian Motorsport Innovation Precinct, a $10 million trackside development that is part of a wider $32 million investment in SMP from the New South Wales government.’
MK Technologies joins forces with FRegional Americas and US F4 (FRegional Americas)
‘In the first year of a new partnership, MK Technologies has helped Formula Regional Americas and United States Formula 4 step up their inspection process on a weekly basis.
MK Technologies offer scale platforms to suit most any type of motorsport vehicle, as well as a variety of weigh scales, chassis alignment and pit equipment.
Debuting at NOLA Motorsports Park earlier this year, the new setup provides officials in the two series with flexibility of car placement on the scale pads during technical inspection, leading to more efficient and accurate assessments.’
August 16: Simona de Silvestro wins the FAtlantic race at 2009 GP3R (Pole Position)
‘A look back at when the Swiss Simona de Silvestro took the victory in the Formula Atlantic Formula race 14 yeas ago today at Canada’s long-running Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières.’
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Positive day for @rinusveekay and @ECRIndy at @IMS last Saturday 💪#INDYCAR // #GallagherGP pic.twitter.com/YObiN0lXNv
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) August 16, 2023
Grill The Grid Episode 3 is coming soon! 🎬
Who’s excited?! 🙌#F1 pic.twitter.com/158ARsWZUO
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 16, 2023
On May 7, 1992, three-time #F1 Champion Nelson Piquet suffered a vicious #Indy500 practice crash and faced possible foot amputation.
12 hours later, his daughter @JuliaPiquet was born.
During #TheBrickyard, she got to meet Dr. Trammell, the man who helped her dad recover.
Full… pic.twitter.com/OGfhldANnJ
— Indianapolis Motor Speedway (@IMS) August 16, 2023
listen and learn 💭 #rodincarlin @RodinCars #f2 pic.twitter.com/N1xlwdwxuR
— Rodin Carlin (@RodinCarlin) August 15, 2023
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Luts and Electrolite!