In the round-up: Four-times Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel says running F1 cars on sustainable fuel is “maybe even more fun” than running on conventional fuels.
In brief
Classic car runs “even more fun” on sustainable fuels – Vettel
Vettel drove his 2011 title-winning Red Bull RB7 at Red Bull’s Formula Nurburgring event at the weekend using carbon dioxide neutral fuels, something he has done for other demonstration runs of classic F1 cars as part of his ‘race without trace’ initiative.
“‘Race without trace’ is having the car filled with synthetic fuels rather than conventional fuel – so we had no extra oil that needed to get pumped out of the ground,” Vettel explained.
“As you could hear and see, the car is working and performing and we all had the same amount of fun, maybe even more fun. So it’s great to start telling a story with taking the responsibility as well and that’s what I would like to inspire to people.
“I’m not telling people what to do. I’m just showing that it can be done in a better way, in a good way. And we have to take steps towards the future – I have kids, I do care about them and I care about their future. So I think it’s up to all of us, small and big steps to take them collectively.”
Horner sure Aston Martin won’t sacrifice end of season for 2024
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says he does not expect rivals Aston Martin to accept a lower finishing position in 2023 to gain a benefit in wind tunnel and CFD testing time under F1’s Aerodynamic Testing Restriction.
Aston Martin dropped from third to fourth behind Ferrari in the standings after the Italian Grand Prix. Teams that finish lower in the championship gain more testing time that those who finish ahead.
Asked if he thinks Aston Martin and team owner Lawrence Stroll could settle for fourth for the benefit of extra test time, Horner said “I don’t think so.”
“I think everybody at this time of year is now fully focussed on next year’s car anyway,” he continued. “It’s quite a lot of money attached to that as well, so I’m not sure that would be in Lawrence’s game plan.”
Winning Indy 500 the “big goal” for Palou
Two-times IndyCar champion Alex Palou is targeting next season’s Indianapolis 500 race win as his next big goal.
Palou will remain with Ganassi next season after claiming his second IndyCar crown in three seasons. He says winning his first Indy 500 is his next target.
“That would be a big, big goal,” Palou said. “If we could get the Indy 500 next year, that would be already a really good year obviously.
“We just need to continue working like we’ve been doing. I think we have chances if we put ourselves again during the Indy 500 to be up there in the top four, top five for the last restarts, we’re going to be in a good place.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Mercedes optimistic Singapore Grand Prix layout will suit Hamilton and Russell’s 2023 F1 car (Sky)
Andrew Shovlin: ”We’re hoping to be able to be a bit quicker there and get back to a position where we can challenge for podiums. The track though does throw up some pretty unique challenges and we’ve also got some layout changes for this year. There is a sequence of four corners near the end of the lap that have been removed where the track used to go underneath a grandstand through a tunnel. That’s now gone so we’ve got a longer straight which will change a little bit how the tyres are working.”
Hamilton set to further increase his fortune after linking up with Kylian Mbappe (Daily Express)
‘Hamilton and Kylian Mbappe have teamed up for a commercial opportunity with the two sporting superstars both taking part in the ‘Never Still 4’ campaign, birthed by German luxury luggage company Rimowa.’
Kannapolis-based Haas F1 Team preps for physical challenges of Singapore GP (WBTV)
‘The heat in Singapore is significant, but heat acclimatization over the season in other hot conditions affords the crew some pre-preparation for this by the time we hit Singapore in September. However, the humidity poses an additional challenge and requires some careful management to ensure that the team members can regulate body temperature (thermoregulation), stay hydrated and perform at their best.’
Mohammed Ben Sulayem”Thank you to Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, French Minister for Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, for the warm welcome and for our constructive discussion. We look forward to working with the French Government in our collective efforts to combat online abuse in sport and are very proud of our historic roots here in France.”
Bruno Michel’s Debrief: A Champion in the making from start to finish (F3)
‘In a fiercely fought category, it’s a gamble to line up three rookies within the same team, but Hitech Pulse-Eight and Jenzer Motorsport believed it was the way to go for 2023. The British squad ended the year with two wins, six podiums, two pole positions, two fastest laps and the most led laps, with 69. It’s P5 in the end in the championship, but just nine points behind Campos Racing, and Gabriele Minì finished fourth best rookie, with two poles to his name.’
‘Technology, promotion and sustainability’ – why Chinese carmakers should invest in Formula 1 (CGTN)
Alessandro Alunni Bravi: ”It’s important for a Chinese car manufacturer to join F1 because they can then use this as this platform to develop their technologies for future road cars. In Formula 1, we are at the pinnacle not only of motorsport, but also of technology, especially for the future of mobility. Since 2014, we’ve used the most efficient hybrid fuels in the world. Now we are using 10% bio fuel and soon our cars will run on 100% sustainable fuels.”
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On this day in motorsport
- 30 years ago today an engine failure at Monza meant Alain Prost had to wait one more race to clinch his fourth championship, and handed Damon Hill a third consecutive victory