In the round-up: Max Verstappen believes teams should be given the chance to change their cars’ set-ups over sprint race weekends.
In brief
Let us correct set-ups in sprint races – Verstappen
During grand prix weekends with sprint races, teams are permitted just a single one-hour session of practice before cars are under parc ferme conditions for the rest of the weekend. This means teams cannot change car set-ups without incurring penalties.
Verstappen wants that to change, saying teams should have more leniency to avoid being locked into bad set-ups.
“It can be that you try sometimes – and we’ve had it in the past – that you know you make a few decisions where you think it’s going to be okay and then it doesn’t work out and then your whole weekend is ruined because you can’t touch the car and I think that is a bit of a shame,” Verstappen explained.
“That’s maybe something we have to look into for the future if we want to continue doing these kinds of events. I understand, of course, for the show it’s good to mix it up a bit, but at least you should be able to correct your mistake or potential mistake.”
Hamilton’s first race-winning Mercedes on sale
The car in which Lewis Hamilton scored his first grand prix victory as a Mercedes driver is expected to fetch up to $15 million (£12.3m) when it is offered for sale by auction house RM Sotheby’s. Hamilton drove chassis number four in 14 races during his first season at the team and scored his only victory that year in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
McLaren trials recycled carbon fibre
McLaren’s Formula 1 team will run with parts on their cars made from recycled carbon fibre at next weekend’s United States Grand Prix.
The team’s branding panels on the cockpit of both cars will be produced from recycled material, which has around 85% of the original strength of carbon fibre but can contribute to around 90% reduction in carbon emissions, McLaren claim.
Should the test prove positive, McLaren say they seek to manufacture more car parts from recyclable material.
Haas reveal US GP racing suits
Haas, the only American-owned team in Formula 1, have revealed special driver suits that they will run for next weekend’s Unites States Grand Prix.
Drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg will race in navy blue overalls for the race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas – one of three home races for Haas on the 2023 calendar and two over the final five rounds of the season, with the Las Vegas Grand Prix just over a month away.
The next race promises to be an important one for the team, as it will introduce a significant upgrade to its VF-23.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Tax Liens And Sports Teams: Billionaire Marc Lasry’s Investment Playbook (Forbes)
‘Marc Lasry, billionaire cofounder and CEO of $12.5 billion private equity firm Avenue Capital Group, is taking a break from a party upstairs at the Paddock Club to visit the garage of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team. ‘We’ve been looking at some F1 teams to invest in, so I wanted to come out here to meet and talk to a number of people,’ Lasry says, straining to be heard above the squeal of pneumatic wheel guns, as F1 star Lewis Hamilton climbs into his car. Lasry won’t say which team he’s eyeing, but given his deep-discount approach to investing, it’s not likely to be a podium favourite like Mercedes.’
Bernie Ecclestone: The highs and lows of ex-F1 supremo after tax fraud verdict (Independent)
‘The Independent takes a look at Ecclestone’s life and times through his tenure in motorsport and beyond.’
Armstrong, Blomqvist, Lundqvist Finish Indy 500 Rookie Test (IndyCar)
‘The three drivers also turned laps in the afternoon after passing ROP, getting even more familiar and comfortable with the historic oval and the high speeds. Blomqvist ended up fastest overall at 220.176 mph, followed by Lundqvist at 219.504 and Armstrong at 219.252. They combined to turn 285 laps.’
Red Bull’s Calum Nicholas: Motorsport making progress on diversity (Sky)
‘Red Bull’s Senior Power Unit Assembly Technician Calum Nicholas says there are a number of reasons for the lack of diversity in the motorsport industry, but he believes progress is being made.’
Competition, Or Closed Shop? (Daily SportsCar)
‘So, to complete the contrast – a group entirely composed of representatives of the companies paying for GTP are looking at both the short-term and long-term pluses of increased competition. This includes commercial potential. Having weighed up the pros and cons, all four continuing to invest in the formula, and continuing to welcome additional competition. On the other hand, the powerful individuals who control Formula 1 seem to have an almost entirely negative view of a return to 22 cars on their grid for the first time since 2016, despite a simply vast increase in the financial fortunes of the sport over the same period’
William Storey – the ex-F1 sponsor set to buy crisis football club for £50m (Mirror)
‘William Storey is set to land himself a football club at the third time of asking as a deal for Reading nears. The CEO of Rich Energy, an energy drink, is set to purchase the struggling League One outfit for £50m, subject to the test for fit and proper owners. Storey is best known for his involvement – short-lived though is was – in Formula 1 with Haas. His company signed a lucrative deal to become the title sponsor, only to later pull the plug on the deal after several comments on social media.’
Start your engines! The mighty B&W Zeppelin gets two new McLaren-inspired paint jobs (What HiFi)
‘The iconic Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin wireless speaker has received two new colourways inspired by its longstanding partnership with motoring icon McLaren. As part of this continuing mutual association, the Zeppelin McLaren Edition is now available in two striking finishes – Galvanic Grey and Papaya Orange – inspired by the paint jobs and aesthetic of the F1 cars deployed by the British motoring institution.’
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Social media
Notable posts from X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and more:
A 1.93s stop at the #QatarGP was our quickest of the season, and the second fastest of any team all year 📊
That’s why we practice 💪 pic.twitter.com/KAsdjOYHPr
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) October 12, 2023
Driver drinks, explained! 🥤
Alex’s Performance Coach, Patrick, takes us through the process of preparing fluids for a race 👇
— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) October 12, 2023
Challenge complete! 🏔
AMF1 Team members completed the Three Peaks Challenge in under 24 hours, battling snow storms and pitch-black ascents – raising over £1800 for @MovemberUK.
There’s still time to donate, with more fundraising in store for Movember: pic.twitter.com/fyM9EhSAqZ
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) October 12, 2023
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Randy Torres!
On this day in motorsport
