In the round-up: Switzerland’s Eidgenoessische Spielbankenkommission (Federal Casino Commission) has raised concerns over the legality of Sauber’s rebranding as Stake F1 Team.
In brief
Sauber faces legal challenge over rebranding
Swiss-based team Sauber revealed its new branding as Stake F1 Team in a launch event in London on Monday. It acknowledged restrictions on gambling advertising in some territories mean it will use a different name at some rounds of the world championship.
However gambling advertising is also banned in Switzerland and its casino commission has initiated proceedings against the team, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen reports. Advertising deemed inadmissible can be punished by a fine of up to 500,000 Swiss Francs (£456,000).
“We always comply with all applicable laws, including in Switzerland,” said team representative Alessandro Alluni Bravi. “And of course we took all measures to comply with them.”
Mercedes signs Climate Pledge
The Mercedes F1 team has signed up to The Climate Pledge, which has the goal of encouraging companies to reduce their carbon emissions to net zero by 2040. It is the first F1 team to do so.
“As a team, we are progressing on our journey to meet our target of race team controlled net zero in 2030,” said team principal and co-owner Toto Wolff. “Having assessed our full supply chain emissions last year, we are developing science based target initiative-aligned near term and net zero targets for those emissions, and our commitment to The Climate Pledge confirms our intent to achieve net zero across all scopes by 2040.”
Rossi’s McLaren IndyCar livery revealed
McLaren has presented the new livery Alexander Rossi will run in the upcoming IndyCar season. It bears similarities to the design its former driver Felix Rosenqvist used at last year’s Indianapolis 500, which was a tribute to Alain Prost’s 1984 Monaco Grand Prix-winning car.
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Boschung retires
Long-standing Formula 2 driver Ralph Boschung has announced his retirement after spending seven years in the series. He started 120 races in that time and scored his only victory in the sprint race in Bahrain last year, where he started from pole position in the partially-reversed grid race. Boschung had to contend with medical complications after being diagnosed with facet syndrome, which causes spinal complications.
“Thank you to everyone for the support during all my years in F2,” Boschung wrote in a post on social media. “I had a great time.”
Sebastian Wheldon moves up to USF Juniors
Sebastian Wheldon, the son of the late IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon, will compete in the USF Juniors category for Andretti Global. He earned a $100,000 scholarship to compete in a USK series by winning the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Racing Series. He and his younger brother Oliver are both members of Andretti’s young driver programme.
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Fans with benefits: How IndyCar drivers are taking promotion in-house (Racer)
‘This is a seven-day package. You get to play golf with me, have some cocktails or some dinners with me. And then obviously being in the grandstand and the biggest race of the year, and I guess you could say being in the inner sanctum with me, because I’m going to do my best to give my time to these people and give my time to making this tour worthwhile.’
Toyota race organiser benefits from fact-finding visit to Mexico EPrix (FIA)
‘On the sporting side, I sat in race control during the EPrix itself and it was interesting to note how highly organised and carefully orchestrated everything was by the race director.’
From Ferrari to The Iron Claw: this season’s Oscar-bait movies that missed (The Guardian)
‘Reviews were better this time around, for Michael Mann’s handsomely made passion project, but again it was Driver’s female co-star who stole attention away.’
After ‘Argylle’ bombs, can Apple keep spending $200 million on big-screen gambles? (Variety)
‘For now, Apple’s movies won’t be getting any less expensive. Upcoming films on its slate cost $100 million to $200 million and include an untitled 1960s-set space race comedy, starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum; ‘Wolfs,’ a psychological thriller with George Clooney and Brad Pitt; and Pitt’s ‘Formula One’ feature from ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ filmmaker Joseph Kosinski.’
My first time driving the JHR number 77 car (Grosjean via YouTube)
Ferrari SF-24 fire-up (Ferrari via YouTube)
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Victor and Rebecca!
On this day in motorsport
- 30 years ago today Williams suffered a setback in their pre-season tests when Damon Hill crashed an FW15D at the Circuit de Catalunya.