In the round-up: F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says he expects that a decision on any new team being granted the ability to join Formula 1 will come in September
In brief
Decision on 11th F1 team expected in September – Domenicali
After the FIA opened a formal process for applicants to join Formula 1 as new teams for either 2025 or 2026, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says that the decision on if any applicants have been successful will likely come next month.
“The FIA started the process as it is in their ability,” Domenicali said during Liberty Media’s investors yesterday. “We’re waiting for the final conclusions.
“But, as always in this discussion, we will find agreement together because, as you said, the value of the teams and the value of the business today is very, very strong. So that decision, that information will come very, very soon. I would say within the month of September.”
Palou, Herta both ready for F1 – Andretti
Michael Andretti believes that IndyCar drivers Alex Palou and Colton Herta are both capable of racing in Formula 1.
Andretti is pursuing an entry for his family-owned racing outfit to join F1 as its 11th team for 2026. He says that both IndyCar drivers have the ability to race successfully in F1.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that Alex or Colton are ready for Formula 1,” Andretti told Speed Week. They are highly talented. I would put both of them in a Formula 1 car immediately. They can definitely keep up there. Lando (Norris) was once Colton’s teammate, and they were performing at the same level. If you look at Lando in Formula 1 now, you know what Colton could also achieve.”
Vowles expects Monza to be one of Williams’ best races
Williams team principal James Vowles expects Williams to have mixed performance across the final two European rounds following the summer break at Zandvoort and Monza.
“I think the Netherlands [Zandvoort] will be a track that doesn’t suit us and I think we have to do everything within our power to get the car as high as possible, but expect it’s going to be difficult to score points there,” he explained.
“Conversely Monza, I think, could be one of the best races for us of the season so far. So we need to put the effort into making sure we prepare correctly for that event. It’s an ATA event again, which in itself brings its own complications and there’s still more work that we can do to optimise how we’re using cars and how we go through the qualifying process during that Monza weekend so there’ll be more focus on that as a result of the different format change.
“But both of them, again, provide an opportunity for us to really make sure we get everything right and walk away with points if they’re available to us.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Patrese recalls comeback to replace Senna at Williams: ‘I was ready’ (Motor Sport)
”Frank said that now he needed a race driver and he asked me if I was ready to come back. I said yes, I was ready. I had all these bad feelings about the death of Ayrton, they were so bad, I couldn’t sleep properly. Ayrton was the most expert driver, and I thought this could happen to me, so now I had all these doubts and I told Frank it was over, that I don’t want to drive F1 any more, that I have too many doubts to perform as well as I have in the past.”
In pictures: a snapshot of our 2023 season so far (Aston Martin)
‘Passion. Determination. Joy. It’s almost impossible to describe every emotion in what has been a rollercoaster first half of the 2023 Formula One season but we captured many of them on camera. Join us as we take a look back through the camera lens at our season so far.’
Hungarian Graduate Strengthens Audi’s Formula 1 Power Unit (Hungary Today)
‘The German brand is already gearing up for its team’s debut in the top of motorsport and has gained incredible popularity in recent years. One of the employees of the company’s Formula 1 development center in Neuburg, Germany is Dávid Szegletes, a graduate of Széchenyi István University, who considers it a dream come true to work there. Of course, his success is not due to chance, but to his own work and the fact that he took advantage of the opportunities offered by the institution in Győr.’
MGM wants to be more welcoming to A’s fans, executive says (source)
MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle: ”For Formula One, while still early, we already have twice the occupancy on the books at four times the average (room) rate compared to last year and with more than 70 percent of our ticket inventory already committed. A portion of these tickets will go to our gaming customers and early front money and credit data suggest that Formula 1 is shaping up to be an all-time record casino event for the company.”
‘The Memphis native has been hooked since. He went to the Miami Grand Prix in May, which drew people from all over the world. He is drawn to the science of the cars and the varied components of getting drivers ready to perform. He watches races and has favorites drivers — specifically, Lewis Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo. Neither drives for Ferrari, but that didn’t diminish from Thursday’s stop on the bus ride from Como to Florence.’
Did Jean Girard Of Talladega Nights Race In The 2005 U.S. Grand Prix? (Jalopnik)
‘If the film’s big finale took place in 2005, then that discounts Girard from having raced in the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix. However, it is entirely possibly that Girard’s ultimate replacement was there for the race, and that Girard would have been pleased to not be involved in such a farcical event.’
My Job in F1: Alice | Head of Sustainability (Mercedes via YouTube)
Mercedes’ head of sustainability, Alice Ashpitel, describes her role in spearheading the team’s efforts to become a net zero operation.
Introducing the Gran Turismo 7 Free Update – August 2023 (Gran Turismo via YouTube)
‘This video introduces some of the content introduced in this update including the Chevrolet Corvette (C1) ’58, a stunning first-generation Chevrolet classic; the Maserati MC20 ’20, a high-speed supercar that embodies the style and passion of Maserati; the Toyota GR Corolla MORIZO Edition ’22, a radically honed two-seater GR Carolla; the Toyota Himedic ’21, an emergency medical services vehicle that combines safety and speed; and a new livery that recreates the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 ’18 as seen within the ‘Gran Turismo’ movie.’
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