In the round-up: Ferrari chairman John Elkann is encouraged by the team’s start of the season.
In brief
Elkann pleased with Ferrari’s “better start”
After two podiums over the opening two races of the 2024 F1 season behind the dominant Red Bulls, Ferrari chairman John Elkann says he is encouraged by the team’s performance so far.
“Certainly if one looks at where we were a year ago this championship is off to a better start,” Elkann told Sky. “As always the important thing is to try to improve, to progress and this is the dynamic that is felt in Ferrari at the moment.”
Elkann also expressed his excitement about the team’s signing of Lewis Hamiltonfor 2025.
“I have also said publicly over the years how much Lewis Hamilton is a great driver and how much he has done for Formula 1. That he will join Ferrari is an important sign of how much he believes he can do great things with Ferrari.”
Pirelli confirm compounds
Formula 1 tyre suppliers Pirelli have confirmed the compounds that they will bring to the three rounds following this month’s Australian Grand Prix in Suzuka, Shanghai and Miami.
As with last season, Pirelli have nominated the three hardest compounds – the C1, C2 and C3 – for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. They will use a mid-range of C2, C3 and C4 tyres for the return to Shanghai, which is the same range nominated for the cancelled 2020 Chinese Grand Prix.
For the Miami Grand Prix, teams will again have the mid-range available to them, as was also the case in 2023.
Scheckter’s title winning Ferrari under auction
The car that world champion Jody Scheckter drove to his world championship title in 1979 is one of several F1 cars driven by Scheckter going under auction.
The Ferrari 312 raced by Scheckter when he took all three of his grand prix victories that season in Zolder, Monaco and Monza was bought by the world champion three years later from Ferrari. It is one of several F1 cars owned by Scheckter under auction at RM Sotheby’s, including his 1973 McLaren M23, his 1975 Tyrrell 007 and a six-wheeled Tyrrell P34 built in 2008.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Toto Wolff verursachte Unfall bei Netflix-Dreh in Imola (Salzburger Nachrichten – German)
‘The 52-year-old Austrian had an accident on Monday during a test day on the race track in Imola, Italy. According to a team spokesman, Wolff ‘kissed the wall’ as he exited the Rivazza corner, but thankfully was uninjured in the incident. To make matters worse, the test day was accompanied by a film from the US streaming company Netflix. After repairing the Mercedes AMG GT3, Wolff was able to continue the day of testing and filming. Mercedes super talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 17, and his father Marco Antonelli were also there in Imola.’
Our 2024 Steering Wheel (Williams)
‘Join Luke Dardis, Alex Albon’s Performance Engineer, as he talks our all-new steering wheel for the 2024 season. The FW46 is the first time we have run the screen on the steering wheel as opposed to the dash, and Luke guides as through all you need to know.’
Bearman: a talent visible from a young age (Motorsport UK)
”Ollie was a really polite, nice young lad and he particularly shone during the races where you needed to be able to read a race – understanding when to push or when to go with the pack in the Cadet class. I spent a whole day with him testing tyres at a foggy and damp track and he had the ability to drive consistently all day was super impressive.”
Timed online auction of W Series race program race cars (Wyles Hardy & Co)
An auction of several raced W Series F3 cars following the closure of the series in 2022.
Bianca’s pathway to McLaren and how she’s grasping her opportunity (McLaren)
”I think as a driver I’m always going to want more for myself. You go into every race wanting more, wanting to fight for the win or the podium. I went through this phase during that season where I doubted myself and my capabilities, but I think it’s very normal for athletes, I think that’s human.In those tough moments, I found strength in myself and accepted that as a young driver, I’m still trying to find myself. I am still learning and trying to make a career for myself, and with that mentality, I allowed myself to make errors.”
Keeping a steady hand on the tiller in the FIA Formula E world championship (FIA)
‘The latest short film from the ‘FIA Insights’ series shines a spotlight on Race Control in the FIA Formula E World Championship, and the relationship between the Race Director, drivers and stewards.’
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it to us via the contact form.
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Social media
Notable posts from X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and more:
Day 02 of our previous car test, and it’s @Anto_Giovinazzi‘s turn behind the wheel! 👊 pic.twitter.com/IPSd9Mkx7l
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 14, 2024
Looking ahead to race week in Aus 🇦🇺 Prepped and ready 👊 pic.twitter.com/x7ujaTf6zc
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) March 14, 2024
Meet Laila, one of the first recipients of the MSc Motorsport Scholarship and future engineer at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains 👏
We’re proud of the impact the programme is already having and can’t wait to see Laila continue to progress in her future career! pic.twitter.com/5KvXVZquLk
— Mission 44 (@mission44) March 14, 2024
¡Encantado de poder compartir esta noticia! A partir de este mismo año colaboraré, junto con la @RFEdeA y mi marca @cs55racingkart en la categoría CS55 RACING KARTING ACADEMY para niños entre 6 y 8 años! Me hace mucha ilusión este proyecto ya que yo también empecé compitiendo en… pic.twitter.com/aSzqUetYeD
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) March 14, 2024
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Franky!