In the round-up: Andretti Global has announced the opening of a new facility in Silverstone as part of its plans to enter the Formula 1 world championship.
In brief
Andretti opens Silverstone facility
The American team which participates in multiple motor racing series applied to enter F1 last year. Its bid was was approved by the FIA in October, but rejected by Formula One Management four months later.
However while FOM denied Andretti’s bid to join the championship next year or in 2026, it left the door open for it to join in 2028, when it intends to bring Cadillac in as a power unit supplier.
In the meantime Andretti has established a base in Britain for its F1 operation. Currently home to around 80 staff, the facility will be used for manufacturing, offices and meeting facilities.
“This new space will continue to work hand in hand with our principal Andretti site in Indiana, and our Formula E facility in Banbury and will be a collaborative site for our global family of race teams,” said Andretti in a statement.
Fans turn up for Tsunoda’s tyre test
A group of a few hundred fans turned up to watch the second and final day of Pirelli’s tyre test at Suzuka as Yuki Tsunoda took over from RB team mate Daniel Ricciardo. Valtteri Bottas continued in the second car run by Sauber.
Tsunoda covered 115 laps compared to 149 for Bottas. “As is always the case in this type of test, the drivers can be said to be working in the dark,” said Pirelli motorsport director Mario Isola, “in other words without knowing what type of prototype they are testing, alternating with the current tyres, so that their feedback is completely unbiased.
“With over 3000 kilometres covered at Suzuka, we have acquired a huge amount of data on the slicks, as well as some information relating to the intermediate tyres. Over the coming months, this year’s test programme will continue to focus on finalising a construction that provides greater durability and on a complete renewal of the range of compounds, with the aim of reducing overheating. In addition, as from September, development will also start on the 2026 tyres.”
Newgarden leads Larson as Indy 500 testing begins
Last year’s Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden was quickest in the first day of testing for this year’s race, averaging 368.236kph around the oval. NASCAR driver Kyle Larson, who will make his debut in the race this year for McLaren, was second-fastest. Rain disrupted running earlier in the day.
Rasmussen and Butcher take Esports wins.
Red Bull’s Frederik Rasmussen won the Jeddah round of the Formula 1 Sim Racing Championship as the series resumed following a four-month hiatus. Alfie Butcher won the day’s second race on the Red Bull Ring having retired from the earlier encounter after damaging his front wing.
Second and third place in both races went to Thomas Ronhaar and Ismael Fahssi respectively. The pair provided the pick of the action with lively scraps over the lower podium places over the final laps in each race.
Red Bull launch more NFTs
Formula 1 teams’ appetite for non-fungible tokens shows no sign of letting up. Red Bull has announced a second series of its NFTs issued in conjunction with prominent sponsor Bybit. This year’s releases will coincide with the Monaco, Italian and Abu Dhabi grands prix.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Van Amersfoort targeting European turnaround starting with Barcelona test (Formula 3)
‘Unfortunately, we have been struggling with Qualifying and in F3 this kind of defines the weekend. The race pace was quite competitive. However, we also were unlucky with some incidents.’
Belgian FIA WEC round presented to media at special press conference in Liege (WEC)
‘With just a month to go before the event, the team at Spa-Francorchamps are working hard to provide the best possible welcome for the teams, the 37 cars entered in the WEC and more than 70,000 people expected to attend the race.’
Bruce Kessler, prolific TV director and adventurer, dies at 88 (Variety)
‘His first film, the Formula 1 short ‘The Sound of Speed,’ represented the US at the Cannes Film Festival. The technical expertise he brought to the film led to him being hired as technical advisor on racing and chase sequences for movies, and he served as second unit director for Howard Hawks on ‘Red Line 7000.”
Go-kart company fined after schoolgirl death (BBC)
‘After closer examination of the kart Ruwaida was driving, it was found to be faulty.’
30 under 30 Europe 2024 (Forbes)
Lando Norris is named among the ‘next generation of game changers’.
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