2021 F1

Verstappen is F1 champion but Mercedes legal battle ahead

Published

1 year ago

December 13, 2021

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Max-verstappen-2021-f1-world-champion

Formula 1 could be set for a chaotic and extended legal battle after Mercedes confirmed on Sunday night to appeal the result of a dramatic season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Williams F1 racing driver Nicholas Latifi’s crash eventually gifted to Max Verstappen winning the Formula 1 world drivers title with victory in Abu Dhabi.

Literally Latifi’s crash incident was decided the champion of the world – the Williams F1 driver Latafi’s tiny mistake into the turn 14 barrier on lap 53 produced a Safety Car period at the end of the race, which has made a controversial conclusion to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The final Safety Car session open an opportunity for Verstappen to stop and put fresher tyre, even as Mercedes opt to stay on track, because expect the race will end with Safety Car.

SC deployed for removing the crashed car and clean the debris, the normal procedure is to allow all the lapped cars to pass the safety car before it pulls in, so that the leaders can have a clear run at each other.

Race director Michael Masi primarily said lapped cars would not be allowed to overtake, Red Bull complained against this decision, following Masi changed his mind and let those five cars overtake – but not the other three. This decision put Verstappen and Hamilton together but left two lapped cars between third-placed Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and Verstappen and one between Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes and Yuki Tsunoda’s Alpha Tauri.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff when he complained over the radio immediately after the flag. “It’s called a motor race, Toto,” he said. Some senior figures were aghast at the manner and content of that remark.

SC withdrawn by Masi, and the race was restarted with one lap to go and the predictable happened. Verstappen, with so much extra grip with fresher soft tyre, overtook Hamilton into Turn Five. Hamilton tried to get him back down with 44 lap old tyre in the two subsequent straights but was never likely to.

The world championship results turned the plate – as a result of a questionable call from the race director.

After the race, Mercedes made two protests against the final SC incident, both complaints are rejected by FIA. Following Mercedes informed the FIA late on Sunday of their intention to appeal those decisions and have 96hrs in which to lodge it.

It’s disappointing end – Latifi

“It was a tough race out there today and we were struggling for pace throughout,” Latifi explained. “Towards the end of the grand prix I was racing with Mick Schumacher and was forced slightly wide, but fairly, at turn nine.

“My tyres got dirty from running off track and I subsequently made a small mistake and unfortunately crashed. This obviously wasn’t how I wanted to end our season, so it’s disappointing.”

George Russell, a Mercedes driver next year, said: “Max is an absolutely fantastic driver who has had an incredible season and I have nothing but huge respect for him, but what just happened is absolutely unacceptable. I cannot believe what we’ve just seen.”

Asked if he understood the decision taken by Mercedes – who had a barrister present at the hearing – to launch their initial appeals, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner replied: “It obviously felt a little bit desperate but we didn’t want it to finish in front of the stewards.

“We never wanted to end up in front of the stewards, there was obviously a lot of debate before the race.

“As it turns out it was obviously very different after the race, we don’t go racing with barristers and so on – it was a shame it ended up there but the stewards made the right call.

“We have talked about ‘let them race’, Niki Lauda was the guy who pushed hard for it and we’ve always talked about not finishing racing under safety cars, the race director in difficult circumstances made absolutely the right call and strategically we got it right.

“If they appeal, they appeal. We’ll fight them in the appeal court and then in the legal court after that if they were to go that route.”

Horner also admitted it had been a topsy-turvy day for the team after Hamilton had looked set to coast to the title at more than one point.

“It was an emotional roller coaster,” he added. “It started with a bad start, Lewis making a great start and they had a bit more pace than us today.

“They elected to do a one-stop, we went onto the two-stop and then when Latifi crashed we elected to take another set of tyres.

“They got the race going again and Max had to make it count, he had one lap to do it and he nailed it. So the elation of that moment…and then obviously the summons start coming through for the safety car and another one for other stuff.

“It has been a tense couple of hours but hats off to the FIA and the stewards who I believe have made the right decisions today.”

2021 F1

What penalty do Red Bull face for breaching F1 cost cap?

Published

6 months ago

October 10, 2022

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FIA recently confirmed that, Red Bull Racing have been found guilty of violating Formula 1 budget cap for 2021.

The Official confirmation by FIA said that a “minor” breaking of the budget cap. As resulted exceeding the budget by less than 5% or $7.25m – could have big consequences if the FIA decide to punish them.

Max Verstappen, who won a second F1 championship in weird conditions in Japan on Sunday, clinched the 2021 F1 title after late and controversial drama involving the safety car in Abu Dhabi.

The cost cap breaches penalty ranges from a public reprimand to a financial penalty or secondary level sporting penalties.

• Public reprimand
• Deduction of Constructors’ Championship points awarded for the Championship that took place within the Reporting Period of the breach;
• Deduction of Drivers’ Championship points awarded for the Championship that took place within the Reporting Period of the breach;
• Suspension from one or more stages of a Competition or Competitions, excluding for the avoidance of doubt the race itself;
• Limitations on ability to conduct aerodynamic or other Testing; and/or
• Reduction of the Cost Cap

Red Bull hint they will appeal FIA decision

The statement, released on their social meadi page read: “We note the findings with surprise and disappointment. Our 2021 submission was below the cost cap limit so we need to carefully review the FIA’s findings as our belief remains that the relevant costs are under the 2021 cost cap amount.

“Despite the conjecture and positioning of others, there is of course a process under the regulations with the FIA which we will respectfully follow while we consider all the options available to us.”

2022 F1

Verstappen won his second F1 World Championship

Published

6 months ago

October 9, 2022

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Max Verstappen won the rain hit Japanese Grand Prix and he secure his second world title as well. The Dutchman takes the full 19 points and his teammate Sergio Perez made second place, following the Charles Leclerc receives five seconds penalty, who crossed the line just ahead of Perez… but final corner cutting was given his time penalty.

Verstappen: It’s crazy

“It’s crazy. Very mixed emotions,” he said.

“Looking back, what a year we’ve had so far. It’s been incredible. It’s something I could never have imagined. After last year, fighting until the end, and then having such a good car again this year. I’m so thankful to everyone who has been contributing to this success.”

… More to follow

2023 F1

Nyck de Vries secures 2023 AlphaTauri F1 race seat

Published

6 months ago

October 8, 2022

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The Dutch racing driver Nyck de Vries sealed AlphaTauri F1 racing seat as replaced the Alpine-moved Pierre Gasly for 2023 F1 season.

27 years old, former F2 and Formula E world Champion’s demand has been raised, after he made an extraordinary performance at Monza for Williams racing team, who finished ninth on his F1 debut.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining Scuderia AlphaTauri for 2023 and I want to thank both Red Bull and the team for giving me the opportunity to drive in F1,” the Dutchman said.

“After Formula 2, I took a slightly different path with motorsport, but F1 has always been my dream and I’m grateful to be able to fulfil it.

“I’ve had a lot of chances to experience the 2022 car this year and I think that has put me in a great position for the upcoming season, I hope this has helped to prepare me for what is to come.”

“After Formula 2, I took a slightly different path with motorsport, but F1 has always been my dream and I’m grateful to be able to fulfil it.

“Having spent most of my teenage years in Italy for karting, I’ve always felt at home there, so for me, it’s great to be joining an Italian team, that already has a real family feel,” he added.

“I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and to start to build our relationship before the next season.”

AlphaTauri team head Franz Tost also gave his full care to De Vries, point out: “We are pleased to start a new chapter with Nyck, who’s very much welcome at Scuderia AlphaTauri.

“He is a very highly skilled driver, as he won in all the categories he competed in, with many races and championships under his belt.

“His last big success was winning the Formula E World Championship, and this is clear evidence that he is a very competitive driver, who deserves a seat in F1.

“I am looking forward to seeing him in our car and I’m confident that with Yuki and Nyck we will have a very strong driver lineup for 2023.”

The Austrian also paid praise to Gasly, who has spent at least part of every season at the team since his debut in 2017.

“AlphaTauri had a very successful time with Pierre,” he said.

“We will never forget his fantastic victory in Monza and his podium finishes in Brazil and Azerbaijan.

“I want to thank Pierre for all the effort he’s put into the team in the last years, and I wish him all the best for his future.”