Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
Verstappen wary of qualifying 'surprises' in Canada, Williams overhaul FW45, and other big updates from around the world of Formula 1.
Max Verstappen faced challenges during practice in Montreal as his Red Bull car struggled with issues. FP1 was largely red-flagged due to a CCTV syncing problem, causing safety concerns. In FP2, Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez secured sixth and eighth positions, respectively, trailing behind Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari drivers. Verstappen experienced difficulties with his gearbox and expressed frustration over team radio. He noted that the car's performance over bumps and curbs was subpar, and adjustments were necessary. Verstappen anticipated a potentially mixed-up grid order due to expected wet weather during qualifying and the race. While acknowledging the competition from Red Bull's rivals, he remained hopeful of making improvements before the race.
Click here to read the full article by Henry Valantine (planetf1.com).
Williams has introduced a significant update package for its FW45 Formula 1 car in Canada, aimed at extracting more performance. The updates include changes to the floor body, sidepods, engine cover bodywork, mirror layout, halo fairing, suspension fairings, rear brake ducts, and rear wing endplates. The team aimed to enhance the interaction between different flow structures for better aerodynamic efficiency. Head of vehicle performance, Dave Robson, explained that the development and manufacturing process took several months, with some delays due to repairs. The sidepods and engine cover modifications are visually striking, featuring a deeper water slide-style upper surface and a smoother ramp section. Williams emphasized that their updates were unique and not influenced by other teams' designs.
Click here to read the full article by Matt Somerfield (motorsport.com).
Pirelli is encountering strong opposition to its bid to continue as Formula 1's exclusive tire supplier beyond 2024. Bridgestone, the previous supplier, is now showing a clear intention to make a comeback, which has garnered support from various drivers. Pirelli has been criticized for its tire durability and performance characteristics since taking over from Bridgestone in 2011. The ongoing controversy surrounding F1's plan to ban tire warmers in 2024 has further complicated matters. The final decision on the future tire supplier for F1 will involve technical discussions with the FIA and commercial negotiations with F1. Bridgestone aims to prove that it can meet performance and degradation targets without the challenges faced by Pirelli, drawing on its previous F1 experience.
Click here to read the full article by Matt Beer (the-race.com).
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, along with drivers like Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, agree that modern Formula 1 cars are too heavy. The upcoming 2026 rules will make the cars even heavier with the introduction of heavier hybrid power units. However, Mercedes' technical director James Allison proposes a solution: lowering the weight limit. He believes that by making it the teams' responsibility to meet the limit, they will be compelled to make difficult decisions and reduce the overall weight of the cars. While not everyone agrees with this approach, it presents a potential solution to the issue.
Click here to read the full article by Andrew Maitland (grandpx.com).
This weekend commemorates the 50th anniversary of the F1 safety car, and it's an opportune moment to join Bernd Maylaender, the esteemed official F1 safety car driver, for an extraordinary expedition around the remarkable Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series.