Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
During Friday's second practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen's impatience in the pit lane led to chaos, prompting race director Niels Wittich to prohibit overtaking in the pit exit road unless a car slows with an obvious problem. Verstappen's risky overtaking maneuvers nearly caused contact with the outside wall as he tried to gain track position, leading to a clarification from Wittich. The incident occurred as the three-time world champion aimed to make up for missing FP1 earlier in the day, with Red Bull having yet to field a rookie driver in either car heading into the season finale.
Click here to read the full article by Harry Smith (express.co.uk)
Williams' new chief technical officer Pat Fry left Alpine earlier this year because he believed that Renault Group lacked the "drive and enthusiasm" to surpass fourth place in the Formula 1 championship. Fry, who played a crucial role in Alpine's improvement, was drawn to the Williams project for its support and investment from Dorilton Capital. He had started questioning Alpine's direction at the beginning of the year, and public criticisms from then-Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi during the Miami Grand Prix weekend contributed to Fry's decision to leave. Fry expresses excitement about Williams' commitment to invest and support, in contrast to his perception of Alpine's limitations under Renault ownership. His comments raise doubts about whether Alpine, under Renault, can fulfill its potential.
Click here to read the full article by Edd Straw (the-race.com)
In the final practice of the 2023 championship, George Russell topped the timesheets with a 1:24.418, outpacing McLaren teammates. Max Verstappen struggled with his RB19's balance issues, finishing sixth after multiple setup changes. Despite initial challenges, Russell maintained his lead, with Verstappen trailing by 0.735 seconds in sixth place.
Click here to read the full article by Michelle Foster (planetf1.com)
Daniel Ricciardo has called for a change in Formula 1 red flag regulations for practice sessions after a series of incidents in FP2 at Abu Dhabi limited drivers to just 27 minutes of running time. The session was disrupted by crashes involving Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg, resulting in significant time lost for the drivers. Ricciardo suggested stopping the clock to allow for more time if there are no subsequent on-track activities after the session. However, Nico Hulkenberg acknowledged the complexity of the issue, considering schedule implications and TV times.
Click here to read the full article by Michelle Foster (planetf1.com)
Sainz had an early crash in the session while leaving the pit, causing the first of two red flags that reduced track time for all drivers. The incident happened 8 minutes into the session, coincidentally the same time as his accident at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Join Kym Illman as he shares some behind-the-scenes moments from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.