Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
A Brazilian court has annulled the fine imposed on Nelson Piquet, a former Formula 1 champion, for his offensive remarks about Lewis Hamilton, another F1 champion. Piquet had used the word "neguinho," which he claimed had no racial connotations, and made homophobic comments. Initially, he was fined five million Brazilian Reals (about $990,000), but the fine has now been canceled by the Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories, stating Piquet's words were considered mockery but not hate speech. Human rights groups plan to appeal the decision, considering it outdated.
Click here to read the full article by Jake Nichol (the-race.com)
Three F1 teams, including Alfa Romeo, have modified their rear wing endplates to include an upwashing swage line on the external face. Aston Martin and Alpine initially introduced this design, with Alfa Romeo being the latest to adopt it. Aston Martin's swage line was shorter, while Alpine's stretched across the entire endplate. Williams and AlphaTauri also added similar features, with McLaren and Mercedes making their own adjustments. Teams are not only focusing on swage lines but also exploring ways to increase downforce without adding too much drag. Additionally, teams are experimenting with different designs for connecting the wing's tip section and the main plane, with Aston Martin, Mercedes, and Ferrari using one approach and Alpine, AlphaTauri, McLaren, and Red Bull adopting another.
Click here to read the full article by Matt Somerfield & Giorgio Piola (motorsport.com)
McLaren will test cutting-edge recycled carbon fiber (rCF) on their 2023 F1 cars during the United States Grand Prix, partnering with V Carbon for this innovative project. This material offers a 90% reduction in emissions compared to standard carbon fiber and has significant environmental benefits. The F1 industry's carbon footprint is partially due to car manufacturing, so adopting more sustainable materials can help reduce emissions. McLaren aims to develop a fully circular F1 car and collaborate with partners like V Carbon to achieve sustainability goals. Piers Thynne, COO of the McLaren F1 Team, expressed pride in leading this sustainability charge, and Kim Wilson, Director of Sustainability at McLaren Racing, highlighted the potential of rCF in various applications.
Click here to read the full article by Balazs Szabo (f1technical.net)
F1 drivers tackle frequently asked how-to questions on a range of subjects, including making paper airplanes, using chopsticks, tying ties, and other non-folding-related topics. George Russell disclosed that his last venture into paper airplane-making was during his childhood, whereas Zhou Guanyu found the entire experience quite relaxing, especially when it came to using chopsticks. Click here to watch the video.
Have you ever wondered about the artistic talents of the Williams Racing duo? Albon and Logan Sargeant played a game of Pictionary in which they drew items chosen randomly from a hat. They had 60 seconds to sketch and 30 seconds to guess. Albon's first drawing was of Team Principal James Vowles wearing a sombrero. However, Logan disagreed with the sombrero interpretation.