Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
Teams participating in the upcoming race at Mexico City's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez are facing unique challenges due to the city's high altitude, which results in thin air and reduced heat dissipation for components like power units and brakes. Consequently, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, Alpine, McLaren, Haas, and Williams have made updates to improve cooling solutions. These updates include changes to cooling louvers and brake ducts to address the specific conditions in Mexico. Alfa Romeo has introduced performance-enhancing updates with revised rear brake ducts, while Mercedes and Aston Martin have made no changes to their cars for this race.
Click here to read the full article by Phillip van Osten (f1i.com)
Haas praised Oliver Bearman for his impressive F1 debut in Mexico City, highlighting his professional approach, strong engagement, and excellent feedback. The 18-year-old, who also had a successful practice session at Fiorano, earned the director of engineering's approval. Bearman exceeded expectations and will get another chance in Abu Dhabi. He was pleased with his clean session and quick adaptation to the car, aiming to improve for his next opportunity.
Click here to read the full article by Phillip van Osten (f1i.com)
Red Bull Racing will have two rookie drivers, Jake Dennis and Isack Hadjar, filling in for Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez during the opening hour of the F1 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The team is fulfilling its obligation to feature rookie drivers in its cars, with Hadjar having previously participated in Mexico City for Scuderia AlphaTauri. Red Bull's decision to use rookie drivers in Abu Dhabi is based on the limited setup value of the first session. Isack Hadjar, part of the Red Bull junior program, impressed during his Free Practice 1 outing in Mexico City, and Jake Dennis, the team's development driver, brings experience from Formula E and testing duties.
Click here to read the full article by Mat Coch (speedcafe.com)
There is constant discussion regarding the thin air and how it affects f1 cars in Mexico. It was once a matter of speculation until Riccardo Musconi, who serves as the Head of Trackside Performance at Mercedes F1, shed light on the concept. Mexico City sits at 2,200 meters above sea level, and this obviously has an impact on the air's pressure and density.
Alpine had a great time in Austin, and what made it even more memorable was the golf lessons Pierre Gasly participated in. Gasly received golf coaching from sports journalist Kyle Porter before testing his swings. He also visited the San Antonio Spurs arena, where he received a gift pack from the team's mascot, the Coyote, and met his fellow countryman, Victor Wembenyama.