Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
Mercedes is closely monitoring Felipe Massa's legal case related to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, known as the 'Crashgate' incident, as it could establish a precedent that impacts Lewis Hamilton's controversial 2021 championship defeat. Massa believes the FIA's delayed response to the race manipulation ultimately cost him the championship, which Hamilton won. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff finds the case intriguing, emphasizing that it could set a significant precedent in Formula 1. Hamilton's 2021 championship loss involved a contentious decision by former race director Michael Masi, and Mercedes sees Massa's efforts to challenge a race result from 15 years ago as potentially reopening the matter of the disputed 2021 championship.
Click here to read the full article by Keith Collantine (racefans.net)
In Singapore GP's FP1, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz led the session, with Max Verstappen in third place. Lando Norris initially led with his McLaren on harder compounds but was overtaken by the Ferrari drivers and Lewis Hamilton during their long runs. Pierre Gasly led the switch to soft tires, but a yellow flag was caused by a lizard on the track, interrupting the session. Eventually, George Russell and Sainz set faster times, with Norris briefly regaining the lead. Charles Leclerc posted the fastest time as the session progressed, while Verstappen struggled with oversteer and aggressive downshifts. The session ended with Leclerc leading, followed by Sainz and Verstappen, while Norris finished fourth.
Click here to read the full article by Alex Kalinauckas (motorsport.com)
The Singapore GP is a favorite among F1 fans due to its exciting races and scenic night setting, but rain might disrupt the race. AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo have significant performance upgrades for Marina Bay. Teams like Red Bull and Mercedes have focused on aerodynamic enhancements, including floor edges and rear wings. Aston Martin and Ferrari have made performance improvements to their rear and front corners, while McLaren has updated various components like front wing endplates and suspension. Singapore's challenging low-speed setup and the need to optimize these upgrades add complexity for teams, as seen with Aston Martin and Ferrari's simulator struggles.
Click here to read the full article by Jaden Diaz-Ndisang (formu1a.uno)
Renowned F1 pundit Toni Cowan-Brown recently highlighted Formula 1's podium tradition of spraying "champagne" in a TikTok video, revealing that it's no longer champagne but Ferrari Trento sparkling wine since 2021. She explained the distinction between champagne and sparkling wine, emphasizing that champagne must come from the Champagne region of France. This tradition began at the 1950 French Grand Prix when Moet Chandon supplied the first champagne, later becoming Formula 1's official champagne provider in 1966. The act of spraying champagne accidentally started at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans and became a tradition when Dan Gurney intentionally did it the following year.
Click here to read the full article on pitlanetea.com
A visibly excited Max Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez compete in a friendly race using floor cleaning machines at the famous Jewel Changi Airport. The duo show off their skills in maneuvering these devices on a custom-made track near the world's tallest indoor waterfall. Verstappen was presented with a broken trophy, which he jokingly said would be paid for by Lando Norris.