(Motorsport) Having won eight consecutive Constructors Championship (from 2014 to 2021), few would have predicted that Mercedes would struggle as they have in the 2022 season. With Red Bull and Ferrari dominating every Grand Prix so far, it’s fair to say that Mercedes are already out of the title race and the best that they can hope for is third place in the 2022 Constructors Championship. A testament to how far behind they are is that seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has openly claimed that the car has had absolutely no improvements despite data from five races and upgrades ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.

Amidst the struggles, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has not ruled out the possibility of switching to an older car concept which is much slower on paper. The car first made its debut in Barcelona before the season began and has displayed much more consistent results in terms of pace as compared to the current car that is being used. Currently, the team are struggling to deal with violent bouncing of their car on track and the issue is not reflecting in their simulations, making it even harder to solve the problem. After the race in Miami, Toto Wolff said “I wouldn't discount anything. But we need to give all of our people that have produced great race cars in the past the benefit of the doubt and we believe this is the route to go."

Hamilton, who is the most successful Formula 1 driver in history has grown frustrated of playing catch-up in this season, having not been accustomed to that role since joining the Silver Arrows. The British racing driver has claimed that despite the upgrades being implemented in the W13, the car has not improved and isn’t competitive enough to challenge the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes. When asked if Mercedes had taken a step forward in Miami, Hamilton said: "Unfortunately not. We're the same speed as we were in the first race and we just haven't improved in these five races. But I'm hopeful at some stage we will. We just have to keep trying and keep working hard." 

Meanwhile, young Mercedes driver George Russell has expressed his faith in the current car and that it's only a matter of time before they are back on top of the grid. The 24 year old said “We showed on Friday we have a fast car, there is a fast car there and I have total faith and confidence it is in there somewhere and we just need to understand how to unlock it. I think we can find chunks and chunks and chunks of lap time if we just find that killer key to get it in that perfect spot. I am not sure if that will be next race but the guys are working day and night back at the factory to find the solution and we all believe we can so we have got to stick to our guns, keep pushing down this direction and it is going to be a number of races before we say we need to go a different way, but I believe in them."

Also read: Verstappen wins Miami GP while Leclerc and Sainz finish on the podium

(Motorsport news) Reigning champion Max Verstappen won the inaugural Miami Grand Prix after holding off the two Ferrari’s despite Leclerc’s late attempt to retake the lead. Having finished third in qualifying, the Dutch racing driver impressively overtook Carlos Sainz in the very first corner of the first lap and overtook race leader Charles Leclerc in lap 7. However, a late safety car due to Lando Norris’ crash resulted in a nervy ending but Ferrari’s Monegasque driver was unable to get ahead of Verstappen despite closing the lead. The result means that Leclerc’s lead is now just 19 points, despite Verstappen having two DNF’s this season.

Carlos Sainz desperately needed a positive result, having endured a difficult few races and managed to fend off Red Bull’s Sergio Perez to finish third. Perez was plagued by a lack of power due to an engine issue and had an unfortunate lock up when trying to overtake Sainz towards the end of the race. As for Mercedes, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and sixth, with the 24 year old finishing ahead of the seven time World Champion for the fourth race in a row. Russell, who started in 12th place should be happy with the result, getting ahead of Hamilton twice due to fresher tyres and finally overtook the 37 year old with three laps to go in the race.

Former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas finished 7th after being subjected to intense pressure by the Silver Arrows, ultimately resulting in the Finn running wide and hitting the concrete. One of the biggest talking points of the race was in lap 40 when Norris had a frightening crash after colliding with Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman’s left front tyre caught the McLaren’s rear right, resulting in Norris’s car spinning on the track. The collision meant that both the cars were forced to retire while Fernando Alonso was handed a five second penalty due to an earlier collision with Gasly, resulting in the Spaniard finishing 11th and out of the points zone. The penalties and DNF’s meant that Esteban Ocon was promoted to eighth while Alex Albon was ninth and Lance Stroll finished 10th. Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher also collided at Turn 1 resulting in DNF’s for the pair.

Miami GP results: Top 10

1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
5) George Russell, Mercedes
6) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
7) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
8) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
9) Alex Albon, Williams
10) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

Also read: Formula 1: FIA plan to feature more sprint races in 2023 season

(Motorsport) Formula 1 will be making its debut in Miami this weekend and it promises to be an exciting one! The track is designed around the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and the sporting spectacle is already sold out amid the growing popularity of Formula 1 in the United States. The Miami International Autodrome is the 11th venue to host a race in the US while the Miami Grand Prix will be the 61st race to take place in the country. 

One of the biggest reasons for the growing popularity of Formula 1 in the United States is undoubtedly Netflix’s Drive to Survive show. With the tv show ratings high and cars more competitive than ever, there’s enough and more to look forward to in Miami. Speaking ahead of the race, seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton said “I love Miami, I've been here many many times... but to have a grand prix here is something super special. I hope we put on a good show for you guys." 

The Miami street circuit has been built around the Hard Rock Stadium’s car park and drivers are already impressed by the layout and overall design, comparing it to Baku, Jeddah and Melbourne. The track features a number of quick corners, a few long straights and plenty of overtaking opportunities, featuring three DRF zones. The race will feature 57 laps and qualification timings are expected to be under 90 seconds. As things stand, reigning champion Max Verstappen appears to be the favourite to win while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is a close second. 

One of the most attractive features of the track is the marina from a visual/spectator perspective. The Marina has been artificially built especially for the race in an attempt to imitate the one in Monaco and does not actually have water. Instead, it has blue paint and boats. Recent results have meant that Ferrari’s lead over Red Bull has been reduced to just 11 points in the Constructors Standings while 27 points separate leader Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. Carlos Sainz will be hoping to have a positive result this time around while Mercedes will hope that their upgrades pay dividends so that the car is back in contention at the top of the grid.

Also read: Formula 1: FIA plan to feature more sprint races in 2023 season

(Motorsports news) Extreme E is delighted to announce its partnership extension with Bosch, who will continue as the Championship’s Official Power Tool supplier for Season 2. One of the world’s leading providers for power tools, power tool accessories and measuring tools, the German brand will continue to provide their professional equipment to service Extreme E’s electric SUV, the ODYSSEY 21.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I’m thrilled to extend the partnership with Bosch.Continuing our hard work from Season 1, Bosch provided us with the essential tools that helped us deliver Extreme E’s inaugural campaign and I look forward to building upon this relationship for Season 2, especially through our first legacy project collaboration together in Senegal.”

Bosch provides mainly cordless tools that are critical to the sport-for-purpose championship, can withstand the toughest Extreme E racing locations and and are forward-thinking in the wider technology and innovation sectors.As part of the partnership extension, Bosch tools will specifically be used to assist in construction of X Prix event sites, which are held in the most remote corners of the planet to highlight the climate crisis.

The Bosch ethos is ‘by acting in an economically, environmentally, and socially responsible manner, we want to improve people’s quality of life and safeguard the livelihoods of present and future generations’. This ranges from environmental protection – reducing their ecological footprint to creating more sustainable products that help conserve natural resources. These are all values that Extreme E embodies in its environmental purpose to highlight the issues currently facing the planet to inspire action.

Henk Becker, CEO of Bosch Power Tools, added: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Extreme E. Our professional power tools are made for the toughest applications – very similar to those conditions and challenges Extreme E is taking on. We fully support the championship’s purpose to raise awareness for climate change and share its dedication towards innovation and performance.”

Also read: Rivalry continues between Nasser Al-Attiyah and Carlos Sainz Snr.

(Motorsport) Formula 1’s governing body the FIA are planning to double the amount of sprint events in the 2023 season. In Tuesday’s meeting of the F1 Commission, the teams backed a proposal by the commercial rights holders to hold six sprint events. According to several sources, the FIA have asked for more money in return for providing their support for the increased number of sprint events.

In addition to income from promoters, the FIA already receives $40m ($30.7m) from F1 as well as $1m extra for every race held over 20. An FIA spokesperson said that the request was "not entirely money-related" but was "for a genuine operational purpose" to do with "ensuring we have the resources to adequately do our job". He said “We're not a profit-creating organisation, but we do need to be properly resourced.” He said sprint events had "a significant impact on the workload of staff", adding that "we would probably need to increase the number of operational staff in areas such as scrutineering, parc ferme and tyre return." 

The decision to increase the number of sprint races is because Formula 1 believes that it has enhanced the income and interest by moving the qualifying on Friday and the sprint race to Saturday. The format was introduced in the 2021 season and was set to hold six races this season but the plan fell through as they couldn’t reach an agreement with the teams about the financial compensation. 

In the meeting, the new engine regulations for 2026 were also discussed despite no agreement in place. The engines will remain 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids but the MGU-H part of the energy recovery system will be removed. In addition, 100% sustainable fuel will also be used and the aim is to attract new manufacturers to the sport with Audi and Porsche being linked to Formula 1 in the future. The chassis regulations have also been modified for the 2026 season which will:

Reduce drag to improve sustainability

Take further steps to generate competitive racing and enabling the cars to follow each other closely

Reduce the car dimensions

"Reduce or contain" total mass

Continue to standardise or simplify certain components to reduce costs and expand the use of sustainable materials and technologies

Formula 1 will also aim to reduce the number of tyre sets used in a Grand Prix weekend from 13 to 11 at two events in the 2023 season to improve sustainability.

Also read: Max Verstappen secures win at Imola while Ferrari have a bad day

(Motorsports news) Hitech’s Marcus Armstrong beat Prema's Jehan Daruvala to the F2 sprint race victory at Imola. Marcus started from second on the grid as he made a solid start and got ahead of Williams F1 junior Logan Sargeant, who started the on pole because of the reverse grid.The Hitech once he took the lead he then controlled the race from the front, resisting pressure from Daruvala, who was showing impressive race pace in the Prema. The Indian driver couldn't get close to make the most of the DRS, as Armstrong took the victory. 

Reigning F3 champion Dennis Hauger came third and completed the podium behind Armstrong and Daruvala after gaining a position at the start of the race. Dirty air proved to be more prevalent as these F2 cars struggled to follow each other in the middle sector of the lap. Roy Nissany finished an impressive fourth after getting past Theo Pourchaire at the start, securing his best result of the year. F2 points leader Felipe Drugovich, Logan Sargeant, Theo Pourchaire and Liam Lawson rounded out the points at Imola in the sprint race. Ayumu Iwasa narrowly missed out the points in the end in P9 ahead of Frederik Vesti.

In the feature race, Daruvala finished ninth to take three points home as he also took the fastest lap point. Theo Pourchaire won the feature race and also took the Championship lead as he  finished ahead of Enzo Fittipaldi and Ralph Boschung. For Daruvala, 2022 is going to be a make-or-break season for F2 aspirations, and so far, the Indian is having his best start to the season, delivering the results time and time again. He’s the only F2 driver this year to have finished on the podium in every round so far this season, and is also the leading Red Bull junior in the standings. He’s currently third overall with 39 points, just two points behind second-placed Liam Lawson and 16 points behind Felipe Drugovich. He needs to start converting these podiums into race victories if he wants to win this year's F2 World Championship

“After the fighting for the win yesterday, I was obviously hoping for more," Daruvala commented. "It’s a real shame the safety car came out when it did because we clearly had the pace to win.”

“The car felt great, I was able to get into a really good rhythm and I felt very comfortable in the lead. You can always dwell on the what-ifs, but my focus now is very much on carrying this momentum into the next round in Barcelona.”

Also read: Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams join consortium to buy Chelsea FC
 

(Sports news) Seven time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton and 23 time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams have joined a large consortium to purchase Chelsea FC from Roman Abramovich. The consortium is led by Sir Martin Broughton and it also includes World Athletics President Sebastian Coe as well as Josh Harris and David Blitzer, owners of the NBA team Philadelphia 76ers. Hamilton’s communications consultancy Freud Communications have already confirmed the British racing driver's involvement in the bid while Serena Williams’ representatives are yet to make a public statement.

Speaking to CNN Sport, Ben Peppi, sports commercial expert at JMW Solicitors said “It's a move away from what they're investing in traditionally, [by] investing in a club's franchise, especially a club the size of Chelsea. [Sportspeople are] typically seen as investing in consumer brands, early stage businesses that clearly have relevance to their sporting career, but also kind of that move into the wider business world. 

“This, to me, looks more like a traditional investment play. Clearly, it's a financial return. It's not going to be acting as brand ambassadors for Chelsea Football Club in a traditional way that they might with other consumer brands. With Lewis Hamilton there's a lot of talk around the fact that he's in there because he's going to promote values close to him with regards to kind of race, inclusion, and diversity” Peppi concluded. 

Hamilton said “We were contacted and Sir Martin took time to speak to me on the phone and explain his and his team’s goals, if they were to win the bid, which was incredibly exciting. And it was very much aligned with my values and again, as a kid, I remember collecting all the stickers and books to trade cards. I remember filling all of those up as a kid and collecting all those pennies and trading them for sweets with the other kids for the most valuable ones. 

“Ultimately I’m a sporting fan. It’s the biggest sport in the world and Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world and one of the most successful. When I heard about this opportunity I was like ‘wow’, this is one of the greatest opportunities to be part of something so great. Well, at the moment my primary focus is continuing in Formula 1, and this isn't my first business venture or investment. But yeah, it’s something I'm excited about, I would say early on I’m for sure not going to be able to be hands on as the other people that are a part of it. But again, we haven't won (the bid) yet. But if we do, there's lots of opportunity to get involved more and more over time, which is super exciting." 

Also read: Arsenal interested in Jesus amid Haaland to Manchester City rumours

(Motorsport) Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen reignited his title bid after a dominant victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The Dutch racing driver led from start to finish while his rival Charles Leclerc had a disappointing race, finishing sixth due to a crash while the other Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz had a DNF after crashing with Daniel Ricciardo very early in the race. 

It was a perfect weekend for Red Bull as Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez finished first and second in an almost faultless display. Leclerc, who finished 2nd in the sprint race dropped to fourth at the beginning of the main event and eventually hit the barrier while chasing Perez for 2nd place with 10 laps to go. The Monegasque driver was forced to the pits in order to get a new front wing which ultimately resulted in the driver being forced to settle for sixth place. Leclerc’s pain was Lando Norris’ gain as the McLaren driver finished third in what was a hugely disappointing weekend for Ferrari at their home Grand Prix. 

As for Mercedes, George Russell finished in an impressive fourth place but seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton struggled throughout and ended the race in 13th place, well outside the points. His former teammate Valtteri Bottas finished fifth in the Alfa Romeo while Yuki Tsunoda was seventh in the AlphaTauri. Kevin Magnussen in ninth place was sandwiched between the two Aston Martin cars of Sebastian Vettel who finished eighth and Lance Stroll who was 10th. The result of the race meant that Max Verstappen progressed to 2nd in the Drivers Standings after taking 34 points from the weekend, the maximum available as he won Saturday's sprint and also got the fastest lap on Sunday.

Speaking after the race, Verstappen said “Yesterday and the day before, we were on it and it was looking like a strong weekend. Today, you never know with the weather how competitive you're going to be... as a team we did everything well and I think this one-two is well deserved.” His rival Charles Leclerc remains 27 points ahead in the title race and Ferrari will look for both their drivers, especially Carlos Sainz, to step up in the upcoming weekends so that Red Bull cannot mount a comeback. 

Emilia Romagna GP race result: Top 10

1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3) Lando Norris, McLaren
4) George Russell, Mercedes
5) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
6) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
7) Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
8) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
9) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
10) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

Also read: Carlos Sainz extends contract with Scuderia Ferrari until 2024

(Motorsports news) Max Verstappen bounced back from a miserable Melbourne Grand Prix to take an unbelievable pole at Imola in the wet. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc took P2 after being hampered by a flurry of late red flags, while Lando Norris managed an excellent P3 on the grid for McLaren, which was subsequently their best qualifying result this season. Leclerc easily topped Final Practice before Friday’s qualifying session. As the rain subsided and the other drivers emerged on soft tyres for Q1, in which Leclerc again set the fastest time to go half a second ahead of Verstappen. Q2 saw a greater threat of rain, but this time Verstappen topped those timesheets before Sainz crashed from P2 and then Q3 saw the clouds unleashed.

All the drivers opted for the Intermediates for the final shootout and it was there that Verstappen set the early benchmark of 1m 27.999,  just as Valtteri Bottas crashed out and brought out the fourth red flag of the afternoon with just three minutes remaining. Nearly eight-tenths of Leclerc had one last chance to take  provisional pole away from the reigning champion but he was left 0.799s off from Max’s time. Norris took third for McLaren but slid off track in the final seconds of Q3, while Kevin Magnussen finished a magnificent  fourth for Haas and Fernando Alonso rounded out the top five for Alpine.

In sixth it was Daniel Ricciardo while Sergio Perez could only manage P7 for Red Bull, ahead of Bottas who was eighth before crashing. Vettel managed to enter Q3 in his Aston Martin and took a respectable  P9 to leave Ferrari's Sainz in P10 after crashing out of Q2. But the surprise of the day was that both the Mercedes missed out on Q3, both George Russell (P11) and Lewis Hamilton (P13) in the drop zone before rain hit in Q2 as this was the first time since Japan 2012. Mick Schumacher was P12 while Zhou Guanyu was 14th as Lance Stroll was 15th for Aston Martin.

“It was tricky out there with the rain… It was very slippery to get the tyre temps to work. It was a hectic, long qualifying but of course at the end I was happy to be here. It’s an amazing track, it also really punishes you if you make a mistake, you know you can go in the wall. That’s what we like to make it really hard and difficult.

“Very pleased of course with pole position. I know tomorrow and Sunday will be different in terms of weather conditions but at least it’s a good start to the weekend” – Max Verstappen, Red Bull

Also read: Carlos Sainz extends contract with Scuderia Ferrari until 2024
 

(Motorsport) Spanish Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has signed a new contract with Scuderia Ferrari which will keep him at the team until 2024. Having joined as Sebastian Vettel’s replacement in 2021, Sainz has developed a formidable partnership with Charles Leclerc since his arrival and the pair could lead Ferrari to their first Constructors Championship at the end of the ongoing season for the first time since 2008.

Mattia Binotto, Principal of the Scuderia Ferrari said “I have said several times that I believe we have the best driver pairing in Formula 1 and so, with every passing race, it seemed a completely natural step to extend Carlos' contract. Together, we can aim for ambitious targets and I'm sure that, along with Charles, he can play a significant part in fuelling the Ferrari legend and will write new chapters in the history of our team."

Carlos Sainz said “I have always said that there is no better Formula 1 team to race for. And after over a year with them, I can confirm that putting on this race suit and representing this team is unique and incomparable. I feel strengthened by this renewed show of confidence in me and now I can't wait to get in the car, to do my best for Ferrari and to give its fans plenty to cheer about. The F1-75 is proving to be a front-runner, which can allow me to chase my goals on track, starting with taking my first Formula 1 win." 

Ferrari have had a brilliant start to the season, winning two of the three races so far and Carlos Sainz is currently third on the table, 38 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc. The Spaniard outperformed Leclerc in his debut season but a combination of bad luck and inconsistency has hampered his performances so far. If he continues to perform as he has, Sainz would have no choice but to play a supporting role in Leclerc’s bid for a World Championship.

Also read: Emilia Romagna GP: Ferrari look to keep momentum at home track

Chennai, Apr 21 (MotorSports News) TVS Racing, the racing team of two and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company, on Thursday announced conduct of TVS Asia One-Make Championship in Malaysia later this year.

The championship, to be conducted for the first time, would be held along with the Asian Road Racing Championship in Malaysia.

The rider selection process for the championship was scheduled at Sepang circuit in Malaysia on April 27 to shortlist eight riders from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, a company statement said.

Additionally, eight other riders would be nominated independently by the TVS Racing team.

Apart from the race in Malaysia, the One-Make championship would also be held in Indonesia, Japan and Thailand.

"The engineering and performance prowess in our race machines has been derived from TVS Racing's race-bred pedigree on the track, proving its mettle across a host of racing formats and has put us on the global map," said Vimal Sumbly who recently joined TVS Motor Company as Head-Premium Business said. "We take this as an opportunity to take our learnings from the Indian tracks and demonstrate our capabilities internationally. We also look forward to having international racers atop our TVS Asia One Make Apache RR310 motorcycles competing in the future championships," he added. 

Also Read : Emilia Romagna GP: Ferrari look to keep momentum at home track

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) The 2022 Formula 1 season makes its way to Italy and the Tifosi will be in the stands, unfurling their Ferrari banners and cheering on the most successful team in the sport’s history. After all, why not? Scuderia Ferrari have had little to celebrate in over a decade but they have won two of the three races in the season so far and look favourites to win the elusive World Championship. 

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend will also feature the sprint race, which means that the qualification process will involve more wheel-to-wheel action rather than the standard qualifying rounds to determine the grid positions for the race. Drivers will be racing 21 laps around the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, a.k.a Imola with all 20 drivers placed in grid positions based on the qualification process on Friday. 

One of the major changes as compared to 2021 with regards to sprint races is that instead of only the top 3, the top 8 will secure points which amount to a total of 36 instead of 26. This means that sprint races are more important than ever before as winning all the three sprint races in a season almost amounts to a race win in itself (24 points). There will only be two practice sessions this weekend, one fewer than the usual and the race itself will be 63 laps.

In terms of points, the race winner gets 25 points (26 if they manage to get the fastest lap) while the 10th place gets a single point. Mercedes will be one of the teams looking to improve their season as the Silver Arrows have been experiencing some drastic 'porpoising issues' and are expected to make improvements to the car ahead of the race. Team principal Toto Wolff said "There's been a lot of hard work over the Easter weekend in the factory to bring improvements to the car and get it ready to head to the next race, and that shows the team's dedication to turning the situation around. Of course, we must be realistic, it will take time to make the gains we want, but we're learning as much as we can from each race and finding avenues to push us forward."

Also read: Charles Leclerc wins Australian GP while Max Verstappen suffers DNF

(Motorsports news) Enea Bastianini took his second win of the 2022 MotoGP season in a thrilling Americas Grand Prix and he took the championship lead in the process. The Italian rider passed the leader Jack Miller late on to take his second win of the season and his first podium in America. He subsequently became MotoGP’s first repeat winner in 2022 and took a five-point lead in the championship. Miller took the lead early on from poleman Jorge Martin off the line, but Bastianini stuck behind him and steadily chipped away at the Australian’s lead before passing him on lap 16.

Suzuki’s Alex Rins did a brilliant job on the final stint and pulled off a last-lap move on Miller into the penultimate corner to snatch second and he also moved into second in the standings. His team-mate Joan Mir was just 1.6s away from third and finished 4th as Bagnaia could only manage fifth having started from the front row. Marquez had a disastrous start but then made a brilliant recovery to sixth at the chequered flag in a sublime charge through the field from last place. In the final few laps two world champions Marquez and Quartararo were engaged in an immense battle which is reminiscent of their 2019 race fights as when Marquez had a moment rounding Turn 6 and almost touched Quartararo.

Marquez eventually won the battle and finished sixth, as the Frenchman tried to fight back when they almost touched on lap 19.  Quartararo went out wide into Turn 7, which allowed Marquez to come back through to take sixth. Martin faded to a disappointing eighth in the end ahead of Zarco, while Maverick Vinales took top Aprilia honours from team-mate Aleix Espargaro in 10th late on.

American favourite Cameron Beaubier secured his first Moto2 grand prix pole in front of his home fans, but suffered a disastrous start as others jumped him off the line at the start by several riders. Tony Arbolino won his first Moto 2 race as Ai Ouga and Jake Dixon got their first podium in Moto 2 as well. In the Moto3 battle, Ajo KTM’s Jaume Masia won his race of the season after he beat Leopard’s Dennis Foggia on the last lap as Valentino Rossi protégé Andrea Migno, finished third. Foggia leads the standings after four races from Aspar’s Sergio Garcia, who retired from the COTA race, while Migno holds a 33 points lead over Foggia.

Also read: MotoGP: Miguel Oliveira wins rain soaked Indonesian Grand Prix
 

(Motorsport) Championship leader Charles Leclerc put on an impressive display at Albert Park, leading the race from start to finish and winning the Australian Open for the first time in his career, a track that he has traditionally struggled on. Meanwhile, reigning champion Max Verstappen suffered another DNF (first one being in Bahrain) and was told to stop his Red Bull with 20 laps remaining when smoke began rising from his car. The points gap between the two drivers is now 34 and such was Ferrari’s dominance that any other result except for a Leclerc win would have been impossible and the F1-75 also managed to get the fastest lap of the race, helping the Monegasque driver amass 26 points.

Speaking after the race, Leclerc said “The car was incredible today. We are only at the third race so it is difficult to think about the championship. But we have a very strong car, a very reliable car too, and for now we have always been there. I hope it continues like this and if it does we will probably have chances for the championship, which makes me happy after the last two seasons, which have been difficult for the team. 

“I have been in this situation in the junior categories but to be in it in F1 means a lot, especially after the last two years and especially with a team like Ferrari. It feels incredible. The mindset is a bit different compared to the last two years because now I know that underneath me I have a car that is capable of winning and I don't really have to overdo things to do something extremely special and spectacular to get one or two positions - because I know it is in the car and I just have to do the job."

One of the biggest challenges Ferrari will face now is to maintain their dominance in what is the longest Formula 1 season to date. Both Red Bull and Mercedes will be having upgrade packages implemented in their cars throughout the year and Ferrari will need to be up to the task if they want to win their first World Championship in over a decade. In the last three occasions when Ferrari has been a potential contender, they have failed to rise up to the challenge.

Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz had a disappointing weekend, finishing ninth in qualification and dropped positions early on with the hard tyre and braked too late in the final sector, resulting in his car running over the grass and into the gravel. Both Mercedes and McLaren capitalised on Sainz and Verstappen’s misfortune, with McLaren achieving their first double top 10 of the season as Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo finished fifth and sixth. Despite showing promising signs with the Alpine, Fernando Alonso failed to finish in the top 10 while Alex Albon secured his first points of the season.

Australian GP race result: Top 10

1) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3) George Russell, Mercedes
4) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
5) Lando Norris, McLaren
6) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
7) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
8) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
9) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
10) Alex Albon, Williams

Also read: Formula 1: What are the problems affecting Mercedes this season?

(Motorsport) Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished on pole position at the Australian Grand Prix qualifying ahead of reigning World Champion Max Verstappen. Right at the end of Q3, Leclerc posted an impressive time of 1:17.868 while Verstappen finished second, more than two tenths off the Monegasque. 

Speaking after the qualification, Charles Leclerc said “It felt good. Even more, it is a track I have always struggled with. As a driver it doesn't fit me. We really worked hard. The practice sessions were a bit messy. In Q3 I managed to put everything together. The car is nice to drive. Red Bull were very quick in the long run. We were quite surprised with our pace in qualifying. Everything is possible tomorrow."

Verstappen came second ahead of Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez while McLaren’s Lando Norris finished third. The Dutch racing driver said “Of course second is a good result, but I didn't feel that great. For me this weekend has been all over the place and as a team we want more." Sergio Perez said “With all the red flags it's hard to keep momentum. I didn't feel happy starting Q3 on tyres with no strategy but we have a nice race ahead of us. With full stands the race should be good tomorrow." 

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz will be disappointed to finish ninth, especially considering that his teammate Leclerc finished first in the same car. The Spaniard said “I couldn't prepare the tyre. I had to do the lap with freezing tyres and it was a terrible lap. Ferrari shouldn't have these problems. It was just a disaster." 

Meanwhile, Mercedes put up an impressive show as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished fifth and sixth, one second behind the pole position but an improvement on their last Grand Prix performance. Fernando Alonso was also in contention for one of the top positions and had a quick lap in Q3 but crashed in the final sector, ending his chances. 

Earlier in Q1, Nicholas Latifi and Lance Stroll collided heavily while both of them were on slow laps. The incident could also lead to repercussions further up the grid as Sergio Perez didn’t slow down for the double yellow flags, which means he might lose out on his P3 position before tomorrow’s Grand Prix. 

Here are the top 10 results from qualification

1) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
4) Lando Norris, McLaren
5) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6) George Russell, Mercedes
7) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
8) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
9) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
10) Fernando Alonso, Alpine

Also read: Australia GP: Leclerc fastest in FP2 with Verstappen trailing behind

(Motorsport) Formula 1 returned to Albert Park for the first time since 2019 and Charles Leclerc finished fastest in Final Practice Two ahead of World Champion Max Verstappen while Mercedes’ woes continued. As things stand, Ferrari seems to be faster than Red Bull but Verstappen has the experience of getting results as an underdog, which might play into his favour on Sunday. 

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. topped the fastest lap in FP1 but Leclerc posted a time of 1:18.978,  two-tenths quicker than Verstappen in FP2 while Sainz finished second. Surprisingly, Fernando Alonso’s Alpine was third ahead of Sergio Perez’s Red Bull and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was sixth. As for Mercedes, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished 11th and 13th while Mercedes-powered McLaren had a relatively better day, finishing 8th and 10th. 

Both Ferrari and Red Bull implemented small upgrades to their cars ahead of the Australian Grand Prix while Mercedes were one of the two teams that didn’t make any improvements. Despite experiencing porpoising, Ferrari had the pace to post the fastest laps in both the final practice sessions so far while Mercedes struggled once again. 

Hamilton said “Nothing you change on the car makes a difference at the moment, that's the difficult thing. You get very optimistic, and you make changes, and then it doesn't seem to be wanting to improve. It's just a tricky car." As for Red Bull, the new upgrades haven’t done enough and they looked off the pace compared to the Championship leaders, more so than the first two races. Time will tell if they manage to secure a win in Australia but as things stand, Ferrari are the favourites for the win.

Also read: Formula 1: What are the problems affecting Mercedes this season?

(Motorsport) In the last decade or so, few teams have enjoyed as much unrivalled dominance in Formula 1 as compared to Mercedes. The Silver Arrows have won eight consecutive Constructors Championship titles and have truly stamped their authority during the V6 turbo-hybrid era. However, the 2022 season has been far from ideal for the German manufacturers with the cars lacking in both pace and reliability, severely affecting their title aspirations and are evidently a long way off as compared to rivals Red Bull and Ferrari.

With Formula 1 heading into the Australian Grand Prix in a few days, Toto Wolff will be undoubtedly concerned by the various problems affecting the W13 and how they can be fixed in the fastest time frame. One of the most obvious and biggest issue with the car is a phenomenon called 'porpoising', which means that the car violently bounces up and down at high speeds, which inevitably means that the car needs to be a little higher than it currently is, therefore allowing the air to travel underneath but the sacrifice is speed in order to avoid the issue. 

Both the drivers have insisted that the car needs more downforce and power as well as expressing slight concerns about the engine despite the obvious potential of the car. It’s telling just how bad the car is if the seven time World Champion failed to progress past Q1 in qualification in Jeddah and started the race in 16th place. He may have managed to get a point at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, but Hamilton’s body language said it all and the 37 year old looked extremely disillusioned by the situation.

It’s believed that Mercedes are planning “phased upgrades” with the first one coming during the upcoming weekend but it’s expected not to be a quick fix and solve all the problems with the W13. As things stand, Mercedes is where Ferrari have been in the last few years, a car that is best of the rest but not good enough to compete for the title. However, underestimating Mercedes to turn their season around would be foolish and there is enough expertise and experience amongst the drivers and the car developers to not just fix the ongoing issues but unlock the potential of the car in order to compete for race wins and pole positions yet again.

Also read: Ferrari boss Binotto confident in team’s ability to compete for WC

(Motorsport) Mattia Binotto, Principal of the Scuderia Ferrari has reiterated his expectations from the team this season and has insisted that the legendary team are “much better prepared” to compete for the World Championship but remain wary of their rivals Red Bull and Mercedes. It was in 2008 that Ferrari last won the Constructors Championship and 2007 when they secured the Drivers’ Championship, which means that Formula 1’s most successful team in history are really optimistic about their chances this season if they can make such a bold claim after years of underachievement.

Ferrari have had a dream start in the 2022 Formula 1 season, securing 78 points from a possible 88 in the Bahrain and Saudi Grand Prix’s and are 40 points ahead of their nearest rivals. Both the Ferrari drivers have finished on the podium in the first two races and Charles Leclerc has been particularly exceptional for the Italian manufacturers, however, the concern remains if Scuderia Ferrari can maintain this momentum and develop the car further as the season progresses. 

In an interview, Binotto said “For us to be there in the fight, that was our objective to start the season and we can be very pleased. Keeping up the level on a long season is a challenge, not just for us but all the teams. It's true that our competitors have very strong development. In 2017 and '18 we lost a bit of ground. But since then, in car design, we have improved our wind tunnel, technologies, processes and simulations and so today we are much better prepared than in the past to do a good job with development. We also have a budget cap which will affect the rate of development... we need to make sure we have the right policy on that, as it could be a game-changer in the fight for development.”

One of the biggest factors that have played in Ferrari’s favour are performance and reliability. Unlike their closest rivals Red Bull, both the Ferrari’s on the grid haven’t faced any reliability issues so far and have the pace to compete at the top of the grid. However, despite the optimistic signs from the season so far, Binotto insists that his team aren’t the favourites in the title race. He said “I believe Red Bull is the strongest and the favourite.”

Speaking about his competitors, Carlos Sainz said “If anything I'm impressed with the car that both Red Bull and Mercedes managed to put together, with less wind tunnel time than us, with the championship fight going on. It just shows they are two very strong teams performing at an incredible level, and at any point in the season, they can turn it up and put on a strong competition. We just need to keep our heads down and keep maximising our chances. But at the same time, I also trust the development capacity of our team. I think this year's car proves it. It's a car that is very well thought out, with some special concepts to it. So I really trust the people behind it and I'm sure we can develop."

Also read: Formula 1 to feature Las Vegas Grand Prix on the calendar from 2023

(Motorsport) The United States will feature three Grand Prix’s from next season as Las Vegas is a new destination in the 2023 Formula 1 calendar. The 3.8 mile track is located at the famous Las Vegas strip and the race itself will take place on Saturday night in November, with the city’s most iconic landmarks, hotels and casinos situated around the track. 

The top speed at the track is estimated to be 212 mph and the 50 lap race will feature three main straights, 14 corners including a high speed corner sequence and a single chicane section. Stefano Domenicali, president and chief executive of Formula 1, said: "This is an incredible moment for Formula 1 that demonstrates the huge appeal and growth of our sport with a third race in the US. Las Vegas is a destination known around the world for its excitement, hospitality, thrills, and of course, the famous Strip. There is no better place for Formula 1 to race than in the global entertainment capital of the world and we cannot wait to be here next year."

Along with the Texas and Miami Grand Prix’s, the Las Vegas GP will become the third race in the country. Vegas has previously hosted two Grand Prix’s in 1981 and 1982 which took place in the parking lot of Caesar’s Palace hotel. F1 and Liberty Media will work together to promote the race in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), as well as Founding Partners Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Las Vegas and Presenting Partners MSG Sphere, Resorts World Las Vegas and The Venetian Resort.

The news was announced at a glittering event in Las Vegas on Wednesday with Liberty Media President and CEO Greg Maffei and F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali present. They were joined by local stakeholders including Nevada Governor, Steve Sisolak, CEO and President of the LVCVA, Steve Hill and President and CEO of Live Nation Entertainment, Michael Rapino.

“Iconic Las Vegas and Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport, is the perfect marriage of speed and glamour,” said Maffei. “Our confidence in this unique opportunity is evident in our decision to assume the promoter role for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in partnership with Live Nation. We could not be more excited to work with our local partners to create a marquee event. The potential of Formula 1 has been well demonstrated over the last several seasons and the Las Vegas GP will only take it to the next level.”

Hill added: “We eagerly anticipate the moment when the history, energy and momentum of Formula 1 will culminate in an unforgettable Saturday night on the Las Vegas Strip. Spectators will experience the unrivalled thrill of watching these world-class drivers race through what is sure to become one of the most iconic racetracks in the world. Formula 1 and Liberty Media have been incredible partners, and we look forward to November 2023 when we once again showcase that Las Vegas is ‘The Greatest Arena on Earth’.”

Also read: Verstappen outfoxed Leclerc to clinch the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

(Motorsports news) Daruvala had an abysmal qualifying lap time, which was only good enough to place him 14th. However, after some checks, Prema discovered an unnamed component issue on his car which they resolved but still had a major task in hand to recover some points for the team.

Starting the sprint race from 13th on the grid, Daruvala had a monumental task to get in the points but he gained a handful of places to finish seventh and collected two points for the championship battle. As Liam Lawson continued his fine start to the season and won the sprint race for this third consecutive podium this season, he was followed by another red bull junior in Juri Vips as Jack Hughes had initially finished third in the race but was stripped off his podium following the stewards found a technical non conformity in his car, meaning pole sitter Felipe Durgovich finished third. It was a chaotic race as it had three safety cars which also meant that sprint race pole sitter and Daruvala’s teammate Dennis Hauger, who led the race from start to front was given a 10 second penalty following a bizarre incident

In the feature race, Daruvala started from 14th on the grid and subsequently started the race on soft tyres, Daruvala had a blistering start and quickly picked up some positions. He then pitted early which really made the difference as others were struggling to keep tyre temperature but he pulled off a consistent second stint. In addition to the places he gained out on track, the 23-year-old ultimately moved further up once all the late stoppers dived into the pits.He could have even challenged Verschoor for second but a yellow flag at the end disrupted his momentum. Ultimately his brilliant charge up the field saw him clinch a third spot on the podium, behind winner Felipe Drugovich and Richard Verschoor. With this result Daruvala is currently sixth in the overall championship standings with 25 points, same as Theo Pourchaire and 18 points off new F2 leader Drugovich. The next round will be at Imola on April 22-24

Speaking after the race, Daruvala said the drive highlighted Prema’s strong race pace, but added that it’s important to start qualifying in front from now on. "I think it was a very good race overall. To be on the podium from P14 was the best we could do. After the issues in qualifying, to be seventh and third in the races was damage limitation. I think our strategy worked quite well. I wanted clean air as we knew that the car was really good in clean air, so we made the call to box early, and it paid off. We had a great pace after that, and in the end, it is what gave us the podium. Going from 14th to 3rd gives me a lot of confidence, now we need to start more at the front

Also read: Jehan Daruvala finished 2nd at F2's first sprint race of the season

(Motorsport) The 2022 Formula 1 season has certainly lived up to the hype as cars are more competitive than ever and Ferrari are finally in the mix for a World Championship after over a decade of disappointing results. Sergio Perez may have finished P1 in the qualifying but lost his lead due to an unfortunately timed safety car. However, Red Bull will be happy with their performance this weekend, especially after the disastrous result at the Bahrain Grand Prix last week and couldn’t have hoped for a better start as Perez maintained his pole position while Verstappen overtook Sainz in the first lap.

Meanwhile, seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton started the race in 15th place after an extremely disappointing qualifying session. Mercedes’ woes continue in the season so far and will need to improve drastically if they hope to come anywhere near the top at the end of the season. In the race, Hamilton managed to do some damage control, progressing from 16th to sixth, but after three back-to-back retirements for Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo and Valtteri Bottas, the British racing driver attempted to pit under the Virtual Safety Car. However, he was unable to do so and was forced to pit later, resulting in Hamilton being relegated to 12th place before managing to finish 10th at the end.

With just four laps to go, Verstappen overtook Leclerc in Turn 1 and the reigning champion was elated with the result. Speaking after the race, the Dutch racing driver said “I'm really happy that we've finally kick-started the season." Meanwhile, Leclerc said “Well done to Max, that was nice. It's hard racing but fair. Every race should be like this." The Italian manufacturers may be disappointed not to finish first in Saudi, but both their cars were on the podium at the end of the match and the result will go a long way in the Constructors and Drivers Standings at the end of the season. 

Lando Norris managed to score McLaren’s first points of the season while Kevin Magnussen also had an impressive performance and managed to score points for Haas yet again. The stewards investigated the final two laps after the race as many drivers had failed to sufficiently slow down under double-waved yellows after Albon’s crash but only a three place grid penalty was given to the Williams driver due to his collision with Lance Stroll.

Top 10 grid places at the Saudi Arabia GP

1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
5) George Russell, Mercedes
6) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
7) Lando Norris, McLaren
8) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
9) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
10) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Also read: Lewis Hamilton aims to fight for diversity in Formula 1

(Motorsport) The Saudi Grand Prix is set to go ahead despite an attack on an oil depot close to the Jeddah circuit, with Formula 1 authorities receiving complete reassurance about safety from the Saudi Arabia government. Seven miles from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, an Aramco oil depot was set ablaze during the first practice and the smoke was visible from the track. Since then, Yemen’s Houthis rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack. 

The first practice continued as expected but there was a 15 minute delay in the second practice session  F1 president Domenicali and the FIA's Mohammed Ben Sulayem met with drivers and team principals. There was another meeting held after the second practice session which included the Saudi delegation after which the Saudi Grand Prix was confirmed to go ahead. 

Speaking after the meeting, Domenicali said “We have received total assurance of the country's safety first. They have placed all the systems to protect this area. So, we feel confident that we have to trust the local authority in that respect. We will of course go ahead with the event."

Mohammed Ben Sulayem added “We had meetings with the high level security then we had meetings with the team principals and the drivers," the FIA president said. "And to assure you that, they are targeting the infrastructure of the economy, not the civilians and, of course, not the track. Of course we have checked the facts from them and we have had the assurance from the high authorities of the safety here and let's go racing."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: "It was a good meeting, the drivers are going to talk now at a drivers' meeting. We are the team principals, we've been assured we are protected here and it's probably the safest place you can be in Saudi Arabia at the moment and that's why we are racing. [It was a unanimous decision] By the team principals, yes."

Red Bull principal Christian Horner added: "I think the sport has to stand together collectively. Any act of terrorism cannot be condoned and sport shouldn't be bullied into a position - a situation like that just isn't acceptable. Stefano and the president are dealing with it, there has been all of the assurances from the organisers and we'll be going racing."

Drivers, whose scheduled media commitments were cancelled, held the Friday briefing as per usual along with the race director. The talks continued for four hours and into the early hours of Saturday morning, after which the drivers agreed to participate in the race. A statement by Formula 1 said “We are aware of the attack on the Aramco distribution station in Jeddah earlier this afternoon. 

“The race organisers remain in direct contact with the Saudi security authorities, as well as F1 and the FIA to ensure all necessary security and safety measures continue to be implemented to guarantee the safety of all visitors to the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as well as all drivers, teams and stakeholders. The race weekend schedule will continue as planned. The safety and security of all our guests continues to be our main priority and we look forward to welcoming fans for a weekend of premium racing and entertainment."

Also read: Lewis Hamilton aims to fight for diversity in Formula 1

Chennai, Mar 23 (MotorSports News) Rajiv Sethu and Senthil Kumar will participate in the 2022 Asia Road Racing Championship as part of the IDEMITSU Honda Racing India team.

Also, promising young riders Sarthak Chavan and Kavin Quintal will represent Honda Racing India in the Thailand Talent Cup 2022, according to a release here.

The first round of the championship will be held at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand from March 25 to 27.

The experienced Rajiv Sethu made his debut at ARRC in 2017, and has shown consistency over the years. From the 46th spot in his debut year to 27th in 2018 and closing 2019 season at 17th position with 2 Top-10 & 9 Top 15 finishes, he has his eyes set on accomplishing new personal benchmarks yet again.

Racing alongside Sethu will be the 20-year old Senthil Kumar, who finished his rookie season at 30th position in AP250 class of the championship in 2019 and will be aiming to improve his performance.

The second leg will be held in Malaysia in May 2022.

Looking forward to the season, Sethu said, "I am very excited for the upcoming season of ARRC as we will finally head back to international circuits after a break of 2 years. This year, my target is to close the season in top five and I have been rigorously preparing for it." According to Prabhu Nagaraj, Senior Vice President – Brand and Communications, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India: "We are thrilled to have the 2022 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship after a gap of two years. Rajiv Sethu and Senthil Kumar, having represented the team across national and international championships, will step into this season carrying experience as well as a solid focus on claiming laurels for Honda." 

Also Read : Lewis Hamilton aims to fight for diversity in Formula 1

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton is aiming to use his platform to fight for diversity, a cause he has been championing throughout his career. Ahead of the opening race in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton said in an interview that his ambitions are more than his own personal goals and he is striving for greater diversity in the sport. 

Speaking about his future goals, Hamilton said “That's my role here I think to continue to hold those conversations, sit with Stefano (Domenicali) and say what are you doing and how can we work together? It goes back to bringing people on the journey rather than calling people out and unfortunately it takes a lot of yapping but I think people seem more keen to be on the journey together and they empathise more with it and say yes, we can do a better job.”

"I've got this platform and I am able to apply pressure in an uncomfortable way sometimes but also it is a real opportunity to spark that change and that for me is more rewarding than any championship. My goal is that in the next five, ten years you're looking back at the sport and I am watching TV, hopefully with my kids, and they see young women engineers and mechanics and they'll know there is an opportunity."

He continued “When I was younger and first getting into social media it was very much about building up your platform because obviously the more followers you have the more influence you have. Then as I started getting older, realising that when I press this button it's coming up on other people's phones, what do I want that post to say.

"I was like I want to take a step back, I want to re-evaluate my life, to re-evaluate where I am and I came to the realisation that I'm not going to let that define my career, it's one moment but there's going to be other great moments moving forward. I think as I started getting older, I started thinking I am winning these Championships but what does it really mean and I realised that these championships are very rewarding personally but they're not changing anything.

“You have another credit to your name but it doesn't change the world, it doesn't change the fact we still have wars, we still have racial injustice, there are still people being abused there are all sorts of things out there so what are we going to use this medium for, what are we going to use this platform for. I guess I really discovered my purpose, it's not just being a racing driver."

Also read: Bahrain GP: Ferrari dominate while Red Bull falter in opening race

(Motorsports news) MotoGP returned to Indonesia after 25 years and it certainly did not disappoint. KTM's Miguel Oliveira won a delayed and soaking wet 2022 Indonesian MotoGP at Mandalika, responding perfectly to a late charge by world champion Fabio Quartararo, who started on pole but really couldn’t take advantage in the tough conditions. In Moto 2 Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) became the first Thai rider to win a Grand Prix race. Chantra led from the first corner to the chequered flag and eventually beat World Championship leader Celestino Vietti by 3.2 secs and Aaron Conet. In Moto 3, Dennis Foggia put his Qatar disappointment behind and won the Indonesian Moto3 Grand Prix quite comfortably.

Starting seventh, Oliveira had a brilliant start and wasted no time in passing leaders Quartararo and Jack Miller before easing away in the distance. After struggling early on, pole starter Quartararo finally got the much needed grip in the treacherous conditions and went on the attack, climbing back up to second, even threatening to catch Oliveira. However, the Portuguese saw off the danger and kept his victory margin intact as Johann Zarco completed the podium. It was Oliveira's fourth MotoGP victory but his first podium since Assen 2021. There was plenty of drama in the run-up to the planned start as the rain delayed the start and the race distance being shortened from 27 to 20 laps due to problems with the wet track surface, then Marc Marquez was declared unfit due to a head concussion after his massive crash in the final practice before qualifying, subsequently he’s fine and fit to race in the next Grand Prix.

The riders had experienced damp track conditions on Friday practice and Saturday qualifying, but on Sunday the circuit was flooded. The race eventually started with plumes of spray as the 23 remaining riders charged for turn one, with world champion Quartararo taking an early advantage from Oliveira with Miller climbing to third after a brave start. Quartararo then touched the kerb in the final corner and was passed by both Oliveira and Miller at the start of lap 2, the Australian diving past Oliveira soon after to take the lead. 

However, he couldn’t sustain the lead as the tide soon turned in favour of Oliveira. Miller eventually had to settle for fourth ahead of Suzuki riders Alex Rins and Joan Mir, with Franco Morbidelli in seventh. Oliveira's Red Bull KTM team-mate Brad Binder put a pass on younger brother Darryn and finished in eighth but his younger brother really excelled in the tough conditions, as he settled for tenth and best rookie in the race. Yamaha team-mate Andrea Dovizioso had to because of a technical problem. Miller's factory Ducati team-mate and Qatar Grand Prix winner Francesco Bagnaia saved himself from a massive crash but ran off track on his way to 15th place.

Oliveria said "Without this good start the race could have been a bit different for me. I really couldn’t see anything behind the riders. With all the spray and the rain on the visor, it was definitely hard to see the lines and be precise. Also to judge the grip level. 

He added "I think by the end of the race I could understand more and how much I could push, but to ride 20 laps in a row in the rain or compared to a practice is quite different. You can explore a bit more the braking points in the practice, or going wide, or cool down the tyres.  Fortunately, I made a good start and after that I was following Jack [Miller] a little bit and could understand a bit more. Than it was just about building up the gap and controlling the race. If the race had seven laps more I don’t know (if a win was possible) because Fabio [Quartararo] was coming pretty strong."

Also read: Moto GP 2022 season is set to begin at the Losail International track

(Motorsports news) Jehan Daruvala started strong with a 2nd place finish in the first sprint race of the season but couldn’t capitalise in the feature race where he finished a low 14th. He was a second behind the first race winner Richard Verschoor who led the race from start to finish as Daruvala held off Liam Lawson also to claim a valuable podium.

Starting in fourth position for the sprint race after he qualified in 7th for the feature race, Daruvala managed to move one place up to third position at the end of lap 1. For most of the 23-lap sprint race, it was more of a waiting game for the tyre temperature to kick in, and on lap 16 of 23, Daruala made his instinctive move on Ralph Boschung for second place. But immediately after the overtake, the virtual safety car came out, and when it ended, Boschung reclaimed his second place from Daruvala. 

The Indian driver swapped places a lap later in what was an intense battle with the Campos racing man. Unfortunately, the race ended under the virtual safety car period and it cost Daruvala a potential shot at the win as the Indian driver was less than 2 seconds behind the race winner and was lapping much quicker than Richard Verschoor of Trident.

Jehan Daruvala, finished in 14th position in an incident-packed feature race at Bahrain as Theo Pourchaire won the race, followed by Liam Lawson who subsequently leads the World Championship after round one. The downward spiral for Daruvala began right from the word go, as he dropped from seventh all the way to 11th at the end of lap 1. It was down to the fact that the Indian driver was starting on a harder compound of tyres compared to those around him, and was playing the long strategy game which obviously backfired for him.

By the halfway, Daruvala made his mandatory pitstop for soft tyres and was set to use that pace advantage to make his way up the field. Unfortunately any chances of making up time on the soft compound tyres were eliminated before it even materialised when the Indian driver’s front wings was damaged in an intense battle with Roy Nissany. This forced him to pit for a new front wing, dropping him right at the tail end of the field and also ending any chances for a good points haul.

Overall, it was a mixed start to Jehan Daruvala’s 2022 F2 campaign but if the Indian driver needs to win the Championship then a level of consistency is required in his driving. It won’t be too long of a wait before racing action kicks off again at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the second round of the season scheduled to run from March 25-27. 

Also read: Who is Kush Maini the new driving sensation in F3

(Motorsport) Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first victory in Formula 1 since 2019 at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. The Monegasque and reigning champion Max Verstappen were toe-to-toe for majority of the race and enjoyed a couple of thrilling wheel to wheel battles but the Italian manufacturer had the last laugh when Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured a 1-2 podium finish while both the Red Bull cars were forced to retire towards the end of the race.

Max Verstappen, who was second throughout the race, experienced reliability failures with three laps to go and was forced to retire, allowing Carlos Sainz to take his place on the podium. To make matters worse, Sergio Perez also experienced a fuel pump issue in the final lap, resulting in Lewis Hamilton clinching third place while the other Mercedes driver George Russell finished fourth. Kevin Magnussen, who replaced Nikita Mazepin before the start of the season, finished at an incredibly impressive fifth place in the Haas, a fantastic turnaround for Formula 1’s slowest car in 2021. 

Former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas finished sixth in the Ferrari powered Alfa Romeo and debutant Zhou Guanyu managed to secure a point in 10th place thanks to Red Bull’s issues. Speaking after the race, Leclerc said "It's incredible to be back at the top” while his teammate Carlos Sainz said “Ferrari is back and it's properly back”. Red Bull will be bitterly disappointed with their reliability issues, which means that they will now have to play catch up to rivals Ferrari and Mercedes to defend their Driver’s Championship title.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Team Principal of the Red Bull Racing Christian Horner said “A brutal finish to that race for us. What looked like a decent haul of points suddenly evaporated in the last couple of laps." Meanwhile, a frustrated Max Verstappen added “Of course you can always say problems can happen and you might have a retirement, but I think at this level, after already having so much information with engines and stuff, it shouldn't happen." If that wasn’t all, Pierre Gasly was forced to retire due to reliability issues in his Red Bull powered AlphaTauri when the car caught fire in the middle of the race. 

Also read: Bahrain GP: Red Bull set the pace with Ferrari closely behind in FP

(Motorsport) Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen finished final practice 2 in pole position ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, narrowly edging out Charles Leclerc who finished second. The conditions were similar to the one that the drivers will experience during qualifying and the grid result is a good indicator of how the cars might line up at the race on Sunday. Ferrari have looked incredibly consistent so far and Leclerc led for the majority of the hour, only to be overtaken by Verstappen who posted a time of 1:31.936 on soft tyres, the difference between the two drivers being just 0.087s.

Ferrari’s second driver Carlos Sainz finished third, such was the Italian team’s performance that it’s expected that they can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes this season and possibly compete for the World Championship after 15 years. As for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton struggled with a variety of issues and only managed to finish ninth while George Russell ended up fourth. The Silver Arrows seem to have 'porpoising' issues and are struggling to unlock the pace of the car.  

An increasingly frustrated Hamilton said during the race “Some sort of problem with the front brakes man, the front right is pulling. We're faced with much bigger problems this year.” Meanwhile, George Russell said “I think it's clear we're certainly not where we want to be. We're a long way off the pace of Red Bull, Ferrari, even the likes of AlphaTauri, Alfa Romeo are on our pace or quicker, so we've got a bit of work to do."

Fernando Alonso in the Alpine, Hamilton’s former teammate Valtteri Bottas in the Alfa Romeo and Mick Schumacher in the Haas finished ahead of the seven-time World Champion. Kevin Magnussen, who replaced Nikita Mazepin in the Haas, finished 10th while McLaren had a disappointing session as Lando Norris finished 11th and Daniel Ricciardo was 18th. Pierre Gasly ended in 13th place after an impressive FP1 and Nico Hulkenberg, replacing Sebastian Vettel in the Aston Martin this weekend, finished 17th.

Also read: Haas confirm Kevin Magnussen will replace Mazepin for 2022 season

(Motorsport) Tensions were high between Carlos Sainz Snr. and his long-time Dakar Rally rival Nasser Al-Attiyah at the Extreme E season opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, after the pair’s collision during Qualifying. In the first of the new five-car Heats, series debutant Al-Attiyah passed Sainz Snr. on the inside, but the ABT CUPRA XE driver’s pace caused him to miss a checkpoint flag. In recovering, the Qatari collided with Sainz Snr. as the Spaniard brought his damaged ODYSSEY 21 back to the Switch Zone before retiring from the Qualifying heat.

After the Stewards reviewed the collision, ABT CUPRA XE were penalised for missing a way point and for colliding with an opponent. The team were deducted two Intermediate Classification points and classified last of the four runners in the Heat, with Veloce Racing unable to contend following Christine GZ's accident the day before, leaving ABT CUPRA XE to battle it out in the Crazy Race for a spot in the Final.

Sainz Snr. and his ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team had the last laugh despite the heavy collision though, as alongside team-mate Laia Sanz they finished second overall in the Desert X Prix for their best result in Extreme E so far.

Carlos Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, said: “I didn’t have much to say to Nasser after the clash. He ran wide and missed a flag; I was on the line and he hit me hard. Physically I was fine, my hand and neck were a bit painful, but I took some anti-inflammatory, and all was good. I am used to so many hits with this kind of off-road racing that I always keep good medicines in my bag!"

Nasser Al-Attiyah, ABT CUPRA XE, said: “It was a nice week for me. I learnt a lot, but I did make a few mistakes at the beginning. I’m sorry for my little mistake in the first qualifying session, but I’ve learned a lot and soaked up every minute in this new championship. We know what we’re capable of and we’re looking forward to the next race. We showed the speed, and this is very important, and I am sure in the next race we can be strong and do a much better job.”

This isn’t the first time the two drivers have been at close quarters on track, with both battling out for supremacy in the Dakar Rally for more than a decade.

Following the first X Prix of the season, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team sit in second place with 18 points after a strong performance in the Desert X Prix Final. Meanwhile a second-place finish for ABT CUPRA XE in the Crazy Race sees the team down in eighth place with four points. With the remainder of the season to come, this rivalry will be one to keep an eye out for.

Also read: Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix to remain on Formula 1 calendar until 2025

(Motorsport) Formula 1 team Haas have confirmed that Kevin Magnussen will replace Nikita Mazepin for the 2022 season. The US owned team dismissed Mazepin after being subjected to intense pressure following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Magnussen, who previously raced for Haas for four seasons until 2020 has signed a multi-year contract agreement and will race alongside German driver Mick Schumacher at the season opening race in Bahrain on March 20th.

Meanwhile, the Haas car will be tested by Brazilian reserve Pietro Fittipaldi on Thursday in Mazepin’s absence. Fittipaldi was thought of as the most likely candidate for the vacant F1 seat; he raced instead of Romain Grosjean at the 2020 Sakhir and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The manufacturer will look to improve on their disappointing 2021 campaign in which they finished last and were the only team not to score a single point throughout the season. In their defence, Haas’ focus was on the development of the 2022 car and expectations are high with regards to how they will improve in the upcoming season.

Magnussen told Haas' website: "I was obviously very surprised but equally very excited to receive the call from Haas F1 Team. I was looking in a different direction regarding my commitments for 2022 but the opportunity to return to compete in Formula 1, and with a team I know extremely well, was simply too appealing.

“I really have to say thank you to both Peugeot and Chip Ganassi Racing for releasing me promptly - both are great organisations. Naturally, I also want to thank Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for the chance to resume my Formula 1 career - I know just how competitive they both are and how keen they are to return to competing week in and week out.

"We've enjoyed a solid relationship and our positive association remained even when I left at the end of 2020. I've been briefed as much as possible on the development of the VF-22 and the potential in the package. There's work to do but I'm excited to be a part of it. I can't wait to get back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car in Bahrain."

Meanwhile, Nikita Mazepin spoke out on the same day Haas announced that Kevin Magnussen will be replacing the Russian in Formula 1. Mazepin said “I was ready to agree with this and consider myself neutral. When they added an additional letter which I had to sign, I did not look at it because my contract had already been terminated. I do not want to be at a team that doesn't want me. Formula One is a dangerous sport and you have to rely on the team you are working with. It is a question of safety, and it is fair to say I don't have that trust in them. 

"It is good to keep all (legal) options open. There was no legal reason that could enable the team to terminate my contract. I was very disappointed with the way it was handled. I was told if the FIA allowed me to compete on their rules, and I agreed to them, there would be no actions to remove me from the seat. I have not heard from the team since it happened and I learnt about the firing of me the same time it was released to the press. 

"I am a young man and I was not ready for it. I did not receive any hint, or any support, or be told that this is the decision we have taken. I learned at the same time as you did. I lost my dream which I have been working towards for 18 years. I didn't imagine the situation of losing my drive would happen so soon. But I absolutely do not see Formula One as a closed chapter. I am going to stay in race condition and I will be ready to take on an opportunity if it comes."

Meanwhile, Mazepin’s father Dmitry Mazepin, who is the part owner of Haas' former title sponsor, Uralkali has demanded that the Formula 1 team reimburse the sponsorship payment after terminating the contract between the two parties. A statement published by Uralkali said “Uralkali has been for many years contributing considerably towards global food security and providing significant assistance to a whole range of sports associations, organisations and events both in Russia and abroad. The company views the team's decision as unreasonable and believes that sports should always be free of politics and pressure from external factors.

"Given the above, Uralkali intends to protect its interests in line with applicable legal procedures and reserves its rights to initiate judicial proceedings, claim damages and seek repayment of the significant amounts Uralkali had paid for the 2022 Formula One season. 

"As most of the sponsorship funding for the 2022 season has already been transferred to Haas and given that the team terminated the sponsorship agreement before the first race of the 2022 season, Haas has thus failed to perform its obligations to Uralkali for this season.

"Uralkali shall request the immediate reimbursement of the amounts received by Haas. The refund from Haas and the remaining part of Uralkali's sponsor financing for 2022 will be used to establish the We Compete As One athlete support foundation."

Also read: Formula 1 team Haas terminate Nikita Mazepin’s contract

(Motorsport) Formula 1 has confirmed that the emilia-Romagna Grand Prix will remain on the calendar until 2025. The track returned to F1 in 2020 for the first time since 2006 as a way to fill the gaps due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ended up retaining its place in the 2021 and 2022 seasons with this season’s race scheduled for April 24th. This means that two races will be held in Italy for the foreseeable future, one being at Monza which is called the Italian Grand Prix while the Imola Grand Prix is named after its surrounding Emilia-Romagna region.

Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali was born in the Emilia-Romagna region and said this in a statement “I am delighted that we will be continuing our excellent partnership with Imola for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix until 2025. The circuit is iconic and has been part of the history of our sport and they have done an incredible job of hosting two races during the pandemic. It is a proud moment for our Italian fans to host two races and for all our fans around the world to see this fantastic circuit on the calendar for the future."

“I want to thank everyone involved in making this happen and the work of the Emilia-Romagna Region, in particular the President of the Automobile Club of Italy, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of Emilia-Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the City of Imola. We are all looking forward to being back in Imola in April to thrill our fans.”

President of the Automobile Club of Italy, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, said: “Today's agreement ratifies the presence of the Formula 1 Rolex Grand Prix of Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit in Imola until 2025. Imola, it's great history and the strong tie of its territory to the world of engines deserved this recognition. This is not only a great success for sport in Italy but also a great enrichment for the top international motorsport series that has confirmed in its calendar for several years one of the most difficult races, but also the greatest, and the one that's mostly loved by both drivers and teams.

“Of course, the long negotiations carried out by the Automobile Club of Italy managed to achieve the desired goal thanks to the important support received from various local authorities. Among all, I would like to underline the enthusiastic work of the Emilia Romagna Region and its President Stefano Bonaccini."

President of Emilia Romagna, Stefano Bonaccini, said: “It's an extraordinary result for the Emilia-Romagna region and for the Motor Valley. The confirmation that the Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna Formula 1 Grand Prix that will be held at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Autodrome in Imola until 2025 is a reward to an important team effort that involved the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ice (i.d. the Italian Trade Agency), the City of Imola, ACI, CON.AMI and Formula 1, of course.

“After two successfully organized editions, a unique event of great international appeal and absolute prestige was confirmed in the long run along the Via Emilia despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic and while preparations are already underway for the 2022 edition.

“The event will allow us to turn the spotlight on both a region which is home to great champions and world-famous motorsport brands and Italy, a country rich in unique, internationally renowned excellence in all fields, starting from the automotive industry. For us, this is a great source of pride and a precious opportunity to discuss values, knowledge and professionalism that translate first and foremost into work, innovation and the ability to do business together and with great passion.”

Previously known as the San Marino GP, the Imola track hosted the first Italian GP in 1980 and became the San Marino Grand Prix venue from 1981 to 2006. The track is also infamous for being the venue where legendary Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna met with a fatal crash in 1994. The race on 24th April at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari International Circuit will be the fourth in the 2022 season’s 24 race calendar while the Italian GP race will take place in September and will be the 16th race of the season.

Also read: Formula 1 team Haas terminate Nikita Mazepin’s contract

(Motorsport) Nikita Mazepin will not be competing in the 2022 Formula 1 season after Haas confirmed that his contract has been terminated. The US based team was forced to take action after being subjected to immense pressure due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite the FIA stating that Russian and Belarusian drivers would be allowed to compete under a neutral flag, Haas has decided to part ways with Mazepin with immediate effect. In addition, the Formula 1 team has terminated its partnership with title sponsor Uralkali, the Russian company owned by Mazepin's father.

In a statement released by Haas, the racing team said “Haas F1 team has elected to terminate, with immediate effect, the title partnership of Uralkali, and the driver contract of Nikita Mazepin. As with the rest of the Formula 1 community, the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine and wishes for a swift and peaceful end to the conflict.” The team had previously indicated that test driver Pietro Fittipaldi could replace Mazepin in the vacant Haas seat. The 25 year old Brazilian is the grandson of Brazilian F1 world champion Emerson and has represented the Haas team before, driving instead of Roman Grosjean for two races at the end of 2020.

In a statement on Instagram, Mazepin said: "Dear fans and followers, I am very disappointed to hear that my F1 contract has been terminated. While I understand the difficulties, the ruling from FIA plus my ongoing willingness to accept the conditions proposed in order to continue were completely ignored and no process was followed in this unilateral step. To those who have tried to understand, my eternal thanks. I have treasured my time in F1 and genuinely hope we can all be together in better times. I will have more to say in the coming days. Nikita."

Other options for Haas include Antonio Giovinazzi, Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hulkenberg, Callum Ilott and Oscar Piastri.

Also read: Aston Martin on track to become title contenders by 2025: Mike Krack

(Motorsports news) MotoGP 2022 season is set to kick off on 6 March in the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and this season guarantees to be one of the most interesting and most open seasons ever. 2021 saw every manufacturer take home a podium and which meant that it was the closest top-15 finish of all time. More records were broken, new winners emerged, and a few pieces of history were created when France got its first premier class World Champion. We bid adieu to the greatest bike racer of all time in Valentino Rossi but that's already a chapter in the history books and now we're about to uncover the mysteries of 2022 and welcome the new gen in MotoGP.

Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo is set out to retain his World Championship after he became the first Frenchman to win the MotoGP title last season. If Quartararo can manage to defend his crown then he will become the second-youngest rider after Marc Marquez to win consecutive World Championships but heading into the new season, the 22-year-old has voiced his displeasure with the top speed of his Yamaha bike in pre-season testing, the defending world champion is adamant he will fight and give his best to compete against his main rivals. 

His main threat will be Marc Marquez who after two injury-plagued years, will finally return to his full fitness as he bids to create history by joining the great Valentino Rossi on nine MotoGP titles. Marquez suffered a horrific fractured arm which he sustained in a 2020 Jerez crash and it had ruled him out of action for 12 months, before a training incident towards the end of 2021 saw him diagnosed with diplopia (severe double vision). After 265 days out of action due to the arm fracture, Marquez returned to race action in April 2021 and the Spaniard has since shown glimpses of his usual best, he didn’t really put serve pressure on his shoulder but still managed to win two races. An earlier indication is that he is back and back with vengeance to regain his World Championship crown. 

Pecco Bagnaia ended the 2021 season with three consecutive victories and helped his team Ducati win the constructors championship also. He will hope that he can replicate his end season form this year and hope to become the first Italian after the great Valentino Rossi to become a Premier Class Winner in MotoGP. Last year, Bagnaia finished runner up in the riders Championship in 2021 with nine podiums and four wins to his name. The Italian will be looking to carry across his incredible form from the end of 2021 into 2022 for a title charge.

Quartararo: “Well it will make life more difficult but for the show and everyone it will be nice to not have that big difference. I remember maybe 10 years ago we had a few riders and then the rest, but now basically everything is so tight and the level of riders is really high. Now I think it’s the closest ever and it will be fun.”

Bagnaia: “It’s something good for the show, but I think years ago, the way of working was different. Now you have to do the time attack. I was feeling years ago, I was doing the time attack my first year in MotoGP and with the lap time I did in 2020 I was fifth, and this year like 17th; a big difference. I think it’s the way to work on the test.”

Marc Marquez: “Of course as you say in the test it was very close but it’s not the first year that in the test it was very close. Let’s see during the first four or five races we will understand who the top guys are. Anyway it will be interesting to have equal bikes, equal level between the riders and this makes everything more interesting.”

MotoGP 2022 rider and team full line-up:

• Aprilia Racing

#12 Maverick Vinales
#41 Aleix Espargaro

• Ducati Lenovo Team

#43 Jack Miller
#63 Francesco Bagnaia

• Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati

#23 Enea Bastianini
#49 Fabio Di Giannantonio

• Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati

#10 Luca Marini
#72 Marco Bezzecchi

• Pramac Racing Ducati

#5 Johann Zarco
#89 Jorge Martin

• LCR Honda

#30 Takaaki Nakagami
#73 Alex Marquez

• Repsol Honda Team

#44 Pol Espargaro
#93 Marc Marquez

• Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

#33 Brad Binder
#88 Miguel Oliveira

• Tech3 KTM Factory Racing

#25 Raul Fernandez
#87 Remy Gardner

• Team Suzuki Ecstar

#36 Joan Mir
#42 Alex Rins

• Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP

#20 Fabio Quartararo
#21 Franco Morbidelli

• WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team

#04 Andrea Dovizioso
#40 Darryn Binder

Also read: Aston Martin on track to become title contenders by 2025: Mike Krack

Full 2022 MotoGP calendar:

6 March - Qatar, Losail
20 March – Indonesia, Mandalika
3 April – Argentina, Termas de Rio Hondo
10 April – USA, Circuit of the Americas
24 April – Portugal - Portimao
1 May – Spain, Jerez
15 May – France, Le Mans
29 May – Italy, Mugello
5 June – Catalunya, Barcelona
19 June – Germany, Sachsenring
26 June – Netherlands, Assen
10 July – Finland, KymiRing
7 August – Great Britain, Silverstone
21 August – Austria, Red Bull Ring
4 September – San Marino, Misano
18 September – Aragon
25 September – Japan, Motegi
2 October – Thailand, Buriram
16 October – Australia, Phillip Island
23 October – Malaysia, Sepang
6 November - Valencia, Ricardo Tormo
 

(Motorsport news) Aston Martin’s new team principal Mike Krack has reiterated his belief that the Formula 1 team are on their way to become title contenders by 2025. The former boss of BMW Motorsport was hired by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll and has extensive experience in motorsport engineering and management, having been a race engineer at the BMW Sauber team in Formula 1. 

In an interview, Krack said “We have everything we need but we need to make the right decisions. It doesn't come by itself. It is hard work over many days, weeks and months. I agree that five-year plans do not always come to success. There can only be one winner. And very often you have a disruption - like this year with a new set of regulations - where you have to readjust. 

“But on the other hand, what is a little bit different to the team you have mentioned [Alpine] is we aren't an OEM [major car manufacturer]. We are a lean management structure and we can decide very quickly and we are very flexible. We have big possibilities and we have a quick decision path. This is an asset not everyone has. Obviously you cannot plan success, but you have to put everything in place to achieve it."

The team currently being led by Krack became Aston Martin last year. Lawrence Stroll acquired the team which was known as Force India F1 team in 2018 after its collapse into administration. The team has had various names over the years and was initially named Jordan in 1991 and have traditionally had a reputation for overachieving despite their limited resources. 

One of the reasons for Krack to join Aston Martin was the similarities he saw to his time at Sauber. Krack said “I sense a little bit the situation I had with Sauber. We were in a similar situation where at times we were clearly over-performing to our capabilities and then we had a big partner coming in where you all of a sudden had possibilities you never had before. We have something similar here. BMW also had a five-year plan and it was handled in a very corporate manner, which we must avoid at any cost here." 

Aston Martin are currently building a new state of the art facility at Silverstone which will be finished by 2023. The British team’s driver lineup for the upcoming season comprises Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll and they will hope to build on to their 7th place Constructors Standing finish from the 2021 season. Krack said “It is clear a guy like Sebastian does not want to be 15th or or 12th or eighth. It is our task to deliver a performing structure. Sebastian is a clever guy. He will not just be focusing on this year's car but [on whether] he sees the potential. And if we can offer him this we have a chance to keep him for longer. I have not spoken to him about it. It is our task to deliver the right package and then Sebastian will [want to] stay and other drivers would like to join."

Also read: Russian GP contract terminated by Formula 1 due to Ukraine invasion

(Motorsports news) Jehan Daruvala made a blistering start in the F2 pre season test on day 1 in Sakhir as he topped overall timing charts. The Prema Racing driver, who joins the defending champions Prema  from Carlin this season, set a time of 1m42.074s to go quickest, half a second quicker than second placed Calan Williams of Trident. 

Daruvala is in the Red Bull junior program and had finished seventh in the 2021 drivers’ standings, with two wins and five podiums.His teammate The 2021 FIA Formula 3 champion Dennis Hauger, who moved up with Prema from 3 also showed good pace in practice, as he finished in third with a time of 1m42.602s, followed by Carlin’s Liam Lawson in fourth. His team-mate Logan Sargeant finished fifth. Marcus Armstrong finished seventh in the timing charts ahead of his third season in F2. Felipe Drugovich was the first driver to go below the 1m44s in the afternoon session, before setting the fastest time early on with a time of 1m43.831s, after that Lawson went fastest. But with only five minutes remaining, the timings went below 1m43s, with Daruvala, Williams and Hauger all setting very quick laps.

For the Indian this is a massive season as he has a genuine shot at the F2 World Championship which should only enhance his chance of getting a F1 seat next year. The early signs are that he’s all set to challenge for the title, having signed with Prema, Daruvala joins one of the most successful teams in F2 so he has no room for excuses. The Italian constructor has delivered three previous champions, including Charles Leclerc, Mick Schumacher and 2021 champion Oscar Piastri.

Daruvala on joining Prema said “We have a strong relationship. I was there in 2019, that year I challenged for the title in F3 and even though I wasn’t there for the last two or three years, I still felt at home as soon as I came back. The test was really positive, both short runs and long runs were quite good. But again, testing is testing, we’ll only know how it is when we start racing. But yeah, I still see a few familiar faces from my F3 days. So I know quite a few of them and I feel at home.”

With all the right ingredients seemingly in place, Daruvala doesn’t want to settle for anything less than the title. “I definitely believe that I am good enough to win the championship. Now it’s all about cutting out the mistakes that I have made,” he says.

Daruvala on his ultimate goal said, “Obviously, my only goal is Formula 1. But I’m not going to stop racing or quit racing if I don’t go to F1. So obviously there are other parts which I will look at.”

Also read: Jehan Daruvala joins Prema racing as he tops the pre testing in Abu Dhabi

The top ten from F2 Practice were:

1    Jehan Daruvala    Prema    1m42.074s    
2    Calan Williams    Trident    1m42.590s        
3    Dennis Hauger    Prema    1m42.602s        
4    Liam Lawson       Carlin    1m43.478s        
5    Logan Sargeant    Carlin    1m43.483s        
6    Felipe Drugovich    MP Motorsport  1m43.590s        
7    Marcus Armstrong    Hitech GP    1m43.877s        
8    Enzo Fittipaldi        Charouz Racing System  1m43.946s    
9    Juri Vips                Hitech GP    1m43.946s    
10  Roy Nissany       DAMS    1m44.003s    
 

(Motorsport) Formula 1 has terminated the contract of the Russian Grand Prix and the country will not be hosting the event in the future. A statement released by Formula 1 said “Formula 1 can confirm it has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoter meaning Russia will not have a race in the future.” The race has been one of the most lucrative in the Formula 1 calendar and was added in 2014 after Bernie Ecclestone struck a deal with Vladimir Putin.

The race was originally scheduled to take place in September with the race venue set to be moved from Sochi to St. Petersburg in 2023. However, the contract termination means that the country will not be featuring any Formula 1 races in the foreseeable future. The decision was made last week in a joint meeting between F1, the FIA and team bosses. Earlier, Sebastian Vettel had publicly said that he will not be racing in Russia if the event were to take place with Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris echoing similar thoughts.

The sporting industry has been proactive in taking measures against Russia in the wake of their ongoing invasion of Ukraine with the International Paralympic Committee recently banning the country and the Belarusian athletes from the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. Motorsport UK had announced on Thursday that Russian-licensed drivers will not be allowed to compete in events at the United Kingdom, which means Haas driver Nikita Mazepin will not be competing at Silverstone in the British Grand Prix later this year.

Earlier this week, Formula 1’s governing body FIA had announced that Russian drivers will be allowed to compete in the upcoming 2022 season but only under a neutral flag. 

Also read: Max Verstappen extends contract with Red Bull until 2028

(Motorsport) Formula 1 team Red Bull have confirmed that reigning World Champion Max Verstappen has extended his contract with the team until the end of the 2028 season. The Dutchman joined Red Bull as a teenager in 2016 and won his first title last year. The contract extension means that Verstappen will now earn just over £40m a year, equal to seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said “To have Max signed with Oracle Red Bull Racing through to the end of 2028 is a real statement of intent. Our immediate focus is on retaining Max's world championship title, but this deal also shows he is a part of the team's long-term planning. With the Red Bull Powertrains division working towards the new engine regulations for 2026 we wanted to make sure we had the best driver on the grid secured for that car." 

After signing the contract extension, Max Verstappen said “Choosing to stay until the 2028 season was an easy decision. I love this team and last year was simply incredible, our goal since we came together in 2016 was to win the championship and we have done that, so now it's about keeping the No 1 on the car long-term." 

Verstappen now has the longest Formula 1 contract on the grid and the Dutchman will be 31 by the time the contract ends. The Dutchman will begin his title defence on March 20th when the 2022 Formula 1 season begins at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Also read: FIA allows Russian drivers to compete, but in neutral capacity and under its flag

Paris, Mar 2 (MotorSports News) Formula One's governing body, the FIA, has allowed Russian drivers to continue competing in the sanctioned motor racing events, but only in a neutral capacity and under its flag.

Unlike many international sporting federations, the FIA move is not fully in line with the International Olympic Committee's push to ban all Russian athletes and officials' participation in tournaments and competitions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement the motor sports' apex body said, "Russian/Belarusian drivers, individual competitors and officials to participate in international/zone competitions only in their neutral capacity and under the FIA flag, subject to specific commitment and adherence to the FIA's principles of peace and political neutrality, until further notice." However, it has also said that no competitions will take place in Russia or Belarus until further notice, and no flag, symbol or anthem of those countries will be allowed at any FIA event.

The FIA had earlier cancelled this year's Russian Grand Prix.

The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the world motor sport body even as the conflict in Ukraine entered its sixth day.

FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, condemned the Russian invasion, spoke of his sadness at events in Ukraine and expressed the body's solidarity with the country.

"As you know, the FIA is watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and I hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation," Sulayem said in a statement.

"We condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and our thoughts are with all those suffering as a result of the events in Ukraine.

"I would like to stress that the FIA, together with our promoters, proactively acted on this matter last week and communicated accordingly on the Formula 1, Formula 2, WTCR and the International Drifting Cup.

"An updated version of the different FIA International Calendars will be presented to the WMSC meeting in Bahrain for approval." Responding to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week, the IOC's executive board recommended on Monday that international federations and organisations "not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials" in competition. 

Also Read : Alfa Romeo reveal 2022 car C42 ahead of upcoming season

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Formula 1 team Alfa Romeo have unveiled their 2022 car called C42 with a red and white livery for the upcoming season. Powered by the Ferrari engine, the Italian manufacturers are celebrating their 30th year in Formula 1 and the car’s livery has a subtle nod to the past and the heritage of both Alfa Romeo and Sauber. The C42 will be driven by former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver and the only rookie on the grid.

Speaking at the launch, the 22 year old Chinese driver said “I am fully pumped up for the season and seeing the C42 in the livery in which I will race it definitely makes it real. We are at the beginning of a new era, with new cars and new regulations, and this creates an opportunity for all teams to make progress since we are all starting from scratch. I can't wait to be on the grid with this car and work with my team to bring home the results we are targeting together."

His teammate and former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas said “I think the livery is really beautiful, the Alfa Romeo Centro Stile did a brilliant job. It's my first car at Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN, of course, which makes it special, and I am really looking forward to being on the grid in Bahrain with it. What is exciting is that we have no idea how that first race is going to pan out. 

Testing helped us confirm our expectations of where we stand, the progress we have made with the car, but now we are getting closer to the moment that really matters. Since I joined, I have seen so much motivation within this team: everyone is pushing a lot, trying to work harder than the others to be competitive, and that in turn gives me that extra boost when I am in the cockpit.”

The C42 has already completed three days of testing in Barcelona, although it was done in a camouflage livery as the official unveiling was scheduled for February 27th. Some of the more noticeable changes in the car is a sophisticated front wing, a push-rod rear suspension which is similar to a Red Bull, AlphaTauri and McLaren and a cooling system similar to Ferrari. As per the 2022 regulations, the wheelbase length should be between 3460-3600mm and every team except for Alfa Romeo seems to be at the upper end of this spectrum. The Italian manufacturer has a wheelbase of just over 3500mm.

Team Principal Fred Vasseur said “The start of the season is always an exciting time, one in which we see the fruit of the work of hundreds of people over a long period of time. The C42 is a car we look forward to seeing racing, not just because it is the first we built in this new regulations cycle, one in which racing should be closer and more thrilling, but because we have the utmost confidence in this car helping the team make a big step forward towards the front of the grid.” 

Technical Director Jan Monchaux added: “As we unveil the C42, it may feel like the start of a new season: we know, however, that this launch is just a milestone in a much longer journey in which our whole staff in Hinwil has invested so much time, resource and energies. Designing and building this car has been a huge undertaking and we can be proud of what we have achieved, but our work is not finished. As always in a new rules cycle, the development curve will be at its steepest this season and we need to continue extracting new performance out of the C42 to make the progress we have set as an objective for ourselves.”

All the Formula 1 teams will now shift their attention to the official pre-season testing in Bahrain which is set to begin on March 10th.

Also read: Formula 1 team Alpine reveals 2022 car A522 ahead of pre-season testing

(Motorsports news) Kush Maini is all set to become the second Indian to participate in the F3 format as he joined the MP Motorsports racing team. Maini has experience racing in the regional F3 championships. He may be an unknown quality in the FIA sector but he's achieved a lot at a very young age. His most notable finish was when he finished second overall in the 2020 British F3 championship and then went on to compete in the 2021 F3 Asian Championship for the Mumbai Falcons. The 21-year-old is backed by JK Tyre and this season, he will drive alongside Alexander Smolyar and Caio Collet at MP Motorsport.

Kush rosh the ranks of the karting ladder, Maini made his single-seaters debut in 2016 and subsequently took his first podium in the Italian F4 Championship. He then moved up to the  British F3 in 2019, finishing third overall that year. In 2019 he briefly switched to the Formula Renault Eurocup series, but then he returned to British F3 in 2020 but this time he finished as a runner- up in the Championship. After competing in the 2021 F3 Asian Championship alongside Jehan Daruvala, he then went on to compete in the World Endurance Championship. Racing runs in the Maini family as Kush’s older brother is Arjun Maini, who just recently signed with Mercedes-AMG backed alongside team HRT for his second season in the DTM and he also took part in the F2 season back in 2018.

The first racing he ever did was on Karts and his karting career actually kicked off in 2011 with the Indian national title at Rotax Micromax level, followed by coming second in the 2013 WSK Euro Series at 60 Mini level, fourth in the 2014 CIK-FIA World KF Junior Championship and fourth in the 2015 KF Junior WSK Champions Cup. While competing in the Italian F4 with which he had been selected for ADAC F4 rounds which took him to eighth in the 2017 Italian series. His highest racing point till now was last year in 2021, when the Indian youngster combined the Asian F3 championship with an LMP2 drive in the FIA World Endurance Championship. 

“I’m excited to join MP Motorsport for my first year in FIA F3. In 2021, MP proved to be race winners and in the final standings they were the only FIA F3 team to have two rookies finish in the top-ten. This shows their ability to coach rookie drivers on their way to immediately performing well in the series. I can’t wait to get going for pre-season testing and the first round at Bahrain!”said Main.

MP Motorsport Team Principal Sander Dorsman added: “I’m pleased to welcome Kush to our FIA F3 team. In the past few years, Kush has proved himself extremely well at regional F3 levels, now it’s time for him to step up to FIA F3. I’m sure he will mix well with Alex and Caio, and we will do our best to help him shine during each of the nine race weekends coming up in the championship.”

Also read: Kush Maini to race in Formula 3 with MP Motorsport

New Delhi, Feb 22 (MotorSports News) Young Indian racer Kush Maini has signed with MP Motorsport for his debut season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship.

Joining the Dutch outfit will allow the 21-year-old from Bengaluru to showcase his talent during the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends.

Maini lines up with MP after competing in the F3 Asian Championship last year. He had finished second in the British F3 Championship in 2020.

The Indian driver will team up with Alexander Smolyar from Russia and Caio Collet from Brazil. Kush Maini is the younger brother of former FIA F2 and F3 driver Arjun Maini, who has since competed in the ELMS and the DTM.

"I'm excited to join MP Motorsport for my first year in FIA F3," said Maini.

"In 2021, MP proved to be race winners and in the final standings they were the only FIA F3 team to have two rookies finish in the top-ten.

"This shows their ability to coach rookie drivers on their way to immediately performing well in the series. I can't wait to get going for pre-season testing and the first round at Bahrain." 

Also Read : Virat you are a superstar - Yuvraj Singh in emotional letter

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Formula 1’s Alpine are the penultimate team to reveal their 2022 car called the A522, two days before the first pre-season test. The French team are looking to make significant progress amidst the change in regulations in what is their second campaign in the elite motorsport competition. 

Formerly known as Renault, the livery of A522 is predominantly blue with large splashes of pink featuring BWF, their new title sponsor. The team also revealed that the colour scheme will “flip” for the first two races of the season which means the car’s dominant colour will be pink for the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

The French team unveiled A522 just two days before pre-season testing, becoming the ninth team in the Formula 1 grid to do so. The car was showcased in Paris and the team will undoubtedly hope to improve on their impressive fifth place finish in the Constructors Standings from last year and will look to capitalise on the new regulations which are meant to improve wheel-to-wheel racing. 

The A522 will be driven by Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso and the team have made significant changes behind the scenes with Otmar Szafnauer joining in as team principal while Pat Fry joins in as chief technical officer. Speaking at the launch, Fernando Alonso said “I came back because of this regulation. I think the team did an amazing job, so we are all very motivated. I’m optimistic, confident, I think the team did a good job with the car and we’re ready to go.” 

With only Alfa Romeo remaining, the Italian manufacturers will be unveiling their car on Sunday, 27th February after pre-season testing. The Circuit de Catalunya will see three days of action from Wednesday morning until Friday evening as teams will test their 2022 cars and will give fans a potential indication of how they will fare when the season begins. 

Also read: Otamar Szafnauer joins Alpine as their team principal

(Motorsport) Rosberg X Racing (RXR) won the Desert X Prix in the Extreme E Season 2 opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson were the victors in a Final of two halves, as a red flag was brought out at the end of the first lap following a big accident for McLaren XE's Tanner Foust, who in a bid for third place clipped the back of RXR's Åhlin-Kottulinsky and rolled his ODYSSEY 21 on the opening lap.

The race resumed for a one-lap shootout, with the four teams released at intervals that matched how they had entered the Switch Zone.

X44’s Cristina Gutiérrez attempted to close down Laia Sanz in the ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team car, while Kristoffersson closed the gap on the two Spaniards from third.

The RXR driver soon passed Gutiérrez on the inside, setting his sights on Sanz. As the Desert X Prix entered its closing stages, Kristoffersson took a wide line into the second to last corner for an aggressive overtake on Sanz and secure a dramatic win ahead of ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, with X44 completing the podium.

Chip Ganassi Racing came fourth having secured a spot in the Final with a win in Semi-Final 2, and McLaren XE finished fifth despite Foust's crash having made an excellent comeback from Qualifying to win the Crazy Race.

Johan Kristoffersson, RXR, said: "It feels really good, but every week feels good. Every time we go for a race we have the aim to win, but the competition is so high this year, especially with McLaren coming in, which raises the bar even higher. We learned quite a lot last year, but now things are even tighter we’ll have to work even harder. I’m just very happy to start off the season with maximum points.

"It was a bit tricky, the track rutted up quite deep, and neither me nor Mikaela have a lot of experience in the desert, but we worked hard and the team has done a fantastic job with analysing the course and analysing the other drivers. We worked to adapt and it was a good weekend."

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, RXR, added: "I know that Johan is an amazing racer and the tactics this weekend were that if I wasn’t first out of turn one it was just to make sure that the gap didn’t get any bigger. I knew that the ten seconds he had to make up in the Final he could make them up and it was exciting to watch. I was holding my breath at waypoint 22, but I was fully confident overall!

"This is my first win so of course it feels really great and even better to do it having just entered the team. There have been quite a few incidents out there and we managed to avoid that and keep the car in one piece, so it was a good weekend."

Laia Sanz, Acciona | Sainz XE Team driver said: "I think I did a good job, it was good but Kristoffersson is just too fast! But I think we must be happy with the result especially after a hard day yesterday and Carlos did an amazing job in the first lap and then things were much easier in the second one.

"On the red flag restart – at first, I thought this could not be fair because Carlos did a great job in the first lap and in the start. So I think Extreme E made a good decision in how they did the restart – it was the best solution.

"We saw today that we can fight to win races and this give us so much confidence and motivation. I knew last season and with taking part in the Dakar it would be a big help compared to last year in Extreme E where I started from zero. I’m happy with my improvements since then and also very happy to have such a good teacher in Carlos."

Carlos Sainz Snr., Acciona | Sainz XE Team said: "The result is great and we turned the page this morning. We forgot about yesterday and said 'we are in the Semi-Finals, anything is possible'. We just had to get to the Final and then see what happens. I'm really pleased and hopefully we can keep going on this way."

Sébastien Loeb, X44, said: "It was a good weekend for us. We had the best time in Free Practice and Qualifying 2, then we won our Semi-Final so until the Final it was perfect. In the Final I had a good run, I was second right behind Carlos, and Cristina took the car after and I think she did well. She managed to follow Laia in the dust and held off Johan for a long time. We were third and that’s not a bad start to the season."

Cristina Gutiérrez, X44, added: "In the Final we had some problems. It is not an easy course to overtake and defend, and it was a difficult situation for me to attack Laia and defend from Johan without my hyperdrive. But the car is much better this year, which is nice for the Championship. We work with the team on this all the time and for me it is an incredible opportunity to keep learning and a good challenge for me."

Also read: Extreme E announces hydrogen off-road racing Championship

Results 

1. Rosberg X Racing 27:08:453 

2. Acciona | Sainz XE Team +2.483 

3. X44 +5.807 

4. Chip Ganassi Racing +25.202 

5. McLaren XE DNF

Championship Standings

After a quick final lap from Kristoffersson that not only secured victory but also the fastest time in the Continental Traction Challenge, earning RXR an extra five points, the Championship standings are as follows:

1. Rosberg X Racing 30 points

2. Acciona | Sainz XE Team 18 points

3. X44 15 points

4. Chip Ganassi Racing 12 points

5. McLaren XE 10 points

6. Genesys Andretti United Extreme E 8 points

7. XITE Energy Racing 6 points

8. ABT Cupra XE 4 points

9. JBXE 2 points

10. Veloce Racing 1 point

(Motorsports news) Alpine have appointed Otmar Szafnauer as their new Team Principal with former Deputy Sport Secretary General for the FIA Bruno Famin joining to head up the engine division for Alpine F1 team. They both will report to CEO Laurent Rossi, who took over the team last January and since then he has been reviewing the team and how it operates before making changes. Long term  Renault employee Remi Taffin left his role as the head of the power unit division, while Executive Director Marcin Budkowski parted ways with the team earlier this year

Szafnauer left Aston Martin early this year and joined Alpine with 33 years of experience across motorsport racing. He was subsequently linked with a move to the French manufacturer last November. Otmar was an integral part for the racing point team as he had led them to their first victory in Bahrain in 2020 and since then his reputation has skyrocketed. Szafnauer makes a lot of sense for the Alpine team given his experience of F1, which stretches back to joining the BAR team in 1998 and then also being a part of the 2009 championship winning team Brawn. He went on to become team vice president in 2002, staying in that role through its transformation into Honda. He moved to Force India as chief operating officer, working alongside team principal/owner Vijay Mallya and his deputy team principal Bob Fearnley.

When the consortium, led by Lawrence Stroll bought the team after it went into administration in 2018, Szafnauer was made team principal. He has since then played a key role in holding the team together and mainly sustaining the team on a very low budget , and along with that he was also an integral part in the first two-and-a-half years of its expansion under Lawerence Stroll’s leadership. He also played a vital role in getting Sebstian Vettel to Aston Martin last year. 

“With Otmar and Bruno joining the team, we move to a new level for 2022,” said Rossi. “Otmar will bring his unique experience in motorsports and his uncompromising desire to win, while Bruno’s proven track record in building technologies that make a difference in competition and their subsequent transference to road cars is critical for our project as a sports team and as a brand.

“Over the past year I have seen Davide’s talent to identify the best in people, and to make them perform as well as they can. I am delighted to utilize this unique skill across all existing Alpine assets and new ones we are just starting to explore. Our band of racers is complete and ready to bring the team towards its ambitious objectives in 2022.”

Szafnauer said: “I am thrilled to join BWT Alpine F1 Team and ready to get to work with everyone to achieve our challenge: bring the team to fight for the Championship within the next 100 races. My attention is focused on preparing for the start of the season in Bahrain. As one of the three car manufacturers involved in Formula 1, Alpine is fully armed to achieve its ambition, I can’t wait to start the journey!”

Famin added: “It’s great to be back in competition, and even greater to join Alpine, with such ambition and unique engineering capacities. Viry-Châtillon is among the greatest factories one could dream of, I can’t wait to join its amazing talents, and to work closely with the teams in Enstone, Dieppe and Boulogne-Billancourt.”

Brivio said: “Alpine’s band of racers is a key to its long-term performance, and I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to the exciting ambition to shape a new culture within racing that is responsible and inclusive. Formula 1 is a flagship, but we also need to develop our ambition in new territories, and I am ready to support Laurent Rossi towards this goal.”

Also read: Mercedes unveil W13 as the Silver Arrows plan to regain F1 supremacy

(Motorsport) Extreme E has revealed its plans to launch an off-road hydrogen Championship in 2024. Named Extreme H, it will sit alongside Extreme E, its existing electric racing series, and will be a world-first for motorsport. Alejandro Agag, who was recently given Autosport 2022’s ‘Pioneering and Innovation Award’, announced the news ahead of Extreme E’s Season 2 opening race, the Desert X Prix, in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. He said: “Extreme E was designed to be a testbed for innovation and solutions for mobility. It has become increasingly clear to us that creating a hydrogen racing series is a natural evolution of our mission to showcase the possibilities of new technologies in the race to fight climate issues.

“Together with the current Extreme E Teams we will decide in the coming months the best way to integrate the Hydrogen powered cars into the racing weekend. Two separate categories, full transition to Hydrogen or joint racing are all options on the table. Extreme E is an FIA International Series and our intention is to work closely again with the FIA and the Automobile Club de Monaco on the development of Extreme H. Sport is the fastest and most effective platform for driving innovation, and by using the existing Extreme E platform we can also utilise our transport, talent and operations to ensure we are minimising footprint in the process. This effectively means we can have double the race action, with marginal additional impact.”

The Extreme H car will retain the same powertrain and chassis used in Extreme E. The key differentiating factor in Extreme H will be that a hydrogen fuel cell will replace the battery as the principal energy source. Green hydrogen sources will be used to power the Extreme H fuel cells, created using a combination of solar and water. This technology is already being used behind the scenes in Extreme E, where it provides the energy source to the vehicle’s batteries.

Alejandro added: “It is fitting to launch the concept of Extreme H here in NEOM, a place with huge ambition around clean energy solutions, and the perfect example of a location which can and will become home to large-scale green hydrogen production and distribution.”

Peter Wadhams, Extreme E Scientific Committee member and Head of the Polar Ocean Physics Group in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge, added: “It is exciting that the scope of Extreme E is now to be extended to encompass the renewable world of hydrogen power. At the COP-26 meeting in Glasgow last November there was a positive crowd of hydrogen vehicles, demonstrating the potential of this energy source, especially for larger vehicles. There was a bus, an ambulance, a JCB digger and several trucks. Among them was the McLaren Extreme-E electric car.

“I have seen hydrogen power in action in Orkney, where hydrogen is created in the outer islands using wind power, compressed and brought to Kirkwall by ferry, then used to power the Kirkwall fleet of public service vehicles. There are so many exciting possibilities of this kind which will be supported and energised by the publicity given to hydrogen vehicles by Extreme E.”

Jenson Button, Team Owner of the JBXE Extreme E team, said: “For Extreme E to be evolving into Extreme H is incredibly exciting and a brilliant step forward in such a short space of time for the series. To see racing of this calibre powered by Hydrogen cells, which will allow for even more racing with less impact, is remarkable.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah, ABT Cupra XE driver, said: “I think it’s a good idea to have a new Championship with hydrogen in close contact with Extreme E. I think it will be interesting to see how well the new event goes. I hope everybody will enjoy it and it will also be fascinating for the manufacturers. There has been some pressure for hydrogen to be a part of the motorsport world, and I think it is a good idea so we’ll see what we can do.”

Dan Bailey, CEO of Veloce Racing, said: “Veloce always supports innovation, which is exactly why we got involved in Extreme E from the very start. Hydrogen is a key pillar for the future of the automotive industry. We’re excited and supportive of the future plans and look forward to seeing how it develops.”

Extreme E’s operations utilise various methods to keep its overall carbon footprint as low as possible. Examples include; using a refurbished ship for transporting the Championship’s freight and logistics equipment, including race cars and paddock; using remote broadcast and digital streaming; capping team personnel numbers; and using a combination of battery power and green hydrogen to power the paddock.

Development for the Extreme H vehicle is already underway, with goals to have a prototype launched in early 2023.

Also read: Extreme E reveals Desert X Prix course ahead of Season 2

(Motorsport) Reigning world champions Mercedes have revealed their 2022 F1 car - the W13 which will be driven by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in the upcoming season. The Silver Arrows have won the Constructors Championship for eight consecutive seasons but missed out on the Drivers Championship last year after a dramatic turn of events in the Abu Dhabi GP which resulted in Red Bull’s Max Verstappen winning the title for the first time in his career. George Russell has replaced Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes’ second driver and is being viewed as a long term option for the team as Lewis Hamilton is 37 years old.

After two years in black livery, Mercedes have returned to their roots with the W13 with silver and a dash of red for the 2022 car. Hamilton’s presence at the launch was his first media appearance since the infamous events that occurred at the Yas Marina Circuit on December 12th after which the seven time World Champion maintained silence and there were question marks about the future involvement of the racer in Formula 1. The unveiling of the W13 also comes a day after Michael Masi was replaced as race director by the FIA for the upcoming season.

Mercedes have officially become the eighth manufacturer to unveil their car for the upcoming season and Hamilton’s partnership with Russell will be the first all-British driver lineup in Formula 1 since Hamilton partnered with Jensen Button at McLaren 10 years ago. Last year was only the second time Hamilton didn’t win the Drivers Championship since 2014 but will undoubtedly come back to the sport hungrier than ever to become the first Formula 1 racer to win eight World Championships, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record.

Speaking at the launch, Mercedes Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff said “The hopes are we have a competitive car. It's not a given with the new regulations. We say we want to win another title, but we don't even know if we're going to be in the hunt for a new title. What I know with this team is that we've always been able, even when circumstances are difficult like the beginning of last season, to dig ourselves out of disadvantageous situations. I think that adversity has always made him (Hamilton) stronger, more resilient and determined. This is the attitude I feel in him right now and the mindset I see in the team.”

Wolff added: "The black livery was a clear intent and a clear demonstration of our mission to become a more diverse and inclusive team. It has become part of our DNA, but the silver colour of the Silver Arrows is as much our DNA, it's our history. As a team we have grown from the Silver Arrows to slowly becoming a more diverse and inclusive team and therefore our colours going forward will be silver and black."

Hamilton said “I never ever said I was going to stop. I love doing what I do and it is such a privilege working with this large group of people. There's no feeling quite like it. It was obviously a difficult time for me. It was when I needed to take a step back, focus on being present, so I had my family all around me and creating great moments. It eventually got to the point where I would be attacking again coming into another season. 

“It is exciting seeing George coming in and seeing his energy. George has had an amazing career so far, in getting to Formula 1 and what he's done within Formula 1. It's going to be exciting to see him grow and work with him. I've had him sitting behind me before when we were working away, getting the set up on the race weekend and now I'll be working opposite from him, collaborating with him and hopefully steering the car in the same direction. I'm excited about that."

George Russell said “Lewis was a superhero to me. You see these incredible people and you don't think they're human. Now, growing up and having the opportunity to race alongside Lewis is a real privilege for me because I've got such a great opportunity to learn and see how the best do it.  

Also read: Scuderia Ferrari reveal 2022 car F1-75 with fierce new design

(Motorsport) With the Desert X Prix in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, just days away, the Championship has revealed another exciting course bringing the 10 teams and 20 world-class drivers a new set of challenges for the Season 2 opener. The 6.9km course in NEOM offers breathtaking backdrops, stunning rock formations and of course plenty of gradient changes. In stark contrast to the 2021 Desert X Prix in Al’Ula, this race weekend will feature a launch off the start that is all uphill and takes the drivers across the lower part of the valley floor.

The first way point sits between two rock formations at the top of a short, but steep, incline as they head towards the first sharp direction change as the cars start their descent to the middle of the valley floor. Dust will be a factor here, but the width of the valley offers more than enough room to duck out of anything being lifted by the car in front, allowing the drivers to stay on full throttle. On what will be a fast course, the drivers are likely to be pushing the upgraded ODYSSEY 21 to the max for much of the lap.

Another steep climb takes the cars up to the first of two technical sections as they briefly climb on top of the edge of a rock formation, before a sharp right-hand turn at the farthest point of the course. A steep but spectacular descent through the heavy red sand brings the cars onto the flat of the second valley floor, before a short climb over another hill opens up to a wide and inviting section of the course where a myriad of racing lines will tempt the drivers to overtake.

Into the last quarter of the course and the drivers will be full throttle for a blast up the steepest incline in deep sand that will certainly use up some energy from the battery. At the top of the hill, the drivers turn a sharp right and over a blind crest, hitting a steep descent towards the penultimate waypoint – a tight 90-degree left hander.

Once again into the deep red sand, the cars will be working hard and powering up the last long run to the final waypoint. Depending on strategy, some drivers could use Hyperdrive here to catch the car in front as it struggles up the hill, but they’ll need to hang on as they go blind into the final turn at ninety-degrees and into a breathtakingly steep drop on the other side. The drivers will have to trust their skill and judgement as they fly down the steepest descent on the course, bottoming out just before crossing the finish line.

The Desert X Prix takes place this weekend (19-20 February).

Also read: Extreme E Season 2 is set to get underway in Saudi

(Motorsport) Following a review of last season’s Abu Dhabi GP, the FIA have confirmed that Michael Masi has been replaced as race director with Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas as alternatives for the 2022 season. Masi has come under intense scrutiny following the controversial events at the Yas Marina Circuit last year when the former race director’s safety car decisions eventually led to Max Verstappen overtaking Lewis Hamilton in the final lap of the final race to win the Drivers Championship. 

In the final stages of the Abu Dhabi GP on December 12th, Michael Masi ordered lapped cars behind Hamilton to let Verstappen through under the Safety Car, which resulted in the Dutch racing driver overtaking the seven time World Champion in the final lap after having a significant advantage because of fresher, soft tyres. Masi’s decision was justified by the FIA stewards after the race after Mercedes appealed, however a full review was lodged of the incident with F1 admitting that it had tarnished the sport’s image. Both Toto Wolff and Christian Horner were present at the meeting when Masi was replaced as race director, a day before Mercedes’ unveiling of the 2022 car. 

New FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed a number of structural changes with Eduardo Freitas, WEC race director and Niels Wittich, former DTM race director acting as alternative F1’s race directors in the 2022 season. The pair will be assisted by Herbie Blash who will be operating in the role of senior advisor while Michael Masi will be offered a new role within the FIA. A Virtual Race Control Room will also be created, similar to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in football while direct communication between teams and race director will be removed. The F1 Sporting Advisory Committee will also review the unlapping procedure behind the Safety Car and will be presented to the F1 Commission before the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 18th. 

Also read: Scuderia Ferrari reveal 2022 car F1-75 with fierce new design

(Motorsport) The most successful team in Formula 1 history has unveiled the brand new F1-75, Ferrari’s 2022 challenger that has been described as “radical”, “innovative” and “daring” and the iconic team will hope that it’s the car which will get them back to winning ways. Scuderia Ferrari haven’t won a Championship in 14 years but the team are hoping to begin the upcoming season with a clean slate due to the new regulations and finally compete with the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull. 

Despite the fact that Ferrari are arguably the most recognizable brand in the world and the most successful and iconic team in Formula 1’s history, gone are the days when the Italian manufacturer was considered a perennial title challenger with someone like Michael Schumacher leading them to glory. Over the last few years, Ferrari have been reduced to a mid-table team competing alongside the likes of McLaren for the “best of the rest” rather than the Drivers or Constructors Championship. However, the 2022 F1-75 brings with it renewed optimism as Scuderia Ferrari have been working on the car longer than most other manufacturers in the Formula 1 grid and have devoted significant time and resources on the car to gain that competitive edge. 

The F1-75 was revealed at Maranello with principal of Scuderia Ferrari Mattia Binotto introducing the car alongside drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The car is named the F1-75 as a homage to Ferrari’s first production car 125 S, which was produced 75 years ago in 1947. The car has a darker red and black livery and it’s clear that the Italian manufacturers have thought outside the box in the development of this car. At first glance, the F1-75 looks eerily similar to the Ferrari cars in the 1980’s and 90’s due to the black wings and the expectations are at an all time high to build on their third place finish in the 2021 season.

Speaking at the launch, principal of Scuderia Ferrari Mattia Binotto said “It was at first important for us to be fully open minded in the way we approach the exercise. It was not a matter of simply continuing the concept of the previous car and adapting them to the new rules. It has been aerodynamic-driven, and all the mechanical concepts have been a consequence of it. We tried all the directions and we picked the one we thought was the best for the final performance. I think there are a lot of non conventional choices. 

“It is a big innovation for us in terms of the design. If we do not win, is that a failure for Ferrari? I think it's important for Ferrari to be back to being competitive and we've said for a long time that 2022 is our best opportunity for that. We put a lot of effort as a team in designing the new car, and the way I've seen the team working, I'm proud. I'm not considering a failure at the moment, we're simply focused on trying to do our best."

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said “Expectations are high because we are Ferrari. We are a team that is expected to win all the time. What makes me confident about this year's car is the work that I've seen in the last few months. That's been absolutely incredible by the whole team. It's been a long time since we've been working on this car now and I can see how well we've been working so that gives me the confidence for the future. But it's never easy to know until you are on track at the first qualifying year. But the feeling is good, everyone is extremely motivated and I'm also extremely motivated to be back in the car and to finally drive this beautiful car."

Carlos Sainz added “Our target is to be back up there fighting for wins. Obviously we have very tough competitors in F1, Mercedes, Red Bull, McLaren, even Alpine and Aston Martin could be up there this year. The target of Ferrari is always to be back being competitive." Ferrari will complete the demo run of the F1-75 at the Fiorano racetrack on Friday, five days before the start of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Also read: Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn expects action packed 2022 season

(Motorsport) The upcoming 2022 Formula 1 season is arguably the most exciting one in years with revamped technical regulations, the biggest change in Formula 1 for 40 years. The regulations are aimed to promote wheel-to-wheel racing with bigger teams having fewer advantages throughout the grid. In an interview, Ross Brawn, Managing Director of Formula 1 said “It'll take a little while but I think we're going to be in a far better place going forward with the type of car that we have. Lots of optimism for the season and I think we'll see some interesting results."

With the number of changes for the upcoming season, Ross Brawn was joined by FIA chiefs Nikolas Tombazis and Jason Sommervile to explain everything that can be expected. "Every decision has been made to not dumb down the sport, but to make it more achievable for more of the teams and to get a closer competition going on, while still leaving meritocracies so the best teams still win," stated Brawn. "I think there will be a bit of disparity at the beginning, but we're not expecting a huge disparity. I'm confident that these rules will lead to much better racing, and we're not stopping here. As soon as the cars start to appear, we can analyse how they achieve their performance, we can evolve it, we can tune the regulations to keep it going in the right direction."

In the last few years, Formula 1 cars have lost around half of their downforce while following another car closely which made overtaking difficult but the 2022 cars are expected to circumnavigate the issue due to a carefully thought out design. "We're so massively ahead of where we were because the [previous] cars were dreadful," said Brawn. "So even if we're five per cent worse [than we hoped], we'll still be a long way ahead of what the old cars are. I don't think we ever made a performance prediction," he claimed. "We said let's target a couple of seconds less than where we are now because that's what the teams will make up when they get hold of them. But it was really as simple as that. Knowing the progress teams make, I'm not surprised by what's happened and personally I'm not concerned."

The 2022 cars will provide a fresh slate to every manufacturer, which means that it’s quite possible that more teams and drivers can fight for wins on race weekends. It’s evident that some manufacturers will get it right and others won’t, which means there could be some surprise podium finishes in the upcoming season. "We only really had two drivers in the world championship and two teams in the world championship," Brawn said. "It was a great season from the point of view of entertainment and battles, but we really would like to see more teams in that battle."

All said and done, it’s unlikely that things will change too dramatically in the overall pecking order and the top teams are still expected to dominate over the course of the season. Brawn said “I don't think the regulations will change the regular order of things dramatically. I don't think we're going to see Mick Schumacher dominate this year. I think we'll see some of the midfield teams challenging so I think we'll have a bigger group of competitive teams. Last year, we either expected a Mercedes or a Red Bull to win unless something different happened.

"We're blessed with a number of great drivers in Formula 1 today. Lando Norris, the Ferrari drivers [Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz], we've got George Russell in the Mercedes. I think there's any number of combinations of drivers that give us a fantastic season and if there's three or four of them mixing it up, that's even better. I'm optimistic about the coming season. I think the good teams will do a good job, they've got the equities and the experience."

Also read: Formula 1 team Williams Racing unveil 2022 car FW44

(Motorsports news) After building on the success of its debut season in 2021, Extreme E Season 2 ‘The Race For the Planet’ promises to captivate on and off track on a whole new level, whilst delivering on its overall purpose to tackle climate change through sport, starting with the Desert X Prix in NEOM, Saudi Arabia

Extreme E Season 2 begins in the deserts of NEOM, a region in the northwest of Saudi Arabia where lies the largest global giga-project that is taking shape. NEOM has breath-taking landscapes that include the most  diverse terrains from expansive red sands to spectacular sandstone formations. It will also contain hyperconnected, cognitive towns and cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centres, sports and entertainment venues, and tourist destinations. Extreme E will visit Saudi Arabia, as Season 1 Championship’s winners Rosberg X Racing (RXR) will look to retain the title

Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “Using our sport for purpose platform, Extreme E delivered truly ground-breaking action in its first season, on and off the race course, and now they are ready to go and do it all again, with more experience and more determination than ever. Taking the championship to NEOM for our desert location will be an exciting moment, as NEOM's long-term plans are very much in keeping with the ethos of Extreme E – it is attempting to do something that's never been done before and comes at a time when the world needs fresh thinking and new solutions”.

“As we saw in our first-ever championship race, the Kingdom's terrain is stunning and unforgiving. The desertscape promises to be intense, and it will be an unprecedented challenge for our competitors to explore in a new desert terrain with warmer racing conditions.”

HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al- Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle federation and the Saudi Motorsports Company, said: “The return of Extreme E to the Kingdom for the second year in a row further helps emphasise Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a more sustainable future. Welcoming this revolutionary series to NEOM aligns with one of the most important goals and pillars of Vision 2030 as well as the personal aspirations of HRH the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, to make the Kingdom a leading country in the development and promotion of alternative energy sources and the preservation of the environment for future generations.

“This next instalment of the Extreme E race is further proof of the Kingdom’s transformation into a powerhouse for motorsport in the region, the event taking place shortly after the conclusion of another successful Dakar Rally at the start of this year further underlines this. Additionally, we have just hosted our inaugural F1 Grand Prix on the newest, longest, and fastest street circuit in the world.”

Nadhmi Al-Nasr, NEOM’s CEO, said: “NEOM has made no secret of its desire to promote sustainability and raise awareness around some of the world's most pressing challenges, such as climate change and nature conservation. We feel hosting an innovative racing event such as Extreme E in a region dedicated to pioneering clean technology and mobility solutions perfectly manifests our goals.

“In keeping with our approach to encouraging talent development and diversity, we are delighted to welcome the drivers, both male and female, the Extreme E team, and leading experts to NEOM. Sport is an important sector for NEOM and will be key in creating a new form of livability and driving economic growth. In particular, adventure sport offerings will be a major contributor to the visitor economy.”

Also read: JBXE announces Molly Taylor as Kevin Hansen's teammate

(Motorsports news) JBXE today announced that 2021 Extreme E Championship winner Molly Taylor will join Season 1 driver Kevin Hansen for Race 1 of Extreme E Season 2. Taylor brings invaluable expertise after claiming the Extreme E title with Rosberg X Racing (RXR) in the inaugural season, and has all the knowledge that comes with winning the series.

Molly Taylor, driver for JBXE, said: "I had an incredible year with Extreme E in 2021 and I believe wholeheartedly in what the competition represents both with respect to its commitment to sustainability and gender equality. Having had the benefit of a win in last year’s Championship, when the call came to join the JBXE team ahead of this weekend’s race, I thought why not. I’m looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into the Desert X-Prix this weekend.”

The team will be looking to build upon their performance from last year’s inaugural race. After a shaky start at the Desert X Prix in AlUla, Saudi Arabia last year, where the team finished third in the Crazy Race, Jenson Button’s JBXE outfit soared into the Final of the second X Prix in Senegal. The remaining three X Prix saw JBXE on the podium at each race, having transformed into masters of the Crazy Race in both Greenland and Sardinia. Second place finishes at the Arctic X Prix and the Jurassic X Prix, alongside third in Senegal and Sardinia, secured JBXE stood third in the constructors Championship standings with 119 points.

Founded by 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button, JBXE will be looking for more success in Extreme E Season 2. Jenson Button, Founder of JBXE, added: “To be able to bring Molly into the team is fantastic news for JBXE. Having won the Championship last year she obviously brings a huge amount to the table so I’m incredibly excited to see her and Kevin in action this weekend.”

Kevin Hansen, driver for JBXE, said: “I’m very excited to work with Molly. She did great last year and was one of the best out on track. You don’t become Champion for nothing“She has a lot of experience now in Saudi from the Dakar Rally this year, so I will take a lot of advantage from that. It was an amazing experience that she had there and now she can share that with me. It’s going to be very fun to work with her this weekend.”

Prior to Extreme E, Hansen has been a regular fixture in the  FIA World Rallycross Championship for several years, securing event wins and multiple podiums for Team Peugeot-Hansen. Earlier in his career, the 22-year-old Swedish racer secured the 2015 RX2 title and won the 2016 FIA Rookie of the Year award. This year he will hope that he can replicate the same form and win the extreme E championship for Jenson Button’s team

The fresh JBXE driver line-up is all set to take on the first race of the season in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, this weekend (19-20 February)

Also read: Carlos Sainz Sr. and Laia Sanz continue with ACCIONA Sainz XE

(Football news) Williams Racing, one of F1’s most famous and historic manufacturers have revealed their 2022 challenger called FW44 at their official launch. The car will be driven by Nicholas Latifi and Alex Albon who joined the team after George Russell’s departure to Mercedes AMG Racing. Both drivers were present at the unveiling as the 16 times World Champions became the sixth team to reveal their car for the upcoming season. The car is named FW44 in tribute to the manufacturer’s legendary founder Sir Frank Williams and features different shades of blue with dashes of red to highlight the team’s British history.

Speaking at the launch, team boss Jost Capito said “If it's as fast as it looks, that will be very, very good”. Williams also said that it 'embodies the exciting new era of the Williams brand, whilst still retaining the classic team spirit'. Williams have undoubtedly been on an upward trajectory, having finished rock bottom in three consecutive seasons, the British manufacturer finished eighth in 2021 with a final tally of 23 points. The team got back-to-back double points finishes in Hungary and Belgium and managed their first podium finish in six years at Spa. 

It will be interesting to see how Williams cope with the departure of George Russell to Mercedes and expectations will be high from Alex Albon as he leads the team into a new era. The Thai-British driver has two Formula 1 seasons under his belt including the time he raced alongside Max Verstappen in Red Bull before he was replaced by Sergio Perez at the end of the 2020 season. Speaking at the launch, Albon said “We don't have many days before our first race and so we quickly need to understand which areas of the car are strong and where we need to make improvements. I'm sure it will be a little bit of a learning curve as we all try to learn how to get the most out of the new regulations, but the objectives and the way that we focus on this car is very much the same as in previous years."

With the FW44 powered by Mercedes, Williams will be hoping to improve on their eighth place finish from last year and go beyond Q1 of qualifying. The first three-day testing will begin on February 23rd in Barcelona before testing begins in Bahrain on March 10th ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20th.

Also read: Formula 1 team AlphaTauri launch 2022 car AT03

(Motorsport news) It was a Valentine’s day treat for all the Formula 1 fans as AlphaTauri unveiled their 2022 challenger called AT03. Red Bull’s sister team will feature Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda for the upcoming season and will look to build on their sixth place finish from last year, taking advantage of the new changes in the car design to their advantage. 

Formerly known as Toro Rosso, Alpha Tauri are now the fifth team on the grid to unveil their new car while the likes of Aston Martin and McLaren had a physical launch. The AT03 will be first seen in the flesh before the pre-season testing is set to begin on February 23rd. Gasly remains AlphaTauri’s top performer while Tsunoda will hope for greater consistency in the upcoming season and will look to cement his place in the Formula 1 grid.

Speaking at the launch, Pierre Gasly said “This year sees a huge change to the car as, due to the new regulations, the look and design is completely different, so the team has had to start from a clean sheet of paper. We won't know the true performance of the AT03 until we get it out on track at pre-season testing in Barcelona but so far, I think it looks great and I am very excited to get this new season started.

“My approach will be the same as the one I adopted last year. I will be trying to build on the run I had of very good results and to continue to be on top of my game with the car I have. I really hope that this is a year when I can fight at the very front, to finish regularly in the top five and even higher if the car is good enough for that.”

Team boss Franz Tost added: "I am excited to finally reveal what our 2022 Formula 1 car will look like. It is a completely new era for F1 and we hope that this package will be very strong, following last year's success. Once again, we have worked closely with AlphaTauri to launch our new car and I think we've managed to deliver something very special."

It’s quite possible that AlphaTauri could emerge as the dark horse in the upcoming season, especially considering that the Italian team have a great many things in their favour. For one, they have a stable driver lineup, the experience of doing a lot with a very small budget but still managing to get favourable results. “It was a little bit disjointed, as initially, the new regulations were going to be for 2021 so we'd started work a long time ago,” explained Technical Director Jody Egginton. “Then obviously with the pandemic, it was regulated that we must stop wind tunnel development during 2020 and we re-started it again on 1st January 2021. However, this coincided with our transition to the 60% wind tunnel meaning we had to design and manufacture a 60% model of the 2022 car.

“At the same time, we were also preparing a 60% model of the 2021 car as the AT02 launch spec car had been developed at 50%, but we were moving to 60% for in-season development as it's not permitted to run two wind tunnel facilities in parallel. Obviously, this created a greater workload, but the decision to move to a 60% facility was a long-established strategic one, which needed to be delivered on-plan to help meet our medium-term objectives. I have to say that the guys did a good job of managing the extra workload and we are confident this decision will provide the expected benefits in the medium term.” 

Also read: F1 announces three sprint races in Imola, Austria and Sao Paulo

(Motorsports news) F1 introduced the sprint format last year and involved a 100km dash with each race lasting around 25-30 minutes as the position achieved in the sprint would determine their position in the grid for the main race, along with that the winners of the sprint get 3 points, second get 2 points and third receive 1 point. This year after talks with all the key stakeholders, including governing body the FIA and all the teams, an agreement has been reached to hold events at the Emilia Romagna, Austrian and Sao Paulo Grands Prix.

This year the sprint races will have a change in format as the points system has been tweaked, with the top eight drivers scoring points. Now the sprint becomes even more important as the driver who finishes P1 will receive eight points, down to one point for the driver in P8. Along with the change in the scoring system it has also been decided that the driver who sets the fastest time in qualifying, on Friday will be awarded the ‘pole position’. Compared to last year, when the driver who won the Sprint earned the official pole position. Qualifying will now determine the grid for the Sprint races as the result of the Sprint will help form the line-up for the start of Sunday’s Grand Prix.

The venue chosen for the three sprints are one of the most historic venues in the F1 calendar and has seen few of the best races over the years. The decision to host the sprint race in these tracks is because all three tracks are one of the fastest races in the F1 racing calendar and it will provide the fans with more overtakes and drama. Last year the sprint races had mixed reviews as F1 fanatics were still skeptical with the whole format but the Brazilian grand prix showed the world how exciting the sprint races can be. This year FIA and F1 were planning to host six sprint races but the plan met opposition from Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, who wanted an increase in the budget cap for the increased number of sprint events. Finally the plan for three sprint events was approved by the FIA. 

“Following a review of the three Sprint events that took place in 2021 and a recognition by all that the format created positive benefits for the sport, three Sprint events were proposed for 2022, acknowledging this as a sensible number in light of the pressures already on the teams for this season with the introduction of major changes to the regulations, the Commission unanimously approved the three Sprint events for the coming season, incorporating a number of updates to the format based on the feedback of fans, media and teams”. an FIA statement said

Also read: Formula 1: McLaren unveil 2022 car called MCL36

Meanwhile, the FIA also said they will present “news of structural changes and action plan in the coming days, regarding the investigation, led by newly-elected FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix”.
 

Chennai, Feb 13 (MotorSports News) Sandeep Kumar clinched the national championship title for the inaugural Polo Cup with a race to spare in the fourth and final round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship here on Sunday.

The 29-year Chennai racer displayed controlled aggression and was content with his fourth and fifth-place finish in the final two races of the Volkswagen one-make championship.

After starting way back in the top-12 reverse grid, he finished fourth in the penultimate race.

He took advantage of the incidents in lap 2 and 3, and moved forward gaining five places in a race that was red-flagged.

Making a restart and overtaking one more Polo, Sandeep garnered enough points from the fourth-place finish to seal the championship.

In the afternoon heat, he managed to bring the Polo home in fifth for a creditable championship victory, his second national title.

A former Volkswagen Polo R Pro Cup champion, who raced in Scirocco R Cup for two years in Germany, Sandeep was also the winner of Formula LGB4 National Championship-2020.

"I am so relieved. It is a very happy moment for me and I thank all the Volkswagen family and all my team who put in many hours of dedicated hardwork to give me a wonderful machine. The powerful car built by Volkswagen Motorsports India is a pleasure to drive and I enjoyed every bit this season," said Sandeep, a corporate lawyer by profession. 

Also Read : Formula 1: McLaren unveil 2022 car called MCL36

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Formula 1’s second most successful team McLaren have become the fourth team to launch their 2022 challenger, referred to as the MCL36 which will be driven by Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo in the upcoming season. Revealing a bold and updated livery, McLaren will hope to close the gap between themselves and rivals Ferrari as well as mount a challenge for teams like Red Bull and Mercedes. The car was unveiled at McLaren’s Technology Centre base and revealed that the MCL36 is ready for pre-season testing.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown said “We wanted something that was very vibrant. The livery changes we did last year - both in Monaco and in Abu Dhabi - we got a lot of great fan reaction and they like to see a lot of energy. I think it's got speed and elegance to it that we thought would go on top of the fast race car that hopefully we've designed this year." Alongside the MCL36, McLaren also revealed their IndyCar and Extreme E car which will be making its debut this year. "This is a first for us as a team, and in the wider world of motorsport," said Brown. 

McLaren finished behind Ferrari in fourth place in the 2021 season and are expected to face a tough test from the Italian manufacturers this time around, especially considering that Scuderia Ferrari has spent considerable time and resources for the 2022 car (yet to be revealed). McLaren’s 2021 season featured their highest points total since 2012 and the team will look to build on that momentum and eventually compete for World Championships. Despite being ready for pre-season testing, MCL36 is still undergoing infrastructure upgrades with a new wind tunnel and simulator in the development.

McLaren’s technical director James Kay said “With a blank sheet of paper, the team here at McLaren have been working hard to establish a competitive platform for this and future seasons. However, we know we've only just begun to unlock performance from this regulation set, and that one of the key features of the 2022 season will be the intense development war as teams assess each other's designs and innovate new ways of generating downforce through ground-effect." 

Lando Norris recently signed a long term contract with McLaren and his partnership with eight-time F1 race winner Daniel Ricciardo could be a winning combination for the 20 time World Champions. At the car launch, Norris said “Last year was my best in Formula 1 so far, and I'm really proud of what I achieved as a driver, and what we achieved as a team. But I know the best is yet to come, and my aim is to carry the positive momentum we built up over the last year and take that with me into this exciting new era of Formula 1.” 

Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo said “There's always a nervous excitement around the start of the new season, but that's turned up to 11 when you enter a new era of regulations. Heading into my second year with McLaren feels great and I feel like we learned a lot as a team in 2021, which will help us as we take on this new challenge." McLaren will begin their pre-season testing in Barcelona on February 23-25 another three-day test in March followed by the Bahrain GP on March 20.

Also read: Formula 1: Aston Martin unveil 2022 car with updated livery

(Motorsport) Formula 1 team Aston Martin has revealed the 2022 car as the team aims to progress higher up the pecking order in the new season. The new challenger, called AMR22 was launched at Aston Martin’s Gaydon base with both drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll present at the unveiling of the classic but updated green livery of the 2022 car. The AMR22 also features splashes of lime green which have replaced the pink from the 2021 car. The British manufacturers are the third team in the Formula 1 grid to launch their new car and it is believed that the AMR22 is the closest to the final product that has been revealed to the public so far. 

The AMR22 has been built in accordance with the new technical regulations which are aimed at improving wheel to wheel racing and Aston Martin will hope that the 2022 challenger will fare better than the disappointing seventh place finish last year. Aston Martin have undergone a major change behind the scenes with former team boss Otmar Szafnauer being replaced by Mike Krack who has previously worked with BMW and Porsche. Team owner Lawrence Stroll said “We are continuing our journey to the summit of Formula 1 and we want to win. But we know that winning isn't easy, and that's why we have a five-year plan to keep climbing and to get to the top." 

Four time World Champion Sebastian Vettel said “Look at that car, who wouldn't feel excited about the prospect of racing that? And when it comes to hopes for the season, I do not think anyone really knows what to expect. There are new rules and of course all the teams will be hoping that they have got it right. Everyone wants to win, me included, and no one would be in Formula 1 if their dream was not to win. I am no different. The main thing is to keep moving forward and moving up. This is only year two of a five-year plan, so we are still quite near the start. But this team has big ambitions and big plans, and I am hugely excited to be a part of that.

“It's a complete reset,” added Vettel. “We'll see how good we are.The rules were made to bring the cars together, to allow overtaking, and there are a lot of question marks over whether that will go as planned, or not. We'll see what the spread will be like between the cars. But it's a very different season for all those reasons and also, we'll be able to develop through the season. I've had such a great past so far with so many great cars and great seasons and a lot of highlights and I'm hooked to that, I'm here to win. Last year was very tough because we weren't really in the mix, we weren't fighting for something really meaningful and for sure it's not a secret to say out loud, I'm motivated by winning. I've won a lot in the past and that's what I'm here for."

Aston Martin have returned to Formula 1 after a 60 year break but the team was formerly known as Force India and was subsequently renamed to Racing Point after a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll but the team. Expectations are higher than ever with the Aston Martin brand being associated with the team and while the team has already indicated that progress will be measured with a long-term outlook, the main aim will be to compete alongside the likes of Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes. Aston Martin technical chief Andrew Green said “This is the first iteration. We're on a steep learning curve and everyone's on a steep learning curve - no one's going to have all the answers yet. I think we're going to see this car develop highly over the coming season."

Also read: Formula 1 driver Lando Norris signs new long-term deal with McLaren

(Motorsports news) ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team have retained their driver line-up for the forthcoming campaign as legendary rally car driver Carlos Sainz Sr. and Laia Sanz are back behind the wheel for Extreme E Season 2. 

Sainz Sr. and Sanz were part of a hotly contested inaugural season of Extreme E and this was possibly best evidenced in the midfield, where the teams fourth to sixth in the Championship were separated by just 17 points. The Spanish duo finished sixth in the standings, tied on points with ABT Cupra XE courtesy of a podium in Greenland, keeping them in the fight.

Carlos Sainz Sr., arguably one of the greatest rally drivers of all-time, has won the FIA World Rally Championship twice, in 1990 and 1992. He has also won the Dakar Rally three times: in 2010, 2011 and 2020. The Spanish driver received the Princess of Asturias Sports Award in 2020 for his successful career in elite world motorsport, and in the same year, was voted the best driver in rallying by fans and journalists. 

Most recently the 59-year-old Spaniard, driving for the Audi Q Motorsport team, arrived in Saudi Arabia for the Dakar rally seeking a third overall triumph in five years. Sainz Snr. won stage three, recording the fastest time in the Car category by 38 seconds, and finished 12th overall. 
Also competing in the 2022 Dakar Rally was Laia Sanz, marking her car debut having ridden motorbikes at the Dakar Rally every year since 2011 and having made the switch to cars for Extreme E Season One. Sanz has been crowned Trial World Champion 13 times, Enduro World Champion on five occasions and has finished the Dakar Rally ten times between 2011 and 2020. She finished ninth overall in 2015, achieving the best result ever by a woman in the motorcycle category at the event. 

Carlos Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, said: "We are about to start Season 2 of the Extreme E Championship. It’s quite surprising how fast time flies because it seemed yesterday that we were about to embark on this thrilling adventure that has taken us all over the world with a unique message. All the members of the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, also Laia and myself, are really looking forward to this new season in which we want to fight for everything. The experience we gained in 2021 must help us to take a step forward to start fighting for better results and even the Championship. I am really looking forward to the first X Prix in Saudi Arabia to show just how much we have progressed.

"The level of the Championship is really high, but we want to win and to send the strongest possible message about the importance of sustainability and respecting the environment. It makes me proud that we are doing this with a project that is entirely Spanish, so I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the parties that make this possible for their confidence, including Santander Private Banking and Power Electronics, which will continue supporting us this year."

Also read: Defending champions RXR getting ready for Extreme E season 2

Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, said: "I am really looking forward to the season opener in Saudi Arabia. I think it will be a different year to 2021 because we are not starting from scratch. Now the team has experience with the Odyssey 21 and I have been able to do many kilometres on four wheels, so I am convinced that I will be able to help the team much more. In the last races of 2021, we already took a step forward in terms of performance and I think that this is promising for what is to come. This winter I was able to do my first Dakar Rally racing on cars and I believe this will also prove really positive for this Extreme E season.

"It is true that I still lack experience in the wheel-to-wheel fights, but I am getting used to them and I am convinced that this season will be much better for us and that we will fight for better results. The level of the Championship got much higher throughout 2021 and everything seems to suggest that this 2022 will be even tighter, so I am really looking forward to getting started."

(Motorsport) British racing driver Lando Norris has signed a new contract with Formula 1 team McLaren until 2025. The deal means Norris now has the longest contract on the F1 grid as McLaren will hope to not just overcome rivals Ferrari but also Mercedes and Red Bull in the coming years for the elusive World Championship trophy. The 22 year old signed a contract extension with the British racing team last year but his impressive 2021 season saw the driver claim his first pole position as well as four podium finishes.

Norris became the youngest ever British driver to join Formula 1 in 2019 and the 22 year old said “I have grown up in this team and I'm part of this journey we're all on. I want to continue to try to reach that dream of ours and try to win races, and of course to try and win championships. Big thanks to Andreas [Seidl], Zak [Brown] and all of McLaren for having this faith in me. Of course it also shows the faith I have in McLaren and what they will be able to achieve in the next few years. We know it's not going to be quick, we're learning and there's still things we need to improve on to have the ability to fight for wins and championships, but I know that's coming up."

"This is more for the solidarity of me and the team, the confidence in both for the long term," said the British driver. I see that as a benefit for myself, to have this longer contract and stay here for a while, and one for the team. I do see it as a performance benefit and motivation benefit for mechanics, engineers and everybody at MTC. If I want to find every bit of performance, that is included in something like this. It was another opportunity for me to confirm my commitment to the team, for them to confirm it with me, and give the whole team confidence that I'm here to stay and trying to achieve things with them."

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said “He showed last year that in the right team and the right car, in just his third year in Formula 1, he can score pole positions and drive for race wins. "It was natural for us, we try to lock him in as long as possible here at McLaren for continuity and consistency.” Norris is considered one of the hottest properties in the Formula 1 grid and McLaren have pinned their hopes on the 22 year old to bring back the World Championship which was last won by Lewis Hamilton for the Formula 1 team in 2008. 

Norris has admitted that he has had opportunities to join other teams. The British racing driver said “I'm sure I could have opportunities to go elsewhere in the future but for the next four years, and a big part of my life, I want to stay here and enjoy the time with McLaren and the people that brought me into this sport. This is a very strong message to put across to everyone the faith we have in each other, the confidence I have in McLaren can recover and get to the front in the next few years.

“There were little chats here and there but that's all. If something came up that's when I would go to Andreas and have a conversation. There were little things here and there with various other teams but nothing that went far at all. Which teams? That's something I can't say but you would probably be able to guess reasonably well!

“I have to weigh in all the factors and it's still my own career that I'm focusing on. I look at all the best options for me and what I can be most successful in, where I believe I can achieve the best but also what I believe is the best for me as a driver and as a person, and in the longer term. Of course there will be opportunities for sure now for other drivers to do things and maybe go to Red Bull or Mercedes.

"But the fact that I would have had those opportunities and still chose to stay at McLaren is I think the good thing about all this, I know those opportunities would arise in the next few years but the fact is I've still committed to McLaren. I think that's quite a strong message that this is where I want to be and where I want to achieve race wins, podiums and championships. Weighing all the factors for my own benefit and where I think I could have been in the next few years with drivers leaving so on, but in the end for me McLaren was still the best option."

McLaren will launch their 2022 Formula 1 car on Friday.

Also read: Formula 1 team Haas unveil 2022 challenger and new livery

Chennai, Feb 5 (MotorSports News) Veteran Rajini Krishnan of RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate won the title in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc category at the National Motorcycle Racing Championship here on Saturday.

Though he finished third after a crash, the 41-year-old Krishnan from Chennai did just enough to claim his 10th national title and his first in a decade on the concluding day of the fifth and final round here.

Also winning the national title was 19-year old Chennai collegian Alwin Sundar (AS Motorsports) in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category despite finishing second behind Allwin Xavier (Sparks Racing) who thus completed a triple crown.

In the girls category, Ryhana Bee (RACR Castrol Power1 Ultimate), also from Chennai, marked her comeback season after a year’s absence due to injury by winning her fifth consecutive race.

She had sealed the championship after Round 4, but ensured that she closed the season on a winning note.

Jagan Kumar (TVS Racing) had assured himself of the national title, his 10th, on Friday after finishing third in the Pro-Stock 165cc category. In the second race on Saturday, he cruised to fourth.

KY Ahamed led a 1-2 finish for TVS Racing with Deepak Ravikumar, while Rajiv Sethu (Idemitsu Honda SK69 Racing) came in third.

Krishnan, who needed just four points to win the championship going into the final round, had a roller-coaster weekend, marked by crashes in both the races.

In the first outing on Friday, he crashed to finish 12th, and without a point. In the second race on Saturday, starting from P12, he moved to second but hit an oil patch on the last lap.

However, he jumped back on to finish third behind Rahil Shetty (Gusto Racing) and Anish Damodara Shetty (Race Concepts) to earn 15 valuable points.

Anish Shetty crossed the finish line first, but he dropped to second following a five-second penalty for an infringement, elevating Rahil to the top of the podium.

Krishnan, who had made his National Championship debut in 2003, topped the leaderboard with 183 points and six wins, followed by Anish (164) and Rahil (156).

Youngster Sarthak Chavan from Pune, dominated the NSF 250R category in the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup with a double which followed four consecutive wins over the previous two rounds.

However, he finished second in the championship, seven points behind Chennai youngster Kavin Quintal who had won the first four races of the season.

Kozhikode’s Amarnath Menon took the title in the Open (Apache RR310) category of the TVS One-Make Championship with four wins from 10 starts. 

Also Read : Defending champions RXR getting ready for Extreme E season 2

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Haas has become the first Formula 1 team to unveil their 2022 car which showcases the aesthetic changes, overhauled dynamics, new floor, wings and 18-inch tyres. The team will retain Nikita Mazepiin and Mick Schumacher for the upcoming season and will aim to have a better season this time around than last year, especially considering they had their worst F1 season in 2021, finishing 10th and failing to score a single point in a car which was barely upgraded from 2020. 

The 2022 Formula 1 season will offer a respite to Haas as every team has the opportunity to start with a clean slate due to the overhaul of car design. Haas has been targeting the 2022 campaign to overturn their fortunes and will hope that the VF22 will be able to compete alongside the other cars on the grid. Technical director Simone Resta has described the car as  the "most complex project" he has ever undertaken and the design is "dramatically different, the livery of the new entry is an evolution of last year".

In an interview, team owner Gene Haas said “It's that time of year where you're naturally optimistic that the hard work and effort of everyone will translate to a competitive entry on track. We made the decision back in 2020 to really channel time and resources into the VF-22, foregoing anything track-related for 2021 - which wasn't easy to watch. Hopefully that decision bears fruit and we return to challenging for points and taking something from the weekends." Team principal Gunther Steiner added: "Last season was a long one but I'm confident that 2022 will see us back in the mix with the VF-22."

The new rules, which were initially planned for 2021, were delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While regulations have often been changed in order to ensure safety of the drivers as cars have evolved into faster machines with every passing year, the current regulations will focus on creating a more level playing field amongst cars on the Formula 1 grid and ensure easier overtaking and more action packed races. Some of the most notable changes are a ground effect floor, simplified front wing and sharp new rear wing and 18 inch tyres with wheel winglets. 

This means that the 2022 car designs won’t just look different, it will ensure more competitive racing. Shifting the aerodynamics focus from the wings to underneath the car will make it easier to follow the cars in front as the 2021 cars lost about 35% of their downforce within three car lengths of the car in front and almost 50 per cent in a single car length. The new cars have dropped these numbers to just four and 18 per cent respectively.

Also read: Red Bull Racing to become first F1 team to launch 2022 car

(Motorsports news) Rosberg X Racing (RXR) , the champions of the first edition in Extreme E are back for Season 2 with a change in driver line-up as they aim to retain their crown in 2022. Johan Kristoffersson, who was with RXR in the inaugural Extreme E campaign will continue to drive for the German outfit and is joined by Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky to mark an all-Swedish driver pairing.  Nico Rosberg’s team bids to become back-to-back winners, Åhlin-Kottulinsky replaces Australian Molly Taylor at RXR.

Åhlin-Kottulinsky previously competed for JBXE, driving alongside Jenson Button and later Kevin Hansen, claiming third place in the first-ever Extreme E season. Åhlin-Kottulinsky was with Rallycross in the beginning of her career, before moving on to the circuit to become the first woman to win a race in the German Scirocco R-Cup in 2014. Four years later she made history with a race win in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship as the first female driver to participate in the series. Last year, she finished second in the STCC Championship. 

In 2019, Åhlin-Kottulinsky joined as a test driver for Extreme E’s founding partner Continental, helping to develop the CrossContact tyre for the series’ ODYSSEY 21 e-SUVs. Kristoffersson, who had three wins for RXR en route to last year’s Championship alongside Taylor, is the most successful FIA World Rallycross Championship driver in history and won the World Rallycross crown in 2021 for the 4th time. Since joining World Rallycross in 2014, Kristoffersson has picked up 27 victories and 41 podium finishes. Kristoffersson’s pace in multi-car, off-road racing was there for all to see in Extreme E Season 1. 

Alongside his Extreme E and World Rallycross achievements, Kristoffersson’s career includes trophies in circuit racing, displaying his versatility behind the wheel. These highlights include title success at national and regional level via the Swedish Touring Car Championship alongside the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia.

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, RXR, said: “I am incredibly honoured and excited to join RXR and support the team in defending their Championship title. To have the chance to work with the winning team from Season 1 is truly a great opportunity, and I can’t wait to get started! I’m really looking forward to working and learning from Nico [Rosberg] and Johan [Kristoffersson], two world champions and drivers that I have huge respect for and admire for their incredible record behind the wheel. 

“What really strikes me about RXR is their commitment to the cause of Extreme E. Apart from the track action, I am particularly looking forward to becoming involved in the Driven by Purpose Campaign, which aims to support initiatives and projects for climate awareness, and equality. It’s a fantastic opportunity and will be an epic season.” 

Johan Kristoffersson, RXR, said: “I am very happy to continue my work with RXR. We have had a sensational first season together and I am confident that we can build on this experience and become even better. I am feeling relaxed, full of energy and eager to win again. 

“Having Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky on my side is an extra motivation. She is a very gifted driver and being compatriots, with many common experiences, I am sure we will get along just great.” 

Nico Rosberg, Rosberg X Racing Founder and CEO,  said: “We are happy to have found the perfect driver line-up for our second season in Extreme E. This year is going to be even more challenging as we have to defend our title against a growing field of very professional and highly determined teams. 

“With the experience and track record of both Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, we will be prepared for the battle and hopefully make for some exciting action on track. I can’t wait for the starting signal a couple of weeks from now.”

Also read: Red Bull Racing to become first F1 team to launch 2022 car

(Motorsport) Red Bull will become the first team on the grid to unveil the new chassis of the RB18 for the upcoming 2022 Formula 1 season. The reigning champions have announced a launch date of Wednesday, 9th February which means they will be the first to reveal their brand new car which has been designed in accordance with the radical new regulations. Williams is the only team remaining which has yet to commit to a date for their new challenger. 

As Max Verstappen is the reigning Formula 1 champion, the RB18 will be the first Red Bull car to feature ‘1’ on it’s nose since Sebastian Vettel last won for the team in 2014. Verstappen and Perez will be racing together yet again for the 2022 season and the Dutchman will undoubtedly look to defend his world title. Red Bull’s engine manufacturer Honda had initially pulled out after the 2021 season and the team has formed a new Powertrains division in order to maintain its V6 hybrid turbos at its Milton Keynes base. However, Honda will be producing the power unit for the RB18 cars.

In anticipation of Honda’s departure, Red Bull Racing recently announced that Honda F1 boss Masashi Yamamoto will join the team in a consultancy role for the upcoming season. Yamamoto is said to have a strong relationship with Red Bull boss Christian Horner and Red Bull Motorsport Adviser Helmut Marko and will help ease the transition as many former Honda employees have joined Red Bull’s Powertrains division. Both Red Bull and Honda are also in talks for supplying power units beyond the upcoming season until the new regulations come into effect in 2026. 

Red Bull will unveil their RB18 car in a live broadcasting event with upto 5000 fans joining the event via Red Bull Racing’s digital loyalty platform. Fans will also have the opportunity to share the event via their own social media channels with Christian Horner, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez set to be present at the event. The countdown to the unveiling will be done by Red Bull’s partner Tag Heuer who has also launched a Red Bull Racing Special Edition Formula One watch. The event will be broadcasted at 9:30 pm IST.

Also read: Ferrari name 2022 Formula 1 car F1-75 in honour of first production car

(Motorsports news) Extreme E has announced that it is teaming up once again with AFC Energy for Season 2, where it will be using it’s zero-emission fuel cell and pioneering hydrogen power generation technology.

In a world-first, Extreme E is the first ever event organiser to utilise hydrogen fuel cell generators for power generation, and the decision supports Extreme E’s goal of being sustainable and creating minimal local impact on the environments in which it races. This innovative solution from AFC Energy offers a completely sustainable fuel production process. The system uses hydrogen (produced from water and sun) to generate power which is then used across all the ODYSSEY 21 E-SUVs on the grid.

AFC Energy’s zero-emission, hydrogen power generator was successfully deployed at all five races in the inaugural 2021 season to generate power for the Championship’s ODYSSEY 21s in a variety of harsh operating conditions ranging from Saudi Arabia to Greenland.

The new contract ensures the zero-emission fuel cell system will once again be used to generate power for all Extreme E vehicles at each of the five X Prix in the 2022 season, which will include races in South America for the first time, with the only by-product being water for utilisation elsewhere on site across the campaign.

Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “Working with AFC Energy has enabled Extreme E to be the world's first sporting event to use zero emission power generators. From the outset, our vision of using battery powered race cars could only be truly fulfilled if we could generate power for them in a completely sustainable way. AFC Energy has enabled us to do that, and we are delighted to be using their technology again for the 2022 season.

“We are setting the standard for clean fuel provision in any situation – we have proved it can be done and hope that our example will now be followed by other sporting events.”

Adam Bond, CEO of AFC Energy, said: “We are delighted to be extending our collaboration with Extreme E into 2022.  The inaugural race season enabled us to demonstrate the possibilities of AFC Energy's zero-emission power generators while operating in high pressure, high-profile and extreme environments.  This world first showed what can already be achieved in moving the world to zero-emission technologies.

“Last year the use of our fuel cell by Extreme E prevented a significant amount of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere. In 2022, at each race we expect to provide enough clean energy to power over 1,000 U.K. homes. This contract is just one in a strong pipeline of system sales and lease opportunities which will underpin future revenue growth as we seek to capitalise on our leading position to displace diesel generators within the next decade.”
 

Also read: Ferrari name 2022 Formula 1 car F1-75 in honour of first production car

(Motorsport) The most successful Formula 1 team in history, Ferrari have named their 2022 car F1-75 Ferrari’s first production car – the 125 S which left the factory in March 1947. Only two such cars were made and the 125 S was a 1.5-litre race car which subsequently won the 1947 Grand Prix of Rome, driven by Franco Cortese. The F1-75 will be the 68th Ferrari car with the ‘75’ designation and will be unveiled to the public on February 17th. 

“Formula 1, with its spirit of competition and innovation, has always been a fundamental part of Ferrari, driving the technological development of our road cars,” said chairman John Elkann as the team announced the name of their new car. This year, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our first production car leaving the factory, we honour that spirit by naming our 2022 F1 challenger the Ferrari F1-75.” 

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be driving the F1-75 in the upcoming 2022 Formula 1 season which will not only feature a new design but an overhaul of the aerodynamics, wheels and more as a number of new regulations are set to come into effect. The drivers will test out the 2022 car for the first time during the first of two pre-season testing sessions in Barcelona. 

The testing will take place across three days from February 23-25 at the Circuit de Catalunya behind closed doors followed by three more days of testing in Bahrain from March 10-12 after which the first of the 23 Grand Prix will take place from March 18-20 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sekhir which takes place over 57 laps. Ferrari will hope to close the gap on both Red Bull and Mercedes, especially considering the amount of time and investment that has gone into the development of the F1-75. 

Also read: Singapore signs contract with Formula 1 to host races for next seven years

Motorsports news) The Mercedes EQ and Nyck De Vries continued from where they left off last season as they took a 1-2 in the first race of the season. Reigning Formula E world champions Mercedes and Nyck de Vries kicked off their title defence with a strong showing at the 2022 Formula E season opener at Diriyah. Venturi team won the second EPrix with Edoardo Mortara collecting a win after a late-race safety car in the second Diriyah E-Prix.

Mercedes picked up where they left off in Season 7 as Stoffel Vandoorne led the pack away from pole position after grabbing pole in a new qualifying system. His teammate and defending champion de Vries, missed an entire practice session after his crash but that didn’t stop as he quickly jumped Andretti’s Jake Dennis to move up to second. A slip-up from Vandoorne meant that the Belgian missed his marks as he attempted his second attack mode activation. Taking full advantage of the opportunity, de Vries went into the lead. Vandoorne did close the gap with attack mode but ultimately had to settle for second place. The Mercedes duo stamped their authority not only on the race but also in the championship battle, finishing over eight seconds clear of third-placed Dennis.

 “It put myself and the team on the back foot. Then you have to rebuild your confidence, and the conditions were very slippery, very different to last year,” said de Vries, referring to his crash earlier during the week.

“I was actually very happy with what we achieved in qualifying, and then I knew we had a strong race car to capitalize on our qualifying position. We had great pace, the team did a great job and I was a bit fortunate with Stoff [Vandoorne] missing his attack mode, but at the end of the day, it was faultless from our garage and we managed to win the first race. I am very pleased with the way we managed to win this race and start the season strong,” he added.

After finishing sixth in the first race, Edoardo Mortara came back to win the next Diriyah E-Prix. It was a tense battle between Mortara and his teammate Lucas di Grassi, as Mortara swept past his teammate Lucas di Grassi to take the lead on lap 17. Edoardo’s next task was to keep Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns behind him as he was subsequently carrying more pace but he managed to do so successfully till the Safety Car was brought out to collect Alexander Sims’ car. The race ended behind the Safety Car, handing Mortara the win from Frijns and di Grassi.

“It was a very strategic race, very difficult for the nerves because I didn’t have a lot of energy, but neither did my colleagues around me. They were playing strategy, trying to attack me and make me consume, so I tried to keep my head cool and it worked,” Mortara said.

Mahindra Racing showed some promising form in practice, but couldn’t materialize that into strong results. Alexander Sims finished the first race in 14th place, but an incident with Frijns t meant that Oliver Rowland had to retire. After a three-place grid penalty, Rowland clawed back some lost ground to finish eighth in the next race but this time around, it was Sims who retired after touching the wall while running 11th.

Also read: Maserati joins Formula E from the 2023 season

Reflecting on the teams’ performance, Mahindra Racing CEO and team principal Dilbagh Gill said, “On track, we had some highlights at the Diriyah ePrix – we showed pace in practice, progressed to the Duel battles in both qualifying sessions and collected our first points of the year. The potential is all there, however, there’s a lot we need to do before round two in Mexico City in less than two weeks. We will keep our heads down, stay focused and keep pushing.”

(Motorsports news) The deserts of NEOM, Saudi Arabia's giga-project featuring cognitive cities and a premier visitor destination and inspirational location for all adventure sports is set to host the 2nd season opener of Extreme E.

Saudi Arabia is working on world-leading investment in sustainable technologies and protecting its unique natural resources. Vision 2030 aims to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and includes a deployment plan of renewable energies, particularly solar and wind. The opportunity to host Extreme E, where male and female drivers use electric SUVs, supports NEOM's vision of building a high-performance ecosystem to attract the world’s best events and athletes, while using sport to drive sustainability and diversity, leaving a major impact.

NEOM aims to become a global adventure sports hub using sports tech and innovation, increasing the region's adventure sports landscape with a strong eye on sustainability. The sport infrastructure in NEOM will include all varieties of sports, from grassroots to high performance. In addition, NEOM's sport ambitions include environmental conservation in line with the project's plans to preserve 95% of its natural environment.

HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al- Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle federation and the Saudi Motorsports Company, said: “The return of Extreme E to the Kingdom for the second year in a row further helps emphasize Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a more sustainable future. Welcoming this revolutionary series to Neom aligns with one of the most important goals and pillars of Vision 2030 as well as the personal aspirations of HRH the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, to make the Kingdom a leading country in the development and promotion of alternative energy sources and the preservation of the environment for future generations.”

“This next instalment of the Extreme E race is further proof of the Kingdom’s transformation into a powerhouse for motorsport in the region, the event taking place shortly after the conclusion of another successful Dakar Rally at the start of this year further underlines this. Additionally, we have just hosted our inaugural F1 Grand Prix on the newest, longest, and fastest street circuit in the world. We now look forward with great excitement to continuing this run of successes with the return of Extreme E next month.”

Nadhmi Al-Nasr, NEOM’s CEO, said: “NEOM has made no secret of its desire to promote sustainability and raise awareness around some of the world's most pressing challenges, such as climate change and nature conservation. We feel hosting an innovative racing event such as Extreme E in a region dedicated to pioneering clean technology and mobility solutions perfectly manifests our goals. In keeping with our approach to encouraging talent development and diversity, we are delighted to welcome the drivers, both male and female, the Extreme E team, and leading experts to NEOM. Sport is an important sector for NEOM and will be key in creating a new form of livability and driving economic growth. In particular, adventure sport offerings will be a major contributor to the visitor economy.”

Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “Taking the championship to NEOM for our desert location will be an exciting moment, as NEOM's long-term plans are very much in keeping with the ethos of Extreme E – it is attempting to do something that's never been done before and comes at a time when the world needs fresh thinking and new solutions.”

An area of 26,500-square-kilometres in northwest Saudi Arabia, NEOM has been made from the ground up, setting examples for new models of urban sustainability, powered by 100% renewable energy. NEOM's wind and solar energy profiles provide an ideal environment for developing renewable energy projects, utilising green technology in building water capabilities and maximising usage efficiency. Clean energy and clean water in NEOM are driving components for the world’s most ambitious project, leading the next wave of energy transition, with plans underway for large-scale production of green hydrogen (H2) at competitive costs. 

NEOM is on its way to become a launchpad for adventure sports that are sustainable and fully adaptive while also educating audiences on environmental awareness. 

Agag went on to say: “As we saw in our first-ever championship race, the Kingdom's terrain is stunning and unforgiving. The desertscape promises to be intense, and it will be an unprecedented challenge for our competitors to explore in a new desert terrain with warmer racing conditions."

NEOM's geographical location in northwest Saudi Arabia has diverse terrains including long beaches, valleys, and deserts as well as cool winds from the Red Sea. Its terrains include 468 kilometres of coastline, magnificent islands, and scenic, snow capped mountains that reach more than 2,500 metres.

Also read: Singapore signs contract with Formula 1 to host races for next seven years

(Motorsport) Ever since the Singapore Grand Prix made its debut in 2008, it has become one of Formula 1’s most high profile events on the calendar. The venue has not hosted an F1 race in the last year due to the pandemic but has now signed a contract starting from 2022 to 2028 at the Marina Bay Circuit. The extension was agreed between Formula 1, Singapore GP Pte Ltd (SGP) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

Future races at the venue will place a great emphasis on sustainability with the SGP and STP working together to reduce the carbon footprint of the event as Formula 1 has committed to becoming net-zero carbon as a sport by 2030. A statement revealed that more sustainable business models will be adopted to be in line with the sustainability goals of Formula 1 with initiatives such as recycling efforts and using sustainable materials to reduce the carbon emissions of the event.

Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said “I am delighted that Formula 1 will continue to race in Singapore for another seven years. The Marina Bay Street Circuit hosted the first night race in F1 history in 2008, and Singapore has continued to thrill fans, teams, and drivers ever since. Singapore holds a special place on the F1 calendar, and this extension is part of our long-term commitment to continue to grow the sport in Asia. The plans that are in place to reduce the carbon footprint of the event are impressive and align with our plans to be Net Zero Carbon as a sport by 2030 and I look forward to continuing our successful relationship with Singapore GP and the Singapore Tourism Board as Formula 1 returns to this incredible city."

Singapore GP's Chairman Mr Ong Beng Seng added: "We are very pleased that the night race will continue for seven more years. After more than a decade of celebrating this spectacular event on the racing calendar, we are looking forward to building on its success and working with Formula 1 as well as its partners to take the night race to greater heights. We are delighted that this marquee event will demonstrate how Singapore is open for business. We look forward to welcoming both local and overseas fans and visitors to the Marina Bay Street Circuit once again."

The 2022 Singapore Grand Prix will be held on 2nd October.

Also read: FIA planning new race management structure after Abu Dhabi GP controversy

(Motorsports news) Honda will continue to supply power units to Red Bull directly from Japan until the end of the current Formula 1 regulations, in a dramatic change of plan. Red Bull were supposed to make their own power units from the 2022 new regulation changes but that will not happen as last year’s runner up will continue with Honda. They will not only continue to supply power trains to Red Bull racing but also help their sister team Alpha Tauri till 2025.

The original plan as announced late last year was that the new Red Bull Powertrains division would take complete control on the power units from Honda, with full engineering support from Honda only in 2022. Once Red Bull Powertrains had got up to speed it would then build the engines from Honda parts at its Milton Keynes facility in 2023, 2024 and 2025 while simultaneously working on its own project for the new F1 rules that come into force in 2026. However Red Bull boss Helmut Marko revealed that the plan had changed and now Honda will continue to supply complete engines to Red Bull and AlphaTauri until the end of 2025.

The decision removes any concerns about issues such as quality control that might have come from moving the building of the power units to the UK, The change has been made in part to ensure that RBP will still be a new participant when its own engine is introduced in 2026. It will benefit from the concessions that are being discussed mainly to help encourage the VW Group to finally commit to F1, such as a higher power unit budget cap. This move will help Red Bull massively as a lot of concerns going into the season were regarding their power units but now Honda are back, there is a genuine chance that Max Verstappen might just retain his title and Red Bull can also push for the constructors championship in 2022. 

Marko told Autorevue magazine “We have now also found a completely different solution to the one originally envisaged. The engines will be manufactured in Japan until 2025, we will not touch them at all. That means that the rights and all these things will remain with the Japanese, which is important for 2026 because it makes us newcomers. In the course of our ever greater successes, a certain rethinking has taken place among the Japanese. And also that they could of course use the battery knowledge for their electrification phase”

"It was initially planned that they would only make our motors for 2022. Now it has been decided that this will continue until 2025, which is of course a huge advantage for us. This means we only have to make fine adjustments and calibrations."

Regarding the building up of the RBP facility, he added: "The prerequisite for this agreement was that engine development was frozen. Because the first phase would have been that we do everything ourselves. That's why we started in Milton Keynes and dutifully bought in from [dyno supplier] AVL.

Also read: Poly sponsors Red Bull Racing ahead of 2022 Formula 1 season

"The plant will go into full operation in May/June. The final decision to do it ourselves was conditional on everything being frozen. Because otherwise we wouldn't have had a chance with this complex thing."

(Motorsport) Global communications company Poly (NYSE: POLY) has announced a multi-year partnership with reigning Formula 1 World Championship winning team Red Bull Racing ahead of the upcoming 2022 season. They will be the new official headsets and video conferencing hardware partner for the Formula 1 team. As part of the partnership, Poly’s logo will now be visible on Red Bull Racing team’s trackside headsets.

“We are thrilled to partner with Red Bull Racing as they build-upon their success from last season. This partnership unites two global organizations focused on performance and innovation,” said Pierre-Jean Châlon, Senior Vice President, APAC, Poly.  “As the 2022 season kicks off, Red Bull Racing will rely on Poly’s premium audio and video technology to ensure every word and gesture is captured with precision and clarity, delivering a reliable collaboration experience in support of their business, from any location in the world.” 

Red Bull Racing will work alongside Poly Studio X30 and X50 video bars as well as Voyager 4320 headsets and CCX 500 phones, with plans to deploy more solutions throughout the partnership for business support and design, in meeting rooms and the new Red Bull Powertrains facility.  

“A World Championship winning Formula One Team is made up of hundreds of people working in unison, though they are often separated by thousands of miles,” said Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO, Christian Horner. “As such, it’s vitally important that we have clear lines of communication in every area of the business, bringing our entire team together, no matter where they are in the world. Poly’s category defining suite of audio, voice and video solutions will help us to find the competitive edge we need to win.”

Also read: FIA planning new race management structure after Abu Dhabi GP controversy

(Motorsport) Formula 1’s governing body FIA is making plans for a new race management structure to avoid a repeat of the events that took place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. To refresh your memory of the events that took place at the Yas Marina Circuit, race director Michael Masi over-rode the rules regarding the operation of the safety car. The motivation behind this decision, as explained after the race ended, was to ensure that the final race of the 2021 season did not end under caution as it was previously agreed by the teams that in the event there is a late safety car, the preferred option would be to end the race in racing conditions. 

However, the controversial moment was when Masi didn’t apply the rules correctly on two separate occasions, the first being the dealing with the lapped cars and the second was the timing of the restart. The result was that Lewis Hamilton lost out on the World Championship after Max Verstappen overtook the British racing driver in the last lap after having fresh, soft compound tyres. Since the event, the FIA have admitted that it has “tarnished the image” of Formula 1 and that the credibility of the sport has been questioned. Moreover, Lewis Hamilton is said to have lost trust in the FIA and will decide his future in the sport only after getting clarity of what the FIA intends to do to address his concerns over race management.

It’s expected that the FIA intends to introduce a series of safeguards to ensure that the race director is free to make decisions in a calmer environment as it’s widely accepted that during the events of the Abu Dhabi GP, Masi was left exposed, isolated and under tremendous pressure in the final few laps of the race. It’s also expected that teams will not be able to communicate with the race director going forward to avoid undue pressure and influence of decisions which was the case from both Red Bull and Mercedes during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Revisions to the operation of stewards, who are independent of the race director and decide penalties/ rule breaches, are also being considered. 

With new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the helm, some teams have recommended the removal of Michael Masi as race director. The desire to see a new race director is not purely due to Masi’s decisions/errors in Abu Dhabi but because it was the biggest blunder amongst a series of errors that took place during the 2021 season. Both Red Bull and Ferrari have denied making a request for Masi’s removal while Williams has claimed it “does not believe it is for teams to decide FIA personnel". However, Mercedes, Alpine, Aston Martin, Haas and Alfa Romeo have not yet publicly chosen sides. 

In a letter to FIA’s member clubs after his election, Mohammed Ben Sulayem said he "will take all the necessary decisions after examining the findings of the detailed analysis on this subject decided unanimously by the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris last 15 December. I will do so in complete independence, refusing any pressure from any quarter, in the sole interest of our sport."

Also read: Formula 1 teams AlphaTauri and Alpine announce car launch dates

(Motorsport news) AlphaTauri and Alpine have announced the release dates for their car which will feature in the 2022 Formula 1 season. The AT03, AlphaTauri’s 2022 car will break cover on February 14th and the team are the fifth from the grid to announce the launch date of their car alongside Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin and McLaren. The car will be piloted by Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda and will use power units from the Red Bull Powertrains for the very first time as Honda has left the sport at the end of 2021.

AlphaTauri have high hopes, not just from their drivers but also the AT03 car and will look to build on their impressive 2021 season. Pierre Gasly in particular had an exceptional season and was called the “most consistent” driver of 2021, racking up over 100 points in the season for the first time in his career. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda will look to progress from his rookie campaign which ended on a high when the 21 year old finished P4 in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. 

AlphaTauri boss Tost said in an interview “[It is a] Very unknown story because it’s completely new everything, we don’t have any comparisons with others but I trust our engineers because they have built two good cars. The AT-01 was already a good car, [the AT-02] was the next step forward and so why shouldn’t they be able to make the AT-03, even if it’s a completely new car, also very competitive? From the technological side, there are also different philosophies, and I just hope that we go in the right direction. Where we really end up, I don’t know, but I trust that our team, the aero group is doing a very good job and that they are going in the right direction.”

Meanwhile, a few hours after AlphaTauri’s announcement, Alpine became the sixth team to reveal the launch date of their new car: February 21st. Since their car last year was called A521, the upcoming car will be named A522 and will be driven by Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso who gathered enough points last season to overtake rivals AlphaTauri to finish in fifth place in the Constructors Championship. One of the highlights for Alpine in the 2021 season was Ocon winning the Hungarian Grand Prix, the first victory for the team since 2013’s Australian Grand Prix which was won by Kimi Raikkonen for Lotus-Renault.

In an interview, Alpine driver Fernando Alonso said “We are still not on top of all the problems, but everyone will have a different opinion, obviously with experience working for different teams, I could see some things that we were weak in, other areas we were very strong. You always try to make the team stronger and stronger, and more prepared for 2022. I think we are in better shape now than what we were in March, in Bahrain, but still a few things I’m sure that we’ll have to fix. I think we need for sure to close the gap on the engine, that’s why there is this new project, and also we need to close the gap on the aero performance. It’s difficult to know what the gap is, so at the moment there are only hopes but I understand that these hopes are for everybody. It’s not only us, and it’s a completely unknown territory what we will find [this] year.”

F1 2022 launch dates:

Aston Martin: February 10
McLaren: February 11
AlphaTauri: February 14
Ferrari: February 17
Mercedes: February 18
Alpine: February 21
Red Bull: TBC
Williams: TBC
Alfa Romeo: TBC
Haas: TBC

Also read: Could George Russell compete against Hamilton for the Drivers Championship?

(Motorsport) The Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team will feature a brand new partnership for the upcoming 2022 season with seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and 23 year old George Russell forming an all British team. Having been at loan to Williams for three years, Russell has already started his pre-season preparations for the season ahead and is raring to go, not just as Mercedes’ second driver but also to test himself against his teammate and the best in the world.

Hamilton hasn’t been defeated over a season since Nico Rosberg won the title in 2016. The 37 year old’s place on the Formula 1 grid is not yet confirmed as both Hamilton and Mercedes are currently waiting for FIA’s inquiry about the events that took place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and there has been gossip that the veteran could hang his boots after being disillusioned because of the manner he lost the championship. If he returns, it’s expected that Russell could provide a much bigger challenge for Hamilton than Valtteri Bottas who has been the second Mercedes driver since the last five seasons.

In an interview, George Russell said “Obviously I want to be a winner, I want to be a world champion and we spent the whole time at the back of the grid. 2020 was a stronger year but it wasn’t enough for us. 2021 was a stronger year but it was never enough. When I got into Q2 for the first time, we celebrated a lot. When you do that a second and a third time, that wears off, you want to get to Q3. When you are in Q3, we celebrated a lot and we were excited. But then you want to be in Q3 at every other event, or every event. Until you are world champion, it’s never enough.

“It wasn’t just the Mercedes experience, but there were other experiences as well, and dealing with and bouncing back from disappointment is part of life and part of competitive sport,” he added. You know a championship isn’t won or lost in one race, it’s won over the course of a season. You will always have disappointing race weekends, you’ll have failures, you’ll have success. But if you don’t bounce back from those disappointments, you are only going to compromise yourself and your team for the remaining races. So accepting those disappointments, learning from it, and equally just moving on and going from there.”

At just 23 years of age, Russell not only has the hunger and desire to make his mark as a future F1 champion but now also has the tools at his disposal to make it a reality. Mercedes have been closely tracking his progress at Williams and the Silver Arrows undoubtedly will hope that Russell can prove to be the long term solution to maintain Mercedes’ dominance in Formula 1 when Hamilton eventually retires. As of now, it would serve Russell to learn from one of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen and soak in the experience while adding his own capabilities into the mix. It’s going to be an interesting season ahead.

The 2022 campaign will begin on 18-20th March and will feature 23 races.

Also read: Formula 1: Ferrari and McLaren reveal launch dates for 2022 car

(Motorsports news)19 January 2022, London: With the first season of Extreme E just finishing, it is now one month to go until Extreme E’s sport for purpose campaign is back with new faces, a new team, and a new continent to visit, but with the same amount of thrilling wheel-to-wheel on track action being showcased across the toughest terrains on the planet.

Building on the success of its debut year in 2021, Extreme E Season 2 ‘ The Race For the Planet’ promises to captivate on and off track on a another level, whilst delivering on its overall purpose to tackle climate change through sport, starting with the Desert X Prix in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, 19-20 February.

Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “Using our sport for purpose platform, Extreme E delivered truly groundbreaking action in its first season, on and off the race course, and now we are ready to go and do it all again, with more experience and more determination than ever.   

“As we embark on the second chapter of our story, we are proud to finally welcome Zak Brown and his McLaren team to the party and know they will make a huge impact, which we are all excited to see. We also add a new continent to our journey as we take our voyage to South America, a hugely important home, both for motorsport fans and the climate. 

“In all this, however, we cannot lose sight of our overall purpose, that we are all together in a race for the planet. We feel more passionately than ever about the importance of using the platform of sport to raise awareness for climate issues and the solutions we can all be part of, under the great direction of our Scientific Committee, as we as a global community strive to keep temperature rise levels below 1.5°C. This is the race we can, and must win, and we all need to play our part.”   

The inaugural Extreme E season was a thriller and went down to the wire, with Rosberg X Racing (RXR) taking the Championship on count back of victories after finishing the campaign tied on points with perennial fastest qualifiers in Season 1, Lewis Hamilton’s X44.

Nico Rosberg, inaugural Extreme E Champions RXR Racing Founder and CEO, said: “Winning the inaugural Extreme E championship was just incredible. But our team is about more than just winning. We’re also here to promote an important message. A key reason we exist is to drive awareness, educate and help tackle climate change and we aim to leave a lasting legacy that drives localized change in each location that Extreme E visits. Last year we were able to achieve some incredible things through this series and that was just the beginning. Looking forward to an exciting new season and hopefully another win for RXR!”

As well as returning to Saudi Arabia, Italy and possibly Senegal, Extreme E will make its highly-anticipated debut in South America with its final two X Prix of the campaign taking place in Antofagasta, Chile, and Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Excitement for Extreme E Season 2 is boosted further with motorsport giants McLaren joining the Championship for 2022.

McLaren has been a leader in electric motorsport from the outset, supplying the battery powertrain to the FIA Formula E Championship for the Gen 1 and Gen 2 seasons, employing the same technology pioneered in the McLaren P1 hypercar. With its entry into Extreme E, McLaren Racing will continue to build its know-how and expertise in the all-electric racing space.

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: “From the outset, McLaren Racing has never been afraid to push new boundaries. This new venture is true to our roots of innovation and bravery. Extreme E is paving new ground in motorsport as a force for good in confronting some of the biggest challenges facing our world today and in the future.”

World Rallycross ace Tanner Foust was announced as the team’s male driver in August 2021 before Emma Gilmour was signed up to become McLaren’s first-ever female driver during the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last November.

Both drivers will bring plenty of off-road prowess to the Extreme E grid for Season 2. Foust is a four-time and current U.S. Rallycross Champion (2019, 2012, 2011, 2010) and has also won four X Games gold medals (2013, 2010, 2007), alongside two Formula Drift Championships (2008, 2007). Gilmour became the first and only female to date to win a New Zealand Rally Championship event and also won the FIA Women in Motorsport and Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) cross country rally selection in 2015. The New Zealander also competed in two rounds of Extreme E Season 1 for Veloce Racing.

Extreme E’s Legacy Programmes are integral to the series and aim to provide both social and environmental support at each race location. Project selection is led by the location’s scientist and all five members of our independent Scientific Committee actively support these programmes.

The sport for purpose Championship selects projects that prioritise the empowerment of local communities, build resilience by helping the vulnerable to adapt to climate change, provide long lasting sustainable solutions and promote renewable energy sources that will grow economies while reducing carbon emissions. The series will continue to work with world leading experts in science, education and environmental research, to ensure the Championship’s credibility and effectiveness. 

Extreme E is the only motor racing series in the world today that mandates that every team taking part must field both a male and female driver. This was a world first in motorsport, and as well as providing opportunities at the highest level of sporting competition, the series is strengthening this commitment to development at the grassroots level in its second season. 

At the 2021 season finale in Dorset, UK, Extreme E was delighted to host an event for 50 local schoolgirls with the female motorsport initiative Girls on Track UK.  Girls on Track UK (formerly known as Dare To Be Different) is an initiative started back in 2016 by former Formula One test driver, Susie Wolff. Now managed by governing body Motorsport UK, as part of FIA’s global Girls on Track programme, it focuses on inspiring, connecting and showcasing females in motorsport as well as through science, technology and math (STEM). 

The girls, all aged between 11 and 12 years-old, got to experience life behind the scenes of Extreme E – as well as being shown the many future potential career opportunities within the sport, with the series intention being to build on this work and inspire girls all over the world with these memorable insights throughout this new season.

With less than five weeks to go until the opening X Prix of the campaign, Extreme E Season 2 is all set to be another spectacular campaign.

Also read: Maserati joins Formula E from the 2023 season

(Motorsports news) Maserati is finally making a comeback into motorsports as they will be part of the 2023 season of the Formula E. With the unveiling of the Gen3, Formula E claimed that the car will be the lightest, quickest, and most powerful racing vehicle to date. Maserati confirmed that it will compete in the Formula E World Championship from Season 9. Maserati will be officially involved in the 100% electric single-seater series as drivers and the team on which the Modena-based company will be revealed later. 

The legendary Maserati will race for the first time in almost 60 years, marking its return to single-seater competition since the 1950’s. It will be the first Italian company to compete in the Formula E series ever. Maserati was founded in 1914 and had won several major global championships in the 1950s. Formula E was chosen as the launchpad  to promote the company’s electrification ambitions.In 2023, Maserati will only compete in Formula E from next year as they have opted out of the GT category. The entry of Maserati will be much welcomed into the Formula E series because car manufacturers such as the likes of Mercedes EQ and Aud  have chosen not to continue with the electric series after 2022.

Maserati will compete in the ninth season of the Formula E World Championship as it  begins in January 2023. The new single-seaters will debut with power raised from 250 to 350 kW, or 470 horsepower, and a second motor-generator for enhanced energy recovery, marking a generational leap in Formula E. There will also be cars with entirely different aerodynamics and appearances, allowing veteran teams and new teams to compete on an equal footing with brand new cars that will be a level playing field for all manufacturers. The coming of such an iconic brand in the form of Maserati is not only going to help Formula E grow financially but also help attract more fans to watch the E prix. With the next gen cars being quicker and more efficient it will be an interesting watch to see if they can compete with the likes of  Porsche, DS Techeetah, Nissan, and Jaguar

Back to the Future, Back to Race” is the tagline chosen to celebrate the event, as Davide Grasso, Maserati’s COO, explains in a statement. “We are very proud to be back where we belong as protagonists in the world of racing. We are powered by passion and innovative by nature. We have a long history of world-class excellence in competition and we are ready to drive performance in the future,” said Grasso. “Beyond this piece of history, Maserati Formula E will be our technological laboratory to accelerate the development of high-efficiency electrified powertrains and intelligent software for our road sports cars.”

“Having a brand as famous as Maserati with a racing tradition is certainly one of the best days in the history of the ABB Formula E Championship,” added Formula E founder and chairman Alejandro Agag.

Also read: Hyderabad is all set to host the first ever Formula E race in India

(Motorsports news) Hyderabad is all set to host the first ever Formula E race in India, in what is a big step towards the growth of motorsports in the country. The city will join the likes of New York, London, Berlin, Rome and Seoul which have already been hosting the event and the race proposal was all thanks to the initiative of industries and IT minister K. T. Rama Rao. An agreement will be signed by the state government, Formula E Association and Greenko, a leading alternative energy provider, “to make Hyderabad a candidate host city for Formula E race on yearly basis.”

Since 2014 Formula E has just grown immensely and it gives a wide look into the future of the motorsports industry. The best part of Formula E is that no new separate track is required, unlike F1 as the racing takes place on the existing city roads. The team had visited the Hussainsagar circuit of Tank Bund and Necklace road, the circular road around KBR Park in Jubilee Hills and financial district road in Gachibowli which can be the next venue by November 2022 or March 2023 itself if the state government undertakes infrastructure developments to make the circuit not only race worthy but also world class.

This a major boost for the motorsports fans in India as the FIA are trying to dive into the Asian market and especially after an amazing season last year, the viewership along with added sponsorship makes it possible for Hyderabad to host an E-prix. The decision to host in Hyderabad was because of the development of Hyderabad in the hub of all technologies. It is the hub for sustainability activities and is also a key player in production of clean electricity as it matches with the Formula E ideals. 

Alberto Longo, Co-founder and Chief Championship Officer, FIA Formula E said, “We are announcing Hyderabad as the official candidate city for Formula E. This is massive because it was only 29 days ago that I received a call from Dilbagh (Mahindra team) that there is an opportunity in India. I have never seen the speed in taking decisions like it happened here. That obviously has somewhat helped the group of people behind the decisions that we make. I have never seen such a speed of decisions by a Minister (referring to Industries Minister KT Rama Rao). You can clearly see the vision he has for the State. I was surprised to know that. We hope that Hyderabad will be on the calendar of Formula E soon and we can actually enjoy the race in Hyderabad soon. We are impressed with the attitude that brought us here and I am sure it will lead us to finalizing the race soon”

On the track changes he said, “The track proposed by the Telangana Government is good. We will suggest a few changes and modify it to suit the race. But I can say the location is fantastic and hopefully we will get everyone to be part of the event here. Clearly, it is a global event and we are expecting participation from several countries. About 400 to 500 million people watch the race on TV and the spectatorship at the event depends on the city. However, it is safe to say that about 50,000 to 80,000 people will watch it at the location.”

After the signing ceremony, Mahindra Racing CEO Dilbagh Gill expressed delight and said that “it has always been our burning desire to race in front of our fans and have a home race. We are now one big step closer to this dream”.

Also read: Formula 1: Ferrari and McLaren reveal launch dates for 2022 car

Anil Chalamalasetty, CEO of Greenko and promoter of the event, said that “if all goes as planned then Hyderabad would enter into a final agreement with Formula E in the next three months and could expect a race soon. Greenko has been synonymous with green and renewable energy and we hope our engagement with such global events goes a long way,” 
 

(Motorsport) The most successful team in Formula 1 history, Ferrari have revealed the launch date of the 2022 car, becoming the second team to do so after Aston Martin had revealed earlier that their car will be showcased on February 10th. The Italian manufacturers will unveil their car on February 17th while their rivals McLaren will showcase their 2022 challenger on February 11th.

After enduring a disastrous 2020 campaign, the Scuderia put on a much improved performance in the 2021 season and ended up third in the Constructors Standings ahead of rivals McLaren. However, it’s been over a decade since Ferrari has won the World Championship and the Italian manufacturer has been developing the 2022 longer than most on the Formula 1 grid. 

Team boss Mattia Binotto said “If I look at the 2022 car, and the 2022 power unit, believe me there is a lot of innovation in it, I think that the way that the entire engineering team has faced the new design, the new project, and the 2022 regulations, which were a big discontinuity, was certainly with a more open mind than before. I can myself measure it by looking at the car itself, the way it's progressing, and certainly with the amount of innovation we put in it." 

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will continue their partnership for Ferrari in the 2022 season and hope to catch up to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the front of the grid. It’s expected that the gap between Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari will be closer than it has been in the past, especially considering the amount of time and money Ferrari have invested in the car. 

Their rivals McLaren have also confirmed the new McLaren MCL36 will be unveiled on February 11th at the McLaren Technology Centre. The British team finished fourth in the Constructors Championship and Lando Norris had a pretty good season, getting four podiums and a maiden pole position while Daniel Ricciardo won the Italian GP. 

The new Formula 1 season will begin on March 20th in Bahrain.

Also read: Formula 1 team Aston Martin hire Mike Krack as new team principal

(Motorsports news)17 January 2022, London: X44 have become the winners of the first ever Extreme E Sustainability Award after topping the standings in the series’ inaugural Count Us In Challenge aimed at tackling the climate crisis.

Extreme E and Count Us In came together ahead of Season 1 to launch the Extreme E Count Us In Challenge - a campaign using the power of sport and the excitement of motor racing to inspire fans to take practical steps on climate change.

The sport for purpose series asked fans to take real pledges to lead a less carbon intensive lifestyle to reduce their footprint and, in doing so, urge governments, cities and businesses to accelerate progress on climate action. 

The Extreme E Count Us In Challenge includes a variety of actions available to fans to contribute towards a greener future, including not using single-use plastic, walking and cycling more, eating more plant-based foods and driving an electric vehicle. Each step is attributed to the fans’ favourite team, and the team with the most steps at the end of Season 1 would win the inaugural Extreme E Sustainability Award. 

This was achieved by X44, who claimed the award with 792 steps pledged, with JBXE (749 steps) and Rosberg X Racing (RXR) (422 steps) completing the top three. In total, the Extreme E Count Us In Challenge inspired 1,231 fans to take 3,207 steps saving 1,241,223 KG CO2.

The Extreme E Count Us In Challenge will return for Season 2 with fans once again urged to take climate action through their passion for the sport.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to present X44 as the winners of the Extreme E Sustainability Award via the series’ first-ever Count Us In Challenge.

“Sport is an incredible platform to not only raise awareness of the climate crisis, the single biggest threat to our planet today, but also inspire action to tackle it. At Extreme E we will continue to push the boundaries and shine a spotlight on the issues we face, along with the need to act now to help protect our futures.

“Our first season working with Count Us In has been a huge success and I am looking forward to us building on this momentum for Season 2 to go further in taking climate action.”

Sébastien Loeb, X44, said: “I was very happy to learn that X44 won the Extreme E Sustainability Award for 2021. I joined the team hoping to discover more about the environment while doing what I love, and I have learned so much from the series and the different places we visited - in fact I even bought my first electric car last year!

“To know that our fans have come on this journey with us and are making their own commitment to have a positive impact on the planet is inspiring and I feel good about what we can achieve when we work together.”

Shivani Rudra, Count Us In, said: “Through the Extreme E Count Us In Challenge, teams and their fans have demonstrated their commitment to a cleaner, healthier, thriving future for all.

“By taking meaningful, simple steps in their own daily lives, Extreme E fans have not just reduced their own carbon emissions, but they’ve added up to a growing movement of people and communities showing leaders it’s time to accelerate progress on climate action.

“Huge congratulations to X44 and its fans for their engagement in Season 1! We look forward to continuing to work with Extreme E and the teams in Season 2 to further their legacy through their passionate fanbase.”

Extreme E aims to accelerate the adoption of clean and electrified transport to help protect people and the planet, with the Extreme E Count Us In Challenge also supporting the UN's Race To Zero campaign.

In 2022, Extreme E will continue to race across the world’s most remote environments to demonstrate the performance and benefits of electric vehicles and clean technology, whilst highlighting the impact that climate change is already having on these ecosystems, such as melting ice caps, deforestation, desertification, retreating mountain glaciers, and rising sea levels.

Extreme E Season 2 begins in Neom, Saudi Arabia (19-20 February), before heading to Sardinia, Italy (7-8 May), Senegal or Scotland (9-10 July), Antofagasta, Chile (10-11 September) and Punta Del Este, Uruguay (26-27 November). 

Also read: Honda's Quintanilla takes runner-up spot in the Dakar Rally, Hero finishes with best-ever performance

Jeddah, Jan 15 (MotorSports News) Monster Energy Honda Team rider Pablo Quintanilla won the final stage of the Dakar Rally to grab second overall place, while Hero MotoSports Team finished with its best-ever performance.

Quintanilla earned the final stage victory, finishing 3 minutes 27 seconds short of clinching the outright Dakar 2022 title.

"I am very happy with the result and my performance throughout the whole race, especially during the second week, which I managed well, making up time with a steady performance," Quintanilla said.

Hero MotoSports Team Rally wrapped up a memorable campaign that saw them become the first Indian manufacturer to win a stage in the world's toughest rally for the very first time.

They ended their campaign with a stage win and one stage podium, as both their riders crossed the final finish line.

All through 2021, the team participated in multiple races, constantly upgrading their machines, and reaching the top positions.

They entered the Dakar Rally battling several last-minute hurdles - including two of their riders getting unfit for the race due to injuries.

Joaquim Rodrigues, the star performer of the team, finished the last stage of 163 kms between Bisha to Jeddah with yet another top-15 finish. He finished 13th while his teammate Aaron Maré secured the 15th place in the overall standings of the RallyGP class.

All four Monster Energy Honda team riders also managed to finish one of the toughest ever editions of the rally, with the Honda CRF450 RALLY once again making it through the entire Dakar without a single mechanical issue.

Joan Barreda, Ricky Brabec and José Ignacio 'Nacho' Cornejo, riding their respective Honda CRF450 RALLY bikes, also finished the race among the leaders.

Spain’s Barreda, fourth on the final stage, finished fifth overall, equalling the result achieved in 2017. Brabec took seventh spot overall, while Cornejo, third in the last stage, consolidated his sixth place in the final rally classification. 

Also Read : India's Noah completes third Dakar, beats own record for best stage ranking

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Aston Martin have appointed Mike Krack as the new team principal for the Formula 1 team as a replacement for Otmar Szafnauer after a disappointing seventh place finish in the 2021 season. The former BMW chief will be responsible for improving the results in the 2022 season and has the advantage of working with Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel during his previous F1 stint at Sauber.

Mike Krack, Team Principal, Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team, said: "It is a thrill and an honour to have been appointed to the position of Team Principal of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team, and I am very grateful to Lawrence [Stroll] and Martin [Whitmarsh] for giving me such a fantastic opportunity.

"Aston Martin is one of the greatest automotive brands in the world, and to have been asked to play a leading role in delivering the on-track Formula One success that such an illustrious name so richly deserves is a challenge that I plan to embrace with energy and enthusiasm.

"I have been working in motorsport for over 20 years, and worked in Formula One with Seb Vettel in 2006 and 2007 when I was a BMW-Sauber engineer and he was the team's test driver.

"I have huge respect for his speed and ability, and it will be fantastic to be reunited with him. Lance Stroll is a seriously fast and talented driver, too, with 100 Grands Prix starts to his name, and I am very much looking forward to working closely with him.

"Team Silverstone has always impressed me. It is full of talented people and real racers. That racer's culture and values are what is required to succeed in motorsport - I know that and my new colleagues at Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team know it, too. We will work incredibly hard. We want to win. Together, we will."

Team owner Lawrence Stroll said “Winning in Formula 1 is all about bringing together the best efforts of all the principal players - drivers, engineers, mechanics, everyone - and Mike is perfectly placed to do just that. We are hiring brilliant new people every week. Our new factory build is coming along very well. We have a fantastic roster of superb sponsor-partners. We are about to embark on year two of our five-year plan, the objective of which is to win Formula 1 world championships. All the ingredients we require are coming together. Mike will play a central and leading role, reporting to Martin Whitmarsh and leading our technical and operational functions, our collective aim being to fulfil those lofty ambitions. We are on our way."

Whitmarsh added: "Mike is exactly the right kind of dynamic and modern team principal who, working with our other senior leaders under Lawrence's [Stroll] and my overall direction, as well as with our ever-growing staff of skilled and committed employees, will deliver the Formula 1 world championship success that we at Aston Martin are so determined to achieve."

Aston Martin are also the first Formula 1 team to reveal that their new car launch date will be on Friday, February 10th. The 2022 season will introduce major rule changes with 18-inch wheels and an overhaul of the aerodynamics. The changes are meant to ensure the sport is more competitive with more intense races and new on-track rivalries. Four time World Champion Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll remain partnered for the Aston Martin Formula 1 team in the 2022 season.

Also read: Turkish esports player Cem Bolukbasi seals berth in Formula 2 for 2022 season

Jeddah, Jan 14 (MotorSports News) The lone Indian rider in this year's Dakar Rally, Harith Noah of Sherco TVS Racing Factory completed his third Dakar Rally and recorded his best-ever stage ranking in the experience class of 44th edition of the world's toughest off-road racing event, which concluded here on Friday.

Noah, who was placed 110th after stage 10, began the penultimate stage in the Dakar Experience class on Thursday, which provided a second chance for the riders to continue the gruelling 7000 km cross-country rally-raid and experience the finish.

That meant Noah was not classified anymore in the elite RallyGP class.

However, Noah set the best Dakar stage-time ever by a rider from India at the prestigious annual cross-country endurance rally by finishing stage 11 in P18, beating his own record of P19 set last year.

He clocked a total of 66 hours, 22 minutes and 42 seconds in the overall time sheet after logging a penalty time of 21 hours and 45 minutes for a general ranking of 115.

Great Britain's Sam Sunderland won the Moto section.

While Noah is the only rider from India, his teammates from Sherco TVS Factory Rally team, Spaniard Lorenzo Santolino, finished 11th and Rui Goncalves, from Portugal, was ranked 24th overall.

The other Indian team in fray, Hero MotoSports, too did well, with lead rider Joaquim Rodriques, also from Portugal, finishing a creditable 14th and Aaron Mare clinching the 16th spot.

"It is always a great feeling to complete Dakar and I am very happy with the experience. The nature of endurance cross-country rally like Dakar is gruelling and strenuous but one has to brave dangerous conditions for both the man and the machine. "That is why this race is special. Despite not being officially classified, and not finishing for the second time, I take the good things home and the thrill of finishing spurs me on to more adventures on my bike," Noah said.

Noah finished the last day's stage 12 at 23rd place in a gruelling race that traversed through 7790 km of desert sands and dunes mixed with dangerous, tricky unforgiving terrain of rocks.

Noah rode well and excelled in navigation to clock an overall timing of 72:52:50s for the 12 stages including two stages under the Dakar Experience Class. 

Also Read : Turkish esports player Cem Bolukbasi seals berth in Formula 2 for 2022 season

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Cem Bolukbasi, a Turkish esports player will compete in the Formula 2 this season with Charouz Racing System, thereby becoming the first gamer to transition from F1 Esports to Formula 1’s feeder series. Bolukbasi made his debut in F1 Esports in 2017 and has spent the last few years racing in single seater championships. The 23 year old will feature in F2 this season and is already setting his sights on his ultimate goal of becoming a Formula 1 racer one day.

"If I was never in F1 Esports, I would never have had the chance to get into a real car. I would not be where I am now," said Bolukbasi. I think it's also very important to be the first gamer to do this, because it can give people hope. If people see that one person can do it, they will believe they can do it as well. If I can go from F1 Esports to Formula 2, I think anyone can." Bolukbasi raced in the F3 Asian Championship last year, scoring 13 out of a possible 15 points and also won his debut EuroFormula Open race. The 23 year old tested a Formula 2 car at the Yas Marina Circuit after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last season.

Bolukbasi said “I was in Abu Dhabi in 2017 for F1 Esports as an Esports driver. To return after four years testing an F2 car was pretty insane for me, realising everything. I watched the F1 finale, testing, and then a day later I was driving the F2 car. I was like a kid living a dream over those five or six days." The Turk is backed by several big Turkish companies and agencies as well as Turkey's Motor Sports Federation (TOSFED). Jason Tahincioglu, son of former TOSFED president Mumtaz was the last Turkish driver to compete in Formula 2 in 2006 and 2007 but failed to score a single point in GP2.

The 2022 Formula 2 calendar is set to be the biggest one to date with a 14 round calendar, all of which will be held on F1 race weekends. Bolukbasi paid tribute to his F1 Esports experience in helping him become the first graduate from the virtual world into Formula 2. He said “I was in Abu Dhabi in 2017 for F1 Esports as an Esports driver. To return after four years testing an F2 car was pretty insane for me, realising everything. I watched the F1 finale, testing, and then a day later I was driving the F2 car. I was like a kid living a dream over those five or six days.”  Bolukbasi will return to the F2 cockpit when testing resumes in Bahrain from March 2nd to 4th with the season commencing two weeks later at the same venue.

Also read: Four things fans should be excited about for the 2022 Formula 1 season

(Motorsports news) Veloce Racing is now ready for Extreme E driver line-up Season 2, with the returning Lance Woolridge signed to partner Christine Giampaoli Zonca (GZ) for the forthcoming campaign.

Woolridge made his first appearance for Veloce Racing at the season-ending Jurassic X Prix in December 2021, where he made an impressive comeback in Semi-Final 2 in Dorset, UK, raising eyebrows across the Extreme E paddock.

As a double South African Cross Country Series title winner in 2018 and 2019, the 30-year-old’s much valued off-road experience in championships akin to Extreme E should help the team. In addition, Woolridge is already very familiar with Veloce Racing having been the team’s Reserve and Development Driver for Season 1. 

Lance Woolridge, Veloce Racing, said: “This is a great opportunity to continue with the team after a really promising race in Dorset at the end of last season. Although we didn’t make it to the Final, I think it was clear to see that the pace was there, and we have some solid foundations to build on in 2022.

“Veloce Racing is a great team with a really dedicated group of people behind the scenes so I’m happy to be working with them again. Christine (GZ did a great job last season so I’m confident that we can achieve great things together at Veloce.” 

Rupert Svendsen-Cook, Team Principal, Veloce Racing, said: “As with any motorsport series – and especially Extreme E due to its unpredictable nature – it’s important to have some level of consistency from one season to another, so it’s great to have Lance onboard after a really impressive showing in Dorset for us last year. We’ve both had to be patient with each other and I want to recognise Lance’s commitment to Veloce throughout his time as reserve driver for us, where we’re very happy to finally honour him with the full time race seat. 

“This year promises to be the team’s biggest yet and with Lance and Christine onboard, we’re excited to see the heights Veloce Racing can reach on the course as Extreme E prepares for another thrilling season.”

Also read: India's Harith Noah placed 26th overall after Stage 8

Wadi Ad Dawasir (Saudi Arabia), Jan 10 (MotorSports News) The lone Indian rider in this year's Dakar Rally, Harith Naoh of TVS Racing Factory team, overcame initial hiccups to be placed 26th here on Monday in the overall rankings of the world's most gruelling off-road rally.

He has till now recorded an overall timing of 29 hours 50 minutes and 47 seconds.

In Stage 8, he finished in the 26th position after clocking 4:12.30s.

India's Hero MotoSports Team Rally rider, Joaquim Rodrigues, is placed 15th overall with a timing of 28:36.47s after Stage 8.

Rodrigues finished Stage 8 at the eight spot with an impressive timing of three four and 58 minutes.

Rodrigues' teammate Aaron Mare is placed 17th in the rankings after Stage 8 with a timing of 28:50.28s. He finished the stage in the 21st spot clocking 4:8.19s. The stage was won by Sam Sunderland of Great Britain covering almost 400 km.

Starting at 22nd position from the grid and treading a cautious path for the first 86 km in the long liaisons and action-packed dunes, Noah saw off the trek to southern Saudi Arabia and its tough sands and lost about 10 places.

He progressed later on, even as the minds and bodies of the competitors were put to a hard test.

Eventually, the landscapes changed and the tough negotiator ended the day in a respectable position after traversing a distance of 820 km.

Competing in RallyGP, the premier class of the Moto section in the 44th Dakar Rally, Noah, who had a tough first week due to extreme cold conditions and a couple of falls, has come into his own and is looking forward to the last four stages.

"I enjoyed the stage for the second day running and I am getting into my rhythm. It was a long and tough day but I like tricky navigation like this stage. I am still in the race and glad to be fighting another stage tomorrow," Noah said.

There are four more stages left in this year's rally that concludes on January 14. 

Also Read : National motorcycle racing: Ryhana Bee regains girls title

News Source : PTI

Chennai, Jan 8 (MotorSports News): Local rider Ryhana Bee (RACR Castrol Power Ultimate) regained the title in the girls category after two years with one race to spare as the fourth round of the MRF MMSC-FMSCI National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2021 concluded at the MMRT track near here on Saturday.

Twenty-nine-year old Prabhu Arunagiri of Chennai stole the spotlight with a maiden win for Pacer Yamaha, a team returning to the national championship after a 12-year break, in Race-2 of the Pro-Stock 165cc Open category, holding off a quality field. The race was red-flagged and reduced to five laps from eight following a lap-1 incident, but it did not stop Prabhu from winning with leader Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing) crashing in the penultimate lap.

Earlier in the day, Prabhu, who has been in and out of racing in the past few years, finished fourth in Race-1 that was won by Deepak Ravikumar who delivered a 1-2 finish for TVS Racing ahead of defending champion Jagan Kumar while Rajiv Sethu (Idemitsu Honda SK69 Racing) took third place. The two podium finishes saw Jagan moving to 159 points in the championship standings followed by Ravikumar (118) and Sethu (116).

Meanwhile, ace rider Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power Ultimate) took a big step towards winning the championship in the premier Pro-Stock 301-400cc category as he picked up 50 valuable points. The 41-year old international finished second behind Thailand’s Vorapong Malahuan (TVS Racing), but with the foreigner ineligible for any points, Rajini picked up 25. He followed it up with a fine win in Race-2 on wearing tyres while Malahuan, who had a jump-start, faded out of contention.

After four rounds, Rajini has a tally of 168 points, ahead of Bengalurean Anish Damodara Shetty of Race Concepts (121) who finished third and second in the double-header. With one more round left in the championship and a maximum of 50 points up for grabs, Rajini has one had on the trophy with a 47-point lead.

Ryhana, 24, who missed the 2020 season owing to injuries after winning the championship in 2019, staged a remarkable recovery to catch up with early leader and defending champion Ann Jennifer before making a decisive pass on the last lap for a merited fourth consecutive victory. It took Ryhana’s tally to 100, way ahead of second-placed Mumbai’s Jagruti Kiran Penkar (Sparks Racing, 57 points) with just one more race remaining and which is scheduled to be run in the concluding round in February.

Pune teenager Sarthak Chavan chalked up a fine double in the NSF 250 category of the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup, defeating championship leader Kavin Quintal in both races.

Results (Provisional – all six laps unless mentioned): Pro-Stock 301-400cc (Open) Race-1: 1. Vorapong Malahuan (TVS Racing, Thailand) (11mins, 18.244secs); 2. Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power Ultimate, Chennai) (11:18.657); 3. Anish Damodara Shetty (Race Concepts, Bengaluru) (11:18.921). Race-2 (8 laps): 1. Rajini Krishnan (15:04.127); 2. Anish Damodara Shetty (15:04.297); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing, Chennai) (15:04.454).

Pro-Stock 165cc (Open) Race-1: 1. Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing, Chennai) (11:48.162); 2. Jagan Kumar (TVS Racing, Chennai) (11:48.484); 3. Rajiv Sethu (Idumitsu Honda SK69 Racing) (11:50.454). Race-2 (5 laps): 1. Prabhu Arunagiri (Pacer Yamaha, Chennai) (09:57.247); 2. Rajiv Sethu (09:57.505); 3. Jagan Kumar (09:57.655).

Novice (Stock 165cc): 1. Alwin Sundar (AS Motorsport, Chennai) (13:03.215); 2. Sarvesh Balappa (Sparks Racing, Hubbali) (13:05.798); 3. Anfal Akthar (Rockstar Racing, Thrissur) (13:05.856).

Girls (Stock 165cc) 5 laps: 1. Ryhana Bee (RACR Castrol Power Ultimate, Chennai) (11:02.702); 2. Ann Jennifer (Sparks Racing, Chennai) (11:02.886); 3. Lani Zena Fernandez (Speed Up Racing, Puducherry) (11:03.512).

Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup – NSF 250 (Race-1): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune) (11:11.037); 2. Kavin Quintal (Chennai) (11:14.091); 3. Geoffrey Revinen Emmanuel (Chennai) (11:15.060). Race-2 (8 laps): 1. Sarthak Chavan (14:47.030); 2. Kavin Quintal (14:47.277); 3. Geoffrey Revinen Emmanuel (14:59.460).

Novice (CBR 150): 1. Prakash Kamat (Bokaro Steel City) (13:04.485); 2. Rakshith S Dave (Chennai) (13:04.735); 3.Vivek Gaurav (Patna) (13:06.764).

Hornet 2.0 (Support race): 1. Kevin Kannan (Chennai) (13:29.346); 2. Ajay Xavier (Nagarkoil) (13:29.437); 3. Prabhu V (Chennai) (13:29.655).

TVS One-Make Championship – Open (RR 310) Race-1: 1. Amarnath Menon (Kozhikode) (11:46.925); 2. Jagadeesh N (Bengaluru) (11:47.761); 3. Manoj Yesudian (Chennai) (11:47.899). Race-2: 1. Manoj Yesudian (11:47.967); 2. Ananthraj P (Chennai) (11:48.088); 3. Amarnath Menon (11:49.172).

Rookie (RTR 200): 1. Jinendra Kiran Sangave (Kolhapur) (12:55.139); 2. Chiranth Viswanath (Bengaluru) (12:55.220); 3. Shreyas Copparam Hareesh (Bengaluru) (12:56.356).

Also Read : India's Noah placed overall 28th after Stage 6 of Dakar Rally

News Source : PTI

Be ngaluru, Jan 8 (Kabaddi News) Naveen Kumar shone bright as Dabang Delhi defeated UP Yoddha 37-33 in a Pro Kabaddi League match here on Saturday.

The opening game of the Triple Panga night saw the Yoddha defenders give Naveen Kumar a tough time with aggressive tackles, but the young raider still found a way past them to ensure the Delhi side emerged victorious.

UP Yoddha didn't do a lot wrong on the night with Pardeep Narwal and Surender Gill scoring nine points each. Unfortunately for them, it was just another outstanding performance from Naveen Kumar who scored 18 points, including one for the tackle. The result helped Dabang Delhi regain the top spot on the points table.

UP started the match with a steely determination to stop Naveen from running away with the points. Yoddha's corner duo of Nitesh Kumar and Sumit were at their aggressive best as they thwarted the Delhi's raider.

At the other end, Pardeep Narwal looked confident against the error-prone Delhi defence. He picked crucial points off left cover Manjit Chhillar and guided Yoddha to their first all out with five minutes remaining.

Yoddha continued the aggressive approach in the remainder of the first half, with Shubham Kumar also impressing in defence.

Naveen was benched five times in a half that ended 18-13 in favour of UP Yoddha.

If UP thought they had found a solution to stop Naveen, they were in for a rude surprise.

The first 10 minutes of the first half belonged completely to the Delhi raider who started it all with a tackle on his nemesis of Pardeep Narwal.

He then went on to chip points off the Yoddha defence and eventually helped Delhi clinch an all out.

He scored yet another Super 10 as Delhi opened a three-point lead with five minutes remaining. The lead proved too much for the Yoddha raiders to claw back as Delhi sealed an important win.

Also Read : India's Noah placed overall 28th after Stage 6 of Dakar Rally

News Source : PTI

Riyadh, Jan 8 (MotorSports News) Lone Indian rider in this year's Dakar Rally, Harith Noah of Sherco TVS Racing Factory survived dangerous terrain and a few crashes to be placed 28th in the overall ranking after Stage 6 in the Moto section of the world's toughest off-road rally here.

The five-time national champion from Bengaluru, Noah fell in the first stage and finished 36th among 145 riders but went on to improve his rank to 31st after Stage 4 and 30th after Stage 5.

He continued his progress admirably on Friday, despite a painful shoulder, and finished a creditable 28th in the overall ranking, clocking 21:47.07s.

The bike and quad special was halted at the first neutralisation area after 101km on Friday. The deterioration of the tracks due to the passage of the cars and trucks in the previous stage in the reverse direction, combined with recent heavy rain meant that the route was impassable.

The classification for Stage 6 was established at the 101 km mark.

Noah's teammate Lorenzo Santolino is in overall sixth position after Stage 6 while Rui Goncalves is placed 32nd.

Hero MotoSports Team Rally's Joaquim Rodriques is placed overall 18th in the general ranking, while his South African mate Aaron Mare slipped to the 16th position.

Great Britain's Sam Sunderland of Gasgas Factory Racing is the overall leader after Stage 6 with a timing of 19:55.59s, while Austrian Matthias Walkner (19:58.38s) of Redbull KTM Factory Racing and Australia's Daniel Sanders (20:01.34s) of Gasgas Factory Racing are placed second and third respectively. 

Also Read : Honda's Barreda tops stage 4, Hero MotorSports keep it steady

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Formula 1 team Aston Martin have announced the departure of team boss Otmar Szafnauer. The Romanian - American engineer originally joined what was then known as Force India in 2009 and subsequently went on to become team boss after the outfit was taken over by Lawrence Stroll in 2018. Aston Martin have said that the position “will be managed within the leadership team until a replacement is appointed.”

A statement released by Aston Martin read “Otmar Szafnauer has left the company and his role at Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team will be managed within the leadership team until a replacement is appointed. We would like to thank him for the service provided to the team over the past 12 years and wish him well for the future as he will undoubtedly take on new challenges.

“Fortunately, we are led and managed by a strong group of individuals, and we are comfortable to take a little time to explore options before announcing a new team structure. The focus of the team is currently on preparing the most competitive car possible for the start of the 2022 season."

The statement did not give a reason for the 57 year old’s departure and it came just a day after Szafnauer’s interview in which he spoke enthusiastically about Aston Martin’s prospects for the 2022 season. He has been linked with a move to rivals Alpine which had been previously dismissed as “pure media speculation”.

Also read: Four things fans should be excited about for the 2022 Formula 1 season

Bengaluru, Jan 6 (Kabaddi News) Tamil Thalaivas and Patna Pirates shared the spoils in a 30-30 tie in their Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) match here on Thursday.

Ajinkya Pawar came off the bench to score 12 points for Thaliavas while Monu Goyat scored 9 for the Pirates.

Interestingly, coach Uday Kumar opted for a much-changed Thalaivas line-up against the Pirates with Manjeet and K. Prapanjan starting on the bench.

Ajinkya Pawar, whose brilliant cameos had helped Thaliavas in the previous matches also started from the dugout. But with captain Surjeet Singh on the mat, the Tamil Thalaivas continued to look like a dominant side capable of challenging the best.

It was raining tackle points the entire half with Patna's all-rounders also chipping in with tackles and assists.

Monu Goyat was the stand-out star for the three-time champions, picking up difficult points against a well-drilled Tamil Thalaivas defence.

Patna's hybrid Kabaddi players, capable of defending and attacking, made it difficult for Thalaivas to target any weaknesses.

The Patna Pirates clinched their first ALL OUT in the last minute of the first half which finished 18-12 in favour of the men in green.

Ajinkya Pawar's introduction provided much need sharpness to the Tamil raiding unit. His 2-point raid early in the second half set the tone for the Thalaivas who went on to get an ALL OUT in the 8th minute.

Ajinkya Pawar also clinched his Super 10 as Thalaivas opened a 2-point with 10 minutes remaining.

Patna stayed in the game, with two crucial reviews ensuring they stayed within touching distance from the Tamil Thalaivas.

Sajin C. was having a poor night on the mat for Patna Iranian Mohammadreza Chiyaneh ensured they stayed focused with body blocks and dashes.

The scores were 30-30 with one minute left in the match and the teams decided to safeguard the three points (for a tie) rather than go for the win. 

Also Read : Honda's Barreda tops stage 4, Hero MotorSports keep it steady

News Source : PTI

Riyadh, Jan 6 (MotorSports News) Honda's Joan Barreda pushed his machine to the limit over the 465 kilometres in stage 4, the longest of the Dakar Rally, to finish with the day's top time here.

Chilean rider Pablo Quintanilla put the icing on the cake for Monster Energy Honda Team by clinching the runner-up spot.

Hero MotoSports Team Rally, who created history by becoming the first Indian team to win a stage at the Dakar Rally, delivered a steady performance in Stage 4 with Joaquim Rodrigues and Aaron Maré finishing in the 24th and 26th places respectively, in the Rally GP class.

After winning his first-ever stage at the Dakar, JRod opened Stage 4 early morning from Al Qaisumah and managed to deliver a steady performance to maintain his 18th position in the overall rankings.

79 percent dirt, 12 percent dunes, 7 percent sand and 2 percent dried-out lake were on the menu for the longest stage of the competition.

A trial by fire for all those involved. There was a mix of different terrain types to be negotiated and some navigation too. All in all, a high-paced affair that would begin to mark out the riders who will end up in possible contention for the final Dakar prize.

The starting order for this fourth day set the stage for a promising race, particularly for Barreda, who came out guns blazing, firmly intent on victory and also on improving his position in the general standings.

With flawless riding and navigational prowess, the Spanish rider reached the finish-line in Riyadh and currently holds seventh position, just over thirteen minutes shy of the overall leader.

Barreda was penalised one minute for exceeding the speed limit in a radar zone.

Quintanilla also performed well. The Chilean turned out a very steady stage, consistently among the top three, climbing up one position in the order in the latter half of the day.

Quinta improved on his position in the table and now lies sixth, eleven minutes and thirteen seconds behind the race leader.

Ricky Brabec, who set off from sixth this morning in Al Qaisumah, had a fairly good day, posting 10th, but Brabec also received a two-minute penalty for speeding in a controlled area. 

Also Read : Dakar Rally: Lone Indian in fray Noah finishes 29th, Hero's Rodrigues wins stage 3

News Source : PTI

Al Qaisumah (Saudi Arabia), Jan 4 (MotorSports) Lone Indian rider in fray, Harith Noah of Sherco TVS Rally Factory team, finished a creditable 29th in stage 3 of the 44th Dakar Rally, which saw Joaquim Rodrigues of Hero MotoSports Team win his maiden stage of the gruelling off-road race.

The steady ride helped the only Indian rider in this year's Dakar to improve his overall ranking to 31st position in RallyGP class, the premier category in the Moto section with an overall timing of 12:29.46s.

Noah successfully completed stage 3 in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 11 seconds.

Portuguese rider Rodriques of Hero MotoSports Team Rally clinched his maiden Dakar stage, clocking 2 hours, 34 minutes and 41 seconds ahead of Australian Toby Price of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, who clocked 2:23.44s and USA's Mason Klein (2:35.55s) of Bas Dakar KTM Racing Team.

Monster Energy Honda Team's Joan Barreda had won the second stage, where Hero MotoSports Team Rally’s riders finished in the top 10 here.

Barreda now holds a tally of 28 Dakar Rally stage wins. His teammate Pablo Quintanilla finished 23rd.

Hero MotoSports' Joaquim Rodrigues and Aaron Mare delivered an impressive run in the long stage 2 with the former finishing in sixth place and Mare ending 10th in the Rally GP class.

Starting on a loop around Al Qaysumah, Noah initially took the 214-km link section of 255-km special but lost a few minutes after the first way point.

However, astride a Sherco 450 SEF rally, he made up many places with steady navigation in the next special sections, and consolidated his position before returning along a 166-km link route for a respectable 29th spot finish.

After three stages, Great Britain's Sam Sunderland of Gasgas Factory Racing is holding the overall lead clocking 11:13.4s, while Frechmen Adrien van Beveren of Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team is second and Austrian Matthias Walkner of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is third.

Nine more stages will be run with a rest day on January 8.

Noah, a 28-year-old Sports Science graduate from Kerala who made his debut in 2020, is on his third Dakar campaign.

He ended an overall 20th last January. 

Also Read : Four things fans should be excited about for the 2022 Formula 1 season

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) After an action packed 2021 season that ended in the most dramatic fashion, the expectations are high for what the 2022 season has to offer as Max Verstappen defends his World Championship title against Lewis Hamilton while a number of other battles will be fought throughout the grid. The 2022 Formula 1 season is going to be unlike any other with drastic changes to the cars, more races around the world, new rules and more!

Here are four exciting new changes for the 2022 Formula 1 season

1) An overhaul of the car design

It’s no wonder why many Formula 1 teams had shifted their focus to car development for 2022 even while the 2021 season was underway. The new regulations are meant to ensure not just the safety of the drivers but also to promote more competitive racing amongst the teams. There will be 18 inch tyres in the 2022 cars, a redesigned front wing and nose, the usage of a higher ratio of sustainable fuel, over-wheel winglets and more! The car has already gone through over 7,500 simulations so far, which means that races will just get better, more competitive and intense for the season ahead!

2) A 23-race F1 campaign

The 2022 season will feature the longest campaign in Formula 1 with the title fight taking place over 23 races in different locations around the world. The season will also see many of the fan favourite tracks such as Suzuka, Montreal, Melbourne and Singapore return to the calendar while Formula 1 will also make its debut in Miami for the first time in history. This means that not only will fans have more race weekends to look forward to but the next Formula 1 game will have more tracks to race on than ever before!

3) Ferrari and McLaren stepping up in the title race

It’s easy to overlook just how intense the fight between Ferrari and McLaren was in the 2021 season because of the nature of Verstappen and Hamilton’s title fight. However, it’s clear that both the car manufacturers have kept an eye on the car development for the 2022 season for a very long time now and will look to close the gap on Red Bull and Mercedes for both the Constructors Standings as well as the Drivers Championship. Ferrari particularly will be keen to fare better than last year and finally compete for the title which has eluded them since 2008. 

4) Brand new driver lineup

The 2022 season will feature many changes in the drivers lineup with some of the most prominent ones being George Russell teaming up with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, Alex Albon joining Williams, Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou joining Alfa Romeo. Zhou’s inclusion in the Formula 1 grid is particularly significant as he is the first Chinese driver to make it to Formula 1 in history. 

Also read: Mick Schumacher named Ferrari’s reserve driver for 2022 season

(Motorsports news) As the series celebrates the end of its inaugural season, Extreme E has its attention firmly fixed on 2022 as it unveils its Season 2 calendar.

The sport for purpose championship takes place in off-road locations as part of its mission to drive awareness of climate change issues, such as global warming, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, wildfires and extreme weather, whilst promoting sustainability and the adoption of electric vehicles to help protect the planet.

Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “After a spectacular opening season we are thrilled to be in a place where we can announce our Season 2 calendar.

“All of us here at Extreme E are looking forward to revisiting some of the amazing race locations from the 2021 season to see for ourselves the positive impact our electric series has had and to see what more we can bring to the communities there. We also very much hope to add South America to our list of continents, and with visits to both Chile and Uruguay planned, it is shaping up to be another exciting season.”

The third race of the campaign, set to take place in July,  has the possibility that the electric off-road series will take place in either Scotland or the more familiar Senegal. With agreements on process, updates on the third slot in the Extreme E race calendar will be released soon.

The St. Helena – the former Royal Mail Ship – provides the championship’s floating centerpiece – carrying the series’ vehicles, logistics equipment and paddock infrastructure. They are also host to scientific research with its on-board laboratory which is to lower the impact of the travel logistics compared to air travel.

Head-to-head races, known as an X Prix, take place over two days, within an area less than 10km2, as the team will field a male and a female driver who can complete a lap of the race course, including a Driver Switch situated midway. Course designers have been assigned with selecting course options, which can provide the most challenging, exciting action, using already present obstacles and features with elevation changes and jumps, in order to lessen the environmental impact.

Race organisers will go thorough environmental, social and economic assessments of each location with a local third party, overseen by EY in order to follow the environment protocols, social inclusivity and fair practices. These reports have played a role in the way Extreme E operates from water consumption, waste management and lighting on-site through to land management and to make sure the series races without a trace after the X Prix has finished.

Extreme E works with local experts, governments and NGOs to implement positive legacy initiatives dependent on specific regional needs. Examples of Legacy Programmes in Season 1 have included; the funding of a turtle conservation project along the Red Sea coastline; the planting of one million mangroves with NGO TO.org and Oceanium in Senegal; cocoa agroforestry and Amazon conservation with The Nature Conservancy in Pará state, Brazil; and the creation of a climate education syllabus for over 3,500 school children across Greenland with UNICEF.

Also read: Mick Schumacher named Ferrari’s reserve driver for 2022 season

(Motorsport) Mick Schumacher is set to combine his race seat at Haas with a role as Ferrari’s reserve driver for the 2022 season. The 22 year old who is the son of seven time World Champion Michael Schumacher will serve as Ferrari’s reserve driver alongside former Alfa Romeo driver Antonio Giovinazzi. The Italian will fulfill his role as reserve driver for 12 races in the 2022 season before participating in the Formula E while Mick Schumacher will fill in for the other 11 races and will represent the Ferrari if either Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz are unable to race.

If Schumacher is needed by the Ferrari team, Haas will replace his seat with Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi temporarily until the German is ready to resume his duties. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of a reserve driver is more important than ever before and it will be interesting to see Mick Schumacher in the Ferrari red colours just like his father before him. Giovinazzi, who was racing for Alfa Romeo for three seasons has lost his seat in Formula 1 this year as Guanyu Zhou, China’s first Formula 1 racer and former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas will represent the Italian team.

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said “He (Mick Schumacher) is a Ferrari driver. We should not forget that. He has been part of the academy and the reason we have an academy is to identify who can be the next Ferrari driver for the future. If I look at the last races he was a lot closer to the cars ahead even though Haas did not really develop the car at all. So the fact he was closer showed he had a good improvement on the speed itself." 

Speaking at Ferrari’s pre-Christmas news conference, Binotto also said that he was hoping to negotiate an extended contract with Carlos Sainz before the start of the 2022 season. Having joined Ferrari on a two year deal, Sainz has had an impressive debut season where the Spaniard finished above Charles Leclerc by five and a half points. "With Carlos, we will discuss through the winter time the extension of his contact," Binotto said. "He worked very well during the season. I'm very happy with the way he integrated and has been performing on track."

Despite Ferrari finishing third in the Constructors Standings in the 2021 season, it was evident that the most successful team in Formula 1 history were very far apart from both Mercedes and Red Bull. While the Italian team can be relatively happy with their standings considering the 2021 car was not developed because the focus was on the development of the 2022 Ferrari, Binotto has said he "cannot be confident" of challenging for the championship next year either. 

"The gap to the lead is still significant showing that those teams are very strong," Binotto said. "So the fact we have put a lot of effort on 2022 and making that the priority was a necessity, because we knew if we had not done that it would have been difficult to have a good car, a competitive car in 2022. The new regs are a clear opportunity. The hope is to be competitive, which means being in a position to win races. Does it mean we can fight for a championship? I think if I look at today, the gap is too big. But for Ferrari, what is important is to be capable of fighting at least in some races for the pole position and the win."

Also read: Rosberg X Racing crowned first Extreme E champions
 

(Motorsport) Rosberg X Racing have been crowned champions of the inaugural Extreme E season after securing the title in the season ending Jurassic X Prix in Dorset, United Kingdom where they finished fourth. Despite the fact that Rosberg X Racing finished with 155 points, equal to X44 who won the Jurassic X Prix, Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor were crowned champions because they won more X Prix’s over the course of the season with three wins from five events.

For X44, Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez finally achieved their first Extreme E win at the Jurassic X Prix and won five extra points for being the fastest through the Continental Traction Challenge but fell short of winning the title. Jenson Button’s JBXE and Andretti United Extreme E reached the podium places in the final race of the season, finishing second and third respectively while ACCIONA | Sainz finished fifth, behind the new champions Rosberg X Racing.

Johan Kristoffersson, RXR: “It’s fantastic; this has been a new racing series, new team, and new locations but we’ve worked so hard to get here, and to be champions really feels amazing. Molly [Taylor] drove excellently today, managing the challenging conditions and I knew that all that remained for me was to not make any mistakes and bring the car home safely. We’re delighted to be champions and look forward to celebrating with the team.”

Molly Taylor, RXR: “It feels amazing to be the first-ever championship winner of Extreme E. This season has been brutal, racing in some of the most remote parts of the world in truly extreme conditions but we’ve worked together as a team and we’re delighted with this result. The nerves were definitely there today but Johan [Kristoffersson] and I kept our eyes on the final prize, and the whole team effort across many months has brought us to this point today.”

Nico Rosberg, RXR Founder and CEO, said: “We are so delighted to be crowned the inaugural Extreme E Champions and I am really proud of the entire RXR team. The team has worked so hard all season and performed consistently, racing in some of the world’s most remote locations. To be Champions is such an honour.

“A massive congratulations to our drivers, Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson, who have been excellent all season. We came into Extreme E to raise awareness of climate change, and promote sustainability, but also as a racing team, we want to win and so we will remember this feeling forever.”

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We are really happy with the first Extreme E season. It has not been easy in the middle of a pandemic, but we have delivered five X Prix events, and the Finale in Dorset produced some spectacular racing. Since our first event in Saudi Arabia we have had a lot of eventful and incredible moments ending in a brilliant title decider today.

“I must say congratulations to RXR – they did a great job in winning the first ever Extreme E Championship. I must also say well done to X44 who were the victors at the Jurassic X Prix today and really deserved the win after being the fastest qualifiers at every X Prix this season. We are now looking forward to what we hope will be a fantastic Season 2.”

Also read: ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team quickest ahead of Extreme E Season Finale

The Jurassic X Prix started off with X44 getting the perfect start ahead of Molly Taylor from RXR while JBXE’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Andretti United Extreme E’s Catie Munnings and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team’s Laia Sanz fighting for position behind. X44’s Gutiérrez managed to pull away from the pack while Molly Taylor lost places from Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Munnings, slipping into fourth position. It was a risky situation for Rosberg X Racing who could only win the title if they finished above fourth position in the final race.

The third place battle was equally fierce as JBXE and Andretti United Extreme E fought a heated battle and there was drama involved during the driver switch as the cars collided, sending Munnings into a spin. However, she could manage to get her car in control and retained third place, ahead of RXR and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team. Sebastian Loeb maintained X44’s lead over JBXE’s Kevin Hansen after the driver switch while Andretti United Extreme E’s Timmy Hansen was third.

Carlos Sainz Sr. and Johan Kristoffersson fought hard for the fourth position but the Rosberg X Racing team gained an advantage during the driver switch when ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team encountered some problems. This proved to be the turning point in Rosberg X Racing finishing in fourth position and guaranteeing themselves of the title as celebrations began when Kristoffersson crossed the finish line. 

Sébastien Loeb, X44: “This has been a challenging championship for us, but this weekend was the best so far. We came first in Qualifying in every X Prix, but we kept having bad luck in the Finals so to end on equal points with RXR after the season they’ve had is incredible and shows what we can do. 

“I’m confident we will do even better next year, but for now we will be celebrating with the team!”

Cristina Gutiérrez, X44: “I am so happy - finally we have won an X Prix! I’m very proud of Seb [Loeb] and everyone in the team. It has been a tough year, but they all worked really hard and today it paid off. 

“A first place race finish and second in the championship is amazing, and of course congratulations to RXR for such a great season. I can’t wait to come back next year and see what else we can do!”

Kevin Hansen, JBXE: “As soon as I stepped into the team Mikaela [Åhlin-Kottulinsky] and I have done everything we can to be as fast as possible because with all the cars being the same the driving is the biggest part. To be competitive on four very different courses as part of such a young team that joined late to the series, means that I am super proud of our performance.”

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE: “It is incredible that we have been on the podium in the last four rounds. I want to say thank you to the team because we have been making a step forward at each round and that has brought us here. I did teach Kevin [Hansen] to drift on ice when he was about 13 and that was key to this year!

“It is all about details when it comes to performance and since we speak the same language we can get those nailed and we work together really well.”

Timmy Hansen, Andretti United Extreme E: “It was actually one of the more simpler weekends of the season and it was straightforward where the line would be. Of course there was the mud, but it was more about being in the right place on the track. I enjoyed that and the level of the drivers around this paddock, male and female, has been really high. We pushed each other hard. I went over the limit in Qualifying 2 yesterday, so it has been challenging but enjoyable.

“It has been very exciting and it looks like in the world of motorsport it is going more and more electric.”

Catie Munnings, Andretti United Extreme E: “It was a crazy Final! The visibility was quite poor on the course. I got pushed a couple of times, and coming into the Switch Zone I kind of had the line and was then pushed into the ditch, which was really disappointing when we were fighting for third in the Championship. 

“But it was always going to be a crazy race with the amount of water and mud here, and actually following one of those cars you realise how fast it is and how on the limit we all are.”

Final Result

1. X44 (Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 3 laps (9:20:609)

2. JBXE (Kevin Hansen / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky) (+3.613)

3. Andretti United Extreme E (Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) (+9.735)

4. Rosberg X Racing (Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) (+15.798)

5. ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Carlos Sainz Snr. / Laia Sanz) (+31.101)

(Motorsport) Former rally driver Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been elected as the new FIA president, after collecting 61.62% of the votes at the FIA General Assembly. The UAE national is the first non-European president of motorsport’s world governing body and replaces Jean Todt who had served in the role for 12 years and three terms.

Having been born in Dubai, Mohammed Ben Sulayem is a 14 time Middle East rally champion and has also served as vice-president at the FIA along with being a member of the World Motor Sport Council. Speaking after being elected, the 60 year old said “I am very honored to have been elected FIA President at the conclusion of the Annual General Assembly in Paris today. I thank all the Member Clubs for their esteem and trust.

“I congratulate Graham for his campaign and his engagement to the Federation. I wish to express my infinite gratitude in the name of the FIA and that of its Members to Jean Todt for all that has been achieved over the past 12 years. I am committed to pursuing the important work and make motor sport and mobility take further steps forward."

Amongst his election promises during his four year term has been to put the best practice governance structures, double motorsport participation and strengthen diversity and inclusion. Ben Sulayem has his work cut out for him as he takes over the role just five days after the controversy surrounding the Abu Dhabi GP. Following the events of the weekend, the FIA promised Mercedes to conduct a full analysis and review to understand the events around the Safety Car in the final laps at the Yas Marina Circuit and implement learning into the 2022 season.

Also read: Max Verstappen formally crowned F1 2021 World Champion

A statement released by the FIA said “The FIA's primary responsibility at any event is to ensure the safety of everyone involved and the integrity of the sport. The circumstances surrounding the use of the Safety Car following the incident of driver Nicholas Latifi, and the related communications between the FIA Race Direction team and the Formula 1 teams, have notably generated significant misunderstanding and reactions from Formula 1 teams, drivers and fans, an argument that is currently tarnishing the image of the Championship and the due celebration of the first Drivers' World Championship title won by Max Verstappen and the eighth consecutive Constructors' World Championship title won by Mercedes.

“Following the presentation of a report regarding the sequence of events that took place following the incident on Lap 53 of the Grand Prix and in a constant drive for improvement, the FIA President proposed to the World Motor Sport Council that a detailed analysis and clarification exercise for the future with all relevant parties will now take place.

"This matter will be discussed and addressed with all the teams and drivers to draw any lessons from this situation and clarity to be provided to the participants, media, and fans about the current regulations to preserve the competitive nature of our sport while ensuring the safety of the drivers and officials. It is not only Formula 1 that may benefit from this analysis, but also more generally all the other FIA circuit championships."

New Delhi, Dec 17 (MotorSport News) India has lost its seat on the FIA's all powerful World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) for the first time in more than three decades.

Incumbent Gautam Singhania lost in the elections held for 14 WMSC seats reserved for titular members. The development came on the day when Mohammed Ben Sulayem replaced Jean Todt as the next FIA president.

The WMSC members also include the president, deputy president and seven vice-presidents.

Indian motorsport body FMSCI had only nominated Singhania to contest the WMSC elections and he was on the presidential list of Graham Stoker, who lost the FIA presidency election to Sulayem.

Apart from Singhania, the past Indian representatives on WMSC include K D Madan and Vijay Mallya. Former FMSCI president Vicky Chandhok, who played a crucial role in getting Formula 1 to India back in 2011, said the federation should have sent at least two nominations.

Chandhok remains on FMSCI's eight-member governing council which is headed by president Akbar Ebrahim.

"It's highly unfortunate that the FMSCI council decided by majority to send only a single nomination for the post of the FIA WMSC candidature while it could have sent multiple nominations," Chandhok told PTI.

"President Ebrahim had proposed to the Council to send two names who would figure on the preferred presidential lists of the two candidates for the FIA Presidency which was shot down by a majority vote. Only one name was sent which was for the list of Mr Graham Stoker according to the nominee.

"No second name was sent on the list of Mr Mohammed Ben Sulayem who has been elected the FIA President today in a landslide victory. Unfortunately India which has been represented for over three decades in the past now goes unrepresented in the WMSC.

"I would like to congratulate my good friend Mohammed on his election as the FIA President which is unprecedented & shows that diversity has gained momentum," added Chandhok.

FMSCI president Ebrahim said the federation has a good relationship with the FIA and expressed confidence that India's interests will not be impacted even without any WMSC representation.

"It would be much better if we were represented on the WMSC but we have a good working relationship with the FIA for a long time and we also have good relations with the new president," said Ebrahim. 

Also Read : ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team quickest ahead of Extreme E Season Finale

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport news) 16 December 2021, Dorset: The action got underway in Dorset today as the nine sides took the Jurassic X Prix course for the first time ahead of Extreme E’s Season 1 Finale.

The 3.8 kilometre course has a unique set of challenges for the Extreme E grid, with a mixed surface of clay, sand, gravel and mud dominating the terrain in Dorset, giving the teams a good amount of variables to overcome if they are to get big points in the final X Prix of the campaign.

The potential threat of showers, a sight so common across the United Kingdom at this time of year, may offer a further challenge for those out on the course.

After a brief shakedown session, the pace setters in Free Practice were ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team who posted a combined time of 10:10:006 to head the standings. In second were ABT Cupra XE, nine seconds adrift and continuing their recent good form out on course.

Championship challengers X44 were third quickest, just over 10 seconds behind ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team’s leading time, and 13 seconds faster than title rivals and Championship leaders Rosberg X Racing who finished the session in fourth.

XITE ENERGY RACING enjoyed a trouble-free session to complete the top five. Veloce Racing had a new driver line-up this weekend in the form of returning Jamie Chadwick and debutant Lance Woolridge, but showed no signs of slowing their speed to finish sixth fastest.

Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team: “Many things can happen in every race, but we need to be confident. We have been a bit unlucky this season so I am hoping for more good luck this weekend.

“The season has been great, but challenging – I came from two-wheel racing and everyone else has plenty of experience on four wheels. I think I am improving, though, and definitely feel like I have the best teacher in Carlos [Sainz Snr.].

“The start will be crucial on Sunday and I hope we can continue to do well for Qualifying.”

Jutta Kleinschmidt, ABT Cupra XE: “It’s completely different out there, but it is Extreme E after all – we have to face many conditions.

“The challenge has been to find the right speed, particularly over the Knife Edge section, and that will be key. If the wipers are not working you might not see anything!

“We had a good Free Practice session, though, and we’re looking forward to Qualifying.”

Sébastien Loeb, X44: “It felt really muddy out there, but the car coped well which was great.

“It feels like a rally stage with fast and slow corners, with big jumps, and overall the course looks great.

“We don’t have a lot to lose – mathematically the Championship is still possible so we just need to concentrate, push hard, and then we will see. Hopefully this weekend we can pull everything together to finish the season as well as possible.”

Molly Taylor, Rosberg X Racing: “It has been great to experience so many incredible places this season. We are excited to be here and it has been a great adventure to this point. We just need to keep our heads down and keep doing the job.

“The terrain is very different to the other courses, mainly down to the mud! It is cool we have experienced so many different terrains throughout the season. It’s a lot of fun out there, though, with a lot of sliding around – it has a bit of everything.

“We need to have a solid weekend – there is all to play for and we are looking forward to it.”

Oliver Bennett, XITE ENERGY RACING: “I’ve actually driven here before – one of my first ever rallies took place here so it is a little bit familiar.

“The mud is deep and slippery, so it is very easy to go off-line, and that makes it a bit like a home from home!

“From what we have seen so far it is going to be entertaining.”

Jamie Chadwick, Veloce Racing: “Its good to be back and feels like a long time since I was in the paddock.

“It has definitely helped my driving to compete in different series – when I went back to W Series earlier this season I really felt the benefit of competing in the opening two X Prix.

“I think we can enjoy the weekend. Lance and I are racing without pressure and a fresh mindset. We’re going to enjoy it and take what we can.”

Lance Woolridge, Veloce Racing: “It is great to finally be here. I’ve been working closely with the team for the past year and I am really looking forward to Qualifying now.

“We’ve set a goal of getting into the Final this weekend and hopefully that can lay some solid groundwork for Season 2 next season.”

There was disappointment for JBXE, Andretti United Extreme E and SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing, though, who finished the session in seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively, with all three teams encountering difficulties out on the course.

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE: “I expected it to be muddy, but the start-line was insane!

“Nevertheless, I have been really impressed with how the ODYSSEY 21 handles the conditions – it should make for an interesting race. Visibility will be a big challenge and the start will be really tough.

“We want to have a good weekend – our team is based in the UK, while our team boss Jenson [Button] is also here. We came in late to the series and did no testing before the season started and so I am really proud of what we have achieved together. We are now just looking forward to a fun weekend trying to take the car over the finish line.”

Catie Munnings, Andretti United Extreme E: “It’s a home race for me and for the team, which is really special for everyone. It’s certainly been a year to remember.

“Its pretty high-speed out there and quite narrow, which reminds me of rallying. It’s really fun to drive. The conditions improved as the Free Practice session went on so Qualifying will be interesting, but I think everyone just wants to have a good race to end the year now.

“You might see a different approach from me when attacking the Knife Edge, though!”

Kyle LeDuc, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing: “It’s a good layout and a fairly trouble-free course, although we did have a couple of issues in practice.

“We’ve got to get people excited and this track should be something for the fans to tune into. There should be some good spots for racing to get people hyped.

“The start is going to be massively crucial for us.”

The Finals will be shown in more than 200 countries by 85 broadcasters including ITV, Sky Sports, BBC digital channels and BT Sport in the UK,  FOX Sports in the USA, Prosieben MAXX in Germany, Mediaset in Italy as well as Eurosport across most European Markets.

A full list of broadcasters can be found here.

PLEASE NOTE ALL TIMINGS ARE GMT

Saturday 18 December 

1000 – 1200 GMT      Qualifying  Round 1

1300 – 1500 GMT      Qualifying  Round 2

Sunday 19 December

1000 – 1130 GMT       Semi Finals

1200 – 1400 GMT      Final

Also read: Extreme E reveals Jurassic X Prix course ahead of final race

(Motorsport) The final race of Extreme E’s inaugural season, which also marks the Championship’s return to the UK since St. Helena departed over nine months ago, will take place at the British Ministry of Defence Base at Bovington in Dorset.

As the electric off-road series closes out Season 1, the Jurassic X Prix finds itself running on a 3.8 kilometre course that once again provides a completely new set of challenges for the nine teams and 18 world-class drivers.

The final event of the 2021 Championship will take on a different racing format, with the teams battling it out over three laps instead of the usual two. The first in the driving seat will complete two laps before pulling into the switch zone and handing over to their team-mate who will cross the finish line.

For this X Prix, Extreme E has decided which drivers will start each round. Free practice will see all teams starting with their female driver, with their male counterpart taking on the start of the next round. The drivers will continue to alternate in this way, resulting in an exciting all-female starting grid for Sunday’s Jurassic X Prix Final.

A mixed surface of clay, sand, gravel, and mud dominates the course in Dorset, making grip, or the lack of it, a key feature for the first time this season. With rain always likely in the UK in December, the course in Dorset should be a formidable test of the driver’s throttle control as they search for that all important grip.

A fast downhill start will allow for multiple cars running side by side with some tight fought battles as drivers consider their Hyperdrive strategy here. Decisions will have to be made quickly as the wide-open space soon narrows into two tight left and right 90-degree turns. A second expanse offers another opportunity for Hyperdrive before once again becoming a bottleneck, narrowing down to single car width along the tree-lined course.

A long, uphill right-hand turn follows, with the expectation that the ODYSSEY 21 will be drifting sideways throughout before greeting a short jump that marks the start of two long, fast straights. As the cars venture towards the farthest point of the course, looming into view will be the most striking feature of the X Prix.

Also read: Max Verstappen formally crowned F1 2021 World Champion

The 5.4-metre-high ‘Knife Edge’ demands respect as the drivers approach it head on. With a 23-degree slope, go too slow and it will mean losing precious time, but go too fast and it could end up being a bumpy ride.

With only a quarter of the course remaining, there are still crucial strategic choices to be made as the cars head across the last open area. This could be the final opportunity to use Hyperdrive and steal track position on the fast downhill.

The undulating course then splits and offers two parallel uphill chutes. Left or right, drivers will make their choice and hope it proves the right one as the finish line of the final X Prix of Season 1 looms just over the top of the hill.

Championship Driver and course advisor Timo Scheider, alongside fellow Championship Driver Tamara Molinaro worked with the team on the course design and have also been testing the course ahead of the racing getting underway.

Timo Scheider said: “This is the first time of the season that we’ve had super deep and muddy track conditions. Already right at the start we have very deep mud from left to right, so I think it’ll be quite important to have a good starting spot. Extreme E has prepared the start line a bit, but sooner or later this will be destroyed, especially with the drivers doing three laps instead of two.

"The highlight will definitely be the knife edge, which is the big jump. It looks like a wall when you’re going up there and the ODYSSEY just shoots through the sky. If you are too quick you will take a long time to land, so there you have to figure out that if you take a lower speed then you can land sooner and get the traction again."

(Motorsport) Max Verstappen was officially crowned Formula 1’s 34th world champion after receiving his trophy at the FIA’s prize giving ceremony in Paris on Thursday night. The 24 year old became the fourth youngest world champion in the history of the sport and received his maiden title in an event which was not attended by either Lewis Hamilton or Toto Wolff. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Verstappen said “Becoming world champion is my life goal achieved. Everything that comes next is a bonus. Of course I am going to keep pushing and I'm going to be in F1 for a few more years yet. While it's nice to be called world champion, I think more about the long journey and all the hours I have spent working with my Dad to be here. It's been a long and tough season and I feel amazing to have finally achieved my goal. I hope I can do this many more times. It's been an incredible battle with Lewis, one of the greatest drivers ever in Formula 1. We really pushed each other. At the end of the day, we can look each other in the eyes and respect each other which is really important."

Earlier in the day, Mercedes had withdrawn their appeal of the events that took place at the Abu Dhabi GP and the Silver Arrows collected their record eighth Constructors Championship after finishing 28 points above Red Bull with a total of 613.5 points. Toto Wolff earlier on the day of the ceremony had already ruled out his presence by saying “I won't be there because of my loyalty to Lewis and because of my own personal integrity” while Hamilton’s Mercedes team mate for the 2021 season Valtteri Bottas was in attendance as the Finnish driver finished third in the standings.

There is a possibility Hamilton may face consequences for missing the ceremony as Article 6.6 of the F1 Sporting Regulations states that "the drivers finishing first, second and third in the Championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony". Wolff had also said on Thursday that both him and Hamilton felt “disillusioned” following the events at the Abu Dhabi GP and said that there is no guarantee that the seven time World Champion would return to Formula 1 next year. 

When Verstappen was asked to comment on it at the FIA Gala, the Dutchman said “I can understand that the first few days after a race like that you're not happy but you should also understand this is racing. I think he should just look back at what he has achieved already. That should give him a lot of comfort and should also be that drive to just keep on going because he is still trying to challenge for that eighth title and for sure he can do that again next year. So I don't see any reason why to give up or stop now."

Also read: Max Verstappen wins his first Formula 1 World Championship amidst drama, controversy and fireworks

(Motorsports news) Jehan Daruvala joins the current F2 Constructors Champions Prema racing in what could be a defining move in his dream to get a Formula 1 seat in 2023. In Formula 3, Daruvala was with the Prema team where he won two races and got seven podiums in the 2019 World Champion. He’s back with the Ferrari based team who he had tremendous success with as Prema this year, winning the constructors championship with 444 points. Both Oscar Piastri and Robert Shwartzman completely dominated this season’s F2 as they finished one two in the drivers Championship as well. He will partner F3 Champion and fellow Red Bull Junior program partner Dennis Hauger as teammate for next year's 14 race F2 season.

Jehan Daruvala was quickest for Prema to end the first day of Formula 2 post-season testing at Yas Marina Circuit.Daruvala went fastest at the end of the first hour but just a minute later was bettered by ART Grand Prix’s FIA Formula 3 Championship graduate Frederik Vesti who set a 1m38.264s, ART GP’s Theo Pourchaire took over at the top during the third hour with a 1m36.250s, with his new benchmark also standing for a while before Daruvala moved ahead and came just short of breaking into the 1m35s but Daruvala was in third until the final minutes as he went back out on track and snatched the fastest lap. He completed 46 laps in his new car before producing a perfect lap on the medium tyres to set a time of 1m.35.435s.

Also read: Jehan Daruvala wins his second race at Abu Dhabi as he finishes 7th in the F2 World Championship

Daruvala is already showing promise with Prema as his hopes of winning the F2 Championship just increased. Just like any race driver, his dream would also be to see his country's flag on a formula 1 as Jehan too would like to see himself race in F1 one day. The current Red Bull Junior program has always made their mark in F1 with the likes of  Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly and even India’s first F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan. Ultimately, the Italian team which has strong ties to Ferrari will play a crucial role in boosting not only his career but also will increase the chances to get a seat in an F1 car in the future. The Indian driver has shown that he has the ability to bag results and even podiums. The rest, time will tell.
 

(Motorsports news) Jehan Daruvala won his second race of the season when he finished ahead of Brazilian driver Felipe Drugovich and 2021 F2 champion Oscar Piastri. In the first lap, Felipe Drugovich managed to pull alongside Daruvala in the opening corners as the Indian driver showed great racing skill and managed to put the Brazilian driver behind him. Australian race driver Oscar Piastri, who started at number 10 made his way up the field to take 3 place which in turn helped him clinch the 2021 Formula 2 championship title. Daruvala this season has already won the Italian Grand Prix Sprint race in September as this was the Indian racing driver's fifth podium of the F2 2021 season.

For Jehan, this was a much needed win after the disappointment in Saudi Arabia last week. He is looking to retain his seat on the Red Bull junior driver program and also do a third season in Formula 2 to have a shot at a Formula 1 drive in 2023. After this victory, Jehan has secured a seat in the Carlin team along with recently signed Willams academy driver Logan Sargent and will be looking to win the 2022 Formula 2 season after suffering a very under par season according to his standards. Daruvala’s season has been very inconsistent as he began the season well with a second place at Brahian but his campaign didn’t take the momentum after that as the level of consistency he was looking for did not come. Ultimately Jehan finished 7th in the F2 World Championship with 113 points which was an improvement from last season's 72 points. Jehan Daruvala and Dan Ticktum helped Carlin finish third in the Constructors Championship with 272.5 points.

With the rise in the number of viewerships of Formula 1 in India, every Indian will be hoping that Jehan gets a F1 seat in 2023. The 2022 schedule will feature 14 rounds - the biggest calendar since 2017, with 28 races in total, two at every event, which actually gives him hope to win next year's F2 Championship. Jehan said he might have to look beyond Formula 1 if he doesn't reach that pinnacle in 2023. He said, "It's a hard situation to be in, but you know realistically if it's not 2023, it's very difficult after that. I've had two good weekends (in F2), so that will help me (in contention) in terms of being on the market for a good seat and sort of keeping my F2 seat for next year. I hope to get more clarity over that soon.

“I think honestly in Formula 2, there have been a few sensational rookies like Oscar, Charles, Lando (Norris), George but once you are in your second year or third year, you know the difference is a lot less than it is from your first year to a second year. You already have had a year of experience so it doesn't make too much difference if you're in your second or third year. If I do end up doing Formula 2 next season, it is again going to be a very hard competitive season," said Jehan who has secured four podiums so far in the season including wins at Monza and Abu Dhabi.

Also read: Jehan Daruvala produces solid drive under pressure to win second race of 2021

His teammate at Carlin Racing, Dan Ticktum, will be competing in Formula E next season. Jehan has not yet explored racing in other series and said “I have not really considered anything else apart from F2 for next year so that my focus remains on Formula 1, but if not, you know, just have a career in motorsport and earning a living there will be a priority, I started off well in Bahrain, had a couple of bad weekends in Monaco and Silverstone, practically didn't score in any of them. And I think those two weekends were big setbacks. Also, I wasn't qualifying as well as I wanted to in the first half of the season so it was a big concern in terms of not being as quick as I would have wanted to. I always knew that I had the potential and when I do a good lap it's normally always good enough to be in the top four or five. So, it was good to turn that form around. Monza and Sochi, qualifying twice on the front row, or be actually on provisional pole both times was definitely a massive step forward for me,
 

New Delhi, Dec 13 (Motor Sports News) The controversial end to an epic title fight in the 2021 season has not gone down well with India's first Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan.

A series of questionable race control calls were made at the season finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday when Max Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to win his maiden title and deny the Briton a record-breaking eighth crown.

"How the entire situation unfolded, it seemed like they wanted Max to win. It was a great battle for the championship but what happened yesterday it wasn't sport. You need close battles in Formula 1 but it has to be fair at the same time," Karthikeyan told PTI.

Hamilton was cruising to victory when Nicholas Latifi's crash on lap 53 of the 58-lap race brought the safety car on to the track. In a last throw of dice, Red Bull pitted Verstappen for soft tyres after the safety car was deployed while Hamilton stayed out on his worn out hard tyres.

In what could go down as the most controversial call of the Formula 1 decade, race director Michael Masi allowed five backmarkers to unlap themselves on the penultimate lap, making it much easier for Verstappen to make the move on Hamilton.

As per the rules, the safety car should have gone back on the following lap which was the last lap of the race.

"Unless the clerk of the course considers the presence of the safety car is still necessary, once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap," the rule states. The social media was a divided space post the finale with some calling Mercedes' race strategy too safe. However, Karthikeyan feels Mercedes were right to not let Hamilton pit following the crash.

"What Mercedes would have done, Red Bull would have done the opposite and stayed out to take track opposition so it was too risky. Lewis had so much pace and hard tyres had life of 50 laps so why should you give that up? "Before the safety car the gap was still more than 11 seconds between Hamilton and Verstappen. What happened was not fair and Lewis would have been deserving eight time champion with due respect to Max who is a very quick driver," said the 44-year-old who race in Formula 1 over three seasons between 2005 and 2012.

Interestingly, Hamilton's race engineer Peter Bonnington had worked with Karthikeyan during the Indian's debut season with Jordan in 2005.

"Lewis' race engineer was my race engineer during my first season with Jordan. He is a very clever guy and made all the right calls." Like many after the title showdown, Karthikeyan also remembered former race director, the late Charlie Whiting, and said he would have handled the pressure situation much better.

"This is what happens when you are under pressure. He (Michael Masi) was being bombarded from all sides on the radio." So, what should be done going going forward? "Each scenario is different. They need a strong a guy at the top. That is what everyone said if Charlie Whiting was there, it would be much more fair.

He never relented to teams' pressure.

"On the open channel, he would have ignored the constant pushing from the teams and carried on with his job. These situations are bound to happen, the race control should have been more prepared for a situation like yesterday. It should not have ended the way I did.

"We can give them the benefit of doubt that he was not siding with anyone yesterday and the calls were just made under tremendous pressure and it went terribly wrong.

"If you leave all the controversy aside, Lewis surely deserved to win if you look at the race in general. It was definitely his race. So not a fair result," Karthikeyan added. 

Also Read : Jehan Daruvala produces solid drive under pressure to win second race of 2021

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) It was an extraordinary and controversial final race at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi while fittingly summed up the Formula 1 2021 season on the whole as Max Verstappen was confirmed as the race winner and 2021 world champion ahead of rival Lewis Hamilton. For most F1 fans, it was one of the most remarkable finales in the history of the sport where fans witnessed Verstappen overtaking Hamilton on turn 5 of the last lap in the last race to steal the championship crown.

Both drivers headed into the race on equal points (369.5) with a winner taking all race for the world championship. In a result that not many expected, it was Verstappen who finished in pole position ahead of Hamilton during qualifying but the seven time world champion regained the first position immediately after lights out in the race. The British racing driver dominated the race throughout but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez held on to remain in sight and take advantage when possible. 

However, Mercedes’ strategy worked (for the most part) as Hamilton started the race on medium tyres while Verstappen began on soft. Add to that, it was Hamilton’s Mercedes which took the lead on the medium tyres while Verstappen was forced to pit before his rival due to the durability issues of the soft compound and switch to a hard compound in what was expected to be his only pit stop of the race. That left Sergio Perez in charge of ensuring Hamilton did not completely run away with the lead and the Mexican did a fantastic job to keep the British racing driver at bay so that Verstappen could catch up and by the time the inevitable happened on lap 21 where Hamilton’s Mercedes overtook Perez’s Red Bull, Verstappen was just a little over a second behind.

The race completely changed with five laps to go when Nicholas Latifi crashed on turn 14, prompting a yellow flag. At this stage of the race, Hamilton was comfortable in the lead while Verstappen was almost 12 seconds behind his rival. Unfortunately for the British racing driver, he had already crossed the pit stop before the safety car was introduced while Red Bull immediately got Verstappen into the pits to move to a soft compound. The controversy began when an announcement of ‘lapped cars would not be allowed to overtake’ was changed to allow Verstappen to go right behind Hamilton’s Mercedes which gave the Red Bull an advantage because of a faster tyre compound. Moreover, the two drivers had almost a 12 second gap before Latifi’s crash which was reduced to nothing.

The race resumed on the 57th lap out of 58 and it was evident from the get go that Verstappen would never have a better opportunity to seize the moment. Hamilton, being on the hard compound and worn out tyres was at a noticeable disadvantage while Verstappen was absolutely flying and overtook his rival on turn 5, bringing in a roar of cheers from the crowds. That one moment decided everything as Verstappen went past the chequered flag to win his first world championship. With this result, the 24 year old became the first Dutch racer to win the Formula 1 title in history in what has undoubtedly been one of the most thrilling and controversial seasons in the last few years.

Also read: Formula 1 team Mercedes and Kingspan mutually end controversial deal

Abu Dhabi, Dec 11 (Motor Sports news) India's Jehan Daruvala put up a strong defence on way to his second race-win of the 2021 Formula 2 season, here on Saturday.

The 23-year-old from Mumbai had started the sprint race on reverse grid pole position after qualifying 10th for the feature race.

Racing for Carlin, the Indian did well to maintain his position on the opening lap before Felipe Drugovich put him under tremendous pressure for the major part of the 23-lap race. Jehan pulled away towards the end to cross the chequered flag two seconds ahead of Brazil's Drugovich.

Australian Oscar Piastri finished third to secure the Formula 2 title in his rookie year, joining the likes of Formula 1 drivers Charles Leclerc and George Russell, who won the feeder series in their debut season.

For Jehan, it was a much needed win after the disappointment in Saudi Arabia last week. He is looking retain his seat on the Red Bull junior driver program and do a third season in Formula 2 to have a shot at a Formula 1 drive in 2023.

All seats have been decided for the 2022 Formula 1 season.

The sprint race victory was Jehan's third of his Formula 2 career after Bahrain last year and Monza earlier this year.

"Back on the top step after a disappointing weekend in Jeddah where I didn't take many points, so it is good to start off the weekend with a victory. We weren't too strong in Quali, but our race pace looked pretty strong.

"I had a great battle with Felipe (Drugovich) at one point and we were side-by-side for a couple of corners, but I managed to stick it out in front. The car felt good, and I just took it to the chequered flag.

"Congratulations to Oscar (Piastri), I didn't think that I would see him on the podium from 10th, but a big well done to him, he has dominated the whole year," Jehan told the Formula 2 website.

Also Read : Franco Cami to debut for Hero MotoSports at Dakar Rally

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) The Yas Marina Circuit saw an eventful practice session that saw Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton comfortably at the top of the time sheets while championship rival Max Verstappen played catch up in fourth position. Despite the Red Bull driver setting the pace in the first practice, it was Hamilton who comfortably led the pack in practice two followed by Esteban Ocon in his Alpine, Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes and Verstappen who had a significant six-tenths deficit to Hamilton. 

The seven time World Champion led with a 1:23:691 at the Yas Marina Circuit while Verstappen could only muster a 1:24:332 in the newly configured and faster Yas Marina track. However, Red Bull can take solace in the fact that despite being slower over a lap compared to Mercedes, Sergio Perez showed good pace as the Mexican was within a tenth of Verstappen in fifth place. Fernando Alonso in the other Alpine car would have been ahead of Max Verstappen if not for a track deletion and the veteran was sixth.

Speaking after the practice session, Hamilton said “I feel great, still a bit of an unknown in terms of pace but I’m sure it’s going to be super close”. Verstappen added “Of course clearly the short run didn’t go to plan, lacking a bit of pace. But I think the long runs were quite a bit more competitive”. Apart from the grid leaders, it was the AlphaTauri and Ferrari cars who were the most competitive in the midfield while the session ended with a crash for Kimi Raikkonen in his Alfa Romeo after the Finnish racing driver smashed into the barriers. His team faces an uphill task to ensure the car is ready for qualification and the race in what would be his final Formula 1 race of his career.

As things stand, Hamilton and Mercedes are clearly the favorites heading into the 58 lap race in Abu Dhabi with the Silver Arrows having a straight line speed advantage and are blisteringly quick through the middle sector. Red Bull boss Christian Horner said “They look very competitive here, we just need to tidy up the balance for the short run”. A lot could change between now and Sunday if Red Bull finds overnight improvements ahead of qualifying and it is now or never for the two teams with the World Championship being decided on the outcome of the race.

Also read: A battle for the ages: How Verstappen and Hamilton made Formula 1 exciting again

New Delhi, Dec 9 (Motor Sports news) Hero MotoSports Team Rally on Thursday named its riders for Dakar Rally 2022 with Joaquim Rodrigues paired-up with Franco Cami.

Both riders have achieved podium finishes in the Cross-Country Rallies Championship this season -- at the Silk Way Rally and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge respectively -- with Joaquim finishing the Championship in the fourth position.

This will also be the sixth Dakar for Rodrigues, who has been with the team since its inception in 2016. It will be the first for Franco in Hero MotoSports colors, following his signing in April 2021.

However, Franco is no stranger to the Dakar, having participated in the Rally on five previous occasions.

The duo of Joaquim and Franco will take on the challenges of the Dakar in Saudi Arabia astride the Hero 450 Rally bike, which now offers "improved top speed and acceleration".

"Hero MotoSports Team Rally wishes a speedy recovery to the other team pilots - Sebastian Buhler, winner of the Hungarian Baja 2021, who was on the roster for the Dakar 2022 but had to withdraw due to an injury at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge...

"...and Indian ace CS Santosh, who is recovering from the crash he suffered in the 2021 edition of the Dakar Rally," said the team in a statement.

Dakar 2022, the third consecutive edition in Saudi Arabia, will run for 12 stages over 14 days. The rally kicks-off on January 1 with a short Prologue stage, and then travels through various cities across the length and breadth of Saudi Arabia.

A rest day in the capital city of Jeddah on January 8 is the only respite that the competitors will have on a route that covers 3400 kms of racing distance. Covering a total of 8000 kms, including the liaison stages, the competitors will return to Jeddah for the podium finish on January 14.

A total of 430 vehicles are expected to hit the start line, with 149 of them in the motorcycles category.

Also Read : National car racing championship set to resume after break

News Source : PTI

Chennai, Dec 9 (Motor Sports news) The MRF MMSC FMSCI National Car Racing Championship 2021 will resume after a break of nearly three months with Covid-19 safety protocols in place at the MMRT near here on Friday with a 12-race programme scheduled for the weekend.

There are around 100 entrants in the fray across various categories in the championship, a press release said.

The MRF F1600 will headline the weekend card with a triple-header, while the Formula LGB 1300, the Saloon Cars (Indian Touring Cars, Super Stock, Indian Junior Touring Cars) and Volkswagen Polo will have two races each.

In the entry-level MRF Saloon Cars category, featuring Toyota Etios, which made a debut in the National championship last season, there would be a grid of 25 cars representing two teams – the Red Line Racing India and Quest Motorsports.

The MRF Saloon Cars skipped the first round in September this year, and will offer nine races spread over three rounds.

MMSC president Ajit Thomas, while welcoming the participants for the second round, said: "At the outset, we need to celebrate the fact that we are able to conduct the championship during this challenging period of the pandemic. It is even more heartening that despite current situation, an increasing number of youngsters are taking to motor racing if one were to go by the spike in entries with each round." Two youngsters had done well in the first round- Shahan Ali Mohsin of Agra and Bengaluru’s Ruhaan Alva. Shahan won two of the three races in the MRF F1600 category while Ruhaan (MSport) was adjudged "best rookie" in the Formula LGB 1300.

The saloon car races are likely throw up some exciting finishes, notably in the premier Indian Touring Cars class where Race Concepts’ Arjun Balu from Coimbatore, the defending champion, will be again up against Rayo Racing pair of Anindith Reddy and Jeet Jhabakh (both Hyderabad).

Also Read : Extreme E announces Jurassic X Prix legacy programme with National trust

News Source : PTI

(Motorsports news) Extreme E will be with the National Trust for its Dorset Legacy Programme in an effort to improve biodiversity in the UK.

The National Trust is a 126 year old charity that aims to protect and conserve important landscapes, habitats and historic sites. As one of the largest landowners in the UK, almost 250,000 hectares and 780 miles of coastline fall under the Trust’s protection and care to help people and nature thrive.

Purbeck Heaths in Dorset is where the National Trust has worked in partnership with six other landowners to create the UK’s first ‘super’ National Nature Reserve. Spread across 8,231 acres, the reserve brings together 11 essential wildlife habitats and includes iconic reserves such as Hartland Moor, Arne, Brownsea Island and Studland and Godlingston Heaths.

The National Trust is hoping to reintroduce beavers to Purbeck next year, in the wetlands at the heart of the Studland’s dune system. This is just one of a number of projects across the reserve aimed to restore natural ecological processes and help this already special landscape become even richer in nature. 

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO at Extreme E, said: “Through our Legacy Programme and the Jurassic X Prix, we aim to highlight the issues surrounding biodiversity in the UK. We are delighted that our work in Dorset will see us support the National Trust, who are planning to reintroduce beavers to the area.

“We have made it to the final race of the very first season, which will take place on MOD land at Bovingdon, and I think I speak for everyone at Extreme E when I say how proud I am of all that we’ve achieved this year, both on and off the course, with support for important projects such as this.  

“I’m excited to see what we can achieve alongside an organisation with such high standards of conservation and curatorial care which has been recognised throughout the world.”

Biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem is critical for human existence, economic prosperity, and a good quality of life. And yet, biodiversity is currently dying at an alarming rate than at any time in human history.

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with 10 per cent globally and in the bottom among the G7 group of nations. Only 50.3 percent of biodiversity remains in the UK, with 15 percent of the species remaining said to be in danger of extinction.

David Brown, Landscape Partnership Manager at the National Trust, said: “Next year we hope to release three pairs of beavers in the wetlands around Little Sea, to improve the biodiversity of Studland’s dune system and the surrounding area.

“Beavers are nature’s water engineers. Once introduced they would open hundreds of hectares of wetlands that have been in ecological decline for decades, restoring freshwater fen and pool habitats for other wildlife. As they naturalise watercourses that have been canalised over the centuries, they would improve water quality and carbon storage while reducing flood risk.”

Extreme E’s efforts with the National Trust to install protective measures to make sure the beavers will not negatively impact local people, businesses or farmers, and to carry out engagement programmes in coordination with the local community.

Also read: Formula 1 team Mercedes and Kingspan mutually end controversial deal

(Motorsport) In light of heavy criticism, Formula 1 team Mercedes and Kingspan have mutually agreed to end their partnership after the deal was announced last week. Kingspan is the firm that made some of the insulation used on Grenfell Tower which caught fire in 2017 and killed 72 people. The Kingspan logo appeared in both Hamilton and Bottas’ cars at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for the first and last time with the partnership ending with immediate effect following the announcement.

In a statement released by Mercedes, they said “The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Kingspan today announced that they have mutually agreed to end their partnership. Announced last week, the new partnership included Kingspan chairing a new Sustainability Working Group for the team, and aimed to deliver carbon reductions through their leading-edge environmentally sustainable solutions for the team's future campus. However, both parties have subsequently concluded that it is not appropriate for the partnership to move forward at the current point in time, notwithstanding its intended positive impact, and we have therefore agreed that it will be discontinued with immediate effect."

The deal received widespread condemnation after it was announced last week, particularly from the Grenfell Group that represents the survivors and bereaved families who demanded that the agreement be severed and that it was “truly shocking”. Grenfell United sent a letter to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff who apologized for "additional hurt that this announcement has caused" and accepted the offer to meet with the group. The sponsorship deal was also criticised by Michael Grove, secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities who also wrote a letter to Wolff, urging him to reconsider the deal and warning that failure to do so might prompt the British government to change advertising rules for motorsport.

Kingspan also released a statement that said “"We are deeply aware of the sensitivities raised in recent days, and so we have jointly agreed that it's not appropriate to move forward at the current point in time. Much has been written about this over the past few days, and out of consideration for our customers and all the great people who work for us, we believe we must respond. We had no role in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment. However, our Kingspan Insulation UK business is a core participant in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and fully supports the Inquiry's important work.

"We understand that this is a complex topic, but there are some important facts that we would like to explain: 1. We did not make the exterior cladding on Grenfell Tower. The Inquiry itself has stated that "the principal reason" for rapid fire spread on Grenfell was the Polyethylene cored ACM cladding used on the exterior of the building. No facade system using this PE ACM cladding, regardless of the insulation used, would have passed the necessary large-scale system fire test. Our K15 insulation board was misused in this unsafe and non-compliant system.

"2. We did not supply or recommend K15 to Grenfell Tower. K15 made up approximately 5% of the insulation layer of the façade system. It was substituted without our knowledge. 3. We have completed new tests which support the previous fire safety claims of the three historical K15 large-scale system tests which came into question during the Inquiry process. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the wholly unacceptable historical conduct and emails which emerged throughout the course of the Inquiry discovery process. We have sincerely apologised for these actions by a small group of employees at our Kingspan Insulation UK business. This in no way reflects Kingspan's culture or values."

Mercedes are currently favourites for the Constructors Championship heading into the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi with a 28 point lead over second place Red Bull. The Drivers Championship is a lot closer with both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton level on points with 369.5 and the winner at the Yas Marina Circuit will be crowned champion.

Also read: Kimi Raikkonen set to retire from Formula 1 after the Abu Dhabi GP, closing the curtains on a 20 year long career

(Motorsport) While the headlines for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are largely dominated by the title race between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will be making his final appearance in an F1 car at the Yas Marina Circuit for his 349th race after a 20 year long career. The Finnish racing driver made his debut at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix for Sauber and the 42 year old is looking forward to a life away from Formula 1 after the season concludes.

Speaking ahead of his final race, Raikkonen said “Obviously I have family, I have reasons to be home, you know? Obviously the end is completely different in many ways: it’s different circumstances… I’m at a different point in my life also. But [F1 has] never been the main thing in my life and it might be different to many others, you know? My life outside has always been the most important thing for me and yes, it has taken most of the time in the last 20 years, but it hasn’t been the most, let’s say, important thing, in many ways. Yes I enjoy racing and this otherwise I wouldn’t have done it for so long but I appreciate my own time much more. Like, it’s more important for me than anything else."

Raikkonen will retire as the most experienced Formula 1 driver of all time with 21 race wins, a World Championship crown and more than 18,000 laps under his belt. He has previously retired from the sport in 2009 to pursue a career in NASCAR and the World Rally Championship but the Iceman has claimed that he will not return to the grid this time around. The Finnish driver came to the spotlight after leaving Sauber for McLaren in 2002 and finished runner-up twice, behind Michael Schumacher in 2003 and Fernando Alonso in 2005.

For Raikkonen, replacing Schumacher at Ferrari in 2007 will always be the highlight of his career and last won a Grand Prix in the United States in 2018 while racing for Ferrari in his second stint with the team. He refers to Michael Schumacher as his toughest opponent in his career, claiming "I raced against him many years, we had a lot of good fights”. Speaking about his career, Raikkonen said “I had a good run and I wouldn’t change a single thing. Even if it would mean more wins and more championships, I’m happy with what I achieved and I cannot complain, really. I’m happy how I did it, because I did it many, many ways on my own terms."

When asked about the possibility of a future role in Formula 1, the Finn said “I’d rather be president of Finland than the president of F1. F1 is too political. Look at what we did in Saudi Arabia. What talks is money.” His Ferrari team mate Sebastian Vettel paid tribute to Raikkonen by saying “Time goes one way, and at some point, time comes for him, and at some point, time will come for me and at some point even time will come for Lando, even though that's a long way to go. It's probably the most natural thing. Will he be missed? Yes. I think he was a true character, and I enjoyed the time I had with him as a teammate.

"But to be fair, I got to know him already before, and he's probably one of the very few drivers I've met from day one until today that hasn't changed in the sense that he has been very, very open, welcoming me as a young kid when I entered F1, and at that point he was probably the most established Formula 1 driver. Great respect. I don't think you can have an argument or a problem with Kimi. If you do, then the problem is not him, the problem is you. He's a great person, and I'm sure we'll stay in touch. I wish him all the best and I will miss the silence."

Also read: A battle for the ages: How Verstappen and Hamilton made Formula 1 exciting again

Bengaluru, Dec 8 (Motor Sports news) TVS Racing team's Harith Noah is all set to represent India at the Dakar 2022, the toughest cross country rally in the world, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia from January 1 to 14.

Noah, who is currently training in Spain to fine-tune his navigation skills after training with Sherco star Michael Metge in France, will be leaving for Jeddah about a week before the event.

Noah, who finished his maiden Dakar in the experience class in 2020, became the fourth rider from India to take part in prestigious rally after CS Santosh, Ashish Roarane and Aravind KP.

He excelled with a stunning effort in 2021 to become the first top-20 rider representing India. This year will be his third at the Dakar.

"I am in the best shape physically after over 6 months of training and riding at the beach in my hometown in Kerala post last Dakar. Since September, I have been in Europe to focus more on roadbooks and navigation training. Two weeks ago, the team went to Morocco again as it is a good place to train with the long roadbooks similar to the Dakar," the five-time National champion in Supercross said in a statement.

"The bike is brand new and I will be riding a nimble, lighter machine that is easier to ride and much more comfortable in technical sections. Navigation is another area I am focusing on and the goal is to finish the rally,'' said Noah, a Sports Science graduate.

The roll call for the 44th edition of the Dakar would be in Jeddah, but things will only get serious in Ha'il.

Riyadh, the capital, will host the rest day, following which the field will head back towards Jeddah for the finale.

The Dakar this year will be part of the FIA and FIM World Rally Championships for cross-country rallying.

The prologue will begin at Jeddah on January 1 with a trek to Ha'il, located at the crossroads of the historical trade routes of Saudi Arabia. A 19-km mini-special will spice up the long transfer.

Also Read : A battle for the ages: How Verstappen and Hamilton made Formula 1 exciting again

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Formula 1 has always been at its best when two world class drivers have fought hard and fast for the coveted Drivers Championship. For veteran fans, the rivalries of Alain Prost vs Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell vs Nelson Piquet, Michael Schumacher vs Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg will be remembered for years to come as reasons why they fell in love with the sport and for the younger generation who are growing up in the Hamilton-Verstappen era, it is a similar feeling that makes Formula 1 such a thrill to watch.

For even the most hardcore fans, the Mercedes dominance in the last few years has been a dull affair. After all, what sort of race would be exciting if only one team and driver always win? It became a period of the best of the rest while the Silver Arrows and Hamilton began an era of dominance that is scarcely seen in the sport. The reason why the 2021 season has been such a breath of fresh air is that Lewis Hamilton has finally found a formidable competitor in Max Verstappen to inject some excitement, rivalry, heated battles and a sense of anticipation to the sport. Even though the signs have pointed towards a rivalry of sorts, few would have predicted that the Championship would go right down to the wire with both drivers on equal points with a winner taking all situation in the final race of the season.

This season has had it all, plenty of controversies, extraordinary skills under pressure, unpredictable results and personal rivalries. Both drivers deserve to win the championship, unfortunately only one can and while Verstappen has had the slightly better season, Lewis Hamilton has the experience and momentum to get the desired result in Abu Dhabi. Both of them are at different stages in their careers, one is young and hungry to win his maiden World Championship while the other is attempting to win a record eighth, thereby becoming the only driver in Formula 1 history to achieve the feat. It’s fair to say that everyone knew that only Max Verstappen had the potential to threaten Mercedes’ and Hamilton’s dominance but the Dutchman never really had the tools at his disposal until this season to attempt a credible title challenge. However, the 24 year old is at the risk of sacrificing all his hard work from the season so far if he fails to keep his composure at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Also read: Lewis Hamilton wins Saudi Arabia GP to go level on points with Verstappen ahead of final showdown in Abu Dhabi

There have been plenty of wheel-to-wheel clashes between the two drivers this season with a consistent theme of Verstappen being the aggressor more often than not. The pair collided at Silverstone, Monza (resulting in a grid penalty for Verstappen) and most recently in last week’s Saudi Arabia GP. These incidents have somewhat tarnished what has otherwise been a rivalry that has really showcased the brilliance of the two racing drivers. The various incidents throughout the season have undoubtedly deteriorated the relationship between the pair with mind games and press conference remarks a common occurrence. The rivalry has trickled down to their team bosses as well with Christian Horner and Toto Wolff regularly clashing against each other and criticizing the star driver from the other teams. In an interview recently, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said “There is no relationship, there's a competition” referring to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

All things considered, all eyes will be at the Yas Marina Circuit where Verstappen and Hamilton race against each other for the Drivers Championship. This season has been one of unexpected results with the French GP where Mercedes were considered favorites was won by Red Bull while Mercedes outperformed their rivals at the Hungarian GP where Red Bull have traditionally excelled. The United States GP has been a happy hunting ground for Mercedes over the years but it was Max Verstappen and Red Bull who won it this time around, so it’s impossible to predict the overall outcome of the Abu Dhabi GP. One can only hope for a clean and fair race with two of the greatest Formula 1 drivers battling it out for the ultimate glory.

Pune, Dec 7 (Motor Sports news) Multiple National Drag Racing champion Hemanth Muddappa of Mantra Racing added another feather to his cap with a national record in the 600cc unrestricted open foreign bikes category of the mega FMSCI licensed drag event at the Amby Valley airstrip at Lonavala on Tuesday.

The ninth edition of The Valley Run (TVR) was organised for two-wheelers and four-wheelers by Elite Inc that attracted over 500 entries.

The 31-year-old from Coorg and based in Bengaluru bettered the earlier national record held by Andhra Pradesh's Satyanarayan Raju, who timed 9.522 seconds last year at the same event and track.

Mumbai's Atharva Achrekar, on a Kawasaki zx10R, won the 851 to 1050cc in 10.083 seconds, beating Avinash Y, who clocked 10.155s. Iqbal Sheikh won the third position in a time of 10.182s in a grid of 34 bikes.

In the 1050cc to 1650cc event, Muddappa took his second gold, clocking 9.684s to become the only rider to dip under 10-second mark.

He beat Vignesh Purushotham, who timed 10.035s, and Hafiz Ulla Khan (10.235s). All three from Bengaluru swept the top three places on a Hayabusa in a grid of 17 bikes.

Also Read : Lewis Hamilton wins Saudi Arabia GP to go level on points with Verstappen ahead of final showdown in Abu Dhabi

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) Few would have predicted at the start of the season that the 2021 Formula 1 season would go right down to the wire with the result in the final race determining who will be crowned the World Champion. Lewis Hamilton won a chaotic Saudi Arabia GP which included two red flags, multiple crashes and a collision between the title challengers who are now level on points (369.5) heading into the Abu Dhabi GP at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The two rivals were neck and neck throughout the race but the controversial moment was when Hamilton made contact with Verstappen’s Red Bull after the Dutchman slowed down to let Hamilton past following a questionable defence in the earlier lap (lap 37). Instead of going past Verstappen, the brake was so sudden that Hamilton’s Mercedes ran into the back of the Red Bull, resulting in a 10 second penalty by the stewards. The collision resulted in a damaged front wing for Hamilton who called Verstappen “dangerous” and “crazy” as things became heated up.

To make matters worse for the Dutchman, he was also given a five second penalty by the stewards for forcing Hamilton wide in turn 1 of lap 37 which further compounded the flaring tensions and the overall race result. In the post race interview, Hamilton said “I didn't get the information so it was very, very confusing, all of a sudden he started backing up and then moving. I was like 'is he playing some sort of crazy tactic?’ All of a sudden messages started to come through, but he hit the brakes so hard I nearly went up the back of him. For him, it doesn't matter if we both didn't finish."

The race started with Verstappen in third position with Hamilton and Bottas in first and second places respectively but Mick Schumacher’s crash in lap 10 resulted in a safety car which prompted both the Mercedes cars to go into the pits for a tyre change while Verstappen remained on the track. Red Bull and Verstappen then had the advantage when the yellow flag became a red flag which meant that the Dutchman could go into the pits without compromising on his position, a decision which angered Mercedes and Hamilton.

However, when the race restarted, Hamilton surged past Verstappen to but the Dutchman soon got the first position back, albeit illegally but a crash between Sergio Perez, George Russell and Nikita Mazepin resulted in a red flag and Red Bull agreed with Race Control to give back Hamilton and Esteban Ocon their positions after the restart. Having done so, Verstappen then overtook both Hamilton and Ocon again to regain first position, resulting in a battle between the two title contenders with 33 laps to go. 

Through the duration of Verstappen’s lead, the Dutchman was helped by the Virtual Safety Cars to ensure the debris from various collisions was removed from the track after which the collision between Hamilton and Verstappen occurred. Despite the end plate of Hamilton’s front wing being broken, the seven time World Champion showed incredible pace and quickly overtook the Red Bull driver. Hampered by the time penalty and worn out tyres, Verstappen ended the Saudi Arabia GP 21.825 seconds behind Hamilton who also managed the fastest lap time. To add the cherry on top, Bottas overtook Ocon to take the final podium finish on an evening where Mercedes would be very happy with the result.

There is everything to race for at the final Grand Prix of the season at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi as either one of Hamilton or Verstappen will be crowned champion. Don’t miss out on the race from 6:30 pm IST onwards on Sunday, 12th December.

Also read: Formula 1 renews deal with Spanish Grand Prix until 2026

Coimbatore, Dec 5 (Motor Sports news): Arya Singh and Ruhaan Alva shone in the rain-hit third and penultimate round of the 24th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship here over the weekend, notching up two wins each in the Formula LGB and JK Tyre Novice Cup categories respectively.

Heavy rains had halted the session for a couple of hours on Saturday but the wet track conditions made the races in the LGB Formula 4 & JK Tyre Novice Cup category exciting.

As the participants were gearing up to take to the track, the rain came down and halted proceedings for over an hour. However, race officials took the decision to hold the race for the cars.

It continued to rain but the Formula LGB4 races were held. The race was run under the safety car and yellow flag for the first four laps but Arya Singh of Dark Don Racing did well to secure his first race win. Arya completed a sweet double by winning the final race of LGB Formula 4 race.

On Sunday, Amir Sayed (Ahura Racing) notched up his second race win this season in the LGB Formula 4 class. The youngster from Kottayam took the lead in a first corner and kept Mohamed Ryan and championship leader Vishnu Prasad (both MSport) at bay in the first few laps. But once he broke free, there was no turning back. He further took control to take the top honour.

Due to heavy rains on Saturday, the two-wheeler race was pushed to Sunday. Anish D Shetty proved his superiority winning both the races in the JK Tyre presents Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup. It wasn’t easy though for the Hubbali rider, particularly in the second race, as Allwin Xavier threatened to take him on in the final stretch.

There was something to cheer for Guwahati’s Jaden R Pariat of MSport on Saturday despite the downpour. He managed to win one of the races at the expense of championship leader Ruhaan Alvaa, who hit the finish line first but was handed a 10-second time penalty for crossing the white line at the pit exit. It proved too costly for Ruhaan at the end. But the Bengaluru lad hit back to win the next two races in style on Sunday.

Provisional Results: Formula LGB4: Race 1(Saturday): 1. Arya Singh (Dark Don Racing) 31:42:851; 2. Raghul Rangasamy (MSport) 31:43.995; 3. Ashwin Datta (Dark Don): 31:47.041.

Race 2 (Sunday): 1. Amir Sayed (Ahura Racing) 20:15.250; 2. Vishnu Prasad (MSport) 20:22.423; 3. T S Diljith (Dark Don Racing) 20:27.850. Race 3 (Sunday): 1. Arya Singh 23:09.491; 2. Sandeep Kumar (Dark Don Racing) 23:10.672; 3. Diljith 23:10.824.

JK Tyre Novice Cup: Race 1 (Saturday): 1. Jaden R Pariat (MSport) 24:43.808; 2. Gaurav Kochar (Momentum Motorsport) 24:44.340; 3. Neym Rizvi (MSport) 24:45.218. Race 2 (Sunday): 1. Ruhaan Alva (MSport) 16:12.199; 2. Jaden Pariat 16:12.578; 3. Neym Rizvi 16:13.001. Race 3 (Sunday): 1. Ruhaan Alva 14:36.939; 2. Adheet Parashar (Hasten Performance) 14:48.212; 3. Jaden Pariat 14:48.575.

JK Tyre Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup: Race 1 (Sunday): 1. Anish D. Shetty 13:30.381; 2. Anfal Akdhar (Thrissur) 13:33.862; 3. Meka Vidhuraj (Hyderabad) 13:34.171. Race 2 (Sunday): 1. Anish Shetty 13:51.720; 2. Allwin Xavier (Thrissur) 13:51.749; 3. Anfal Akdhar 13:53.111.

Also Read : Lewis Hamilton fastest on the new Saudi street track so far, Verstappen fourth while Leclerc crashes in P2

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport news) The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is said to be the fastest Formula 1 track in history and it didn’t disappoint as Hamilton described it as “Rapid. Unbelievably quick, it really is incredibly fast”. The seven time World Champion was fastest on day one as the penultimate race weekend of the 2021 Formula 1 calendar draws closer in what has been one of the best championship battles in recent memory.

While the mathematical advantage lies with Verstappen who stands a good chance of winning the Drivers Championship if he wins the Saudi Arabian GP, the momentum lies with Hamilton and Mercedes with all indications pointing towards the championship going down the wire in Abu Dhabi next week. Hamilton topped both the sessions on Friday, getting his fastest timings on the medium tyre instead of the soft. Verstappen on the other hand finished fourth, behind Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri and 0.195s off the race leader. Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez finished a disappointing ninth in the other Red Bull.

Speaking after Friday practice, Lewis Hamilton said “The track is rapid. Unbelievably quick, it really is incredibly fast. A lot of grip as well. If you can get your rhythm, it's beautiful to drive. I'm generally happy. We've made some changes between sessions, I'm just unsure which one I want to stay with. It's definitely not in a bad place, but on a single lap they're [Red Bull] quite quick so we've got a bit of work to do."

Christian Horner, Red Bull boss said “You can see it's pretty tight. It's a challenging circuit, high speed with walls, and it's going to be who gets the most out of the tyres, the car, gets a clean lap. This is Max's type of circuit. He's certainly enjoying it."

The major talking point of the practice session was Charles Leclerc’s crash as the Monegasque driver lost control of his Ferrari through the high-speed turns 22 and 23 and slammed the barriers at 150mph, resulting in red flags and the car suffering big damage. Thankfully, Leclerc was unhurt but it remains to be seen the extent of the damage on his car and how it might impact qualification on Saturday.

Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon finished 5th and 6th respectively, ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz who was 7th while AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda finished eighth, posting his best time on the hard tyre. Leclerc finished 10th ahead of McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris and Ferrari would hope it remains that way for the team to finish above McLaren in third position for the Constructors Championship.

Also read: Saudi Arabian GP: Formula 1’s penultimate race of the season set to be a high stakes battle between Verstappen and Hamilton

Coimbatore, Dec 2 (Motor Sports news): The stage is set for third round of the 24th JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship at the Kari Motor Speedway near here over the weekend with the premier Formula LGB4 class likely to throw up surprises.

Championship leader Vishnu Prasad, after a strong first round show, was expected to call the shots in the second round held at the same venue late last month. But the MSport driver from Chennai could not do much as his car lacked the power and the pace right through the races.

Amir Sayed of Kottayam cashed in on the chance quite early to score his maiden win for his new team, Ahura Racing, which helped him gain crucial points and move to the second position on the points table. Vishnu continues to stay at the top with 25 points. Sandeep Kumar, Arya Singh and T.S. Diljith of Dark Don Racing are also expected to give the duo a run for their money.

It has been a one-horse race in the JK Tyre Novice Cup as MSport's Ruhaan Alva is way ahead of the field with 60 points. His teammate Jaden Pariat, with 38 points and will aim to mount a challenge.

Anish Damodara Shetty of Hubli was the man in command in the JK Tyre presents Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup. He was quite successful in handling the much-heavier bikes and his opponents on a fast flowing track this season. Allwin Xavier of Thrissur managed to topple Anish with a top podium finish in the final race of the second round and an interesting battle is in store.

Also Read : If not 2023, it will be very difficult after that: Jehan Daruvala on realising his Formula 1 dream

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Dec 2 (Motor Sports news) Indian racer Jehan Daruvala feels 2022 could be the make or break year for his childhood dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver.

The 23-year-old from Mumbai is two rounds away from completing his second season in Formula 2, a stepping stone to Formula 1.

The Red Bull junior driver finished 12th in standings in his rookie season and is currently seventh after impressive outings in Monza and Sochi where he qualified on the front row.

He wants to do another season in Formula 2 next year to have a crack at Formula 1 in 2023 and for that, he is hoping to retain his seat in the Red Bull junior driver program.

Speaking to PTI, Jehan said he might have to look beyond Formula 1 if he doesn't reach that pinnacle in 2023.

"It's a hard situation to be in, but you know realistically if it's not 2023, it's very difficult after that.

"I've had two good weekends (in F2), so that will help me (in contention) in terms of being on the market for a good seat and sort of keeping my F2 seat for next year. I hope to get more clarity over that soon," said Jehan in an interaction arranged by broadcaster Eurosport.

He will be racing this weekend in Saudi Arabia after a two-month break. Rookie Oscar Piastri is leading the championship.

A driver is bound to attract more attention from the Formula 1 paddock if he does well in his first season in the feeder series, something current F2 graduates Charles Leclerc and George Russell were able to do.

Asked if a third season in Formula 2 can negatively impact his chances of reaching Formula 1, Jehan said: "I think honestly in Formula 2, there have been a few sensational rookies like Oscar, Charles, Lando (Norris), George but once you are in your second year or third year, you know the difference is a lot less than it is from your first year to a second year.

"You already have had a year of experience so it doesn't make too much difference if you're in your second or third year. If I do end up doing Formula 2 next season, it is again going to be a very hard competitive season," said Jehan who has secured four podiums so far in the season including a win at Monza.

His teammate at Carlin Racing, Dan Ticktum, will be competing in Formula E next season.

Jehan has not yet explored racing in other series.

"I have not really considered anything else apart from F2 for next year so that my focus remains on Formula 1, but if not, you know, just have a career in motorsport and earning a living there will be a priority," he said.

Talking about his second season in Formula 2, Jehan said he wanted to be more consistent considering it was only an eight-round affair this year.

"I started off well in Bahrain, had a couple of bad weekends in Monaco and Silverstone, practically didn't score in any of them. And I think those two weekends were big setbacks.

"Also, I wasn't qualifying as well as I wanted to in the first half of the season so it was a big concern in terms of not being as quick as I would have wanted to.

"I always knew that I had the potential and when I do a good lap it's normally always good enough to be in the top four or five.

"So, it was good to turn that form around. Monza and Sochi, qualifying twice on the front row, or be actually on provisional pole both times was definitely a massive step forward for me," he added.

Also Read : Extreme E joins hands with Project Everyone to raise awareness of The UN's global sustainability goals

News Source : PTI

(Motorsports news) Sport for purpose championship Extreme E has partnered with not-for-profit creative communications agency Project Everyone to raise awareness of The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), better known as the Global Goals.

Co-founded by filmmaker Richard Curtis to drive adoption of the 17 Global Goals, Project Everyone creates advocacy campaigns, content, programmes and events - narrating stories that help a number of sectors engage with the Goals and ensure more and more involvement from civil society, corporations, educators, philanthropists, activists and politicians.

As part of Extreme E’s commitment to raising awareness of the climate crisis, all nine teams will have the Global Goals logo on their cars in the Jurassic X Prix next month in Dorset, UK. The Global Goals logo is a wheel representing all 17 Goals, which are made to eliminate extreme poverty, to reduce inequalities, and to combat the threat of climate change by 2030.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We are delighted to be working together with Project Everyone, who share our view that we must take impactful steps if we are to tackle the climate crisis. Having the Global Goals wheel on every all-electric ODYSSEY 21 for the Season 1 finale is significant and symbolic – we should all work together to deliver on these Global Goals to ensure we create a sustainable future for all.

“Our championship has shown that solutions are available and need to be implemented on a global scale if we are to have any chance of succeeding and saving the planet. By partnering with Project Everyone, we want to raise awareness even further and take bold action to address the urgency of climate change.”

Richard Curtis, film writer, director, UN SDG Advocate, and co-founder of Project Everyone, said: “The 17 Global Goals are the definitive to-do list for our planet and the people on it. Sport has a tremendous role to play in raising awareness and inspiring us all to action and I am so thrilled that the brilliant team at Extreme E is going to be working with the Goals to highlight the crucial changes that need to happen before 2030 to fix and save our world.” 

The leaders of all 193 members of the United Nations agreed on the Goals on 25 September 2015, in a ceremony at the U.N headquarters in New York. Unlike previous UN Goals, which were intended to target action in developing countries, the SDGs are universal and apply to all countries equally. 

Also read: Saudi Arabian GP: Formula 1’s penultimate race of the season set to be a high stakes battle between Verstappen and Hamilton

Nevertheless, these 17 Goals are an ambitious roadmap to address poverty, inequality and climate change, and every single one of us has the power to make a difference. Extreme E is supporting many of them - for example, goal five, gender equality via its gender equal racing format, a world-first in motorsport. Plus, oal nine - industry, innovation and infrastructure - by showcasing new technologies that can help accelerate the shift to clean energy. Goals 14 and 15 - life below water and life on land - through its various Legacy Programmes that leave long-lasting positive impacts in the locations in which the series races, right through to goal 13 - climate action - one of the biggest driving forces behind the championship.   

All 17 of the Goals are for everyone, everywhere just like Extreme E they reach all parts of the planet, from icecaps to islands, deserts and deep oceans. As we enter the uncharted territories of our planet’s future, the Goals provide the framework to address our biggest challenges, aligned with Extreme E’s motto to inspire people, communities and governments all over the globe to take action and start on our greatest journey yet.

Each Goal has a series of targets, giving all of us – from individuals and civil society to governments and businesses – a list that reminds us what we need to do, to achieve this world changing plan. 

The annual Sustainable Development Goals Report provides an overview of the world’s implementation efforts to date, highlighting areas of progress and areas where more action needs to be taken to ensure no one is left behind.

Extreme E will showcase this partnership at its Season 1 finale in Dorset, UK from 18-19 December 2021.

(Motorsport) The second last race of the 2021 Formula 1 season is set to take place in Saudi Arabia’s Corniche Circuit in what has been described as the fastest track in the history of the sport. A win at Jeddah for Max Verstappen would make him the World Champion for the first time in his career and the Dutchman along with Red Bull will hope to conclude their title pursuit this weekend.

However, the momentum is undoubtedly with Hamilton and Mercedes. The seven time World Champion won the last two races in Brazil and Qatar with the Corniche Circuit expected to favor Mercedes’ pace. The track is the newest street circuit in the Formula 1 calendar and with an average speed of 160 mph, it is only behind Monza as the fastest on the whole calendar. The track is also the second longest in Formula 1 behind Spa with high speed turns, little run-off and tight walls.

The race is expected to be action packed with three DRS zones to encourage overtaking and despite the circuit having 27 corners, straight line speed will be an important factor in the outcome of the race, which is why Mercedes are expected to be favourites. Ross Brawn, F1 managing director of motorsports said “The design brings out the best of a modern street circuit but also has fast-paced free-flowing areas that will create fast speeds and overtaking opportunities”. 

Despite Saudi Arabia hosting its first Formula 1 race, the Corniche Circuit is unlikely to be the venue for future Grand Prix’s beyond 2024 as a purpose built venue is being developed closer to the capital of Riyadh to ensure easy accessibility for both drivers and fans. As things stand, Max Verstappen is eight points ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and the Red Bull driver will secure the World Championship in the following scenarios:

1) If he wins the race with the fastest lap point and Hamilton finishes below 5th place

2) If he wins the race without the fastest lap point and Hamilton finishes below 6th

3) If he finishes second with the fastest lap point and Hamilton finishes below 9th

4) If he is second and Hamilton does not get any points

In a realistic scenario, both drivers are expected to finish first and second respectively with their team ordering the second drivers to aid them in achieving a positive result. Both the drivers are noticeably faster than their peers and a victory for Verstappen with Hamilton in second place would make him a very likely candidate to seal the Drivers Championship. In terms of pure performance, Mercedes has the edge over Red Bull with the Silver Arrows 0.248secs faster in qualifying. However, being faster on the straights does not necessarily equate to being faster over a lap and many factors apart from pure speed are integral in determining the final result.

Also read: Formula 1 renews deal with Spanish Grand Prix until 2026

There is also controversy surrounding the race as Red Bull have raised questions about Mercedes’ rear wing and whether it complies with Formula 1 regulations. They believe that the main plane flexes backwards, thereby reducing drag and increasing straight line speed. Verstappen has claimed that the team have video evidence of the wing flexing which would prove how Hamilton managed to climb up the grid at the Brazil Grand Prix. Mercedes have denied these claims and their rear wing passed the rigidity test comfortably before the Qatar Grand Prix.

Red Bull are experiencing their own rear wing issues with the DRS flap oscillating when it’s open and the team have struggled to repair it. The issue was resolved in Qatar by replacing it with a high downforce wing which is now the ‘preferred option’ as per team boss Christian Horner but the races in Saudi and Abu Dhabi are expected to suit a medium downforce wing and failure to repair the issue might result in some serious disadvantage for Red Bull and Verstappen.

The race will take place on Sunday, 5th December from 11 pm IST onwards.

(Motorsports) MotoGP the world's premier motorcycling racing aims for net zero carbon emission by 2027 as they plan to shift the sport to sustainable fuel solutions from 2024. By 2024, MotoGP will switch to sustainable non-fossil origin fuel. MotoGP, Moto 2 and Moto 3  classes will use a minimum of 40% non-fossil origin fuels. The sport aims to adopt 100% sustainable fuels by 2027, these could be in the form of synthetic or bio-fuels.

MotoGP hopes to host carbon-free fuels for races by 2027. The synthetic fuels developed for MotoGP are expected to benefit the motorcycle industry as a whole. After Formula 1 announced the project of net carbon zero emission in 2030, MotoGP also jumped on the train for a sustainable future for the sport. The world of motorsports is shifting to more sustainable and greener fuel solutions for the future. These motorsports teams are trying to change and allow the teams especially to test different new technologies and methods for a more sustainable future for the sport. The decision to allow more sustainable fuel solutions in MotoGP comes as a part of that strategy.

MotoGP will serve as a platform where these new fuels will be developed and tested  by all the premier class manufacturers. The technological development of these fuels will eventually help the day to day motorcycles that we use, which promises a more sustainable future for motorbikes without relying on fossil fuels. Since every manufacturer and supplier in MotoGP will be developing their own fuels, the results on the grid are likely to be drastically different from what we see currently on the MotoGP grid. This move will also play a crucial role in the global two-wheeler industry over the next decade.

MotoGP says these sustainable fuels can be used in a standard internal combustion engine. The fuel can be made using components from a carbon capture scheme, or derived from municipal waste or non-food biomass, this in turn will help in saving greenhouse gas emissions. Fuel suppliers will progressively introduce the use of renewable energy in the production of their fuel as they will keep on improving for more sustainable fuel not only for the future but also for the betterment of the world. The Moto2 and Moto3 classes will continue to be supplied by a single fuel provider as they too will also switch to sustainable fuel in 2024. The FIM, IRTA, MSMA and Dorna are going to be with this program that promises greater engineering sustainability on the race track.

Speaking about the announcement, Jorge Viegas, FIM President, said, "I'm really proud of this announcement, after many months and even years of negotiations with petrol companies and manufacturers, we've reached an agreement. This will allow MotoGP to be the leader in this real revolution for sustainability. We want to really show the way to all the motorcycle manufacturers that it's possible to have the fun we all like but with sustainable fuels. We hope by 2027 to have completely carbon-free fuels in our competitions, leading the way and showing that, even if the racing is a small part of emissions, we must be the leaders of this change; show the way. Thank you to all the stakeholders for the negotiations. Finally, now we can announce the good news."

Also read: Formula 1 is planning to go carbon neutral by 2030

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO - Dorna Sports: "We are very proud to announce this incredible new venture and we would like to thank the FIM, MSMA, IRTA, our manufacturers and fuel suppliers for their unequivocal support in this ground-breaking step towards a more sustainable world. Racing together, MotoGP will be a driving force for global change and increased sustainability. Motorcycles are a vital asset to society, making two-wheeled vehicles a crucial part of the solution. Sustainable fuels are key to creating an attainable and viable path to a more eco-friendly world, impacting billions of people, and with a number of different fuel manufacturers committed to this endeavour, the global impact is guaranteed. Thanks to all parties involved in making this possible."

(Motorsport) Williams Racing founder Sir Frank Williams has passed away at the age of 79. He leaves behind a legacy of one of F1’s most successful and recognizable teams, winning 16 World Championships, seven drivers titles and nine constructors championships’ with a total of 114 race wins in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The longest serving team boss in Formula 1 history continued in his role even after a car crash in 1986 left him tetraplegic. 

A statement released by the Williams team said “It is with great sadness that on behalf of the Williams family, the team can confirm the death of Sir Frank Williams CBE, Founder and Former Team Principal of Williams Racing, at the age of 79.

"After being admitted into hospital on Friday, Sir Frank passed away peacefully this morning surrounded by his family. Today we pay tribute to our much loved and inspirational figurehead.

"Frank will be sorely missed. We request that all friends and colleagues respect the Williams family's wishes for privacy at this time."

From starting Williams Racing in an empty carpet warehouse to becoming one of the most iconic F1 teams, Sir Frank Williams had that rare combination of determination and courage which saw him continue his career as Formula 1 team boss despite being on a wheelchair. He remained in the role for 34 years until Williams was sold to an American investment group for £136million in August 2020.

His obsession with cars began when he rode a Jaguar XK150 which motivated the then 24 year old Frank Williams to launch his own team ‘Frank Williams Racing Cars’. Within a span of four years they were competing in Formula 2 with his flatmate and friend Piers Courage behind the wheel of the car. The racing team graduated to Formula 1 in 1969 in a second hand Brabham. However, Courage died in a car crash in the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix, resulting in a heartbroken Frank Williams selling 60% of his team to Walter Wolf. 

However, Frank Williams was not happy with having a limited say in his racing team after the sale and he eventually severed ties with the Canadian businessman to partner with a young engineer named Patrick Head in a carpet shop in Didcot, Oxfordshire. The pair were funded by the Albilad hotel chain, owned by Mohammed Bin Laden (Osama Bin Laden’s father) and the Williams team soon became a powerhouse with Australian driver Alan Jones at the wheel.

The team achieved its first pole position in the 1979 British Grand Prix and took a win the next day with Clay Regazzoni at the wheel. Williams won their first title the following year and won back-to-back Constructors Championships a few years later. Despite suffering a spinal fracture that left him tetraplegic in 1986, Frank Williams was back as team boss just nine months later and won five Drivers Championships and Seven Constructors Championships in the following years. He was knighted in 1999 and despite his team never seeing the levels of success from the 1980’s and 90’s, Williams will always remain a true icon of motorsport.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali paid tribute to Williams, saying: "He was a true giant of our sport that overcame the most difficult of challenges in life and battled every day to win on and off the track. We have lost a much loved and respected member of the F1 family and he will be hugely missed.

"His incredible achievements and personality will be etched on our sport forever. My thoughts are with all the Williams family and friends at this sad time."

Former racing driver Damon Hill, who won the 1996 Championship in a Williams car said “Frank had a passion for cars, for racing. There was nothing else he was really interested in doing," said Hill. "He was just remarkable in every respect.

"He gave us the best equipment, him and Sir Patrick (Head). Everyone who worked at Williams gave all their drivers everything they need to fight for championships, and that's all he wanted to do.

"His record will stand for a very long time. As a team founder, there won't be another one like him again."

Also read: Formula 1 renews deal with Spanish Grand Prix until 2026

(Motorsport) The Spanish Grand Prix held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will remain in the Formula 1 calendar for the foreseeable future after a deal was agreed until 2026. The race track will also be upgraded along with the facilities in time for next year’s Grand Prix which will be held on 22nd May as a part of the deal.

F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “We are delighted to announce this deal with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. I want to thank the promoter and the authorities for their enthusiasm and commitment to keeping Formula 1 in Barcelona, with improvements that will be made to the track and facilities, and continuing our long history together. The teams and drivers always look forward to racing at the circuit and visiting Barcelona, and the Spanish fans will continue to see their national heroes, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz up close.”

The Spanish GP will be the sixth race in the 23-Grand Prix Formula 1 calendar and the new contract contains a commitment that the track will become “a model and world benchmark of sustainability” as F1 gears towards a net-zero carbon goal by 2030. MotoGP has also renewed it’s agreement with the circuit until 2026 and at least two or more F1 events will be held at the venue between 2023-2026.  Earlier this year, the Spanish Grand Prix saw Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton finish first ahead of rival Max Verstappen 

Roger Torrent, the Catalan minister of business and labour and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya  President said: “We welcome the renewal of this contract, which includes a mutual commitment clause to help us turn Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya into a model and world benchmark of sustainability applied to this type of facilities. We want the circuit to become an exponent of the green transformation and the adaptation of infrastructures to the demands of the climate emergency.”

The track has been a regular feature in the Formula 1 calendar since it opened in 1991 but the outdated facilities needed improving in order to ensure that it remains as a go-to venue, especially with new tracks in contention at the likes of Miami, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Apart from the sport, the circuit is also extensively used for testing and the Catalan government has previously said that hosting a race at the venue is worth €200million (£169million) to the local economy. Therefore a deal with Formula 1 would not only ensure the obligations to improve its facilities will be met but also provide a financial boost for the local economy.

Also read: Lewis Hamilton wins Qatar GP and reduces Verstappen’s lead to eight points

(Motorsport) Having already won the Brazilian GP, seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton also secured first place at the inaugural Qatar GP at the Losail International Circuit, thereby ensuring that the title race is well and truly alive by reducing the points gap from Verstappen to eight. The British racing driver had a dominant weekend throughout and his victory was all but guaranteed when Verstappen incurred a five place grid penalty for a yellow flag infringement during qualifications. With just two races to go in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, the title race can go right down to the wire but the momentum is with Hamilton who has the experience and form to become the first driver to win eight World Championships, breaking Michael Schumacher’s record.

Despite incurring a five place grid penalty less than two hours before lights out, Max Verstappen had a damage control strategy and recovered his grid position of 2nd place in the first five laps. However, Lewis Hamilton was simply too fast and efficient for the Dutchman who was forced to settle for the fastest lap point. Both Red Bull and Verstappen will be extremely concerned with such a dramatic change in fortunes as they were 21 points ahead of Hamilton and Mercedes in the Drivers Standings eight days ago and that lead has been reduced to eight points at such a crucial juncture. They will look to make amends at the Saudi GP on December 5th and Abu Dhabi GP on December 12th as 52 points are still up for grabs.

The battle was not just fought for the first two positions in Qatar as the final position was being contested by the second cars of Mercedes, Red Bull and also surprisingly Alonso’s Alpine. Bottas had a bad start to his race, having already incurred a three place grid penalty for not slowing down on yellow during Q3 of qualification and despite making up the grid positions, the Finn’s Mercedes was then subjected to a punctured tyre and was eventually forced to retire due to car damage, a costly DNF for Mercedes as they hope to retain the Constructors Championship. 

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez adopted a two-stop strategy but was simply out of laps in the end to catch up with Alonso who adopted a one-stop strategy. The Spaniard had a bit of luck on his side as he originally qualified in 5th position but penalties to Verstappen and Bottas meant he began the race in third position and was briefly second after overtaking Pierre Gasly. This was Alonso’s 98th podium finish, his first since 2014 when he raced for Ferrari and the 40 year old had much to celebrate about as his team mate Esteban Ocon finished 5th, giving Alpine a major boost in the Constructors Standings, especially considering that Alpha Tauri failed to score any points.

Formula 1’s next race will be held in Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday, 5th December at 11 pm IST.

Also read: Guanyu Zhou becomes first Chinese driver to feature in Formula 1, will partner Bottas at Alfa Romeo for 2022 season

Coimbatore, Nov 20 (Motor Sports news): Amir Sayed of Kerala won his first race in the Formula LGB4 class in the second round of the 24th JK Tyre FMSCI National racing championship at the Kari Motor Speedway in Chettipalayam near here on Saturday.

It wasn’t easy for the youngster from Kottayam. He had to battle hard right through before stamping his class. Starting fourth on the grid, he got off to a great start. Pole sitter Arya Singh was right up there and so was Sandeep Kumar and Tijil Rao (all from Dark Don). The safety car, which came out thrice, further added to his pressure, but he withstood it all to take the checkered flag ahead of Tijil and Sandeep.

Anish Damodara Shetty of Hubli ruled the roost in the JK Tyre presents Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup after having dominated the practice and the qualifying sessions under the morning skies.

For MSport’s Ruhaan Alva of Bengaluru, it was another memorable day as he finished on top of the podium in the opening race of the JK Tyre Novice Cup. The 15-year-old, who started on pole, cracked into the lead straight away before the race was red-flagged in the very first lap. He did not allow that to bother him and kept a cool head, as he always does, to win the race from lights to flag.

Jaden R Pariat of Guwahati made it extra special for team MSport finishing a creditable second. Chennai’s Aadithya Parasuram of Hasten Performance had to rest content for the third place.

Also Read : Inaugural edition of electric off-road racing series Extreme E coming to an end

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport) On the outskirts of Doha, the Losail International Circuit will be the venue for a Formula 1 weekend for the first time ever as the 2021 season concludes in the Middle East over the next four weeks. The title race became much more interesting at the Sao Paulo GP last week when Lewis Hamilton finished first despite being disqualified in the qualification and incurring a five place grid penalty for an engine change. 

The gap between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton has been reduced to 14 points but the real gap was there for all to see in Brazil as the seven time World Champion finished over 10 seconds faster than the Dutch racing driver, an indication of what’s to come in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Things are looking even better for Mercedes in the Constructors Championship as the Silver Arrows are 11 points ahead of Red Bull after the events in Brazil and there is definitely tension between the two camps in one of the closest title races in the last few years.

Despite there being no possibility of the championship being won in Qatar, there are many points up for grab, 25 to be exact for a race win and 1 point for the fastest lap which means that if Verstappen wins the Qatar GP, the Dutchman can then afford to finish second in the final two races and still win the World Championship for the first time in his career. However, both Red Bull and Verstappen will undoubtedly be wary of Mercedes’ pace at the 5.4 km Losail International Circuit which is regarded as a fast and flowing track with medium and high-speed corners.

Heading into the weekend, Verstappen said “We still have a good points lead, it was damage limitation on a weekend where it was a bit difficult for us, but I'm confident we will bounce back. It [the title race] has been like this the whole year. It went up, came down, went behind, I'm back in front, so a lot of things can still happen." In other rivalries on the grid, Ferrari are currently in third place at the Constructors Standings with 287.5 points while McLaren have 256 points. The Italian team will hope that both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz outperform Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo in Qatar to ensure the most successful team in F1 history finish higher than their British counterparts this season.

Also read: Mercedes request a right of review after controversial Verstappen-Hamilton incident at the São Paulo GP

(Motorsports news): It's just 30 days until Extreme E’s Season 1 finale and the crowning moment of the first ever Championship team in this sport for purpose series, taking place in Dorset, UK from 18-19 December 2021.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO at Extreme E, said: “We are now just weeks away from completing our inaugural season, and what a season it has been!

“Already, there has been great racing on some epic courses, and the route for Dorset is really coming together. It will offer a variety of surfaces, natural obstacles and challenges with no doubt lots of rain so expect a wet and muddy course this time round.

“More importantly, though, throughout our first year we have raised awareness of the climate crisis facing us all. We’ve left behind positive impacts in each location and Dorset will be no different as we work alongside local organisations to implement a programme in the area.”

The course is all set and will once again provide completely new challenges from the previous races to date. With races in Saudi and Senegal over, the glacial plains of Greenland and the hard-baked features of Sardinia. A mixed surface of clay, sand, gravel, and mud dominates the course in Dorset, making grip, or the lack of it, which will be a tough task as rain is always likely to fall in the UK in December. There will be a variety of fast downhill sections, narrow twisty areas and wide-open spaces providing options for different lines and overtaking.

Although Rosberg X Racing (RXR) has topped the leaderboard throughout it has not all been plain sailing and the Championship title will go down to the wire, with Lewis Hamilton’s X44, Andretti United, and Jenson Button’s JBXE, all battling for podium positions.

Off the course, the series is developing a Legacy Programme to assist the local community and its natural surroundings. Full details of the project will be out in the coming weeks.

As with all Extreme E races, spectators allowed to attend as part of the championship’s goal to reduce its event footprint, but are can witness the action from the comfort of their homes by watching the races through a host of global broadcasters (available here) including ITV 1, Sky Sports, BT Sport and BBC digital channels in the UK, and via the virtual FanWorld. 

The Championship’s floating centrepiece, the St. Helena is going through its final leg of 2021 to arrive in the UK ahead of the Jurassic X Prix. Once landed, all of the series’ cargo will be moved to the Dorset event site ready for a pre-Christmas racing spectacle.

Also read: Guanyu Zhou becomes first Chinese driver to feature in Formula 1, will partner Bottas at Alfa Romeo for 2022 season

Coimbatore, Nov 18 (Motor Sports news): The second round of the 24th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship (JKNRC) 2021 will be held at the Kari Motor Speedway (KMS) here this weekend.

After the first round, Chennai's Vishnu Prasad leads the premier LGB Formula 4 standings with 21 points from three races. He is followed by Bengaluru's Sohil Shah. Amir Sayed of Kottayam is not far behind. He is currently third and it is only a few points that is now separating him from his former MSport teammates.

But the top three are aware of the other drivers, who are capable of pulling off a surprise on their day. The list includes Mohamed Ryan and A Sandeep Kumar (both Chennai), Arya Singh (West Bengal), Chirag Ghorpade (Bengaluru), T S Diljith (Kerala), to name a few.

The Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup, which made its debut in the opening round, saw Anish Damodara Shetty from Hubli shine. He was challenged by Allwin Xavier from Thrissur. The duo, having tested the machines for one full round on the smooth and flowing Kari track, is expected to build an even better show during the weekend.

Raivat Dhar (Jammu) and Lani Zena Fernandez (Puducherry), the only girl racer on the grid for the RE GT Cup, will aim to improve their performance in the second round.

Bengaluru's Ruhaan Alva ruled the roost in the JK Tyre Novice Cup and the others face a tough task in challenging his supremacy.

There will three races each of JK Tyre LGB Formula 4 & JK Tyre novice Cup and 2 races of JK Tyre presents RE Continental GT cup over the weekend.

Also Read : Guanyu Zhou becomes first Chinese driver to feature in Formula 1, will partner Bottas at Alfa Romeo for 2022 season

News Source :PTI

(Motorsport) Chinese F2 driver Guanyu Zhou will replace Antonio Giovinazzi at Alfa Romeo for the 2022 Formula 1 season, becoming the first full-time Chinese F1 driver with the Italian team introducing an all-new driver line-up for next year. The 22 year old will be the only rookie of the Formula 1 grid next year and has previously been a reserve driver for Alpine.

Speaking after his announcement, Zhou said “To be the first ever Chinese driver in Formula 1 is a breakthrough for Chinese motorsport history. I dreamt from a young age of climbing as high as I can in a sport that I am passionate about and now the dream has come true.” Alfa Romeo team boss Frederic Vasseur added “He is a very talented driver, as his results in F2 have shown, and we are looking forward to helping his talent flourish even more in Formula 1."

With the likes of Bottas and Zhou being the two drivers for Alfa Romeo in the 2022 season, Antonio Giovinazzi’s time at the F1 grid has come to an end for the time being. The 27 year old joined Alfa Romeo in 2019 and the Ferrari backed driver even out qualified Raikkonen this year but scored fewer points than the veteran Finn. Giovinazzi has finished in the top-10 only eight times with his best performance coming in the 2019 Brazilian GP where he finished fifth. With his departure, Formula 1 will not feature an Italian in the drivers line-up for the 2022 season.

With Zhou joining Alfa Romeo, the grid for all 10 teams are now confirmed, with the season promising to be vastly different due to the change of rules and different cars. The Chinese driver has been plying his trade in F2 for the last three seasons, finishing 7th in 2019, sixth in 2020 and is currently second in 2021 behind Alpine driver Oscar Piastri. Out of the 10 teams, Alfa Romeo are only one of the three who have changed their line-ups with Mercedes signing George Russell as Bottas’ replacement while Williams replaced Russell with Alex Albon.

Also read: Lewis Hamilton makes epic comeback at Sao Paulo GP to reduce Verstappen’s title lead to 14 points

(Motorsport) Formula 1 World Champions Mercedes have requested a right of review after Max Verstappen’s manoeuvre at the São Paulo GP forced Lewis Hamilton wide, a move that was not penalised by the stewards during the race. However, in light of new on-board footage released from Verstappen’s car, the Silver Arrows have requested the lap 48 incident at Interlagos “on the basis of new evidence unavailable to the stewards at the time of the decision”.

Despite F1 Race Control conceding the fact that it was a ‘near-miss’ between Verstappen and Hamilton, they decided not to pursue an investigation with the replays suggesting that the Belgian-Dutch racing driver was doing nothing wrong to defend his lead. The Mercedes team released a statement on social media that said “The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team confirms that we have today requested a Right of Review under Article 14.1.1 of the International Sporting Code, in relation to the Turn 4 incident between Car 44 and Car 33 on lap 48 of the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix, on the basis of new evidence unavailable to the Stewards at the time of their decision”.

After the race in Brazil, FIA director Michael Masi accepted that they were unable to consult Verstappen’s on-board at the time of the incident as it would only be available after the race was over. If this incident goes in the way of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen could possibly face a three-point penalty which would greatly change the dynamics of the Drivers Championship with only 14 points separating the two drivers.

There is also a possibility that the stewards stand firm with their original decision but in the worst case scenario for Max Verstappen, the stewards may give him a five second penalty which would result in the current Drivers Championship leader being relegated to third position behind both the Mercedes drivers. However, that in itself would be a controversial decision with Red Bull saying that their strategy would have completely changed if the penalty would have been awarded during the race. Truth be told, Verstappen deserves nothing more than a warning for the incident and any penalty incurred would be harsh to say the least.

Also read: Lewis Hamilton makes epic comeback at Sao Paulo GP to reduce Verstappen’s title lead to 14 points

Mangaluru, Nov 15 (Motor Sports news) Defending champion Aishwarya Pissay claimed her third consecutive win in the third round of the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2021 for two-wheelers in Puttur.

Overall, Aishwarya finished 20 among 55 bikers that took the start and was ahead of 29 men and six women, who all competed on different bikes in various classes.

"I thank my team, TVS Racing and the mechanics for giving me another winning bike. I also thank Hyperice, the equipment that helps me to recover and maintain my fitness levels," six-time national champion Aishwarya said in a statement.

"The terrain is challenging and it is good for the National Rally because only such difficult terrain can prepare Indians for the tougher International rallies." The Bengaluru-based Aishwarya claimed a win at Hampi and registered a victory in Round 2 at Bengaluru to lead the table in the woman's category after her third win from three rounds here.

Dakar Rally prospect Aishwarya began on a ferocious note by registering a blistering pace in the short 5.2-km Karambi Special Stage, but lost crucial time in SS2, the 15.1-km Karikala stage.

However, by relying on her vast experience, she extracted the best from her bike in the next four stages to bounce back brilliantly and played safe thereon, with regulated aggression on the slippery track to emerge triumphant in 50 minutes 38.849 seconds.

The fourth round, the Rally of Chikmagalur is scheduled for next Sunday and after two more rounds in Coimbatore and Nashik, the topper with more points will be declared as the national champion.

Also Read : MotoGP: Valentino Rossi bids adieu to the sport as Bagnaia wins his second successive race to end the year on a high

News Source : PTI

(Motorsports) After 432 Grand Prix starts spanning 26 seasons, nine time World Champion brought the curtains down on his illustrious career. For Ducati, it was a historic 1-2-3 at the Valencia Grand Prix as Pecco Bagnaia claimed his fourth victory of the season, followed by Jorge Martin in second and Jack Miller in third. With the Championship confirmed, the day belonged to “the doctor” who qualified 10th and finished in the top 10 to cap off an underwhelming season but amazing career.

Poleman Jorge Martin nailed his start as he grabbed the lead into the first corner as Jack Miller and Joan Mir followed him closely. After lap 1 Miller took the lead at the first corner but Martin retaliated at turn 2 reclaiming the lead, while the battle upfront was intensifying Mir took advantage and overtook Miller at turn 4. Bagnaia and Rins were on the charge as they quickly chased down Miller who was suffering from a bit of tyre degradation at the  initial stage while Bagnaia and Rins would get ahead of Mir on lap four to give chase on Martin. The top four soon opened up a gap from the rest of the field, Rins and Bagnaia were having a intense battle for the second but Rins race ended after a crash at turn 11 in lap no 6. Finally Bagnaia overtook Martin in lap number 15, it was usual business for Pecco as he started opening a gap although Martin did his best to stay with him. Eventually Bagnaia won the race half second ahead of Martin as Jack Miller settled for the last podium place.

Although Bagnaia won the race, the day belonged to Valentino Rossi as he got a massive tribute during the final laps. After the race, Rossi said in his final debrief as a MotoGP rider, “It was a really, really special weekend. I didn’t expect it to be like this. I was a bit worried about the last weekend of my career because you always think on this moment for a long time and you don’t know how you will feel, or if you are able to stay concentrated on the race, and also if you are sad. But it was a great weekend from Thursday. I received a lot of surprises, from the bikes of the [past] championships [I won], and also my riders using my helmets. It was very emotional. Also, great support and great respect from all the people in the paddock and all the MotoGP riders. Especially since it was a great weekend already from yesterday, I rode well and today in the race I was able to arrive in the top 10. So, it means I will close my long career with the top 10 riders in the world”.

“This is so important for me, it means a lot, and I can use this result for a long time because I can say in my last race I finished in the top 10.This is very important. Also, from Saturday to Sunday we improved, also Pecco [Bagnaia] helped me to stay in the top 10 [in FP3] and go directly to the Q2 and start in the top 10. You can do really another race [starting from the top 10]. Also, today I feel the motivation and the concentration like if I had to play for the championship because the last race is the last race, it’s very important. It’s not easy because already from Monday I have a lot of pressure, a lot of things to do. But for me the most important thing was to try to be competitive in the race because I’m still a rider, and it’s a great emotion. Today I rode very well, I never made any mistakes, and I gave my maximum from the beginning to the end.”

Also read: Valentino Rossi: The man, the myth and legend who will never be forgotten

Bagnaia said, “The most important thing was to celebrate him in the best way possible, and with my favourite helmet he did in the past – and the most significant I think, because in 2004 he won with Yamaha, it was not easy and he won. So, for me it was the nicest one for the story this helmet had. So, I chose this one and today was the best way possible to celebrate him in his last race by winning. And it was nice the hug we had on track after the chequered flag. We shared a lot of emotions there, so I’m very happy. Sincerely not because [it was] a positive pressure. I was not fighting for anything because the championship positions were already decided. So, I was just doing my race and I was doing what I was doing all weekend. I’m just so happy to have won with this helmet.”

MotoGP™ of Valencia Result (Top 10)

1. Francesco Bagnaia, ITA, Ducati Team (GP21) 0:41:15.481 25pts
2. Jorge Martín, ESP, Pramac Ducati (GP21) +0.489s 20pts
3. Jack Miller, AUS, Ducati Team (GP21) +0.823s 16pts
4. Joan Mir, Suzuki, +5.214s 13pts
5. Fabio Quartararo, FRA, Yamaha Factory Racing, (YZR-M1) +5.439s 11pts
6. Johann Zarco, Ducati, 10pts
7. Brad Binder, KTM, +8.437s 9pts
8. Enea Bastianini, Ducati, +10.933s 8pts
9. Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia, +12.651s 7pts
10. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +13.468s 6pts

 
MotoGP™ World Championship Standings

1. Fabio Quartararo, FRA, Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 278pts
2. Francesco Bagnaia, ITA, Ducati Team (GP21) 252 pts
3. Joan Mir, ESP, Suzuki Factory Racing (GSX-RR) 208pts
4. Jack Miller, AUS, Ducati Team (GP21) 181pts
5. Johann Zarco, FRA, Pramac Ducati (GP21) 173pts
6. Brad Binder, RSA, Red Bull KTM (RC16) 151pts
7. Marc Márquez, ESP, Repsol Honda (RC213V) 142pts
8. Aleix Espargaro, ESP, Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 120 pts
9. Jorge Martín, ESP, Pramac Ducati (GP21) 111pts
10. Maverick Viñales, ESP, Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 106pts

(Motorsport) With only three races remaining in the 2021 Formula 1 season, the rivalry between seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen is more heated than ever before. The British racing driver was at a major disadvantage ahead of Sunday’s race in Brazil, starting from the 10th position due to an engine penalty but showed exactly why he is one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time after finishing first in an epic comeback.

Hamilton had a notably faster car throughout the weekend, largely due to the engine change and it showed as he raced through his competitors in the opening laps while Verstappen went past Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Bottas, who was in pole position after the Sprint race at the start of the race. After that, it was largely a chase by Hamilton, looking to finish in first position at the Interlagos while Verstappen desperately tried to defend his championship lead to ensure another Formula 1 victory.

A controversial moment occurred in lap 48 when Verstappen made a questionable move into turn 4 to deny Hamilton a chance to overtake the Dutch racing driver but the stewards deemed it a legal move which angered the Mercedes camp. However, Hamilton’s patience finally paid off 11 laps later when his car finally went past Verstappen’s Red Bull to reduce the deficit for the Drivers Championship to just 14 points with only three races to go in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

Speaking after the race, Hamilton said “Coming into this weekend I never ever thought we would be able to close the gap like we had today. Then these things that just kept going against us but it really shows for everyone, never give up. Never, ever stop fighting and that's how I've really approached this weekend.” The British racing driver had failed to win any of his last four races and this was only the 2nd of his 101 Formula 1 victories from a position lower than sixth.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished fifth and sixth respectively while Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda collided early. McLaren had a disappointing day overall as Lando Norris had a puncture in the first lap and finished in a disappointing 10th place while Daniel Ricciardo was forced to retire in what was a major blow in McLaren’s fight against Ferrari for third place in the Constructors Championship.

Also read: Lewis Hamilton incurs five place grid penalty at São Paulo GP, hands title advantage to Max Verstappen

(Motorsport) Lewis Hamilton was at his dominant best on Friday, delivering a magnificent performance in the São Paulo GP to finish in first position, starting one place higher than title rival Max Verstappen on Saturday’s 24 lap Sprint race where the winner can win a maximum of three points. However, the seven time World Champion will also incur a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix after another engine change, which means the Mercedes driver can start no higher than sixth position.

Hamilton is currently 19 points behind Max Verstappen with four races to go and his scintillating pace on Friday can largely be attributed to his engine change, his fifth of the season so far and his second since the last four races. Drivers are only permitted to change three internal combustion engines per season without incurring a penalty, but Mercedes’ reliability issues has meant that Hamilton and Bottas are currently on their fifth and sixth engine respectively.

The last time Hamilton incurred an engine penalty was in Turkey where he had to drop 11 places and despite being fastest in qualification, the British racing driver started the race in 11th position and finished 5th. It would be interesting to see how Hamilton deals with this fresh setback and covers the ground in Brazil, especially considering he has a much faster car than his title rivals.

Such was Hamilton’s pace on Friday that he topped all three qualifying segments on Friday by a comfortable margin, his fastest time of 1:07:934 being four tenths quicker than rival Verstappen. However, the Dutch racing driver will be comforted by the fact that even if he finishes behind Hamilton in 2nd place at the Sprint race, he will still have the official pole position at the São Paulo GP.

As things stand, things could become even worse for Lewis Hamilton as his Mercedes car has been referred to stewards due to a possible DRS infringement during qualification. The hearing has been adjourned to Saturday while stewards “await further evidence that will not be available until the morning” but the F1’s technical delegate has said that Hamilton’s car did not fulfill the ‘maximum distance’ required for the Drag Reduction System.

In a statement released on Friday evening, it said “The uppermost rear wing element adjustable positions were checked on car number 44 for compliance with article 3.6.3 of the 2021 Formula One technical regulations. The requirement for the minimum distance was fulfilled. But the requirement for the maximum of 85mm, when the DRS system is deployed and tested in accordance with TD/011-19, was not fulfilled. I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”

If found in violation, Hamilton may possibly incur further penalties which would be a blow for the seven time World Champion and Mercedes at the business end of the season. In other results, Sergio Perez finished in fourth position behind Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, Pierre Gasly of the AlphaTauri finished fifth ahead of the two Ferrari’s of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Lando Norris’ McLaren will start in eighth place while Daniel Ricciardo will be ninth.

Also read: São Paulo GP Preview: Formula 1 sprint returns as Verstappen looks to widen gap against Lewis Hamilton

(Motorsport) The third and final sprint of the 2021 Formula 1 season will take place this weekend as Mercedes look to catch up with Red Bull at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo, Brazil. With only four races to go, Verstappen is currently on 312.5 points while his closest competitor Lewis Hamilton is on 293.5 points in the Drivers Standings. The Constructors Championship is a lot closer between Red Bull and Mercedes with the Silver Arrows having only a one point advantage over their rivals heading into Brazil.

Verstappen has truly raced like a champion in the United States and Mexico, performing when it has mattered the most to gain a 19 point advantage. A win at the São Paulo GP will be a huge advantage for the Dutchman, who can go to the Middle East for the remaining three races knowing fully well that he can afford to finish 2nd in all of them and still win his maiden title. It’s impossible to predict which driver will have the advantage on this track as both Verstappen and Hamilton have won 2 of the last four GP’s in Brazil. The momentum might be with Red Bull and Verstappen at the moment but the 24 year old has downplayed it, claiming the teams will be much closer in the upcoming weekend.

To add to the excitement, the third and final Sprint race will also take place, having already taken place at Silverstone and Monza. Both Verstappen and Hamilton have collided on the Sunday after the two sprint races took place previously but fans will be hoping that an incident does not take place this time around, especially with the stakes higher than ever for the two racing drivers and 107 points still up for grabs.

Formula 1 is a sport of fine margins and Verstappen alongside Red Bull will be well aware of how things can go wrong which could put all the hard work put throughout the season in jeopardy. If that’s one thing even the most casual Formula 1 fan knows, it’s that Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes cannot be underestimated and that the race isn’t over until it is. The seven time World Champion has reiterated that he will not give up and the championship will go right down to the wire. The 36 year old said “All I can do is just squeeze everything out of this car. They clearly have a stronger car so I think all I can do is just make sure we don't leave any stone unturned and we just maximise all we have, and give it my all.”

However, Red Bull can take solace in the fact that their car looked much more superior than the Mercedes in Mexico, with Verstappen winning the race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez by a 16.5 second margin over Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said “You have to congratulate Red Bull because the pace was just on another level. I don't think we could have won the race even if we had stayed ahead in the first corner because they could have driven circles around the pit-stops. So in the end I think for Lewis' championship it was damage limitation, as for the constructors [Mercedes are now only one point ahead of Red Bull], Valtteri spinning out Turn 1 was just very painful."

Also read: Mexico City GP: Max Verstappen extends Drivers Championship lead over Lewis Hamilton with a dominant victory

(Motorsports news) After a heartbreaking late race crash at Misano, Ducati's Pecco Bagnaia came back in fine style at the penultimate race of the season to win the Algarve GP in Portimao. Suzuki’s Joan Mir finished in second with Pecco’s teammate Jack Miller finishing a closely fought third position. With only the last race remaining at Valencia, the Constructor Championship and the top three positions in the riders standings got sealed. The Constructors Championship was eventually won by Ducati as they managed to take top over Yamaha.

Pecco settled for his 5th consecutive pole position as his teammate Jack Miller started second on the grid followed by Joan Mir. The start was not great for Pecco, his teammate propelled his GP21 off the line very well and grabbed the holeshot into the first turn, but the Aussie was slightly wide which allowed Bagnaia through, lap 1 also saw Mir pass Miller. Pecco and Mir started showing as they opened a one second lead over Miller in third but by lap 7 Bagnaia was in a class of his own, he put the hammer down and opened a gap over the former champion. With Pecco’s lead stretching an intense battle for the podium between Mir, Miller and Alex Marquez took place, with Mir pulling away from these two in the last few laps, the place for the final podium spot between Miller and Marquez was unfolding, however the last lap didn't arrive as Lecuona and Oliveira were involved in a heavy crash at turn 13 which brought the red flags and abruptly ended the race.

With this victory Pecco Bagania and Joan Mir secured second and third place respectively in the riders standings, Ducati won the Constructors Championship with 332 points as they won their second constructors title in a row and third Constructors title in MotoGP. With World Champion Fabio Quartararo crashing it meant that Yamaha couldn’t do the double this year, next season with Morbidelli in the bike Yamaha will be hoping to win their first constructor championship since 2015.

Speaking after the race, Bagnaia said: "I’m very happy because I think it’s my best weekend in MotoGP. Also, I enjoyed every single session this weekend. "When you feel so great with your bike everything comes more easily to you. I’m very happy with the work done.Compared to April when I finished second, I was feeling more competitive this time around. This race was more difficult at the start because with the front tyre I was struggling a bit more compared to other races, so I was trying to push but every time I was leaning on the left I was feeling that the left was closing. But then everything came better and better in the next laps, so I’m very happy for this win."I sincerely think I’m the same in Misano. I was doing the same race, I was doing the same pushing like Misano and there I was more unlucky because I crashed," 

Also read: MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo wins his first MotoGP world title as Marquez win his second successive race in a row

Bagnaia added by saying, “Maybe today it's because I wasn’t with the hard front [jokes Bagnaia]; Mir cuts in and says ‘I hoped you used the hard’ [smiles], but sincerely I didn’t change it. In Misano I was just trying to open up the championship, but I already knew that it was very difficult to win if I won in Misano then for sure Quartararo would not crash today. So it’s okay like this. I was racing without pressure in the championship, so I just did the same thing today."

Top 10:

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
2. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 2.478
3. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 6.402
4. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) + 6.453
5. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 7.882
6. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 9.573
7. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) + 10.144
8. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 10.742
9. Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) + 13.840
10. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 14.487

(Motorsport) Despite a Mercedes 1-2 at the end of qualification for the Mexico City GP at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, it was Red Bull who emerged victorious in what is a serious boost for Max Verstappen’s title aspirations as he extended his lead to 19 points over Lewis Hamilton with only four races to go. The Dutchman gained the pole position right from the start, slipstreaming past Bottas and Hamilton and there was no looking back from then on.

Such was the pace displayed by the Red Bull cars that Verstappen went past the chequered flag after being 16.5 seconds ahead of Hamilton who narrowly finished second with Sergio Perez following closely behind. Valtteri Bottas was spun in the first corner by McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo, resulting in the driver from Finland relegated to the back of the grid and to make matters worse, a slow second pit stop ensured Mercedes’ second car was completely out of the points contention. However, the Finnish driver did get the fastest lap of the race when a late pit stop by Mercedes ensured Bottas was on fresh tyres to take the bonus point away from Verstappen. 

The point was crucial as it ensured Mercedes remained ahead of Red Bull in the Constructors Championship (by 1 point) but the pace displayed by both Verstappen and Perez means the Silver Arrows will be worried heading into the final four races in Brazil, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Red Bull’s celebrations were amplified by Sergio Perez finishing third in his home Grand Prix, becoming the first Mexican to finish on the podium since 1963. Pierre Gasly of AlphaTauri finished fourth, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, thereby ensuring that Alpine are now fifth in the Constructors Championship.

McLaren’s Lando Norris, who was penalized to 18th place on the grid did reasonably well to finish 10th but only managed a point which proved to be good news for Ferrari who are now placed third in the Constructors Championship behind Mercedes and Red Bull. Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel finished 7th while Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) and Fernando Alonso (Alpine) finished 8th and 9th respectively to improve on their grid positions.

Also read: Formula 1 could make the sprint format a standard approach for Grand Prix weekends

(Motorsport) Formula 1 returns after two weeks to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the first time in two years as the intense battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton continues for the Drivers Championship. The Mexico City Grand Prix weekend has traditionally been one of the most colourful and energetic events in the calendar and that is expected to continue this time around in one of the most gripping Formula 1 season’s in recent history.

Having won in Texas, Verstappen currently has a 12 point lead over seven time World Champion Lewis Hamilton but with five races to go, it has never been more important for Red Bull and Verstappen to pull up their socks and get the result they need to secure the title. After Mexico, three Grand Prix’s will be held in successive weeks and there will be little time for preparation between the two teams with races coming thick and fast as the season concludes. Verstappen’s performance this season has been close to immaculate, getting the maximum performance from his car, error free races, fantastic tyre management and race strategy to ensure he’s in the driving seat in the championship this time around.

For Hamilton, the Mercedes driver has reiterated that he wants to win or lose his eighth World Championship in "the right way" and will leave “no performance on the table” at this weekend’s Mexico City GP. The circuit has generally favoured Red Bull in recent seasons, being situated 2000m above sea level but it was Hamilton who won the race two years earlier. "[In 2019] they were quite a bit quicker than us so you'd have to say this is a Red Bull track. But we have had success here in the past," said Hamilton. "We did win here last time but that was only because Max made a mistake and got a penalty [which lost him pole], otherwise they were much quicker than us. So we expect that it will be very similar this weekend."

Hamilton added: "We thought that we would be stronger, for example, in somewhere like Austin - they were quite a bit stronger than us there in the race. So I really can't predict it. What I do know is that last year [2019] they outqualified us here and they were down on power compared to us through the year. Now they are ahead on power, there or thereabouts, and they've got a very strong car that's been affected less by the changes in the rules that we were affected by. So they are going to be rapid this weekend, last year [2019] they were almost half a second ahead of us, and our car is not better than last year's car with those changes."

Mercedes have been plagued by engine troubles this year with both Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas exceeding the current engine allocation. Toto Wolff had previously said that if there are reliability concerns, a new engine change for Hamilton is not out of the picture as a DNF is more harmful from the bigger picture than incurring a grid penalty. However, a new engine for the Mexico City GP is out of the question for Hamilton who said “I believe our engines are strong and as far as I'm aware we're hopefully going to the end."

The other battle that will be fought at the Mexico City GP will be between Ferrari and McLaren for the third place in the Constructors Championship. Ferrari have outscored McLaren by 14 points in the last two Grand Prix’s and have reduced the British team’s lead to just 3.5 points with Ferrari in momentum, having introduced their 2022 engine to great effect. McLaren’s Lando Norris has admitted that their rivals will be tough to beat in the upcoming races “It’s always generally been very close [with Ferrari], since the beginning of the season – it’s not like we’ve run away with it at any point. It’s tense. We are working hard, everyone back at the factory is working hard, to find these little things we need for the rest of the season. But Ferrari are strong, you’ve got to give it to them. They’ve come on very strong the second half of the season and especially the last few weekends. So we are putting up a fight and we can definitely bring it to the end.”

Also read: Formula 1 could make the sprint format a standard approach for Grand Prix weekends

(Motorsport) Formula 1 Managing Director Ross Brawn has said that F1 could see more sprint format races in the upcoming 2022 season as they are looking to take “progressive rather than radical steps” with the format. Brawn has said that there is no reason why having a one-third distance race in addition to qualifying and the Grand Prix not be used for all Formula 1 events in the future.

Formula 1 has already agreed in principle with the teams and the governing body FIA to increase the number of sprint events to six next year and are looking to modify the format based on the learnings from this year. Brawn said “It's open. It could evolve that way, but if it does, it will be because it's the best thing to do. We are taking it carefully step by step and off the back of six you can decide whether you want to increase the number. I don't think we should be afraid of doing that because, if we did that, it would be a measure of the success of the sprint. And if that is the format for the future then we have gone about it the right way. Equally, we may conclude that having it as a showcase event adds interest to the season.”

The sprint format was first introduced this season at three Grand Prix events to add some extra entertainment to race weekends. In this format, the qualifying is moved to Friday which determines the grid positions for the sprint on Saturday. The mini race covers one third of the distance of the Grand Prix with the results determining the grid positions for the main race on Sunday. The sprint format was implemented at the British and Italian Grand Prix with the third set to happen in Brazil this month.

In comparison to the sprint events this year, the learnings from the format has been that awarding pole position to the winner of the sprint race instead of fastest driver over one lap has not been a popular choice amongst both the fans and the drivers. The number of points awarded is likely to increase for next year to ensure drivers are more motivated to go for it and improve the competitiveness of the sprint races. Another possibility that’s being considered is to have the ‘sprint’ as a completely stand alone event with the qualification determining the grid positions as usual and the sprint grid being determined in another way.

While the venue for the six sprint races is undecided for next year, radical changes are unlikely in the format as Formula 1 has already introduced a major change in technical rules for 2022 to ensure more entertaining races. Brawn said “The overall weekend has improved so much we will go with it, but we are discussing with the teams how to make a bit more Saturday more challenging and engaging. We are going to be relatively conservative in the steps we've made. We don't want to spoil it by overstepping and people feeling it's gone too far."

On a standard race weekend, there is only two hours of free practice but with the sprint format, the day has become a lot more relevant. Brawn said “To be frank, we've had a bigger impact on Friday than we anticipated, that's why we're doing this experiment. Talking to the drivers about the sprint, they've said Friday is great now because they get in and get an hour of practice and they have to go for it. Friday had pretty uniform support from most of the drivers. The only ones who were a little apprehensive were the rookies who didn't get as much running as they might have enjoyed."

Also read: Max Verstappen extends Championship lead against Hamilton to 12 points after nervy US Grand Prix win

(Motorsports news) Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo wins his first MotoGP world title at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after Pecco Bagnaia unfortunately crashed in the closing stages. The crash meant that Marc Marquez won his third race of the season as his compatriot Pol Espargaro finished second to give Honda a historic one-two. Avintia rider and rookie Enea Bastianini moved up from 16th to finish third to round up the top three.

Pole setter Bagnaia got off to an amazing start as he along with his teammate Jack Miller set the pace up front in the beginning, Marc Marquez too had a good start as the top three broke away from the rest. Jack Miller pressed his teammate in the first few laps but the Australian made a mistake on turn 15 sliding off the track and giving up his second place to Marquez as his Repsol Honda teammate Pol Espargaro moved up into the podium. Like earlier in the season at Aragon it was again Pecco vs Marquez , this time the Ducati had a lot of speed that Marquez couldn’t keep up with as Pecco’s had a lot more pace towards lap 10 as he started opening a slight gap but with 5 laps remaining, he made a mistake in turn 15 which not only ended his race but also his World Championship hopes. This subsequently meant that Fabio Quartararo would finish on the podium but Bastianini overtook him in the last lap to get his second podium of the year.

Quartararo came into the race holding a 52 point lead over him as he just had to finish above him to win this year's World Championship. At the start of the race it looked like he had to wait for a few more races before he could celebrate his Championship as he had qualified 15th but in the end his closest rival crashed out for him to become the first rider from France to win a MotoGP World Championship. In doing so he became the first non Spanish rider since Casey Stoner when he won it in 2011 to win a MotoGP World Championship and to finally put an end to this Spanish domination. This was also a historic race for Valentino Rossi as he rode his final race at home and finished a respectable 10th place in the race. 

Fabio Quartararo after winning his first title said, “I still can't believe it! I can't even talk. It feels amazing. Maybe later I can talk a bit more. Right now, I'm living the dream! It feels good to also have my family with me, and we will enjoy this a lot tonight and until the end of the season Of course, this was not the way I wanted Pecco's weekend to end, but I'm happy he's okay. Now we are the World Champion. I have no words and I have no more liquid left in my body to cry. It feels so good, but I can't even describe what I'm feeling right now. To be on the podium with a big part of my family and my family from the circuit. I have no words.MotoGP has been going on for quite a long time. To be the first Frenchman to win it is amazing. I'm also happy for Yamaha. Since 2015 they haven't won a title, and today we won it again. It's an amazing feeling,” 

Marquez said: “This is a much more important victory than Austin. My target was to be on the podium here or in Portimao, on a ‘right’ circuit to finish the season. And we won. We won here in Misano where usually we are not strong and we had a race pace. When Pecco started to push, honestly speaking I said ok and I relaxed a bit but he crashed. Fortunately, he’s ok and we were able to take profit because he had the edge. We keep improving and this is the best way to finish the 2021 season as we prepare for 2022. When you look at the gap compared to the first race here, we’ve made a step. I also want to say a big congratulations to Fabio for his title, he has been incredible this year and he really deserves it. Today is his day but I look forward to fighting with him again next year".

Also read: MotoGP: Marc Marquez reclaims his COTA crown as he wins his seventh MotoGP race at the Circuit of Americas

Top 10:

1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)
2. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 4.859
3. Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) + 12.013
4. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 12.775
5. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 16.458
6. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 17.669
7. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 18.468
8. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 18.607
9. Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) + 25.417
10. Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 27.735
 

(Motorsport news) Red Bull’s Max Verstappen put on a champion’s performance at the United States GP to fend off Lewis Hamilton in his pursuit of his first World Championship. The 24 year old racing driver proved just why he deserves to be the favourite to win the elusive title by performing when it truly mattered and displayed nerves of steel right until the race’s 56th and final lap to win at Circuit of the Americas for the first time in his career.

It looked like Mercedes and Hamilton will regain their Championship lead when the seven time title holder overtook Verstappen in the race’s first corner, but a brilliant strategy by Red Bull ensured the Dutch racing driver went into the opening stop first, ensuring that Verstappen had regained his lead by the time Hamilton went into the pits.

Mercedes’ strategy was to ensure Hamilton stayed on the track longer, which meant that by the time fresher tyres were installed on his car, the 36 year old would take advantage of the superior performance to regain the lead. However, the British racing driver simply could not get into DRS range against Verstappen, despite having the faster car which eventually led to a second place finish for Mercedes and Hamilton.

This is a particularly big win for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, especially considering that the team had not won at Austin, Texas since 2013 and with only five races to go, a 12 point lead is a significant advantage heading into Mexico. The result is one that many had hoped for before the race weekend began, but few would have placed their money on it, especially considering how much more dominant Mercedes have looked in the last few races.

Also read: Formula 1 reveals provisional race calendar for the 2022 season with record 23 races

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said “I think it was some interesting strategy games and great racing. At the end, we thought we had a sniff at it but it wasn't enough, the moment you get close to the other car is difficult. They went for a super aggressive first stop. That was bold, we did that in Bahrain. They then covered it in the second stint and we thought that was enough to get them but they deserved to win today."

With Formula 1 heading to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico it will be Red Bull and not Mercedes who will be favourites at a track that has been a happy hunting ground for the team over the years. With the title already 12 points away from Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen being the favourite in Mexico, a win for the Dutch driver might make this unpredictable season a little more straightforward.

Ferrari and McLaren also continued their battle at the United States GP with Charles Leclerc finishing in fourth position, closer to third placed Sergio Perez of Red Bull than Daniel Ricciardo, who finished fifth. Carlos Sainz finished in seventh position, enabling Ferrari to reach within three-and-a-half points of McLaren for the third place in Constructors Championship.

The Mexican GP will be held on Monday, 8th November at 12:30 am IST.

Coimbatore, Oct 24 (Motor Sports news) Seasoned racer Vishnu Prasad soaked in the pressure like a sponge as he finished on the podium twice in the Formula 4 LGB races in the JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship on Sunday.

Vishnu was first in the morning's race and came second in the second race which was won by Sohil Shah. Shah had dominated a day earlier.

In the JK Tyre Novice Cup, Ruhaan Alva continued from where he finished on Saturday. The boy from Bengaluru competing for MSport opened up an early lead and did not stop.

Vishnu Prasad from MSport team used the reverse grid to his advantage in Sunday's first race. The Kari Motor Speedway was bathed in sunshine after heavy showers overnight. Once again, like Saturday, the race was affected by an interruption after one car went out.

With the safety car in play for two laps, it boiled down to drivers staying calm. This is where the fierce competition between Vishnu Prasad and Amir Sayed, mentor of last year's Novice Cup overall winner, came into play.

Even though Amir had overtaken Vishnu twice early on, when it came to the final tilt, Vishnu showed experience matters.

For Amir Sayed, making the transition from the Novice Cup to the harder category in the reverse grid was a good learning experience.

Vishnu won in 22:45.828 seconds. The gap between him and Amir was 3.908 seconds. Chirag Ghorpade, making the transition from karting to Formula racing, finished third. He took to the change from karts to Formula cars smoothly.

Also Read : Sohil Shah and Ruhaan Alva shine in JK Tyre-FMSCI National Racing Championship

News Source : PTI

Coimbatore, Oct 23 (Motor Sports news) Bengaluru drivers Sohil Shah and Ruhaan Alva won the LGB4 and JK Tyre Novice Cup categories respectively in the JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship here on Saturday.

Shah waited for the right opportunity to step on the pedal to win the race by a difference of 0.165 seconds ahead of Arya Singh from Kolkata.

Teen sensation Alva, well known for his exploits since the age of seven, began the proceedings on a dominant note.

Competing for MSport in the JK Tyre Novice Cup, Ruhaan showed poise and purpose after the first race was red flagged.

After the restart, Alva was fully focussed, not letting the brief stoppage affect him, as he raced without any glitch to clock 14 minutes 22.061 seconds to win the 10-lap race.

Also Read : Stage set for JK Tyre National Racing championship; Continental GT Cup set for debut

News Source : PTI

(Motorsports news) The action got underway in Sardinia today as 18 drivers had their first taste of the 7-kilometre Enel X Island X Prix course, it was the most anticipated and challenging experience so far this season.

Solid rock bases and water splashes were the new challenges in the Extreme E field, and being able to master these difficult conditions quickly ensures there is a lot of scope to improve in the series’ inaugural European round.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We love this location and it’s great also to see St. Helena from the course. It’s really great to be in Europe and the response we have had to the race has been fantastic.

“I would like to thank our hosts, the Italian Army, and the region of Sardinia which is truly an amazing place. It is also great to have the Island X Prix’s title sponsor, Enel X, here this weekend. We have a very long relationship with Enel X, first from Formula E and now with Extreme E.

“Sardinia has proven to be a very different setting to our last race in the Arctic in Greenland. It’s been great watching the cars out on the course, especially as it’s really tough here. We will have to see how it is with the dust and if we have rain over the weekend. We have many things in motion, and so we will have to see how it is tomorrow and during the racing on Sunday.”

Michele Cecchini, Head of E Motorsport at Enel X, said: “We at Enel X are very proud to be here as part of this championship. It’s extremely fascinating in terms of sustainability and how we can improve motorsport, and we are super excited to be a part of that.

“We want to develop technologies, we want to develop effective solutions and we believe that in motorsport we can really define what the real requirements are. We like the idea of accelerating what we are doing with motorsport, particularly in Sardinia. 

“It has been hard to see what has happened here in Sardinia, and so alongside developing sustainable solutions we are very pleased that we have been able to be part of the recovery programme here.”

A brief Shakedown session was followed by Free Practice, seeing the cars back on the course for the first time since August certainly set the tone for tomorrow’s qualifying runs and Sunday’s all-important Finals. 

Championship challenger X44 was the fastest out of the blocks in the Free Practice session, posting a total time of 11:53:421 to lead the field. SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing were second quickest, just under 20 seconds off X44’s pace. Behind them were the early Free Practice pace-setters Veloce Racing, who ensured they finished third fastest. XITE ENERGY RACING enjoyed a solid start to the weekend and ended the session in fourth ahead of Championship leaders Rosberg X Racing who completed the top five in the practice session.

The top-two last time out in Greenland endured a troubled start to the Enel X Island X Prix. Both Andretti United Extreme E and JBXE suffered significant damage in Free Practice which meant they were unable to complete their respective runs, with both squads in a race against time to get their cars fixed ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying sessions.

Sébastien Loeb, X44, said: “I have some good memories from Sardinia in WRC, so I like this surface to drive on. It is a bit different from what we had in the other events with a lot of sand and big ruts, so you know it is hard. It is a bit more like a rallying style of driving, with more routes and some tight corners.

“Hopefully it will be fine for us and hopefully the other teams will find the solutions to the different problems they had so we will have a good fight this weekend.”

Sara Price, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing, said: “I like this kind of terrain – it reminds me of home and also the Baja. It is going well so far and we just want to keep it that way, so we’re going to go out there and do the best we possibly can.”

Carlos Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team said: “In terms of driving I really like the course. It is very complete – you have low, medium and high-speed elements and I would say it is a complete course. It is challenging and that’s good.

“We are hoping for a good weekend, but we have unfortunately not started well. We had an issue in practice which meant we couldn’t complete the run – we lost our power steering which meant that I nearly lost the car on the course. It is a pity, especially for Laia [Sanz] being unable to get a true feel for the car. It means we go into qualifying with a lot of unknowns, but hopefully we can prepare well and have a good run tomorrow."

Molly Taylor, Rosberg X Racing, said: “You have to take every corner as it comes. It is interesting because you can see that there is a lot of attrition and typically on a course like this it is more of an endurance course, but then you only have 7-kilometre of it so it is also a sprint. Managing that is certainly a challenge here. We just need to take every corner as it comes and see where we’re at and put our best foot forward.”

Catie Munnings, Andretti United Extreme E, said: “When I did the course walk, I was really nervous about it as it’s really rough and bumpy. I would say it’s one of the hardest courses we’ve had in the championship, especially after coming off smooth Greenland - but I’ve actually really enjoyed it. I thought it would be one of those things where you are trying to survive, but I managed to get in the flow with it.

“Timmy [Hansen] touched a rock on his run and that broke a rear damper. It wasn’t a perfect run for me either, but the sectors were fast and we’ll look to build on that tomorrow.”

Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE: “We had a rough start. Neither Kevin nor I managed to do a lap in free practice so it is going to be tough for sure for tomorrow. But we had a good weekend in Greenland, we showed good pace, and we just want to keep going that way. 

“We have been watching the others, though, so we will try to figure out what are the best lines and then just drive after what we see. It is a challenging course, so I think it is about pushing where you can push and keeping it safe where you have to keep it safe.”

Qualifying for the Enel X Island X Prix gets underway tomorrow and will be shown across a number of broadcasters including Mediaset in Italy, Fox Sports in the USA, ITV, Sky Sports, BBC digital channels and BT Sport in the UK, Teledeporte in Spain, Prosieben MAXX in Germany, as well as Eurosport across most European Markets. 

Also read: Setanta Sports to broadcast Extreme E in Ukraine

All times CEST
 
Saturday 23 October
1100 – 1300 CEST      Qualifying  Round 1
1600 - 1800 CEST      Qualifying Round 2
 
Sunday 24 October
1200 – 1330 CEST     Semi Finals
1600 – 1800 CEST     Final 
 

(Motorsport news) Mercedes have installed a sixth Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) in Valtteri Bottas’ car ahead of the United States GP with the Silver Arrows using twice as many engines than the permitted limit in the Finnish racing drivers car. Bottas has had too many penalties in the last few weeks, with fresh power units installed in Italy, Russia and now the USA, which would result in a five place grid penalty.

Team principal Toto Wolff said in an interview “We've unfortunately had since mid year some reliability issues that keep coming back. I think we understand now much better what it is, but it means that there is no durability in running them and that means potential DNFs.The penalty is less than the previous one but it's still not nice because it's such a tight battle. Even if you're on the pole, you're going to have a difficult time to have back."

The unexpected inclusion of a sixth ICE component has raised doubts about Hamilton’s car as well, with only six races to go it’s a genuine possibility that the seven time World Champion may need another replacement to avoid a possible DNF and as a result, incur a grid penalty which would provide Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with an advantage in an already tight title race.

Three Mercedes powered cars will have a grid penalty at the United States GP as Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin and George Russell’s Williams have multiple elements being changed in their engines including Turbos and MGU-Hs. With Bottas incurring a grid penalty, it’s fair to say that we will indeed see a Verstappen vs Hamilton battle for the top spot with six points separating the two drivers at this stage of the season with only six races to go.

Also read: United States GP Preview: Six points gap, six races to go as title race heats up between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton

(Motorsport news) Radical off-road electric racing series, Extreme E, has today expanded its coverage in Ukraine with Setanta Sports

As part of the series’ growing expansion in Ukraine, Setanta Sports will show Extreme E’s full debut season, including the live race feed, highlights, preview, review and magazine shows on its Setanta Sports and Setanta Sports + channels, as well as on-demand on its digital outlet: https://www.setantaplay.tv.

With its population becoming more and more aware of the negative impact of air pollution caused by fossil fuel, Ukraine’s electric car market has shown major growth in recent years. In 2020, the number of electric cars on the roads grew by 375 per cent since 2018, and the country currently boasts the biggest number of public charging points compared to its nearest EU countries – with more than 8,500 (a 57 per cent increase compared to the same period two years ago).

Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “We are thrilled to be announcing Setanta Sports as our latest broadcaster. As a sport for purpose championship which is committed to amplifying the benefits of electrification, it is important to further the exposure of Extreme E in a market where EV sales are continuing to increase.

“There is an even greater purpose to our championship than the radical racing on show, with the need to reduce carbon emissions and combat the climate crisis, something which Ukraine has clearly recognised. As we expand our coverage in Ukraine by partnering with Setanta Sports, I am confident that there will be continued interest in the action-packed wheel-to-wheel racing delivered by Extreme E, as well as the wider storytelling around electrification, the environment and the series’ gender equal platform.”

Also read: Stage set for JK Tyre National Racing championship; Continental GT Cup set for debut

Following the races in Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Greenland the series now goes on to visit Sardinia (23-24 October 2021). The locations that the championship visits are all, in some way, affected by environmental issues such as desertification, deforestation, melting ice caps, plastic pollution, and rising carbon emissions. By holding races in areas that are suffering at the hands of the environmental crisis, the aim is to raise viewers' awareness and interest in environmental issues.

Coimbatore, Oct 21 (Motor sports news) The first round of the 24th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship (JKNRC) 2021, which begins at the Kari Motor Speedway here on Saturday, will see some of the country's top drivers battle it out for honours.

Also, the weekend will mark the debut of the first ever Royal Enfield Continental GT Cup. Built on Royal Enfield’s Continental GT 650 - the event is expected to add thrill and provides more thrust to JKNRC 2021, a press release said.

In the JKNRC spread over four rounds, names like Vishnu Prasad and Ashwin Datta would be expected to do well while woman driver Mira Erda would be keen to showcase her talent. Also, the focus would be on Amir Sayed in a full grid with 26 cars in the fray.

The LGB Novice Cup, which provides a platform for young and new drivers to shine, would have 24 talented drivers representing different parts of the country, including cities like Guwahati, Ranchi, Nagpur, Coonoor and Vadodara, vying for the title.

The first ever season of the Royal Enfield GT Cup has seen overwhelming response from racing enthusiasts in the country. From an application list of more than 300 aspirants, 100 racers were shortlisted and invited to Coimbatore for the selection on October 18. A final grid of 18 riders, who qualified for the races on October 23 and 24, were identified along with two media wild cards.

Like last year, all safety protocols relating to Covid-19 will be followed by the organisers, the release said.

Also Read : JK Tyre joins hands with Royal Enfield for Continental GT Cup at JKNRC

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport news) With Extreme E’s Enel X Island X Prix on the horizon - which has been supported by the Automobile Club Italia (ACI), Regione Sardegna and Esercito Italiano - the electric off-road series is excited to reveal a thrilling course that brings the nine teams and 18 world-class drivers to the shores of Sardinia.

The Mediterranean island will present one of the toughest challenges to date for both the drivers and the ODYSSEY 21. Coming off the back of a hot Italian summer, which saw a record high of 48.8 degrees centigrade in Sicily, the dry terrain will be baked hard compared with the relatively forgiving sands of Saudi Arabia and Senegal.

Inland from the coastal town of Porto Pino on Sardinia’s southwest coast, the undulating course sits within the Capo Teulada training area. The elevation change is not as dramatic as Saudi Arabia or Greenland, with a modest change of 28 metres, but it is the rutted terrain that will provide the toughest challenge.

The start of the course provides a unique opportunity for the drivers, with a multi-lane section offering very different approaches before the cars rejoin and resume battle. Doing their homework on the course will form a crucial part of team preparation, as the optimal combination of speed and distance could prove elusive.

Having rejoined the main course, the drivers will take a sharp left and traverse a more open, but bumpy plain. Another left followed by a right will take the all-electric SUVs over one of the small inland hills, before a fast, downhill section leads them into the first of two water splashes. Small trees and bushes form the scenery of the next section of the course, which the cars will carve their way through before dipping their Continental tyres in the water for a second time.

The course then winds its way through narrow turns and over more inland rises, before heading out to one of the fastest sections. This long, flat run down to a tight ninety-degree left turn will provide a good opportunity to exploit Hyperdrive.

More carefully navigated turns bring the drivers to the last section of the lap. A short, twisting portion is soon followed by a fast trip over the largest inland hill, where the ODYSSEY 21s are likely to go airborne. The drivers will then need to hit the brakes for a short but steep ten metre drop and another ninety-degree left-hander.

Also read: United States GP Preview: Six points gap, six races to go as title race heats up between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton

A fast and flat section leaves just a final right turn to go, finishing off the striking seven-kilometre course of the Enel X Island X Prix.

Championship Drivers Timo Scheider and Tamara Molinaro have been testing the course ahead of racing getting underway this weekend.

Timo Scheider said: “The challenge is really high this time. It will be totally different to what we’ve seen in the entire season. We have a solid rock base here and water splashes which are brand new to the challenges we’ve had so far this year, but for me the biggest challenges in Sardinia are the hidden bumps.

“We have some medium to high speed corners so weight transfer is very crucial, you have to be super sensible on the surface, the hidden bumps will create trouble I’m sure so for people watching it at home, it will be mega. The drivers will have to be very focused.”

Tamara Molinaro adds: “Like always in Extreme E, for sure it’s very difficult,” she said.

“It’s really tricky in some places with bumps and compressions that you can’t really spot from being in the car, so it will be an interesting weekend. We have a really hard compact gravel, which has a different grip level compared to the surfaces we’ve seen so far.”

Shakedown and Free Practice are set to start tomorrow with Qualifying on Saturday and Finals on Sunday. A number of global broadcasters such as Mediaset in Italy, ITV, BT Sport, Sky Sports and BBC digital channels in the UK, Eurosport throughout Europe, FOX Sports in the USA will be broadcasting the event.

(Motorsport news) With Formula 1 heading to Circuit of the Americas at Austin, Texas the title fight between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton is set to continue. Red Bull’s team will be concerned with how fast Mercedes have been, particularly at the Turkish Grand Prix in both corners and straights. 

Despite Verstappen currently being six points ahead of Hamilton, it’s the seven time World Champion who will be favourite as Mercedes have only lost once on the track in six hybrid-era races and it’s a venue that Hamilton has traditionally excelled in. This season has been such a roller-coaster ride that the title lead has changed hands five times already with all signs pointing towards a sixth occasion this time around. 

Both the drivers will compete on a level playing field this time around, with no grid penalties expected from now until (hopefully) the end of the season. What does this mean? That the race winner will have earned the podium position on merit rather than external circumstances at the business end of the season, a factor which will benefit Mercedes more than Red Bull. That’s because the Mercedes has been a faster car, not just at Monza and Russia but Turkey as well, a track which was expected to suit the Red Bull car. The Silver Arrows have insisted that the increase in performance has to do with understanding their car more than any engine boost, whatever it may be, the advantage is there for all to see.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said “Austin is a track we like and is another opportunity but I'm under no illusion this is very much going to go to the end in the championship.” Verstappen, who spoke of Mercedes’ speed said “There are a lot of flat-out sections as well, and tyre wear is quite high, so there are a few things to look into. I think maybe at some other tracks we can maybe be a bit better, but it's never going to be very easy. The whole year already has been quite close, of course. Sometimes it looked like maybe we were a bit better but then sometimes also they were quite quick. I just hope that from the remaining races there are a few tracks, of course, or more than half, are better for us but we'll find out."

In other notable battles, Ferrari has the opportunity to overtake McLaren at the United States GP after the Scuderia took 10 points off their rivals with only 7.5 points separating the two sides. Both teams are evenly matched but McLaren may have a slight edge as the Circuit of the Americas track should compliment McLaren’s straight line speed more. However, Ferrari introduced an upgraded power unit in the last two races and could prove to be a vital factor in the results in Texas. The shrewd move by Ferrari to introduce the upgrade before the 2022 season may pay dividends for both this season and the next as the most successful Formula 1 team in history continue their pursuit to get back to where they belong - challenging for the titles.

The United States GP will be broadcasted LIVE on Monday, 25th October at 12:30 am.

Also read: Formula 1 reveals provisional race calendar for the 2022 season with record 23 races

(Motorsport news) A record number of 23 races will be held in the Formula 1 2022 season with the season kicking off in Bahrain on March 20th followed by the Saudi Arabian GP the weekend after. The world’s most premier racing competition will also return to Melbourne’s Albert Park for the first time in two years in what has traditionally been the opening race of the season.

The Chinese GP has not been featured in the 2022 calendar, instead Formula 1 will return to Emilia Romagna GP at Imola for the fourth reason after Melbourne. More excitingly, America will be hosting two Formula 1 races for the first time since 1984 with the Miami GP in May featuring an unfamiliar circuit for both drivers and fans around the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

The calendar will then shift it’s attention to Europe with the Spanish and Monaco GP followed by races in Baku (Azerbaijan GP) and Montreal (Canadian GP). The British GP at Silverstone will be held on July 3rd. Two triple headers are scheduled for the 2022 season, the first being in Belgium, Netherlands and Italy just like this season and the second in Russia, Singapore and Japan.

Formula 1 will return to Marina Bay (Singapore) and Suzuka (Japan) for the first time since 2019 before concluding the season with races in the USA, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi. The 2022 Formula 1 season will end on November 20th, a day before the start of the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar. Despite a 10 year agreement in place for a Qatar GP, the race is absent from the 2022 calendar as the deal starts from the 2023 season.

Also read: Mercedes refuse to rule out fifth engine change for Hamilton despite a possible grid penalty

On the announcement, CEO Stefano Domenicali said: "We are excited to announce the 2022 calendar as we prepare to enter a new era for the sport. This season has been incredible so far with great battles on the track, large audiences tuning in and fans returning to the races after the impact of the pandemic.

"We look forward to welcoming more fans back next season and hope 2022 feels more normal than the life we have all experienced in the past two years. We are very pleased with the interest in Formula One from places that want to host races and the growth of the sport, and believe we have a fantastic calendar for 2022 with destinations like Miami joining famous and historic venues. The pandemic is still with us, and we will therefore continue to be vigilant and safe - to protect all our personnel and the communities we visit."

Formula 1 are yet to confirm which of the 23 races will feature the Sprint format.

Provisional 2022 F1 calendar

20 March: Bahrain (Sakhir)
27 March: Saudi Arabia (Jeddah)
10 April: Australia (Melbourne)
24 April: Emilia Romagna (Imola)
8 May: Miami (Miami)
22 May: Spain (Barcelona)
29 May: Monaco (Monaco)
12 June: Azerbaijan (Baku)
19 June: Canada (Montreal)
3 July: Great Britain (Silverstone)
10 July: Austria (Spielberg)
24 July: France (Le Castellet)
31 July: Hungary (Budapest)
28 August: Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
4 September: Netherlands (Zandvoort)
11 September: Italy (Monza)
25 September: Russia (Sochi)
2 October: Singapore (Marina Bay)
9 October: Japan (Suzuka)
23 October: USA (Austin)
30 October: Mexico (Mexico City)
13 November: Brazil (Sao Paulo)
20 November: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

Chennai, Oct 14 (Motor Sports news) JK Tyre, India's leading tyre manufacturer, has partnered with Royal Enfield for the first edition of Continental GT Cup - India's first retro racing format, which will be part of the upcoming season of JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship (JKNRC) 2021. The first round of the 24th JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship is scheduled from October 22-24 at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore, a press release said.

JKNRC continues to lead as India's flagship racing Championship for the past 24 years. The country's leading automobile companies including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India, General Motors and Suzuki Motorcycles have participated in the championship over the years. As Royal Enfield joins the bandwagon in its 24th year, the Championship is set to host the maiden round of Continental GT Cup. The track-spec Continental GT-R650 has minimalistic, yet purpose-built performance modifications which offer an un-intimidating, agile and spirited performance on track, the release said.

According to Srinivasu Allaphan, Director - Sales & Marketing, JK Tyre & Industries, "Being the pioneers of promoting motorsport in India, JK Tyre has been at the forefront in formalising the Indian racing programmes and nurturing young talent in the country...our partnership with Royal Enfield for Continental GT Cup adds another feather to our hat. We are confident that it will definitely give an added fillip to the ever-growing popularity of motorsport in India." 

Also Read : Hero MotorSports Team finishes in top-10 in Morocco Rally

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Oct 14 (Motor Sports news) Monster Energy Honda driver Pablo Quintanilla saw off his rivals to claim both stage and race victories on the final day of the Rallye du Maroc (Rally of Morocco).

The Hero MotoSports team also concluded their campaign on a high with a top-10 finish in the overall rankings.

After only five months with his new outfit, the Chilean Quintanilla clinched his first race victory aboard the Honda CRF450 RALLY.

The occasion also marked Quintanilla's maiden win in Morocco as he got back to winning ways after the 2019 Atacama Rally. The team tally now lies at three stage wins in Morocco.

"The forecast in Misano is looking hot so we know that we will have to work to improve to be closer to our Silverstone performance than our performance in Aragon," Quintanilla was quoted as saying in a media release.

"We have been making improvements in this area, but we need to keep on working to show our potential and the potential of the bike." Quintanilla started in a fine position from which he attacked Mathias Walkner’s lead. He held a sufficiently strong pace to allow him to fulfil this main mission and capture the final stage.

The other Monster Energy Honda driver, Ricky Brabec was unable to whittle down the gap separating him from his rivals in the general standings and in spite of finishing runner-up on the final day, narrowly missed out on a podium place.

Joan Barreda was also able to battle his way to finishing sixth on the day and 11th in the general standings while Chilean rider José Ignacio Cornejo was 10th overall.

For Hero MotoSports, Joaquim Rodrigues, who won the Prologue stage, was rewarded with an eighth place in the overall rankings.

“It was a good rally for me and I am really happy with my performance. All the teams here are testing for the Dakar and our bike is performing well against the competition," Rodrigues said.

Franco Caimi achieved two top-5 stage finishes during the rally. However, the technical troubles that he faced in the earlier stages cost him a good overall finish. He rode a measured stage 5, finishing in the 13th position.

Sebastian Buhler finished in the top-10 in this final stage of the rally. However, he too lost positions in the overall rankings due to his technical issues earlier. The highlight of the rally for him was his resurgent run to achieve a second-place finish in Stage 3.

Stage 5 of the rally, initially set to run for 290km, was cut short to 166km. Overall, during the rally, competitors covered over 1500km of race distance.

With the Rallye du Maroc completed, the teams now set their sights on the 44th edition of Dakar Rally, scheduled to start from Ha’il, Saudi Arabia on January 2.

Also Read : Hero MotorSports Team finishes in top-10 in Morocco Rally

News Source : PTI

London (Motorsports news): Extreme E has announced its upcoming event which will be known as the Enel X Island X Prix, as they will be receiving title support from its Official Smart Charging Partner.

Italian-based Enel X joined hands with Extreme E earlier this year, using the series to develop and test new innovations by providing charging technology as well as the JuicePump 40 Race Edition. The company is the innovative business line of Enel and has a strong past in the energy industry working across sustainability, digitalisation and innovation.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I’m delighted Enel X has extended our partnership to become headline sponsor of this event. The brand is already supporting the series through its charging technology, which is invaluable as we showcase new innovations in electric motorsport.

“It made perfect sense to select our first European event in its home country to bolster its support for the series. As a brand, Enel X is at the forefront of charging technology, which is essential for the planet if we are to reduce carbon emissions, 30 percent of which is attributed to travel.”

Francesco Venturini, CEO of Enel X, said: “As title sponsor of the Island X Prix, we at Enel X are pleased to support Sardinia with legacy projects as evidence of our commitment to making concrete contributions to the region, which Enel X is paying particular attention to through its projects aimed at encouraging the electrification of energy use.

“We will continue to bring our technological expertise to help explore the full potential of electric mobility, a key element in our mission to fight climate change and accelerate the energy transition.”

The Enel X Island X Prix will take place in the Army Training area at Capo Teulada in Sulcis-Iglesiente, an historic area in the South-West of Sardinia. It will feature two action packed days of racing from some of the biggest names in the sport including Sébastien Loeb, Carlos Sainz Snr., the Hansen brothers of Rallycross fame, Catie Munnings, Molly Taylor, Laia Sanz plus motorsport heavyweights behind the scenes in the form of team owners Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button.

The championship’s Legacy Programmes will target green and coastal blue carbon, which is the carbon captured and stored by terrestrial ecosystems and vegetated coastal ecosystems respectively, working with MEDSEA, including the recovery response to this year’s devastating forest fires in Sardinia, as well as restoration and conservation of Posidonia Oceanica (seagrass).

In addition, leading scientists including local and global will be involved in a series of seminars highlighting climate change issues and solutions, one of which is decarbonisation, which Enel X is at the heart of with its chargers for electric vehicles of today and the future.

The Enel Group is also coming to the championship with the Group’s non-profit organisation Enel Foundation, which has been one of Extreme E’s Founding Scientific Partners since July 2020.

Also read: Season 1 finale ‘the Jurassic X Prix’ to be held at UK

New Delhi, Oct 14 (Motor Sports news) Hero MotoSports team concluded their Rallye du Maroc (Rally of Morocco) campaign with a top-10 finish in the overall rankings.

Joaquim Rodrigues, who won the Prologue stage, was rewarded with an eighth place in the overall rankings.

“It was a good rally for me and I am really happy with my performance. All the teams here are testing for the Dakar and our bike is performing well against the competition," Rodrigues said in a media release.

Franco Caimi achieved two top-5 stage finishes during the rally. However, the technical troubles that he faced in the earlier stages cost him a good overall finish. He rode a measured stage 5, finishing in the 13th position.

"This race had a lot of learnings for me, and some technical difficulties as well. From here, we will keep working together on solutions and preparing for the biggest race of the year, the Dakar Rally,” Caimi said.

Sebastian Buhler finished in the top-10 in this final stage of the rally. However, he too lost positions in the overall rankings due to his technical issues earlier. The highlight of the rally for him was his resurgent run to achieve a second-place finish in Stage 3.

Stage 5 of the rally, initially set to run for 290km, was cut short to 166km. Overall, during the rally, competitors covered over 1500km of race distance.

With the Rallye du Maroc completed, the teams now set their sights on the 44th edition of Dakar Rally, scheduled to start from Ha’il, Saudi Arabia on January 2.

Also Read : Rahil Shetty beats Rajini, Jagan to notch win in national racing meet

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport news) With only six races to go, Max Verstappen is currently leading the Drivers Championship after finishing second at the Turkish Grand Prix while Hamilton finished in fifth position. The British racing driver incurred a grid penalty after a fourth Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) change with the limit being three, ultimately resulting in a less than ideal finish at Istanbul Park. With the United States GP around the corner, it may come as a surprise that Team Principal Toto Wolff has not ruled out the possibility of a fifth engine change already to ensure reliability.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Wolff said “We had to do it, we saw some data on the Internal Combustion unit that didn't look very promising and a DNF is a total killer for the championship. We've seen over the course of the season that we've had some little gremlins that we weren't completely sure where they came from and how much performance they could potentially cost, so we'd rather have a new engine in the pool and that we understand that can possibly go longer.”

Mercedes have been by far the most reliable constructors in the hybrid era and Toto Wolff has admitted that due to some ‘unusual sounds’ coming from Hamilton’s engine, the team has been working towards preventing such issues in the future. "I think we understand much better now where the root cause lies and it's something that can happen from time to time if you just have a material issue, a batch problem and these are the things you need to consider," explained Wolff.

Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas is already on his fifth power unit and Toto Wolff has not ruled out the possibility of Hamilton going the same way if there is risk involved in using the fourth ICE component. "It [fourth ICE] can last until the end of the season but there could be a moment where we say is it worth taking a fresh one because the other one is still at risk," said Wolff.

Mercedes’ cautious approach in ensuring the car remains reliable for the remainder of the season might be a controversial strategy, especially considering that a grid penalty at this stage of the season might give Verstappen and Red Bull the advantage they need to get out of Mercedes’ sights. Principal of Red Bull Racing Christian Horner has made no such claims and it’s likely that Verstappen will finish the season with the existing set up irrespective of reliability concerns than risk a penalty.

The action is set to resume at the United States GP on Monday, 25th October at 12:30 am IST.

Also read: Max Verstappen retakes Drivers Championship lead over Lewis Hamilton as Valtteri Bottas wins rain affected Turkish Grand Prix

(Motorsport news) Williams’ new eco-friendly strategy is set to be the ‘pace setter in global motorsport’ as the team have pledged to become ‘climate positive’ by 2030 and have also become the first Formula 1 team to sign the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework. 

With Formula 1 already aiming to achieve net zero-carbon footprint by 2030, Williams’ aim to become ‘climate positive’ focuses on removing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As part of its sustainability strategy, Williams lists five pillars that include reduction of carbon emissions while travelling, preserving biodiversity of Williams’ 60-acre campus, sustainable innovation such as lifecycle management of racing cars, providing access to the sport for all and becoming a pace setter in these areas. Williams have teamed up with specialist sustainability agency Enovation Consulting to achieve their goals.

Williams Chief Executive Jost Capito said “We have taken time to thoroughly analyse our entire operation and develop a comprehensive purpose-driven sustainability strategy to accelerate our sustainable transformation. So today we are making the commitment to be climate positive by 2030 and we will be using our knowledge to nurture and develop advanced technology to meet this goal.

“Formula 1 has the power to inspire millions across the world. As the pinnacle of so many advanced technologies, it can also create technical solutions to help tackle the challenges we face. My hope is that Williams Racing can inspire all those connected with our sport and beyond, using motorsport as a catalyst for significant and long-lasting change”, said Capito.

The move by Williams is a step in the right direction to demonstrate that Formula 1 can remain viable in the distant future. It also opens up the possibility that the most premier motorsport event in the world can become as sustainable, if not more so, than Formula E. Williams Racing has already achieved FIA three star environmental accreditation, an achievement in itself for the British motorsport team.

Also read: Max Verstappen retakes Drivers Championship lead over Lewis Hamilton as Valtteri Bottas wins rain affected Turkish Grand Prix

(Motorsports news) London: Extreme E, the sport for purpose electric off-road racing series, has today said that its Season 1 finale, ‘the Jurassic X Prix’ will take place in Bovington, in the UK’s South Coast county of Dorset, on 18-19 December 2021.

Alejandro Agag, Extreme E Founder and CEO, said: “I’m very excited by this race location – our first event on UK soil. This move is a poignant shift in our mission to race in remote, far-away places to highlight the effects of climate change, as more increasingly, the issues we talk about are literally happening in our backyards so it felt like the right time to bring the spotlight home, and help the army reduce its own carbon footprint.

“The world needs to move forward when it comes to the combustion engine and many other practices, and what better way to symbolise that than with a Jurassic themed X Prix. Unless we push forward with climate and sustainability action, certain species risk becoming extinct, and that is something we simply cannot ignore any longer.”

Bovington is a famous British Army military base and is just off the Jurassic Coastline. Extreme E is working intensely with the British Ministry of Defence and Army which has recently revealed its climate change and sustainability strategy. The strategy combines the mitigation of environmental impact while at the same time maintaining military output. It will do this by reducing emissions and charging up the transition to renewables, thus contributing to the UK’s aim to be net zero by 2050. The changes have already been implemented with the Army piloting electric armoured vehicles and carbon efficient accommodation.

Major General Simon Hutchings OBE said: “The British Army prides itself on its ability to conduct operations in all environments, adapting and developing its skills as required. The opportunity to work alongside Extreme E who are world leaders in electrification of vehicles and sustainable energy production is very exciting. It will enable us to share innovative ideas which will allow the Army to continue to gain technology advantage globally, whilst also contributing to our climate and sustainability targets.” 

The race will be thrilling as ever with a course designed to include natural obstacles putting the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 through its paces to be the best in the eventual winning combination of car, team and driver. Each team has both male and female drivers who will complete a lap each with a Driver Switch built into the format. With points up for grabs throughout the race weekend, some of the best drivers in the world in addition to the instant speed of all-electric mobility, the concluding X Prix is set to be a showstopper.

Jenson Button, JBXE Team Principal said: “It is brilliant news that Extreme E's Season finale will be held in the UK. I’ve been lucky enough to race on UK soil a number of times throughout my career and those memories will always be incredibly special to me.

“Heading off-road at Bovington will be a totally different experience but equally as special as I’ll be the one watching and supporting Kevin and Mikaela and the rest of the JBXE team as we push for a strong finish to the season. After back-to-back podiums, if we can carry that form into Sardinia and put ourselves in the mix for the final race then we could be in store for an amazing finish!”

Extreme E is a partner to the UN’s Race to Zero campaign as well as Count Us In, which challenges its fans to take actions which reduce their own carbon footprints. These collaborations are all focusing on tackling the global climate crisis and with road transport currently accounting for 75 percent of the global emissions. Accelerating the move to clean mobility by 2030, in line with government goals, is key to success. 

Nigel Topping, UK High Level Champion for Climate Action at COP26, who also leads Race to Zero, said: “Extreme E provides an incredible platform for accelerating  the clean mobility transition and driving awareness for the climate solutions we can, and must all adopt. 

“The Jurassic X Prix follows COP26 and provides further opportunity for the UK to keep crucial momentum, which is imperative if we are to succeed in our goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C. The shift to zero emission vehicles will hugely help reach that goal and Extreme E demonstrates the capabilities of electric vehicles, but also their associated technologies. It also uses the powerful platform of sport to engage its fanbase to take steps to reduce their own carbon footprint.”    

Extreme E will continue with its Legacy Programme format which will try to leave a long-lasting positive impact in each country in which it races, with exact details to be released in the weeks leading up to the end of year event. Not only that, the thought leadership workshops are set to continue, and will be there to view online once the event is over.

Also read: Sustainability Title goes to Extreme E at Leaders Sports Awards

(Motorsport news) Mercedes AMG’s Valtteri Bottas ended his 2021 drought with a dominant performance at Istanbul Park that saw the Flying Finn lead in almost every lap of the race and finish first past the chequered flag, comfortably ahead of 2nd place Max Verstappen. The Dutchman was 2 points behind Lewis Hamilton approaching the race weekend but his 2nd place finish while Hamilton finished 5th means Verstappen is now 6 points ahead of the seven time World Champion with six races to go.

Hamilton started the race in 11th place after incurring a grid penalty for exceeding the engine replacements but was in a respectable third position before being called in to pit by Mercedes with eight laps to go. The British racing driver had earlier refused to pit and had the aim of finishing the race with the same set of Intermediate tyres he had to maintain his grid position. However, Mercedes’ call for a pit stop cost Hamilton two places as both Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc finished above Hamilton who was struggling to keep Pierre Gasly at bay once he rejoined the race.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari also attempted to finish the race in the same set of Intermediate tyres but the wet conditions of Istanbul Park meant that the Monegasque driver struggled with grip and was easily overtaken by Valtteri Bottas. The Ferrari driver then pitted, only to be overtaken by Sergio Perez for the final podium finish while Leclerc finished fourth. Pierre Gasly finished sixth despite having a five second penalty for a collision with Fernando Alonso in the first corner. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz put up a majestic performance as the Spaniard started in 19th position due to an engine penalty but finished in eighth.

Sebastian Vettel and Aston Martin had a bizarre pit stop strategy in which a set of medium tyres were installed and struggled with grip in the wet conditions of Istanbul Park. The German was then forced into the pits again for a set of wet tyres which resulted in the four time World Champion finishing the race in 18th position. Esteban Ocon was the only driver on the grid who finished the race on the same set of Intermediate tyres and finished in a respectable 10th position despite struggling towards the end of the race.

With only six more races to go, Formula 1 will now move to the United States Grand Prix on 25th October from 12:30 am IST onwards.

Also read: Sustainability Title goes to Extreme E at Leaders Sports Awards

Nuremberg (Germany), Oct 10 (Motor Sports news) Indian racer Arjun Maini on Sunday made history during the first race of the 2021 DTM Championship’s season finale when he claimed the second place at the Norisring race circuit.

The result made him the first Indian to stand on a DTM podium.

The Omega Seiki and J K Tyre backed driver was rewarded for the pace he has shown throughout the season with the Indian managing to hold off a strong challenge from championship leader Liam Lawson towards the end of the race.

Going into the weekend, Maini was able to make full use of his prior knowledge of the Norisring race circuit from his Formula 3 days.

The Indian finished second in Free Practice 2 before qualifying fourth for the weekend’s first race.

While the Indian was overtaken by Mercedes stablemate Maximillian Gotz at the start, he managed to keep out of major trouble, despite banging wheels with Lawson and mildly damaging his front right suspension.

It took Maini many laps to get used to the damage and yet retain a reasonable pace.

A cleanly executed pitstop aided the Indian’s effort, with Maini leapfrogging Lawson and settling in behind Gotz, a position he would go on to maintain for the remainder of the race.

"I’m absolutely delighted with the result. We’ve worked so hard throughout the year and while our qualifying pace has been good, we’ve never been able to stitch together a clean race. Today was just one of those days where everything came together," Maini said.

“We have one more race to go tomorrow so I won’t be celebrating too much, but I have to say it feels good to finally achieve my aim for the season.” 

Also Read : DTM Championship: Driving error costs Maini podium in Hockenheim

News source : PTI

Chennai, Oct 9 (Motor Sports) Hyderabad rider Rahil Shetty (Gusto Racing) and K Y Ahamed (TVS Racing) recorded wins in the two premier Pro-stock categories on an action-packed day in the third round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2021, at the MMRT at nearby Sriperumbudur on Saturday.

The 23-year old Rahil Shetty marked his comeback after a season’s absence with a superb win in the Pro-stock 301-400cc category ahead of veteran Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power Racing), the championship leader in this category, and TVS Racing’s Deepak Ravikumar.

Ahamed registered his first win of the season in this category as he finished in front of team-mates Deepak Ravikumar and defending champion Jagan Kumar for a podium sweep for TVS Racing.

Earlier, Rockstar Racing’s Anfal Akdhar from Thrissur, registered his second win of the season in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category that had a grid of 38 riders.

Rahil, who missed the 2020 season due to family business commitments, rode a near flawless race on a KTM 390 starting from his maiden pole position in this category to beat a high-quality field.

Later, Ahamed, who had lost the championship to Jagan Kumar last season by just one point, survived a contact with pole-sitter Deepak Ravikumar on the very first lap, but staged a remarkable recovery to move to the front of the pack. Thereafter, Ahamed held off Ravikumar and Jagan for a fine win.

Idemitsu Honda SK69 Racing’s Rajiv Sethu, starting from P3 following this morning’s qualifying session, yielded ground and lost a close battle to Jagan to finish fourth.

Earlier, in a battle between two riders from Thrissur in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category, Anfal Akdhar snatched a thrilling, last gasp win over Allwin Xavier (Sparks Racing) with just 500th of a second separating the two on the finish line after trailing the leader for much of the six-lapper. Finishing some four seconds behind the pair was Hubballi’s Sarvesh Balappa (Sparks Racing).

Results (Provisional – 6 laps unless mentioned): National Championship – Pro-stock 301-400cc Open (Race-1): 1. Rahil Shetty (Gusto Racing, Hyderabad) (11mins, 18.000secs); 2. Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power Racing, Chennai) (11:18.246); 3. Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing) (11:18.340).

Prostock 165cc Open (Race-1): 1. Ahmed KY (TVS Racing, Chennai) (11:44.563); 2. Deepak Ravikumar (TVS Racing, Chennai) (11:44.697); 3. Jagan Kumar (TVS Racing, Chennai) (11:45.057).

Novice (Stock 165cc) Race-1: 1. Anfal Akdhar (Rockstar Racing, Thrissur) (13:03.524); 2. Allwin Xavier (Sparks Racing, Thrissur) (13:03.577); 3. Sarvesh Balappa (Sparks Racing, Hubballi) (13:07.658).

One-Make Championship organised by MMSC: Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup – NSF 250R (Race-1): 1. Sarthak Chavan (Pune) (11:10.598); 2. Kevin Quintal (Chennai) (11:10.751); 3. Mohsin Peramban (Malappuram) (11:12.621).

Honda Novice (CBR 150): 1. Ikshan Shanbhag (Satara) (13:10.362); 2. Prakash Kamat (Bokaro Steel City) (13:10.401); 3. Theopaul Leander (Chennai) (13:19.412).

Honda Hornet 2.0 (Race-1): 1. Kevin Kannan (Chennai) (13:24.412); 2. Alwin Sundar (Chennai) (13:25.148); 3. Ullas Santrupt Nanda (Chennai) (13:25.661).

TVS Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Race-1: 1. Shreyas Hareesh (Bengaluru) (12:50.036); 2. Vignesh Goud (Hyderabad) (12:50.143); 3. Jinendra Kiran Sangave (Kolhapur) (12:50.220).

TVS Girls (Apache RTR 200, 5 laps): 1. Rakshita Dave (Chennai) (11:21.032); 2. Adlin Seles (Chennai) (11:21.720); 3. Aditi Krishnan (Bengaluru) (11:22.140).

Also Read : Alwin Sundar shines; Deepak Ravikumar, Rajiv Sethu top free practice sessions

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport news) With the Formula 1 action shifted to Istanbul Park, all eyes will be on Hamilton’s Mercedes and Verstappen’s Red Bull with only two points separating the drivers and seven races to go. Despite incurring a grid penalty, Lewis Hamilton has been the fastest in FP1 and FP2 practice sessions on Friday followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc 0.166s behind while Verstappen is currently languishing in fifth place.

Hamilton has looked thoroughly in control in both the practice sessions and set the fastest time and track record in FP2 on Friday with a 1:23.804 on soft tyres while Verstappen struggled to control his car on the tricky Istanbul track. However, the British racing driver faced an old and familiar foe in Ferrari as the other dominant car on the track as Charles Leclerc followed Hamilton closely behind, only a tenth off the pace. The Monegasque driver was sandwiched between the two Mercedes cars as Valtteri Bottas finished the practice session in third place followed by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in fourth and Max Verstappen in fifth.

Happy with how the practice sessions went, Hamilton said “I didn't really know what to expect today when we went out there but, jeez, there was so much more grip than we've had before. It's intense how much grip there was, which was awesome. We started with a really good set-up. I don't know how much more there is.”

Championship rival Verstappen said “We've got a bit of an evening ahead to make it a bit better because today wasn't the best of days.” Red Bull’s Team boss Christian Horner admitted “We have a balance mish-mash at the moment, we just need to understand the issue. We have a good car and it's just about getting into that performance window - l don't think we hit that today."

However, it seemed that Verstappen was not the only one struggling to control his car as long gusts of wind forced Nicholas Latifi to spin while Lando Norris was also forced wide. The 21 year old British racing driver finished behind Verstappen in sixth position and ahead of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon of Alpine while Norris’ teammate Daniel Ricciardo finished 12th. Pierre Gasly suffered from understeer throughout the practice session and finished ninth while Antonio Giovinazzi finished 10th in the Alfa Romeo. Both the Aston Martin’s of Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel finished 13th and 16th respectively while the Williams and Haas cars occupied the last four spots.

Also read: Carlos Sainz Jr. to start at the back of the grid at Turkish GP due to Ferrari’s power unit upgrade

Chennai, Oct 8 (Motor sports) Chennai collegian Alwin Sundar (AS Motorsports) took the pole position in the Novice (Stock 165cc) category as the third round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2021 began at the MMRT at nearby Sriperumbudur on Friday.

The 19-year-old Sundar, who leads the championship standings in the Novice category following a double in the first round in August, overcame a shaky start in the qualifying session but recovered to post the fastest lap.

Meanwhile, TVS Racing’s Deepak Ravikumar (01:52.567) and Jagan Kumar (01:52.627) were among the quickest riders in the free practice session in the premier Pro-stock 301-400cc category with championship leader Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power Racing) just behind them.

Later, Idemitsu Honda SK69 Racing's Rajiv Sethu set the pace in the Pro-stock 165cc category during the free practice session by topping the time sheets with a hot lap of 01:56.344, ahead of TVS Racing pair of defending champion Jagan Kumar (01:56.405) and KY Ahamed (01:57.070). The close competition between Honda and TVS riders has produced several nail-biting finishes and this weekend's double-header promises more of the same.

In the Girls (Novice, Stock 165cc) category, championship leader Ryhana Bee (RACR) from Chennai was the quickest in Free Practice followed by defending champion Ann Jennifer (Sparks Racing) who is still to score a point this season.

In the qualifying sessions for the One-Make Championship organised by the MMSC, Puducherry’s Navaneeth Kumar (TVS RR 310 Open), Rakshita Dave from Chennai (TVS Girls, RTR 200) and Prakash Kamat from Bokaro Steel City (Idemitsu Honda Talent Cup, Novice, CBR 150), qualified for pole positions in their respective categories.

Also Read : Focus on Rajini, Jagan in third round of national motorcycle racing championship

News Source : PTI

London, (Motorsports news): Extreme E, the pioneering sport for purpose, have been rewarded with The Sustainability title at the prestigious Leaders Sports ceremony held at Twickenham Stadium.

The category is set out to recognise organisations that use sport as a catalyst to promote and combat environmental and ecological issues within society, using sport as a vehicle to spread awareness and initiate changes.

This is something central to Extreme E which, in its first season, has successfully shown a new way to deliver motorsport events in a sustainable fashion through all-electric vehicles and zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell car charging. The championship also powers its paddock with a second-life battery, utilising a ship to transport its freight in order to reduce carbon emissions all while inspiring fans to take actions to reduce their carbon footprint through its Extreme E Count Us In Challenge.

Julia Fry, Head of Communications at Extreme E, said: “We are delighted to win this accolade from Leaders Sports, an organisation which recognises the strongest players in the industry. As our first award, in our inaugural season this will always be very special, and we are honoured to receive this huge endorsement for our efforts to create the most sustainable motorsport championship possible.

“Our thanks must go out to our supporting agencies at Aurora Worldwide Media, North One, NEP, Interstate Creative Partners and MPA Creative, who have all played a huge role in our success. I would also like to thank our partners for their faith and vision at the beginning of the championship journey, with special thanks to Philipp von Hirschheydt of Continental, Rodrigo Barjas Amado of Niobium, Tommaso Buti of LUISAVIAROMA, Marc Coltelli of EY and Julien Tornare of Zenith, for believing in this series from the start.

“This is just the start of the journey and there is far more to come yet.”

The series was up against some tough competition including Formula One, Southampton Football Club, and Formula E.

Extreme E has future targets around climate change, they are planning to raise awareness of the issues faced globally and inspire action, while also promoting the benefits of clean mobility. It works with its own Scientific Committee made up of world-renowned academics that inform the series and help select long-lasting positive Legacy Programmes at each race location, and  have included planting one million mangroves in Senegal. In addition, climate education in collaboration with UNICEF in Greenland.

The penultimate X Prix, the Island X Prix will take place in Sardinia, Italy from 23-24 October.

Also read:  Extreme E releases their calendar for 2022 season

Chennai, Oct 7 (Motor Sports) The frontrunners will be aiming to consolidate their positions in the third round of the MRF MMSC FMSCI National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2021 which will be held at the MMRT track at nearby Sriperumbudur on Friday.

Much of the attention in this weekend's 19-race card that will be gone through with Covid-19 safety restrictions in place, would be on the two premier Pro-Stock Open categories, the 301-400cc and 165cc, dominated by the pair of Chennai stars, Rajini Krishnan (RACR Castrol Power Racing) and Jagan Kumar (TVS Racing), respectively, both having won three of the four races over two rounds so far.

Also, two other riders from Chennai, collegian Alwin Sundar (AS Motorsports) and Ryhana Bee (RACR Castrol Power Racing) head the championship standings in the Novice and Girls categories (Stock 165cc), respectively. Sundar, with two wins from four starts, enjoys a two-point lead over Thrissur's Anfal Akdhar (Rockstar Racing). Ryhana, having won both races, leads by 20 points over her nearest rivals.

A clutch of teenagers have been making waves in the One-Make Championship organised by MMSC. Kolhapur's Jinendra Kiran Sangave, only 12 years old, and local rider Rakshita Srihari Dave, 13, remain unbeaten in the TVS Rookie and Girls categories (both Apache RTR 200), respectively, while experienced Amarnath Menon, with two wins, heads the TVS Open class (Apache RR 310).

In the Idemitsu Honda India Talent Cup, Chennai schoolboy Kavin Quintal, with four wins from as many starts, and Bokaro Steel City’s Prakash Kamat (two wins) lead the points table in the Honda NSF 250R and Honda CBR 150 categories, respectively.

Also Read : Hemanth Mudappa breaks National Drag Racing record

News Source : PTI

(Motorsport news) Carlos Sainz Jr. will be starting the Turkish Grand Prix from the back of the grid due to penalties incurred for exceeding his engine allocation. Ferrari will install a new power unit with the new hybrid system in the Spaniard’s car, the same upgrade as Charles Leclerc who started at the back of the grid at the Russian Grand Prix.

The Monegasque driver received his upgrade before teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. because Ferrari had concerns that his engine store was damaged during a crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix as well as not wanting both the drivers to incur grid penalties at the same race. Sainz had an impressive Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom, finishing in third position behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. It remains to be seen how many positions the Spaniard climbs through the race in Istanbul Park but Ferrari have reaffirmed that it is “a step” in performance.

In a preview by Ferrari ahead of the Turkish GP, the team said “As was the case for Charles Leclerc in Russia, in Turkey Carlos Sainz will take a completely new power unit fitted with the new hybrid system, therefore he will start from the back of the grid with the aim of climbing up the order to try and score some points.”

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto will not be in attendance during the Turkish GP, instead he will be at the Maranello factory focusing on the development of the 2022 car. "He will of course follow all sessions and the race from the Remote Garage, with a permanent link to the team at Istanbul Park," the team said.

Ferrari have slipped further behind in the Constructors Championship and are currently in fourth with 216.5 points while McLaren are in third position at 234 points. Red Bull Racing are at 364.5 points while Mercedes lead the pack with 397.5 points. Lewis Hamilton is currently two points ahead of Max Verstappen in the Drivers Championship but may incur a penalty if Mercedes consider an engine replacement.

Also read: Lewis Hamilton may start at the back of the grid at Turkish GP as Mercedes consider engine change

(Motorsports news) Last year FIA announced the use of E10 biofuels which is a mixture of 90% fossil fuel and 10% ethanol in the 2022 new cars but the new target is to develop and utilise low carbon synthetic fuels to reduce the carbon emission in the planet and also develop a 100% sustainable fuel. 

Formula 1 announced that it is targeting the wholesale of synthetic fuels by 2025 by partnering with car manufacturers and energy companies to develop and mass produce biofuels that will contribute to f1’s net zero emission target by 2030. F1 wants to adopt a more carbon friendly ecosystem both for the car as well as the racing environment to promote people towards less carbon emission. These biofuels will be manufactured with techniques that will incorporate carbon capture, municipal waste and biomass method of production offsetting the carbon emitted in the F1 car engines. F1 aims to reduce at least 65% less carbon emission as other steps are being taken for the net zero carbon emission project by 2030.

The fuel drop would mean that engines do not require any specific modifications in order to be compatible while also matching the high speed action that we see in the sport nowadays. The FIA governing body has already developed a F1 engine which meets the demand of the carbon neutral biofuel but it is only in the testing phase and will require a lot of time to attain the same level of the turbo hybrid engines that F1 cars use nowadays.

While this is a long term project, it's a step in the right direction for the betterment of the environment and through F1 it helps put out a right message to the world. Companies like Porsche and Audi have already expressed interest in synthetic fuels for normal cars but also joining in F1 as an engine supplier should the series switch to sustainable biofuels.The FIA have already taken major steps in reducing Carbon emission since they introduced Formula E in 2014 and want to continue the same with F1 in future of the sport.

Also read: Audi and Porsche set for Formula 1 arrival in 2026 as Mercedes and Red Bull welcome the move

 F1 Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds explained: "We're not producing any CO2 that is not already in the atmosphere at the moment; we're taking it out of the atmosphere, we're using it, and we're putting it back in the atmosphere. F1 expects the new fuel to achieve greenhouse-gas-emissions savings of at least 65 percent, compared to traditional gasoline.”

On being asked why is it important outside F1 he added by saying “The techniques that we will hone and make more efficient and mainstream to produce our fuels are exactly the same techniques that can produce the fuel for trucks, for trains, for aircraft, even if those fuels are slightly different. An aircraft fuel for a gas turbine engine is a bit different to our fuel, but the technique of making it is essentially the same.”

(Motorsports news) Marc Marquez went on to win his seventh race in eight years at the Circuit of Americas in Austin Texas after finishing ahead of world championship leader Fabio Quartararo and Pecco Bagnaia. This means that Fabio would have the opportunity to wrap up the world title when they head to Misano in two weeks time.

Marquez had qualified third as Pecco Bagnaia claimed his third successive pole in as many races but heading into the first corner Marquez had snatched the holeshot from the front row and quickly took the lead of the race. In doing so, Bagnaia fell to sixth as Quartararo and Marquez set the pace up front in the early stages, Jorge Martin the rookie tried to overtake Fabio but the Yamaha rider held firm to hold his position. All the riders chose the hard front tyre as Jack Miller was the only one to go with the hard rear tyre, this move paid off for him as the riders in front of him with soft rears were struggling a lot which eventually made him move all the way to fifth. Up front the signs were ominous as Marquez slowly and steadily built a gap of four seconds ahead of Quartarao who took little risk chasing down the king of COTA.

In the end Marquez finished 4.7 seconds ahead of Fabio Quartararo, which means this is only the second victory of the season for the 6 time world champion after making an injury comeback this season. Although Marquez is not at his best form, the signs for next season are ominous as he looks to break Valentino Rossi’s record of 9 premier class world championships. As for this season Fabio Quartararo can wrap the world title with a victory at Misano as he has got 254 points, extending his lead over Pecco Bagnaia in second place who has 202 points. The battle for the constructor championship is also heating up between Ducati and Yamaha as they are separated by only 9 points with 3 races remaining.

Also read: Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia wins San Marino GP after fending off Fabio Quartararo

During the podium media conference Márquez said “I pushed hard only three or four laps, then when I saw the gap was increasing I was able to ride in [two minutes] 4.8, four-high at a constant pace, with some margin, I had the margin to be a little bit faster. This is the first race this year that I came to with the intention of fighting for victory. I said that already in the press conference on Thursday. The weekend was good – Friday was really good, Saturday so-so, but today was better. I need to keep working and keep pushing because the special feeling with the bike is still not there”. 
 

(Motorsport news) With only two points separating Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the title race is heating up with every race and is about to get even more interesting. Mercedes have hinted at the possibility of a possible engine penalty for Hamilton at the Turkish GP as they look to replace their third engine of the season (the maximum permitted) to ensure reliability with seven races still remaining for the season.

Title rivals Red Bull and Max Verstappen were in a similar situation at the Russian GP and looked to make the best out of a bad situation as their Dutch racing driver had incurred a three place grid penalty after his collision with Hamilton at Monza. Team Principal of Red Bull Racing Christian Horner along with others in the Red Bull team used that opportunity to replace the engine which meant that Verstappen started at the back of the grid at 20th but still finished in second place behind Lewis Hamilton. This meant that Red Bull’s strategy of damage control paid dividends as only two points separate the two drivers as Formula 1 heads to Istanbul Park.

Speaking about the possibility of an engine change, Toto Wolff said “It's a possibility, when, and how, is not yet decided. Most important is that you don't DNF because of a reliability issue, you can cope with swings, whether you finish second, third, I think that is OK, the championship is going to go long, but if you don't finish...so we are looking at the parameters of the engines, making sure we don't suffer from any reliability problems. Lewis has been tremendous there, but we have to take each race at a time. It's so difficult, the cars are so close. I'm curious to see how this championship evolves."

The Turkish GP is expected to be a wet race, similar to last year in which Hamilton clinched his seventh World Championship. The British racing driver is looking for a record eighth title which will put him ahead of the legendary Michael Schumacher but Max Verstappen stands in his way in the closest title race that we have seen in years. Hamilton has admitted that Mercedes has not taken advantage to move clear of title rivals Red Bull and Verstappen, particularly at Monza and Sochi. He said “It's not only the two races, there's been plenty of races where we've not maximised, as a team, collectively, both drivers and everyone but we're still in a fight and we can continue to improve.

"There are definitely things that we will try and do better moving forwards but we just won't give up, we'll just keep trying, keep pushing, remain hopeful and just do the work. Well, undoubtedly it's going to be tough,  think, for two thirds of the season so far they've had the edge. However, it's obviously been difficult with all sorts of things, curve balls sent to both of us and our teams. There's still everything to play for in these next races. I think they've got a good set of circuits coming up and I anticipate or just continue to be really close between us. Just got to be hopeful of some good races."

With the remaining tracks expected to favor Red Bull, it will perhaps be in Mercedes’ best interests to incur the engine penalty at the Turkish Grand Prix. It’s also important to note that this year has a 22 race schedule, the longest in Formula 1 history with no increase in components allowance compared to previous seasons. Hamilton switched to his 3rd and final penalty free engine at the Belgian Grand Prix and lost one of his older engines at a practice session during the Dutch Grand Prix, which means that if Mercedes are serious about a title charge, it is likely that a fourth engine is on the cards.

However, with Hamilton having done well at the Turkish Grand Prix last season, Toto Wolff might opt for a different race to incur an engine penalty where Mercedes would be at a disadvantage anyway, a strategy that was also employed by Red Bull during the Russian Grand Prix. According to F1 regulations, each team can have 3 internal combustion engines, 3 MGU-H, 3 MGU-K, 3 turbo-chargers, 2 energy stores and 2 control electronics. As things stand, Hamilton is the only racing driver compared to Verstappen, Bottas and Perez who has stayed within the component limit but that may change at the Turkish Grand Prix.

The Turkish Grand Prix will be held on Sunday, 10th October from 5:30 pm IST.

Also read: Formula 1 calendar adds the Qatar Grand Prix with a 10 year agreement in place

(Motorsport news) The maiden Qatar Grand Prix is set to take place on November 21st at the Losail International Circuit and the country will now have a permanent place in the Formula 1 calendar from 2023.

With the Formula 1 season heating up as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s pursuit for the Drivers Championship becomes more intense than ever before, Doha will be the venue which will fill the spot vacant after the Australian Grand Prix’s cancellation and is first of the three venues in the Middle East to finish the season. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place on December 3rd and 10th respectively.

Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali had this to say upon the confirmation of a 10 year agreement “We are very pleased to welcome Qatar to the Formula 1 calendar this season and for the longer term from 2023. We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix. The huge effort from all the teams, F1 and the FIA has made it possible to deliver a 22-race calendar, something that is very impressive during a challenging year and something we can all be proud of."

The country has a longstanding history of hosting MotoGP, being an integral part of their calendar since 2004. Qatar will also be hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022, a year before the 10 year agreement will begin with Formula 1. A statement from Formula 1 said “There was a strong will from Qatar to be helpful to F1, and in the course of this process, the vision for a longer partnership was discussed and agreed for 10 years.

"The step from the gesture to be helpful to F1 in 2021 to a long term strategy was short and simple and the vision for F1 to be the showcase for Qatar after the FIFA World Cup in 2022 was the driving force behind this long term agreement. As part of the longer-term deal, discussions will continue regarding the location for the Grand Prix from 2023 with further details to be provided at a later time."

Also read: Late heartbreak for Lando Norris as Lewis Hamilton wins Russian GP to record 100th F1 victory

(Motorsport news) Volkswagen Group’s Audi and Porsche are likely to join the ranks of Formula 1 engine manufacturers in 2026, subject to a final decision that is pending on the long term regulations of power units before the Turkish Grand Prix on October 10th. According to reports, the one condition both the brands have made to join Formula 1 is that the MGU-H element had to go and both Porsche and Audi attended the meeting at Red Bull Ring with F1 stakeholders regarding the future of the engines.

It is reported that Formula 1 engines from 2026 onwards will be a V6 and the basic turbo architecture will remain unchanged, but the electric power output will rise to 350 kilowatts. The aim is to make the engines simpler and more cost effective compared to the current ones with the MGU-H element to be dropped, which is usually used to recover and store turbocharger energy. 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff welcomed the prospect of Audi and Porsche joining Formula 1 by saying “The MGU-H will be dropped if we can find alignment of many other points. I think it’s a compromise that – I can’t speak for anyone else – but at Mercedes, we are prepared to enter in order to facilitate the entry of the Volkswagen Group but there are several other topics where compromise needs to be found. If compromise cannot be found then we will probably revert to the governance and have 2026 regulations that the (governing) FIA and FOM (Formula One Management) are going to come up with.”

With 10 Formula 1 teams relying on engines from the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda and Renault, out of which Japanese manufacturer Honda is withdrawing from the sport at the end of 2022 and Red Bull taking over the IP, it has never been more important for more engine manufacturers to come into the sport.

Current champions Mercedes supply four teams with engines in the Formula 1 grid, Ferrari supply three teams, Renault to their Alpine branded teams and Honda to Red Bull and AlphaTauri. It’s likely that either Audi or Porsche would team up with Red Bull with their entry in 2026, as Red Bull has worked with the Volkswagen Group in the past, most notably in the World Rally Championship.

Also read: Late heartbreak for Lando Norris as Lewis Hamilton wins Russian GP to record 100th F1 victory

(Motorsport news) Lewis Hamilton overtook Max Verstappen in the Drivers Championship with a lead of two points after winning the Russian GP. Lando Norris, who displayed exquisite performances throughout the weekend was very unlucky to not win at the Sochi Autodrom as his dry tyres simply didn’t give him the grip required when the heavy rain hit to keep Hamilton at bay. The 21 year old British-Belgian racing driver would be heartbroken to finish in seventh place after leading for the majority of the race.

Verstappen, who started the race at the back of the grid after incurring a penalty due to the collision with Hamilton at Monza and an engine change put up an impressive display to finish in second place with 18 points. Carlos Sainz and Ferrari finished in third place ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas, Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso after being second fastest in the qualifiers.

However, it was Lando Norris who may not have won the race but definitely won all the hearts as Britain’s youngest ever pole sitter who was also set to become the youngest British driver to win a Formula 1 race. Questions will be raised about the strategy employed by McLaren and Norris, who was in the lead with eight laps to go when rain started getting increasingly heavier. McLaren and Norris’ decision to remain on slick tyres in hindsight was the wrong one and eventually led to a catastrophic spin in the 51st lap out of 53, which was immediately capitalised by Hamilton.

With this result in Russia, Lewis Hamilton became the first Formula 1 driver to win 100 races, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record of 91 last year. The British racing driver is now the most successful F1 racer in history, having won 7 World Championships, 101 poles and 100 wins. "It has taken a long time to get to 100 and I wasn't even sure if it would come," said Hamilton. "It is a magical moment. I could only have dreamed of still being here, to have this opportunity to win these races, and to drive with such phenomenal talents this late on in my career.

"I am so proud of everything we have done with Mercedes, on and off the track, and this is a special moment for everyone that has been part of it. My dad called me last night and he has always been that one to reassure me and to continue to support me. I feel incredibly grateful for the amazing support that I have had."

In an interview with Sky F1, Toto Wolff said "I think we are witnesses of a career that is just amazing. The 100th race victory is just mind-blowing. I think if you were to be in awe that would be the wrong working relationship and friendship. But we realise that we are being part of a journey that no other sportsman in Formula 1 has done so far and that is beyond the races that we have won or the championships - from the human aspect it is something special."

The next Formula 1 race will take place at Istanbul Park in Turkey with just two points separating Hamilton and Verstappen. Be sure to catch all the action LIVE on Sunday, 10th October from 6:30 pm IST. 

Also read: Extreme E releases their calendar for 2022 season

(Motorsports news) The electric off road racing series is at the midpoint as it celebrates its first season as Extreme E has its eye on the future as it unveils the provisional Season 2’s calendar in 2022.

The electric racing series takes place in off-road locations as part of its mission to drive awareness of climate change issues, such as global warming, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, wildfires and extreme weather and desertification, whilst promoting sustainability and the adoption of electric vehicles to help protect the planet.

Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, explained: “We’ve had a hugely positive response to Extreme E throughout this opening Season, from governments to NGOs, who see great potential, not only for utilising our purpose driven sports platform to educate on climate issues, but also to showcase the solutions that they and the wider global community can all be part of.

“As we approach the tail end of our first Season, we wanted to be transparent about how our second season is shaping up in order to help enable our teams, drivers and partners to prepare. We’ve had lots of interest, both in retaining events in locations we’ve visited in Season 1, and from new locations and we are currently at a stage where we have multiple options for some of our races. As an engaged championship which aims to put fans at the heart of decision making, we are also keen to hear input and opinions on where we should go in future Seasons too.”

Provisional Extreme E Season 2 calendar (2022):
February 19-20:  Saudi Arabia
May 7-8:  Senegal / Egypt / Tanzania
July 9-10:  Greenland / Iceland
September 10-11:  Brazil / Argentina / Uruguay / Italy / Costa Rica   
November 26-27:  Chile

St. Helena, the former Royal Mail Ship will provide the championship’s floating centrepiece as they will carry the series’ vehicles, logistics equipment and paddock infrastructure as well as playing host to scientific research with its on board laboratory. This is done in a bid to lower the impact of the travel logistics compared to air travel.

Head-to-head races, known as an X Prix,  will take place over two days as the area is no larger than 10 km2, with each team fielding a male and a female driver to compete in the race, including a Driver Switch incorporated midway. Course designers have carefully selected course options, which provide the most challenging, exciting action, using obstacles and features with elevation changes and jumps, to entertain the audience and also raise environmental awareness

Race organisers undergo thorough environmental, social and economic assessments of each location with a local third party, as they oversee the environmental protection, social inclusivity and fair practices. Extreme E in a systematic manner as they operate from water consumption, waste management, lighting on-site through to land management and ensuring the series races without a trace after the X Prix has finished. 

Additionally, in each location, Extreme E works alongside governments and NGOs to implement positive legacy initiatives dependent on regional needs. Examples of Legacy Programmes in Season 1 have included; the funding of a turtle conservation project along the Red Sea coastline; the planting of one million mangroves with NGO TO.org and Oceanium in Senegal; cocoa agroforestry and Amazon conservation with The Nature Conservancy in Para state, Brazil; and the creation of a climate education syllabus for over 3,500 school children across Greenland with UNICEF. 

Professor Carlos Duarte, Extreme E’s Climate Change Scientist said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of Extreme E this year and very much look forward to continuing our good work into Season 2.
“The legacy and scientific aspects are a true cornerstone to the series and already this year I’ve been able to conduct research in Saudi Arabia and collect ice samples from the Russell Glacier with Extreme E. This championship gives me and my peers the opportunity to reach people outside of our usual networks, it gives us a voice to reach the masses and educate on climate issues and the solutions we can all be a part of.”

As well as providing a platform for climate and environmental awareness, Extreme E provides strong economic impact to the host countries. YouGov Sport, calculated the series’ inaugural event in Saudi Arabia contributed more than €47 million local value. These figures include employment of local personnel, logistics, transportation, local food ,beverage, provisions and hotel stays.
The  media exposure of the Desert X Prix majorly factors in the overall economic impact. Extreme E’s broadcast in 190 broadcasting markets as they cater to 18.7million audiences which has resulted in an unprecedented media value of almost €32 million for the championship.

Extreme E has already surpassed its end of Season 1 targets on social media hitting 100 million video views, a 400 per cent increase in engagement plus more than one billion impressions across all digital platforms.

Also read: ABT CUPRA XE announces new design in IAA Mobility Show at Munich
 

(Motorsport news) Formula 1 is heading to the Sochi Autodrom for the 2021 Russian Grand Prix with the title race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen more intense than it has ever been. Verstappen has a three place grid drop after the collision with Hamilton’s Mercedes at Monza, which means the Dutchman would be at a significant disadvantage heading into the weekend in Russia. This means that even if Verstappen finishes first in qualifying, the highest he will start the race will be fourth. It will be the first time the Red Bull driver will not be in the top 3 this season, finishing seven out of the last eight races in pole position.

The man to watch out for at Sochi is neither Hamilton or Verstappen but Valtteri Bottas. The Flying Finn won the race last year, has never started outside the top 4 in seven attempts in Russia and showed a blistering pace in Italy by being fastest in Friday qualifying and Sprint. Red Bull will not be too downhearted by Verstappen’s penalty as the long straights and DRS zones will help their fast car catch up and they would undoubtedly remember when the Dutchman started the race in 19th position in 2018 and finished fifth within the first eight laps.

However, it’s Mercedes who look favourites at Sochi Autodrom, having won every race at the venue since 2014, leading for 309 out of a possible 340 laps. Hamilton has already won four races and will hope to capitalize on Verstappen’s grid penalty by gaining points in the Drivers Championship. Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris of McLaren will also be hoping to maintain momentum in Russia after finishing first and second at Monza. In a power sensitive circuit, the McLaren MCL35M is expected to be competitive and a possible podium finish might be on the cards.

Ferrari will be debuting their new power unit in Russia, which means that Charles Leclerc will be forced to start at the back of the grid. As per the regulations, Ferrari are restricted to one upgrade of each component every year and have been running the 2020-spec hybrid system. The introduction of the new hybrid system will help Ferrari gain experience for the 2022 car project amidst new technical regulations. Unfortunately for Leclerc, the Monaco based driver has already used up his permitted allocation of power units this season, which means the new upgrade will automatically trigger a grid penalty. Carlos Sainz is expected to use his old power unit in Russia and the new upgrade in Turkey, which will also result in a grid penalty as and when the upgrade is implemented.

One thing is for sure, it’s going to be another action packed weekend full of drama, excitement and controversy in the most competitive Formula 1 Championship in years. Be sure to tune in on Sunday, 26th September from 5:30 pm onwards.

Also read: Formula 1: German Grand Prix will not return to the F1 calendar next year

(Motorsports news) The German Grand Prix is one of the most iconic and loved events by the fans, but it's a race that is struggling to meet the financial end for years. The Hockenheimring and Nurburgring alternated to spread the cost between them. Mercedes AMG were one of the key partners for the German GP but ever since they stopped doing so, the German GP found it difficult to sustain it.

In 2020, Nurburgring returned to the calendar because of the pandemic, replacing the Eifel Grand Prix. The historic track first started hosting races in 1926 and was a staple to the F1 schedule from 1956 to 2006, although F1 didn’t race in Germany in 2007, 2015 and 2017. It will be a huge blow for the sport as the German influence on the sport is tremendous and the likes of Vettel and Mercedes will not have a home race to show for. The German GP over the years have seen have some legendary moments like the infamous crash of Nikki Lauda in 1976 where he miraculously escaped the engulfing fire only to come back racing two races later to renew his championship battle with James Hunt, it saw a birth of a superstar in 1995 when Michael Schumacher won his first race in Germany and placed one hand on the 1995 title .

The 2022 calendar was going to originally feature a record 23 races but with the pandemic and cancellation of races, F1 bosses came to an agreement of 22 races next year. F1 is looking to diversify the sport by hosting one third of the races in Europe and the rest in different continents. Formula 1 CEO Domenicali also suggested that a race in Africa and also the return of the Korean Grand Prix at Yeongam is a distinct possibility.

Also read: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll retained by Aston Martin for the Formula 1 2022 season

"I have the feeling that the organizers have no faith in themselves to host a Grand Prix anymore. Just look at what happened in Holland, Zandvoort is sold out for the next three years.

“I can imagine about a third of the races in Europe and the others around the rest of the world, starting in Bahrain. We have requests from Africa and are negotiating in the south and the north, plus one or two places in the Far East—Korea, for example” said the F1 CEO Domenicali.

(Motorsport news) Francesco Bagnaia won his second consecutive MotoGP victory at the San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday after surviving a late charge from World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo.

The Italian led the race by almost 2.7 seconds at one point until Quartararo gave a late scare and reduced the gap by two tenths of a second. Quartararo struggled to keep pace with the Ducati’s of Bagnaia and Jack Miller at the beginning of the race, but soon found his form and overtook the Australian with 14 laps to go to finish in second place.

Starting from the 12th position on the grid, Enea Bastianini of Avintia Ducati also secured his debut podium finish while Repsol’s Marc Marquez finished fourth. Ducati’s Jack Miller finished in a disappointing fifth position while former world champion Valentino Rossi finished 17th for Petronas Yamaha while reigning world champion Joan Mir finished sixth on his Suzuki.

Despite back to back victories for Francesco Bagnaia, the Italian still trails Quartararo by 48 points with four rounds to go. The Frenchman said, “There were a few moments where I closed the gap, but Pecco (Bagnaia) was on another level today... but we did the job today because we still have a good lead in the championship.”

After the race, Bagnaia spoke about his back to back race wins, “I knew that with the soft rear tyre, I was struggling a bit and I tried to push in the first few laps to open the gap. The last 10 laps when Fabio was recovering were very difficult... he was a bit better in the last part but we were incredible today.

Two victories in a row is incredible for me. I was struggling to win my first race... there was something missing. Now I'm very happy."

Also read: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll retained by Aston Martin for the Formula 1 2022 season

(Motorsport news) Formula 1 team Aston Martin have announced an unchanged driver lineup for the 2022 season with both Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll retaining their places on the grid. Formerly known as Racing Point, Aston Martin returned to F1 this year and are currently placed seventh in the Constructors Championship.

Sebastian Vettel has guided Aston Martin to their best result so far, finishing second at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The four time World Champion left Ferrari last season to join the British team. Following his contract extension, Vettel said in an interview,  “I am really looking forward to racing the new generation of Formula One cars. Their look is very different and the new technical regulations should give us cars that can race much more closely than recently.

“More exciting racing will be great for the drivers as well as for the fans. The changes are so big that every team will be starting from a new beginning,  so it will be a great opportunity for us at Aston Martin. I believe in the strength of our new growing team, so I am already looking forward to 2022.”

Lance Stroll added “Next season I will be embarking on my sixth year in Formula 1, alongside my team mate Sebastian… and I greatly look forward to continuing the journey with him next year. We have not achieved what we set out to do this year, but that has only amplified our hunger and drive for success next season.”

Speaking of his driver line-up for 2022, Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer said: “Lance is one of the most gifted drivers in modern Formula 1, and to that raw talent he is now adding serious racecraft.

“A four-time world champion, having driven 271 Grands Prix, of which he has won 53, Sebastian is also a massive asset to our team, and next year we expect both of them to race well in what will be a very different formula from the current one.

“We never under-estimate our opposition, so we do not intend to over-promise, but we know that Lance and Sebastian will get the very best from the tools we will put at their disposal.”

With Aston Martin confirming their driver line-up for next season, only one seat remains vacant at Alfa Romeo with the occupant set to team up with Valtteri Bottas. Haas are also expected to confirm their driver line-up, with Mick Schumacher expected to retain his place in the American team.

Also read: Daniel Ricciardo wins Italian GP as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash again

(Motorsport news) Passion. Desire. Winner. Perfectionist. Relentless. Daring. These are just a few words that describe Michael Schumacher, the seven time Formula 1 World Champion and one of the greatest drivers to have ever lived. For motorsport enthusiasts in the 90’s and 2000’s, Michael Schumacher was the ultimate driver. A perfect combination of talent and the desire to exploit that potential to every last drop to get the desired result. A private and happy go lucky individual in his personal life, Michael Schumacher was a fierce competitor on the race track that earned him many fans and enemies over the years.

Schumacher’s documentary released on Netflix on 15th September 2021 and gave us a sneak peek into his journey, career, accomplishments, family life and the various obstacles the German has overcome to become the legendary racing driver we all know today. In an era of Formula 1 where drivers are assured a position on the grid by how rich their fathers are and which teams they own, Schumacher’s journey to the highest level of motorsport racing is very relatable to the average joe.

The path towards a professional racing drivers career is notoriously expensive and the documentary perfectly sums up his early years of struggle, where his family could not afford to get him new sets of tyres for his battered old go-kart for races. Schumacher made his way through sheer desire and talent, often rummaging through used tyres and go-kart equipment that were discarded and winning races with them. The German grew accustomed to this handicap, navigated through it with skill and precision and steadily climbed the ladder to his dream.

Along with talent and hard work, every career needs a bit of luck and if there is any driver that deserved such a break, it was Michael Schumacher. The German got a lucky break with the Jordan-Ford team in 1991 as a replacement for the imprisoned Bertrand Gachot. The German was an instant success, finishing seventh in qualifying, the team’s season-best grid position and was described as “the best talent since Stefan Bellof” by the German media.

As Schumacher’s reputation on the grid grew, his rivals began to take notice of the newcomer on the block. As time went on, Michael Schumacher had his first nemesis who was none other than Ayrton Senna. The two were more similar than they would’ve liked to admit, both were extremely focused and ruthless, with a win at all costs mentality. It was a rivalry that can be described as the older king of the jungle against a younger lion, eager to take away his throne. Unfortunately, the rivalry is often viewed with sadness rather than a positive conclusion, as Senna tragically lost his life at the age of 34, succumbing to fatal injuries sustained due to a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

Also read: Daniel Ricciardo wins Italian GP as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crash again

The documentary captures Michael Schumacher’s emotions in the aftermath of Senna’s crash brilliantly, his grief, paranoia about racing and the mixed emotions of winning his first World Championship by default. As Formula 1’s best racing driver, Schumacher soon became the hottest property, with established teams like McLaren and Ferrari interested in his signature. In 1996, Schumacher signed for the oldest and most successful team in Formula 1 history, Ferrari. The documentary does a brilliant job in showing his struggles in the initial years, his hands-on involvement in salvaging a virtually unfixable car with fundamental flaws and how the German, along with Brawn, Byrne, and Jean Todt transformed a sleeping giant into the most successful team in Formula 1 history.

The documentary also shows Schumacher’s complicated relationship with his new nemesis Mika Häkkinen, one full of mutual respect and admiration mixed with tense moments of rivalry, controversy and heated discussions on the track. It wonderfully portrays a never seen before side of Michael Schumacher, the private family man who enjoyed skiing and skydiving. The documentary wraps up with Corinna Schumacher in tears, as she speaks about Michael’s horrific skiing accident. For a racing driver that always had his guardian angels on his side, one can only hope that Schumacher makes a full recovery and lives a long and happy life.

Verdict

Must watch. Especially if you’re a motorsports fan. If you’re not, you should watch it anyway.