Tag: Results

Sergio Perez outpaced Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen to top final practice at the Yas Marina Circuit; Lewis Hamilton under investigation for failing to slow under red flag; watch Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying later on Saturday live at 2pm, with build-up from 1.15pm

Sergio Perez outpaced Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen to top final practice at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton was left facing a stewards investigation for failing to slow under a red flag.

There was little surprise that constructors’ champions Red Bull remained a step ahead of their rivals at the Yas Marina Circuit, but Perez being 0.152s clear of world champion Verstappen with a 1:24.982 was certainly unexpected.

Mercedes were hoping overnight setup changes would help them close the gap to Red Bull after Verstappen had topped second practice on Friday, but Hamilton was more than two tenths back from Perez, with team-mate George Russell further back in fourth.

Hamilton faces a nervous wait – and likely meeting with the stewards – after the session, having come under investigation for failing to slow down after a failure on Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri triggered a red flag.

Replays suggested Hamilton may not have been aware of the red flag as he overtook McLaren’s Lando Norris, but the seven-time world champion could now face a grid penalty, which would harm his faint hopes of sealing a first victory of the campaign in the season finale.

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Sergio Perez finds the pace in FP3 and beats teammate Max Vertsappen by 0.152s at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Norris, meanwhile, led a strong showing from McLaren to take fifth ahead of Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo behind them in eighth.

While the session provides encouragement to Perez as he seeks to beat Leclerc to second in the drivers’ championship, the fact it was conducted in hot sunshine and daylight means it is not representative of the night-time conditions Qualifying and the race will be run in.

However, the fact that Red Bull looked equally – if not more – strong under the lights on Friday, is an ominous sign for their rivals.

Ferrari, whose team principal Mattia Binotto is facing continued speculation over his job security, appeared a step behind both Red Bull and Mercedes, with Leclerc heard complaining about his engine during the session.

More to follow…

The series will start in 2023 and F1 says it will be an ‘extra route’ for young women alongside W Series, the all-female championship that is aiming to return for a fourth season next year despite having its 2022 campaign shortened amid financial difficulties

Formula 1 has announced the launch of its own all-female driver category, the F1 Academy, which the sport hopes will eventually lead to a woman racer on the grid.

The series will start in 2023 and F1 say it will be an ‘extra route’ up the motorsport pyramid for young women alongside W Series, the similarly all-female championship that is aiming to return for a fourth season next year despite having its 2022 campaign shortened amid financial difficulties.

It is hoped the F1 Academy will quickly get a woman into Formula 3, and help Formula 2 and Formula 1 opportunities in the future.

The last female to race in F1 was Lella Lombardi back in 1976.

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Click2Drive Bristol Street motors racing driver Alice Powell says her team were disappointed on missing out on the Constructors Championship after the W Series was cut short, but is optimistic the series will return next year

“Everyone should have the opportunity to follow their dreams and achieve their potential and Formula 1 wants to ensure we are doing everything we can to create greater diversity and routes into this incredible sport,” said Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali.

“That is why I am delighted to announce the F1 Academy that will give young female drivers the best chance to fulfil their ambitions through a comprehensive programme that supports their racing careers and gives them everything they need to move into F3 and hopefully to F2 and then the pinnacle of Formula 1.

“The more opportunity there is the better and this is designed to provide another route for the drivers to succeed.”

The F1 Academy will feature five teams, run by current F2 and F3 teams, with three cars each to make up a 15-car grid. The inaugural season will have 21 races, with seven three-race events, and is likely to include at least F1 race weekend.

Like W Series, all drivers will compete in the same Formula 4 chassis.

F1 say they will be providing funding of €150,000 (£130,000) for each car, which will need to be matched by drivers to enter. They say that is a ‘fraction of the usual costs to enter comparable series’, and the rest of the budget will be provided by the teams.

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Anthony Davidson believes W Series champion Jamie Chadwick has a very bright future in the sport after she claimed her third W Series title

The statement adds: ‘Formula 1 wants to ensure aspiring female drivers have the best opportunities to reach their potential with an important first step of getting into Formula 3 and progressing through the ranks.

‘The W Series continues to provide a great platform for drivers and the F1 Academy is intended to add an extra route for the next generation of young female drivers’.

The series will be headed up by Bruno Michel, who has ran F2 and F3, and he said: “I am very excited to launch this new category. Diversity is extremely important in motorsport, and with the F1 Academy we will prove that female drivers have what it takes to compete at high levels.

“I am absolutely convinced that if young women are given the same amount of experience as any other driver, they can successfully make their way through the pyramid. Our goal is to see female drivers on the F3 grid in the next two to three years, and for them to quickly challenge for points and podiums.

“The aim is to increase the field in the near future, because we hope that this category will inspire more young girls to compete in motorsport at the highest of levels.”

W Series welcome F1 Academy

CEO of W Series Catherine Bond Muir welcomed the announcement.

“W Series created the first platform for women in motorsport which has inspired young girls all around the world since our inaugural season in 2019. It is fantastic to see this grow as a result of our pioneering work.

“W Series welcomes any initiative which shares our ambition to provide more opportunities for women in motorsport,” said Bond Muir.

“Our objective from the start has always been to increase the talent pool of women racing drivers, and the addition of the F1 Academy as a feeder to W Series and other series is a further step in inspiring the next generation to progress up the motorsport ladder.

“We are looking forward to finalising W Series’ plans for 2023 and beyond, providing exciting racing and entertaining our fans around the world.

“Our mission is still clear: to offer women racing drivers a platform to race globally at the pinnacle of women’s motorsport, and in doing so continue to spread our message further and wider.”

Fernando Alonso suggested he was looking forward to his partnership with Alpine team-mate Esteban Ocon “finally” being over after the pair ruined each other’s races with a collision in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint.

Armed with a car that had shown strong pace throughout the weekend and in solid starting positions of sixth (Ocon) and seventh (Alonso), Alpine appeared well placed to strike a further blow against McLaren in the battle for fourth in the constructors’ championship.

However, the pair made contact twice on the first lap, and both cars suffered damage that would see Alonso finish 15th and Ocon 18th, with no points and poor starting positions for Sunday’s full-length race.

“(It’s) far from ideal when you touch on the first lap of the sprint race because it’s too short to come back,” Alonso said.

“On a positive side, the pace was very good today, close to the leaders actually. P15 we start tomorrow and if we have this pace. We can score points tomorrow.”

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Esteban Ocon says it’s unfortunate for the team that there was a clash between the Alpine drivers, while Fernando Alonso says ‘it’s one more race’ as teammates.

Ocon forced Alonso off track as the Spaniard attempted an overtake around the outside of Turn 4 on the opening lap, which caused him to lose control as he drove over the kerb and suffer a snap that caused the pair to make minor contact.

That was somewhat of a reprieve, but the pair failed to learn their lesson. In the closing stages of the first lap, Alonso once more tried to initiate a pass at the start of the home straight, but apparent confusion saw them make contact once more, with the damage this time more significant, and ultimately causing both to finish outside the points.

The Alpine duo were called to see the stewards after the race, with Alonso ultimately adjudged to have been at fault for the second collision, as he was given a five-second time penalty that dropped him to 18th, and lifted Ocon to 17th.

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Check out the key moments from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint.

Speaking before that decision, Alonso, who is leaving Alpine to join Aston Martin at the end of the season, was critical of his team-mate, as he made reference to earlier incidents in the season.

Asked whether he had spoken to Ocon, Alonso said: “No, not really.”

“I don’t need to. It’s one more race and then it’s over finally.

“It was very close to the wall in Jeddah, close to the wall in Budapest, today in Turn 4, now here.

“It’s the way these things are. Sometimes it’s very competitive inside the team.”

Ocon: Alonso will be calm for the race

Ocon, also speaking before the stewards’ ruling, played down the incidents, insisting Alonso would have calmed down in time for Sunday’s race, if the Spaniard hadn’t already.

“It was unfortunate for the team really what happened,” Ocon said. “We were in such a good position and we are now at the back with a lot of work to do tomorrow.

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A dramatic first lap sees Kevin Magnussen hold onto the lead of the Sprint race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

“So, it is going to be important to work together tomorrow to come back through the field.

“It is unfortunate what happened on lap one. I was trying to attack the McLaren, I took my line into Turn 4 and Fernando came out of nowhere on the outside and we touched.

“From there on, my race was pretty much over.

“I am quite calm. If he isn’t, he will be for tomorrow.”

Alpine condemn ‘unacceptable’ online abuse

Later on Saturday evening, Alpine released a statement condemning the online reaction to the incidents between their drivers.

“Whatever happens on track, there is absolutely no excuse for hateful comments, abuse or toxicity to be directed towards our drivers, team members, fans or indeed anybody online,” the statement said.

“Of all of the comments that we received across our social media channels during and after today’s Sprint qualifying, we received 882 toxic comments, 162 of which were severely toxic. This is wholly unacceptable.

“What we have seen today is, unfortunately, not an isolated incident. We continue to see hate and discrimination online, and as a team, will not tolerate this.

“We will take action against individuals or groups who produce or disseminate social media posts that contain or encourage online abuse of our drivers, team members, and fans.”

Vettel understanding after Stroll’s ‘naughty’ manoeuvre

Alonso and Ocon weren’t the only team-mates to clash during Saturday’s Sprint, with Aston Martin duo Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll also hampering each other.

Vettel, who appeared to be the faster of the Aston Martins, was challenging Stroll for 11th on lap nine when the Canadian forced him onto the grass in the run to Turn 4.

Vettel, who is retiring from F1 at the end of the season, was fortunate to retain control of his car and return to the track, which he did before easing past Stroll soon after.

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Lance Stroll forces his Aston Martin teammate Sebastian Vettel onto the grass at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint race.

“That was naughty driving there from Lance Stroll, that was too much, way too much,” Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle said on commentary at the time.

The stewards agreed, handing Stroll a 10-second time penalty, which would relegate him from 12th to 17th in the final standings, and giving him three penalty points on his licence for dangerous driving.

Despite the stewards clearly ruling in his favour, Vettel, who ultimately finished a place outside the points in ninth, offered a measured assessment of the incident.

“It’s obviously split seconds,” he said. “I went to the inside and the gap closed and it was really tight and I went off the track, which was difficult to recover from, I was sort of stuck sitting on the plank but fortunately I got back.

“After that we were able to work together, and I was able to use the pace I had in the car.

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Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz reflects on an exciting Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

“It’s a fine line. You’re fighting for your spot. Obviously, it’s important to defend, on the other hand, it’s always trying to weigh up whether you are losing more than you’re gaining (by battling).

“Plus we are obviously trying to work together, so I think today in the end we could have done better, both of us, to try to get a better positioning for the team.”

The three penalty points given to Stroll takes his current tally to eight, which is only four short of the 12-point limit that would see him incur a one-race ban.

Speaking before the penalty point ruling, the Canadian only offered a limited response when quizzed about the incident.

“I have to look at it again I haven’t really seen the video,” he said. “So probably I didn’t leave enough space.”

Pierre Gasly has urged the FIA to change regulations that have left him on the brink of receiving a race ban for breaching Formula 1’s penalty point limit.

Gasly reached 10 penalty points for the season at the Mexico City Grand Prix, leaving the AlphaTauri driver just two short of the 12-point limit, which triggers a one-race ban if reached.

Penalty points do not drop off a driver’s licence until a year after they were given, meaning that this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix is the first of nine races – spanning across this season and next – that Gasly will have the possibility of the ban hanging over him.

The Frenchman, who will move to Alpine at the end of the season, is adamant the offences he has committed are not significant enough to merit the very rare implementation of a race ban.

“I’m not going to lie, it’s a very unpleasant situation and quite delicate, in some ways a bit embarrassing to be standing in a position where I could be banned for a race after the season that I’ve done,” Gasly said on Thursday in Brazil.

“I don’t really feel like I’ve been particularly dangerous over these last 12 months and that would definitely be a harsh penalty.”

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Gasly reached 10 penalty points after this incident with Lance Stroll at the Mexico City GP

Otmar Szafnauer, who will be Gasly’s boss next season, has joked that his incoming driver should commit a “tactical foul” in Brazil to ensure he serves the penalty with AlphaTauri, but the Alpine team principal more seriously suggested the possibility of the Frenchman attending a class that would result in points being cleared.

Gasly is adamant that he shouldn’t have to miss a race for either his current or future team.

“(There’s) definitely a lot of discussion with the FIA trying to find a solution because personally I want to do all of the races,” he said. “I want to finish the season in the best way I can with AlphaTauri. I want to do all of the races in 2023 and get the chance to perform for Alpine.

“Obviously, there’s a lot at stake because no-one knows what’s going to happen in 2023, I could end up in an amazing car fighting for the championship for example. I can’t take the risk to then lose all my hopes for the championship. So, it’s a very tricky situation.

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Stroll spun his Aston Martin after making contact with AlphaTauri’s Gasly at the Spanish GP

“I’ve been discussing it quite a lot with the FIA to try and find solutions because the way the regulation is written at the moment, it’s quite strict on the drivers and quite harsh penalties even though it’s not always related to dangerous driving.”

“We’re going to have more conversations today and I do hope we can find solutions out of the weekend to avoid ending up in a silly situation where I’ll be banned for a race. That would be terrible for myself and definitely not the way that I’ve seen the sport growing up, I don’t think that’s the correct approach.”

How did Gasly incur penalty points?

Gasly’s most notable offences in amassing his 10 penalty points have been for causing collisions, the first of which was with Lance Stroll in Spain in May.

Another collision, this time with Stroll’s Aston Martin team-mate Sebastian Vettel, followed in Austria in July, with each incident resulting in a two-point penalty. Gasly incurred a further one-point penalty for exceeding track limits in Austria.

He was then involved in a major controversy at the Japanese GP in October as he was penalised for going too fast under a red flag, with the incident occurring while a recovery vehicle had been prematurely sent on track in wet conditions.

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Gasly slams what he describes as the ‘unnecessary’ use of a recovery crane on track at the Japanese GP saying it was disrespectful to the memory of Jules Bianchi

Gasly would later say that he had feared for his life because of the presence of the vehicle, but was criticised by the FIA in a review of the race.

Another two-point penalty followed at the United States Grand Prix after Gasly failed to stay within 10 lengths of the car in front under Safety Car conditions.

The Frenchman then reached 10 penalty points at the Mexico City GP following another incident with Stroll, in which he was adjudged to have forced the Aston Martin off track.

What do the other drivers think?

Mercedes driver George Russell, who is president of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, was one of several drivers to speak out in Gasly’s defence on Thursday.

George Russell, Mercedes

I think the penalty doesn’t fit the crime, let’s say, especially in Pierre’s case. I think he’s got some for safety car infringements, or incidents in practice sessions. If anything were to result in a race ban, it needs to truly be for something pretty reckless and dangerous.

I personally don’t associate Pierre being a reckless or dangerous driver. It’s actually something we spoke about earlier in the year around Barcelona after some drivers picked up penalty points for a nothing of an incident.

I hope he gets away with not getting a race ban because he certainly doesn’t deserve one. And if somehow he does manage to get 12 penalty points, there needs to be some exemption because the rules aren’t in the right place at the moment in that regard.

Definitely they (the FIA) have expressed to us that they’re going to have a conversation in the off-season and review all of this.

I think in sport you need to be able to adapt. You do have these regulations in place, and it only takes one incident to recognise maybe that regulation isn’t quite right and we need to have the capability to change things or take penalty points afterwards if we all agree that it was incorrect.

Alex Albon, Williams

I’m quite high up there as well (in terms of penalty points). I completely agree with Pierre.

Just to give some context to it, I think I have three points on my licence down to track limits, which is something that’s not dangerous at all, I’m not harming any other driver or myself in that situation.

I think I’ve got another two points in relation to a collision with Lance Stroll in Jeddah which at the end of race, as drivers we deemed that it wasn’t my fault. So, there are a lot of points on my licence which I don’t think are deserved.

We are discussing about it; I think there is going to be a change.

Firstly, we’ve already got the points on our licence so what happens then? Even if we do make steps forwards into next year, do the points that we’ve got from previous years and races stay on?

We do need to do something about it, I don’t think any of us are dangerous drivers. I do understand of course you should punish drivers if they do dangerous things, but I don’t think the points everyone has right now are because of dangerous things.

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo

I think there’s already been discussions. I think it’s better to keep it internal, but my understanding is that some changes will be made for the future.

For sure, some of the things these guys have been getting the points for are not dangerous at all. They (points) should only be given when they’re really dangerous and (in situations) that can be harmful to somebody else on track.

I think we will see progress being made but I don’t think Pierre deserves to be in that kind of situation on the edge. That’s the rule now but the main thing is how we act in the future.

Sergio Perez, Red Bull

I feel like there are things that are not even related to his driving and we get points for that. When it’s not related to bad driving or mistakes, there shouldn’t be a penalty. It will be really bad if he ends up losing a race for that.