While a safety car paved the way for a late-race crescendo in the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend, Max Verstappen again took charge to claim his sixth victory of the 2022 Formula 1 season and further strengthen his title defence.Currently operating in white-hot form, Verstappen now sits some 46 points clear at the top of the standings over Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, while Ferrari rival …Keep reading
Red Bull’s world champion Verstappen looked in control in the early stages of the race, but a late safety car for Yuki Tsunoda’s off in Turn 1 spiced things up.Sainz, who was still due a stop, used the safety car to slot in behind Verstappen for the restart on hard tyres that were five laps fresher than the Dutchman’s.While Sainz looked slightly quicker and managed to stay within …Keep reading
Valtteri Bottas led the field out at the start of Friday’s second one-hour practice session, although he immediately pitted at the end of his first lap, and remained there for the next 20 minutes as Alfa Romeo worked on his car.That meant Bottas’ team-mate Zhou Guanyu went through to set the first place benchmark at 1m20.145s, which was quickly beaten by Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll …Keep reading
The two words have generally been interchangeable when used by teams and drivers this year, but Vowles says they are not the same and are generated differently.Mercedes appeared to have got on top of its porpoising issue with the W13 at the Spanish Grand Prix, but Vowles says the problems are very much circuit specific, with the smoothness of the surface playing a key role.The issue of …Keep reading
The return of ground effect with F1’s new generation of cars for 2022 has resulted in a porpoising phenomenon which has impacted some teams worse than others.The issue hit a new peak over the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend as drivers struggled with their cars bouncing along the street circuit surface, particularly at the end of the long start/finish straight.Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton …Keep reading
Mercedes’ problems with bouncing and porpoising re-emerged at the bumpy Baku street track this weekend, with both Hamilton and teammate George Russell complaining of back pain after practice and qualifying.The seven-time world champion complained of back pain over his team radio during the race, with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff apologising to him for the car’s bouncing problem, as Hamilton …Keep reading
To varying degrees Formula 1 teams have suffered from either porpoising or bouncing with the 2022 era cars, which are being run as close to the ground as possible to maximise performance from the ground effect.Therefore, the ride of the current crop of cars is extremely stiff, which is causing a lot of drivers to constantly bottom out on the straights.The issue was amplified in Baku where …Keep reading
The Hinwil-based team has a limited supply of the latest upgrades and opted not to put them on the cars of Bottas and Zhou Guanyu on Friday so as not to risk sustaining any damage.Bottas expects the upgraded spec car to be faster on Saturday, and added that his best lap in FP2 was spoiled by a lock-up, costing time that would have put him on the edge of the top 10.“I don’t think it’s Read more…
Alfa’s livery tweak on its C42 F1 car is meant to celebrate the launch of the Alfa Romeo Tonale road car, an electric SUV.As part of the change the engine cover and sidepod will be painted green for the Baku weekend, turning the livery into an Italian tricolor flag.In a statement the Hinwil-based team said “the colour green is a nod to the Montreal Green hue used in Tonale’s launch, but …Keep reading
Although Mercedes – eight-time consecutive constructors’ champions – is currently 101 points behind leaders Red Bull after seven races, Marko still regards it as “dangerous” due to the quick lap times its cars have occasionally been able to unleash.Red Bull’s points leader Max Verstappen is 41 points clear of the top Mercedes driver, George Russell, and 75 ahead of Lewis Hamilton …Keep reading