Mercedes made a surprise call to continue with its ‘zeropod’ sidepod design and overall car concept first conceived in 2022’s recalcitrant W13 at the start of F1’s new ground-effect era, with the team mistakenly believing it could be made into a Red Bull challenger following Russell’s win ahead of team-mateContinue Reading
While the team continued to develop solutions that could later be found on its competitors machines, those great ideas weren’t cohesive enough to prevent them from being marooned on a points island of their own in the middle of the midfield pack.Let’s take a look at some of the A523’sContinue Reading
The seven-time world champion has been without a victory since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the race before that year’s controversial season finale in Abu Dhabi.While he has endured some difficult times since the start of the latest ground effect era from 2022, he is clear that his motivationContinue Reading
Verstappen became more outspoken this year at various points, launching an eloquent monologue at the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix which he felt steered F1 too far towards entertainment and away from the sporting element.The triple world champion’s appraisal of Vegas and his lack of enthusiasm over street circuits inContinue Reading
The new identity was originally flagged in the FIA entry last month as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber.That remains its official full identity – including the Kick Sauber chassis name – but the Swiss outfit will use the short version on a day-to-day basis.The team had to find a newContinue Reading
Let’s take a look at the FW45’s finer details and how it was modified during the season in order to make that leap forward in the pecking order. Photo by: Giorgio PiolaWilliams FW45 brake caliperWilliams were one of a handful of teams that opted to use tube-like fins on theContinue Reading
After winning the 2021 Italian Grand Prix – where Norris was second behind then team-mate Daniel Ricciardo – and finishing fourth in the constructors’ championship that year after being third in 2020 following considerable rebuilding effort, McLaren slipped back to fifth in 2022.Its slide initially continued into 2023, where NorrisContinue Reading
Accidents suffered by Lando Norris in the Las Vegas Grand Prix and Carlos Sainz in Abu Dhabi GP practice were both triggered by the cars hitting bumps on the track.The current generation of ground effect F1 cars are especially sensitive to bumps because they perform better when running very closeContinue Reading
Gil de Ferran meant an awful lot to a great many people in motorsport. The outpouring of shocked tributes following his unexpected passing at the age of 56 were universal in their respect for a racer who possessed all the attributes to be effective as a driver, team boss, sportingContinue Reading
The Mercedes duo notably made contact during qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix and then crashed at Turn 1 in Qatar, for which Hamilton (who was eliminated) took full responsibility.Hamilton also appeared reluctant to follow a strategy call in Japan, with the team asking him to slow to give DRSContinue Reading