Month: September 2021

29 Sep 2021

Alpine “ultra competitive” in best F1 race of year

Alonso started on the hard tyres and as others pitted he rose to second place, behind only Sergio Perez, before making a late first pit stop on the same lap as the Red Bull driver. The Spaniard was running in sixth when the rain came towards the end of the race, and finding more grip […]

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29 Sep 2021

Motorcycle racing’s steps to a safer future after its latest tragedy

It is strange how quickly the phrase ‘they died doing what they loved’ loses its comfort. Death is an inescapable risk in motorsport. It is a spectre that doesn’t loom as large mercifully as it once used to, as advancements in safety continue to make motorsport a much safer place. But it remains omnipresent. During […]

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29 Sep 2021

Why Bottas faced impossible task to come through field in Sochi

Bottas took a new power unit for Sunday’s race, and moved back to 16th on the grid, ahead only of other drivers who had taken penalties – including Max Verstappen in 20th. While the change was necessary after the Finn suffered an issue with his newest engine on Friday, it also opened up a tactical […]

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29 Sep 2021

Ferrari reluctant to quantify time gain in upgraded F1 power unit

Ferrari debuted an upgraded hybrid system for its power unit on Charles Leclerc’s car at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi last weekend. The updated power unit was understood to be worth less than 10bhp, but Ferrari made clear prior to its introduction that its greater purpose was to help lay the foundations for 2022 […]

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29 Sep 2021

F1 Heroes celebrated in a new photo book

The images are the work of the celebrated photographers from Motorsport Images, principally Rainer Schlegelmilch, Ercole Colombo, Michael, and Steven Tee as well as Mark Sutton. “I believe the most fitting word is ‘intensity ‘”, writes Domenicali.  “This is the key ingredient of Formula 1 but also of life. You will find it in every […]

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29 Sep 2021

The risky switch to inters that won Lewis Hamilton the Russian GP

Sunday’s dramatic Russian Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton scored a historic 100th Formula 1 win after a late rain shower shook up proceedings in Sochi. It ended in heartbreak for Lando Norris, who was just a few laps away from his maiden grand prix victory before a decision to stay out on slicks backfired, leaving […]

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28 Sep 2021

Williams F1 car “the best it’s ever felt” in Russia

The Canadian had a power unit change prior to qualifying after suffering an issue on Friday, and thus started 18th, just ahead of the also-penalised Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen. In his first stint on the medium tyres, he got caught behind the Haas of Nikita Mazepin but, after an early switch to the hards […]

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28 Sep 2021

FIA not alarmed after Mazepin’s Russian F1 GP black/white flag

Mazepin was shown the black and white flag for unsportsmanlike behaviour after a blocking move on the AlphaTauri of Yuki Tsunoda. Mazepin has been involved in several incidents with his teammate Mick Schumacher this season, although only one – for causing a collision in the Italian GP – resulted in a penalty. On that occasion, […]

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28 Sep 2021

Bottas gamble triggered Hamilton Sochi F1 intermediate tyre call

Hamilton had looked all set to finish behind leader Lando Norris in the closing stages of the Sochi race, before a late downpour turned the race on its head. As the rain blew in, Norris elected to stay out on slicks while Mercedes convinced Hamilton to move over to inters – which ultimately proved to […]

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28 Sep 2021

“Just a matter of time” before Norris scores first F1 win

Norris picked up his first F1 pole in Saturday’s qualifying session at the Sochi Autodrom, and looked set to win the race before a late rain shower shook up proceedings. Norris initially opted against coming in for intermediates, a decision that ultimately backfired as he dropped to seventh place after pitting and making the switch,… […]

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