Russell started the 57-lap run around Losail Circuit from second place but a superior launch for team-mate Hamilton, who lined up third on soft tyres, brought the pair together into the first corner. Hamilton tried to move round the outside but clipped Russell, who was sent spinning. He then pitted before battling his way back […]
The Aston Martin driver grabbed attention after being knocked out in Q1 at the Losail circuit and letting rip with his anger. He threw his steering wheel out of the car and then, as he stormed out the back of the garage, he pushed his trainer Henry Howe aside as he attempted to direct the […]
After a Qatar Grand Prix weekend that was beset by track limits chaos, as grid positions were shuffled around and a raft of in-race penalties handed out to change the order, Ben Sulayem has made clear he thinks such situations are unacceptable. He believes that the focus for change is not by the FIA policing […]
F1 last had tyre competition in 2001-2006 after Michelin arrived to take on Bridgestone, the Japanese company having been on its own for two seasons following the departure of Goodyear. From 2007, Bridgestone was the sole supplier for four seasons before Pirelli returned to the series in that role in 2011, after an absence of […]
Norris had emerged after the final stops behind team-mate Oscar Piastri, as the pair looked set for yet another podium double. But amid concerns that it could cost valuable time and potentially open the door for fourth-placed George Russell to come through if they raced each other, McLaren intervened to call off the fight. It […]
F1’s official tyre supplier was forced to take action along with the FIA after microscopic analysis of tyres used in Qatar revealed a sidewall separation that could have led to failures. Pirelli suspected the problem was caused by the battering that tyres were taking at high loads from the pyramid kerbs that had been installed […]
Verstappen, who was crowned a three-time world champion over the weekend, led the Qatar Grand Prix from lights-to-flag. But the weekend’s main talking point was Pirelli mandating 18-lap stints for tyres after tears were found in the sidewall from drivers running over kerbs. While the kerbs were built to FIA standard, with their 50mm raised […]
The excessive heat and flat-out nature of the race at Losail on Sunday left drivers facing one of the biggest challenges of their careers, which they described as “hell” and “torture”. Logan Sargeant had to retire with heatstroke, Esteban Ocon was sick in his helmet, Lance Stroll said he passed out several times and other […]
Drivers are super fit athletes, and thus the state of some of them when they met the media having walked straight from parc ferme told its own story. Others were careful to quietly head back to their team hospitality buildings, catch their breath, change out of their soaking overalls and have a shower. They then […]
An unseasonably hot race and tricky track conditions created an enthralling Qatar Grand Prix weekend, as Formula 1’s 2023 crown was finally claimed by Max Verstappen. Qatar made its second appearance as the host of an F1 grand prix, following the 2022 hiatus necessitated by its hosting of the FIFA World Cup, and delivered an […]