Louis Sharp eager for Silverstone return in FIA F3 season
Moving up to F3 for 2025, Sharp has had to endure the challenge of racing
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NZ Herald
10 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Louis Sharp eager for Silverstone return in FIA F3 season
After a fraught last weekend in Austria at round six of the FIA Formula 3 championship, Kiwi racer Louis Sharp is looking forward to getting back on his pseudo home track at Silverstone this weekend. Moving up to F3 for 2025, Sharp has had to endure the challenge of racing
1News
11 hours ago
- 1News
F1: Lawson scores two top-10 finishes at British Grand Prix practice
Coming off the best result of his F1 career in Austria last week, Kiwi Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson finished within the top 10 at both practice sessions in Silverstone. Lawson set the eighth fastest time in the first practise session- finishing just -0.459 seconds behind Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who topped the timing sheets in FP1. The Kiwi finished 10th fasted in FP2, 0.808 behind McLaren's Lando Norris who clocked the fastest time of both practise sessions. "It was alright. It was a good start," said Lawson after the second session. "We have to keep chasing it, as everybody is, but it's a good starting place. ADVERTISEMENT "It's extremely fast, it's my first time driving here properly in a Formula One car. It's pretty exciting." Lawson will hope to lock in a good spot on the grid during qualifying (2am Sunday NZT). Norris fastest in practice Expectations are high for Lando Norris to deliver a breakthrough victory at his home British Grand Prix. Nowhere more so than in the Landostand. Fans in McLaren orange and the luminous yellow of Norris' helmet gathered for Friday practice at the new Landostand — actually a series of stands — around the outside of one of Silverstone's most famous corners, the sweeping, lightning fast Stowe. Much like the banks of Dutch fans who support Max Verstappen at races around Europe, the dedicated stand is a sign of Norris' newfound status in Formula 1 and the strength of his support as he battles teammate and standings leader Oscar Piastri. Norris set the quickest time across Friday's two practice sessions, leading Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by .222 of a second in the second session. Lewis Hamilton was third fastest on a solid day for Ferrari, .301 off the pace, and Piastri was fourth, with Verstappen fifth. ADVERTISEMENT There was another British driver at the top of the time charts in Friday's first session when Hamilton led the way, 0.023 ahead of Norris. Piastri was .150 further back in third and Charles Leclerc was fourth in the second Ferrari. Verstappen was 10th for Red Bull. Practice is likely to be of limited use to the teams, since the weather is expected to change. It was warm and windy on Friday but cooler conditions with possible rain are forecast for both Saturday qualifying and Sunday's race. A sign of status Norris the driver has emerged as a genuine title contender over the last 12 months, and Norris the brand has grown, too. McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain in action during the second practice of the British Formula One Grand Prix in Silverstone, England. (Source: Associated Press) Norris has spoken in the past about the effort he makes to block out distractions and criticism, but says the Landostand, where he's visiting fans throughout the weekend, is a "positive distraction" ahead of the race. Norris has yet to win at Silverstone in seven attempts in F1 — his best finish was second in 2023 — and said this week he'd swap all of his other victories, even his prized Monaco win in May, for first place at the British GP. ADVERTISEMENT "It'll be the one that probably puts the biggest smile on my face, bigger than Monaco, and it's the one that since I was a kid and since I first started watching Formula 1 that I've wanted to win the most," Norris said. Norris got the better of Piastri in a race-long fight for the win at last week's Austrian GP. He also won Piastri's home race at the Australian GP at the start of the year, but Piastri said he doesn't get any extra motivation to beat Norris in front of the British crowd. "The crowd's always been actually quite nice to me, which has been nice, but I'm not really concerned about that. I'm more focused on trying to get another win on the board," he said this week. Hamilton's hopes More than ever, the F1 title race seems to be an all-McLaren affair. Verstappen is coming off a first-lap retirement in Austria last week and has been fending off questions about a potential move to Mercedes. Hamilton has a record nine victories at the British GP but a 10th seems a long way off as he endures a difficult first season with Ferrari, despite his pace in Friday practice. He's yet to finish on the podium in a grand prix this season. "There's always magic here at Silverstone, and so I really have to hope for that," Hamilton said this week. "I'm hoping that weather, all sorts of things, can help us because we are obviously naturally not as quick as the McLarens and if it stays dry, then they will walk the race." ADVERTISEMENT - Additional reporting by 1News
1News
14 hours ago
- 1News
Formula 1: What Lawson needs to do to keep his race seat for 2026
It's no understatement to say that Liam Lawson has had a roller coaster of a 2025 Formula 1 season. The 23-year-old was promoted to top team Red Bull Racing at the end of 2024, after a six-race stint last season at junior team Racing Bulls in replacement of Daniel Ricciardo. But after just two underwhelming races to start the season, Lawson was dropped – swiftly demoted back to junior outfit Racing Bulls and replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, a switch many labelled as 'harsh'. Since then, Lawson has been steadily rebuilding his confidence and gaining back his previously impressive form. And after many flashes of promise and, arguably, many unlucky weekends, Lawson's hard work was rewarded with a career-best sixth place finish at last week's Austrian Grand Prix- the home race of Red Bull. While things are starting to look up for the Kiwi, Lawson still remains without a race seat for next year. And having only out-performed rookie teammate Isack Hadjar twice this season, Lawson could be at high-risk of missing out on a spot on next year's grid. ADVERTISEMENT With the season approaching the halfway point and many young, talented drivers waiting in the wings – including 17-year-old Red Bull Junior driver Arvid Lindblad – Lawson has a point to prove and a future to secure. So, what can the Kiwi driver do to keep his race seat in the cut-throat world of Formula 1? Points, points, and more points. Midfield teams like Racing Bulls can't afford DNFs or anonymous weekends – and Lawson's path to a full-time seat relies on bringing the car home in the top 10 regularly. His P8 finish in Monaco showcased his racecraft and composure under pressure. In a strategic team move to maximise points for teammate Isack Hadjar, Lawson managed to hold back more than half the field with his defensive driving, earning him the nickname Liam 'The Shield' Lawson. : Liam Lawson of New Zealand driving the (30) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 02 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco on May 25, 2025 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Source: Getty) He backed that up in Austria, defending two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in DRS range for almost the entire race, while managing his tyres through a tough one stop strategy. ADVERTISEMENT If Lawson can keep up performances like these, along with consistent Q3 appearances in qualifying, he'll not only boost his confidence but also prove indispensable to a team chasing Constructors' Championship points. Outperforming his teammate Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar may be a rookie, but he has had a stand-out start to his Formula 1 career, impressing many with his maturity and ability to consistently perform in a midfield car. The French driver has scored 21 points across the 11 races so far, while Lawson has only managed to score 12. Lawson, who has more F1 race experience under his belt, can't afford to be outshone by the new kid on the block if he's hoping to keep his spot on the team for 2026. Whether it's during qualifying or on race days, being the number one driver proves to be crucial now more than ever. Beating Hadjar across the season – on pace, points, and racecraft – would solidify Lawson as a strong and reliable option for the team. But until he is able to do that consistently, Lawson may continue to remain in the shadow of his teammate. ADVERTISEMENT Keeping it clean on and off the track Lawson's 'aggressive' driving style in Formula 1 has earned him a mix of both praise and criticism. While it's provided many exciting and memorable race moments, it's also caused a few on-track incidents, including high-speed collisions and penalties that have at times jeopardised his race results. Liam Lawson and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso have a heated discussion after an on-track battle during the 2024 United States Grand Prix sprint race. (Source: Getty) The Racing Bulls driver has also come under fire for several altercations with other drivers during his time in in the sport. Most notably last season, where Lawson faced backlash after flipping the bird to Red Bull driver Sergio Perez on track at the Mexico City Grand Prix. In a sport where consistency and control are prized just as highly as speed, Lawson needs to show he can channel that intensity more constructively. ADVERTISEMENT If Lawson is able to keep the aggression but dial down the recklessness, it could go long way toward proving he's ready for a long-term seat in Formula 1. The bottom line? Liam Lawson has got what it takes. Only 20 of the world's fastest drivers make it to Formula 1, but staying there is the real challenge. With the British Grand Prix approaching, Lawson has a key window to back up his successful Austria result and make his mark. If he can deliver when it counts and show he's matured as a driver, he'll give himself every chance of staying on the grid in 2026. By Bianca Day
