Latest news with #F1GrandPrixofCanada
Newsweek
37 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Lewis Hamilton Breaks Down Ferrari SF-25 Performance After Major Austrian GP Upgrade
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed the effects of a new floor upgrade to his Ferrari SF-25 F1 car after the second free practice session at Spielberg. Considering Hamilton's ongoing struggles as he adjusts to the new car this season, Ferrari introduced a new floor for the Austrian Grand Prix, with changes made to the diffuser, floor edge, fences, and body. However, Hamilton was unable to test the floor in Free Practice 1 due to a gearbox failure. In the second practice session, he was the tenth fastest. Hamilton opened up on the gearbox problem before admitting that the car wasn't good enough to battle for the top positions. He told F1: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari seeks shade under an umbrella in the pit lane during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, Canada. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari seeks shade under an umbrella in the pit lane during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, Canada."We had a problem in the morning with the gearbox, which was obviously difficult, frustrating for everyone in the garage obviously because the boys did a great job, kept topping it up. "But you go out, you can only do one lap, and so we didn't get the long runs. But I think we recovered okay with it, they did a great job changing the gearbox and getting us ready for FP2. "Charles was six-tenths off, I was close to a second off, so not ideal. But I think there's lots of learnings, so I think we will make some changes. Hopefully we can try and get a little bit closer. We won't be at the front." When asked whether the new floor made any difference, the 40-year-old driver said: "A huge amount of work went on to bring the floor, but as you see it's not necessarily changed our competitiveness. "The car actually doesn't feel bad, we're just a huge chunk off pace-wise, so we need to look into that and that's about it really. We just keep pushing, just trying to dial the car in more and see what we can get, but it's obviously very close in the top 10 so a tenth could make a difference, so we'll work towards trying to gain at least that over the night." Hamilton's teammate Charles Leclerc stressed that the SF-25 needed more performance and called for changes to be made overnight for the qualifying session. He added: "I felt kind of at ease on the track straightaway, but not really at ease with the car and the way the car feels, so there's quite a bit of work to be done for tomorrow. "It doesn't feel like the performance is quite there yet, but hopefully we will put everything together tomorrow and do a step forward, but there's quite a lot of work to be done tonight. "Long run [pace] seems to be more positive as we very often have – we are faster on the race [pace] than we are in Qualifying. In Qualifying, there's a lot of work to be done."
Newsweek
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1 Drivers Break Silence on FIA's Release of Racing Guidelines
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Formula One drivers have opened up on the FIA's push for transparency by publishing a racing guidelines document, which outlines the current rules and the corresponding penalties. Drivers have often called for more transparency from F1's governing body pertaining to the regulations following several instances where rules were applied inconsistently by the FIA stewards for similar incidents. Related: New FIA Guidelines Suggest Max Verstappen Should Have Been Banned From Racing The newly released document aims to inform and educate everyone connected to the sport. Now, drivers have had their say about the step taken by the FIA. Carlos Sainz Williams' Carlos Sainz said that while there are matters yet to be addressed by the FIA, publishing the regulations for transparency is a step forward. He said ahead of the race weekend in Austria: Race start during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, Canada. Race start during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, Canada."I think there's no secret that, as drivers, we've felt over the last few years that there's been a bit of a lack of transparency and a lack of understanding with the main governance of the FIA, and even though the intentions might have been good sometimes, I felt like drivers have been always a bit left out, and sometimes our opinions were not listened to enough. "There have been corrections, and we felt like there has been a good reaction to those corrections. But clearly, other times, we haven't felt that way, and we've made it very clear with our statements. "But I can only see a way forward and getting better, because this year has certainly been frustrating for the most part. So let's see if it improves, and maybe today's press release from the FIA is already a sign of the intentions of making everything a bit clearer." George Russell George Russell emphasized that the FIA's efforts make no difference to the drivers. He added: "Obviously, this is maybe more transparency for you, but for us, it doesn't really change anything. "I think it is positive that you have those papers to understand what they are working towards. I think we'll have to see in due course. There have obviously been some small changes in the last couple of months, positively." Lewis Hamilton Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton claimed that the document would not change anything about the way he drives. He said: "I'm not driving to these guidelines, if I'm really honest, I'm just driving what I feel naturally. But, of course, the FIA stewards have a tough job. Every racing manoeuvre looks different. "I think having some sort of boundary is good. I've not really had any problems in terms of they've not affected me so far. "Different people come in, and different people come up with different things, year on year, and some of them are good. Some of them are not so good. I don't want to judge it just yet." Pierre Gasly Alpine's Pierre Gasly acknowledged that the FIA was working on the grey areas in the regulations. He added: "To me, it's clear on how hard you can race and the limit of it. "Obviously, as drivers, you always take it right up to the limit and try to use any grey area that you can. But I think step by step, we're reducing these grey areas. And I think it's, at least to me, it's very clear on what you can do and can't do." Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri pointed out that the document contains guidelines, but the stewards will be in charge of handing out the penalties. He explained: "I think the first important thing to point out is that they are guidelines. They're not set-in-stone rules. "Trying to put in words every single racing scenario is impossible. So, it's a very difficult job. I think these guidelines provide the Stewards with some guidelines on what should be acceptable and what's not. "Obviously, there are still degrees of factors that can't really be written down. Every situation is different, but I think it at least gives us as drivers some clarity on what is and isn't allowed. "There have probably been some tweaks since they came out — I can't remember when they came out exactly, but maybe in the last 18 months or so. "It's just important that people don't treat them as black and white — this is what needs to happen, this is what isn't going to happen — because even if you wrote 10 pages of lines and a driver's going to find a grey area just from the situation you end up in. "So I think it's important to recognise that and not jump to conclusions like, "it says this in this sentence, so this is what should happen." It's still in the stewards' hands." Max Verstappen plainly stated that he "hadn't seen" the guidelines since he was "busy."
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Verstappen to Mercedes? Russell Hints At Talks As His Contract Remains Up In The Air
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. George Russell has confirmed that Mercedes is in talks with Max Verstappen. With his contract expiring after the 2025 season, Russell explained that he would continue to focus on performance and had no reason to worry about his contract extension. However, Mercedes has yet to put pen to paper. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff shared his interest in signing Verstappen last year after Lewis Hamilton had announced his 2025 Ferrari move. Indeed, Verstappen has showcased exceptional racing abilities on several race weekends, even when Red Bull's title challenger suffered from balance problems. But after the four-time world champion reaffirmed his loyalty to Red Bull, Wolff signed Andrea Kimi Antonelli. However, Russell's statements suggest that Mercedes is still interested in having Verstappen, which makes sense considering that F1 enters a new era of regulations next year with entirely new cars. As a result, drivers could be expected to carry more weight on their shoulders until teams refine and improve their cars. Image shot on mobile device) Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing walk back from the... Image shot on mobile device) Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing walk back from the Stewards Office during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. MoreRussell revealed his conversation with Wolff and acknowledged he was meeting all performance expectations, especially considering his four podium finishes this season and his race win in Canada. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Russell was asked about discussions on his contract extension ahead of the race weekend in Austria. He said: "Yeah, a little bit. No major updates yet. "It's not something that I'm pressing massively because, as I've always said, the performance is the priority, and I feel with the performance I'm showing at the moment - still in line with the performance I've shown over all these years - I've got zero reasons to be worried. "But obviously, it does help if there was pen on paper. But let's see." While admitting that he has no reason to worry, Russell opened up about Mercedes' ongoing talks with Verstappen. He added: "From my side, I don't think I have anything really to worry about. I think, as a team, it depends where you put your aspirations. "We're second best at the moment, maybe third best. We might be overperforming slightly to be second best. "As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and if you're going to be back on top you need to make sure you've got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that's what Mercedes are chasing. "So, it's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula 1 team."
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
New FIA Guidelines Suggest Max Verstappen Should Have Been Banned From Racing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Max Verstappen looks like he escaped a race disqualification for the incident involving George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix. This was highlighted after the FIA released the stewards' guidelines, released in a bid to encourage transparency. The stewards' guidelines document is meant to educate fans on how they hand out penalties to drivers and teams for offenses committed during race weekends. It highlights the steward's decision-making process, which involves weighing the nature of the incident and levying an appropriate punishment based on the magnitude, intent, and consequences of the incident. However, the document has shed light on the punishment levied on Verstappen for crashing into Russell in the last stage of the Spanish Grand Prix. A late-race safety car forced Red Bull to fit Verstappen's RB21 with hard tires while rival cars ran on medium Pirellis. Second placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the Drivers Press Conference during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025... Second placed qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the Drivers Press Conference during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. MoreThe race restart saw Verstappen struggle in a battle for third place with Charles Leclerc as his car struggled for traction. At the end of Turn 1, Russell tried to get past him for the fourth spot. Sensing a collision, Verstappen drove off into the run-off area and rejoined the track in front of Russell. Fearing an incoming penalty for overtaking off the racetrack, Red Bull instructed Verstappen to hand P4 to Russell, which he did under frustration. But before this, Verstappen crashed into Russell as the Briton went for the overtake. The stewards handed the Red Bull driver a ten-second penalty and added three points to his super license. That brought Verstappen's super license points tally to 11, leaving him one short of a potential race ban. The four-time world champion admitted after the race that he made the move on Russell out of frustration, which confirms the deliberate nature of the incident. The stewards' guidelines released by the FIA today suggest that four penalty points should have been added to Verstappen's super license. The punishment for "Causing a collision with apparent deliberate or reckless intent" is a "10 Stop and go, or any time penalty exceeding 30 seconds (or grid place penalty if the driver failed to finish the race)." In addition, four penalty points are added to the driver's super license. Adding four points to Verstappen's super license would have banned him from participating in the following race in Canada. While the reason for issuing three penalty points to the Red Bull driver remains unclear, it highlights that the punishment levied is not in line with the rules mentioned in the stewards' guidelines. Now, it remains to be seen if the FIA will comment on the matter.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1's Carlos Sainz Endorses His Father's Exit From FIA Presidential Campaign
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Williams Racing Formula One driver Carlos Sainz Jr. has backed his father Carlos Sainz Sr.'s decision not to enter the FIA presidential campaign this year. Sainz Sr. revealed that other commitments, including racing in the Dakar Rally, held him back from competing against current FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Some of the F1 community looked forward to a change in the leadership of its governing body after Sainz Sr. said he was considering running for the position of FIA president. Now, Sainz Sr. has confirmed that he is abandoning the idea of entering the campaign. Sainz Jr. acknowledged that he supported his father's decision in his role as a son, but as a motorsport fan, the Spaniard held a different opinion. When asked by the media if he was disappointed to see his father step down, Sainz Jr. said: Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams speaks in the media pen following his q1 exit during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal, Canada. Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams speaks in the media pen following his q1 exit during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal, Canada."As his son, no. As a motorsport fan, yes. "I think many motorsport people would have liked to see my dad giving it a go and seeing what he could have done for the sport, but as his son, and after evaluating a bit also with him, all the things he had to get involved with and [would] have to take care of, to confirm and to have any possibility of running for that presidency, I think I understand why he's not doing it and why he's letting it go and focusing on his own stuff." However, he didn't rule out a future possibility of Sainz Sr. campaigning for the position of FIA president. Sainz Jr. added: "Never say never. I think the ideal time was now, given the state of the situation that everything is in, I think it was the ideal moment for him to go in and and try to have a positive effect. "I don't know if that will be ideal in four or eight years' time. I'll never say never, but right now, for sure, he's not interested anymore." Sainz Sr., who is a two-time World Rally Championship winner, said he didn't want to compromise his preparations for the Dakar Rally by running for FIA president. He revealed in a statement on X: "This message is to publicly confirm that I have finally decided not to run for the presidency of the FIA in this year's election. "I have worked hard these past months to understand in depth the situation at the FIA and the demands and complexities that come with such an important project," the 63-year-old wrote. "After a thoughtful reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the present circumstances are not ideal to set the grounds for my candidacy. "Furthermore, I have realized that properly running for President would notably compromise my preparation for the Dakar and I do not wish to weaken my commitment to Ford and my team. "These concerns have therefore inclined me to be realistic and desist from my FIA endeavour for now." With no competition in place, Mohammed Ben Sulayem will likely continue to perform the role of FIA president.
