Latest news with #Sauber
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rain in F1 Belgian GP could wreck Pirelli's strategy experiment
A strategic experiment Pirelli has been preparing for since early May could be imperiled by the weather at this week's Belgian Grand Prix. The recent heatwave across north-west Europe has given way to a cyclonic low-pressure system pulling in rain from the Atlantic. Heavy, thundery showers are expected to deposit up to 50mm of rain in the UK, northern France and Belgium over the next four days. When the opening rounds of the Formula 1 season unfolded along relatively processional lines, and the majority of teams defaulted to one-stop strategies, F1's tyre supplier opted to 'think outside the box' for a way to introduce an element of jeopardy into the decision-making process. Since the 'family' of tyre compounds is homologated at the beginning of the season and cannot be changed, it is a question of using the available compounds differently. So Pirelli elected to specify the C1 rather than the C2 as the hard-compound tyre for Belgium. The medium and soft remain the C3 and C4, as they were last year. 'They [teams] always find a way to apply a strategy on one stop,' Pirelli motorsport manager Mario Isola said at the time. Sauber tyre 'It's not that we're trying to push them to have a two-stop strategy because it's better, it's more action, more unpredictability and better races – but with the three compounds that are so close they always try to use the hard and the medium to move to a one-stop.' The theory is that by increasing difference between the hard and the medium compounds, a one-stop strategy is likely to come with a lap-time penalty attached. Teams typically aim to stop just once because it preserves track position and minimises the likelihood of 'finger trouble' in pitstops. In an ideal world, adjacent compounds would always offer clear-cut characteristics in terms of durability and grip, but track layouts and surfaces differ greatly and variable weather can also affect performance. Also, last year Pirelli was given a 'target letter' identifying key requirements for this year's tyres. Among the stipulations was that they should be less sensitive to thermal degradation so that drivers could push them harder, for longer. Pirelli has delivered on this, but that success has come freighted with unintended consequences – chiefly a shift to de facto one-stop races. Convergence in car performance has made overtaking harder to achieve, and processional races have ensued. By introducing this compound 'step' on a sprint weekend, Pirelli hoped to add further complications around tyre choice. But while Spa's challenging, high-speed layout suited a plan to evaluate a step in the harder compounds, the Ardennes weather has always been fickle. If rain disrupts proceedings, as it did during the Miami weekend, an interesting race may eventuate anyway – but Pirelli will have to try again elsewhere. This is a more challenging process than casual observers may believe since it isn't a case of randomly substituting one compound for another. If there is too big a difference between compounds then the outcome is the same as if the gap is too small – teams will coalesce around similar strategies. Belgium was viewed as the ideal location for the experiment, but if it can't happen here, the options are running out. Read Also: 1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war To read more articles visit our website.
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
Formula 1: How to watch the Belgian Grand Prix on TV and what to know
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (AP) — Here's a guide that tells you what you need to know about the Belgian Grand Prix. It's the 13th round of the 2025 Formula 1 season. How to watch the Belgian Grand Prix on TV — In the U.S., on ESPN. The Belgian Grand Prix schedule — Friday: Practice and qualifying for the sprint race. — Saturday: Sprint and qualifying. — Sunday: Belgian Grand Prix, 44 laps of the 7-kilometer (4.35-mile) circuit. It starts at 3 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET / 1300 GMT). Belgian Grand Prix venue Spa is a drivers' favorite for its spectacular route through the hills and forests of eastern Belgium. The uphill, high-speed Eau Rouge is one of the most famed corners in all of motorsport. Originally laid out on public roads, Spa is the longest circuit on the calendar and one where rain often plays a big role. Last time out Lando Norris beat his McLaren teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri to the win the British Grand Prix in a thrilling and controversial race in the rain. Piastri lost the lead after a 10-second penalty for sharp braking under the safety car. Sauber's Nico Hülkenberg took his first career podium after placing third — it was his 239th GP. Max Verstappen was fifth after a spin in what turned out to be Christian Horner's last race as Red Bull team principal. He was fired three days later. Catch up on F1 — Red Bull fires F1 team principal Christian Horner after 20 title-filled years — Red Bull signals it will keep up title fight after Horner was fired. It faces many other challenges — Oscar Piastri says he'll fuel his F1 title charge with 'frustration' at race-deciding penalty — Sauber's success is an F1 anomaly as teams switch focus to 2026 Key stats 20 — It's the first race in Red Bull's 20-year history without Christian Horner as team principal, after he was fired earlier this month. 100 — Yuki Tsunoda enters his 100th race in F1 with an unwanted record. Nico Hülkenberg's surprise third place in Britain means Verstappen's Red Bull teammate becomes the driver with most F1 starts without a podium finish. 139 — Charles Leclerc will mark his 139th race for Ferrari in Belgium, ranking him joint-third all-time with Felipe Massa for most F1 races for the Italian team. Only Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen have more. What they're saying 'Yesterday, I was informed by Red Bull that operationally I would no longer be involved with the business or the team moving forward... It came as a shock.' — Christian Horner tells Red Bull staff he's leaving. 'It still feels a bit unreal to be here and not to see him.' — New Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies on taking Christian Horner's place. ___
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull's 2025 Form Shocks Former Director After Sauber Comparison
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. Former Red Bull Racing sporting director Jonathan Wheatley has expressed surprise at the statistical findings comparing Red Bull and Sauber Formula One teams. Wheatley announced his Red Bull exit mid-2024 and joined Sauber this year as team principal, but little did he expect that things would turn around so quickly. Sauber has been undergoing several changes at many levels before Audi completes the full takeover of the outfit in 2026. The year is also a historical period for F1, given the new chassis and engine regulations that kick in for the first time in over a decade. The year will also mark the entry of automotive giant General Motors. GM's Cadillac F1 is gearing up to enter the grid next year as the eleventh team. But Audi has been revamping Sauber's operations since last year as Sauber continued to race in the premier class. The German marque appointed former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto as the chief operating officer and chief technical officer. Wheatley's Sauber joining this year completes the team's dual management structure. Given that managerial changes impact track performance, Sauber's chosen direction has yielded positive results thus far. Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2025 in... Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria. MoreThe Hinwil-based outfit finished last in the 2024 Constructors' Championship after having scored a mere four points. With twelve rounds ticked so far in 2025, Sauber is sixth in the championship with 41 points, a stark contrast to last year. Notably, Nico Hulkenberg contributed 31 points to the team's tally. An overhauled leadership and updated driver lineup, combined with timely upgrades on the C45 F1 car, have led to significant improvements. Surprisingly, Hulkenberg's points tally this season so far is higher than what Red Bull's second driver scored in the last eleven months. Max Verstappen has raced alongside three different teammates since the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, namely Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and now Yuki Tsunoda. All three drivers collectively scored 28 points since the race in Zandvoort. When Wheatley was asked about the impressive turnaround in Sauber's performance, he told RacingNews365: "I would never have believed it possible. I know the quality of that operation. I know the talent of the people who are there. "It's interesting that when you leave one team for another, even a team competing for world championships and coming to a team aspiring to compete for world championships, there are things done better there, and things done better here. "That's the fascinating thing with this sport. There is so much talent in it." Wheatley is confident that Sauber is on the right path. He added: "Of course, Mattia and I, our job is to try to channel the team, direct it in the right direction, and get it moving in that direction. My feeling is the ship's turning, and we're starting to point the right way."
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Nico Hulkenberg Makes Big Claim About Sauber After Maiden F1 Podium Finish
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. Sauber Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg has made a significant claim about his team, stating that it is now a "serious competitor" in the midfield. The German driver made the admission after securing his first podium finish in F1 at the British Grand Prix. Hulkenberg's P3 finish at Silverstone reportedly made bigger headlines than Lando Norris' race win at his home venue. The last stage of the British GP saw Hulkenberg fend off seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari in the fight for the third spot. Sauber, which is set to be taken over by Audi, is a classic example of what teams can do when the regulations remain consistent over multiple F1 seasons. Hulkenberg has scored points in five races thus far, while his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto secured a points finish in Austria. This has elevated Sauber's position in the championship standings to P6, a stark contrast to its last position finish from last year. Sauber is currently ahead of Alpine, Haas, Aston Martin, and Racing Bulls in the championship. Speaking on his Silverstone race finish, Hulkenberg acknowledged that the situation would have been different if the British GP had been a dry race. He said: Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025... Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. More"I think that's pretty good for starters today. If we had a dry race, it would have been a very different day and outcome for us." The 37-year-old driver admitted that the team made significant improvements after the Spanish Grand Prix. He added: "Whilst we've made some really good improvements since Barcelona, today [at Silverstone] is obviously circumstantial, and the conditions made this race and this result possible. "But I feel in the midfield fight we've definitely gained some momentum, and we are a serious competitor there. That's where our fight is, but it's always about maximising every race, every weekend, and just trying to do well." Newsweek Sports reported Hulkenberg's comments on his podium finish. He said: "I always knew, you know, we have it in us, I have it in me somewhere. "I mean, what a race, coming from virtually last, doing it all over again from last weekend. It's pretty surreal, to be honest. "Not sure how it all happened, but obviously, crazy conditions, mixed conditions. It was a survival fight for a lot of the race. "I think we just were really on it, the right course, the right tyres, in the right moment, made no mistakes. And, yeah, quite incredible."
New York Times
7 days ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
Ten years on from Jules Bianchi's death: Charles Leclerc remembers his friend and F1 mentor
Ten years and nine months ago, Formula One changed forever. Typhoon Phanfone had swept across Japan, soaking the Suzuka Circuit. Despite speculation that it would be abandoned, the Japanese Grand Prix went ahead. As the race's finale approached, Sauber's Adrian Sutil aquaplaned and spun into the tire barriers, triggering double yellow flags to warn drivers about the accident. Advertisement The cars continued navigating the circuit as marshals and a recovery vehicle entered the track. A lap later, disaster struck. Jules Bianchi lost his Marussia car in a similar way to Sutil at the same corner. He collided with the recovery vehicle at 78 miles per hour. Bianchi was taken to the Mie General Hospital and underwent surgery after a CT scan showed he had suffered a severe head injury. He never regained consciousness and died nine months later, on July 17, 2015 — 10 years ago today. He was 25 years old. Bianchi was the first driver to die from injuries sustained on an F1 race weekend since Ayrton Senna at Imola in 1994. His death led to significant motorsport safety changes, including the halo cockpit safety device and the virtual safety car system. The promising Frenchman had given Marussia its first-ever points finish at the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, and Bianchi was closely tied to Ferrari. Its former chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, told Sky Sports Italia in 2015 that Bianchi 'was a member of the Ferrari family and was the driver we had picked for the future — once the collaboration with (Kimi) Räikkönen was over.' But Bianchi was bigger than his on-track accomplishments. To Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, Bianchi was not just a close family friend. He was also his motorsport mentor and inspiration. Today, Leclerc is living the life Bianchi might've had and perhaps could even have enjoyed together. 'Jules was a very important person for me,' Leclerc told The Athletic. 'Not really for what he achieved on track — even though it was very inspiring to see that — but for the person he was. He had a huge influence on my career. Without him, I wouldn't be where I am today.' Sitting inside Ferrari's hospitality unit at the Miami Grand Prix in May, there was a buzz in the air. People darted in and out of the makeshift buildings arranged around the Hard Rock Stadium's field for media day, but it didn't seem to faze Leclerc as he told stories about himself and Bianchi, a faraway look in his eye and smiles flashing across his face. Advertisement They had known each other since childhood, first crossing paths when Leclerc was four years old. There was an eight-year gap between the two, but they bonded over karting at the Brignoles track owned and managed by Bianchi's father, Philippe, who was friends with Leclerc's father, Hervé, who died in 2017. 'I've always said that the Bianchi and the Leclerc family was one — we were really always together,' Charles said. 'Every weekend, I was at his track. When he was doing his first Monaco Grand Prix, he would sleep at my apartment. We had a very special relationship.' Leclerc started racing against Bianchi a couple of years after their first meeting, and while 'it was only fun' for his older friend — already winning trophies as a junior karter — Leclerc faced a steep learning curve given the difference in their levels. Leclerc said, 'I always tried to analyze what he was doing and I thought that this gave me an advantage compared to kids that were racing against me, that maybe didn't have these kinds of fights with people that were older and such talented drivers like Jules.' Throughout his karting journey, Bianchi collected notable achievements. He finished third in the Trophée des Jeunes FFSA Cadets in 2002 and won the 2005 Asia-Pacific Championship Formula A title. Two years later, Bianchi advanced to racing cars, securing five wins and finishing first in his debut French Formula Renault 2.0 season. As the Frenchman climbed the international racing ranks, Leclerc watched on, learning what he could. 'Even in the most stupid, irrelevant little things that he did,' Leclerc said. 'I was looking up at him — from the way he was cleaning his kart to the way he drove,' he continued. 'And so you try and reproduce all the good things from what you see. You experience the things that you see to find out if they work for you. All the very little things. Just by being himself, I learned a lot.' One of the driving characteristics that Leclerc picked up from Bianchi as a kid was his braking style. In F1, Leclerc is known for being aggressive on the brakes, hitting the pedal quite late and overlapping with throttle usage when entering corners. Not only does his braking style help car rotation in corners, but if he gets it right, it means higher entry speeds and faster lap times, too. It can be challenging, as brakes can easily lock and Leclerc hates cars that understeer — where the front wheels don't turn as fast as a driver wants. 'I'm never totally off brake,' Leclerc said. 'I remember this being one of Jules' first lessons. I remember being a kid and focusing on that. Now, it's completely natural. Jules had a big influence.' Some of the fondest memories Leclerc holds onto about Bianchi come from the karting track. 'We were doing a lot of stupid things,' he recalled, such as going around the circuit the opposite way to its layout. Their parents filmed the second time Leclerc went karting at Brignoles. He remembered how Bianchi selected a kart 'that was too small for him, just to race against me.' In the background of the unreleased footage, their parents discussed 'how incredible it would be to see both of us in Formula One.' Advertisement 'When you see this footage, you can understand how far away you are from Formula One and this crazy world,' Leclerc continued. 'So everything seemed very unlikely, even for one of us to get there, let alone the fact that we both made it.' Bianchi joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2009 and became the team's test driver two years later. The following season, in 2012, he served as Force India's reserve driver and then made his F1 debut at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix as a full-time driver with Marussia. Racing for a backmarker team, Bianchi didn't score any points in that campaign, but retained his seat. At the 2014 Monaco GP, he scored his and Marussia's first and only F1 points, finishing ninth. His accident at Suzuka occurred nine races later. 'It's a very special sport, because you can be the most talented driver ever, but if you don't find yourself at the right time, at the right place, you can also end up not having any wins,' Leclerc said. 'Not for your own fault, but just because it was just not meant to be. And this is what's sad about the sport in general. In some cases, and especially in Jules' case, he definitely had the talent to become a Formula One world champion.' They may never have raced in F1 together, but Leclerc is competing at the pinnacle of motorsport, in part, thanks to Bianchi. At the end of 2010, Leclerc's family were struggling to afford his karting, jeopardizing his racing future. Bianchi spoke to his manager Nicolas Todt — son of former Ferrari team principal and FIA president Jean Todt — about Leclerc's situation and Todt agreed to financially support him. He manages Leclerc to this day, and like Bianchi, Leclerc has long been tied to Ferrari's driver development program. That investment helped Leclerc chase his dream, and he has been racing in F1 for eight years, seven with Ferrari. Bianchi's memory lives on through Leclerc and karting. During the fall, there's a 42-hour karting marathon held at Circuit Paul Ricard in France, which is close to Brignoles. It's now known as the Jules Bianchi Marathon Karting. Advertisement Leclerc and Bianchi competed in the event together, seven times total, and one memory of when Bianchi was 18 particularly sticks with Leclerc. At 1 a.m. one year, Bianchi and the team left Leclerc in the kart, driving for several hours straight, while 'they all went to the club,' Leclerc said. They returned by five or six in the morning, Leclerc said, 'and I was so tired, but I didn't want to stop in the pits, because I didn't want to lose the race.' When Bianchi died in July 2015, the karting marathon was paused until a few years ago. Leclerc kept speaking with Philippe about restarting the event to raise money for the Jules Bianchi Association, which supports Hôpital L'Archet (where Bianchi was treated after he'd been transferred home to Nice from Japan). The 42-hour, 19-minute and 50-second marathon returned in 2023, and Leclerc's team won last year, fighting with another team until the last hour for the victory. This year's event will mark the 10th edition and will be held from September 12-14. 'It brings back very good memories from the past, and I also get to see people that I haven't for a long time, but it's great fun,' Leclerc told The Athletic in 2024. 'I did it with my best friends, who are not at all racing drivers. But we still managed to win.' What a team 😘🏆42 hours of flat out racing, that was fun!!Good to be raising money for the Jules Bianchi association ❤️ — Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) September 9, 2024 Bianchi's memory also lives on each time F1 hits the track. Since 2018, every car has been fitted with the halo device — credited with saving many lives in crashes since, but it had been under consideration since the late 2000s. Every race, officials can activate the virtual safety car system, which, since 2015, has electronically ordered drivers to slow their speed in dangerous moments. It was developed specifically due to Bianchi's crash, with yellow flag warnings alone deemed insufficient in the aftermath. Every time Leclerc drives onto the track, Bianchi is with him. Etched on the back of his race helmet are two names and dates: PaPa and Jules. 'Unfortunately, we never got to race together in F1 for the reasons we know. But we both realized our dream of becoming F1 drivers. And, for me, I'm sure that he's proud.'
