Latest news with #SpaFrancorchamps
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
F1: 'We've had to reset'
Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls. Photo: JAKUB PORZYCKI / AFP The need for speed will be the challenge for Liam Lawson's team heading into this weekend's Belgium Formula 1 Grand Prix. The championship stops at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit for the 13th round of the season. Spa, near the German border, is one of the oldest tracks in Europe. It is currently the longest circuit on the calendar at just over seven kilometres, and contains high-speed straights and fast corners. Racing Bulls have not always been at their best on fast long circuits, and the team acknowledges the challenges of the combination of high-speed corners, long straights and significant elevation changes. Lawson has raced there before in F3 and F2, but has been back in the simulator to prepare. It has been three weeks since he raced the British Grand Prix, but he was involved in the Goodwood Festival of Speed a fortnight ago. "Spa is an iconic track with a lot of history. I've enjoyed racing here in other categories, so I am excited to tackle it in a Formula 1 car too." The 23-year-old scored his best points of the season with a sixth place finish in Austria last month, but then followed that up with a DNF at Silverstone when he was hit by another car on the first lap. "I'm excited to be back in the car after the short break we've had to reset, so feel ready for a strong end to the first part of the season." Racing Bull's mechanics work on New Zealand driver Liam Lawson's car. Photo: GUENTHER IBY / AFP The weather is also expected to play a part with some rain forecast for the weekend. Added to that is that Belgium will hold the third sprint race of the season, meaning there is just one practice session before sprint qualifying and the sprint race followed by qualifying and the Grand Prix. In the first two sprint races, Lawson finished 14th in Shanghai (racing for Red Bull) and 13th in Miami. Racing Bulls chief technical officer Tim Goss said their set-up would rely on a lower rear wing level due to the high speeds. "With fewer track sessions for set-up work, we depend more on our pre-race preparations in the simulator. "We bring some modest performance updates and a dedicated rear wing. Preparations have gone well and we look forward to the challenge of a busy weekend ahead." Racing Bulls are seventh in the Constructors' standings, having recently been overtaken by Kick Sauber, who have found form in the last couple of races. Lawson's team-mate Isack Hadjar has had success at the circuit, winning there in F2 in 2024. Spa-Francorchamps hosted its first Grand Prix in 1925, and has held a Grand Prix every year since 1985, except for 2003 and 2006. It also holds numerous other top level motor racing events, including the 24 Hours of Spa. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Reuters
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
F1's Spa weekend kicks off a new era for Red Bull
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, July 23 (Reuters) - Formula One's Spa weekend marks a new start for Red Bull and reigning world champion Max Verstappen as the team go racing for the first time without Christian Horner at the helm. The Briton's sudden sacking after a 20-year reign of rare success, including the most dominant of seasons in 2023, has had the sport buzzing for weeks with plenty of questions to be asked in Belgium. A Saturday sprint will be the first race of new boss Laurent Mekies' tenure and the change, and how it affects four-times world champion Verstappen's future, remains the big talking point of the moment. Horner has made no public comment and Red Bull's preview for the 13th round of the 24-race season made no mention of him. "I was back at the factory last week to spend some time in the sim(ulator) with the team and I'm looking forward to working closely with Laurent," Belgian-born Verstappen was quoted as saying. Mekies, promoted from Racing Bulls who have handed over the reins to Alan Permane, arrives with Red Bull fourth overall and Verstappen a distant third in the drivers' standings behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. That intra-team title battle is likely to have some extra sizzle at Spa-Francorchamps as Norris seeks a third win in a row -- new territory for the Briton -- and the chance to take over at the top. The sprint format offers more points than usual and Norris, whose mother is Belgian, is only eight behind the Australian going to a high-speed track that is a favourite for most drivers. Piastri, despite his generally unruffled exterior, may also be still simmering at the 10 second penalty that cost him a win in Britain and handed victory to Norris. He will want to hit back as Formula One kicks off a Belgium/Hungary double-header -- the first fast and often wet while the second is twisty and hot -- before the long August break. George Russell, his contract expiring at the end of the season and in danger of losing his Mercedes seat to Verstappen or having him as an uncomfortable teammate, is also not short of motivation. The Briton was stripped of victory last year at Spa when post-race checks found his car to be underweight, handing victory to then-teammate Lewis Hamilton in what remains the seven-times champion's most recent win in F1. Ferrari have yet to triumph, other than a Shanghai sprint, since Hamilton moved from Mercedes to Maranello in January but they are gathering momentum. The Italian team are second overall and Charles Leclerc has secured three podiums in the last five races while Hamilton was fourth at Silverstone. Nico Hulkenberg will also be getting back to business at Sauber after an emotional first podium at the 239th attempt at Silverstone ended his unwanted record of most races without a top three finish. Sauber, the future Audi works team, are on the move and have scored the fourth most points of any outfit on the grid over the last four races.
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
F1's heart and soul lies in Spa. But the clamour for glamour puts it at risk
Each summer, fans descend on the Belgian countryside, braving unpredictable weather and muddy campsites for a glimpse of Formula One's most romanticised battleground. Tucked in the Ardennes forest, Spa-Francorchamps, hosting the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, is a rite of passage for drivers, a pilgrimage for fans, and for many, the heart and soul of motor sport. Since its debut on the calendar in 1950, Spa has carved itself into F1 folklore. Mika Häkkinen's audacious double overtake on Michael Schumacher and Ricardo Zonta in 2000 is one of the sport's most celebrated moves. In 2023, Max Verstappen stormed from 14th to victory in an epic comeback. Ayrton Senna won five times there, calling it his favourite circuit, a sentiment echoed by many current drivers. At 7km long with 19 corners, Spa is the longest track on the calendar and home to some of F1's most distinguished features. Nowhere is this clearer than at Eau Rouge and Raidillon, a sweeping blind uphill left-right kink that rewards precision and bravery in equal measure. Lewis Hamilton once described the thrill as a stomach-churning plunge that makes it feel like everything might come up at once. 'It's quite the rush when you're doing 200mph,' he admitted. But the same section that delivers such exhilaration has also brought tragedy. In 2019, Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert died at Raidillon following a high-speed multi-car collision. Four years later, 18-year-old Dutch driver Dilano van 't Hoff was killed at the same corner during a Formula Regional race, this time in treacherous wet conditions. The crashes were hauntingly similar: a car losing control, struck at speed by oncoming traffic cresting the hill with little visibility. With growing concerns about safety, Spa responded with changes in 2022: gravel traps were reintroduced, barriers were moved, and some runoff areas widened. But critics argue the changes did not go far enough to address the corner's inherent dangers, especially in the wet, where spray and visibility become critical factors. George Russell likened it to 'driving down the motorway in pouring rain and turning your windscreen wipers off'. And now, alongside the safety debate, Spa is also facing a battle for its place on the calendar; its future, once considered untouchable, is now under threat. In a sport increasingly shaped by commercial interests, heritage circuits like Spa are being squeezed. Its most recent contract extension confirmed the Belgian Grand Prix will remain but on a rotational basis. Spa is set to be dropped from the calendar in both 2028 and 2030, potentially alternating with new venues in Thailand, Argentina or Rwanda. For some, it's a natural evolution. For others, it's a warning sign. The release of Netflix's Drive to Survive in 2018 marked a turning point for Formula One, particularly in the United States. Under Liberty Media's ownership, the sport has seen a dramatic shift in scale and audience. Attendance at the US Grand Prix in Austin nearly doubled between 2018 and 2022, and a 2025 survey found that 73% of American fans now intend to attend a race. Now with Apple TV reportedly bidding for US broadcast rights on the back of the F1 film, the commercial juggernaut shows no signs of slowing. But the sport's growing appetite for glamour, reflected in the rise of circuits like Las Vegas, Miami and Jeddah, has raised concerns. For all the spectacle, there is a sense that Formula One is edging away from the traditions that built it. Circuits like Spa, Silverstone and Monza are now forced to compete with newer venues offering flashier packages and deeper pockets. Verstappen, Spa's unofficial home hero, has previously suggested that traditional tracks deserve special status in the sport, exempting them from rotation or replacement. F1 has always walked the line between danger and glory. But in an era shaped by commercial growth and heightened safety standards, Spa presents an uneasy dilemma. Its difficulty is part of its charm – the unpredictable weather, the margin for error, the rawness that feels increasingly rare. As the sport moves further into new markets, the question is no longer just whether Spa should stay. It is whether Formula One can afford to lose what it represents. For now, the Belgian Grand Prix remains, and this year's edition promises another compelling chapter. With Christian Horner's departure, all eyes will be on how Red Bull responds under new leadership. McLaren, meanwhile, look to extend their surge in form as the title fight intensifies. And as ever, the drivers face one of the sport's greatest challenges – a circuit that rewards bravery and punishes hesitation.
The Guardian
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
F1's heart and soul lies in Spa. But the clamour for glamour puts it at risk
Each summer, fans descend on the Belgian countryside, braving unpredictable weather and muddy campsites for a glimpse of Formula One's most romanticised battleground. Tucked in the Ardennes forest, Spa-Francorchamps, hosting the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, is a rite of passage for drivers, a pilgrimage for fans, and for many, the heart and soul of motor sport. Since its debut on the calendar in 1950, Spa has carved itself into F1 folklore. Mika Häkkinen's audacious double overtake on Michael Schumacher and Ricardo Zonta in 2000 is one of the sport's most celebrated moves. In 2023, Max Verstappen stormed from 14th to victory in an epic comeback. Ayrton Senna won five times there, calling it his favourite circuit, a sentiment echoed by many current drivers. At 7km long with 19 corners, Spa is the longest track on the calendar and home to some of F1's most distinguished features. Nowhere is this clearer than at Eau Rouge and Raidillon, a sweeping blind uphill left-right kink that rewards precision and bravery in equal measure. Lewis Hamilton once described the thrill as a stomach-churning plunge that makes it feel like everything might come up at once. 'It's quite the rush when you're doing 200mph,' he admitted. But the same section that delivers such exhilaration has also brought tragedy. In 2019, Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert died at Raidillon following a high-speed multi-car collision. Four years later, 18-year-old Dutch driver Dilano van 't Hoff was killed at the same corner during a Formula Regional race, this time in treacherous wet conditions. The crashes were hauntingly similar: a car losing control, struck at speed by oncoming traffic cresting the hill with little visibility. With growing concerns about safety, Spa responded with changes in 2022: gravel traps were reintroduced, barriers were moved, and some runoff areas widened. But critics argue the changes did not go far enough to address the corner's inherent dangers, especially in the wet, where spray and visibility become critical factors. George Russell likened it to 'driving down the motorway in pouring rain and turning your windscreen wipers off'. And now, alongside the safety debate, Spa is also facing a battle for its place on the calendar; its future, once considered untouchable, is now under threat. In a sport increasingly shaped by commercial interests, heritage circuits like Spa are being squeezed. Its most recent contract extension confirmed the Belgian Grand Prix will remain but on a rotational basis. Spa is set to be dropped from the calendar in both 2028 and 2030, potentially alternating with new venues in Thailand, Argentina or Rwanda. For some, it's a natural evolution. For others, it's a warning sign. The release of Netflix's Drive to Survive in 2018 marked a turning point for Formula One, particularly in the United States. Under Liberty Media's ownership, the sport has seen a dramatic shift in scale and audience. Attendance at the US Grand Prix in Austin nearly doubled between 2018 and 2022, and a 2025 survey found that 73% of American fans now intend to attend a race. Now with Apple TV reportedly bidding for US broadcast rights on the back of the F1 film, the commercial juggernaut shows no signs of slowing. But the sport's growing appetite for glamour, reflected in the rise of circuits like Las Vegas, Miami and Jeddah, has raised concerns. For all the spectacle, there is a sense that Formula One is edging away from the traditions that built it. Circuits like Spa, Silverstone and Monza are now forced to compete with newer venues offering flashier packages and deeper pockets. Verstappen, Spa's unofficial home hero, has previously suggested that traditional tracks deserve special status in the sport, exempting them from rotation or replacement. F1 has always walked the line between danger and glory. But in an era shaped by commercial growth and heightened safety standards, Spa presents an uneasy dilemma. Its difficulty is part of its charm – the unpredictable weather, the margin for error, the rawness that feels increasingly rare. As the sport moves further into new markets, the question is no longer just whether Spa should stay. It is whether Formula One can afford to lose what it represents. For now, the Belgian Grand Prix remains, and this year's edition promises another compelling chapter. With Christian Horner's departure, all eyes will be on how Red Bull responds under new leadership. McLaren, meanwhile, look to extend their surge in form as the title fight intensifies. And as ever, the drivers face one of the sport's greatest challenges – a circuit that rewards bravery and punishes hesitation.
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Life after Horner - what Mekies will bring to Red Bull
Laurent Mekies intends to be a soft-touch boss of Red Bull in Formula 1, at least for the period that he is settling in with his new 48-year-old Frenchman took over as team principal and chief executive officer of Red Bull Racing after Christian Horner was sacked by the shareholders three days after the British Grand Mekies' job is to turn around the performance of a team that has been suffering a competitive decline for the past 18 in terms of getting off to a positive start, this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix could not, on paper, be a better place for Mekies to make his first public appearance in his new role. Spa success would not end Red Bull problems Red Bull's lead driver Max Verstappen has struggled to compete with the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on a consistent basis this year, but the circuits where he has been able to are fast and flowing - exactly like Belgium's after all, was on pole at high-speed Silverstone three weeks ago, only for his race to come unstuck in the wet as a consequence of the low-downforce set-up Red Bull is famous for its long, demanding, fast corners, just like Suzuka, where Verstappen won from pole. It would be no surprise to see him repeat that feat this that would be a nice fillip for the new Mekies-led Red Bull, it would not be an indication that their problems were behind team's struggles this year were central in the mix of issues that led to Horner's departure. The shareholders - tired, too, of Horner's demands to be in total control of everything while the team appeared to be fracturing around him - felt something needed to be this is still the core of the team that two years ago produced the most dominant season in F1 history, and for which last year Verstappen won seven of the first 10 races to lay the foundations for his fourth world it was no surprise to hear Mekies pledging, in a video distributed by Red Bull, to get the best out of what he describes as "this incredible team".As someone who has been in F1 for more than 20 years, and who has worked at governing body the FIA and Ferrari in addition to two stints at Red Bull's junior team, Mekies already knows well several key people at Red Bull, such as technical director Pierre Wache and head of engineering Paul Monaghan. A new Red Bull emerges - without Newey Mekies has spent the last two weeks getting to know the staff at Red Bull's base in Milton Keynes. In Spa, he has a chance to watch first-hand a race team which still has a claim to be in many aspects - strategy, nimbleness, mixing improvisation with aggression - the best in the business, notwithstanding its recent says he wants to "discover the magic". His first few weeks in charge, he says, will be about "listening to the people to try to understand this beautiful magic machine that his Red Bull F1, and eventually find a way to contribute and support".There was a dichotomy, and a paradox, about Red Bull under Horner. On the one hand, he built it in his own image - and he led a pyramid-like structure from the the same time, he built the design and engineering aspect of the team around design chief Adrian Newey, organising the people around him to get the best out of Newey's result was success - and plenty of it. Eight drivers' titles, six constructors' championships, 124 grand prix wins. Even when Red Bull fell from competitiveness during the early years of hybrid engines, their chassis was still for the most part regarded as one of the best in the field. It was Renault's power-units that fell Bull's competitive decline started as soon as Newey left. How much of that was coincidence - in the context of McLaren's rise to prominence and the weaknesses of Red Bull's current car-design philosophy being exposed - and how much cause remains a point of debate. The truth is probably a bit of both Horner and Newey have gone, and a new Red Bull has to emerge. Mekies has to forge a new team that can return to the top without Newey's influence. Mekies is 'different character' from Horner Horner was the boss who was accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a female employee, accusations which were dismissed by two internal investigations last year and always denied by was the guy who lost Newey, the sport's pre-eminent design genius. And Jonathan Wheatley, the sporting director who masterminded the best-drilled team in the pit lane. And Will Courtenay, the head of the strategy at the team that, for the past decade and more, has had the best and most improvisational race operations, and who is bound at some point for is the man whose in-your-face approach led Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff to describe him as a "yapping little terrier". It's an image he was aware of himself - he even asks whether he is being portrayed as the "villain" midway through the latest series of Netflix's successful Drive to Survive series. He built up this image - whether intentionally or just because of who he is - over many years. Not least through the dramatic 2021 season and his key interventions with former race director Michael Masi, which preceded the Australian's mishandling of the rules during the final race in Abu Dhabi, which directly led to Verstappen taking the championship from Lewis Hamilton. Teams are a reflection of their culture, and culture is a reflection of leadership, so it's perhaps no surprise that Red Bull have become the team many people love to Bull's brand image is about edginess, fun and disruption. Under Horner's controlling influence, the shareholders felt something of the spirit of Red Bull had been lost in recent arrival is a chance for a clean slate. He is a very different character from engineer with extensive experience of F1, he can engage with the technical team on an in-depth that way, he is a 'technical team principal', as McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown refers to Andrea Stella, who has been such a revelation since becoming McLaren team boss at the end of a character, Mekies seems so far to be softer, less prickly and less adversarial than Horner. While still a keen competitor, he might be expected to take a different approach to any disputes that arise controversies surrounding Horner - the allegations; his volatile relationship with Verstappen's father Jos; questions about the driver's future; the drip-drip exodus of major figures - had led to something of a siege mentality at Red arrival is a chance for that to change, and for Red Bull to forge a new relationship, with their rivals, with the sport and with its audience.
