Formula 1 - Discussion Thread

[BouncerGuy]

FIA steward Warwick suspended for Canadian GP

Former grand prix driver Derek Warwick has been suspended from his role as a steward at this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.

Governing body the FIA said the decision had been made "following recent unauthorised media comments".

It said he would be replaced by Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi, who would be "officiating from the remote operations centre in Geneva for the remainder of the event".

The FIA added: "After discussion, Derek acknowledges that his comments were ill-advised in his role as an FIA steward and has apologised.

"Derek will resume his duties as a steward in the forthcoming Austrian Grand Prix."

Warwick won the Le Mans 24 Hours, is a former president of the British Racing Drivers' Club and is one of the most senior driver stewards in F1.

An ex-F1 driver is always one of the four stewards officiating at every grand prix.

Last week Warwick was quoted as saying that a penalty given to Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix after the Dutchman apparently deliberately collided with Mercedes' George Russell was "right".

On a gambling website, Warwick said: "Should he have done what he did, in Turn Five with George Russell? Absolutely not. Did he get a penalty for that? Yes.

"It seems to me that, although he dove in, he then did turn away from George, but momentum pushed him against George. It is absolutely wrong and the FIA was right to give him a penalty."

Warwick is the second driver steward to be punished by the FIA for commenting on races in the past six months.

In January Johnny Herbert was dropped by the FIA, which said his "duties as an FIA steward and that of a media pundit were incompatible".

The FIA's decision to suspend Warwick came a day after controversial statute changes were passed by the organisation's general assembly.

The changes are said by critics to "risk further contributing to the erosion of the FIA's reputation for competent and transparent governance" under president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Ben Sulayem's time in office since 2021 has been marked by a series of controversies, the majority of which have been focused on the erosion of accountability and good governance and the introduction of measures that enhance his power and reduce oversight.

When there are questions about how stewards arrived at decisions during a grand prix, the FIA refuses to comment on the basis that stewards are "independent from the FIA".

BBC

 

[BouncerGuy]

Russell snatches 'mighty' pole from Verstappen

Venue: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal Date: 15 June Race start: 19:00 BST on Sunday

Mercedes' George Russell snatched pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix from Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Russell beat Verstappen by 0.160 seconds to grab the fastest time just seconds after the Dutchman himself had taken it away from McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

The Australian's team-mate and title rival Lando Norris could manage only seventh place, behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and a superb performance from Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin.

The grid sets up a battle into the first corner between Briton Russell and Verstappen in Montreal, just a race after their controversial conflict at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Verstappen was penalised 10 seconds and given three licence penalty points for deliberately colliding with Russell in the closing stages of the race and is one licence point away from a race ban.

'Exhilarating' lap gives Russell 'goosebumps'

Russell had felt on arriving at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Saturday morning that he had a good chance of setting pole, and his confidence was well placed.

Like Verstappen using the medium tyre for his final lap, Russell said it was "one of the most exhilarating laps of my life".

He added: "I swear, every corner I was looking at my lap-time delta on my steering wheel and I was going 0.1secs quicker, 0.1secs quicker. I got to the last corner and I was 0.6secs up and I thought: 'This lap's mighty.' It felt like the car was on rails. I am so pleased with pole."

Russell said he "had goosebumps" after crossing the line. "I don't think I've ever had that before," he said.

Verstappen said: "I felt quite good all weekend. The car was in a good window. This track is quite cool. It feels like a big go-kart on the kerbs.

"You need to be quite efficient on the straights, which I think we are. The tough choice was the tyres and I think we chose the right ones. We will see what we can do tomorrow. I am already happy to be on the front row and I hope we can have a solid race."

McLaren had had a difficult weekend and Piastri said he was "pretty happy with third".

'Big mistakes' cost Norris

The grid gives the Australian a good chance to extend his championship lead over Norris, who had a tricky session.

He missed the final chicane on his first lap of the top 10 shootout and had to be reminded not to push too much in the braking zones.

His second attempt was slower than Alonso's first and Norris failed to improve on his final run, and was bumped further down by Russell, Antonelli and Hamilton.

Norris said: "Just a couple of big mistakes. One, hitting the wall on the last lap in the exit of (Turn) Seven and first lap, I think, last corner. So, yeah, just two mistakes that cost me, I guess.

"We've clearly not been as quick as normal. I think that's just because of the layout of the track. I think the cars have been performing relatively well and I was happy through all of qualifying. Maybe not the car to take pole today, but good enough to be up there and fighting for top three."

Team principal Andrea Stella said: "Lando just tried too hard. I think he felt that the speed was there, but on this track if you try too hard then you may have quite a bit of price to pay."

Alonso's sixth place was Aston Martin's best grid position of the season and confirms the progress the team have made since introducing an upgrade at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

"We maximised for sure the potential of the car," Alonso said. "I feel happier with the car since Imola, since the upgrade.

"At the beginning of the year, it was a challenge to understand what the car needed and what kind of direction in the set-up I needed to go, but since Imola I am more comfortable and I can be more precise on the feedback and make the changes that I know will make the car faster and sometimes you succeed on that.

"Last four races, four Q3 (places). It makes the whole team a little more relaxed."

Rounding out the top 10 behind Leclerc were Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar and Williams' Alex Albon.

However, Hadjar was given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Williams' Carlos Sainz at the end of the first session, preventing the Spaniard from progressing. Alpine's Franco Colapinto will now start 10th.

Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda, who qualified 11th, will start at the back because of a 10-place penalty for overtaking Piastri's damaged McLaren after a red flag during final practice.

Stewards rejected Tsunoda's explanations for his actions, saying Piastri was not going slow enough to excuse the breaking of a safety rule.

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Ex-F1 driver Kubica wins iconic Le Mans 24 hours

Former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica took victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours with a privately entered Ferrari.

The number 83 AF Corse Ferrari 499P, also driven by China's Yifei Ye and Britain's Phil Hanson, took the chequered flag 14.084 seconds ahead of the number six Porsche 963 of France Kevin Estre.

Pole Kubica, once considered one of the world's best F1 drivers as part of a group of young drivers which included Lewis Hamilton, won the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix for BMW-Sauber.

But three years later, as an established F1 driver for Renault, Kubica suffered life-changing injuries in a rallying crash which left him with a partially severed right arm and multiple fractures.

He returned to F1 with Williams in 2019 as team-mate to George Russell, scoring one point that season, and then drove two races for Alfa Romeo in 2021.

At Le Mans, the works number 51 Ferrari 499P driven by Antonio Giovinazzi took third place, with the sister 50 car driven by Antonio Fuoco fourth.

Both factory Ferraris, who had been competing for the victory until the final hour, were nursing problems in the final stages.

It is the third victory in a row at Le Mans for the 499P, which won in the top class for the first time in 50 years in 2023 - the 100th anniversary of the famous race.

Le Mans: Robert Kubica, 40, wins iconic race in privately entered Ferrari

Former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica take victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours with a privately entered Ferrari.

www.bbc.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Norris & Piastri collide as Russell wins in Canada

Title rivals and McLaren team-mates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri came to blows for the first time as the Briton appeared to misjudge a passing attempt in the Canadian Grand Prix.

Norris hit the back of Piastri's car on the pit straight with four laps to go as George Russell took Mercedes' first victory of the season with a controlled drive.

Norris, who had been attempting to pass Piastri for fourth place, told his team it was "all my bad" and that it was "stupid of me".

Norris' car retired on the spot with front suspension damage and the race finished under the safety car with Piastri in fourth place behind Russell, Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.

Piastri's championship lead over Norris increased to 22 points, with Verstappen 21 adrift of the Briton.

Canadian Grand Prix result: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collide as George Russell wins

Lando Norris crashes out of the Canadian Grand Prix in a collision with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, as George Russell wins.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

Norris says Austria pole lap 'close to perfection'

Austrian Grand Prix

Venue: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg Date: 29 June Race start: 14:00 BST

Lando Norris said he felt like he was back to the form he had missing for much of this season after taking a stunning pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix.

The McLaren driver's season has been hampered by repeated mistakes in qualifying, but he headed the field by more than half a second on one of the shortest laps of the year at the Red Bull Ring.

Briton Norris said his pole lap was "as close to perfection as I would probably ask for".

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will start alongside Norris with McLaren team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri in third.

"It's nice to see the old me back every now and then," Norris said.

"It's more just the feeling I had today was a feeling I've missed for quite a long time, the feeling I have behind the wheel with the car, the understanding where the grip is and how to exploit it.

"That showed in performance and then lap time is a very good combination to have. That when you feel like you can go quicker here and you go out and do it, that's the best feeling a driver can ask for, really."

Norris has felt this year that a lack of feeling from the front axle of the car has been provoking mistakes when he has tried to push to the absolute limit in qualifying.

At the last race in Canada, McLaren introduced a revision to the front suspension to reduce what the team have described as a "numbness". Norris has continued with that part in Austria but Piastri feels he does not need it.

That added to aerodynamics upgrades to the car to the front wing and suspension introduced in Austria led to the largest margin any pole winner has had in percentage terms all season.

Norris said: "To come into this weekend and at least move in the right direction was very positive and very reassuring for myself most of all but probably for us as a team as well, so a big thanks to them.

"The feelings I've been requiring, the feelings that I've not been getting as easily, when they are more my way and more where I want them to be, I can put in better performances and have days like today."

Team principal Andrea Stella said McLaren's margin over the field was also down to the track characteristics suiting their car, and the fact that Norris is "a little bit of a specialist in Austria".

Norris is 22 points behind Piastri in the championship, a margin partially created by him crashing out of the race in Canada after running into the back of the Australian.

As a result, he needs a strong result in Austria on Sunday to reduce Piastri's lead.

Norris said that his session on Saturday was "easily my best qualifying of the year from a delivery point of view".

But he added: "It's very satisfying, but, again, it's about consistency. Everyone can be a hero in one weekend. It's progress. It's steps forward. I'm very happy with today, but it's still a long journey. It's a long season. The job I needed to do today, I did. And it doesn't make up for the last few weekends or anything, but I did it today, and that's what mattered."

'Basically everything felt bad' - Verstappen

Red Bull's Max Verstappen is the McLaren drivers' closest challenger in the championship, in third place, 21 points behind Norris.

But the Dutchman had a difficult day, qualifying only seventh.

Verstappen was unable to complete his final lap as Pierre Gasly spun his Alpine through 720 degrees at the final corner in front of him, but had managed only sixth fastest time on his first lap.

The Dutchman said Red Bull had been caught by surprise by the lack of grip in their car

"In qualifying basically everything felt bad," Verstappen said. "Every corner was a struggle, I just didn't have the balance. It was either understeer or oversteer. Even every single lap that I did I had a little bit different behaviour with the car. So yeah, that's not ideal.

"I didn't expect it to be this bad in qualifying, but I think no one did in the team. So, that's something that we have to analyse."

But Norris and Piastri both said they would not rule out Verstappen coming into contention in the race.

"Until he's out of the race, I don't think we're ever going to take Max out of the equation," Norris said.

BBC

 

[Ball Blazer]

2025 F1 Austrian Grand Prix - results​

Lando Norris converted pole position into victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.

Piastri overtook Charles Leclerc on the first lap, with the Ferrari driver having then settled into third place where he went on to finish.

Lewis Hamilton secured fourth for the Maranello-based outfit, whilst George Russell finished in a lonely fifth.

Max Verstappen retired from the race on the opening lap after being taken out by Kimi Antonelli at the third corner, whilst Carlos Sainz failed to start the race.

Austrian Grand Prix – Race Result

Result | Driver | Team | Gap

Lando Norris – McLaren – LAP 70

Oscar Piastri – McLaren – +2.695

Charles Leclerc – Ferrari – +19.820

Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari – +29.020

George Russell – Mercedes – +62.396

Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls – +67.754

Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin – 1 Lap

Gabriel Bortoleto – Stake – 1 Lap

Nico Hulkenberg – Stake – 1 Lap

Esteban Ocon – Haas – 1 Lap

Oliver Bearman – Haas – 1 Lap

Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls – 1 Lap

Pierre Gasly – Alpine – 1 Lap

Lance Stroll – Aston Martin – 1 Lap

Franco Colapinto – Alpine – 1 Lap

Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull – 2 Laps

Alexander Albon – Williams – DNF

Max Verstappen – Red Bull – —

Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – —

Carlos Sainz – Williams – DNF

 

[BouncerGuy]

Domenicali to tell Starmer how vital F1 is to UK

Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday and emphasise the importance of the sport to the United Kingdom's economy.

Domenicali, who is meeting Sir Keir at 10 Downing Street along with several drivers and team principals as part of an event to mark the 75th anniversary of F1, described the UK as "the heart and rock and roll of this business".

The Italian will raise some of the logistical issues faced by F1 as a result of the restrictions imposed on travel by Brexit, while painting the sport as an industry essential to the UK.

"For the first time, we're going to have this opportunity to present the F1 ecosystem to your government," Domenicali said. "It is important to remind to everyone how this country is really the heart and rock and roll of this business.

"Because everything started here in 1950, the first race, and the offices of this business are here in the centre of London. The vast majority of the teams and the ecosystem is here in the UK."

Domenicali said that the F1 industry is worth £12bn annually to the UK economy, employs more than 6,000 people and has a supply chain involving 4,500 companies.

Seven of the 10 teams are based in the UK, and 10 of the 11 teams that will be in F1 next year - when Cadillac enters - will have bases in the country.

In addition to mentioning the difficulties post-Brexit restrictions create for staff moving between Europe and the UK with regard to visas, Domenicali will also press F1's sustainability credentials.

Next year, as part of a plan to be net-zero carbon by 2030, F1 is introducing new engines that produce 50% of their total power output from the electrical part of the engine, and use fully sustainable fuels.

F1 believes that sustainable fuels - petrol replacements that are manufactured either from biomass or carbon capture using industrial processes - can play an important role in reducing the carbon emissions created by transport.

Domenicali said: "There are things that we need to solve in terms of facilitating the tie-down with Brexit.

"There are complications for the movement, there are complications for the visas for people.

"And I'm saying that because it's relevant to give the possibility for people to be attracted to work here. Because if you lose that link, then immediately the centre could be moving to other places."

However, he emphasised: "I don't want to see this as a threat. But I think it's a matter of respect of what we represent for this country to consider in the right way what could be the limiting factor of development of this industry in this country.

"What we are asking is not to change the decision that your country has taken. It's not our mandate and our role. But to facilitate things that are having a burden on the economical side and also in terms of the possibility to be attractive, to be a country more attractive for keeping the central part of F1 in this country."

Half a million fans expected at British GP

Domenicali said he expected this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone to have an all-time record crowd across the four days of about 500,000 people.

But he said Silverstone had a responsibility to ensure it could manage the ingress and egress of that amount of spectators without causing major traffic problems.

These had been consigned to the past, but became a major concern again at Silverstone last year.

Domenicali said it was "important" for British GP organisers to create a network to minimise the "bottleneck" of people at the event.

He added: "This is the most important element, which we're going to push them, to keep developing their plan.

"That is not only how they commercialise their packages, in terms of offers for the fans, but also how the fans can arrive in the right way."

And he said that while "I cannot think, personally of not having a race in the UK", and that only Silverstone could host it, "the right approach would be not to, from their perspective, think that it is taken for granted".

'Plan' in case war affects season finale

Domenicali said F1 had "a plan" in case the conflict between Israel and Iran affected the season-closing races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

He would not say what that plan was, but intimated that there were contingency arrangements in place to hold races elsewhere if necessary.

"I don't want to even think about it," he said. "But mainly because of the bigger picture."

He said the promoters of the two races were "very serious".

Domenicali added: "We are not worried at all that this will have an effect.

"Hopefully, from here to the end of the year, the situation will ease down and there will be no problem.

"But there will be an effect on the cost, because the logistics of the movement of the flights and so on will have an effect on them. But these are things that we can manage in a way to be proactive and to be reactive if needed."

BBC

 

[Cricket Warrior]

'Pure joy, pure emotion' for Norris' first home win

Lando Norris said his first home victory at the British Grand Prix was "pure joy, pure emotion".

The McLaren driver beat team-mate Oscar Piastri, inheriting the lead after the Australian was given a 10-second penalty for his driving before a safety-car restart.

He has narrowed the gap to leader Piastri in the drivers' championship to eight points.

Norris said: "It's a very selfish moment but it is one of the most special because it's such a rare thing to feel.

"For me, the best win. Maybe not the best way to win. I'm not going to say it was my best-fought win. That's not true.

"But in terms of what it means to win at home and in front of my own grandstand, the fans, McLaren, HRH [the Duke of Kent] is here and to have a one-two and make amends for last year makes it even more special. Very memorable."

The Briton was referring to the fact that he could have won at Silverstone in 2024 but for a wrong choice of tyres by McLaren at his final pit stop.

Lando Norris' British Grand Prix win brings him 'pure joy, pure emotion'

Lando Norris says his first home victory at the British Grand Prix was "pure joy, pure emotion".

www.bbc.com

 

[Suleiman]

lol just watched the F1 movie and saw this thread, haven’t followed F1 in years but may start again. Pretty good watch

 

[KingKhanWC]

lol just watched the F1 movie and saw this thread, haven’t followed F1 in years but may start again. Pretty good watch

How long is the movie and is it mainly F1 or some love storyline?

I follow F1 but prefer to watch it live. I will be at the Spa Grand Prix in Belgium in 2 weeks !

 

[JaDed]

lol just watched the F1 movie and saw this thread, haven’t followed F1 in years but may start again. Pretty good watch

Heard its best of the summer, will probably catch it next week @shaz619

 

[Suleiman]

How long is the movie and is it mainly F1 or some love storyline?

I follow F1 but prefer to watch it live. I will be at the Spa Grand Prix in Belgium in 2 weeks !

2.5 hours. It’s mainly F1 which is why it was p good, love storyline is to a minimum.

 

[shaz619]

Heard its best of the summer, will probably catch it next week @shaz619

Beautiful movie, the best car movie since Ford vs Ferrari and a proper blockbuster. This director just gets it man.

 

[shaz619]

How long is the movie and is it mainly F1 or some love storyline?

I follow F1 but prefer to watch it live. I will be at the Spa Grand Prix in Belgium in 2 weeks !

If you ignore the length, honestly you wont even realise it, such is the pacing. This director ignores all the PC bs and just sticks to making a proper blockbuster, if you loved Twisters & the Top Gun sequel, this is just as good.

The race sequences are so thrilling, if you’re able to try and see it in IMAX in Cineworld, I always regret it when I go for comfort in Odeon. And at the heart of it all, the movie for me was about why elite sportsman are just built different and risking it all in search of glory, not for anybody else, but yourself.

I am biased though because I am a petrolhead like @Suleiman

And I am jealous you’re attending a Grandprix! am sure it will be amazing, I just can’t justify any event these days due to the crazy pricing and stick to the Sofa lol 5-10 years ago I probably would have gone though

 

[Suleiman]

If you ignore the length, honestly you wont even realise it, such is the pacing. This director ignores all the PC bs and just sticks to making a proper blockbuster, if you loved Twisters & the Top Gun sequel, this is just as good.

The race sequences are so thrilling, if you’re able to try and see it in IMAX in Cineworld, I always regret it when I go for comfort in Odeon. And at the heart of it all, the movie for me was about why elite sportsman are just built different and risking it all in search of glory, not for anybody else, but yourself.

I am biased though because I am a petrolhead like @Suleiman

Will echo that if yall go see it, make sure it’s IMAX. The racing sequences were next level because of it @JaDed @KingKhanWC

But yeah even tho the plot has been done before, the attention to detail regarding being an elite sportsman and the pressure it comes with physically, psychologically and emotionally is what made it great viewing. How much they were able to stress things like 1/10th of a second meaning so much while having a proper story and still stay true to the F1 Motorsport.

 

[shaz619]

@JaDed I also loved how they gave a bit of time to the team & race engineers, there was a small segment of an aerodynamicist doing a bit of CFD, a lot of is the car if we’re being honest now, but when you achieve a great design within insane timescales and combine that with a great driver; you’re onto a winner.

 

[shaz619]

Will echo that if yall go see it, make sure it’s IMAX. The racing sequences were next level because of it @JaDed @KingKhanWC

But yeah even tho the plot has been done before, the attention to detail regarding being an elite sportsman and the pressure it comes with physically, psychologically and emotionally is what made it great viewing. How much they were able to stress things like 1/10th of a second meaning so much while having a proper story and still stay true to the F1 Motorsport.

The funny thing is we had a real life blockbuster unfold on track last weekend when Nico holding the most unwanted record in F1 (238 starts without a podium) went from 19th to 3rd in extremely difficult conditions. The F1 movie really captures why these guys keep doing this and the mental fortitude they develop to never quit, any great sports movie inherently is built on the foundation of the underdog (don’t watch million dollar baby lol) and this was F1’s Rocky story, for Wrestling it’s the reverse for us because Mickey in The Wrestler best captured what it means to be a pro-rasler and the bleak business that comes along with it.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Red Bull sack team principal Horner after 20 years

Christian Horner has been sacked as Red Bull team principal after 20 years in the role.

The 51-year-old has been in charge of the Formula 1 team since their inception in 2005, leading them to eight drivers' championship and six constructors' championship titles.

The dismissal follows months of declining form for the team and internal disputes at the highest level.

It comes 17 months after Horner was accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a female employee.

Horner was twice cleared of the claims, firstly after an internal investigation conducted by a lawyer, then by another lawyer who dismissed the complainant's appeal.

"Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today," the team's parent company, Red Bull GmBH, said in a statement.

While Horner has been removed from his role, it has not been made clear if he has formally departed the company or if a settlement or severance is in place.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen thanked Horner on social media.

"From my first race win, to four world championships, we have shared incredible successes. Winning memorable races and breaking countless records," Verstappen said., external

Englishman Horner will be replaced as team principal and chief executive of Red Bull Racing by Laurent Mekies, who has been promoted from second team Racing Bulls.

The 48-year-old Frenchman had been in the role since the start of the 2024 season and was previously racing director for Ferrari.

Englishman Alan Permane, 58, has been promoted to team principal of Racing Bulls from his position as racing director.

Under Horner, Sebastian Vettel won the drivers' championship from 2010 to 2013, with Verstappen winning the past four titles.

"We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years," said Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull's chief executive of corporate projects and investments.

"With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1.

"Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history."

Horner's dismissal comes amid uncertainty about the future of star driver Verstappen.

The four-time world champion is under contract to Red Bull until 2028 but is being courted by Mercedes to potentially join them for next season.

Red Bull have won only two races this season, with McLaren taking over their position as the team to beat.

Red Bull's decline began in the middle of last season. While Verstappen won his fourth straight world title, he won only twice in the final 14 races.

Christian Horner sacked as team principal by Red Bull after 20 years

Christian Horner is sacked as Red Bull team principal after 20 years in the role.

www.bbc.com