Month: November 2019

FIA president Jean Todt believes overtaking difficulties which have crept to the forefront of racing this year are the price to pay for faster, more spectacular cars.

A dominant theme since Formula 1’s massive regulation overhaul, overtaking fears linked to the increased mechanical grip of the 2017 cars were confirmed by most drivers last weekend in Australia.

While admitting the situation will likely get worse before it gets better, Todt said the debate on overtaking was an old one.

“It is fundamental to the way the cars have been since I’ve been in Formula 1 but it’s probably worse now than it’s ever been,” said the FIA president.

“It’s definitely not going to be better – it’s going to be the same for the rest of the season.”

• Mercedes warns overtaking will be a problem

Todt is taking a ‘glass half full’ view of the issue however.

“Overtaking has always been a problem in motor racing,” he acknowledged.

“I remember races 20 or 30 years ago, when a car with fresh tyres that was three or four seconds quicker could not pass a car with old tyres, because overtaking was difficult.

“Clearly we can figure out that overtaking will be even more difficult this year. But we have tried to find ways to make overtaking easier with DRS and other technologies.

“Maybe the new regulations will make overtaking more difficult, but maybe it was the price to pay by having wider cars with more aerodynamics.”

Todt suggested that future regulations should perhaps include a rethink of F1’s current stance on aerodynamics in order to enable cars to fight wheel-to-wheel and follow each other more closely.

“It’s something that we need to address when we are going to speak about future regulations, about whether it is a good compromise.”

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Italian media are reporting that Pascal Wehrlein will be back behind the wheel of his Sauber for Friday’s opening practice session in China.

Considering his fitness level as insufficient, the German voluntarily withdrew from the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday morning leaving Sauber to run Ferrari reserve driver Antinio Giovinazzi for the remainder of the race weekend.

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While the young Italian hopeful, who impressed on his F1 debut, will remain at the Swiss outfit’s disposal, Wehrlein is expected to be fit to drive.

La Gazzetta dello Sport, as well as other Italian sources, report that the 22-year-old will definitely be back in the Swiss team’s blue and gold car on Friday morning.

• Sauber seeking points, more speed in 2017

“The session will be to understand if Wehrlein is able to do the grand prix on Sunday or whether it will once again be Giovinazzi,” the newspaper report said.

Last week, Ferrari agreed to release Giovinazzi to Sauber for China, just in case. The young charger will begin his weekend in the red camp but will probably cast an attentive eye on Wehrlein’s performance.

“I will be in China dressed in red,” said Giovinazzi. “Then we’ll see.”

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Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz says that the track at the Red Bull Ring is so smooth, it’s almost like being in the simulator.

The Austrian Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2014 after a ten-year absence. The 2.683-mile circuit was fully refurbished by its owner, Red Bull drinks company founder Dietrich Mateschitz.

“The new tarmac used for the first time last year gave us a lot of lap time,” said Sainz. “It’s so smooth, it’s like driving in the simulator.

“I think it’s quite a particular track and I’d say it’s one with the highest grip of the year,” he added.

The circuit has technically gained a tenth corner this year. The approach to turn 2 has itself been designated a corner, meaning that the numbering of all but the first turn are boosted by one.

Tyre barriers have been increased in depth in turns 4, 7 and 8. Tecpro barriers have been added around the guardrail end at the pit entry, and orange ‘baguette’ kerbs will be installed on the exit of turns 6, 9 and 10.

Just because it’s the team’s home circuit doesn’t mean Toro Rosso will enjoy any special advantage over their rivals. Unlike last year, the circuit has not held any pre-event test sessions in 2017.

“The fact of not testing in Austria this year doesn’t change much,” Sainz insisted.

“In the end, it doesn’t really matter where you go testing. The important thing is that the car runs and that the team is able to go through the test programme.

“I enjoyed testing in Austria last year, but doing it in Hungary this time will also be interesting.

“Barcelona is the track where we do the most testing, so I appreciate that there are also other tracks where we do it,” he added.

• Sainz: ‘Fourth year at Toro Rosso would be difficult’

However, competing at the team’s home circuit does mean some off-track changes.

“Racing at the Red Bull Ring – Red Bull’s home – changes my race weekend a bit because we have a few more events and things to do,” Sainz said.

“A few more interviews, meeting guests, etc. But I don’t mind it, it’s good to race there.”

“The views are also pretty amazing and it’s a really cool venue to go racing,” he added.

While the weather is looking generally dry and sunny, a few overnight showers and the chance of some storms have also been forecast.

“When racing in Austria last year, I was expecting the rain but it never came!” recalled Sainz. “Let’s see what happens this year, I always enjoy a wet race.”

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The FIA World Motor Sport Council has added more detail to plans to hold standing starts in wet weather conditions.

Previously if conditions at the start of a Grand Prix are deemed too poor for a conventional start, the race had a rolling start behind the safety car. Once race control decided the track was ready, the safety car pulled in and the cars start racing.

Under the new rules, cars will still get underway behind the safety car on full wet-weather Pirelli tyres. The first lap will now be an additional formation lap and not count toward the race distance.

Any driver who is delayed in initially getting underway will be allowed to overtake cars in front “to re-establish the original starting order or the order the cars at the pit exit were in when the formation lap was started.” If they’re unable to do so in time they will have to start from pit lane instead.

• F1 teams agree to standing starts after Safety Car

Drivers already due to start from pit lane can still circulate behind the safety car to get a feel for conditions. However they will not be obliged to and can opt to sit and wait if they prefer, and conserve fuel. When it’s time for the race to start they will have to come in and start from the end of pit lane.

Any driver who pits during the initial safety car period will have to start the race from pit lane. Other drivers will not be allowed to follow the safety car when it comes in to pit lane and can’t take on fresh tyres for the start. If they do, they’ll get a ten second stop-and-go penalty.

Once race control deems conditions have improved, the safety car will pull in. Cars will then line up on the grid. If conditions don’t improve then race control can opt to recall all cars to pit lane to wait it out.

As the race has not officially started at this point, it will not count as a suspension. However in these circumstances there won’t be a second attempt to line the cars up on the grid. Instead of a standing start, the race will begin under traditional safety car rules.

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Force India’s Esteban Ocon was in the top three long-distance runners today, clocking in with 142 laps under his belt as development continued untroubled for the team’s VJM10.

The French driver ran flawlessly through a varied programme which included long and short runs, completing a productive day of work.

“I am very happy with our work today,” Ocon said.

“To complete more than 140 laps without issues is a good effort and allowed us to cover a lot of ground.

“We did some long stints and also some performance runs, which were very interesting: we kept working on both the chassis and the tyres, but we managed to include aero and engine work too.”

• Gallery: all the pictures from Day 5

At the end of the day, Ocon feels the progress is real, as much for the car as for himself as both team and driver ramp up their efforts with Melbourne now in their sights.

“I can see we are making progress compared to last week: every time we go out we get to try new solutions and I feel we are moving in the right direction.”

Force India chief race engineer Tom McCullough praised Ocon for his consistency and performance.

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“We covered 142 laps and Esteban didn’t put a foot wrong all day,” said McCullough.

“We definitely learnt a lot and this is something that will help us for the rest of the week.

“Today was also a good occasion to work with Esteban on some of our race weekend procedures: Melbourne is only one day in the car away for him, effectively, so it was crucial to make the most of his time in the car.

“Every lap we do helps us progress on what is a very steep learning curve with the new cars.

“We feel the analysis of the data from last week has set us in the right direction and we are aiming to continue on this path for the remainder of the week.”

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side would benefit from having two more promising English players to help them compete in the Premier League

Manchester United must make a move for Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish and Leicester City star James Maddison, ex-Red Devils defender Wes Brown believes.

United are reportedly looking to strengthen their midfield in January as they look to recover from an indifferent start to the season, and 22-year-old Maddison is rumoured to be one of their top candidates.

Grealish, 24, has been linked with several top Premier League clubs in recent transfer windows, and former England centre-back Brown believes both players would have a big impact on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.

“I think Ole will try and buy in January. United need another striker and an attacking midfielder, that little wizard number 10,” he told 888 Sport.

“The defence is fine. The goalkeepers are fine. The ideal thing would be two strikers and two midfielders. If only it was that easy!”

Turning his attention to the Aston Villa and Leicester stars, he said: “Grealish in the last few games has come on immensely. He can always see the pass.

“Maddison has always been good and he’s a threat getting into the box. These are two young English players who would definitely help the squad.”

Maddison is not the only Leicester player the former Sunderland and Blackburn defender believes the Red Devils should be chasing, urging them to go after 22-year-old left-back Ben Chilwell, who he believes would jump at the chance to move to Old Trafford.

“I still think United is a draw for players. We’re still buying big players, and a lot of good English players with Harry [Maguire] and [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka coming in,” he added.

“Chilwell is an excellent player and Leicester are on a brilliant run and you can see the whole team has been lifted. But if United went in for Chilwell I’m sure he would definitely come, 100%.”

And Brown is confident that his former United team-mate Solskjaer will make the right decisions in the transfer market when the time comes, insisting it will take time to get the team back on track.

“I know we say this a lot, but Ole knows the club and he hasn’t been jumping into things. He’s looked at it and seen what he’s got,” he said.

“He has taken his time and he isn’t going to rush out and buy someone he doesn’t think is capable of playing for Manchester United.

“It will happen and he will get the players that he wants and then we can start talking about it. But it is a rebuilding situation and it’s going to take time.

“I think the club have to give him the time because otherwise you’re just starting all over again. You look at the squad and you know you need players and that’s the case no matter what manager is there. You have to let Ole get his players in and then you start from there.

“Straight away he said he had a plan and this is what he wanted to do and that it would take a while. You have to accept that and I’m sure United know that as well. He’s been brave because the expectations at United are so high.”

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Niki Lauda believes Ferrari tech boss Mattia Binotto has been instrumental in the impressive improvement in performance of the Scuderia this season.

In the recent past, the Mercedes non-executive chairman attributed Ferrari’s slump to the fact that it relied too heavily on Italian engineers.

Asked if Binotto’s expertise and key role at the House of Maranello contradicted his view, Lauda responded by amending his opinion.

“Not at all,” Lauda told La Repubblica newspaper.

“You consider Binotto to be Italian? Actually he is Swiss, and it shows.

“Ferrari works now because there is a Swiss who organises the Italians, making them work but leaving them free to express their imagination and ideas.”

Binotto’s impact on Ferrari’s results may even be greater than team boss Maurizio Arrivabene’s contribution, according to the F1 legend. Because its’ improvement has been technical.

“The key figure is Binotto, no doubt,” said the great Austrian.

“At least it appears from the outside.”

• Arrivabene: Ferrari finally able to challenge Mercedes

Interestingly, Binotto actually stepped up to his current role after Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne fell out with James Allison.

Allison subsequently moved to Mercedes, where he is now technical boss.

“I don’t know what happened between Marchionne and James,” Lauda said. “All I can say is that I am very happy to have him with us.”

That is despite the fact that, with Allison departing and Binotto stepping up at Ferrari, it is the red team that has taken a big leap forward.

“The truth is that we were waiting for a strong Red Bull and instead we found a strong Ferrari,” said Lauda.  “At the moment Red Bull are going nowhere.”

And he said the respective Mercedes and Ferrari cars are currently very closely matched.

“I have the impression that Ferrari is faster in the heat and we are faster in the cold,” said Lauda.

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After watching the Red Devils suffer another setback at Bournemouth, the Frenchman has revealed how difficult he is finding life away from the pitch

Paul Pogba has admitted it’s “not easy” for him to see Manchester United struggling in his absence, with a frustrating spell on the sidelines set to run through to December.

The World Cup winner has been out of action with an ankle injury since United’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal at Old Trafford on September 30, missing seven matches across all competitions.

The Red Devils have endured a nightmare start to the 2019-20 campaign, but a three-match winning run after the international break helped ease some pressure on under-fire boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

The Norwegian claimed a credible 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool on October 20 marked a turning point for his side, with a change in formation key to subsequent victories over Partizan Belgrade, Norwich and Chelsea.

However, a 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday saw United drop down to 10th in the Premier League table, with Joshua King’s winner halting Solskjaer’s recent progress.

Pogba, who is not expected to return to action until next month, opened up on his frustrations when asked how it felt to watch his team-mates suffer another loss without him.

“It is the worst,” the 26-year-old told RMC Sport.

“After, it is not easy to see my team-mates go to training or on the field.

“You train inside, you want to return to help your team but when you are injured it is not easy [psychologically]. The most important thing is to heal properly.”

Pogba also offered an update on his rehabilitation, confessing he will still be required to wear a cast for over a week.

“I will still be under plaster for 10 days,” he added. “After, I still have two weeks of rehabilitation.”

Partizan Belgrade are due to arrive at Old Trafford for United’s next Europa League fixture on Thursday, before Solskjaer’s side host Brighton in a must-win Premier League clash three days later.

A tough trip to Sheffield United and another European outing against Astana will complete United’s December schedule, with little room for error remaining heading into a busy Christmas period.

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Prompted to act after the abuse witnessed in a second-tier clash, the KNVB hope to end such ugly scenes in the nation’s football

This weekend, every club in the Netherlands will stop playing for one minute to make a stand against racism following the abuse suffered by Excelsior’s Ahmad Mendes Moreira.

Moreira was targeted by fans of Den Bosch in Sunday’s second-tier Eerste Divisie game, an act which caused the game to be halted.

The forward reacted by cupping his hands to his ears and confronting the stands after scoring following the restart, while Den Bosch later apologised for the treatment he received at the hands of supporters while denying they contained a racist element. 

But the KNVB governing body is determined to make its stance on such discrimination known, culminating in an unprecedented show of solidarity which will take place across the Netherlands. 

In the first minute of every Eredivisie and lower league game, the matches will be temporarily stopped, with players staying on the pitch. 

A message will simultaneously be shown in each stadium, stating “Racism? Then we won’t play.” 

“We want to make clear that enough really is enough by making a statement on the field”, read a statement from the Eredivisie CV and Coöperatie Eerste Divisie on Wednesday.

“We appreciate that all 90 minutes are important for the matches, so we asked the KNVB to add at least one minute of additional time to compensate for the first minute.”

Excelsior are also planning to show their support for Moreira against Volendam, with fans set to hold up a red card to racism in the 18th minute of the game to reflect the player’s shirt number. 

Liverpool and Netherlands star Gini Wijnaldum was one of the nation’s biggest footballing figures to come to Moreira’s defence following Sunday’s abuse. 

“It really hit me on a personal level,” Wijnaldum told reporters on Monday ahead of Netherlands’ final Euro 2020 qualifier against Estonia in Amsterdam.

“I never expected anything like this to happen in the Netherlands. I’m really shocked. It did happen, unfortunately, and the way people have talked about the incident really hurt me.

“It’s a problem in society. As a player, you can’t really change anything about it. But I still think that players should try and support each other. It’s a problem in society and a problem that should be solved by our politicians.

“I hope that there will be severe punishments. This really can’t happen again. It’s not just the racism to the player from Excelsior, but I also saw someone doing the Nazi salute in the stands. When I saw that, I thought, ‘What is wrong with you if you do something like that?’.

“Our ancestors fought for us so we can live freely. If people still perform the Nazi salute, that’s utterly disrespectful. That just can’t happen. We can’t allow that in the Netherlands. That’s what I think. There have to be severe punishments.

“I think the KNVB did well with their statement, saying that they will look into the matter and see what happened. But I think it’s really despicable what Den Bosch did. I might not be allowed to say things like that, but I don’t care any more.

“I think we need to see very high fines. I heard that they want to install cameras to find out who the culprits are. The punishments need to be so severe that nobody even thinks of doing something like this ever again. We want to play football to enjoy ourselves, we want to entertain our supporters. We don’t want to see things like this happening.”

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Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson believes it’s too early to judge whether the use of a year-old Ferrari engine will impact the team’s performance in 2017.

The Swiss outfit has retained Ferrari as its engine partner this season but deliberately elected to use the manufacturer’s older-spec power unit which comes at a cheaper cost.

“I think it’s impossible to know at the moment,” Ericsson said when asked if the choice would affect Sauber’s performance.

“We know what we get and we know that’s our package for this year and we need to maximise that and if that’s going to be good enough or not compared to the competitors, I think it’s written in the stars!”

• Barcelona Week 2: live timing and commentary!

With increased downforce levels equating to more drag this year, the necessity to rely on power appears to be a pre-requisite for performance.

Exploiting a year-old engine could put Sauber at a disadvantage, but Ericsson remains unconvinced for now.

“Of course it’s a worry. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t, because if everyone else finds massive improvements with new engines then it’s going be a big problem for us.

“But from what I’ve heard that’s not going to be the case.”

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