F1 RACING WORLD

By Igor Ozimec Alfa Romeo have had a mixed season so far and most of their points have come fromKimi Raikkonen. However, team boss Fred Vasseur is "not worried" about Antonio Giovinazzi's performance so far and have said the team needs to be "patient" with the young driver.  "Antonio is doing very well in qualifying,"  Vasseur said to  SpeedWeek.com .  "He is now riding at Kimi's level and I am not worried about Giovinazzi. In my opinion, Antonio is not under pressure either, we must remain calm and be patient with him." Giovinazzi is in his first full Formula 1 season and therefore does not have the same experience that his teammate does.  "I have not been driving for two years and it is not easy,"  Giovinazzi said . "In 2017 I drove two races (to replace the injured Wehrlein, ed) and in 2018 I was driving alone at Le Mans. And then you are back in the royal class and you immediately fight against the best. ...

Autor:- Igor Ozimec Earlier this week, we tried to predict the grid for next season, so now we're going to go one step further and have a go at guessing what the grid will look like in 2021! Before you read this, I recommend you check out our 2020 predictions here, as some things we've gone for in 2021 were affected by our 2020 predictions. As always, let us know what you think in the comments below! Mercedes – Esteban Ocon and George Russell Hold fire, I can already see your angry comment asking where Lewis Hamilton is. In this prediction, we can see Hamilton calling it a day after 2020, as he matches Michael Schumacher’s title record and beats the German’s win record. This leaves Mercedes to promote George Russell to partner Esteban Ocon, forming a very talented and youthful duo capable of taking on anyone. We did consider a move for Max Verstappen for Mercedes, but we think they’ll stick to their own talents. Ferrari – Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc Al...

Autor:- Igor Ozimec Williams have had to make major changes behind the scenes in order to fightback in the second half of the season, as the team hope to compete with the midfield going forward.  Instead of continuing with the same processes that have placed them into this situation, the British team have completed an extensive review of their Formula 1 operation. According to deputy team principal Claire Williams, they have returned to 'base principles' in some areas. In the last race before the summer break at the Hungaroring, George Russell began to show that there was some light at the end of the tunnel as upgrades first introduced in Germany began to come good. Speaking to Motorsport.com, Williams' chief engineer said: “The biggest challenge I would say, is that you can continue to turn the handle on the machine that you’ve got, or effectively you have to stop the machine and reconfigure the machine and set it going again.  “In this industry things ...

Autor:- Igor Ozimec Carlos Sainz had a slow start to the season but has got things back on track and has really impressed over the last few races. The McLaren driver said that he didn't "over-react" after the disappointment of the opening races and is now sitting 7th in the driver's championship and will hope to battle for 'best of the rest' after the summer break.  “Well given how badly it started, the first few races, and how unlucky I was during those two or three races, to be where I am at the moment is very positive,”  said Sainz Jr to Motorsportweek.com. “The key there was to not over-react to the first few races, I think just keep doing what I was doing and as soon as the luck turned around a bit the results started coming. “Since there honestly, since Baku, it’s been a very strong season, so I can’t complain.” Sainz confirmed that the struggle to score points early on was not down to him not fitting in at the team.  “Honestly it t...

Autor:- Igor Ozimec Sergio Perez is a fast driver but the Mexican has never been in a car capable of giving him the results that he feels that he deserves. He will hope that Racing Point continues to show improvements and that they can give him the results that he desires.  "To be honest, in all my nine years I have never had a car that was able to reach a podium place. You always strive to have the best possible car on the grid, but unfortunately, I still have that not had,"  Perez said to the  official F1 website.  "My driving skills are the strongest points I have. Selecting a race and when an opportunity presents itself, make sure the strategy works."   "I remember a few of the podiums that I achieved thanks to managing the strategy by determining precisely when to start the pits and when not." "That craftsmanship and ensuring that you always deliver to the best of your ability, that is what I think I have done well in the last fe...

Autor:- Igor Ozimec Esteban Ocon has spent this season as a reserve driver for Mercedes and has been spending a lot of time driving in the simulator. The French driver believes that this will make him a better driver out on track for next season.   “The only job I have to do is to perform properly from what the team wants in the simulator,"  Ocon said to the  official F1 website .  "At the moment, that’s what I’m doing. We had a lot of discussions on what I should do and where I should improve and if the guys were happy. "From the amount of driving and hours I do, I’m definitely taking a lot of knowledge from that. Also as a driver, it’s going to help me with focus. I do so many hours at different times of the day. We’re looking for between one or two-tenths during more than 200 laps. It’s very hard, but it’s good and I’m happy I’m doing it.” Ocon has not had a year off! He's been busy working with Mercedes and will hope that he has not ...

Max Verstappen has insisted he does not care who his team-mate is following the departure of Pierre Gasly and the promotion of Alexander Albon for the remainder of the season. Gasly had a very disappointing time at Red Bull after just half a season at the team. The Frenchman was axed with Albon being his replacement until the end of the season at least. Verstappen has had a very strong season so far - with the Dutchman being the only non-Mercedes driver to have won a race - and he has insisted he is not bothered who his team-mate is but described the departure of Gasly as a "pity" for his former team-mate. "Of course it's a pity for Pierre, but personally I don't care who my team-mate is,"  Verstappen admitted to  Telegraaf.nl. "The point is that we perform better with the other car and then gain more points for the team." Albon has been brought in for the remaining nine races of the season after an impressive first half i...

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has insisted Formula 1 needs to step up its efforts of trying to agree a deal for the 2021 rules package and stop waiting for the "perfect rules". In June, it was agreed that the deadline for the sign-off for the new deal would be delayed until the end of October, but Brown believes it is unlikely we will see a deal on the postponed date either. "We're talking about the same issue time and time again,"  Brown said to  RaceFans. "Very little progress is made because all the teams have stated their position, and that's not going to change. "So it seems like we revisit the same issues that the various teams have and so I think at this point, Formula 1 and the FIA just need to make the decision and get on with it because I don't think they're going to hear anything new from the teams at the next Strategy Group meeting or the following meeting that they haven't heard in the last 12 months. "The idea, ...

Charles Leclerc says he no longer feels intimidated in the environment of the Ferrari F1 team and reckons added confidence has boosted his recent performances. Charles Leclerc says he no longer feels intimidated in the environment of the Ferrari Formula 1 team and reckons added confidence has boosted his recent performances. Leclerc was promoted to the Scuderia to replace Kimi Raikkonen and partner four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel following an impressive rookie season with Sauber in 2018. The Monegasque sits fifth in the 2019 standings and is one place and 24 points adrift of his teammate. Starting at the French Grand Prix, Leclerc enjoyed a run of three consecutive races in which he outperformed Vettel, before the German hit back at Hockenheim and the Hungaroring.  “Arriving in such a big team, when I arrived it was only my second year in Formula 1 and you are a little bit intimidated,” Leclerc said. “I was a little...

Fernando Alonso is the biggest reason Formula 1 is as big as it is nowadays in Spain. The impact the Spaniard had on his home country with his two world championship wins is immense, but Carlos Sainz Jr. has insisted he is not in Alonso's shadow. Despite Alonso being Sainz's idol, the McLaren driver does not want to be in the former driver's shadow and instead, wants to create his own legacy in Formula 1. "I don't feel like I'm in the shadow of Fernando,"  Sainz admitted to  Motorsport.com. "I am only in my fifth year and I haven't even fought for a podium yet. So Carlos will always remain Carlos, just as Alonso will remain himself. I don't have to follow him, because I make my own way." Sainz has enjoyed a very successful first season at McLaren, with the talented Spanish driver boasting the "Best of the Rest" status and is only five points behind Pierre Gasly, who has spent half of the season in a Red Bull. Howev...

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes Fernando Alonso is one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers but would not take the chance with the Spaniard at the Silver Arrows but has not ruled out a move for Red Bull star Max Verstappen. As it stands, Mercedes is weighing up its options for the 2020 season with Valtteri Bottas under big pressure and Esteban Ocon is the favourite to replace the Finn, with Wolff confirming a decision will be made in August. Alonso seems to always be a name linked when it comes to F1 teams following his retirement from the sport at the end of last season. News has emerged that Red Bull wanted the two-time world champion to replace Pierre Gasly instead of Alex Albon. However, despite rating him as one of the "strongest" F1 drivers, Wolff has insisted Alonso will not be considered at Mercedes. "Fernando is undoubtedly one of the strongest drivers and after his adventures at Ferrari, he no longer...

Mick Schumacher has admitted he is unsure whether he'll join Formula 1 in the future, but is eager to build on his maiden Formula 2 victory. Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 world champion, Michael Schumacher, was victorious in the sprint race at the Hungaroring. The German youngster is a member of the Ferrari academy and has tested in the 2019 version of the Ferrari F1 car, as well as the Alfa Romeo car. However, he is still uncertain whether he will be prepared to make the step up to F1 if he is called upon the the end of this season. "I think only time can tell,"  Schumacher said to  Racer. "Obviously having the first victory in F2 is a great thing. I still need to work a lot on myself. Whether I go to F1 next year or in two years, or three years, I don't know. Only time can tell that. I will do my best possible to try to learn as much as possible so that when I do make the step, I am ready and comfortable." Schumacher's victory didn...

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes that Alexander Albon is a better driver than Daniil Kvyat, as he attempts to vindicate the team’s decision to have the former replace Pierre Gasly. Gasly was promoted to Red Bull from Toro Rosso ahead of the 2019 season, but his performances alongside Max Verstappen have left a lot to be desired, with him regularly constantly outperformed by the prolific Dutchman despite the duo having the same car Red Bull initially stressed that his place was safe, with Marko himself defending his driver’s position. Albon and Kvyat were the two men tipped to potentially come in as replacements, with Albon eventually being chosen. Marko has provided reasoning for the decision. “I think Albon is better,” the Red Bull boss said to  Autosport Web  with regards to the two candidates. “We know how fast Kvyat is, we can say that he has become a more complete driver. However, based on all factors, we chose A...

Max Verstappen is well aware that there are a number of young drivers who are going to be competing with him in the future. There are a large number of young drivers in Formula 1 this season and they are all here to stay. The most obvious battle for the years to come is that between Charles Leclerc and Verstappen but the Dutch driver knows that there will be others if they get seats in the top teams.  "He (Charles) is a great driver, but he is not the only one I expect to fight with,"  he said to  Autosport.    “There are young talents such as Lando Norris, as well as George Russell and also Alex Albon. A lot of young talents arrive who can do an excellent job if they have the right car." The future of Formula 1 is bright and with young talent all fighting for the best seats, it's going to be interesting to see who comes out on top. 

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto says Sebastian Vettel's ultimate ambition of winning the world title with the Scuderia remains intact despite the German driver's struggles this season. After a productive preparation period last winter, Vettel and Ferrari expected to give Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton a run for their money this year and challenge for the world title. Instead, the Scuderia's SF90 has been no match for the Silver Arrows' dominant contender, while Vettel has also been forced to compose with the burgeoning talent of teammate Charles Leclerc. Even Red Bull's Max Verstappen entered the summer break with an upper hand over the four-time world champion in the drivers' standings. Yet Binotto is adamant that Vettel's motivation to deliver to Maranello its first driver's title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 is as strong as ever. "I think that his objective hasn't changed - to become world champion with Ferrari," Binotto told M...