F1 testing: Back to work after Indy
F1 never sleeps. Just a few days after Ferrari's dominant one-two victory in Indianapolis, the Maranello-based outfit was back hard at work with Luca Badoer testing at Fiorano, concentrating all efforts in helping Michael Schumacher to win Ferrari's first world drivers' title in 21 years.
Schumacher, having a few days off after his win in Indianapolis, will be testing for Ferrari at Mugello on Thursday. But the Scuderia actually went back to work yesterday (Tuesday) at Fiorano, with test driver Luca Badoer behind the wheel. The Italian continued the test today, completing 141 laps, with a quickest time of 1m00.45s. Interestingly, the championship leaders were carrying out tyre tests on an artificially watered track.
Jordan, BAR and Jaguar were at a wet and windy Silverstone today (Wednesday) as they prepare for the Japanese Grand Prix in 10 days time. Very little progress was made as rain fell on the Northamptonshire track in the morning, but the cars were able to go out after lunch. The track was still damp, but Jarno Trulli in the Jordan managed to set the fastest time of 1m28.34s, completing 43 laps of the circuit. He was followed by Eddie Irvine in the Jaguar then BAR test drivers Darren Manning and Patrick Lemarie.
Both BAR and Jordan will be using new engines for the race at Suzuka, and BAR used this opportunity to test the engine, but Jordan will wait until Friday practice at the Japanese Grand Prix before running the new engine. This is the last test BAR and Jordan will participate in before December, as they will not be testing between the Japanese and Malaysian Grands Prix and there is a testing ban enforced during November.
J Trulli Jordan 1m28.34 43laps
E Irvine Jaguar 1m28.48s 49 laps
D Manning BAR 1m29.01s 13 laps
P Lemarie BAR 1m30.85s laps
WilliamsF1 headed to sunnier climes and began their three-day test at Estoril in Portugal yesterday. Jenson Button was behind the wheel and the Englishman appeared a little fazed after a hectic race weekend in the States.
"After the euphoria and intensity of the US Grand Prix, it's a little weird to be driving around a circuit with no other cars present," he said today after completing 77 laps, with a fastest time of 1m20.89s.
Ralf Schumacher will complete the test for the Grove-based team on Thursday.
Gasly: AlphaTauri has the “right tools” to recover F1 form
Pierre Gasly believes his AlphaTauri Formula 1 team has the “right tools” with which to solve its recent issues.
The consequences of Aston Martin’s radical F1 rear wing design
Formula 1’s 2022 technical regulations have been described as overly prescriptive as the rulemakers look to stifle specific developments in order that their overall goals are achieved – but here’s a plot twist.
Horner: "Timing is right" for Vettel's F1 retirement
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner believes that his former driver Sebastian Vettel has chosen the right time to retire from Formula 1.
Zhou focused on Alfa Romeo stay in F1 2023 silly season
Zhou Guanyu says his focus lies with retaining his Formula 1 seat at Alfa Romeo for 2023 ahead of talks about his future after the summer break.
Why few could blame Leclerc for following the example of Hamilton’s exit bombshell
OPINION: Ferrari's numerous strategy blunders, as well as some of his own mistakes, have cost Charles Leclerc dearly in the 2022 Formula 1 title battle in the first half of the season. Though he is locked into a deal with Ferrari, few could blame Leclerc if he ultimately wanted to look elsewhere - just as Lewis Hamilton did with McLaren 10 years prior
The other McLaren exile hoping to follow Perez's path to a top F1 seat
After being ditched by McLaren earlier in his F1 career Sergio Perez fought his way back into a seat with a leading team. BEN EDWARDS thinks the same could be happening to another member of the current grid
How studying Schumacher helped make Coulthard a McLaren F1 mainstay
Winner of 13 grands prix including Monaco and survivor of a life-changing plane crash, David Coulthard could be forgiven for having eased into a quiet retirement – but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, in fact he’s busier than ever, running an award-winning media company and championing diversity in motor racing. Not bad for someone who, by his own admission, wasn’t quite the fastest driver of his generation…
Could F1 move to a future beyond carbonfibre?
Formula 1 has ambitious goals for improving its carbon footprint, but could this include banishing its favoured composite material? PAT SYMONDS considers the alternatives to carbonfibre and what use, if any, those materials have in a Formula 1 setting
How Russell has proven he deserves to be Hamilton's Mercedes heir
He’s fast, he’s smart, and he’s already shown he’s not going to let Max Verstappen intimidate him. George Russell won’t say it, but LUKE SMITH says he’s ready to take the lead at Mercedes when Lewis Hamilton moves on to a quieter life. And – whisper it – Mercedes and Lewis are starting to think so too
The traits that fuelled Alonso's unexpected Aston Martin move
Fernando Alonso’s bombshell switch to Aston Martin sent shockwaves through Formula 1, not least at Alpine that finds itself tangled in a contract standoff with Oscar Piastri. Not shy of a bold career move and with a CV punctuated by them, there were numerous hints that trouble was brewing
The elements Ferrari must resolve to first save face, then win championships
OPINION: Ferrari's Formula 1 title hopes look all but over after another strategic blunder in last week's Hungarian Grand Prix denied Charles Leclerc the chance to fight for victory, while handing it to chief rival Max Verstappen. The Scuderia now faces intense scrutiny over what it must now do to finally become a genuine factor in championship battles
The clues about Hamilton’s F1 retirement plans revealed after Vettel’s decision
OPINION: Sebastian Vettel is set to leave Formula 1 at the end of 2022 and will, rather shockingly, be replaced by Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin. But what about the final chapter of the other driver that defined the post-Michael Schumacher era? In Hungary, Lewis Hamilton spoke about his future in the context of Vettel’s upcoming departure, which offered clues on how long it will last