Highlights
Series
Explore
 |
It was an interesting way of hearing the views of the key figures in the Williams team - each would take their seat with us for one of four small courses of brunch, then be whisked off to another table for the next, to be replaced by someone else. Sir Frank arrived at the table and, asked of his opinions on the forthcoming season, replied: "It's looking like a rerun of last year, isn't it?" Which was not to say that the team isn't giving its all in trying to improve, but that the realistic picture - as can be seen from the pre- season test 'grid' at the front of this week's issue - shows Ferrari/McLaren out front fighting only each other, well clear of the same tight upper midfield group as last year. But however similar the competitive hierarchy turns out to be, the hope is that the off-track politics don't spill over into the championship the way they did in '07. The ramifications of the espionage case are still very much in Frank's thoughts. "One hundred million dollars!" he says. "That has got to hurt [McLaren]. I think it was calculated very carefully so as to badly hurt but not quite cripple them." Someone then asked if he thought the penalty was justified, and he tellingly said he was frightened to answer that question. "Max [Mosley] has cast himself as the avenger and now stands victorious with his sword bloodied. And we, the teams, are all cowed." © 2020 Autosport
In the magazine: Wheldon the Lionheart In AUTOSPORT magazine this week, we reflect on the life of Dan Wheldon with those who knew him best, and remember the day, just a month before his death, when he showed off IndyCar's staircase of talent Mag 
MPH: Mark Hughes on... A law that invariably applies in racing: the genie will not go back into the bottle once released F1
MPH: Mark Hughes on... Competitors entering motorsport are getting ever-younger - but are even the youngest missing out on a crucial age in physiological development? F1
MPH: Mark Hughes on... So, team orders failed to secure the world championship for Fernando Alonso. But neither he, nor the Ferrari team, can function happily – or truly effectively – any other way F1
Read more features by Autosport magazine.
Subscribe to Autosport Plus
Why 2020 offers a second-generation racer his best Indy 500 shot Al Unser Jr managed to emulate his father by winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1992. Michael Andretti came close several times, but never did. Now could be the best chance yet for another son of a previous Indy 500 winner to join that exclusive club IndyCar 
The unseen challenges of making F1 cars look fast Fans don't have the luxury of watching Formula 1 cars trackside during the COVID-19 pandemic, so are indebted to TV crews to portray their spectacular performance. Fortunately, the team led by F1's director of broadcast is constantly innovating F1 
Why a Le Mans winner is heading into the “unknown world” of NASCAR Comparing Porsche's 919 HYBRID LMP1 to NASCAR is motorsport's equivalent of apples and oranges, but this weekend one of Weissach's top works aces will pit his skills against the regulars and revive the tradition of the 'road-course ringer' NASCAR 
How Hungary's tortoise and hare grand prix was won Car-management is common parlance for modern Formula 1 drivers, but 30 years ago today the Hungarian Grand Prix was won by a driver purposefully driving slowly to preserve worn tyres, as a snarling pack tripped over themselves F1 
Please note that unauthorised reproduction or translation of any content (including words, data, information, photos, videos and any other intellectual property) published on this page and any other copyrighted content published on Autosport.com is strictly prohibited. Please see our terms and conditions for further information. |
