In the round-up: Christian Horner says Pierre Gasly raised his game in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following his difficult start ot the 2019 F1 season.
What they say
Whilst he doesn’t have the result on paper I think he’s pretty happy with his weekend. In Q1 he was quick, Friday he was quick, he’s driven a good race and should have been an easy P6 today from the pit lane which is a really strong drive. I think even more encouragingly than that his pace, certainly compared to a Ferrari on the same strategy, he was definitely quicker than. So I think a lot of positives for Pierre out of this weekend.
You could see it. I think the confidence that came out of China came into Azerbaijan and I think even though he doesn’t have the result to show it he knows it’s been a much stronger weekend for him.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Hamilton on the state of the championship fight between Mercedes and Ferrari. #F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/2R0LeQ1tDg
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) April 29, 2019
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Every F1 driver's race reviewed: 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix (RaceFans via Youtube)
Formula E Set to Become World Championship (Formula E)
"The use of World Championship status can only be granted to a series that has four ‘automobile makes’ participating on average over an entire season. The transition also incorporates specific commercial costs to entitle the granting of the status."
Porsche cooling on IndyCar interest (Racer)
"Although there is adequate time for Porsche, or any other marque, to enter the 2021 season with a new motor, the owners of 19 overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans are not currently expected to rejoin IndyCar, where it last raced in 1990."
Schumacher: 14-place Baku F2 sprint race charge wasn't my limit (Autosport)
"Ferrari Formula 1 junior Mick Schumacher believes he had 'the potential to go further forward', despite rising 14 places to take fifth in the Baku Formula 2 sprint race."
Red Bull junior Jonny Edgar stars on single-seater debut in France (Paddock Scout)
"Giorgio Carrara won all three races at Paul Ricard on his Spanish Formula 4 debut, holding off Jenzer Motorsport team-mate and single-seater rookie Jonny Edgar."
Senna: 25 years since F1 lost its flawed, fascinating hero (The Guardian)
"Nicholson took a lot of pictures that weekend. The one published here remained unseen until a few months ago, when he was sorting through his filing cabinets and found a box of negatives marked “Imola 1994”."
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
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Comment of the day
An ominous stat for Mercedes’ rivals from @Phylyp:
Four races in and Mercedes already have the same number of one-two finishes as the entirety of the 2018 season.
@Phylyp
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Bcoliver
30th April 2019, 1:28
I can’t wait for next week round-up:
“Marcedes braced for another tough outing in Barcelona.”
maiagus
30th April 2019, 1:32
By this point Toto is obliged to used a tshirt saying “closest championship in years” as they clinch the title in september.
Jay Menon (@jaymenon10)
30th April 2019, 7:10
According to some, Mercedes are just being modest.
NewVerstappenFan (@jureo)
30th April 2019, 8:31
Pace wise, they are clearly not as dominant as 2014, 2015,…
But operationally they are flawless this year.
TurboBT
30th April 2019, 11:59
First I read your comment in a sarcastic and funny way that others wrote before you, and then it struck me after reading for the second time, that it was meant seriously.
hobo (@hobo)
30th April 2019, 15:47
@jureo – Fair point, in time gap they are not as far ahead as in prior years. But they will easily surpass 2017 and 2018 in wins, podiums, and 1-2 finishes. And depending on Ferrari’s ability to get its act together, could end up nearly or as dominant as 2014-16.
2017 and 2018 started fairly close and then that competition fizzled. This isn’t even starting close. It is concerning.
Balue (@balue)
30th April 2019, 18:31
Good one
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
30th April 2019, 4:23
I just knew about this. What about F1 late V8 era that only had Renault, Ferrari & Mercedes?
Phylyp (@phylyp)
30th April 2019, 4:29
@ruliemaulana – McLaren
Nitzo (@webtel)
30th April 2019, 7:39
@phylyp He is referring to engine suppliers only.
@ruliemaulana
Wasnt Cosworth there in that period ? with marussia ?
Phylyp (@phylyp)
30th April 2019, 7:41
@webtel – true, if it is engine suppliers, then Cosworth covered as the #4 until 2013 (and prior to Cosworth we had BMW and Toyota).
However, I don’t think the rule is for PU suppliers, but for automotive marques/brands. Because if you see 2014, that season had only 3 PU suppliers, as Honda hadn’t made their entry yet.
Nitzo (@webtel)
30th April 2019, 13:38
ah. Automobile makers. Makes sense.
I just saw an old article which reported the news of WEC GTE being upgraded to a world championship and FIA had this to say–> “due to the increase of GTE manufacturer involvement in the championship…”
@phylyp
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
30th April 2019, 22:49
@phylyp @webtel Automobile makers.
That’s it. So basically Volkswagen Group can created three World Championship.
socksolid (@socksolid)
30th April 2019, 11:12
Maybe it is that you need 4 manufacturers to get it but it is not taken away if you drop down to 3 or less. See lemans p1 class for example.
Pat Ruadh (@fullcoursecaution)
30th April 2019, 12:39
As I understand it gaining WC status will also require the removal of FanBoost on sporting grounds, at long last
Alianora La Canta (@alianora-la-canta)
1st May 2019, 0:20
@ruliemaulana Series that historically have usually had the appropriate number of manufacturers are also eligible. This is an obvious rule patch put in to prevent F1 losing the World Championship status.
Ipsom
30th April 2019, 6:18
I’m thinking Porsche will go back to lemans with the new rules
Going to be amazing if they do
anon
30th April 2019, 7:09
That sounds rather unlikely, as Porsche has shown no interest in the proposed new regulations at all – they have not bothered sending anybody along to participate in any of the meetings for the new regulations, and the indication is that they’ve been downsizing their motorsport division.
Jere (@jerejj)
30th April 2019, 6:59
I thoroughly agree with Horner. Gasly indeed has stepped up his game and would’ve finished 6th (which would’ve been more impressing in Azerbaijan than in China given his starting position) had it not been for the failed driveshaft. I hope he at least keeps this form going on into the next races as well if not start to match and beat Max in the same machinery.
I also agree with Hamilton. Ferrari really needs to step up their game before the points-gaps on both the WDC and WCC standings get too big to claw back anymore. The COTD, for that matter, sums up pretty well how the season has unfolded thus far.
I wasn’t aware before that the World Championship-status can only be granted to a series that features at least four car manufacturers as participants. I thought FE already was a WC-series given that the races like in F1, WRC, WEC, etc., take places all around the world, not just in one continent like in Nascar and IndyCar, for instance. You always learn something new.
A quarter of a century since the tragic death of Roland Ratzenberger. A driver who some people might’ve forgotten. On the other hand, it’s a bit weird to think it’s been that many years since his and tomorrow Senna’s fatal accidents given Kvyat turned 25 just four days ago, and I’ll reach that age next year.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
30th April 2019, 7:43
You young pup, you! :) @jerejj
Martin
30th April 2019, 11:42
I remember watching that race live with my dad, I would have been 8 at the time. It was devastating. We stopped watching F1 together for years afterwards.
Jere (@jerejj)
30th April 2019, 12:46
@phylyp LOL.
Aapje (@aapje)
30th April 2019, 13:10
Overtaking is very easy here, so I’m not convinced that Gasly is getting so much better. I’ll reserve judgment for now.
hobo (@hobo)
30th April 2019, 15:50
@aapje – Agreed. As a driver in a top 3 team car, coming in 6th is the lowest bar one should be reaching regularly. (@jerejj)
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
30th April 2019, 8:10
Lewis’s comment is spot on.
Every part of the Mercedes team is running smooth.
Unless Ferrari can get their act together fast then this is it for the season folks.
Luckily there is lots of stuff going on in the midfield but it will still feel like a dead season if nothing changes :(
Mark Zastrow (@markzastrow)
30th April 2019, 11:33
That found photo of Senna, knowing the place and setting, is truly a stunning image. Took my breath away.
Tim
30th April 2019, 13:47
Ok I waited for Monday’s round-up, but where’s NASCAR Talladega race recap? Just a single Brad Keselowski pit-stop there was more entertaining than a whole F1 weekend in Baku.