In the round-up: Charles Leclerc says he’s not prepared to give up on the championship despite his disappointing start to the season.
What they say
Leclerc was asked whether he think the championship is already over for him, having fallen 80 points behind Lewis Hamilton with 390 available:
No not yet. I never wave goodbye until it’s done.
Of course it has been a difficult start to the season. We definitely expected more but we don’t need to wave goodbye yet. We need to push until the end and that’s what we are doing, trying to understand our mistakes, try to not do them again and improve from there. I’m pretty sure the results will come.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Hello my dear friend, please do not cross the track when @f1 cars are coming. 😱😱😱 #r8g #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/dWvd0nW8IF
— Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) June 6, 2019
On dirait bien que Lance Stroll a un talent naturel sur la glace. 😲
Looks like Lance Stroll is a natural on the ice.#GoHabsGo @RacingPointF1 pic.twitter.com/74jy4TkcVL
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 5, 2019
So sorry to hear the passing of Robin Herd. Was lucky enough to work with him in my early years of Indycars driving the MARCH. He called everyone “Sunshine”. Prayers to his family. #RIPRobin
— Michael Andretti (@michaelandretti) June 6, 2019
On display in the Montréal Casino: The car that qualified 22nd and finished 5th in the 1980 #CanadianGP! 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/p5gJEUMZzg
— Sean Kelly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@virtualstatman) June 6, 2019
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Robin Herd: 1939-2019 (Motorsport magazine)
"Robin Herd, who passed away on Tuesday after an extended illness, made his name as Max Mosley’s main partner in the March racing constructor. He was the chief designer of the March Formula 1, F2 and Champ Cars of the 1970s/early 80s and was possessed of great intellect, charm and enthusiasm."
Miami Beach said no to Ultra but might still host a music event over spring break (Miami Herald)
"The idea of hosting Formula One auto racing didn’t come up during Wednesday’s (city commission) meeting and Góngora said that he hadn’t spoken to race organisers but had merely suggested the event as a possibility."
The LMPH2G electric/hydrogen prototype to open Le Mans proceedings (FIA WEC)
"Before the 62 cars entered in the 87th running of the world’s greatest endurance race are unleashed, the hydrogen-powered racing prototype will complete a demonstration lap of the full 13.626-kilometre circuit. "
La révolution de la F1 (La Presse - French)
Chase Carey says there are still significant differences in the teams' positions on some aspects of the 2021 regulations.
Dixon dives back into championship contention (IndyCar)
"This year I think is going to be another year, especially from this point, (that) you're going to have to be really consistent to get a championship. It's how we won last year. We did have three wins, but we were able to turn bad weekends into good ones."
Alice Powell interview: W Series has saved me - I want to guide the next generation (The Telegraph)
"At 17, she was the youngest driver, male or female, to win a Formula Renault race in the UK. By 22, she was out of racing altogether, failing to find the money that could propel her to the upper echelons and resolving, however reluctantly, to seek steadier employment in the decorating trade."
Massa: FE skills becoming 'automatic' (Autosport)
"I think experience is very important in Formula E. I'm getting there, and there are still many things to learn, but it's getting better and a little bit more automatic for me."
"A few years ago, many people were talking about Alfa Romeo returning to DTM, but now, I think they are very much involved in Formula 1. Of course, it would be great for the series to have them back, but in the DTM, the focus is still very much on Germany, so perhaps it needs to be more international, something I know the organisers are working on."
Launch of Racing Pride (Racing Pride)
"Racing Pride is an innovative movement to positively promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity within the motorsport industry and among its technological and commercial partners. Racing Pride has been developed alongside Stonewall UK and the timing of its launch comes as part of Pride month."
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
We’re only six races into the championship but @Jureo reckons Ferrari should start thinking about the 2020 F1 season:
It is not a bold move to call time on this season.
Mercedes has scored a historic record start to a season. They are bringing a new engine this race, and even with old one, they were faster on all types of tracks.
To Ferrari second or third does not matter much. They have fundamental flaws in their concept especially in how they use their tires. If it is a suspension design issue, that will most likely take a new season to fix. Or a ‘B car’. Their aero is also different to what Mercedes and Red Bull are using. Right or wrong, they are slower.
Now would be very correct time to stop developing a wrong concept and start on a new concept, determine if it is indeed the right way to go. Then potentially release a B-spec of the car to verify the lessons learned.
Otherwise they go in to next season blind without knowing if their new concept is actually better than the wrong concept of this year. Developing to a marginal gain this year, would only take them further in the wrong direction.
@Jureo
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Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
7th June 2019, 0:28
Only 2 things stand in the way of Leclerc’s title bid. Mercedes. And Ferrari. And Vettel. Sure that’s 3, but the last 2 are working hard to ensure the first one keeps the title.
DAllein (@)
7th June 2019, 6:53
Crashing also doesn’t help… now if there was a way to quickly get experience and get rid of impatience and recklessness…
But yeah, 2 and 3 are still too hard to beat.
Joao (@johnmilk)
7th June 2019, 0:39
Sometimes I also struggle to find the courage to rip off the bandaid
Jon (@johns23)
7th June 2019, 2:38
What else is Leclerc going to say. Pointless. He should start helping Vettel out he’s that far behind ;)
Tristan (@skipgamer)
7th June 2019, 5:48
Maybe Stroll’s Dad can buy him a team and we’ll see him in the NHL soon!
JR Love (@dermechaniker)
7th June 2019, 6:03
!
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
7th June 2019, 6:59
The Groundhogs of Montreal remember and they know you’re coming Romain …. I wouldn’t go on a circuit walk alone if I was you!
Maybe Lance should suggest winter races on ice?
I like CotDs concept but I also want to see Ferrari push as hard as they can if only to give Max a challenge.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
7th June 2019, 7:00
Whoops – don’t know why this came out as a reply to you @skipgamer
Sorry to hijack your column ;)
Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
7th June 2019, 7:24
The launch of Racing Pride should breathe some new life into drag racing.
Becca
7th June 2019, 8:00
Thank you for demonstrating why there’s so much still to do to promote inclusion in the racing world.
nase
7th June 2019, 13:16
If the purpose of your comment was to raise awareness for the fact that there are people around who cannot even deal with the most inoffensive of puns about a slightly sensitive subject without going full passive-aggressive, you’ve achieved your goal.
Just don’t count on me to thank you for it, sarcastically or not.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
7th June 2019, 13:25
+1
Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
7th June 2019, 15:55
Come on Becca don’t be silly. I’m all for inclusion by all into our passion, just a harmless play on words.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
7th June 2019, 8:16
BOOM BOOM … are you here all week? ;)
nase
7th June 2019, 8:26
Oh, you!
Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
7th June 2019, 8:48
Sorry
nase
7th June 2019, 8:25
TIL:
The title “Robin Herd dies” does not (necessarily) bemoan the passing of a large group of passerine birds …
In my defence, March was basically ancient history by the time I started watching F1, and had hardly been more than a zombie during my lifetime.
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
7th June 2019, 8:38
@rdotquestionmark badum-dshhhh!
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
7th June 2019, 8:40
@m-bagattini damn, this commenting system is total c**p
wobs
7th June 2019, 11:33
The motorsport world is looking at leclerc through rose tinted glasses, if Kimi was in the car and making mistakes like leclerc has done and been beaten 5-1 in quali by Vettel people would call for his head. He has raw speed and potential but certainly not a world championship standard driver right now.
nase
7th June 2019, 12:25
Yeah, no. He’s 21 years old, with not even 30 GP starts on his tally. So, clearly, there’s no reason to measure him immediately against the same standard as a 39-year-old veteran with 300 starts to his name.
And yet, Leclerc has been in a position to beat Vettel in no less than 3 of the 6 races so far, has qualified on pole and was going to win in a race where Vettel didn’t even finish on the podium.
In short: His list of successes after 6 races at Ferrari already reads like Räikkönen’s after 2 years.
Jere (@jerejj)
7th June 2019, 13:00
I like how there’s a little purpose-made hole in the trackside wall at the end of the back straight specifically made for Groundhogs.
The COTD has a point, but Ferrari can’t just start focusing entirely on next season without first figuring out and fixing the problems of the current car.