In the round-up: Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack says the team must do better in qualifying in order to their standing in the constructors’ championship
In brief
Aston Martin start “too far from the back” says Krack
Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack says the team must do better in qualifying in order to their standing in the constructors’ championship.The team currently sit in ninth place on 20 points – ahead of only Williams. Neither Sebastian Vettel nor Lance Stroll have reached Q3 in qualifying since Vettel qualified ninth in Azerbaijan, with both drivers combining for an average grid position of 16th since.
“We seem to accumulate quite a good amount of positive races, but we need to also start from the front,” said Krack.
“I think this has now been a couple of times already that we had a very strong pace in the race and made good calls, but we started too far from the back – that’s the problem. You see that we score one, two, one, one, one, one point and this is not enough to close the gap to the constructors in front.”
McLaughlin “fully believes” he can win IndyCar championship
Penske driver Scott McLaughlin says he “fully believes” he is capable of fighting for and winning an IndyCar championship in his career after his performance this season.
McLaughlin currently sits sixth in the IndyCar standings on 392 points – 58 behind leader Will Power with three rounds remaining. After taking two wins this season, McLaughlin says he laments the occasions where he has lost points in 2022 but is confident about the final three races.
“There are so many,” McLaughlin said. “If I just stayed off the loud pedal at turn three and at Indy 500 and didn’t crash there, it’s points. Then Long Beach – I hit the inside wall at Gumby, spun there; points.
“In the Indianapolis Grand Prix, we were leading, chose the wrong tyres; points. We’ve had pace this year and that’s all I ever wanted. Last year was tough. I’ve always said it. It’s tough mentally. To bounce back like we have this year, it’s a proud moment. I still fully believe I can win a championship.
“I feel like I’m going to three tracks I really enjoy, Gateway, Portland, Laguna. Yeah, we might be an outsider, but I think I’ll be an outsider as long as I can be, and maybe we can switch that closeness in second the other way.”
Formula E pileup caused by painted road markings – Lotterer
Formula E’s eight-car pile up during the first Seoul EPrix on Saturday was due to drivers losing grip on wet painted road markings, says Andre Lotterer.
The Techeetah driver was one of eight drivers who lost control at turn 20 on the opening lap and crashed into the barrier, leading to a red flag and six cars eliminated from the race.
“Basically, super slippery out there,” Lotterer explained after the pile up.
“I was in the pack with the guys and figuring out the conditions. When we approached turn 20, started to slow down a bit. It seemed like the other guys touched the brakes and then it was just like ice. Nothing you can do from that point on.
“I don’t think it’s braking too late. I think with the paint, maybe some cars just happened to be on those patches of paint and locked up and then that’s it. Luckily I managed to find a little gap and not hit another car. I still hit it, but not like full on.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
If you don't watch the @FIAFormulaE free practices then you'll have missed one of my favourite running bits of the season, Jack Nicholls introducing @dariofranchitti with a different fact each time, including earlier this morning at the #SeoulEPrix pic.twitter.com/YH1GTBXDBd
— Paul Hardcastle (@hardcastIe) August 13, 2022
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Jenson Button warns F1 as he admits he will be ‘very upset’ if iconic track goes (Mirror)
"Jenson Button warns F1 as he admits he will be ‘very upset’ if iconic track goes
If Spa isn’t there I’ll be very upset. Monaco is a tricky one because there’s lots going on behind the scenes. But if you take away Spa, it’s for other reasons, not because it’s not a good circuit. It’s one of the best in the world, the racing’s amazing, the drivers love it and the teams love going there."
"Leclerc has cut a disconsolate figure when he’s arrived in the TV pen after those painful defeats. His face gives away the disappointment that is eating away at him. When it’s a team mistake, Leclerc shields Ferrari as he’s a true team player. When it’s his own mistake, there’s no shield there – he is very critical of himself. In both scenarios, he faces up to the music."
Rwandan trip was a ‘moving experience,’ Hamilton says (Rwanda New Times)
"Formula 1 race driver, Sir Lewis Hamilton has described his visit to Rwanda as an experience that left him ‘so speechless’ to the extent that he simply fell in love with the country throughout his stay."
Roy Nissany: My greatest influences (Formula 2)
"It might be a bit of a cliché but my father is a big influence on me. He had a controversial career, started racing at 30 years old and his first time in a go-kart was at 37. He became a Minardi test driver. I followed him to one of the races and it was my first time at Monza. He wasn’t the fastest so his influence was more on the mental approach, giving me the support that I needed as a kid growing up and it’s still there nowadays."
In Photos: Albono’s 2022 lids so far (Williams)
"All the best snaps of Alex Albon’s various helmets from this season."
Five young drivers Alpine should take a F1 chance on (Formula Scout)
"Alpine looks like it’s about to lose its F2 title-winning young driver Oscar Piastri just as it was about to promote him into a F1 seat. In the case that he does depart, which other young drivers should it consider?"
F1 Animated! The 2022 Season So Far... (F1 via YouTube)
"An entertaining look back on our 2022 season so far with animator Nick Murray Willis!"
Ultimate Guide to Getting a Job in Formula 1 (BrrrakeF1 via YouTube)
"This is my take on How to get a job in Formula 1 in 2022."
Lindsay Brewer Isn't A Gearhead But Loves Racing! (Romain Grosjean via YouTube)
"We are joined in today's interview by IndyPro driver Lindsay Brewer who states that she isn't so much a gearhead but loves racing."
Formula E round 15: Seoul (Formula E via YouTube)
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Comment of the day
After Formula E’s 100th EPrix, the championship is still lacking its true marquee circuit for fans to look forward to, argues PeterG…
It’s better than most but is still a poor layout when compared to even the current sub-par (when compared to the classic layout they butchered) full F1 layout.
The circuits are one of the biggest issues with Formula E as they don’t really have a Spa, Monza, Silverstone, Suzuka etc…, A circuit that excites and which fans really look forward to not just for the racing but also because of how wonderful the circuit itself is.
Monaco is the closest they have with the history and prestige that comes with it. But for as much as I love Monaco Formula E just lacks that extra thrill compared to F1 because of how much slower the cars are. You don’t get that same ‘wow’ that you do watching F1 or even F2 around there.
PeterG
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to F1George, Dan_The_Mclaren_Fan and Kirill!
Steve K
14th August 2022, 0:26
If Scott Dixon doesn’t speed in the puts, the Championship is over already. We can play this game with most of the top six in IndyCar.
Mooa42
14th August 2022, 9:40
He doesn’t say “this year’s championship” just that he thinks he will be able to in the future, without the mistakes.
jff
14th August 2022, 9:28
Why does Williams refer to Albon as ‘Albono’?
Will Wood (@willwood)
14th August 2022, 10:26
It’s just a nickname. A bit like calling Peter Bonnington “Bono” or having a friend called John and referring to them as “Johnno”.
jff
14th August 2022, 12:19
Thank you.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th August 2022, 10:47
@jff That nickname already existed before.
DGRacefan (@dgracefan)
14th August 2022, 13:43
It started in his junior formula days when the surname (Albon) and blood type (O) were printed next to each other on the race suits. Other drivers spotted it and started to call him Albono.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th August 2022, 10:45
Never say never, but among the five (or rather six) drivers mentioned in the Formula Scout post, Doohan is the only one I could see as a viable option besides Piastri or Ricciardo.
I still like Albon’s British GP design the most.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
14th August 2022, 16:47
If you not happy starting at the back then start at the front.
I’m sure the other drivers and teams wont mind.
BasCB (@bascb)
15th August 2022, 8:41
Wow, yeah, I was also wondering why AM hadn’t thought of just doing it that way earlier @nullapax :-).
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
17th August 2022, 0:22
Also his comment says they start “too far from the back”, I disagree, I would say they start RIGHT at the back!