Alfa Romeo “very confident” they have improved reliability for 2023

In brief

Alfa Romeo “very confident” reliability has improved for 2023

Alfa Romeo’s technical director Jan Monchaux is “very confident” the team has addressed its poor reliability that frustrated their season at times in 2022.

The team suffered regular reliability problems through practice sessions and races in 2022, but still held onto sixth place in the constructors’ championship on countback after finishing equal on points with Aston Martin.

“And, touch wood, I don’t have any here, but I am very confident we have left these issues behind us.”

Rookies not disadvantaged by more sprint races – Sargeant

Williams rookie driver Logan Sargeant does not believe he or his fellow rookies will be disadvantaged by six sprint race weekends in the 2023 Formula 1 season.

There will be six sprint races in 2023, double the tally of 2021 and last season. The adjusted format means drivers only get a single hour of practice before qualifying on a Friday, but Sargeant does not believe he and fellow rookies Oscar Piastri and Nyck de Vries will be disadvantaged by the lack of practice time.

“I don’t think it’ll make that much of a difference,” Sargeant said in response to a question from RaceFans.

“We come from Formula 2, we get 40 minutes [of practice] with about five red flags in each session where we’ve done about one lap and we go into qualifying. So we’re used to having to get to the pace pretty quickly. So, if anything, that might help us out.”

Brown sees “lots of opportunity” for IndyCar to grow

Formula 1 is enjoying sustained growth in popularity, especially in the United States, the home of the IndyCar Series. Brown is confident that IndyCar will find ways to grow itself commercially in response.

“I think [there’s] lots of opportunity,” Brown told media including RaceFans. “We sat at a team owner meeting with the league and they laid out their plans and they have big aspirations, which is great. Lots of new activity coming.

“I think we can bring some value to the to the series as well. I think the new TV programming that they have will be excellent. It’s the best broadcast schedule that I think I’ve seen – certainly in recent times. A good schedule and doing new things like testing here in spring training. So I’m optimistic.”

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

La coalizione Ferrari stoppa il piano motori della Red Bull (La Gazzetta dello Sport - Italian)

Red Bull-Ford will be classed as an existing power unit manufacturer for the 2026 season after rivals objected to them being given the same newcomer status as Audi, which would have granted them additional hours of testing time for their engines.

Sophia Flörsch returns to F3 with PHM Racing by Charouz (F3)

"I am really excited and very happy to return to FIA Formula 3 this season with PHM Racing by Charouz. My goal has always been to race with the best of the best. Since the beginning of my career, I have been working very hard towards this goal every day with my team in the background."

What's in a name? (McLaren)

"Following the announcement that our 2023 challenger will be known as the MCL60, we’ve explored the origins of our naming conventions, from the M2B to the MP4, the MCL32 and this season’s MCL60, here’s how our cars got their names."

Rodin Carlin sign British racer Jessica Edgar for F1 Academy (F1)

"Edgar, cousin of Formula 3 racer Jonny Edgar, began karting at the age of five, and in 2021 made the longlist for the FIA’s Girls on Track Rising Stars Programme. The 17-year-old took her first steps on the single-seater ladder last year, competing in the GB4 Championship in the UK, finishing seventh overall with one podium finish."

Crawford: Hitech rookie partnership can help push us to the next level (F2)

"There’s a bunch of tracks I don’t know, basically all the street tracks I’ve never driven on, which I think most of the experienced guys have by now – except for Melbourne. I’m sure in Jeddah my first few laps will be a bit off the pace since I’ve never driven there, and it’ll be my first street track. They’ll be tough, but I’m doing a lot of work in the sim and preparing for those tracks."

First ever FIA-FIM Committee meeting convenes in Lille (FIA)

"The main purpose of the Committee is to act as a communication and co-ordination mechanism between the FIA and FIM so as the two parties can share information and support mutual opportunities. The shared challenges faced by both international motorsport federations include such topics as medical, technical, environmental, regulatory, legal and EDI. It was agreed that joining forces and sharing resources on these issues would produce a mutually beneficial outcome."

Online Services Shutdown (EA)

"EA confirms that online services to F1 2020 will shut down on March 15th."

Chandhok: 'Hyderabad huge for India, and Formula E' (Formula E)

"I was heavily involved with the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Delhi which ran from 2011 to 2013 and was a real boost to the sport in our country. In a country like India, where you have one dominant sport in cricket, it’s always a challenge for other sports to carve out a space for themselves but hopefully the spectacle this weekend will draw the fans in."

How 'Red Car' exercises protect personnel in electric racing (Formula E)

"A ‘red car’ is essentially a car stopped on-track as a result of either an accident or electrical issue, rendering it potentially unsafe – or ‘red’ like the safety lights located on the chassis in front of the halo. Due to the voltage running through electric vehicles, certain steps must be followed in order to carefully and safely extract the driver from the cockpit and recover the car."

Welcome, Nyck de Vries! AlphaTauri AT02 F1 Car Training Day - Imola (Italiansupercarvideo via YouTube)

"At the end of January, aboard the 2021 AT02 car on the Imola circuit, he took part in a training session to remain active and ready for the upcoming Formula One season."

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Social media

Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:

pic.twitter.com/A3dtNL3Qcg

— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) February 9, 2023

All the details. 👌#WeAreWilliams pic.twitter.com/9vzdSdQPiD

— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) February 9, 2023

Our past fuels our future. Celebrating 60 years of racing at the McLaren Technology Centre. 👊🧡 pic.twitter.com/kkzEQB0S5q

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) February 9, 2023

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• Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory

Comment of the day

With three rookies joining the Formula 1 grid in 2023, @lejimstaer82 offers their assessment of the newest additions to the field…

De Vries is obviously the best prepared, with multiple practice sessions and a race last year… However, I’m not sure about the AlphaTauri he will be driving and if he will be able to wow us. I’m expecting Yuki Tsunoda to take another step forward this season, so I don’t expect Nyck will be instant team leader. It should be a good one to follow.

Sargeant I’m half-expecting to struggle in the Williams and I would be surprised if he got anywhere near to Albon, but I would love to be proved wrong.

The driver I’m most anticipating is Piastri. The way he came through the junior series is very impressive and if he can get to grips with the McLaren, I’m half expecting him to give Norris a run for his money… But even if it can just get closer than Ricciardo did that would be more than acceptable in his first year.
Le Jimster

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Aqeel!

On this day in motorsport

• 30 years ago today then-Benetton team principal Flavio Briatore’s property in Belgravia, London was badly damaged by a bomb, responsibility for which was later claimed by a paramilitary organisation called the Irish Republican Army (IRA)