In the round-up: Max Verstappen will benefit from less pressure on him in 2023 having sealed the last two world championships, says Lewis Hamilton
In brief
Verstappen unlikely to “slip up” after two world championships – Hamilton
Though Verstappen wasn’t seriously tested in his dominant season-opening win, Hamilton believes the reigning world champion will be an even stronger opponent after winning his second title.
“I think he will be very, very confident,” Hamilton said. “I think they developed an amazing car last year, they blew away all the records on pretty much everything and I don’t even think they were pushing at the end and still were way ahead.”
“I don’t think he’ll slip up,” Hamilton continued. “He’s a world champion and so I wouldn’t question his determination or his focus. I think he will be just as focussed as ever, and it’s our job to catch up.”
Alpine has “good base to work from” – Gasly
Pierre Gasly believes he and his Alpine team have built a “good base” after his first weekend with the team.Gasly had a disappointing qualifying session, finishing slowest of all drivers in Q1 after having his quickest time deleted for a track limits violation. However, he eventually made his way up to eighth in the race.
“A first race with the team is always tricky,” Gasly said. “Not as comfortable with the entire with the entire team, you don’t have the same knowledge as when you carry on with the same team. So it was important to start on the right foot.
“I’m definitely very happy with the way that we’ve been working so far. I think we’ve got a good base to work from. We know what we’ve got to improve.”
“Natural” for McLaren and Red Bull to discuss power units – Horner
Christian Horner says it’s “only natural” that McLaren CEO Zak Brown would have exploratory discussions with Red Bull to gauge options for which power unit supplier McLaren will race with from 2026.
Brown visited Red Bull’s Milton Keynes factory before the Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner confirmed the visit, but said they were just exploratory discussions.
“It’s obvious that, as a power unit manufacturer for 2026, it’s inevitable that discussions are going to be held regarding potential powertrain supply and that’s only natural that we would speak with potential customers,” Horner said.
Horner and Brown were involved in a bitter and public row last year when the McLaren Racing CEO called for severe penalties for any team found to have exceeded the budget cap, as Red Bull later were.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Scheckter reveals why South Africa failed to get on 2023 F1 calendar (Total Motorsport)
"It was that close. The guy from Kyalami went from 500,000 to 2 million, and he wanted to take the whole thing over. F1 came over to sign. He had got government backing, some of the wealthiest people in South Africa behind it. Everything was in place, and the guy from Kyalami got greedy."
Belgium bans gambling advertising from July 1 (Reuters)
"The Belgian government has decided to ban gambling advertising across multiple platforms from July 1 in a bid to crack down on addiction and debt, with a further prohibition on ads in stadiums and sports sponsorships coming at a later date."
Carbone Beach Roars Back Into Miami With $3,000 Seats for F1 (Bloomberg)
"Last year, the inaugural Miami Grand Prix brought a reported $350 million into the city. Racegoers spent an average of $1,940 per person, which is almost double the spending of a typical Miami tourist — perhaps the impact of a seat or two at Carbone Beach. Demand for race tickets has risen since last year, so 3,000 grandstand seats have been added for a total of 56,000."
What’s the Deal With Synthetic Fuels? (The Truth About Cars)
"Those prices are likely acceptable for anyone operating a manufacturer-backed racing team. In fact, Formula One has already announced it’ll be swapping over to synthetic fuels for the 2026 season. Ferrari owners also probably don’t fret over what the readout is at the pump. But regular drivers aren’t going to want to pay double-digit prices for a gallon of gasoline just so they can get to work."
Bird: 'We're doing well but without much to show for it' (Formula E)
"The boys are really down - I'm down. I just want a good result again, but it's been a long time. I feel like I deserve it. I'm doing well but I don't have anything to count for."
DS Penske achieves FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation (FIA)
"The FIA has awarded DS Penske the FIA Three-Star Environmental Accreditation, its highest level of recognition for environmental protection and sustainability."
Ask Me Anything: F1 Electronics Technician (Haas)
"Dane Woods, who works as one of our Electronics Technicians, answers your questions about his role at the team, working trackside and travelling the world with Formula 1."
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it to us via the contact form.
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Uniti tutto è possibile ❤️
After our first race of the season, Fred, joined by Charles and Carlos, held a meeting for all our GES employees. A chance to discuss our weekend, the challenges we faced and the future ahead 💪 pic.twitter.com/0c44NtroUp
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 9, 2023
Proud! 💚 @GeorgeRussell63 has been named on @Forbes' 30 Under 30 list, alongside some amazing talent from the world of sport. 👏
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 9, 2023
We have something special coming your way on the 16th of March. Save the date. #Ferrari pic.twitter.com/qyTeFQGvke
— Ferrari (@Ferrari) March 9, 2023
Not sure there’ll be much running at @SilverstoneUK today, if these photos from intrepid weatherman @MaxMarzorati are anything to go by… pic.twitter.com/IacyUQg587
— GB3 Championship (@GB3Championship) March 9, 2023
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
The aptly named @tifoso1989 offers a detailed examination of the current state of Ferrari’s SF-23 after the opening race…
I believe that the Ferrari car concept is not flawed. The aerodynamicists at Maranello have consistently been innovating since the last major structure overhaul made by the late Marchionne, who promoted David Sanchez as the aero team leader, now the chief designer.
The novel designs of the sidepods/bargeboards in 2017, the front wing in 2019, and the bathtub solution in 2022 have all been imitated by rival teams. This pattern indicates that the aero team is capable of coming up with innovative solutions whenever there is a new rule change.
However, the team is lagging behind mechanically and lacks the technical leadership required to put all the pieces together. To address this, Vasseur needs to maintain the good patterns while breaking the bad ones.
In the short term, the team needs to understand what RBR is up to and attempt to copy it or get it banned for the following year. Additionally, Elkann needs to consider investing in the team and bringing in big fishes from both RBR and Mercedes who can transfer their chassis and mechanical knowledge to Ferrari.
Tifoso1989
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Fred Schechter!
Newsletter
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Elvira
10th March 2023, 3:40
Well done Belgium.
Jere (@jerejj)
10th March 2023, 5:38
Maybe 2024 for the South African GP return or later.
First came the tobacco advertisement ban some years ago, now the same with gambling, although only in a single country, but I wonder what next?
A snowy Silverstone is a rare sight.
Getting an RB design banned would be unnecessary & getting people from them & or Mercedes would possibly be easier said than done.
tielemst
10th March 2023, 8:11
Alcohol I guess?
Steven Williamson (@scubaboy)
10th March 2023, 6:08
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
The ONLY reason Low Country Boy won’t “slip up” this year is because Hammy’s ride is not going to be close enough to the front of the grid for Max to take him out!
But maybe during stops, if the order is shuffled, Max can run him off the circuit for old times sake.
Broccoliface
10th March 2023, 8:11
Obsessed
David (@nvherman)
10th March 2023, 11:13
@scubaboy To quote Buzz Lightyear: “You are a sad, strange little man”
MattDS (@mattds)
10th March 2023, 12:33
@scubaboy is this the point where we get the list of all of Hamilton’s contacts from 2022 and Max’s one, and find the commonality between both of those lists (even if Max’s is only one long)?
Itsmeagain (@itsme)
10th March 2023, 16:31
These are the fans we are waiting for. NOT Funny how people like to talk about the behavior of the max fans.
melanos
12th March 2023, 13:35
If ya can’t learn from them prais’em
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
10th March 2023, 10:23
Thank you for the COTD !
David (@nvherman)
10th March 2023, 11:12
@tifoso1989 well deserved
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
11th March 2023, 4:19
Well earned and deserved
LyndaMarks
10th March 2023, 14:59
F1 returning to South Afrida would be nice but the modern Kyalami is sadly just not that good or interesting a circuit and like Hockenheim is a shadow of it’s former self with none of the character that made the original so good.
The 2 races F1 held on the modern layout in 1992/93 were dull races and i know they have changed the 1st few corners in recent years but i still just don’t see modern big single seaters been especially good around it. I mean even A1GP struggled as those cars were far better for racing.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
10th March 2023, 19:24
Yes. And Paul Ricard and Monza and Spa (with their poxy chicanes) and, frankly, Silverstone.
Needs to earn its place in F1 by being better than what’s already there, not just because Lewis won’t shut up about it.
Qeki (@qeki)
10th March 2023, 19:28
I don’t understand how status changes how people function. I have seen it on a small level how just one basic domestic rally can get really ugly if money is on the frame. I can’t imagine if the case is about F1 race.
If something doesn’t work or is on the verge of falling the main reason behind it is money.
drmouse (@drmouse)
11th March 2023, 10:26
Unless the first race was a massive outlier, it doesn’t really matter if Max “slips up”. The performance advantage will easily cover up small mistakes, and the championship advantages are likely to be large enough to accept the occasional larger mistake or issue.
And that part of why he’s probably not going to “slip up”. There is very little pressure on him this year. No matter the circumstances, he has 2 WDCs already and looks to be in a position to walk a third.
The one I could see making mistakes this year is Perez. He will be under pressure both to perform well as Max’s wing man and to gain 2nd in the WDC, and he knows Danny is in the wings waiting to take his spot if he doesn’t perform.
Wayne
13th March 2023, 9:47
No ‘slip ups’ so is it the car or the driver that flatters the talent of a driver? Lewis has been called a fraud, a premadonna, untalented. Apparently only drives well in the best machinery. Unworthy of all his championships. But Max now is Brilliant. A true champion. Its all his talent and nothing to do with the performance of the car. He can eek out 50km/hr extra from any car. Thats how good he is. Oops sorry! from only cars thats more pointy at the front.