In the round-up: Angel Sticchi Damiani, president of the Automobile Club d’Italia, which runs the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, says the club will look to resurface Monza in a bid to retain the race beyond 2025
In brief
ACI plans improvements to Monza to keep Italian GP beyond 2025
The Italian Grand Prix will hold its place on the F1 calendar until 2025, but Sticchi Damiani admits that it is currently difficult to be optimistic about the viability of the race beyond that without changes to the circuit, especially with two races in Italy.
Sticchi Damiani claimed that the 2022 race failed to make a profit as a result of high maintenance costs. Among potential modifications outlined include a potential relaying of the track surface and major upgrades to access paths and underpasses for spectators.
There is already a second race in Italy on the F1 calendar, with Imola hosting the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix since returning to the calendar during the pandemic affected 2020 season.
Hamilton has no doubts he will win again
Lewis Hamilton has no doubts he “will win again” despite Mercedes’ slump in performance extending to a second season.Mercedes have endured a second successive disappointing start to the season, finishing well behind Red Bull in the opening two rounds of the season and appearing to be overtaken by power unit customers Aston Martin. Despite the relative lack of performance, Hamilton is sure he will eventually increase his own record of 103 grand prix victories.
“Yeah, I will win again,” Hamilton said. “It’s just going to take some time.
“There will be things that happen in our in all of our lives that we least expect. But it’s not how you fall, it’s how you get up. It’s how you deal with it. It’s how you show up. It’s how you continue to remain positive and tackle the issues that you’re faced with. And so that’s where my energy is going into. And that’s where the everybody every single person in the team is focused on.”
Dennis frustrated after Ticktum clash ends race
Jake Dennis says his Formula E rivals “need to start looking forward instead of in their mirrors” after he was hit out of the Sao Paulo Eprix on Saturday by Dan Ticktum.
Dennis was struck by Ticktum in the first chicane, putting him out of the race, with Ticktum handed a post-race drive-through penalty, converted into a 15-second time penalty, by the stewards for the contact.
“[It’s like] a target on my back,” said Dennis. “It’s two races now. Just driving my own race and then some plonker, 100 metres behind me, just forgets to brake and just smashes into me.
“It happened in Hyderabad with [Rene] Rast, happened here with Ticktum. They need to start looking forward instead of in their mirrors the whole time.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Bottas slides in entertaining Supercar debut (Australian Supercars)
"The 33-year-old Finnish driver took to the wheel of the 2016 Bathurst 1000-winning Tekno VF Commodore on Sunday. Bottas, who won 10 Grands Prix, also drove an Alfa Romeo GTV Group A touring car."
Why did F1 stop South African Grand Prix return? (The South African)
Jody Scheckter: "My nephew had been working on it for six years, nearly full time. Because going (through the) government and getting (their support) and for them all to agree to put some budget in and then to secure the money. It takes a massive amount (of effort). All of a sudden, it was over, and he was left with nothing."
Former F1 champs Raikkonen and Button race NASCAR at COTA (Associated Press)
Raikkonen: "In F1, open wheels if you touch somebody you usually lose a part or lose a wheel, you can’t really take that risk ... In NASCAR, you can have a bit more closer racing. It makes it exciting I guess at the end of the races when people can be quite aggressive."
Live Formula 1? You’re better off watching it on the telly (Times)
Jeremy Clarkson laments that he decided to spend the majority of attending the Bahrain Grand Prix watching it on television with Bernie Ecclestone in hospitality.
How two F2 rookies lost out on a feature race win, and their rivals’ reaction (Formula Scout)
Jack Doohan: "With that extra experience, me and Fredrik are second year, so it’s not like we’re veterans in the championship, but it just shows that little bit of more level-headedness that we have to make sure that we can week-in, week-out, race-in, race-out, stay on track and fight for those big points."
Kush Maini: My greatest influences (Formula 2)
"Just watching clips of Senna on YouTube, seeing how hard-working he was, whether it was training or on the track, the level he reached was as one of the greatest athletes of all time. He went through a lot of politics in the early days with Alain Prost at McLaren, seeing how he came out stronger – he never gave up and always kept fighting."
The Esports GOAT? Jarno Opmeer Q&A (Mercedes via YouTube)
Two-time F1 esports world champion Jarno Opmeer discusses a variety of topics, including how to improve performance in F1 22.
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:
This #EarthHour we’ve turned the lights off at our Banbury HQ. This is a small action but indicative of our commitment to sustainability 🌎
We worked hard to achieve FIA 3-Star Environmental Accreditation and show we’re leading the way in sustainable practice within motorsport. pic.twitter.com/wDGeSyXSfl
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 25, 2023
1 week until we go racing in my backyard 🇦🇺😁 #OP81 #F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/WjOTsUx6nH
— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) March 26, 2023
Good day @AdelMotorsFest 🇦🇺
Great event and atmosphere 🏁https://t.co/KphlUduOQC#VB77 #V8 #Australia #Adelaide pic.twitter.com/QqZ3Ww5Pvx
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) March 26, 2023
A massive crowd in the Grand Marquee to meet Valtteri Bottas. #AMF #F1 #Adelaide pic.twitter.com/9amv3uALf8
— Adelaide Motorsport Festival (@AdelMotorsFest) March 26, 2023
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
This weekend’s Caption Competition winner is Electroball 76:
Double world champions! We have a lot in common, your dad and me.
Electroball76
Thanks to everyone who came up with caption idea this week and a special mention to Steve Rogers, Derek Edwards, Michael and Red Andy who all came up with particularly good captions.
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Justin!
Darryn Smith (@darryn)
27th March 2023, 0:28
Improvements such as a fake marina or a terrorist attack in range of the TV cameras?
Spencer (@spencer)
27th March 2023, 1:42
Have you ever been to Monza? Ancient dilapidated grandstands, lack of restrooms, concessions which could be mistaken for breadlines. Very weak perimeter security. The spectator accommodations are atrocious. Upgrades desperately needed. Not everything can rely on nostalgia.
Dex
27th March 2023, 4:28
Sure, these things are those that should be improved over time, or even earlier; but that’s Italy. They are not about commodity on sporting arenas the way Americans are, different mentality with its good and bad sides. I still prefer old-fashioned and unkempt venues to those fake yachts, flashing led lights everywhere and all that “show” aimed at new kids (I’m 36 since two days ago and I feel so old watching this new F1, but not in a way that makes me feel bad about myself). I wish we could have something in-between, venues and events without that American approach which I really, really dislike (I like Americans, just not their showbizz approach sometimes), but also clean toilets, new pavements, safe parking places etc. But all we’re going to get now are races a la Las Vegas or terrorist states/war zones like Saudi Arabia etc. (I’m not a driver, so I can say it I guess). All things considered, I’d rather visit Monza than those places (and keep my wallet protected, but I have to do that almost everywhere in EU now, and it’s same in US). But yes, I agree with you about the upgrades, and maybe we’re going to get that. That doesn’t mean the race will still be there in a few years though…
Spencer (@spencer)
27th March 2023, 5:20
I hear you. I’m just saying there’s a big space in between things like Miami, Las Vegas, vs the dilapidated dump that Monza has become. Decent seats and functional restrooms aren’t much to ask for. Not sure those are uniquely “American” requests. If these baselines can’t be met, maybe they don’t deserve to host the race. On some level if you’re accommodating spectators, there is a pay to play aspect to it. It’s an international stage. Why not put your best foot forward? I love the track and it’s history. I’ve driven it on tracks days, I attend many races. Can totally take the good with the bad, but the additional attendees (my wife as an example) isn’t so smitten with lap times that she’s willing to overlook basic things. Spa until recently was in a similar predicament. Hopefully their spending and infrastructure upgrades grant them a stay of execution.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
27th March 2023, 8:43
The spectator offering at Monza definitely needs improvement. I went a few years ago, 2016 I think, and whilst I enjoyed it, the spectator facilities were poor really. Then by last year the reports sounded horrendous.
It’s a real shame because it’s one of the great circuits. I don’t think the excuse that ‘oh it’s just Italy’ that some might come up with, is good enough in this day and age. Attending a GP is a really expensive outgoing and should provide a very good experience.
MichaelN
27th March 2023, 12:35
Absolutely, all the more so considering northern Italy is among the richest parts of Europe (even the, by some Eurostat metrics).
Although unlikely, I’d like to see them at least consider the banking introduced at Zandvoort and Yas Marina in their plans. It would be a nice nod to the history, and might make the track more interesting for modern F1 cars too.
playstation361
27th March 2023, 1:54
Italy and politics. I only remember the issue they did with a top driver before.
Jere (@jerejj)
27th March 2023, 5:33
Hopefully, Monza stays beyond the current deal, but perhaps easier said than done. Time will tell.
I don’t have any doubts, either, & while he mightn’t get another chance for the championship, I’m confident he’ll win at least a single race again.
While the South African GP return attempts have stopped (for now at least), this doesn’t mean another African country couldn’t join instead. For example, Joe Saward mentioned Rwanda in his Bahrain GP Green Notebook.
Proesterchen (@proesterchen)
27th March 2023, 8:30
Let’s just hope that changing the circuit has been shelved for Monza, if there are now more pressing parts of the infrastructure that need redevelopment.
RandomMallard
27th March 2023, 8:47
Bottas seems to basically have become an honorary Australian it appears.
That said, it would be interesting if he went in Supercars after leaving F1, in the way we’ve had some ex-F1 drivers go into NASCAR. Could be interesting to see how quick he could be in very different cars.
George (@feral)
27th March 2023, 9:03
Haas. “we have turned our lights off at Banbury HQ”
Now it’s official Haas are working in the dark.
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
27th March 2023, 11:07
Monza is my home track, since I live 1h from the circuit and I have memories of various races there with my dad, then friends and more recently with my kid.
But let me say that if Sticchi Damiani think that the problem lies on the track surface, he’s pretty disconnected from reality. I’ve never been to another race other than the Italian GP, but the experience has always been terrible for me and it doesn’t matter if it was with a general admission ticket or with a Prima Variante one.
I had a good time only in 2021, when COVID restriction were in place and the track was at I believe 1/3 of its capacity. That was the last time for me and I will need a few years to give it another try.
The organization is a complete chaos with every service, from toilets to food and drinks. Don’t even let me start with public transportation (I believe last year there was even a strike from the train service, I feel for the people who came to Milan). I would never suggest the experience to anyone I remotely care for.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
27th March 2023, 12:28
I hesitate to suggest this, what with national pride, etc but perhaps they should get a team in from abroad to organise it. Somewhere where they have successfully managed a large motor racing event or a GP of course.
I would like to go back one day but the things I read about the 2022 event really put me off. I went to Monza in 2016 and it was average to poor then.
emuload
28th March 2023, 23:53
unfortunately it’s not really an issue of who is organizing, it’s a political issue first and foremost.
amongst other thing, the park authority is insane, they won’t even let the circuit MOVE a few trees (not kill, move). getting permission for anything is a mess, moving two stones costs billions, and in general there is very little space for expasion they are allowed.
lynn-m
27th March 2023, 16:02
Something I saw regarding Kimi & Jeonson’s NASCAR outing is that Kimi was apparently talking about how he loved the fact they didn’t have anything like DRS & that apparentlya vast majority of the drivers on the F1 grid are desperate to get rid of it as none of them see it as proper racing, Don’t enjoy using it & don’t like how easy it makes passing but they are all told they have to use it ‘for the show’ because quantity over quality.