In the round-up: Red Bull’s third driver Daniel Ricciardo has been confirmed as the driver who will be behind the wheel when the team takes a F1 car to the Nurburgring Nordschleife at September’s Nurburgring 12 Hours race.
In brief
Ricciardo revealed as the driver for Red Bull’s landmark Nordschleife trip
Red Bull’s demonstration run will mark the first time an F1 car has been driven on the legendary 21 kilometre circuit since a decade ago when Michael Schumacher drove a 2011 Mercedes W02 for a single lap of the track. Six years prior to that, Nick Heidfeld drove BMW Sauber’s 2006 car in a demonstration run.
While Ricciardo rejoined Red Bull this year in the hope of making it back on to the F1 grid in the future, his main responsibility has been as a demo driver and has already driven an old Red Bull’s RB7 car from 2011 in an Australian road trip this year. His Nordschleife run will take place on 9th September.
Hamilton explains struggles behind his first year with Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton admitted he struggled in his first season at Mercedes due to their use of Front-and-Rear Interconnected Suspension on their W04 car. The sophisticated FRIC systems used several teams became increasingly complicated and Mercedes was believed to have the most advanced system on the grid.However a technical directive outlawed such systems during the 2014 season. Hamilton said he “struggled with the car” during his first year at Mercedes. “We had some sort of a different type of suspension that I’d never had before, and I was struggling like crazy with it,” he said in a video released by the team.
“But we eventually did get a win.” That came in the Hungarian Grand Prix, the tenth race of the season, and only one more podium followed that year. “This [win] was really, if there were any doubts about the decisions, whether or not you’re right or wrong [joining Mercedes], I think this was a confirmation that it was the right step,” Hamilton added.
McLaren reveal Kanaan’s Indy 500 livery
Following last week’s ‘Triple Crown’-inspired Indianapolis 500 livery reveal for their three full-time IndyCar entries, McLaren have now unveiled the livery that Tony Kanaan will use for the race.
Kanaan will pilot a fourth car for the team in a one-off appearance, having done the same for Chip Ganassi Racing last season. The 48-year-old was IndyCar champion in 2004, won the Indy 500 in 2013, and has only been contesting oval races in the series since 2020.
The primary colour of Kanaan’s 2023 car will be black, with papaya detailing including a star that wraps itself over the cockpit area when viewed from above. He will drive number 66.
“I’ve been eager to see this livery and it does not disappoint,” said Kanaan. “It’s one of the best-looking cars I’ve ever been in and representing the history of the Triple Crown makes it even more special.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
COTA, Interlagos, Silverstone in frame for WEC returns (Sportscar365)
'Interlagos, Silverstone and Circuit of The Americas are in the frame for returns to the FIA World Endurance Championship calendar as part of a targeted ramp back up to as many as nine rounds by 2025.'
Günther: 'I'll just have to do it again' (Ellie does F1)
'Many Formula E drivers have also raced in WEC in previous years, sometimes combining their calendar so that they can compete in both categories simultaneously. Although it’s difficult for Max to say whether that would be a possibility for him right now, competing in WEC as well as FE is definitely on his radar.'
Tennis, Nutella and Baku triumphs: Getting to know the real Correa (F2)
'Returning to a track that holds happy memories, Juan Manuel Correa is readying himself for the challenge of racing around the streets of Baku once again at the end of the month.'
Bedrin optimistic that positive showing at ‘favourite track’ can revitalise his pace (FIA F3)
'Whilst the opening phase of his rookie Formula 3 season hasn’t matched his initial hopes, Nikita Bedrin says there are encouraging signs that things are moving in the right direction after heading the field in both sessions of day one of testing at Imola.'
IndyCar champion Palou’s new team fastest in Eurocup-3 testing (Formula Scout)
'The first ever test for the new Eurocup-3 championship concluded at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit on Wednesday, and a new team set the pace. In the Wednesday morning session it was Palou Motorsport’s Javier Sagrera who was fastest, setting a 1m27.778s lap to top the times by 0.137 seconds.'
Bernie Ecclestone at court for hearing ahead of £400m fraud trial (Evening Standard)
'Ex-F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone arrived at court yesterday for the latest hearing ahead of his criminal trial for allegedly failing to declare more than £400 million in a trust in Singapore to the government. The 92-year-old tycoon was flanked by security as he arrived at Southwark crown court in a white chauffeur-driven car just after 9.15am on Wednesday.'
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
It was a rollercoaster kind of day for @josefnewgarden at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Listen to the communication during his drive in the #AGPLB. pic.twitter.com/4TgZSNwSf3
— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) April 19, 2023
Monaco is fully preparing for Formula E✨ #FormulaE #F1 #Racing #Monaco #Monacogp pic.twitter.com/lPphI2Q7uq
— Flore (@Floreinmonaco) April 18, 2023
Let's be honest, we totally missed our targets and expectations. The car is going back home for the first time after Sebring and we will keep working hard to improve in every areas. Spa in 10 D.
PS : After investigating we can confirm the brake failure was caused by stuck debris pic.twitter.com/D0kmpDfzPx
— Vanwall Racing Team (@Vanwall_Racing) April 17, 2023
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
F1’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled for 18th November this year, but its Autumn date may pose a challenge to spectators – if they’re in the grandstands rather than the indoor VIP hospitality – due to the weather that can be expected at that time of year.
I was in Vegas last year just before Halloween.
It was absolutely freezing with a dusting of snow at Grand Canyon and Bryce. There wasn’t snow in Vegas but a very strong, very cold wind and evening temperatures of about 3C. The wind actually hurt your skin because it bought so much sand with it. I was actually uncomfortable to be outside.
As for the city, that evening I watched a old man holding a yard of cocktail vomit in the street while paying a girl who was shivering in a bikini to pose for a photo with him. Very classy.
F1 in Vegas is going to be an absolute mess. The weather in late autumn is very unpredictable and the city itself is really poorly set up to handle adverse conditions.
Hucumber
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Jacob and Apoorvb Bajpai!
On this day in motorsport
- 20 years ago today Michael Schumacher won the San Marino Grand Prix, the day after the death of his mother
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schooner (@schooner)
20th April 2023, 0:31
Ricciardo’s “landmark” lap of the Nordschleife will likely be driven in such a manner that a couple of performance sedans bristling with cameras, along with a drone or 2, will be able to easily keep pace with him for the required dramatic (highly edited) footage that RB will be using for advertising purposes. Yawn.
stefano (@alfa145)
20th April 2023, 1:50
imagine complaining about something that still has to happen, with zero actual knowledge about it, except guesswork
kpcart
20th April 2023, 6:43
Its the most likely scenario but, just like the bathurst lap a couple weeks back. It certainly wont be what porsche did with the lemans car.
Jere (@jerejj)
20th April 2023, 5:51
That cold-ish pre-Halloween evening must’ve been a one-off as evening hours are generally (except for tropical climate locations such as Southeast Asia & Florida) only a little cooler than the warmest phase, i.e., midday to afternoon, at max 5 degrees, so if the highest daytime ambient is 13-15 & the lowest in the night hours 3-6, the late evening would usually about halfway between.
ppzzus (@ppzzus)
20th April 2023, 6:41
I hope it’s a proper lap but i wont hold my breath.
I recall Riccardo saying he wont do ovals in indycar because of the danger, I cant imagine a shunt in a F1 car at the green hell would be any safer.
peter
22nd April 2023, 8:58
It depends. Ovals are hi-speed only and the concrete wall is near all the time. Nordschleiffe has only several hi-speed area’s where it’s smart the thing not to overdo it.
spoutnik (@spoutnik)
20th April 2023, 12:44
That video about the Las Vegas race is pretty depressing. There is so little to say about the track itself or the driving challenge that he spends the whole time naming hotels and tickets prices.
His conclusions are revealing : “one of the biggest spectacles we’ve ever seen in Las Vegas”.
Ancient1 (@ancient1)
20th April 2023, 15:49
A bit harsh!!!
This is Las Vegas in the good ol’ US of A. It’s more about the spectacle. With all the traffic and the reporter does not appear to be a F1 nut, as an opener that is acceptable to me. At least one can get an idea what is behind the stands etc, before the barriers & advertising hordings go up. Hopefully we will get a ‘sim’ drive to see??
Vividly recall the last time F1 was in town for the Ceasar’s Palace GP [1981???], the race was literally in a carpark and the whole thing looked awfully like a go-kart set-up. Absolute YUK!!!!!
Alledgely Alan Jones’ [1980 WDC] comments on the track were unprintable!!
Nick T.
20th April 2023, 23:41
I’ve always hated Vegas with a passion. It appeals to certain types. Mostly elderly people who like playing slots and businessmen who like to go to conventions there to get away from the wife and hire prostitutes. When I think of a “spectacle” that fits with F1’s brand, I think of a race in NYC, the Bay Area, etc. Downtown Chicago would be much more spectacular with one of the most beautiful skylines.
rpiian (@rpiian)
20th April 2023, 16:42
I’m staying reserved but excited to see what RB produces at the Nurburgring… Hopefully he can give it the beans in some areas. Get the Danny Mojo :)
Neil (@njf03)
20th April 2023, 20:47
What were the Schumacher and rosberg times … Just for a rough guide