In the round-up: Fernando Alonso “cannot wait” for the next race after standing on the podium again at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
In brief
Alonso thinks he can remain “in the mix” at final races
Aston Martin claimed their second biggest points haul of the past three seasons in last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, and Alonso believes more of the same is possible after they turned around their mid-season slump in form.
“I was a little bit concerned, no doubt, for the last few races and maybe the final part of the championship,” he admitted. “Now I cannot wait to go to Vegas. So it’s a very different energy when you have a performing car.”
After taking the final podium place by five hundredths of a second in Brazil, Alonso conceded a repeat may not be on the cards in the final two races, but he believes they will be “at least closer than Mexico” where they had failed to contend for points the week prior.
“I think there are a couple of things that have been understood inside the team and the direction to go,” he said. “We had some hopes for this race and they proved to be right. And now, why not to be competitive in the last two?”
Open-wheel talents and motorcycling legend in WEC’s rookie test
The World Endurance Championship’s post-season rookie test at Bahrain attracted some big names who all fitted the rookie criteria for the respective class of car they were driving in.Ferrari’s Formula 1 reserve driver Robert Shwartzman drove their 499P hypercar along with Lilou Wadoux. Moto GP legend and BMW factory driver Valentino Rossi tested an LMP2 car run by WRT – who will run BMW’s upcoming WEC hypercar programme – while Andretti’s new Formula E signing Norman Nato and Asian Le Mans Series champion Rene Binder got a taste of hypercar machinery in Porsches.
Formula 2 racer and total sports car newcomer Clement Novalak was the second-fastest driver in the test’s LMP2 classification behind three-times GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup champion Charles Weerts.
F1 CEO tight-lipped over Andretti
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is giving no indication when they are likely to reach a decision on the commercial terms which will be offered to Andretti-Cadillac after the FIA approved their entry to the championship.
“There is a process that is in place, so as always, we don’t have to give any anticipation,” said Domenicali in an F1 investors call last week. “The FIA did its right role of doing its first assessment. Now we’re in the process of doing our assessment on the commercial and marketing side.
“As soon as this process will be finished, of course, we will inform everyone accordingly. First of all, of course, sharing this info in the first instance with the FIA.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Brazil police arrest 10 fugitives at Sao Paulo F1 race (Reuters)
'Brazilian police arrested 10 fugitives who were trying to make their way into Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit for the grand prix, the state government said. Those arrested include people fleeing convictions for crimes such as robbery and paedophilia, said Sao Paulo's public security department which added the operation was part of a programme it named 'The Great Wall of SP'.'
This was the most embarrassing day of Hamilton's career (Daily Mail)
'There is no prospect of his team ending their misery this year or next, or perhaps the one after. What that means for his title dream is obvious. He is 38 and has two seasons to run on his new contract.'
‘A purposeful investment’: Why Rory McIlroy and Anthony Joshua are buying into F1 (The Athletic)
'Now, the duo are a part of the sport they enjoy. McIlroy and Joshua say their joining Otro Capital’s investment group, which bought a 24% stake in Alpine this summer, is more than a business move. The pair said it’s a move to offer proper support however the F1 team needs them to.'
Las Vegas F1 race is a love-hate relationship for locals (Las Vegas Review Journal)
'As we’ve reached less than two weeks before the big event, more and more concerns have been raised about what F1 will do to the city, how it already has impacted us and what we can look forward to in the nine-plus years of future races.'
Ecclestone case shows HMRC using enforcement powers more vigorously (Financial Times Advisor)
'Ecclestone's guilty plea relates to a false representation made to HMRC that he was not the settlor or beneficiary of any trusts outside of the UK, except a single trust established and declared in favour of his children. The remarks made by the sentencing judge refer to Ecclestone being linked to two trusts outside the UK and a Singaporean bank account containing 'very substantial' funds.'
Foyt's day in the sun: The story of the 2013 Long Beach GP (Racer)
'History wasn’t necessarily on the side of team nor driver, either. Sato’s most recent win of any kind had come 12 years earlier in Formula 3. For Foyt, the wait had been almost as long: the team’s last champagne shower had come when Airton Dare found the top step of the podium in the 2002 IndyCar race at Kansas. Narrow the lens to the last time the team had won on a road or street course and you’re going all the way back to 1978, when A.J. himself was victorious at Silverstone.'
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 X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and more:
A spotacular livery for a spectacular cause 🧸🟡
You can pick up this @CiN_BBC livery in #F123 by logging in between Nov 6-17 – just check your in-game mail 📩
Plus, don't miss the special fundraiser – Game On! – streaming this Friday at 7pm on @BBCiPlayer 📺 #ChildrenInNeed pic.twitter.com/fXaoYNOU1G
— EA SPORTS™ F1® (@EASPORTSF1) November 6, 2023
Signed, sealed & soon to be delivered.
F1 is on its way to VEGAS! 📦#LasVegasGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ikpqde1pvy
— F1 Las Vegas (@F1LasVegas) November 6, 2023
Tradition. 🍾#BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/qjmdVuOAxW
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) November 6, 2023
Had an incredible time behind the wheel of the 499P. Truly grateful to Ferrari for allowing me to extract the most out of this experience and being able to clock the fastest time. Grazie pic.twitter.com/vYZHudasKI
— Robert Shwartzman (@ShwartzmanRob) November 6, 2023
No doubt the #BrazilianGP was a painful weekend for @LewisHamilton but those calling it his "most embarrassing weekend ever" have short memories. Shanghai 2007 surely?#F1
— Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) November 6, 2023
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Haas have requested that the results of the United States Grand Prix be reviewed as they believe track limits violations by drivers from multiple teams were overlooked by stewards.
It’s great to see a team usually on the receiving end of the stewards inconsistency finally stand up for themselves. If the stewards can’t enforce the rules, either they or the rules need to change. Not just ignore it whenever it suits their whims.
MichaelN
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Alonsowdc, Paul and Claidheamh!
On this day in motorsport
- 30 years ago today Ayrton Senna scored his final F1 win while Alain Prost, Derek Warwick and Riccardo Patrese all made their last starts.
Jay
7th November 2023, 0:30
I think all the talk of RedBull winning for years and years is to put pressure on F1 or FIA to do something to limit RB. I hope its unsuccessful. It’s one thing to hear it from pundits, who can easily be blown off, but to hear it from drivers it sure sounds like sour grapes and/or jealousy!
I haven’t had a favourite driver since Michael Schumacher but all this kind of talk has me actually rooting for Max. And I’ve disliked RB since they entered F1.
MichaelN
7th November 2023, 9:52
Maybe, but it was Red Bull’s own complaining that contributed greatly to the current engine freeze situation, basically tying the hands of their competitors (who foolishly agreed).
So while Red Bull’s success is certainly impressive, it’s not nearly as laudable as that of teams who won titles in years where their competitors were free to develop their cars and engines however they saw fit.
In this era you only need two or three races to be able to project the entire year forward. It’s all very fixed and stable. And while McLaren might seem an anomaly, they essentially launched their 2023 late. This one has very little to do with the car they brought to Bahrain.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
7th November 2023, 10:50
MichaelN,
People often overlook the fact that Red Bull Racing (RBR) consistently complains about anything that doesn’t go their way in Formula 1. The amount of lobbying they did in the hybrid era was unbelievable especially when they’ve realized that Renault wouldn’t increase their budget to compete with Mercedes in a meeting with Carlos Ghosn at the end of 2014.
They were quick to propose replacing the V6 hybrid PU with a twin-turbo V8, a notion endorsed by Bernie Ecclestone but was turned down by Jean Todt. In 2020, Horner successfully lobbied to get the “party mode”, one of the key Mercedes weapons, banned simply because Honda didn’t have one. Additionally, they have successfully pushed for the PU freeze regime to avoid getting the Renault PU.
Unicron (@unicron2002)
7th November 2023, 11:49
Nice to see my profile pic make an appearance in the ‘on the day in motorsport’ section.
Less nice is to see it was 30 years ago.
I suspect if I was a 41 year old piece of technology I’d be classes as retro, jeez.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
8th November 2023, 0:12
Yes, decent start by Brundle, three wide with Alesi and Hakkinen looks unwise though – likely to turn a piece of art into a piece of sculpture.
AlanD
8th November 2023, 2:23
“In this era you only need two or three races to be able to project the entire year forward. It’s all very fixed and stable.”
Michael, that is the thing that disappoints me most about modern F1. It used to be an engineering championship where every race would see cars with new parts, and other teams rushing to replicate the effect in time for the next race. Nowadays, innovation usually leads to a new regulation banning it, lest it upsets the status quo.
Jere (@jerejj)
7th November 2023, 6:07
The Las Vegas Review Journal article is interesting, although I don’t necessarily share all ‘hate’ views or think they’d be worse than on any other temporary circuit location during build-up process or the event.
Mathias
7th November 2023, 6:40
apparently in LasVegas all the people working in the resort industry are on strike.
Nick T.
7th November 2023, 9:45
Pretty depressing AM’s performance only rebounded every they stripped all updates made over the past two months.
GechiChan (@gechichan)
7th November 2023, 21:34
Like him or hate him for his personality and sometimes questionable methods, but Alonso is a hurricane that this sport will miss when he retires. His fighting spirit alone is in the top 3 all-time: most drivers would’ve called it a day with 3 laps to go when passed by a Red Bull.
Nick T.
8th November 2023, 5:47
When Alonso and Lewis (as much as I dislike him) are gone, I doubt I’ll stick around.