In the round-up: Work has begun on resurfacing the track and improving facilities at Monza
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In brief
Major Monza renovations begin
The Monza circuit held a ceremony yesterday to mark the beginning of an extensive renovation project. Among the changes are a compete resurfacing of the 5.7-kilometre track and improvements to its drainage.
Spectators will also benefit from improved facilties. Some grandstands at the first chicane will be replaced, the tunnels beneath the track are being revised to separate pedestrians from vehicles and the Paddock Club will be covered.
The renovations have led the World Endurance Championship to relocate its round this year to Imola. Work should be completed by the beginning of June, ahead of the grand prix in September.
Pujolar “proud” of Verstappen’s achievements
Sauber head of trackside engineering, Xevi Pujolar, says he is “proud” to see what Max Verstappen has achieved over his time in Formula 1.Pujolar was Verstappen’s first Formula 1 race engineer back in 2015 during their time together at Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s second team. He says Verstappen’s achievements have been enjoyable for him to watch.
“For me, the guy is a machine,” said Pujolar. “I’m really enjoying seeing how he is doing. I feel proud that I was part of that beginning with him. So I’m happy for him.”
Barnard becomes McLaren FE reserve
Formula 3 racer Taylor Barnard will act as McLaren’s reserve driver for their Formula E team this season, the team has announced.
Barnard, who tested for the team at Valencia in pre-season testing, took three podiums in last year’s F3 championship – including a victory in the Spa feature race – all in the final two rounds of the season. He will act as reserve for McLaren’s two drivers, Jake Hughes and Sam Bird, over the 2024 season.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Christian Horner worried ex-Red Bull chief could return to haunt them with new F1 team. (Mirror)
'Christian Horner admits long-time colleague Rob Marshall could help propel new employer McLaren into a title challenge against his Red Bull team. He left Red Bull last May and spent the rest of 2023 on gardening leave, as is common in the Formula 1 world. He officially started his new job in Woking as the McLaren's technical director of engineering and design.Having worked with Marshall for so long, team principal Horner is aware of the talent and expertise he possesses. And he is also wary that his former colleague is joining a McLaren team which is very much on the rise.'
Season Look Back: Honouring our marshals in 2023 (Haas)
'Starting at the Circuit of The Americas, marshals were gifted bespoke race-branded bandanas, made solely for them, and distributed by Team Principal Guenther Steiner. Guenther made a surprise visit to the group during their Friday morning briefing, delivering his message of appreciation and thanks on behalf of the whole team, before spending time meeting marshals, taking photos and handing out bandannas.'
Mario Andretti remembers his tainted F1 title: 'I couldn't celebrate' (Motor Sport)
''I lost some of my closest friends in the sport, and I hate to even talk about it. We’d lose four to six every year. In 1964, in sprint cars, in two races we lost two drivers each – four in two different races. And one was my team-mate.''
What to watch out for during the season opener in Mexico City (Formula E)
'We might be biassed, but we love our Season 10 grid. Home to seven of our champions, and a huge wealth of talent, there are so many awesome individuals to cheer and support. This season we welcome back some big names, including Season 8 champion Nyck de Vries. The Dutchman, who is back after a stint in Formula 1, is where he belongs and is ready to race for Mahindra. Naturally, it’s a big talking point going into Mexico City and there will be lots of eyes on him.'
Ryan Briscoe: I’ve carried Prema’s winning attitude my whole career (Formula Scout)
''It’s great (to have been a double champion with Prema). So many great races that we had, and we won two championships together, so unbelievable. So many great memories. So much good food. I remember Giorgio, the cook, and just so many great meals at the race tracks. I remember so many unbelievable races as well.''
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Social media
Notable posts from X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and more:
Incredible handwritten notes!
Found in the cockpit of James Hunt's car before some of his races… pic.twitter.com/evflx7ENmb
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 8, 2024
Swapping slicks for skis. ⛷
Preseason prep with @alo_oficial! pic.twitter.com/ZzImfydHju
— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) January 8, 2024
Teamwork 💪
A new week in the factories. For many departments, this is their busiest time of the year 🛠️ pic.twitter.com/5F0pgW6ScA
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) January 8, 2024
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
After our look back at the extremely long circuits of F1’s past, MacLeod recalls the thrill of being at some of F1’s legendary venues…
Personally, when I saw the races at Spa and the Nurburgring in the 1960s, those were epic in the eyes of a very young me. I miss those races a bit as the atmosphere was wonderful. It was another era. For me, still the best. With 1975-1985 the worst era.
MacLeod
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Del Boy, Romulo Shortback and Leonardo Antunes!
MacLeod (@macleod)
9th January 2024, 8:00
Cool my comment made the comment of the day :)
Will Wood, I loved your article it brought those memories back.
Shimks (@shimks)
9th January 2024, 9:47
@macleod, why were the ’60s the best and why 1975 – 1985 the worst? Are you comparing the atmosphere of both times? What was different? Cheers.
MacLeod (@macleod)
9th January 2024, 13:50
If I have to compair both era’s it was the Atmosphere also/but i was a preteen – teenager in the 1960s and ‘grownup’ in the 1975-1985 era.
It’s was subtile class vs brute power if i have to compair both. I had a working model of Jim Clark Lotus (which i had the honour to sit in when i was 5-7 year old memory gets vage on that) compaired with those ugly monsters later.
After 1985 i stopped following F1 and came back in the 1990 with Senna, Schumancher Verstappen ect.
Shimks (@shimks)
9th January 2024, 9:48
Yes, that article was magic.
stefano (@alfa145)
9th January 2024, 11:04
@macLeod I second the question, why would you say 1975-1985 was F1’s worst period?
MacLeod (@macleod)
10th January 2024, 7:56
@alfa145 – see my comment but i can add the way those cars looked and were driven were ugly powerfull and dangerous compaired with those of the 1960s. But it could be the awe of a child seeing F1 for the first time up close (really close) which those drivers were driving those 1960s cars (little drifting on the edge) the movie Grandprix 1966 is a good view how things were.
asd
9th January 2024, 10:18
I was a huge fan of the layout change at Monza they planned a couple of years ago. Too bad they’re not doing it.
RicoD (@ricod)
9th January 2024, 17:16
Yeah, I was also hoping for a layout change, alas…
Roger Ayles (@roger-ayles)
9th January 2024, 19:19
A change that gets rid of one of its more iconic corners and the section of track where we tend to see the best bits of racing and actual overtaking would never have been a positive change. Would have just rendered all the racing/passing to DRS.
Think about it. The best, most memorable & exciting bits of racing at Monza over the past decade or so have all come after the first chicane, through curva grande & into the 2nd chicane.
How often do we see cars side by side, wheelto wheel inches apart through curva grande into the 2nd chicane. No gimmicks like DRS involved, just real racing where it’s all about who’s later on the brakes into the 2nd chicane.
That revised layout would have cut that out and I’m not convinced that revision would have done anything but make the racing worse.
And from memory most drivers from multiple categories who commented on the proposals all said similar things which was maybe at least a part of why they opted against making them.
Phil Norman (@phil-f1-21)
10th January 2024, 13:13
+ 1
Markp
9th January 2024, 15:53
What change? The one proposed for 2022 with one of the chicanes removed (likely the 2nd) and 2nd Lesmo made faster? Would have been great but proposal was also for some infrastructure stuff and restoration of banking so 10km course could be used for some categories. Would have been amazing but the banking part made the idea seem fanciful not to mention 100m cost.
Brett
9th January 2024, 18:57
Hopefully they put back a strip of grass or gravel on the white line of the parabolica.