In the round-up: Carlos Sainz Jnr says he felt “very weak” while driving with an illness
In brief
Sainz feels “very weak” following illness
Carlos Sainz Jnr admitted he does not feel at full strength while he is battling the affects of an illness.
The Ferrari driver did not attend media duties on Wednesday due to a stomach bug but participated in both practice sessions yesterday, ending the day seventh quickest.
“It has been a very difficult day for me as I haven’t fully recovered from the sickness that has kept me in bed for the last 24 hours and I still feel very weak,” he said after the day’s running.
“Even though I couldn’t push to the limit today, at least we completed the programme and hopefully tomorrow I will be fully recovered and we can focus on qualifying and the race.”
Stroll gets new race engineer
Lance Stroll will have a new race engineer from the Japanese Grand Prix after his current engineer, Ben Michell, was promoted to Aston Matin’s head of performance optimisation.Michell has been the voice in Stroll’s ear over team radio since late 2021. From Suzuka, Stroll will be engineered by Andrew Vizard who stood in for Michell in Thursday’s opening practice session. Vizard will do another practice session stand ins in Melbourne before the assumes the role full time from Suzuka.
McLaren junior Ugochukwu to race GB3
McLaren junior driver Ugo Ugochukwu will compete in a handful of gorunds in the GB3 championship this season with Rodin, the team has announced.
Ugochukwu, who is racing in the Formula Regional European Championship this season with Prema, will compete in four rounds of the British series – one in Oulton Park, two at Silverstone and the final at Spa-Francorchamps.
“We are excited to have Ugo on board for the upcoming season,” said Rodin team manager Ricky Taylor. “His skills and achievements speak for themselves, and we believe he will be a valuable asset to our team.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Have your name on the Japanese Grand Prix Chequered Flag (F1)
'Win the chance to have your name on the Japanese Grand Prix Chequered flag, and a piece of the memorabilia sent to you.'
Racing Green takes pole position as the most popular Aston Martin colour choice (Aston Martin)
'Introduced to the automotive marque in celebration of its return to F1 in 2021, Aston Martin Racing Green proved an instant hit with customers. In its first year of availability, the colour option represented around seven per cent of new car orders and that number has steadily grown in the years that followed. In 2023, that number reached a new height of 12 per cent eclipsing the popularity of all other colours and approaching a figure of double the next most popular option, Xenon Grey at 6.8 per cent.'
'Fernando Barrichello has been confirmed as one of the drivers of Motopark in the 2024 Euroformula Open. The 18-yeear old Brazilian driver steps up directly from Formula 4, having competed in the Brazilian, Spanish and UAE series in the last two seasons. The son of Rubens Barrichello, known also as Fefo, is the latest son of a F.1 racer competing in the Euroformula, which last year saw in action Enzo Trulli, Charlie Wurz and Juju Noda.'
''I got the pleasure of being teammates with Kurt Busch the last time a Cup driver tried the double, and I was super impressed with how he performed over the month. Kyle Larson is coming in with just as much professionalism but probably even more prep, having done the Phoenix test, and I’m fully expecting him to be a contender at the Indy 500.''
'As part of the pathway that has now been established – with recommendations that span promotion, sporting and technical – results of the FIA’s WRC Fan Engagement Survey have been a central consideration. Over 11,000 respondents from across the world shared their feedback, providing invaluable insight on several topics including the format of rallies, car types and specification, and further fan focus groups allowed for a targeted review of key recommendations.'
Who to look out for on the IndyCar support bill in 2024 (Formula Scout)
'Andretti junior Sebastian Wheldon, son of the late IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon, won the F4-spec Skip Barber Formula Race Series in 2023 and that success earned him a $100,000 scholarship to spend on a USF Juniors seat. He has signed with VRD, and their relationship started with Wheldon becoming YACademy WS runner-up.'
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Notable posts from X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and more:
After fielding questions about the ongoing Red Bull controversy in today's FIA press conference Christian Horner told the other team bosses: "I'm sorry for these three gentlemen that they're not here talking about their cars."
I suspect Bruno Famin was not exactly heartbroken.
— Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) March 7, 2024
Not many are capable of doing what @OllieBearman has just done, bouncing back from a super difficult week in Bahrain to Pole in Jeddah! The Bear is amazingly talented on track but also super strong mentally… Reminds me loads of Carlos & Max in our Toro Rosso days. Impressive 🐻
— Tabatha Valls (@tabathavalls) March 7, 2024
It revolutionizes reviewing a race, but I do not use it when watching live because it is information overload and I have to concentrate. We've had access to that level of coverage in TV trucks for years… ultimately, you trust the director to show you what you need to see. https://t.co/xFySlV3Zlh
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) March 7, 2024
We've seen a lot of excitement and a lot of questions about the rain. Here are some of the FAQs with answers!
Let us know what else you want to know about iRacing's new weather system! pic.twitter.com/hTdKXGxlZj
— iRacing (@iRacing) March 7, 2024
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Formula 1 drivers don’t want longer 10-second time penalties for track limits violations, so Mooph suggested a way of applying an immediate sanction…
I would like to see a different type of penalty which can be done on track, bit like a penalty loop or penalty corner, where a (probably problematic) line is marked on the outside corner away from the apex which a driver who has exceeded track limits (not while overtaking) should be forced to drive through on the following lap, thus extending the distance and lap time of the next lap.
In theory its low-cost and relatively simple to police. Depending on the circuit and corner the penalty may vary slightly, but I think something like this was used in FE for activating the boost or something.
Mooph
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Icthyes, Les, Preekel, Rebecca, Stig Semper Fi and Mark Adams!
Tristan
8th March 2024, 2:08
I’m so salty about multiview and onboards. It’s just ridiculous that every country does not have access to the features of a F1TV subscription, even when paying substantial amounts of money for a subscription to watch F1 legally. It would be different if it was on free-to-air.
Absolutely crazy that F1 sells its product in some markets just for a worse, watered-down product can be on-sold. How are they okay with their product not being seen in the best way that they offer it?
An Sionnach
8th March 2024, 3:20
Sky has the onboards but it’s all very slow and laggy to use. Many on the Sky team (with the odd exception) seem to have been picked out of consideration for those who know little about F1 or based on how cravenly worshipful they are of Lewis and a German car company. It’s far more annoying than listening to Murray shout about Mansell or Hill was as it doesn’t seem to be just about the country… George, Lando and Alex don’t seem to generate anywhere near as much excitement. Ireland is locked to Sky. I’m not a Brit-basher but this lot does my head in. Would love to get any other coverage. It doesn’t have to be that good.
Jay
8th March 2024, 5:47
I mostly agree with you about the Sky commentators. If F1TV is available, you could try them. Alex Jacques, Jolyon Palmer, and David Coulthard. I tried them at select races where Brundle wasn’t at last year and they’re OK. I think F1TV also has ‘natural sounds’ ie no commentators but I’d rather listen to Karun Chandhok commentate than nobody.
Mayrton
8th March 2024, 7:46
You seem to think Liberty has any interest in F1 beyond creating more shareholder value. Well, they don’t
MurasamaRA300 (@murasamara300)
8th March 2024, 8:41
Yup, people keep paying = shareholders are happy.
Nothing else matters.
Juicy scandals will also add to shareholder value.
Keeps ad revenue up.
Horner soap opera => raking it in and laughing all the way to the bank.
———-
COTD: Penalty loop is an excellent suggestion.
notagrumpyfan
8th March 2024, 9:04
Their interest is shareholder value (same for all for-profit companies).
Shareholder value is based on Revenue, growth, EBITDA.
Revenue, etc is based on viewers.
Viewers is based on what those viewers want to see.
They want to see what they (incl. we) believe is best for F1.
Thus what Liberty does is best for F1! Maybe not always what Mayrton and I want, but what the majority of current and future F1 fans want.
Jay
8th March 2024, 2:40
COTD: Long lap penalty. MotoGP has used it for years and it’s worked out very well for them. Although MotoGP doesn’t have tons of marbles sprayed around the circuit.
Asd
8th March 2024, 8:41
Yes, and I had put this link in the original COTD’s conversation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FccbfmkPkGA
“MotoGP™ Rules & Regs: Long Lap Penalty”
ECWDanSelby (@ecwdanselby)
8th March 2024, 11:24
Yup, was about to say the same.
MichaelN
8th March 2024, 10:34
Regarding Fernando Barrichello, it’s another reminder that the world of motorsport is still very inaccessible and requires a lot of money, connections and preferably both, to get anywhere. Maybe it’s partly due to the increased coverage of junior series, but the mentions of ‘sons of’ seems to be increasingly common.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
8th March 2024, 13:43
Yes, two just in this round-up, and I don’t mean Carlos Sainz Jnr or Lance Stroll!
Dale
8th March 2024, 14:01
Motorsport is expensive. Cars, tyres, brakes, etc all cost more than footballs and boots.
Moaning about it isn’t going to change it.
Vacations in Bora Bora … also not cheap, neither are the safest cars, etc. THe world isn’t fair and equal.
PJ Gaudie (@moogleslam)
8th March 2024, 16:58
I’ve been sim racing for ~15 years, and many titles have had rain, but no one has ever done it as well as iRacing. It’s one of the greatest technical marvels I’ve ever seen in software.