Welcome to Thursday’s edition of the RaceFans round-up.
Comment of the day
Carlos Sainz Jnr may not have had an opportunity to move to Red Bull or Mercedes after losing his Ferrari drive, but @Dot_com reckons his enthusiasm for Williams is sincere:
Sure, he would rather be in a Ferrari or a Red Bull, nobody is denying that. But I do genuinely believe that once he started communicating with Williams, he got excited about what they’re doing and the prospect of a long term project to bring one of the most famous names in F1 back to the front. He’s also one of only four drivers ever to have driven for the historically ‘big three’ teams (Ferrari, McLaren and Williams) and I’m sure this means a lot to him on a personal level.
I do feel a little sorry for Carlos that he is not going to be fighting for wins this year, I think he’s one of the best current drivers. But Albon and Sainz is one of the most interesting and exciting line ups for me this year, and I’m so happy that Williams have a strong pairing for the first time in so many years.
'His announcement completes the team’s exciting line up, alongside previously confirmed Christian Mansell, as the duo and team look to build on their 2024 season in the sophomore season of the new spec Formula 2 car.'
'Lana, 13, found herself the victim of sabotage when she was heading for championship glory, while Skye, 14, - who has also been selected as part of the FIA’s Girls on Track programme - was told 'this is why women shouldn't race' while being wrongly accused of taking another driver out.'
'The only competitor that is derived from a road-legal hypercar, the Valkyrie is the first racing car built to the FIA’s ‘Hypercar’ regulations that will contest both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the US-based IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship (IMSA).'
'Alpine is counting on two talented crews with its A424s. Paul-Loup Chatin, Charles Milesi and Ferdinand Habsburg, a young and ambitious trio who showed great promise in 2024, will represent the number 35 entry. Mick Schumacher, Jules Gounon, promoted after a successful stint as a reserve driver, and Frederic Makowiecki, a new addition with invaluable experience, will share the number 36 sister car. Matthieu Vaxiviere, who has been with the team since 2022, will continue his adventure with Les Bleus as a reserve driver. All seven will contribute to the constant development of the A424.'
'Mercedes’ signing of an 'over the moon' Jeff-Hall means he is no longer in contention to join the Ferrari Driver Academy. Last October he contested its scouting world final, and a winner is still yet to be announced.'
It’s exciting to see Williams have their first top shelf adjacent driver since JPM and I do think Sainz has genuine excitement (a change of scenery is always exciting even if it’s not the one you were shooting for), but I don’t think Albon and Sainz are one of the most exciting pairings because I think Sainz will destroy Albon. I really love Alex. So, I hope I’m wrong, but my gut tells me he’s an average to above average driver who’s been mighty flattered by poor teammates. But he’s earned part of his reputation by being a majorly stabilizing force at Williams. His positivity, lack of entitlement and humanity have been critical in bringing joy and positivity to a team that since the acrimonious BMW partnership had been known as a place where many were unhappy and demotivated.
I’m glad you let us know 4 times in the first sentence that you’re excited. I’m not excited for Sainz but hope Albon steps it up this year, for Williams sake.
I had no idea, and I find it fascinating (to say the least) reading, and I am enjoying your (style of ) writing, too.
Michèle Mouton is one of my biggest heroes in the history of motorsport – yeah, I know … different discipline – but I think it kind of illustrates your point that I thought she was the only female person who had that kind of major success. And you’re right … it’s getting a bit weird …
Looking forward to reading more, and again: thank you!
Thanks for the comments. It is very strange in my view. A certain level of ignorance is to be expected, but I’ve written about Susanna for so long now, and emailed a LOT of people, and she barely gets a mention anywhere. We had the 60th kart anniversary this year for World Kart Championship. You’d think you’d hear about something? Nope. There was a Raganelli inspired kart there, but that was only because a British karter had it, and the the stream on fixed camera for demo runs, unbelievably.
Karting has a long history of female competitors to be honest. Sheila Van Damme had an all-female kart team with the Windmill Girls, and they’d actually drive around London in Phantom karts, well at least once or twice in early 60s. It was very common for partners/couples to share karts husband and wife as well.
I could list a whole number of top rivers. Lotta Helberg, Sophie Kumpen, Lorraine peck (2nd in Jnr Worlds, sadly died in a kart crash), Mary Hix, Carolyn Hoy, Val Nixson, Barbera Hepworth etc… Barbera, and this is purely speculative on my part, might be the first female race winner at a F1 Grand Prix Weekend event when she won the Superkarts at Adelaide one year. This excludes the female-only race at Monaco they used to do at Monaco in Renault 5s in the 70s. I could be wrong as I am sure there’s a list somewhere, but she’s the first one I can think of off the top of my head.
Anyway, I don’t really expect much from the BBC, because it’s the BBC at the end of the day and high quality researched stuff is hard to come by nowadays, but I can’t help but feel a whole swathe of history is ignored because of whatever sentiment wants to be portrayed today.
I just want to say thank you for covering this! Oddly enough that this pro-women side of things doesn’t get covered very well. It’s always how they never get a chance.
Telling a girl ‘this is why women shouldn’t race’ is such a ridiculous thing to say when pretty much all of motorsport’s biggest failures have been made by men. Crashing in the pitlane? Man. Crashing behind the safety car? Man. Crashing into a rival under the safety car? Man. Thinking the engine wouldn’t be as important as aero in 2014? Lots of men. Flipping a car off the track and into the forest? Man. Going for another lap with the front wing stuck under the car? Man. Indeed, many of these were champions in their day.
Anyway. Speaking of men doing silly things: Andrea Antonelli is not Kimi. Kimi is taken.
El Pollo Loco
6th February 2025, 1:51
It’s exciting to see Williams have their first top shelf adjacent driver since JPM and I do think Sainz has genuine excitement (a change of scenery is always exciting even if it’s not the one you were shooting for), but I don’t think Albon and Sainz are one of the most exciting pairings because I think Sainz will destroy Albon. I really love Alex. So, I hope I’m wrong, but my gut tells me he’s an average to above average driver who’s been mighty flattered by poor teammates. But he’s earned part of his reputation by being a majorly stabilizing force at Williams. His positivity, lack of entitlement and humanity have been critical in bringing joy and positivity to a team that since the acrimonious BMW partnership had been known as a place where many were unhappy and demotivated.
Jay
6th February 2025, 2:19
I’m glad you let us know 4 times in the first sentence that you’re excited. I’m not excited for Sainz but hope Albon steps it up this year, for Williams sake.
Alan Dove
6th February 2025, 8:26
Another article about girls racing karts and not one mention of the fact karting has had a female
World Champion
European Champion
British Cadet Champion
etc… etc…
Getting a bit weird now.
Adrian Hancox (@ahxshades)
6th February 2025, 9:33
Excellent – do you have links to any articles please?
Alan Dove
6th February 2025, 9:36
Susanne Raganelli – https://alandove.substack.com/p/the-greatest-female-race-driver-of
Cathy Muller – https://alandove.substack.com/p/the-story-of-cathy-mullers-1979-european
Claire Bogan was Cadet champ in 1989
Alan Dove
6th February 2025, 10:09
Susanna*
Constantijn Blondel
6th February 2025, 10:11
Alan,
thank you for those articles!!
I had no idea, and I find it fascinating (to say the least) reading, and I am enjoying your (style of ) writing, too.
Michèle Mouton is one of my biggest heroes in the history of motorsport – yeah, I know … different discipline – but I think it kind of illustrates your point that I thought she was the only female person who had that kind of major success. And you’re right … it’s getting a bit weird …
Looking forward to reading more, and again: thank you!
Alan Dove
6th February 2025, 11:31
Thanks for the comments. It is very strange in my view. A certain level of ignorance is to be expected, but I’ve written about Susanna for so long now, and emailed a LOT of people, and she barely gets a mention anywhere. We had the 60th kart anniversary this year for World Kart Championship. You’d think you’d hear about something? Nope. There was a Raganelli inspired kart there, but that was only because a British karter had it, and the the stream on fixed camera for demo runs, unbelievably.
Karting has a long history of female competitors to be honest. Sheila Van Damme had an all-female kart team with the Windmill Girls, and they’d actually drive around London in Phantom karts, well at least once or twice in early 60s. It was very common for partners/couples to share karts husband and wife as well.
I could list a whole number of top rivers. Lotta Helberg, Sophie Kumpen, Lorraine peck (2nd in Jnr Worlds, sadly died in a kart crash), Mary Hix, Carolyn Hoy, Val Nixson, Barbera Hepworth etc… Barbera, and this is purely speculative on my part, might be the first female race winner at a F1 Grand Prix Weekend event when she won the Superkarts at Adelaide one year. This excludes the female-only race at Monaco they used to do at Monaco in Renault 5s in the 70s. I could be wrong as I am sure there’s a list somewhere, but she’s the first one I can think of off the top of my head.
Anyway, I don’t really expect much from the BBC, because it’s the BBC at the end of the day and high quality researched stuff is hard to come by nowadays, but I can’t help but feel a whole swathe of history is ignored because of whatever sentiment wants to be portrayed today.
Jay
6th February 2025, 11:49
I just want to say thank you for covering this! Oddly enough that this pro-women side of things doesn’t get covered very well. It’s always how they never get a chance.
MichaelN
6th February 2025, 8:57
Telling a girl ‘this is why women shouldn’t race’ is such a ridiculous thing to say when pretty much all of motorsport’s biggest failures have been made by men. Crashing in the pitlane? Man. Crashing behind the safety car? Man. Crashing into a rival under the safety car? Man. Thinking the engine wouldn’t be as important as aero in 2014? Lots of men. Flipping a car off the track and into the forest? Man. Going for another lap with the front wing stuck under the car? Man. Indeed, many of these were champions in their day.
Anyway. Speaking of men doing silly things: Andrea Antonelli is not Kimi. Kimi is taken.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
6th February 2025, 10:00
Carlos is taken as well, by his dad.