In the round-up: Valtteri Bottas says his outing the Arctic Lapland Rally earlier this year should help him avoid making mistakes early in the season.
What they say
RaceFans asked Bottas, who crashed in the first qualifying session of last year, whether he intends to do more rallies in the future.
It was good fun, I really enjoyed the experience. It was kind of fun and kind of on-purpose to do something different and to drive. For me it was great training as well because over two days the rally last you need to concentrate, you can’t do any mistakes if you want to finish. That’s something normally that’s difficult to train and you might end up doing mistakes in winter testing or the first races if you haven’t been driving much.
So with the testing, with the racing, it was good to do some racing. Long-term it’s quite tricky to say. My mindset is in Formula 1 but I truly enjoyed it and immediately [after] the rally I said it’s not going to be my last one. So this I can guarantee but let’s take it day by day, season by season then we’ll see it. But never say never.
Quotes: Dieter Rencken
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
That on-stage selfie 📸
We count 18 drivers, good effort @AussieGrit 👍#F1Launch2019 #F1isBack @ausgrandprix pic.twitter.com/arfq2jhQqj
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 13, 2019
The first track walk of the season 👣
Wrighty headed out with Alex earlier this afternoon to inspect the track ahead of Race 1!
Right now though, it's time for #F1Launch2019#PoweredByHonda pic.twitter.com/mh1C3h3zMo
— Honda Racing F1 (@HondaRacingF1) March 13, 2019
ok but the f1 live right now is so awkward
— tar•ab (@tarabshah) March 13, 2019
It’s brilliant to see @F1 put on a launch event for the 2019 so the fans can get involved as much as possible. #F1 #F1Launch2019 #AusGP
— Alex Griffin (@alexjgriffin23) March 13, 2019
Another update from the F1 season-opener event. Turns out Danill Kvyat missed the boat….Not for the first time.
— Ben Hunt (@benjhunt) March 13, 2019
Why boo for? Always disappointed in the Australian (Ferrari?) fans for booing at Lewis. It happens come podium time too. #F1Launch2019 #F1 #AusGP
— Chrissie (@ChrissieHotspur) March 13, 2019
I think @f1 trying to make f1 drivers look like warriors and I think it’s working #F1Launch2019
— Nidal (@nidalou19) March 13, 2019
Another reason to hate the F1 other than the god awful racket, road closures and public transport clusterfuck; I've just had confetti blasted all over me as I walked through Fed Square to celebrate the grand prix
— Al Yo (@Al_Y0) March 13, 2019
A good #F1Launch2019 event! The boat arrival was mega, the presentations of the teams and drivers are fine! Lots of bad comments about the use of the Chemical Brothers track in the videos, the interviews don't tell us something new (except Seb's name for his new car perhaps). #F1
— Jan Sergeant (@Forix_Jan) March 13, 2019
Raikkonen on his (somewhat inebriated) return to the @FIA Gala last year: "I'm surprised how boring it has got over the years. They have a press conference, it's supposed to be fun for everybody but it's more boring than the race weekend." #F1
— Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) March 13, 2019
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
More motor racing links of interest:
Verstappen: ‘If you don’t believe you can do it, it’s better to stay home’ (The Guardian)
"He is in no doubt he could fight Hamilton or Vettel if he had the car. 'It would be stupid not to think like that,' he says. 'It would be better to stay home if you don’t believe you can do it.'"
Leclerc on his dying father's wish (BBC)
"He knew his father, Herve, was close to the end. So Charles told Herve that he had been guaranteed an F1 drive for 2018. Only he hadn't."
F1 against 'gimmicks' like reversed grids for '21 (Autosport)
"We're definitely not into gimmicks, we're into nurturing and developing the racing, and understanding what the fans enjoy, and seeing how we can give them more of what they enjoy with integrity."
The UK's Top 10 most famous athletes (ESPN)
Lewis Hamilton heads the list.
Formula 1 has to 'deliver' to keep Red Bull - Horner (Motorsport)
Bernie Ecclestone: "From what I understand, nobody has said the most important thing, which is this is what we want to pay you guys."
Make racing awesome again! (Stefan Johansson)
"This document is an effort to offer my views on the current state of Motorsport, and Formula One in particular."
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
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Comment of the day
@Geemac explains how F1 teams explain who’s quickest:
After testing: It’s too early to tell, let’s wait for Melbourne.
After Melbourne: It’s too early to tell, let’s see where we are after five races.
After five races: It’s too early to tell, let’s see where we are at mid-season.
After mid-season: It’s been a good season so far, but there is a long way to go so lets see closer to the end of the season.
With five races to go: It’s been a good season so far, but there is a long way to go.
Once the final race has ended: Team X has clearly been fastest since the car first ran in testing.
@Geemac
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Patrickl and Chapmankillie!
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On this day in F1
On this day in 1976 James Hunt won a thrilling Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. However the BBC famously cancelled its live coverage of the race, unwilling to broadcast pictures of the Durex logos on Alan Jones’s Surtees.
Jones forged his way into the lead early on, passing Gunnar Nilsson’s Lotus. He was in turn passed by Jody Scheckter, who had started from pole position, but the Tyrrell driver spun off.
Hunt moved his way towards the front of the pack, aided by championship rival Niki Lauda retiring his Ferrari and John Watson spinning off in his Penske. Halfway through the race Hunt dived down the inside of Jones, snatched the lead and was on course for his first victory at the wheel of a McLaren. Jones came in second and of Jacky Ickx in a Hesketh.
Hunt also took fastest lap but this earned no point; nor did any of the finishing positions, as this was a non-championship F1 race, one of a dwindling number held in the seventies and eighties until the last, at the same venue in 1983.
JC
14th March 2019, 0:49
While I appreciate the effort that Stefan Johansson has put into his document I find it contradictory, containing poorly conceived suggestions/ideas around topics that need a team of experts to unpick. It’s fanciful at best. He uses the phrase “for sure” right at the beginning, which sort of set the tone.
I look forward to Ross Brawn & team’s professional and researched design for 2021 and beyond.
socksolid (@socksolid)
14th March 2019, 15:41
Ross brawn’s design may be professional and well researched but it is also going to be watered down compromise based on what the mercedes and ferrari want.
RogerA
14th March 2019, 0:55
they say they are not looking at introducing gimmicks yet they just introduced points for fastest lap and have made the drs a lot more powerful for this year so the words do not match the actions.
i just do not trust them right now and until i see an f1 without any silly artificial gimmicks i shall continue to be sceptical about the 2021 future and liberty’s plans going forward.
as to the launch event, cool for those who are into it but i do not like these sorts of things. i am here for the track action and that’s it, all the pomp and circumstance surrounding it (especially under liberty) i really couldn’t care less about.
for the record not saying they should not do it, i am just saying it isn’t for me as it’s not what i’m here to see.
Manox (@marussi)
14th March 2019, 1:10
Rip Charlie
W-K (@w-k)
14th March 2019, 1:30
R.I.P. Charlie
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/47564762
petebaldwin (@)
14th March 2019, 1:55
Oh wow…. That’s awful news.
Thanks Charlie for the incredible effort and passion you gave to F1. You’ll be hugely missed. I can’t imagine how the drivers will feel having to sit through the 1st drivers briefing without you. :(
Phylyp (@phylyp)
14th March 2019, 2:12
Whoa, that is very sad, my commiserations to his family!
Mach1 (@mach1)
14th March 2019, 3:10
I never thought I’d miss drivers moaning to charlie…..
The season will certainly start under a cloud.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
14th March 2019, 1:36
Did anyone else find the launch pretty inane?
It just seemed to stumble along. The only saving grace was that it was held in Melbourne where thousands will turn out for any “sporting” event which probably made it look more successful that I felt it was.
Zim
14th March 2019, 7:08
Cringe-fest start to finish. Presenters didn’t know whether they were coming or going. Hamilton was scared of the crowd. Kvyat had no spacial awareness.
Raikkonen and Bottas were like, “We Finnish. Let’s get outta here.” and didn’t even stick around for the selfie that I’m sure is photoshopped because Webber spent about 10 minutes trying work it.
Up there with the USGP intros a couple of years ago.
Scalextric (@scalextric)
14th March 2019, 1:59
Going to be a sombre first race this year.
RIP Charlie.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th March 2019, 7:12
Puts quite a damper on having fun this weekend, doesn’t it. Godspeed Charlie
David BR (@david-br)
14th March 2019, 2:06
Very sad to hear about Charlie Whiting’s sudden death, it’s difficult to imagine a Formula 1 weekend without his presence. Condolences to his family.
Palindnilap (@palindnilap)
14th March 2019, 7:38
“Verstappen: ‘Stupid not to believe I can’t beat Hamilton and Vettel’” . Reading the article, I can confirm that there is one negation too many in that headline.
Aiii (@)
14th March 2019, 8:15
Yeah, it took me three reads to get there, heh.
wayne
14th March 2019, 8:35
so versap believes he cant beat vettel and hami…maybe he shud take his own advise and stay home😂
Von Smallhausen (@engelbertvonsmallhausen)
14th March 2019, 8:54
English?
Jere (@jerejj)
14th March 2019, 9:01
Regarding the COTD: So true, LOL.
I think it ‘Make racing great again’ would be a better way to put it.