Fernando Alonso says he must raise his game in qualifying as overtaking will be especially difficult at the next two circuits F1 visits.
Dieter Rencken's articles on RaceFans
Dieter Rencken has held full FIA Formula 1 media accreditation since 2000, during which period he has reported from over 300 grands prix, plus other categories such as World Rally Championship, MotoGP, World Endurance Championship, World RallyCross Championship and Formula E for a variety of media outlets. He joined racefans.net as special contributor in 2018. Dieter is recognised as an authority on global motorsport politics and economics. He writes the annual 'What F1 Teams Spend' and F1 earnings guides and his weekly columns provide behind-the-scenes analysis of the sport. In 2012 he first unpicked F1’s previously opaque financial and governance structures, and has been credited with bringing much-needed transparency to F1. He has 'scooped' several of the sport’s biggest news stories, including the Aston Martin/Red Bull Valkyrie project, Haas F1’s formation, Carlos Sainz Jnr's shock move to Toro Rosso, Fernando Alonso’s Daytona and Dakar entries, and, more recently, Canadian Lawrence Stroll’s acquisition of Force India (Racing Point) and his subsequent take-over of Aston Martin.
Not just a fans’ pipe dream: Why live F1 should return to free TV
RacingLines
Posted onFormula 1’s pay television deals put short-term profit before long-term popularity. It’s time for a rethink.
“Weird” new turn 10 at Catalunya may make passing harder, warns Norris
2021 Spanish Grand Prix
Posted onLando Norris is concerned the Circuit de Catalunya’s new turn 10 may make overtaking harder, and doubts removing the chicane would improve matters either.
How Hamilton’s one-shot overtakes handed him a tyre life advantage
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onLewis Hamilton’s ability to execute overtaking moves cleanly and quickly also gives him a tyre advantage, his team believe.
Race gains encourage Ricciardo after ‘unacceptable’ qualifying performance
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onDaniel Ricciardo says his recovery drive in the Portuguese Grand Prix helped him understand how to improve his performance in the McLaren.
We don’t know why we were so quick in Portugal, admits Alonso
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onFernando Alonso says it isn’t immediately obvious why Alpine enjoyed their most competitive weekend of the season so far in Portugal.
Sainz says top-five finish was possible after first no-score for Ferrari
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onCarlos Sainz Jnr admitted he was upset with his first point-less finish for Ferrari in a race where he believes a top five result was possible.
Mercedes admit they called Bottas in too early for final pit stop
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onMercedes CEO Toto Wolff admits the team ‘had a bit of a stupid moment’ by bringing Valtteri Bottas into the pits too early in their bid to score the fastest lap bonus point.
Norris “doing the best job I’ve done” as he leads midfield home again
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onLando Norris says his confidence is growing in his third year in Formula 1, and he feels better able to take advantage when faster rivals slip up.
Paddock Diary: Portuguese Grand Prix part two
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onF1 makes much of its apparent unity between the sport’s bosses and teams, but the latest behind-the-scenes dispute shows it’s not always the case.
Russell has 2019 flashbacks after “incredible struggle” at windy Algarve
2021 F1 season
Posted onGeorge Russell described his Portuguese Grand Prix as “an incredible struggle” after falling from 11th on the grid to finish 16th.
Red Bull complaints over “brutal” track limits calls cut no ice with FIA
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onFIA Formula 1 race director Michael Masi dismissed Red Bull’s complaints over track limits decisions during the Portuguese Grand Prix weekend.
Bottas has “no idea” why he couldn’t match Hamilton and Verstappen on medium tyres
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onA disappointed Valtteri Bottas was puzzled by the performance of his tyres again as he fell from pole position to finish third in the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Raikkonen was “checking something on the steering wheel” when he hit his team mate
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onKimi Raikkonen took full responsibility for the clash with team mate Antonio Giovinazzi, admitting he was changing a switch on his steering wheel.
Williams banking on top speed advantage to fight Aston Martin for points
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onWilliams hope their straight-line speed advantage will help George Russell’s bid for a points finish in today’s race.
Qualifying alongside Verstappen “absolutely the minimum” for Perez
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onSergio Perez said he is not as comfortable in his Red Bull as he was at Imola, after qualifying alongside team mate Max Verstappen for today’s race.
Ferrari contradict Wolff’s claim teams blocked sporting penalties for budget cap breaches
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onFerrari’s Mattia Binotto denied Mercedes’ Toto Wolff’s claim some Formula 1 teams blocked the introduction of sporting penalties for budget cap violations.
Horner wants more points for Sprint Qualifying, reverse grids and point for pole
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onRed Bull team principal Christian Horner wants Formula 1 to develop its new Sprint Qualifying race format further.
F1 needs secret ballots – but they won’t eradicate all opportunities for collusion
News Focus
Posted onA call to introduced secret voting was welcomed by Formula 1 team bosses, but it will only stop one opportunity for collusion.
Alonso confident for race despite puzzling slump to 13th in qualifying
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onFernando Alonso is optimistic about his chances in the race and says he doesn’t “care too much about the qualifying position” after taking 13th.
