Charles Leclerc says Formula 1’s sprint qualifying format would be improved if Saturday’s race was separate from the grand prix.
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.
Hungary win unlikely for Ferrari despite Silverstone near-miss
2021 Hungarian Grand Prix
Posted onFerrari are unlikely to challenge Mercedes or Red Bull for victory at this weekend’s race in Hungary, according to its drivers.
Why Qatar could be a surprise addition to this year’s F1 calendar
News Focus
Posted onQatar has emerged as a surprise candidate to host F1’s 23rd race this year through the country’s connection to a car manufacturer the sport is courting.
Sprint qualifying “a bit strange” and has room for improvement – Binotto
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onFerrari team principal Mattia Binotto found Formula 1’s first sprint qualifying event last weekend “a bit strange” but will reserve judgement until the three-round trial of the new format is complete.
Alonso changing his approach to F1’s rules as “the referee is doing nothing”
2021 F1 season
Posted onFernando Alonso says Formula 1’s rules aren’t being enforced by the race director, and he will change his approach to racing as a result.
Why the man who said “motorsport is dead unless it’s electrified” re-committed Alfa Romeo to F1
RacingLines
Posted onAlfa Romeo CEO Jean-Phillipe Imparato believes “motorsport is dead unless it’s electrified”, so why is has his brand re-committed to Formula 1 instead of Formula E?
Sainz convinced he had pace to challenge for podium without British GP setbacks
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onCarlos Sainz Jnr is convinced he had the pace to finish on the podium in the British Grand Prix but for his two setbacks over the race weekend.
F1 will “definitely” consider more points for future sprint qualifying races
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onSprint qualifying races could award much more than three points to the winner if they return after 2021, Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn told RaceFans.
As red flags become more common, F1 should ban repairs during suspensions
News Focus
Posted onAs Formula 1 is using the red flag more often, permitting teams to repair their cars during suspensions is handing some a huge advantage.
Alonso, Leclerc and Bottas consider Hamilton-Verstappen crash a racing incident
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onThe controversial collision between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on the first lap of yesterday’s British Grand Prix was deemed a racing incident by several of their rivals.
FIA unmoved as Horner calls Mercedes’ lobbying of stewards “unacceptable”
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onRed Bull’s Christian Horner says the stewards should be “locked away” from team principals during races but FIA race director Michael Masi disagrees.
“A win is a win” says Wolff as Mercedes halt Red Bull’s victory run
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onMercedes team principal Toto Wolff defended Lewis Hamilton following his collision with Max Verstappen and subsequent victory in the British Grand Prix.
Red flag for Verstappen crash ‘saved Hamilton from retirement’
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onBritish Grand Prix race winner Lewis Hamilton would have had to retire had the race not been red-flagged following his collision with Max Verstappen, according to his team.
Horner furious with Hamilton’s ‘desperate mistake and menial punishment’
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onChristian Horner says he ‘does not know how Lewis Hamilton can take satisfaction’ from winning the British Grand Prix after colliding with Max Verstappen on the opening lap.
“We should avoid it but it happens” says Steiner after drivers collide
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onHaas team principal Guenther Steiner says the contact between his drivers in yesterday’s sprint qualifying race should have been avoided but isn’t blaming either for it.
Why a British Grand Prix full house is so important for Silverstone
News Focus
Posted onA 140,000-strong capacity crowd for the British Grand Prix will be a relief to Silverstone, but how many more races this year can expect full attendance?
Cap sprint qualifying at four rounds to prevent “too much randomness” – Wolff
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onMercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Formula 1’s sprint qualifying experiment, but says the format should be used at no more than four rounds.
Alonso happy to race “on the dark side” despite defending complaints
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onFernando Alonso says he has no concerns about being “on the dark side” after he was accused of moving under braking in Sprint Qualifying.
Minimum reaction times dropped from FIA clampdown on pit stops
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onThe FIA has dropped a contentious part of its plan to force Formula 1 teams to slow down their sub-two-second pit stops.
Perez “struggling the most” at Silverstone after spin ruins sprint qualifying run
2021 British Grand Prix
Posted onSergio Perez admitted he is struggling more at Silverstone than at other tracks after suffering a spin which left him last on the grid for tomorrow’s race.
