Charles Leclerc’s qualifying crash last weekend was accidental, but Formula 1’s rules leave room for drivers to benefit from deliberate ‘mistakes’.
News Focus articles archive
The change which allowed McLaren and other F1 teams to run one-off liveries
2021 F1 season
Posted onFormula 1 teams were once forbidden from mixing up their liveries mid-season. What changed which allowed McLaren to run a special design in Monaco?
How successful was Red Bull’s recruitment drive at Mercedes?
News Focus
Posted onRaceFans spoke to Red Bull CEO Christian Horner about why Mercedes was the “obvious” place for it to hire staff for its new engine division.
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.
Why Wolff was wrong to tell Russell he should have backed down against Bottas
News Focus
Posted onMercedes CEO Toto Wolff said Williams driver George Russell shouldn’t have raced as hard as he did against one of his team’s cars.
How Netflix and social media helped F1 buck a global sports sponsorship slump
News Focus
Posted onNew sponsors are flocking to Formula 1 and its teams thanks to increased viewership through Netflix, social media and more.
Why Ferrari seeks success in WEC as well as F1 – and IndyCar is still on its radar
News Focus
Posted onWhat’s behind Ferrari’s decision to end its 50-year absence from top-level sports car racing – and why it hasn’t closed the door on a move into IndyCar.
How some teams voted in vain against rule change which cost low-rake cars “1s per lap”
News Focus
Posted onAston Martin CEO Otmar Szafnauer fumed over new F1 rules he reckons have cost the team up to a second per lap, but there’s no grounds for complaint over how they were introduced.
Why Agag’s repeated calls for a Formula 1-Formula E merger fail to persuade
News Focus
Posted onFormula E founder Alejandro Agag has called again for the series to look to a long-term merger with Formula 1. But is that really in the best interests of motorsport?
Analysis: Does serious intent lie behind the latest ‘Porsche F1 team’ rumours?
News Focus
Posted onPorsche is yet again tipped to be considering an entry into Formula 1. But are there any signs they’re serious about it this time?
First details of Red Bull’s new operation to run ex-Honda engines – and aim for works status in 2025
2021 F1 season
Posted onThe confirmation of F1’s engine freeze for 2022 fired the starting gun for Red Bull to begin building the new facility which will service their ex-Honda power units next year.
Why Formula 1 won’t give up on its Saturday sprint race plan
News Focus
Posted onAfter a series of rejections, F1 is making yet another attempt to introduce sprint races. Why are they so eager to add Saturday races to grand prix weekends?
F1 prepared to waive $200 million ‘anti-dilution’ fee new teams must pay
News Focus
Posted onOne potential entrant has welcomed comments by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali indicating the $200 million fee new teams must pay could be waived in certain cases.
Countries out, cities in: Why traditional F1 race names are being replaced
News Focus
Posted onFirst the ‘Mexico City’ and ‘Sao Paulo’ GPs, now the ‘Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna GP’ has been announced. Are traditional F1 race names going out of fashion?
Why Sauber’s coming deal with Ferrari may not keep Alfa Romeo name in F1
News Focus
Posted onThe emergence of a major new player in the automotive world means Sauber’s coming deal extension with Ferrari doesn’t necessarily guarantee its Alfa Romeo branding will remain.
Why hasn’t Hamilton signed a new Mercedes deal yet? There’s a few million reasons
News focus
Posted onLewis Hamilton needs a car and Mercedes need their champion – so why have negotiations over a new contract between the two dragged well into 2021?
Why Abiteboul may not be done with Formula 1 yet
News focus
Posted onCyril Abiteboul’s departure from Renault’s rebranded Alpine team was not widely expected – but don’t be surprised if he turns up in F1 again soon.