Formula 1’s decision to stay at the Red Bull Ring for a second race opened the door for Callum Ilott and Guanyu Zhou to gather some valuable grand prix practice mileage.
Paddock Diary articles archive
RaceFans regular diaries from the Formula 1 paddock.
Paddock Diary: Styrian Grand Prix part one
2021 Styrian Grand Prix
Posted onThe Formula 1 paddock has re-opened to the media in Austria, and is buzzing with the latest development in the tit-for-tat between Mercedes and Red Bull.
Paddock Diary: Monaco Grand Prix part two
2021 Monaco Grand Prix
Posted onIn the Monaco paddock Dieter Rencken caught up with Felipe Massa, Vitantonio Liuzzi and Mattia Binotto – though the Ferrari team principal endured a race to forget.
Paddock Diary: Monaco Grand Prix part one
2021 Monaco Grand Prix
Posted onThe paddock has opened up in Monaco and Dieter Rencken is taking full advantage, but there are growing concerns over later races on the F1 calendar.
Paddock Diary: Spanish Grand Prix part two
2021 Spanish Grand Prix
Posted onJust 1,000 fans were allowed through the gates for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, but more will follow in coming races. It can’t happen soon enough.
Paddock Diary: Spanish Grand Prix part one
2021 Spanish Grand Prix
Posted onAs Formula 1 arrives in Spain for its fourth round the paddock chatter surrounds Red Bull’s raid on Mercedes as it staffs up its new Powertrains division.
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.
Paddock Diary: Portuguese Grand Prix part one
2021 Portuguese Grand Prix
Posted onThe Portuguese Grand Prix is closed to fans and it looks like the next three races will be too, Dieter Rencken reports from the Algarve paddock.
Paddock Diary: Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix part two
2021 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Posted onDieter Rencken takes the opportunity to watch the action up close at Imola, while unearthing new details about F1’s Sprint Qualifying races and more.
Paddock Diary: Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix part one
2021 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Posted onWhy was Max Verstappen’s Red Bull taken for a “sightseeing tour” of Imola? And what was behind the ‘fibre line fault’ which disrupted coverage of practice? Dieter Rencken brings the latest from Imola.
Paddock Diary: Bahrain Grand Prix part two
2021 Bahrain Grand Prix
Posted onOne down, 22 to go: But will F1 hold all its races this year? And why hasn’t Sprint Qualifying been agreed yet? Dieter Rencken brings the inside line from Bahrain.
Paddock Diary: Bahrain Grand Prix part one
2021 Bahrain Grand Prix
Posted onF1 is back, and so is Fernando Alonso, who made an eyebrow-raising remark as the new season opened in Bahrain. Dieter Rencken brings more tales from the paddock.
Paddock Diary: Bahrain pre-season testing
Paddock Diary
Posted onDieter Rencken reports from Bahrain on F1’s first test session of the new season, and why its Sprint Qualifying plan comes with a million-dollar price tag.
Paddock Diary: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Posted onWould F1’s former management have made a success of its Covid-hit championship the way Chase Carey and company did? Dieter Rencken brings his final Paddock Diary of 2020.
Grosjean unable to wear his children’s helmet design as he misses final race
2020 Abu Dhabi GP F1 drivers' helmet designs
Posted onRomain Grosjean has revealed the helmet he would have worn in his final F1 race in Abu Dhabi this weekend, which he will miss due to injury. Other drivers are also sporting new lids.
Paddock Diary: Sakhir Grand Prix
2020 Sakhir Grand Prix
Posted onA week of huge news stories preceded the Sakhir Grand Prix, and the race weekend itself added yet more drama to the closing stages of 2020.
Paddock Diary: Bahrain Grand Prix
2020 Bahrain Grand Prix
Posted onRomain Grosjean’s shocking crash in Bahrain presents Formula 1 with difficult questions. But the media’s ability to scrutinise the sport remains compromised by Covid-19 restrictions.
Leclerc and Norris reveal special Bahrain GP helmets
2020 Bahrain Grand Prix F1 drivers' helmet designs
Posted onCharles Leclerc and Lando Norris have brought special helmet designs for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
Vettel reveals special Turkish GP helmet – Norris’s gets stuck at customs
2020 Turkish Grand Prix F1 drivers' helmet designs
Posted onLando Norris’s plans to wear a special helmet design have been scuppered for the second time this year. A hold-up at customs is to blame this time.
Paddock Diary: Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
2020 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
Posted onWhy wasn’t F1’s return to Imola named the San Marino Grand Prix? And do the media still need to be kept separate from the paddock? Dieter Rencken reports from the track.