Tag: Motorsport

Alex Albon Returns To The F1 Grid As Williams Announces 2022 Driver Pairing

In the wake of rising star George Russell leaving the team, Williams Racing has announced its 2022 driver pairing. Returning to the grid after a year away is Alex Albon, who will be partnering with Nicholas Latifi.

At the end of 2020, Albon was replaced in Red Bull Racing by Sergio Perez and was relegated to the role of reserve and development driver. Albon, who started out in F1 at Red Bull’s junior team, Toro Rosso, was promoted to the senior team midway through the 2019 season. However, throughout 2020 he seemed to struggle to get to grips with the new car.

In the run-up to the announcement, Albon had become a firm favorite for the Williams seat. However, as the 25-year-old was contracted to Red Bull, Williams’ relationship with Mercedes had cast doubt on the signing. At the Dutch Grand Prix, Toto Wolff, Mercedes-AMG team principal, was on record stating that Red Bull would have to release the Thai driver to stand a chance of securing a Williams drive. Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s boss, fired back, accusing Mercedes of blocking a move for Albon.

Read: George Russell Joins Lewis Hamilton From 2022 Onwards In Long-Term Mercedes-AMG F1 Deal

In the end, it all worked out for Albon, who will return in Formula 1. However, according to F1.com, Red Bull will maintain a relationship with their former driver, which “includes future options.”

Commenting on the signing, Albon said: “When you take a year out of F1 it’s never certain you will make a return so I’m extremely thankful to Red Bull and Williams for believing in me and helping me on my journey back to the grid.”

Meanwhile, Latifi, who has been with the Williams team for four years and racing for three, is also excited to be sticking with the British team for at least another year: “The aim is to continue making little improvements so we can all take advantage of the opportunity we have next year. I’m super excited to work with next year’s car and it’s like a fresh start for everybody. I feel privileged to be part of that change.”

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Seven Years After Its Release, Mario Kart 8 Remains Nintendo’s Second-Best Selling Game

The staying power of Nintendo’s racing game franchise, Mario Kart, remains a marvel. I can still remember sitting on the ground, inches away from the TV, playing Mario Kart 64. Seven years later, Mario Kart remains a sales juggernaut.

Kotaku reports that even today, Nintendo’s sales charts are dominated by Mario Kart 8. While that, at first blush, might not sound surprising, it becomes more impressive when you learn that it was first released in 2014, seven years and a whole console ago.

In all, the game has sold 37 million copies, which has undoubtedly been helped by the second life Nintendo‘s latest console, the Switch, has given it. Despite that, though, Mario Kart 8 didn’t really receive a meaningful update for the new console beyond taking advantage of its generational improvements.

Read Also: Mario Kart 8 Gets Gameplay and Features Trailer Before End of Month Release

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And yet, the game continues to beat new Nintendo releases with dedicated followings of their own such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Golf: Super Rush, and others. Although New Pokemon Snap beat Mario Kart in its first full quarter of sales with 2 million sales, the karting game wasn’t far behind despite its age, with 1.7 million sales in the same period.

It seems, then, that Mario Kart 8 is a testament to the undying appeal of a well-designed racing game. Despite not having the fancy graphics or as many manufacturer tie-ins as other games like Forza and Gran Turismo, it just does racing well.

As Kotaku argues, Mario Kart also serves a niche in the Nintendo universe, as a more accessible game for inexperienced gamers than, say, Super Smash Bros., but a quicker and slicker gaming experience than Mario Party.

At the risk of turning this into a QOTD, how many of you out there have a copy of Mario Kart 8, and how many still play regularly with people who aren’t otherwise racing fans?

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NASCAR Denies Rumors That Next-Gen Car Failed Crash Tests And “Killed” Dummy Driver

NASCAR’s senior vice president of competition, Scott Miller, took to the NASCAR Radio show on Sirius XM this week to quell rumors that the recently-unveiled Next-Gen racecar has failed its safety tests in Talladega.

“There’s a lot of fiction out there,” Miller said. “We see absolutely nothing in the data that’s alarming, but we want to have a comprehensive report and I have no idea how all of the rumors started about — that it didn’t go well because it did go well.”

Indeed, tracking the origin of rumors is difficult, but as early as July 8 talk of potential safety issues with the Next-Gen car was on Twitter, with @LisaHmiel writing that they had “seen photos of a wrecked car and hearing rumors of sled tests killing the dummy, the car may be too stiff with too few crush zones.”

Read More: Next-Gen Chevy Camaro, Ford Mustang, And Toyota Camry Unveiled For NASCAR Cup Series

Following disgruntled comments from drivers, NASCAR sent out a memo last week that claimed that the “preliminary review of the dummy data from the test [next-gen crash] test indicates good and comparable performance when compared to other right frontal dummy data (non-NG).”

On NASCAR Radio, Miller said that “it’s not like because it’s taken time, it’s not good. That’s obviously how all the rumors get started so we might’ve – should’ve told everybody up front, you know, don’t expect a comprehensive report because it takes time.”

Although the rumors were certainly aided by the lack of information, comments from NASCAR Cup Series leader Denny Hamlin would suggest that the problems run deeper than a simple lack of information.

“These drivers, they need to get organized,” Hamlin said in an interview. “Their safety is at risk. They need to get organized, they need to have a voice, they need to have a seat at the table.”

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F1 Updates 2021 Calendar Yet Again As Turkey Returns And Yas Marina Gets A Facelift

While not as tumultuous as last year, the 2021 Formula 1 season has already proven to have its fair share of shake-ups (Mercedes trailing Red Bull, for example), and we’re only seven races in. Now, two more big changes have been announced this past week: Turkey will be returning to the calendar and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit will be getting a minor redesign.

Regarding the former, the Turkish Grand Prix had originally been scheduled for the weekend of June 11-13, but Coronavirus travel restrictions led to it being axed. Since then, a second race in Austria has filled its spot, but now it will rejoin the calendar to fill the gap left by the cancellation of the Singapore Grand Prix, which was originally set for the weekend of October 1-3.

See Also: F1 Confirms Sprint Qualifying For 2021, Will Debut At 3 Race Weekends During The Season

Last year at Turkey we got to see a shock pole position for Lance Stroll, Lewis Hamilton clinching his record-equaling seventh Drivers’ Championship, and all the accompanying action of a rainy race weekend. That creates some awfully big shoes to fill for this year’s return to Istanbul Park, but hopefully it will not disappoint.

“We are delighted to be coming back to Turkey to Intercity Istanbul Park circuit. We hope to see another fantastic race again in one of the best tracks in the world.” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1. “We want to thank the Intercity Istanbul Park management and Mr. Vural Ak for his personal efforts to make this event to happen. We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix.”

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As for the changes being made to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit, they aim to address some of the many complaints lodged over the years regarding the track’s inability to produce particularly exciting racing. The chicane and hairpin of turns 5, 6, and 7 have been reprofiled to become one hairpin coming off the first straight, and the 90-degree switchbacks of turns 11, 12, 13, and 14 have been turned into a single sweeping left-hander. Additionally, the radii of turns 17, 18, 19, and 20 have all been opened up to create a faster, more flowing section. Construction will take place over the summer, meaning the track should be ready for its season finale duties on December 10-12.

Read More: Formula 1 Announces Miami Grand Prix For 2022, Will Race At The Hard Rock Stadium Complex

Alpine driver Fernando Alonso, who crucially missed out on a third Drivers’ Championship there in 2010 with Ferrari, personally approved of the changes. “Yes, I saw the plan, and I think it’s good. At least they are trying and making sure we are in a position to have a better show,” the Spaniard said at the Red Bull Ring where he will race at this weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix.

Esteban Ocon Extends Contract With Alpine F1 Racing Until 2024

Frenchman Esteban Ocon will continue to race alongside two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso following the announcement that his contract with Alpine F1 has been extended to 2024.

The driver’s place in the team predates its current name, having joined in 2020 when it was known as Renault F1.

“I’m delighted to continue with the team beyond this year and it’s a fantastic feeling to secure my future with Alpine,” said Ocon. “We’ve been progressing well together since I joined the team and I aim to continue that journey going forward.”

Read Also: Alpine Unveils Special A110S For Alonso And Ocon With F1 Livery

The contract means that Ocon will be with the team as F1 transitions into a new era due to the implementation of massive regulations changes. The new rules are seen by many as an opportunity for changing the status quo and could be an chance for midfield teams like Alpine to move up the pecking order.

“[Ocon] is a strong asset for us now, and also going forward as we meet the challenge of the new regulations,” said Laurent Rossi, CEO of Alpine Cars. “We have every confidence in Esteban to help drive the team and the brand to the next level and meet its long-term objectives.”

Despite being just 24 years old, Ocon has a wealth of experience in F1, having made his race debut in 2016 with Manor F1 before moving to Force India for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. After losing his seat and becoming Mercedes‘ reserve driver in 2019, he rejoined F1 with Renault for the 2021 season, alongside Daniel Ricciardo.

Now, together with Alonso, Ocon will be instrumental in helping Alpine F1 achieve its goals of climbing the championship rankings and racing for wins.

“There are great challenges ahead of us, especially with the new regulations in 2022. I’m sure we can hit our targets by working hard together and continuing the story,” said Ocon. “I’m really looking forward to the next chapter but, for now, we’re very much focused on this season and taking each race as it comes.”

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2021 Formula 1 Driver Lineup: Everything You Need To Know

The 2020 Formula 1 season was unlike any other due to the COVID-19 pandemic that shook things up considerably and imposed calendar changes. Regardless, we got to see many interesting races, new winners and losers, and all sorts of shenanigans on and off the track.

For starters, there were were 2 new circuits (Mugello and Portimao), 3 returning circuits (Imola, Nurburgring and Turkey), 2 new race winners, 3 new podium finishers, and 1 new polesitter. McLaren had their best finish in the Constructors’ Championship since 2012, while Ferrari was a disaster and had their worst season since 1980. At the end, Mercedes came out on top in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in a dominant manner. It was all very wild and thrilling, and we can’t wait to see what next year has in store.

So, with the driver lineup for next year finalized, let’s see who’s racing with whom.

Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas

While Hamilton has not reached a deal yet for the 2021 season, it is almost certain he will stay with Mercedes alongside Bottas. The duo has proven to be a very consistent winning combination for the past few seasons, and Mercedes has no reason to change that.

Williams: George Russell and Nicholas Latifi

Having had his shot in a Mercedes car at the Sakhir Grand Prix, there were talks that Russell might get promoted up from Williams. But with Hamilton, in all likelihood, continuing his stay at Mercedes, and Bottas already locked into a contract, Russell is staying at Williams with his current teammate Nicholas Latifi.

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Alfa Romeo: Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovanazzi

This lineup has never really been up for much speculation, with both Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovanazzi confirmed for 2021 quite early on. The only question raised was talks of Räikkönen possibly leaving F1 due to his age, but that was later debunked.

Renault/Alpine: Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon

Daniel Ricciardo’s departure from Renault, which from 2021 will be rebranded as Alpine, has left the team with a hole in their lineup. Filling it is Fernando Alonso, who has returned from his F1 hiatus to continue his career. Having won his two world titles (in 2005 and 2006) with Renault, he should be in, more or less, familiar territory.

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McLaren: Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris

After finishing 3rd in this year’s Consructors’ Championship, McLaren looks to continue that success not only by switching to a Mercedes power unit, but also getting some more experience on the team. Seasoned driver Daniel Ricciardo is moving in from Renault and will be racing alongside Lando Norris for the 2021 season.

Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz

Having experienced their worst season in 40 years in Formula 1 as a constructor, Ferrari is certainly hoping things will get better next season. After six years with the Italian team, and with a dismal 2021 season, Sebastian Vettel will be replaced by Carlos Sainz who’s coming in from McLaren. He will be joining Charles Leclerc for the upcoming season.

Aston Martin: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll

After being entangled in the Mercedes parts-copying debacle and having a rather rocky start to the season, Racing Point, now Aston Martin, likely felt they needed some stability in their driver lineup. With Carlos Sainz taking his place at Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel is moving to Aston Martin alongside Lance Stroll. This left Sergio Pérez without a seat, but we’ll get to that later.

AlphaTauri: Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda

AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly has delivered a very solid performance this season, getting his first win at Monza and finishing a respectable 10th in the Drivers’ Championship. For those reasons, he will be staying with the team. Daniil Kvyat, on the other hand, will be leaving F1, and Yuki Tsunoda, who was promoted to AlphaTauri from Red Bull’s junior team in F2, will take his place.

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Haas: Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin

Haas, the only American team in Formula 1, has had very experienced drivers in their lineup with Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen. However, none of them will be racing for the team in 2021, as Haas has gone the opposite direction and signed rookies Mick Schumacher, son of Michael Schumacher, and Nikita Mazepin, both of whom are making the jump up to F1 from F2.

Read Also: Mick Schumacher, Son Of F1 Legend Michael Schumacher, Will Race For Haas In 2021

Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, Alex Albon as reserve

Last but not least, we have Red Bull. After much deliberation by the team, it has just been confirmed [this morning] that Sergio Pérez will be joining Max Verstappen for the 2021 season, and Alex Albon will now be a reserve driver.

Pérez was without a seat for quite some time, which was a big surprise given all he’s done this season. While both Albon and Pérez have gotten 2 podiums and finished 5 times in the top five, Pérez finished 4th in the Drivers’ Championship compared to Albon’s 7th, even after missing 2 races due to COVID-19. He also managed to secure his first F1 victory at the Sakhir Grand Prix, delivering an incredible last-to-first performance. In addition, if Constructors’ Championship finishing is taken into account, Pérez did all of this in a worse car. In the end, the Mexican finally got what most felt he rightfully deserved, and it should be very interesting to watch him and Verstappen battle it out against the likes of Mercedes next season – and, of course, between them…

What are your thoughts on the 2021 season? Let us know in the comments below.

Image credits Ferrari, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo

Honda To Quit Formula 1 At The End Of 2021 Season

Honda made the surprise announcement of its withdrawal from the Formula 1 championship as an engine supplier at the end of the 2021 season during a press conference in Tokyo this morning.

The Japanese carmaker is instead going to focus on the research and development of fuel-cell and EV technologies as part of their plan to realize carbon neutrality by 2050.

Read Also: Renault Set To Become Alpine F1 Team Starting Next Season

“Honda needs to funnel its corporate resources in research and development into the areas of future power unit and energy technologies, including fuel cell vehicle (FCV) and battery EV (BEV) technologies, which will be the core of carbon-free technologies,” the company said in a statement.

Honda will quit Formula 1 at the end of 2021, which is the final year of the motorsport’s current technical regulations.

It’s currently unclear which engine supplier is going to replace Honda at Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Alpha Tauri, leaving both teams with just three options: Mercedes-AMG, Ferrari, and Renault. However, both Mercedes and Ferrari are unlikely to strike a deal with Red Bull and Alpha Tauri, with Renault currently being the most probable supplier for the two teams.

“As a Team we understand how difficult it has been for Honda Motor Company to reach the decision to step back from Formula One at the end of the 2021 season,” said Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner. “Whilst we are disappointed not to continue our partnership with Honda, we are enormously proud of our joint success, delivering five wins and 15 podiums for both Red Bull-owned teams and we thank everyone at Honda for their extraordinary efforts and commitment.”

Honda returned to Formula 1 in 2015 with McLaren as an engine supplier. The combination wasn’t successful and their partnership ended after three race seasons, with Honda then supplying Alpha Tauri for a year before striking a deal with Red Bull as well.

McLaren Looking To Sell Up To 30 Percent Of Its Formula 1 Team

McLaren is thinking about to market a small risk of its Formula 1 team as it’s seeking for means to elevate resources to manage the hit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The British carmaker has actually been considering numerous alternatives for added funding over the recent months, including mortgaging its historic cars and truck collection and also its Woking-based Technology Center.

Selling a minority stake of McLaren Racing, that includes both the IndyCar and also F1 groups, will certainly also assist McLaren’s opportunities in testing the top 3 groups in the 2021 Formula 1 championship, which is when the $145 million spending plan cap will certainly be established.

Read Also: McLaren 720S Le Mans Special Edition Pays Tribute To F1 GTR’s 1995 Victory

Autosport is pricing quote an unnamed resource that confirms McLaren’s strategy to offer a risk in McLaren Racing of as much as 30 percent. The auto racing arm of McLaren has currently the exact same investors with the parent Group and also selling a risk will need some sort of restructuring.

The McLaren Group’s possession framework includes Bahrain’s Mumtalakat Holding Company with a 56 percent risk, Mansour Ojjeh with a 14 percent risk, Michael Latifi with a 10 percent stake and also the staying 20 percent split between minority shareholders.

A couple of weeks earlier, the company announced its plan to reduce about 1,200 jobs throughout all three company fields, with the racing team’s team to lose around 70 workers.

McLaren Group proceeds its look for additional funding, claiming that “is presently taking a look at a variety of potential funding options, protected and unprotected, of as much as ₤ 275 million ($341 million) comparable to strengthen its liquidity position.”

Daniel Ricciardo Signs With McLaren, Carlos Sainz Linked With Ferrari

After Sebastian Vettel’s shocking announcement that he will leave Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season, speculation began immediately as to which driver would replace him at the Scuderia, and what the domino effect of such a move might be.

Today we have official confirmation that Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo has signed a multi-year deal with McLaren, replacing Carlos Sainz who is set to leave the British outfit at the end of the year.

The 30-year old Ricciardo, still one of the most talented drivers on the grid, will team up with Lando Norris at McLaren (also confirmed for 2021). The two could become quite the dynamic duo, especially with their team set to switch from Renault power to Mercedes engines come 2021.

Read Also: Sebastian Vettel To Leave Ferrari At The End Of 2020 Formula 1 Season

“Signing Daniel is another step forward in our long-term plan and will bring an exciting new dimension to the team, alongside Lando. This is good news for our team, partners and of course our fans,” said McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown. “I also want to pay tribute to Carlos for the excellent job he has been doing for McLaren in helping our performance recovery plan. He is a real team player and we wish him well for his future beyond McLaren.”

Speaking of Sainz’s future, the Spanish driver has already been linked with Ferrari, with Autosport reporting that an official announcement is expected in the coming days, confirming Sainz as Charles Leclerc’s new teammate from 2021.

Where does this leave Vettel?

Without a seat, for now. The four-time title winner reportedly rejected an offer from McLaren, as he did not wish to find out whether or not the outfit’s partnership with Mercedes would be an immediate success.

If he’s hoping to land a competitive seat straight away, it seems there are just two landing spots worth considering. One would be to replace Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes (a long shot, as he might clash with Lewis Hamilton), or simply take Ricciardo’s spot at Renault.

Who would you like to see Vettel race for come 2021? Bare in mind that if he doesn’t find a suitable team, it’s actually possible he might retire – a shame, since he’s just 32 years old.

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