In the round-up: McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says the delays the team suffered on Thursday were not due to any failure on the car
In brief
McLaren’s delays in testing not due to car failure – Stella
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says that the delays the team suffered on Thursday were to avoid potential failures from occurring.
The team had the lowest mileage over the opening day of testing than any other team, covering fewer than 100 laps. However Stella, who has recently taken over as team principal of McLaren, said their day had gone “largely to plan”.
“Despite a few very minor issues, which are common at testing, we’ve got a lot of information and were able to complete a lot of test items,” Stella said.
“There were some short delays caused by the team wanting to reinforce the bodywork in some places in order to prevent a failure. These were preventative measures, but we thought they were useful to make so we could run safely and reliably for the remainder of the day. Overall, a positive day. We hope to continue like this for day two and three so we’re ready for the first race of the season.”
Drugovich describes sudden testing call up
Aston Martin reserve driver described how he was called up out of the blue to travel to Silverstone and prepare to step in for Lance Stroll during testing in Bahrain.
The reigning Formula 2 champion was summoned by the team to take over for Stroll in the three day test after Stroll injured his hand in a cycling accident.
“I was just walking in the centre of my city,” he explained. “I was in Italy. I was in Milan. Just relaxed.
“I got a call from [Aston Martin F1 CEO] Martin Whitmarsh saying that something had happened to Lance and I needed to go straight to the simulator. So I bought a flight for I think less than 12 hours later and I was already on a plane to the UK to do one day of simulator. So everything was quite interesting.”
IndyCar to run guayule tyres at all street races
IndyCar will race using alternate compound tyres made from guayule desert shrub at all five of its races around street circuits this season.
The series ran using Firestone tyres made with rubber derived from the shrub at the Nashville round last season. The shrub is farmed and used in the construction of sidewalls. This season, the material will be used in the alternate compound tyres for this season’s five street races.
“We are driving sustainability in every area of our business, and we’re thrilled to be advancing guayule and other sustainable practices in America’s premier open-wheel racing series,” said CEO of Bridgestone Americas, Paolo Ferrari. “Firestone has a tremendous legacy of innovation and performance in racing, which we will continue to build upon as we move into this new era of cleaner, safer and more sustainable mobility on and off the track.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
F1 Academy: Is Formula 1 finally taking women seriously? (BBC)
“I’ve been involved in motorsports since I was eight years old and the price just goes up and up the further you go. So it ends up making it quite hard to actually end up affording (to go) up and ends up being more money driven than talent driven. I think it’s something that needs to be addressed and it is being addressed. They’re providing opportunities to women that couldn’t afford going into the championships.”
F1 Arcade: New simulator experience in heart of London catches public imagination (Independent)
“The take up has been phenomenal, the space of competitive socialising is so hot right now.I’ve seen a much bigger pick up on this than anything I’ve done before. The fanbase is fever-pitch level of excitement at times. We typically like to be in profit in month one and we’d expect something similar here.”
AI Innovation Drives Mercedes F1 Team Partnership With Abu Dhabi-Based G42 (Forbes)
“The Mercedes-G42 partnership will also play a role in aiding talent development, training, and innovation programs. By identifying areas and opportunities for converting data into information, the Mercedes-G42 collaboration can create new knowledge for boosting efficiency, effectiveness, and performance across both enterprises. “
MotoGP ‘30%’ the size of Formula 1, but ‘real fans’ (Crash.net)
“MotoGP ‘30%’ the size of Formula 1, but ‘real fans’. MotoGP has a more consolidated fanbase than Formula One, in our opinion. That means a fan who really understands the sport – rider names, numbers, history, bike brands and at least some team achievements.On the other hand, if we look at Formula One, some of the newly built fanbase is there for the status.”
Campaign launched to safeguard the FIA’s Volunteers and Officials (FIA)
“We are indebted to our volunteers and officials in ensuring the safety of competitors and spectators at FIA events over the world over. They give their time freely and selflessly to ensure motor sport can take place in a safe and protected environment. Through the Keep Watch. Keep Safe. campaign we are turning the spotlight to the volunteers themselves to remind them that they have a duty to protect themselves as well as protecting others.”
Pre-season at Silverstone with Jenson Button, Logan Sargeant, Alex Albon & Esteban Ocon (The Fast and the Curious via Spotify)
“Team Principal Greg James has signed up sports presenter Betty Glover, broadcast journalist and lifelong F1 fanatic Christian Hewgill and a rolling cast of some of the biggest drivers in the world. It’s a podcast for die-hard fans as well as those who are curious to find out more about this fascinating world and the characters that inhabit it.”
CITY GUIDE: 10 things you didn’t know about Cape Town (Formula E)
“The promising combination of GEN3 car and open track layout (including bumpy braking zones, a tight chicane at Turns 4, 5 and 6 and a pacy, eye-of-the-needle section midway around the lap) means that there’s a significant chance to see Formula E’s fastest lap and fastest race records broken.”
McLaren Applied announces NASCAR trackside services partnership with SRI Performance (McLaren Applied)
“McLaren Applied has announced a new trackside services partnership with SRI Performance, one of North America’s largest motorsport distributors. The agreement will see a McLaren Applied presence at all 37 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2023. In partnership with the Trackside Services division of SRI Performance, the renowned British firm’s cutting-edge components will be available from SRI’s 53-foot parts hauler, located infield at all NASCAR Cup Series events.”
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On this day in motorsport
- 30 years ago today Lotus launched its 107B chassis at Claridges Hotel in London
