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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
'Drastic change': Drivers weigh in on F1's 2026 regulations
F1 revealed its proposed regulation changes for 2026 on Thursday; in the Canadian GP paddock, the sport's best drivers reacted to the new rulebook.
'Drastic change': Drivers weigh in on F1's 2026 regulations
In the first 24 hours after they were announced, plans to overhaul Formula One's technical regulations in 2026 have received a mixed reception from drivers. Speaking during the media day for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, drivers raised questions over the performance of the proposed cars and their safety, although almost every answer was prefaced with the belief that it is too early to speak definitively on the impact the new regulations will have.
The 2026 rule book provides for a reduction in the weight and size of the cars, significant levels of active aero to reduce drag on the straights, and a push-to-pass-style energy boost that will replace the current drag reduction system (DRS) overtaking aid. The changes announced on Thursday have been written to work in tandem with F1's new engine rules, which will see 50% of the car's power output come from the electric part of the power unit and 50% come from the V6 turbo engine.
Following the announcement of the engine regulations in 2022, concerns were raised that the extra emphasis on electric power might result in cars running out of battery on the straights, forcing drivers to slow significantly and shift down a gear before braking zones. The new aerodynamic regulations have been written to allay those fears, with active aero on both the front and rear wings allowing for drag to be reduced by 55% -- significantly improving the efficiency of the car. But that reduction in drag has also come at the cost of downforce -- with a predicted 30% reduction, according to the FIA -- which in turn will reduce cornering speeds.
"I've spoken to some drivers who have driven it on the simulator -- I haven't -- but they said it's pretty slow," seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said in Montreal. "So we will see whether it's actually the right direction or not.
"But I think in terms of sustainability, particularly on the power unit side, I think that's a really bold step and I think it's going in the right direction. We've just got to make sure the cars are efficient, fast and a natural step forward, and actually racing is improved."
Williams driver Alex Albon also raised concerns about the overall speed of the cars in simulations, but said they would likely improve as the rules are tightened up and development under the new regulations kicks in.
"We've had our sim guys do some work, but myself I haven't done any work," he said. "I don't want to speak out of turn, but I think it's going to be very slow, extremely slow.
"I guess there is a lot of stuff being done around making sure the straight-line speeds are not tapering off at the end with all the MGU-K and whatnot being involved. I still think there needs to be some work done.
"But seeing some of the speed traces around the tracks, it's, yeah, erm, pretty slow, yep."
Haas driver Nico Hükenberg added: "It looks like a lot less downforce, especially high-speed corners. It will be quite a different scenario and characteristic to now.
"So, you know, there is going to be definitely a drastic change. And, you know, change is always ... you're not always so open to it, but we'll see what happens between now and in the one and a half years, if there might be some small adjustments or not with what's going on."
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
George Russell wins Austrian GP as Max Verstappen, Lando Norris collide
George Russell secured a victory against the odds at the Austrian Grand Prix after Max Verstappen and Lando Norris collided fighting for the lead.
The win is Russell's second in his career and Mercedes' first since his last victory at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished second, 1.9 seconds behind Russell, ahead of Carlos Sainz in third.
Russell said afterwards: "Incredible. It was a tough start at the beginning of the race to hold on to that P3, and I saw on the TV that Max and Lando were going hard and I knew Lando would want to get that race win ... but you've got to be there to pick up the pieces...
"I couldn't believe how close we were to Max and Lando -- only about 12-13 seconds behind and I knew there was a possibility, you're always dreaming and it's great for the team to be back on the top step. We've worked so hard and made so many strides since the start of the season.
"It's no secret with Red Bull and Max, and McLaren with Lando are still a little bit out in front. But we are always putting ourselves in that third place position in the last couple of races. If anything happens up front, we will then pick it up. What an exciting time for us," he added.
Verstappen dominated the first half of the race, building a lead of eight seconds ahead of his second pit stop, but a slow tyre change allowed Norris to close within three seconds as they returned to the track with 20 laps remaining.
The Red Bull driver was clearly struggling with the performance of his car on his final set of tyres and by Lap 59 of 71 the Verstappen and Norris were fighting wheel-to-wheel for the lead.
Over the next five laps, the battle increased in intensity, with Norris regularly radioing his team to complain about Verstappen's tactics in defending the lead.
On Lap 64, the seemingly inevitable happened as Norris attempted to go to the outside of Verstappen at Turn Three, only for the two cars to clash.
The contact resulted in a right rear puncture for Norris and a left rear puncture for Verstappen, meaning they both dropped down the order as they returned to the pits for repairs.
Flailing rubber on Norris' car tore the rear of his McLaren apart, scattering debris across the circuit and forcing him to retire when he returned to the pits, while Verstappen was able to rejoin the race in fifth place.
The stewards deemed Verstappen to blame for the collision and penalised him 10 seconds, although it did not impact his final finishing position.
Russell, who had been running a quiet race in third throughout, emerged as the race leader. Piastri passed Carlos Sainz for second place on Lap 65 and looked in contention for victory, but a virtual safety car to clear the debris left by Norris' McLaren meant the Australian lost out on a chance to pressure Russell in the final laps.
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ORD_Buckeye
Wrong glass, Sir.
Max is still a reckless piece of shit. He just had such a dominant car.the last two years that it didn't have to come out. Problem is that he won't change amd Red Bull won't make him change. It's up to F1 to do something that forces him to.change before he kills Lando like he almost killed Hamilton in 2021.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
F1 BRITISH GP: HAMILTON TAKES NINTH SILVERSTONE WIN AS MCLAREN FALTERS
Lewis Hamilton beat Max Verstappen to win at Silverstone after McLaren's strategy choices failed to pay off
Lewis Hamilton clinched his ninth British Grand Prix victory in a thrilling Silverstone race, prevailing in wet conditions to beat Formula 1 championship leader Max Verstappen to victory.
Hamilton pounced on Mercedes' initiative to switch to slicks after a period of rain across the middle phase of the race, which carted him above long-time leader Lando Norris as McLaren was slower to respond to the conditions.
Equipped with soft tyres, Hamilton sought to preserve his newly acquired lead over Norris, one that spanned less than three seconds when the Miami Grand Prix winner emerged from the pits on the same red-walled Pirellis.
Although Norris started to log a series of quick laps to get closer to the Mercedes' gearbox, it appeared that his pace was unsustainable; that ultimately proved true when Verstappen - who had been uncharacteristically slow throughout the race - came to the fore on the hard tyre.
Verstappen soon began to catch Norris, which helped Hamilton consolidate his lead as the two cars behind him began to stake their claim for second. Norris didn't have the tyres to fight Verstappen and conceded second in Stowe at the end of lap 48, leaving Hamilton four laps to keep the lead from a rapidly catching Red Bull.
The two had to overcome traffic, but neither lost much time; Hamilton began the final lap with over two seconds in hand, which proved to be enough to cement his first F1 victory since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
"I cannot stop crying!," Hamilton admitted after the race. "Since 2021, I just, everyday getting up trying to fight, to train, to put my mind to the task and work as hard as I can with this amazing team.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Brazilian Grand Prix Takeaways: Max Verstappen Steals Win With Heroic Drive in Rain
Starting in 17th after an unlucky qualifying and penalty, the defending world champion mastered the elements in São Paulo to silence talk of a title challenge.
www.si.com
Brazilian Grand Prix Takeaways: Max Verstappen Steals Win With Heroic Drive in Rain
Starting in 17th after an unlucky qualifying and penalty, the defending world champion mastered the elements in São Paulo to silence talk of a title challenge.
The true measure of a Formula One champion isn’t how they perform under ideal conditions or when behind the wheel of the best car on the grid. Rather, it’s how they manage adversity with their back against the wall and how they perform under the most difficult of circumstances.
That was the lesson that Max Verstappen reminded everyone in the sport of Sunday at a rainy and action-packed Brazilian Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who began the race in 17th, carved his way through the field as rain poured down to the track at Interlagos circuit, putting himself in position with an error-free opening stint. After a red flag allowed him a free tire change while in second place, he quickly seized the lead and finished his masterclass in style, extending his lead all the way out to 19.477 seconds by the checkered flag and solidifying his lead over Lando Norris in the drivers’ championship.
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Just sayin': The next F1 race is the Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix on Nov 21-23 (obviously in Las Vegas).
Round 22 of the Formula 1 season, the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend will take place between 21–23 November.
Officially the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2024, the 50-lap Grand Prix starts at 22:00 local time (UTC-8) on Saturday, 23 November, at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada, USA.
Located in the heart of Las Vegas, the 6.2km, 17-turn circuit winds its way past iconic locations with average speeds similar to Monza, otherwise known as F1’s ‘Temple of Speed’. A Saturday night street race under lights, with the buzz and party atmosphere the resort city is famous for, and incredible entertainment off-track to match the action on it, this is definitely one of the must-attend events of the Formula 1 calendar.
Formula 1: Grand Prix Sunday (11/23/24) - Live Stream - Watch ESPN
Watch the Formula 1: Grand Prix Sunday live from ESPN on Watch ESPN. Live stream on Saturday, November 23, 2024.
The race will actually start Sun Nov 24th at 1:00 AM EST
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
F1 drivers unhappy with marijuana smell in Vegas
Formula 1 drivers complained this week about the smell of marijuana as they prepared for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with one even joking they could fail drug tests.
Las Vegas GP: F1 drivers complain about marijuana smell
Formula 1 drivers complained this week about the smell of marijuana as they prepared for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with one even joking they could fail drug tests.Marijuana is legal in Nevada and the odor can often be prevalent among those attending sporting events.
"Yes, there was a smell of weed," Williams driver Franco Colapinto said. "If they dope [test] the drivers now, I think we'll all test positive. When we all test positive, there will be a mess."
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Verstappen wins fourth F1 title in Las Vegas
Max Verstappen won his fourth straight championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix as he finished fifth, ahead of title rival Lando Norris.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins fourth F1 world title in Las Vegas
Max Verstappen won his fourth straight championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix as he finished fifth, ahead of title rival Lando Norris on Saturday.
The result gave Verstappen, 27, an unassailable lead of 63 points over McLaren's Norris with two races to spare.
Mercedes won the race with a one-two led by George Russell.
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Verstappen now goes into 2025 looking to emulate Schumacher by winning five straight championships.
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I cannot stand smelling it everywhere I go or while on the road coming from the vehicle in front of me.F1 drivers unhappy with marijuana smell in Vegas
Formula 1 drivers complained this week about the smell of marijuana as they prepared for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with one even joking they could fail drug tests.www.espn.com
Las Vegas GP: F1 drivers complain about marijuana smell
Formula 1 drivers complained this week about the smell of marijuana as they prepared for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, with one even joking they could fail drug tests.
Marijuana is legal in Nevada and the odor can often be prevalent among those attending sporting events.
"Yes, there was a smell of weed," Williams driver Franco Colapinto said. "If they dope [test] the drivers now, I think we'll all test positive. When we all test positive, there will be a mess."
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Cadillac vs. the world: How GM got its place in F1 for 2026
General Motors convinced F1 that an 11th team was worth its while, now the U.S. will have its first truly American team on the grid in 50 years.
Cadillac vs. the world: How GM got its place in F1 for 2026
Mario Andretti will serve as a director for Cadillac's F1 entry beginning in 2026.
The Americans are coming. General Motors is going Formula 1 racing, the series announcing on Monday that it has agreed a deal in principle that will see the automaker from Detroit join the grid beginning in 2026.
It marks a seminal moment in American racing. By the time GM's Cadillac becomes F1's 11th team, it will be 50 years since the last U.S.-based outfits competed in the series.
There is a long way to go before that, though, and a lot can change in little more than 12 months. In fact, it was only this year that F1 had rejected GM's initial efforts to join the sport -- then fronted by Andretti Global.
So what has changed to get Cadillac into the paddock? And what does its looming debut mean for American racing? ESPN dissects General Motors' arrival in F1 with views from inside the paddock and from the epicenter of U.S. racing.
How GM turned F1's 'no' into a 'yes'
General Motors joining the grid in 2026 represents a huge and unexpected U-turn from Formula 1 over the elusive 11th grid slot, so what changed?The wording of Monday's announcement -- and specifically what wasn't mentioned -- was key. Originally packaged as an Andretti bid supported by GM, the Andretti name was not present in F1's Cadillac news release and has effectively been sidelined in favour of GM taking the reins completely. Much of that is down to events that have taken place behind the scenes.
Holding company TWG Global taking control of Andretti Global in September saw Michael Andretti, who had angered F1 and its teams with his repeated public criticisms, shuffled away from a leadership role and out of the orbit of the F1 bid. That started a chain reaction of events that made the bid much more favourable to F1, with TWG able to persuade GM to take the reins of the project. GM is now going all-in with its Cadillac brand rather than simply being a technical partner of a new entrant, committing to eventually building, running and supplying its own engines. That satisfied one of the key criteria F1 had been looking for in an 11th team.
The reasoning behind January's decision to block Andretti-GM for 2026 centred around value and competitiveness. F1 doubted Andretti joining in 2025 or 2026, with what was ostensibly a technical partnership with GM, provided enough value to existing stakeholders to persuade them to give up a slice of the sport's booming revenues to another entrant. With a new team likely to struggle in the short term, the Andretti name was not seen as a big enough draw to offset the expected growing pains.
Significant financial backing from General Motors and the introduction of a brand as strong as Cadillac is as much as the sport could ask for. It's a similar case with Audi, which is in the process of taking over the Sauber team for 2026: the German manufacturer has committed completely to the project, including supplying its own engines. Even if Cadillac is slow to become competitive -- which is the paddock consensus about Audi's chances, too -- having that name in the sport is a positive for all involved, especially when it comes with that kind of financial commitment to the project.
By the end of the decade, Cadillac will have full works status. In the short term, it will rely on a customer engine deal with an existing manufacturer, the identity of which remains to be seen, but Formula 1 obviously feels confident the team that has been assembled so far can compete at an acceptable level by 2026.
It will join the hub of F1 teams that work out of the UK, primarily from a factory near the Silverstone circuit, although it's also using Toyota's state-of-the-art wind tunnel facility in Cologne, Germany, and GM's racing arm also has three facilities in the U.S. it might be able to lean on. Expect a slew of hires in the coming months; Andretti-Cadillac had already brought in Pat Symonds as executive engineering consultant and former Renault man Rob White as chief operating officer.
As for Andretti, much of that team's work and legacy will remain. Mario Andretti, America's last F1 champion and the father of company boss Michael, will join the Cadillac team as a director, as a nod to what the family has done to get another American team on the grid. Andretti Global deserves credit for the work done behind the scenes to bring GM to the table in the first place.
There has been no news of drivers yet, but both Andretti and GM previously indicated a willingness to start racing with at least one American behind the wheel. Although big-name drivers might be hard to come by for Cadillac's first season, the presence of an 11th team in 2026 will present a completely left-field option for a lot of experienced drivers who might otherwise have found themselves on the outs.
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