Latest news with #CarlosSainz
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Russell says Albon got off lightly after paying for lobster dinner
Alex Albon said his friend and Formula One rival George Russell chose the most expensive item on the menu. (EPA Images pic) BARCELONA : George Russell says Alex Albon still owes him because the tab for a lobster pasta dinner picked up by his friend and Formula One rival after the Monaco Grand Prix was not enough to make amends for the race. Mercedes driver Russell finished 11th last Sunday with Albon ninth and Williams teammate Carlos Sainz 10th, the pair using strategy to defend their scoring positions on an afternoon without overtaking. Russell, who had scored points in every round up to Monaco, said afterwards that Albon would be paying for dinner and the Thai obliged. 'He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu,' Albon told reporters hungry for more detail at the Spanish Grand Prix. 'He did, actually. It was the lobster pasta. 'Lobster pasta, in Monaco… Monaco is not cheap. On race weekends, they bump up the prices everywhere.' Albon said he chose a carbonara, admittedly with wagyu beef, and Russell skipped dessert. Asked whether it had been an expensive restaurant, Russell suggested Albon escaped lightly. 'Not expensive enough. So, the bill is definitely not even just yet,' he said.
New York Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
Spanish GP track breakdown: Laps at the Barcelona circuit gobble up F1 tires
The Spanish Grand Prix may be the home race for Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, but it's familiar territory for much of the grid as the teams often spend winter testing (and in some cases filming days) here at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Not that those filming days create too big an advantage. 'There's only a [set] amount of laps you can reach, and I think you get one or two push laps and that's it,' Sauber's Zhou Guanyu said in 2023. 'I'm sure everyone knows the track, and it's more about the details and how much confidence you feel on the high-speed tracks.' Advertisement The track changed ahead of the 2023 grand prix. One of the biggest was the axing of a chicane introduced in 2007, partly to slow down the racing for safety reasons. The track has returned (mostly) to its previous layout, with a pair of high-speed right-handers to lead the drivers back to the start/finish straight. But even with overtaking improving in 2023, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya's days look numbered. As things stand, Barcelona is at risk of being dropped from the Formula One calendar in 2026, when the Spanish Grand Prix moves to Madrid. As F1 prepares for a grueling run of five races in six weeks, here's what you need to know about a circuit that's known for eating up tires. Barcelona hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1992, and as part of the development program, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was constructed. The first cars to hit the track in 1991 were racing in the Spanish Touring Car Championship, and two weeks later, Formula One took it for a spin. Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna ended up in a drag race of sorts, going wheel-to-wheel down the straight. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya features a mix of low- and high-speed corners, such as the final sequence and Turn 3, a spot where teams can better understand the car's balance. It's a familiar track for the grid as drivers have competed, tested and done filming days in Spain, but ahead of the 2023 race, only two drivers had experience with the pair of high-speed final corners: Alonso (in a F1 race) and Lewis Hamilton (in testing). 'I do remember testing here in 2006, my first test here in a McLaren, and that was, I think, two or three or four days of the high-speed last corners. I remember I couldn't hold my head up,' Hamilton said in 2023. 'The team asked me, I think Gary Paffett was one of the test drivers, they were like, 'Gary uses the pad, do you want the pad?' I was like 'No no no, my neck's strong!' Advertisement 'I remember getting to Turn 1 and just straight away not being able to hold my head up. I'd come back in and say, 'No, no, my neck is good,' but I was in so much pain, struggling to sleep at night.' The chicane was initially introduced as a safety measure, but today's cars should be able to handle the faster turns, according to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella. 'At the time, I think Formula One cars were like go karts with a lot of power, a little bit of aerodynamic forces, and very, very light cars,' Stella said when discussing the cars of 20 years ago compared to 2023. 'They were 200 kilograms (441 pounds) lighter than these cars. In this generation of Formula One cars, the second-to-last corner is easily flat in all conditions. 'At the time, it was a challenging corner, but they are much quicker, even if they are 200 kilograms heavier, because of an enormous amount of downforce, much bigger tires and much more grip as well, and still quite powerful engines.' One other turn to keep an eye on is Turn 9, Campsa. It's a speedy right-hander to head onto the back straight, making it a trickier corner. Back during the 2008 grand prix, Heikki Kovalainen flew straight into the barriers. Compared to the recent run of Monaco and Montreal, the paddock is headed back to a more conventional circuit. 'It's a proper race track, and this is where a Formula One car comes alive,' Verstappen said last year. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is known for its high tire degradation, due to its high-speed nature and abrasive track surface. Even with the layout adjustments, it's safe to expect tire wear to remain an issue, especially on the left side. But that degradation issue opens the door to differing strategies, pace differences among the cars and potential overtaking opportunities. Advertisement Traditionally, the Spanish Grand Prix is a two-pit stop race, but it could shift to a three-stop plan depending on tire degradation. The race is being held a few weeks later than in 2023, which means the temperatures could be hotter and affect tire management. Heading into last year's race, some believed the removal of the slow-speed zone could facilitate better racing. Williams' Alex Albon pointed out how the cars stayed close through turns 10 and 12 in 2022 because of the racing lines, but when they hit the stretch from Turns 13-15, they fell into a single-file line. He felt the change could help with overtaking. Hamilton said, 'I hope that we're able to follow, with the cars we have, a bit better through the last two corners than we have (through) the little Mickey Mouse chicane.' Overtaking did improve last year, but is it enough to shake the criticism of it being a more processional race? Pirelli noted how qualifying is fairly important at this track in its preview: 'In no fewer than 24 races here, the pole sitter has gone on to be first past the chequered flag and adding to the importance of this statistic is that on four other occasions the driver who was quickest in qualifying retired from the race.' (Track video courtesy of EA Sports F1 — learn more about 'F1 25″ here.) (Lead image: Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images, David Ramos/Getty Imgaes; Design: Drew Jordan/The Athletic)
New York Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
After F1 driver criticism, what next for Monaco GP's two pit stop rule?
BARCELONA, Spain — Formula One officials will review the mandatory two pit stop rule enforced at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix despite concerns from drivers over the format. Following a lack of action in the 2024 race due to an early red flag, F1, the FIA and the 10 teams agreed to introduce two mandatory pit stops for this year's Monaco Grand Prix to try and improve the on-track spectacle. While the race had greater strategic variety, the top four drivers still finished where they qualified, and many drivers were left frustrated by rivals going deliberately slow at points to help their teammates by creating a gap to take a pit stop. Williams driver Carlos Sainz said drivers were effectively 'manipulating the race' through these tactics, while Mercedes' George Russell opted to cut a corner and take a penalty instead of giving a position back to Sainz's teammate, Alex Albon, after growing frustrated of being stuck behind his car. Advertisement The outcome of the two-stop rule in Monaco is set to be discussed at the next F1 Commission meeting, which includes representatives from all 10 teams plus F1 and its regulator, the FIA. This is scheduled to take place in July in the gap between the races at Silverstone and Spa. F1 paddock sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, have indicated to The Athletic that the general feeling is the two-stop rule did mark an improvement on previous races in Monaco where there were no additional regulations in place, despite the comments from the drivers. But there is an openness to review what happened in Monaco and consider any future steps with the format in a bid to try and aid the on-track spectacle, with one source suggesting that all options are on the table currently. The decision to trial two pit stops in Monaco was backed by the teams earlier this year in a bid to spice up the racing, with the regulations and implementation being detailed by F1's Sporting Advisory Committee prior to its approval. A return of the rule for 2026, or any refinements, would require the same backing from the teams once again. Sainz, who serves as a director for the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), said in a news conference on Thursday in Spain that he felt both F1 and the FIA needed to listen to the drivers about potential improvements for Monaco. 'I feel like F1 would benefit a lot in the decision-making process from including us drivers in this conversation,' Sainz said. 'I really believe the sport would benefit if, instead of maybe trying to stop or something, we all sit together in a table and with the ideas of drivers, we let them know to FOM and FIA and put together a solution that actually works.' One of the biggest issues in Monaco remains the size of the current generation of F1 cars, the largest in the sport's 75-year history, and the tight confines of the street circuit that makes overtaking difficult to achieve. Advertisement Although there will be a slight reduction in size with the new car design rules for 2026, drivers doubt it will make much of a difference to improve the situation. One suggestion put forward came from ex-F1 driver Alex Wurz, who is the chairman of the GPDA, which included a series of tweaks to the Monaco circuit to help encourage overtaking. This included repositioning the chicane exiting the tunnel to create a longer straight and a bigger braking zone, allowing for more overtaking attempts, plus a widening of the hairpin at the Fairmont Hotel. WURZdesign proposed Monaco Track upgrades. High level only, considering urban constraints of the city, but aiming to improve raceability. (Nouvelle Chicane idea indeed a larger civil engineering impact) — alex wurz (@alex_wurz) May 26, 2025 But Sainz said he thought these changes would only help '1-5 per cent of the issues that we have,' as drivers would still be able to lap slowly and not be overtaken. That issue is expected to be one of the main topics that emerges when teams come together to discuss Monaco given the frustration many felt with drivers backing off to help their teammates. 'That was not nice,' Haas driver Esteban Ocon told reporters on Thursday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. 'It opens up for such team orders that are honestly not very clean, and it's not a sport anymore if you start to do that. 'Yes, there's always been some team orders in F1, but this is not what we like to see. And to that extent, it's honestly too much.' Ocon added that he thought Russell's decision to cut the track and not give the place back to Albon was 'a bit dirty.' Russell explained on Thursday he was 'tired of seeing Alex drive like a grandma' and knew the drive-through penalty was coming. But he called it 'a bit ironic' that his race result actually improved by not giving the position back as he crossed the line 11th. Advertisement On the format itself, Russell said F1 was 'all grateful for the trial of two-stop,' but that it 'didn't change things as people predicted.' Monaco race winner Lando Norris said it remained a 'special' event in spite of the difficulty to overtake, and that if officials wanted to improve the spectacle, more focus should be placed on qualifying. 'I don't think you can really change the race apart from if you make the cars half the size of what they are now,' Norris said. 'I don't think it needs to change that much. It's never been anything else than what it has been now. 'I think people should just be happy with what it is.'
The Independent
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Carlos Sainz opens up on Red Bull F1 rejection after Ferrari axe
Carlos Sainz has opened up on Red Bull rejecting the chance to sign him last year after he was axed by Ferrari in favour of Lewis Hamilton. Spanish driver Sainz moved to Williams ahead of the 2025 season, having lost his F1 seat at Ferrari after four years, with Hamilton making the £50m-a-year move from Mercedes. Sainz opted for James Vowles' team over the likes of Alpine and Sauber, with other options at Mercedes and Red Bull failing to materialise. Now, the 30-year-old has admitted that Christian Horner did not take up the opportunity to sign him last year, with Sergio Perez eventually dropped in favour of Liam Lawson. Yuki Tsunoda replaced Lawson after two races of the new season. 'I spoke with Red Bull, but they didn't want me,' Sainz told the El Cafelito Podcast, from Chiringuito Inside. 'For various reasons, we couldn't reach an agreement. People who know about F1 probably know why Red Bull didn't want me. 'I have nothing against them or their decision-making.' Sainz was previously within the Red Bull family at the start of his career, partnering Max Verstappen at sister team Toro Rosso in 2015 and at the start of 2016. Yet the pair did not see eye to eye, with Verstappen promoted to the main Red Bull team and Sainz eventually moving to Renault. Carlos Sainz's father, former rally champion Carlos Sainz Snr, admits he would have liked to have seen his son up against four-time world champion Verstappen this year. 'I would have liked to see him next to Max in the Red Bull,' he told German outlet Kronen Zeitung. 'I'm sure he would have loved that challenge. Unfortunately, it did not happen. 'You could ask Carlos yourself, he might say no to you, but I think he would also like to be driving for Red Bull.' Now at Williams, Sainz is currently 12th in the championship standings, having scored points in his last four races. He competes at his home race, the Spanish Grand Prix, this weekend.
CNA
2 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Formula One statistics for the Spanish Grand Prix
(Corrects Sainz's team to Williams) Formula One statistics for the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, the ninth round of the 24-race championship: Lap distance: 4.657 km. Total distance: 307.236 km (66 laps) 2024 pole position: Lando Norris (Britain) McLaren One minute 11.383 seconds 2024 race winner: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull Start time: 1300 GMT (1500 local) Race lap record: Verstappen 1:16.330 (2023) SPAIN The high-downforce Circuit de Catalunya is hosting what will be the 55th world championship Spanish GP, and the last of a 'triple header' of three races on successive weekends. Lewis Hamilton has won the Spanish GP six times (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), a record he shares with Michael Schumacher. Verstappen has won four times (2016, 2022, 2023, 2024), and finished on the podium in the last seven Spanish Grands Prix, with Fernando Alonso winning twice (2006, 2013). Verstappen took his first F1 win in Spain. The winner at the Circuit de Catalunya, which has a mix of fast and slow corners with two long straights and a smooth surface, has started on pole 24 times in 34 races there. Overtaking is not easy: the only drivers to win in Barcelona and not start on the front row were Schumacher (third on the grid in 1996), Alonso (from fifth in 2013) and Verstappen (fourth in 2016). Alonso and Williams's Carlos Sainz are the only Spanish drivers in the race. Ferrari are the most successful team at the Circuit de Catalunya with eight wins. Since 1951, the Italian team have won 12 times in Spain. CHAMPIONSHIP McLaren's Oscar Piastri leads the drivers' championship by three points from team mate Norris. Verstappen is 22 points behind Norris. Leaders and champions McLaren are 172 points clear of Mercedes, with Red Bull four further back. RACE WINS Piastri has won four out of eight races, Verstappen and Norris two each. Seven-times world champion Hamilton has a record 105 career victories from 364 starts. Verstappen has won 65 grands prix and is third on the all-time list after Schumacher on 91. Piastri and Norris both have six career wins. POLE POSITION Piastri and Verstappen have both been on pole three times this season, Norris twice. Norris has started on the front row in four of the eight. Hamilton has a record 104 career poles, his most recent in Hungary in 2023. PODIUM Both McLaren drivers have finished on the podium seven times so far in 2025, Piastri seven times in a row. Leclerc's second place in Monaco was Ferrari's best result of the season so far. POINTS Piastri, Norris and Verstappen are now the only drivers to have scored in every race this season after Mercedes's George Russell finished 11th in Monaco. Piastri has scored for 34 races in a row, the third-longest scoring streak in F1 history. Aston Martin's double world champion Alonso has yet to open his account, his worst start to a season in 10 years. Two rookies have yet to score this season - Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine's Franco Colapinto, who replaced Jack Doohan after six races. (This story has been corrected to change Sainz's team to Williams in paragraph 8)
