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France 24
2 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
Piastri outpaces Norris in 'mega' McLaren to grab Spanish GP pole
The 24-year-old Australian, who leads Norris by three points in the drivers' championship, clocked a final lap in one minute 11.546 seconds to beat Norris by two-tenths of a second, the biggest winning pole margin this year. It brought him his fourth pole this season and fourth of his career and set up the two McLaren men as clear favourites for Sunday's race — 31 of the 34 Spanish Grands Prix to date having been won by a car starting on the front row. "It's been a good weekend so far. It didn't start off in the best way. We were struggling a little last night, but we found some pace and the car has been mega," said Piastri. "I feel like I was able to put in some fast laps as well so thank you to the team for all the hard work. This was a pretty miserable scene 12 months ago so to have turned it around in the best way is a great result." Piastri was 10th on the grid last year after having a qualifying lap deleted when he ran off into a gravel trap and finished seventh in the race. "Oscar drove very well," said Norris, who pushed hard to take pole in the final qualifying session. "I think the pace is definitely there, but for just a couple of little mistakes. Oscar has been driving very well all weekend. It's a good result for the team and an interesting start for tomorrow. "Hopefully, it's an easy race for me. It's a long run down into turn one, which is normally interesting. We've got a lot of quick guys behind us and we won't count them out. It's a good result for today." Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes. 'Tough to beat' Charles Leclerc was seventh in the second Ferrari ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly, RB's impressive rookie Isack Hadjar and local hero two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin. "I think we were lacking all weekend compared to McLaren, but I think we executed well and I think that third position is where we should be," said Verstappen. "I think it's quite close behind as well so it's fun around here squeezing everything out the car. "I will try my best. They will be tough to beat but we will see what we can do." The McLaren duo went into a gripping qualifying having also topped all three practice sessions. After an early fast lap from Aston Martin's Lance Stroll in Q1, the big guns arrived in torrid heat with a track temperature of 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), and the air at 29, punishing conditions for tyres on a high-degradation track. The session was briefly stalled when Alpine's Franco Colapinto stopped in the pitlane and, after a delay, forced others to undertake him leading to a frantic final two minutes. Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull was eliminated in 20th and last place along with Colapinto, Williams' Carlos Sainz – his worst qualifying result at his home event – in 18th, Esteban Ocon of Haas and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg. For Tsunoda, it was a major setback as he sought to solve Red Bull's dilemma in searching for a partner to push Verstappen. Out in Q2 went Alex Albon of Williams, Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto, Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson, Stroll and Oliver Bearman in his Haas, leaving the way clear for McLaren's to sparkle in the Spanish sunshine.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lewis Hamilton labels talk of strained relationship with Ferrari engineer as ‘BS'
Lewis Hamilton had some tense exchanges with his team during the Monaco and Miami Grands Prix. Lewis Hamilton had some tense exchanges with his team during the Monaco and Miami Grands Prix. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA Lewis Hamilton has dismissed speculation about what has been interpreted as a fractious relationship with Riccardo Adami, his race engineer at Ferrari, describing it as 'BS' and insisting the pair enjoy a healthy working relationship. The issue has previously been raised several times this season as Hamilton develops his dynamic with Adami and came to the fore once more because of some testy exchanges at the last round in Monaco, including when Hamilton asked his engineer at the end of the race: 'Are you upset with me or something?' To which he appeared to receive no reply. Advertisement Speaking before this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, Hamilton was insistent that the pair retained a strong relationship. Related: F1 team heads call for Monaco to 'move with the times' and make track change 'There's a lot of speculation, most of it is BS,' he said. 'Ultimately, we have a great relationship. He's been amazing to work with, he's a great guy, working so hard. We both are. 'We don't always get it right every weekend. Do we have disagreements? Like everyone does in relationships but we work through them. We're both in it together. We both want to win a championship together. We're both working towards lifting the team up.' Advertisement After the race in Monaco the Ferrari team principal, Fred Vasseur, similarly dismissed it as the pair learning to work with one another, combined with some radio issues specific to Monte Carlo. Hamilton finished fifth, well behind his teammate Charles Leclerc who was second. During the race there was some terse communication between the British driver and Adami, with Hamilton believing he was not receiving enough information from his race engineer about the gaps on track. It followed Hamilton's rather dismissive query to the team, suggesting they were having a tea break rather than making strategic decisions at the Miami round. Expectations were enormously high when Hamilton joined Ferrari but their car is not up to scratch and every aspect of his relationship with the team has come under scrutiny. He has been clear he expects himself and the Scuderia to do better but was unequivocal his relationship with Adami was not an issue and the focus on it was an irrelevance. Advertisement 'It's just all noise and we don't really pay any attention to it,' Hamilton said. 'It can continue if you want but it doesn't make any difference to the job that we're trying to do. 'Our relationship is great. And there are no problems. We are constantly learning more and more about each other and adapting the way we want to work. He has worked with lots of different drivers before. But we don't have any problems whatsoever.' Beyond Ferrari, the topic set to dominate the weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is the clampdown on flexing front wings that comes into effect in Spain. The technical directive from the FIA is intended to end any debate over whether teams have been running front wings that flex too much and gain an advantage while under load with, in this regard, fingers being pointed at title leaders McLaren. Advertisement The rule has been brought in for the ninth round of the season to give all the teams time to develop wings that would pass the new load-bearing tests this weekend, with speculation that it might cause something of a reset in the pecking order. However, Lando Norris, who won in Monaco, maintained it would not make a difference to McLaren. 'No, not at all,' he said. 'There are tweaks here and there, but nothing that will change how we have to do it.' After the FIA imposed an updated test on flexing rear wings at the Chinese GP earlier this season, which had no impact on McLarens's pace advantage, the team are bullish this too will not usurp them from the top spot.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Max Verstappen to seal F1 future after Spanish GP with key contract development
Aston Martin and Mercedes have been strongly linked with Max Verstappen but the clause in his contract which may allow him to leave Red Bull at the end of this year will soon expire Max Verstappen is set to remain at Red Bull in 2026 with the contract clause causing so much speculation over his future soon to expire. The Dutchman signed his current contract at the start of 2022, after his first title win. Now aged 27 and a four-time Formula 1 champion, Verstappen still has three more seasons on that Red Bull deal after this one. But that hasn't stopped constant speculation over his future thanks to the widely-known existence of a crucial performance clause. It would allow Verstappen to leave if certain conditions were not met by the team. Such clauses are common as drivers want to ensure they can continue to drive competitive machinery and, with Red Bull no longer the omnipotent force in F1, speculation has suggested he could quit for Mercedes or Aston Martin. But it is now more likely than ever that the Dutchman will remain with Red Bull for at least another year. That is because the contract clause which could have allowed him to consider his options is set to expire. Sign up to our free weekly F1 newsletter, Pit Lane Chronicle, by entering your email address below so that every new edition lands straight in your inbox! As reported by Autosport, it is understood that the clause which would allow Verstappen to walk away from his Red Bull contract based on performance is set to expire at the end of June. So as long as he remains in the top four in the drivers' standings until then, he will not be able to break his contract this year. Verstappen is currently third in the championship on 136 points. Crucially, though, he is 57 clear of Charles Leclerc who currently occupies fifth place, making it highly unlikely that he will drop out of the top four over the next few weeks. There are three events to be held between now and the expiry of that contract clause. With a maximum of 50 points up for grabs across the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix, it means Verstappen's future could be sealed after this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. If Verstappen remains 50 points or more clear of Leclerc – or whoever is in fifth place – by the conclusion of the action in Barcelona, then his future will be effectively sealed. Even if the gap is slightly narrower then, realistically, the four-time champion would need to finish outside the points in both the Canada and Austria races for there to be any chance of him slipping out of the top four by the end of June. Meanwhile, Verstappen hinted at where his long-term future may lie away from F1 this week by confirming he had successfully obtained a Platinum driver rating from the FIA, which allows him to compete in GT or sports car racing. "I applied," he told reporters in Barcelona, weeks after he was spotted testing a Ferrari GT car on the fearsome Nurburgring Nordschleife. "I have to do it at some point, so I better got it out of the way. I mean, it's super easy, it's just a form that you fill in and you pay and a week later you have the answer. I was secretly hoping for a Bronze rating; I might appeal the Platinum and get Silver at least."
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Verstappen opens door to F1 exit to race in other series with application to FIA
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is interested in competing in other series amid uncertainty over his future with Red Bull and he's now moved closer to making it a reality Max Verstappen has confirmed that he's taken steps towards racing outside of Formula 1. Verstappen, 27, has previously hinted at following in his dad Jos' footsteps by competing in other series. That's despite the Dutchman being the dominant force in F1, winning the last four Drivers' Championships with Red Bull. But amid uncertainty over his contract situation and having recently become a father, his long-term future in the sport has come into the spotlight. Now Verstappen has opened the door to competing in other racing events such as the World Endurance Championship and GT3. That's because Verstappen has successfully applied for a driver categorisation from the FIA. As an active F1 driver, the Red Bull star was guaranteed at least a Platinum rating. Driver categorisation is crucial for any driver who wants to compete in GT or sports car racing. Verstappen confirmed the news of his categorisation ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. "I applied," he told media in Barcelona. "I have to do it at some point, so I better got it out of the way. I mean, it's super easy, it's just a form that you fill in and you pay and a week later you have the answer. I was secretly hoping for a Bronze rating; I might appeal the Platinum and get Silver at least!" On the weekend between the this month's Grands Prix in Miami and Imola, Verstappen drove a Ferrari 488 GT3 at the Nurburgring Nordschleife during an open practice day. The 27-year-old claims that he recorded a time below the existing lap record, with this year's Nurburgring 24 Hours event taking place between the Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix in June. That could be convenient for Verstappen, although he'd need more than his Platinum rating. Drivers also must obtain a 'Ring Permit' which comes from racing around Nordschleife in other competitions within a specific time period. For now, though, his focus is on victory in Spain - or at least maximising Red Bull's car. Currently third in the Drivers' Championship behind McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, Verstappen is pessimistic about his chances of retaining the title for a fifth year, as his previously dominant team continue to struggle for consistency this year. "For me, it doesn't really feel like a fight, to be honest," he admitted. "I just try to do my best, have a bit of fun out there. It's not like this season up until this point is going to be in my memory forever." Verstappen, who's won every Spanish Grand Prix since 2022, later added: "It's not that I don't believe. I just walk up to the track and I do the best I can every single weekend. I don't need to believe in it fully or not. "I know that every time that I go out there, I do the best I can. If that's with the car that is capable of P5, I will put it P5. If it's capable of winning, I'll win. "I just approach it very simple, which also doesn't eat up a lot of energy as well. So I have a lot of free time outside of that. It's not like trying to grab [the championship]. I mean, you can try and grab it, but if you don't have the car, there's nothing to grab."
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Kuwait Times
Verstappen hoping rule change can propel his title charge
Strict wing flexibility tests could threaten McLaren duo's lead BARCELONA: Max Verstappen returns to the scene of his maiden Formula One victory chasing his fourth consecutive Spanish success this weekend with his Red Bull team hoping a rule change will end McLaren's supremacy. The four-time world champion triumphed on his Red Bull debut as a teenager at the Circuit de Catalunya in the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix and will hope another win, his fifth in Spain, will propel him into the thick of the title race. The 27-year-old Dutchman is 25 points adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri and 22 behind his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, who their rivals believe could be hampered by the introduction of strict front wing flexibility tests. 'It's a significant change,' said Red Bull boss Christian Horner of the requirement for much stiffer front wings. 'There will be some effect and, of course, the teams have anticipated this so it may well be neutral. Or it may affect tire degradation. It doesn't make life easier!' McLaren's excellent aerodynamic car, designed to enable their drivers to manage tire-wear and deliver fast times, may be more hit by the tightening up of the rule than others. 'But we don't know how it will affect them,' added Horner. Formula One announced the clampdown on so-called 'flexi wings' in January. 'Game-changer' The change left the teams with time to prepare and may have a dramatic effect on performance and the outcome of the season. 'With 16 races left, there is a long way to go,' said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. 'The team is pushing to find performance and this weekend's updated front wing technical directive will provide another level of intrigue.' After a dismal pointless weekend in Monte Carlo, Wolff expects an upturn from his 'silver arrows' drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari's Fred Vasseur said: 'This can be a game-changer for everybody because we don't know the impact on every team.' McLaren have won six out of the eight races this year and sit 172 points clear of Mercedes in the teams' title race, but know the 'mixed' Spanish track, where there are as many slow corners as fast, may be a challenge for their car. But after strong results everywhere this season, except on the high-speed tracks at Suzuka and Imola where Verstappen won for Red Bull, they will be under scrutiny and pressure. As will Ferrari after an inconsistent and mostly disappointing start to the season as seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton continues to seek his first win with the team at a venue where he has won six times – a record he shares with Michael Schumacher. Two Spanish drivers will take part this weekend: Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, due to start his 410th race at the age of 43, and Carlos Sainz, 30, of Williams, set for his 215th race. Their presence has maintained the sport's relatively-new modern popularity and the growth of big crowds at Spanish Grands Prix. Furthermore, Sainz, born in Madrid, is an ambassador for a future race near the capital, from 2027, while Alonso fulfills a similar role for the Catalan track, which runs out of contract next year – a conflict that enables them to reflect Spain's most classic and enduring sporting rivalry. – AFP
