Latest news with #Hülkenberg
New York Times
13-04-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
What FIA stewards ‘got wrong' in the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying track-limits saga
On a weekend where the FIA and its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem are already under intense scrutiny, the Bahrain Grand Prix stewards and race control officials pushed the organization further into the spotlight after a rules mess played out during qualifying. Track limits have long been a hot topic in Formula One, particularly after the 2023 Austrian GP, where more than 1,200 instances of a driver possibly exceeding track limits were reviewed. Changes were made to better monitor the potential infringements after this saga, including painting blue lines at certain points of the circuits to help highlight track-limits breaches or adding gravel traps to create a natural deterrent to running too wide for the drivers. Advertisement But a delay in the officiating process late in Q1 in Bahrain on Saturday had significant consequences, and not for the driver who triggered another track-limits furor. Sauber driver Nico Hülkenberg had initially advanced to Q2 by besting Alex Albon by 0.042 seconds. It marked the first time the Williams driver did not advance to Q3 this season, after making three consecutive appearances. And considering the margins for the 'best of the rest' battle in the constructors' championship, which Williams leads, it marked a big moment for Sauber to be in a better position to score points, as it trails Racing Bulls by one point in the standings, several places further back. But then, during Q3 on Saturday evening, a note came across the F1 timing screens that Hülkenberg's last Q1 lap had been deleted, creating a messy situation that landed with the stewards. Here's a look at what happened with Sauber and Williams, and an explanation of how track limits are policed, considering Hülkenberg's errant lap was not reported to the stewards until after Q2 had begun. Exceeding track limits is exactly as it sounds. When all four tires cross the white line marking the edge of the racing surface, drivers are deemed to be off the track. In doing this at Turn 11 on his final Q1 run in Bahrain, Hülkenberg was found to have breached Appendix L Chapter IV Article 2 c) in the FIA's International Sporting Code (ISC) and had not complied with the Race Director's Event Notes. He was dropped from 13th to 16th in the final qualifying classification, which is where he would've finished had his time been instantly deleted at Q1's end. The ISC states, 'Drivers must use the track at all times and may not leave the track without a justifiable reason. The white lines defining the track edges are considered part of the track, but the kerbs are not. Advertisement 'Any part of a kerb which is contained between the white lines is considered track for the purpose of this article. Should a car leave the track for any reason, the driver may rejoin. However, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any lasting advantage. 'A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.' Meanwhile, the race director's event notes for each race remind the competitors that the stewards will invalidate a lap during qualifying and the race when a driver fails to stay within track limits. Specific changes have been made to the Bahrain International Circuit for this year's grand prix to help spot potential track-limits infringements, with a blue line at several turns adding visual aid to judge such circumstances. Traditionally, just a white line was present at track edges, but now, a blue one has been added behind the white line at multiple points around the track, such as at the entrance of Turns 4 and 6, as well as 'at the exit of turns 2, 4, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15'. Turn 11 is where Hülkenberg exceeded track limits. Race control officials review potential infringements with assistance from a remote gallery of officials working at the FIA office in the Swiss city of Geneva, while the race director determines whether to report incidents or suspected regulation breaches to the stewards. It is on the stewards to determine whether the matter is fully investigated and whether any penalty results. Williams team principal James Vowles expressed to broadcaster SiriusXM that the situation was 'frustrating,' pointing to how tight the grid was in Q1. The 20 drivers were covered by 1.2 seconds at that stage. While acknowledging Albon didn't have the best lap at the end of Q1, Vowles felt 'it was a top-10 car today', and he likely is right, considering Carlos Sainz qualified the other Williams in eighth. Advertisement 'Some of the laps, you can see from the FIA, they were very quick to respond on, and typically their timeline should be seconds after it happens,' Vowles continued. 'Good question on why this one wasn't, because the impact is: brilliant, he's moved behind us, but that's of no bearing to the fact that we're probably six to eight races out of position, and that hasn't been corrected, and it won't be corrected either for tomorrow. 'The FIA have expanded their operations to Geneva, I'm sure that there's a lot that they're having to look at, and in many regards we should be thankful that they looked back at a lap that happened 30 minutes prior. But we need to understand from them what can be done better in this circumstance, because the impact isn't one position anymore, it's quite significant.' According to the stewards' document regarding Hülkenberg's deleted lap time in Q1, the matter 'was not reported to the stewards until Q2 had commenced'. It also concerned a lap that had advanced a driver into Q2 and was deleted — a rare occurrence. The stewards acknowledged that it 'is an unusual situation', as the Sauber driver was already on track in Q2 when they started assessing the corner in question from his final Q1 lap, and they settled the issue 'by exercising their authority under Article 11.9.2.a of the FIA International Sporting Code'. This ISC article states, 'They (the stewards) may settle any matter which might arise during an event, subject to the right of appeal provided for in the Code.' As for how the lap was brought to race control's attention, it wasn't Williams that notified the FIA. Vowles said his team did watch Hülkenberg's lap and described it as 'marginal' to SiriusXM, adding, 'The reality part is we don't swamp the FIA with messages, because to do so would make their life more difficult. We trust that they are going through the process as we were, and the situation.' In a statement issued three hours after qualifying had finished, the governing body admitted it got this situation wrong. Advertisement According to the FIA, only a few hot spots for track limits 'are monitored continuously live' in Bahrain and Turn 11 hadn't been one of these this weekend, based on the action from previous events there. But, the FIA recognized, 'In hindsight, it should have been higher on our priority list as a corner'. The FIA statement also claimed that, compared to other areas of the track that have a higher priority as track limit hot spots, checks on corners that are lower in priority 'take a bit longer'. The FIA added, 'Unfortunately, in this case, due to the timing of the check, it was not possible to act before the start of Q2. As soon as we became aware of the incident, we acted on it. 'We are building towards increased resources and improved systems and processes. On this occasion, we got it wrong.' (Top photos: Getty Images)
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hülkenberg says he can 'definitely' drive in Formula 1 until he's 40
Hülkenberg says he can 'definitely' drive in Formula 1 until he's 40 German Formula 1 racing driver Nico Huelkenberg, then with Williams, walks through the paddock after the Bahrain Grand Prix. Nico Huelkenberg is the only German regular driver left in Formula 1 currently at Haas, but he will take a new path in his career from next year when he joins Kick Sauber, the Audi works team from 2026. Jens Büttner/dpa German driver Nico Hülkenberg can see himself driving in Formula one until the age of 40 and said he still has "a few races left in the tank." "I can definitely drive until I'm 40, so I don't see any problems for the next few years. What comes after that is difficult to estimate today," the Kick Sauber driver told dpa ahead of Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix. Advertisement Hülkenberg will turn 38 in August. As role models, he can look at two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who at 43 is currently racing for Aston Martin, or seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who at 40 is making his debut season for Ferrari. The German made his F1 debut in 2010 for Williams. This season he moved from Haas to Kick Sauber, which next year will become an Audi works team in 2026. "You can sense a very good and hungry atmosphere there (at the factory). People are keen on Formula 1, on this project, they are motivated and happy," he said. When asked what a feel-good atmosphere in a racing team must be like, Hülkenberg replied: "It's difficult to describe, in the end it boils down to a feeling. You either have a good feeling or you don't. You have to feel comfortable and happy, that's how I feel here."
New York Times
22-02-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
F1 75 Live: What happened when we attempted to speak to all 20 drivers in a day
LONDON — 'Didn't I already do this?' Liam Lawson has plenty to get used to as a fully-fledged Red Bull Racing Formula One driver, not least the additional media commitments. As he took his seat in the ominously named 'War Room' for his second media roundtable in 20 minutes ahead of F1 75 Live at The O2 on Tuesday, his press officer assured him it was a different set of journalists than the previous one. Advertisement 'Don't worry, we'll ask the same questions,' one told him. Lawson laughed and was gracious with his time. But talking to the media is hardly a favorite activity for most F1 drivers, particularly right now when all that is on their minds is how their new cars will perform and what they might be able to achieve this season. F1 75 Live at The O2 put considerable demands on all 10 teams — Lewis Hamilton said he got two hours of sleep after flying to Italy ahead of Ferrari's launch the next day — but it was a good way to bring the grid together, particularly after such a big winter of change. After my editors at The Athletic set me the task of trying to speak to the entire F1 grid in a single day (challenge accepted), here's what I saw and heard through F1 75 Live's media day. First up for media day at The O2 was Sauber, which is entering something of a transition year. A lot of focus is on its evolution into Audi's works team next year, and after finishing last in 2024, new signings Nico Hülkenberg and reigning Formula Two champion Gabriel Bortoleto know they can't expect the world going into 2025. The dynamic between Hülkenberg and Bortoleto, two drivers at opposite ends of their F1 careers, was fun. Bortoleto's character shone when he was in F2, and the hope is the added scrutiny of F1 won't dull that. So far, so good. Hülkenberg, 37, said they're enjoying a good partnership and sharing a bit of banter — evident from their interactions, even in the 15-minute news conference. 'I try to be myself as much as I can,' Bortoleto, 20, said. 'I don't try to be different when I'm on track or around cameras; I try to be who I am… Nico can say I try to be funny?' 'You are very funny,' Hülkenberg responded. 'Thank you,' Bortoleto said. A sweet, fun moment. There were two obvious topics facing Alpine drivers Jack Doohan and Pierre Gasly. Firstly, their hair: Sky Sports F1's David Croft asked if they'd cut each other's hair, as both sported a more low downforce trim. Then, reporters asked Doohan about the winter arrival of Franco Colapinto as Alpine's reserve driver. Advertisement Williams struck the deal for Alpine to sign him on a long-term loan. Colapinto's arrival in January to much fanfare naturally seemed to put pressure on rookie Doohan, who is just one race into his F1 career after his late-season debut in Abu Dhabi last year. But Doohan handled the questions well. He said Alpine told him that Colapinto was a test and reserve driver and then knocked back a question about whether he felt undermined by the arrival of a 21-year-old reserve driver on a long-term contract. 'I was a 21-year-old reserve driver last year with a long-term contract,' he pointed out. 'I don't really understand that as a question. But yeah, definitely not.' A third question on the subject was knocked back by Alpine's press officer, who said they had 'covered the Franco topic, so let's move on.' Unfortunately for Doohan, the questions will likely keep coming early in the year. The best way to stop them will be to perform on the track. GO DEEPER What Franco Colapinto's Alpine F1 move means for his and Jack Doohan's future As its presentation during the F1 75 Live show proved, Haas is leaning more into its American identity this year. New drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman have already spent time together in New York, going up the Empire State Building and sampling some local pizza (as you will read on The Athletic on Sunday). The vibes between them are good. The biggest thing we learned from the Haas drivers? Bearman took two attempts to pass his driving test when he was 17. 'I shouldn't have told you that,' he said, revealing he failed for not stopping at a stop sign. 'I was crawling, but you're meant to stop. We don't have those on race tracks. That was my first sighting of a stop sign. 'But typical me, or typical racing driver, I thought I could pass my test without any lessons. That was probably where I went wrong. I took a few lessons before the second one.' Bearman is now driving an Alfa Romeo Tonale company car, which he said was 'wonderful.' It's a fun fact that adds to Bearman's charm, who, from the cheers inside The O2 later that evening, is already a hit among F1 fans. And as the old saying goes, those who pass their test the second time often make for better drivers. The post-Lewis Hamilton era is underway at Mercedes, with George Russell moving into the more senior 'team leader' role after being joined by 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli (who, unlike Bearman, passed his driving test first time a few weeks ago). Russell has always been an old soul in F1, quickly becoming one of the leading voices for the drivers through the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. But it already feels like the same is true of Antonelli. An old head on incredibly young shoulders. Advertisement Antonelli spoke well about his preparations for his rookie F1 season, including his 'intense' training and spending plenty of time at the factory, and restated his belief that he is not looking to replace Hamilton — an impossible task — but is simply the next Mercedes driver eager to write his own story. He knows there'll be a learning curve, particularly after such a rapid rise up the junior ranks, and was open about the expectation for struggles. 'Are you sure you're not older than 18?' Russell said after Antonelli had finished an answer. 'You talk so well, this guy.' GO DEEPER F1 teenager Kimi Antonelli just got his driver's license — right on time to replace Lewis Hamilton Since the FIA announced new stewarding guidelines relating to 'misconduct' going into 2025 (including the potential for fines, points deductions and race bans), swearing has remained a storyline through the winter. As I wrote last year, it's a rather tedious matter that surely distracts from more pressing issues, but alas. Yuki Tsunoda has drawn attention for his radio rants in the past, even though he has calmed down in recent years. And if you've watched F2, you'll know that Tsunoda's new Racing Bulls teammate, Isack Hadjar, can also get a bit spicy over the airwaves at times. So, who better to ask about this new FIA clampdown? Tsunoda was on the same page as the rest of the grid, saying that while there are words you don't want to hear and a time and a place for such language, that kind of emotion in sport is what 'shows your personality' — particularly over the radio. 'In general (in) sports, it's not just us swearing,' Tsunoda said. 'But yeah. I guess for us, we need proper training to not swear much. Actually, I don't swear as much recently. I'll try to not, uh, fudge up and not get fined.' Very well played, Yuki. Peter Bayer, the team's CEO, gently put his hand on Tsunoda's arm when discussing the topic after the F1 Commission meeting and the need to 'keep these emotions alive' in sport. GO DEEPER Sport and swearing: It's ****ing complicated F1 75 Live undid much of the need for teams to hold launches this year, but that did not stop McLaren or Williams from doing their own events last week at Silverstone to coincide with their shakedown tests of the new car. As we'd already spoken to Alex Albon and new arrival Carlos Sainz (who noted he was joining his fifth team in 10 years), there wasn't much more to ask them. I asked Albon for his thoughts on F1 75 Live as an event, which he said was a good way to bring the paddock together, but joked such shows were 'not my bread and butter.' Advertisement Nor is music, as we found out. As I grabbed the mic to ask a second question after an awkward lull, a journalist said, 'You can't ask the same thing again,' before their colleague joked, 'What's your favorite Take That song?' (The British band performed to close the show later in the evening.) Albon heard and laughed, so I jokingly asked him before trying to move on to my actual question. But another journalist wanted to know. 'What is the answer to that? We can't ask a question without an answer!' 'Who even sings in Take That? Who's the lead singer?' Albon said. 'How old is Take That?' ('Older than you,' I told him.) 'We had an influencer ask us music questions just now; it was awful,' Albon said. 'My lack of music knowledge is awful.' GO DEEPER Why Williams appears poised for F1 progress with its Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon chapter F1 75 Live did offer a first chance to speak to McLaren Racing's CEO Zak Brown, who said the team had to 'be greedy' this year and target both titles, ideally with a 1-2 in the drivers' standings. He talked up how close the competition will be in F1 this year, expecting as many as eight different winners, and praised F1 for trying something new with the event at The O2. 'It feels like there's a big rock concert about ready to happen tonight,' Brown said. He has always highlighted the importance of getting the sport closer to the fans and even floated the idea of making test events or launches more accessible to fans. I'm not so sure the entire grid is as keen. Jack Whitehall earned praise for his hosting performance at F1 75 Live on Tuesday night, landing a number of really good jokes. He made the obvious 'Mike Krack' joke twice, but Krack is no longer the man in charge at Aston Martin after his winter move to chief trackside officer. Taking over is Andy Cowell, who was named Aston Martin's group CEO late last year before taking on the team principal duties in January. Cowell's job is to try and get Aston Martin back on course to achieve its lofty ambitions after it slid into midfield no-man's land last year. Advertisement Cowell spoke alongside drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, who didn't give a lot away in terms of goals and ambitions for the coming season. The 2025 car is an evolution of last year, and with the major rule change coming in 2026, as well as the arrivals of Honda and F1 design legend Adrian Newey at the team — he starts in two weeks — that may be the target. Perhaps the most interesting detail came from Alonso, the only active F1 driver to attend an F1 'legends' dinner held in London on Monday night. Among its attendees were world champions Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and Nigel Mansell, as well as former F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone. Everyone who attended was invited to write some words or a phrase into a special book that will not be opened until F1's 100th anniversary in 2050. 'It will be nice for the next generation — I may still be at the table — to open that box and see what was written there,' Alonso said. Red Bull did more media than any other team ahead of F1 75 Live, holding a quick news conference before breakout sessions with Max Verstappen, Lawson and team principal Christian Horner. Verstappen addressed F1's swearing matter, suggesting that the FIA focus on more pressing issues. He was also asked about last year's tension with George Russell, saying he had no plans to carry any 'beef' into the new year. Lawson is preparing for his first full season, going straight into a top team. He admitted his rapid rise still hasn't fully sunk in, but he no longer feels like a rookie. The task of going up against Verstappen is a big one, but the New Zealander feels ready for it. Horner and others within Red Bull have all noted Lawson's confidence. It'll be needed for life in F1's toughest seat, as predecessors Sergio Pérez, Albon and Gasly will all attest. Lawson was relaxed with the media, speaking of his excitement for the first race in Australia, where he expects a lot of support from his native New Zealand. But at one stage, he interrupted his own answer when he got distracted by a journalist. 'Sorry, dude, you look exactly like Timothee Chamalet,' Lawson said. The anointed journalist was delighted that it was picked up on the record. Just wait until he hears about the lookalike competitions. GO DEEPER Why being Max Verstappen's teammate is the hardest job in Formula One Ferrari was the only team not to hold any media availability ahead of F1 75 Live, instead conducting a series of news conferences the following day as part of the launch of its new car. On the night at The O2, the loudest cheers were given when Lewis Hamilton walked out in his red race suit in public for the first time. He mentioned being 'invigorated' by the move, something that was clear when we got a fuller chance to speak with him the next day. Clearly, the championship is on his mind going into this new adventure. Advertisement Teammate Charles Leclerc and team principal Fred Vasseur noted how well Hamilton had slotted in at Maranello. But with fierce competition expected to continue this year, it won't be until testing that we'll get a first reading of just how realistic any front-runners' title ambitions will be. Showtime is finished. Next stop? Bahrain for preseason testing and, at last, the return to track action in 2025. (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Clive Mason – Formula 1, Getty Images, Mark Thompson, Henry Nichollas/AFP, Karwai Tang/WireImage)
