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Morocco World
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Morocco World
Morocco's Formula 1 Bid Accelerates with $1.2 Billion Tangier Project
Doha – Morocco is positioning itself to join the race for hosting Formula 1 in Africa with an ambitious $1.2 billion project near Tangier. According to RacingNews365, a Formula 1 news outlet, the planned development would be located 20 kilometers south of the coastal city. The project includes a Grade 1 circuit capable of hosting F1, WEC, and MotoGP events. It would also feature a theme park, shopping mall, hotels, and a marina. An estimated 10,000 jobs could be created by the development. Private investment of $800 million has already been secured for the initiative, with hopes that the remaining funds would follow if approved at the highest levels of Moroccan government. Former McLaren and Lotus team principal Eric Boullier is spearheading the project. 'We went there to do a feasibility study to assess the potential of one day Formula 1 racing in Morocco,' Boullier told RacingNews365. 'We found the spot they selected met all the criteria, and from that point, we built the project.' Boullier describes the development as 'a mini-Abu Dhabi' that would create 'a completely independent ecosystem' based on tourism. The site's proximity to Europe is considered a significant advantage. The industrial port of Tanger Med, located 45 kilometers northeast of Tangiers, is accessible by a short journey from the Spanish port of Algeciras. This accessibility would allow F1 teams to construct their motorhomes in the paddock rather than work from temporary structures during a grand prix weekend. 'It's a strategic project for the country, a very serious project, which needs to have the approval at the highest level,' Boullier explained. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently stated he was in talks with three African countries about hosting a race. South Africa and Rwanda have been previously mentioned as potential hosts. Boullier believes the Moroccan project 'would be a better fit' than either of the other two contenders. Read also: Morocco Historic Rally 2025 Takes Off in Ras El Ma If approved, Boullier anticipates the bulk of construction, particularly the F1 track, would be completed within three years. 'It would make sense to hold F1 there, making it the pinnacle of the year, but with an ecosystem created to survive all year,' he added. The development comes as Morocco seeks to end Formula 1's 32-year absence from Africa. The last F1 race on the continent was held at South Africa's Kyalami circuit in 1993. Morocco itself has not hosted F1 in 67 years. This is not the first time such reports have surfaced. The Spanish outlet Atalayar had already talked about Morocco's F1 ambitions last August, noting the economic benefits of hosting a Grand Prix with its estimated 1.2 billion viewers and potential tourism boost. At the time, Spain expressed concerns about Morocco's F1 ambitions. Iberian media outlets worry that if Tangier's bid succeeds, it could jeopardize the future of the Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which has yet to secure a contract extension beyond 2026. Tangier's potential inclusion in the F1 calendar would mark another step in Morocco's growing influence in international sports. The country has launched ambitious campaigns to attract major sporting events, including its bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in a proposed mega-stadium in Casablanca.
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
McLaren F1 chief makes major Lando Norris statement: 'The answer is yes'
Lando Norris has been hyped up by McLaren for years and one of his closest aides is adamant the Englishman can become a world champion despite some recent frustrations Lando Norris's race engineer is confident he has everything necessary to become a world champion with McLaren. For the first time in his career the Englishman has an opportunity to claim the title, but has struggled in recent weeks. Norris emerged as a race-winning driver last season and was able to mix it with Max Verstappen, albeit he was never in a championship fight. This year McLaren have remained the class of the field and that has put Norris in a strong position. But since winning the season opener in Australia he has found things difficult. He's seen team-mate Oscar Piastri make the most of the McLaren's speed to win three of the five races this season, which has sent him to the top of the standings at this early stage. Piastri is renowned for his relaxed attitude and has remained composed when the pressure's on, Norris however has found it difficult. Qualifying has been a weak point and he crashed before the recent Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, having to start tenth as a result. But his race engineer, Will Joseph, who has been alongside him since his debut in 2019, has no doubt that Norris is continuing to improve and possesses the ingredients to rule the sport. He was quizzed on whether he felt Norris had all the tools to succeed and told RacingNews365: "I think the answer is yes. Every driver is on a constant curve of improvement. We're on that curve, and we're now very high up it. I guess we're sort of on the diminishing rate of returns, but there are always things that we can do better, whether that be in his driving, which changes. The track is never in the same condition twice. "There are always possibilities in the driving, whether that be in how we use this information to set up the car, whether that be how we communicate the strategy or the race conditions. There are always areas for improvement. But I think he's demonstrated he has the ability to be a world champion. It's all about putting it together, and everything has to align." Following McLaren's success as constructors' champions last season the pressure is on Norris and Piastri to produce. The Red Bull drop off means Verstappen is no longer as dominant and Norris concedes he's putting too much weight on his shoulders every weekend. He said at the race in Jeddah: 'I'm probably putting a bit too much pressure on myself at the minute, not because of any [particular] reason, and not because of the championship and all these things. I just put too much pressure on myself because I want to do well, like I want to do so well. 'I want to be pole, I want to win, I want to be perfect, and I think I need to accept a little bit more that I'm not going to be perfect, and I'm making mistakes because I'm trying to be perfect, rather than the other way around.'
Reuters
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Reports: Alpine sticking with Jack Doohan for now
April 14 - Jack Doohan's seat is safe at Alpine Racing for the immediate future, multiple outlets reported Monday. The 22-year-old Formula One rookie has been under a spotlight all season based on reports that the team might replace him with reserve driver Franco Colapinto after six races. There have been four Grand Prix races thus far in 2025. Speculation intensified after Doohan's poor start, including a first-lap crash at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16 and four penalty points at the Chinese Grand Prix a week later. Doohan also crashed in the second free practice session ahead of the April 6 Japanese Grand Prix. The Australian is coming off a strong performance Sunday at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he started 11th and ran well before fading and finishing 14th. "Jack, to give him credit, he's learning well," team principal Oliver Oakes said after the race, per Racing News 365. "You never get much credit in F1 when you're a youngster and everyone's sort of looking at what you're up to. But I think he'll definitely feel more confident after this weekend."
Miami Herald
22-03-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Report: Oscar Piastri's new McLaren deal tops $25M annually
After helping McLaren to a constructor's championship in 2024, Oscar Piastri was rewarded with a multi-year contract worth nearly $26 million per year, according to Racing News 365. The new deal replaces Piastri's contract that ran through 2026 and was set to pay him over $7 million per season. "It's a great feeling knowing that I'm part of McLaren's long-term vision," Piastri said in a release. "The team had the belief in me when we signed in 2022, and the journey we've gone on over the past two seasons to help return McLaren to the very top of the sport has been incredible. The 23-year-old Australia native won a pair of races in 2024 and finished fourth in the driver's standings with 292 points, while teammate Lando Norris was the runner-up with four wins and 374 points. Norris signed a long-term extension before the 2024 season. The McLaren constructor's title ended a two-year title run for Red Bull and gave the team its first championship since 1998. Piastri's deal comes just as F1 is set to open its 2025 season with the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday in his hometown of Melbourne. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Reuters
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Report: Oscar Piastri's new McLaren deal tops $25M annually
March 12 - After helping McLaren to a constructor's championship in 2024, Oscar Piastri was rewarded with a multi-year contract worth nearly $26 million per year, according to Racing News 365. The new deal replaces Piastri's contract that ran through 2026 and was set to pay him over $7 million per season. "It's a great feeling knowing that I'm part of McLaren's long-term vision," Piastri said in a release. "The team had the belief in me when we signed in 2022, and the journey we've gone on over the past two seasons to help return McLaren to the very top of the sport has been incredible. The 23-year-old Australia native won a pair of races in 2024 and finished fourth in the driver's standings with 292 points, while teammate Lando Norris was the runner-up with four wins and 374 points. Norris signed a long-term extension before the 2024 season. The McLaren constructor's title ended a two-year title run for Red Bull and gave the team its first championship since 1998. Piastri's deal comes just as F1 is set to open its 2025 season with the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday in his hometown of Melbourne. --Field Level Media
