Latest news with #Teams'Championship
West Australian
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Daniel Ricciardo: Supercars legend Mark Skaife says General Motors should sign F1 star for 2026 season
Supercars legend Mark Skaife has argued that the General Motors team should go all-in on signing Daniel Ricciardo for the 2026 season. Ricciardo's future in motorsport remains unclear after he was unceremoniously sacked by Red Bull in the latter stages of the F1 season last year. His exit was followed by the rise of fellow Australian driver Oscar Piastri, who is on track to become the first Australian to win an F1 title in 45 years, and the demotion of Jack Doohan, who lost his seat with Alpine just six races into the 2025 season. Skaife says GM needs a big-name star after its Triple Eight team defected to Ford for 2026. GM will field Team 18 in place of Triple Eight, which won last year's Drivers' Championship with Will Brown, as well as the Teams' Championship. 'If I was running a race team, I would constantly be looking for the very best operators. You would be delinquent if you weren't,' Skaife told motorsport website speedcafe. 'And they don't come along that often. You think about a Jamie Whincup or a Craig Lowndes — they are pretty few and far between in terms of absolute superstars. 'I think overall, the policy around having superstar drivers — I can't emphasise enough how essential it is. It's just fact.' Ricciardo has previously said he would love to race in the Bathurst 1000, and former Supercars chief Shane Howard said last October it would be a 'massive coup' to sign Ricciardo to Australia's premier motorsport competition. 'Where would Red Bull be without (Max) Verstappen? They'd be nowhere. To me, GM finding one — or maybe a couple — of real stars is essential,' Skaife said. 'I thought when I read about GM trying to get Cam Waters, that made a lot of sense to me. 'But I'd be looking at some other scenarios. I'd be picking the phone up to someone like Dan Ricciardo or Matt Campbell. 'I'd be looking outside our current sphere to try and procure an absolute superstar.' Ricciardo has kept a low profile since his F1 exit, but when his likeness appeared in advertising for next year's series, speculation grew that he could still race again in F1 — possibly with the new team, Cadillac. Soft drink giant PepsiCo launched a major advertising campaign after announcing a multi-year deal with F1, and the silhouette of a driver promoting the deal looks strikingly like Perth's favourite son. Cadillac bosses have stated their intention to pursue an experienced driver in a global search to partner a younger, less seasoned American driver as their two-seat combination for 2026. The 35-year-old Ricciardo fits the experienced driver profile perfectly, but the F1 driver market is such that many top-tier drivers are also currently without seats.
Perth Now
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
‘Essential': Racing icon says Ricciardo a must for 2026
Supercars legend Mark Skaife has argued that the General Motors team should go all-in on signing Daniel Ricciardo for the 2026 season. Ricciardo's future in motorsport remains unclear after he was unceremoniously sacked by Red Bull in the latter stages of the F1 season last year. His exit was followed by the rise of fellow Australian driver Oscar Piastri, who is on track to become the first Australian to win an F1 title in 45 years, and the demotion of Jack Doohan, who lost his seat with Alpine just six races into the 2025 season. Skaife says GM needs a big-name star after its Triple Eight team defected to Ford for 2026. GM will field Team 18 in place of Triple Eight, which won last year's Drivers' Championship with Will Brown, as well as the Teams' Championship. 'If I was running a race team, I would constantly be looking for the very best operators. You would be delinquent if you weren't,' Skaife told motorsport website speedcafe. 'And they don't come along that often. You think about a Jamie Whincup or a Craig Lowndes — they are pretty few and far between in terms of absolute superstars. 'I think overall, the policy around having superstar drivers — I can't emphasise enough how essential it is. It's just fact.' Ricciardo has previously said he would love to race in the Bathurst 1000, and former Supercars chief Shane Howard said last October it would be a 'massive coup' to sign Ricciardo to Australia's premier motorsport competition. 'Where would Red Bull be without (Max) Verstappen? They'd be nowhere. To me, GM finding one — or maybe a couple — of real stars is essential,' Skaife said. 'I thought when I read about GM trying to get Cam Waters, that made a lot of sense to me. 'But I'd be looking at some other scenarios. I'd be picking the phone up to someone like Dan Ricciardo or Matt Campbell. 'I'd be looking outside our current sphere to try and procure an absolute superstar.' Ricciardo has kept a low profile since his F1 exit, but when his likeness appeared in advertising for next year's series, speculation grew that he could still race again in F1 — possibly with the new team, Cadillac. Soft drink giant PepsiCo launched a major advertising campaign after announcing a multi-year deal with F1, and the silhouette of a driver promoting the deal looks strikingly like Perth's favourite son. Cadillac bosses have stated their intention to pursue an experienced driver in a global search to partner a younger, less seasoned American driver as their two-seat combination for 2026. The 35-year-old Ricciardo fits the experienced driver profile perfectly, but the F1 driver market is such that many top-tier drivers are also currently without seats.
Web Release
01-06-2025
- Automotive
- Web Release
NEOM McLAREN ON PODIUM AGAIN AS DS PENSKE FINISH ONE-TWO IN SHANGHAI ROUND 10
NEOM McLaren Formula E Team's Taylor Barnard has once again finished on a podium, having crossed the finish line of the 2025 Hankook Shanghai E-Prix in third place. Meanwhile, Maximilian Guenther headed home a maiden one-two for DS PENSKE, as teammate Jean-Éric Vergne sliced by two cars on the last lap to seal the deal in the Round 10 race. Barnard had led, having sliced by the front-runners through the final chicane and away from the pack to the tune of almost two seconds on Lap 21 of 29. Oliver Rowland (Nissan), who currently leads the FIA Drivers' World Championship standings, had a lap's worth of that 50kW, four-wheel-drive ATTACK MODE boost over Barnard and made it by late on, but Guenther himself had 30 seconds over Rowland – enough for what was ultimately the race-winning move over the start-finish line on Lap 26. Barnard produced a storming move around the outside of Rowland to switch back up the inside of the Nissan a turn later at the chicane on Lap 27 for what looked like second spot, but late pressure from Dan Ticktum (CUPRA KIRO) opened the door to Vergne. The double champion produced his own wizardry to jump by Barnard and Ticktum for second at the flag and a first podium of Season 11, leaving that pair third and fourth respectively. Rowland finished fifth, just ahead of Nissan teammate Norman Nato, after being shuffled out of the podium spots late on. All that leaves Rowland maintaining his lead at the top with 171 points, with Barnard now second in the Drivers' standings (85 points), just ahead of TAG Heuer Porsche's Pascal Wehrlein (84 points). Nissan still heads both the FIA Teams' World Championship and FIA Manufacturers' World Championship tables, with Porsche in second place. NEOM McLaren are fourth in the Teams' Championship with 112 points. Taylor Barnard, No. 5, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team said: 'Honestly, my main emotion is that I'm a bit confused! I was sitting at the back for a very long time; I was quite good on energy but I didn't understand how the race was playing out. The team did a great job with the strategy because I came out of the pit lane in sixth so I thought, 'now I can fight!', but I need to look at the race after to understand a little bit better what's actually happened. I was really struggling with energy on the last couple of laps so I did my best in the last few corners. I'm super happy to get another podium, another 15 points in the bag.' Round 11 on Sunday, 1 June gets underway with just one Free Practice, followed by qualifying and the race. Fans can view the full race day schedule in their time zone here, or check the broadcast listings on our website for more information.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Kush Maini becomes first Indian to win F2, scripts history; Anand Mahindra hails remarkable feat: ‘Country stands tall with you'
In a historic moment for Indian motorsport, Kush Maini became the first Indian to win a Formula 2 race at the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. Maini, 25, delivered a phenomenal victory in the Sprint Race for DAMS Lucas Oil. Maini's remarkable performance drew widespread praise, including a heartfelt message from Mahindra and Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra. 'You are Standing Tall and the country stands tall with you. Kush Maini making history as the 1st Indian winner of an F2 race in Monte Carlo… We are proud to have you on our team,' the business tycoon wrote. See here: You are Standing Tall, @kmainiofficial and the country stands tall with you. Kush Maini making history as the 1st Indian winner of an F2 race in Monte Carlo… We are proud to have you on our team at @MahindraRacing — anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) May 24, 2025 Starting the Sprint Race from pole position, earned through Formula 2's reverse-grid rule, which inverts the top ten qualifiers from Friday, Maini seized the opportunity after qualifying 10th for the Feature Race. The victory was a personal milestone for Maini and a proud moment for fans. The Indian national anthem echoed across the iconic circuit during the podium ceremony, with Maini standing tall and singing along. Watch here: A post shared by GQ India (@gqindia) Currently serving as a reserve driver for the BWT Alpine F1 Team, Maini's breakthrough win at Monaco has significantly elevated his profile. It has also reignited discussions about a potential full-time Formula 1 seat shortly. The young Indian racer had an impressive campaign in the 2024 Formula 2 season, securing five podium finishes, including a memorable win in Hungary. His consistent performance was instrumental in helping Invicta Racing clinch the Teams' Championship title. Maini also made history earlier in the season by becoming the first Indian driver to secure a pole position in Formula 2, achieving the milestone at the Jeddah circuit. Reflecting on his current role in Formula 1, Maini told 'Being a reserve driver for the BWT Alpine F1 Team is an incredible opportunity, and a moment of immense pride for me and my family as it's been my dream to represent the Tricolor in F1. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm deeply grateful for the trust the team has placed in me. I'm excited to kickstart 2025 and continue this remarkable journey.'
Saudi Gazette
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Saudi Gazette
Nissan Formula E Team secures podium at Tokyo E-Prix with support from Petromin & Electromin
Nissan Formula E Team delivered an electrifying performance at its home race in Tokyo, with Oliver Rowland securing both a victory in Round 9 and a second-place finish in Round 8. Rowland's weekend showcased his championship pedigree, a masterful drive in Round 18 saw him climb from sixth to first with a daring last-minute pass on reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche), marking his fourth win during this season. This followed a strong P2 finish in Round 8, where he battled in rain-affected conditions after qualifying was cancelled. Teammate Norman Nato showed strong pace in practice and qualifying both days but faced challenges during the races to finish 15th in both rounds. The results see Rowland extend his lead in the Drivers' Championship to an impressive 77 points, currently sitting on 161 having taken four wins and three second-places in the nine races so far. Nissan Formula E Team returns to the top of the Teams' Standings on 172 points, while Nissan firmly retains its Manufacturers' lead with 225. Kalyana Sivagnanam, Group CEO of Petromin Corporation, praised the achievement: "Nissan Formula E Team's podium in Tokyo energizes our mission to drive innovation through motorsport. Electromin's partnership goes beyond sponsorship, it's about accelerating the future of mobility in Saudi Arabia and inspiring the next generation to embrace EV technology with confidence." Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal of Nissan Formula E Team, said: "What a special weekend! It's such an amazing feeling to perform so well in front of our home fans, and regaining the lead of all three championships at home is a great satisfaction. This success highlights the strength of collaboration. With Petromin and Electromin's support, we're proving that sustainability and high performance can coexist, pushing the boundaries of electric racing." As part of the partnership, Petromin hosted key stakeholders, including the brokers delegation, for an exclusive experience at the Nissan's Heritage Collection site, and Global Design Center, bridging Saudi Arabia's e-mobility vision with global automotive innovation. Nissan Formula E Team continues to showcase the potential of electric racing, combining cutting-edge technology, strategic partnerships, and a passion for a greener future. And with Petromin, and Electromin look ahead to future races as a platform to advance EV adoption and sustainable mobility worldwide. Championship Standings After Round 9: Teams' Championship: P1 (172 points) Manufacturers' Championship: P1 (225 points) Oliver Rowland (Driver): P1 (161 points) Norman Nato (Driver): P19 (11 points) Petromin Corporation Petromin Corporation is a leading energy and mobility company with operations across five countries and over 600 service centers. With a legacy of 50+ years, Petromin is driving transformation through sustainable lubricants, automotive services, and e-mobility solutions. Electromin Electromin, a Petromin company, is Saudi Arabia's first full-service e-mobility provider, delivering smart EV charging infrastructure with 100+ charging stations deployed nationwide. Electromin is a key enabler of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. electrification goals.
