Latest news with #VirtualSafetyCar
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Formula 1: Lando Norris wins 2025 Monaco GP, closes championship gap on Piastri
Lando Norris wins 2025 Monaco GP. (Image credits: Reuters). Lando Norris took centre stage in Formula 1's most prestigious race, delivering a cool and calculated drive to win the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix . Starting from pole, the McLaren driver kept his composure through 78 tight laps, despite early drama and relentless pressure from behind, reported IANS. Norris locked up into the first corner but quickly regained his rhythm, managing traffic, strategy calls, and Virtual Safety Car interruptions with precision. Even the new two-stop rule at Monaco – introduced this year to encourage more excitement on a track notorious for limited overtaking – didn't shake his focus. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc , racing in front of his home crowd, kept the pressure on all race long. But despite narrowing the gap late in the race, he was unable to mount a serious challenge for the win and had to settle for second. Max Verstappen , who led briefly near the end thanks to a late pit stop strategy, ultimately dropped to fourth after finally diving into the pits just before the final lap. Oscar Piastri completed the podium in third, securing a double podium finish for McLaren and keeping the title fight alive. With this result, Piastri's lead in the drivers' standings is now just three points ahead of Norris. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kardiolog: Bukfett efter 50? Sätt det i dina skor Hälsotips Undo Lewis Hamilton quietly climbed his way to fifth after receiving a penalty post-qualifying for impeding Verstappen. Rookie Isack Hadjar impressed in sixth for RB, ahead of Haas' Esteban Ocon and teammate Liam Lawson. Kia Carens Clavis first drive review: Carens facelift or more | TOI Auto Williams had a solid day with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz grabbing ninth and tenth, holding off George Russell, whose frustration with Albon's robust defending earned him a drive-through penalty after an illegal overtake. Further back, Haas' Ollie Bearman recovered from a ten-place grid drop and a wild opening lap to finish 12th, ahead of Alpine's Franco Colapinto and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto. Bortoleto had a scare early on after a brush with Kimi Antonelli at Portier but managed to keep going and cross the line ahead of Lance Stroll, Nico Hulkenberg, and Yuki Tsunoda. Antonelli, who delayed his pit stops to the final laps, finished 18th. The race saw two retirements – Fernando Alonso bowed out due to engine issues, and Alpine's Pierre Gasly exited after contact with Tsunoda in the tunnel section. As F1 leaves the streets of Monte Carlo, the championship picture tightens, and McLaren leaves with the biggest smile – a win, a double podium, and a title race heating up fast. (Inputs from IANS).
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why McLaren's Miami F1 dominance wasn't just a factor of tire management
'We saw that when McLaren was pushing, we were between seven tenths and a second behind. For the first time, we saw their pure speed,' was Helmut Marko's verdict after the Miami Grand Prix, offering a clear, raw picture of the McLaren's superiority. Of the six rounds held so far, the most recent one is the first in which the papaya team fully showcased its potential. Until then, owing to various race circumstances, that speed had been at least partially concealed. Advertisement Two elements stood out the most in Florida: the final gap, and the speed with which Lando Norris managed to get back behind Max Verstappen after the first-lap incident. After slipping to sixth position, with two Mercedes and a Williams to overtake, Norris took just 13 laps to close the gap to Verstappen. Granted, he had some assistance from factors such as the ease of overtaking in Miami with DRS (improved this year by the extension of one of the zones), and Verstappen's battle with Oscar Piastri, which slowed both of them down. However, the speed with which Norris made his comeback gave a concrete measure of McLaren's potential in Miami. Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Andy Hone / Motorsport Images Andy Hone / Motorsport Images Advertisement All of this fits into a broader picture: a gap of nearly 40 seconds to third-place man George Russell at the chequered flag. But where does such a large gap come from – one of the biggest in the ground-effect era? Oscar Piastri, McLaren Oscar Piastri, McLaren James Sutton / Motorsport Images James Sutton / Motorsport Images It was 12 months ago in Miami that McLaren's comeback began – but even though the MCL38 was transformed by the update package applied that weekend, tire management wasn't its forte. On the contrary, especially on a flying lap, high temperatures made it difficult for the car to extract grip from the soft compound. For the MCL39 McLaren has applied the lessons of 2024, not just in terms of tire management but also mechanical and aerodynamic versatility and effectiveness in the slow sections – which also used to be a weakness. And this is precisely where that nearly 40-second gap to the competition comes from, even if McLaren did save a few seconds by benefiting from the Virtual Safety Car during its pitstops. Advertisement Analysing the race data it's clear that, in the first stint, after wearing out his tires in the battle with the McLarens, Verstappen was no longer able to exploit the potential of the RB21 in the high-speed sections. In Turn 5, where in qualifying McLaren had a deficit of 8 km/h, by the end of the first stint the papaya car had gained a 15 km/h advantage. But it's in the second half of the race that an even more interesting fact emerges: after switching to the hard tires, Verstappen regained pace in the fast corners, once again making use of his car's only remaining real strength. But it wasn't enough to overturn McLaren's effectiveness in the slow corners. Oscar Piastri, McLaren Oscar Piastri, McLaren Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images Advertisement Where a year ago the MCL38 suffered from chronic understeer, the MCL39 has now turned that into one of its greatest weapons. This topic fits into the broader context of versatility. The MCL39 isn't the perfect car, but it is the most complete – capable of adapting to a wide range of tracks. While Miami is a circuit that played more to McLaren's strengths than Red Bull's, it remains a complex track to set up for, requiring a balance between slow corners, fast sections, and straights. And it is precisely thanks to this versatility that McLaren is able to make the difference – continuing to dominate in the slow sections without overly compromising performance in medium-high speed areas, where other cars remain absolutely superior. It's not just a matter of temperature. If you look at the track temperature on Sunday in Miami, it was comparable to – if not lower than – what was seen in Jeddah. Yet Red Bull suffered greater tire overheating than in Saudi Arabia. Advertisement 'We had hotter tires than in Jeddah, and even a small temperature variation can change a lot of things,' said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. 'The tires are very sensitive.' Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Steven Tee / Motorsport Images Steven Tee / Motorsport Images If in Jeddah Red Bull was able to set up its car to shine in the fast corners, in Miami it failed to find a compromise as effective as McLaren's. It's not just a matter of tire management, but also of operating window and technical versatility – areas in which the MCL39 excels. Another performance factor is clearly temperature-related, though. The Honda engine – like the Ferrari to some extent – requires more pronounced hot air dissipation, and it's no coincidence that in the hottest or most humid races, Red Bull is among the cars with the largest cooling louvres. Advertisement By contrast, the Mercedes power unit seems to handle this requirement better, and some of McLaren's design choices have maximised its potential. This allows for tighter, more streamlined bodywork – not just along the engine cover, but also at the end of the central cooling outlet – resulting in clear benefits for aerodynamic efficiency. 'There's another characteristic that works very well with our car: cooling. When it's hot, you can see how our car remains relatively closed, precisely because a lot of work has gone into this area as well,' added Stella. 'I believe McLaren's engineering excellence has reached a level that really makes a difference.' A car that isn't perfect – but certainly the most complete. To read more articles visit our website.
NDTV
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Verstappen Wins at Imola: Red Bull Celebrates 400th Grand Prix
Max Verstappen achieved his second win of the 2025 F1 season at the Imola Grand Prix, showcasing a powerful performance. The race's outcome was heavily influenced by the timings of the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) and Full Safety Car periods. Drivers such as Verstappen, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Isack Hadjar made strategic decisions that worked in their favor, while polesitter Oscar Piastri faced difficulties. Norris narrowed the championship gap by overtaking Piastri on lap 58 and securing second place. Verstappen made a decisive move at the very start of the race, getting ahead of Piastri at Turn 2 and quickly building a lead. McLaren opted for an early pit stop with Piastri on Lap 14, while Verstappen chose to stay on track. This decision backfired after Esteban Ocon had to stop on Lap 29, resulting in a VSC that allowed those who hadn't pitted, including Verstappen, to change tires without losing much time. When he rejoined, Verstappen led by around 20 seconds. The race was neutralized again when Kimi Antonelli suffered a throttle issue and stopped on Lap 46, leading to a Safety Car deployment. Verstappen, however, managed the restart excellently and crossed the finish line with a lead of 6.109 seconds. Lewis Hamilton had a tough qualifying, starting in P12, but worked his way up to finish fourth. Charles Leclerc and Alexander Albon battled for fifth place, with Albon making a late move on the last lap, continuing a strong day for Williams. George Russell took seventh for Mercedes, followed closely by Carlos Sainz from Williams. Isack Hadjar ended the race in ninth after a strategy similar to Verstappen's, while Yuki Tsunoda secured the last points position after a strong recovery from the pit lane. Piastri's championship lead has been cut down to just 13 points ahead of Norris, while Verstappen is now only nine points behind Norris. The next race on the calendar is the Monaco Grand Prix, where drivers will be required to make two pit stops.
NDTV
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
George Russell Concerned About 'Fundamental' Issue In Mercedes' 2025 Car
George Russell has sounded the alarm on Mercedes' 2025 Formula 1 campaign, admitting that underlying issues in the car's performance could derail the team's hopes of competing at the front as the season enters its warmer phase. The British driver endured his most underwhelming Grand Prix of the season at Imola, finishing seventh after starting third on the grid — a result that left him visibly frustrated and searching for answers. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Russell didn't hide his concern about the direction of Mercedes' development. 'The trends are pretty clear. When it's hot, we're slow. When it's cold, we're quick. That was the same last year,' he said, referencing the recurring struggle Mercedes has faced across two consecutive campaigns. Despite Mercedes introducing upgraded front suspension and a new front wing at Imola — parts that had raised hopes within the garage — the car once again faltered when track temperatures rose. While Russell's disappointing result was partially shaped by an unfortunate Virtual Safety Car timing and a questionable strategic call, the core issue, he said, lies deeper than race-day circumstances. 'We've been doing everything with the setup to try and find solutions, but there's clearly something more fundamental in the car,' he acknowledged. Russell currently sits fourth in the drivers' standings, 47 points adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri. While the Mercedes driver has managed to punch above the car's true performance so far, with four podiums in the first six rounds, the limitations became stark at Imola. 'It's not the first race this season where we've been slower than Ferrari, or even on par with Williams,' Russell admitted. 'We've just somehow managed to get a result out of it on those occasions. But today, we were very lucky to finish P7 in all honesty.' Mercedes' second driver, rookie Kimi Antonelli, had a disappointing home debut as well, forced to retire with a throttle issue. Yet, with Verstappen lacking consistent support at Red Bull and Ferrari also faltering in recent races, Mercedes remains second in the Constructors' Championship. However, they trail McLaren — now clearly the form team — by a daunting 132 points. Russell's assessment reveals a growing concern within the Brackley-based squad about their inability to adapt to different track temperatures. The car's tyre performance appears to fluctuate drastically depending on conditions, echoing Mercedes' troubles from last season when they were more competitive in cooler races but lost pace in the summer heat. The 2025 car, which was expected to be a significant evolution, still seems to carry forward the same inconsistency. 'I wouldn't say we're running out of ideas to solve the tyres,' Russell noted, 'but as I said, it's sort of baked into the car.' Drawing parallels with Ferrari's own past struggles, he pointed out how the Scuderia had gone from a car that excelled in qualifying to one that now performs better in race trim — albeit without fully understanding the change. 'We need to find a better compromise, especially ahead of the next race,' Russell urged. 'We're approaching summer, and it doesn't really bode well for us. We need to think quick.'
News18
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- News18
Max Verstappen Sets Records With Dominant Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix Win
Last Updated: Max Verstappen won the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, marking Red Bull Racing's 400th Grand Prix start with a victory. Oscar Piastri leads the drivers' standings with 146 points. Max Verstappen delivered a commanding performance to secure his second victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, marking Red Bull Racing's 400th Grand Prix start with a win. Starting from second on the grid, Verstappen executed a decisive move on polesitter Oscar Piastri through the opening turns, seizing the lead on the opening lap and never looking back. The race unfolded with strategic complexity, featuring both Virtual Safety Car (VSC) and full Safety Car periods. Piastri, along with several drivers, opted for an early pit stop on Lap 14, switching to hard tyres. However, this strategy did not yield the desired advantage, as Verstappen extended his stint on medium tyres. The VSC on Lap 29, triggered by Esteban Ocon's retirement, allowed Verstappen to pit with minimal time loss, rejoining the track with a substantial lead. A full Safety Car was deployed on Lap 46 due to Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes stopping on track. This prompted another round of pit stops, with both Verstappen and Lando Norris pitting for fresh tyres, while Piastri stayed out. Upon the restart, Verstappen maintained his lead, while Norris overtook his McLaren teammate Piastri to claim second place. Piastri managed to fend off a charging Lewis Hamilton, who recovered from 12th on the grid to finish fourth for Ferrari. advetisement Alexander Albon showcased impressive form for Williams, securing fifth place after a spirited battle with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who finished sixth. George Russell was the sole Mercedes finisher in seventh, following Antonelli's retirement. Carlos Sainz added points for Williams with an eighth-place finish. Rookie Isack Hadjar continued to impress, bringing his Racing Bulls car home in ninth. Yuki Tsunoda, despite starting from the pit Fernando Alonso narrowly missed out on points, finishing 11th, while Nico Hülkenberg took 12th. Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, and Lance Stroll completed the top 15. Franco Colapinto, Ollie Bearman, and Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the classified finishers. Esteban Ocon and Kimi Antonelli were the only retirees of the race. This victory marked Verstappen's fourth consecutive win at Imola, underscoring his dominance at the circuit. In the drivers' standings, Oscar Piastri leads with 146 points, followed by Lando Norris with 133 and Verstappen with 124. (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - IANS) Watch CNN-News18 here. News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Italy First Published: May 18, 2025, 21:25 IST
