Latest news with #motorsport
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘I had that race and lost it': Marcus Ericsson places second behind Alex Palou at Indy 500
INDIANAPOLIS — A look of despondence seized Marcus Ericsson's face as he took off his helmet on pit lane after crossing the finish line in the 2025 Indianapolis 500. Joy and dejection had separated themselves by .68 seconds. That was the time distance between runner-up Ericsson and champion Alex Palou. Advertisement The 34-year-old led with 14 laps remaining before Palou took advantage of an opening entering Turn 1 on Lap 186. Palou maintained his lead, preventing Ericsson from capturing his second Indy 500 in four years after winning in 2022. 'Second is a good result, but here it's not. Here, you got to win. I gave it everything and tried my best, and I'm proud of our effort, but I had that lead. I had that race and lost it,' Ericsson said. 'This race means everything to us. We have the 500 and it's what matters. So, being that close to winning, it's painful because this is what we live for; we put our lives into this.' Ericsson said he started the race strong and felt comfortable before noticing himself struggling to keep up with other drivers. He credited his team for 'never giving' up and making the necessary changes for a smoother second half of the race in which Ericsson 'felt the car come more to me.' Ericsson said two lapped cars created dirty air on the closing laps, making it hard for him to overtake Palou. He plans to review footage and evaluate what he could've done differently to navigate the two impeding cars and prevent Palou from overtaking. He admitted that he didn't expect Palou to overtake when he did. Advertisement 'Those things you play in your head a million times after the finish line — what you could've done differently,' Ericsson said. 'When you won it once, you know how that feels, and now I've been second twice. Especially the way this played out, it's going to keep me up at night for a while the way I played those last 10 for those lappers. All those questions that I need to try and accept and move on but right now it's pretty tough.' Buy our commemorative Alex Palou page print Ericsson said his recent success at the oval shows, "I'm pretty good around this place.' While Ericsson acknowledged that it won't be easy not to condemn himself after Sunday's outing, being a strong self-critic will help him learn from this loss. 'I work constantly on the (mental) side of things, but as an athlete, that's what gets me better all the time because I am a very hard critic of myself," Ericsson said. "I try to always learn from what I do so I can do it better. So, I think that's one of my strengths as well. I look at myself and say, 'What could I have done differently before blaming backmarkers (lapped cars)?'" Advertisement For Sunday, however, Ericsson is giving himself grace to lament. 'Today, I'm going to definitely beat myself up and be disappointed about it,' Ericsson said. 'But give me a few days and I'm sure I'll be doing better.' Ericsson will run in the Detroit Grand Prix on Friday, where he earned his sole podium appearance of 2024 and first IndyCar Series win. Ericsson's history in Detroit indicates he can make up for a self-proclaimed 'disappointing' time in Indianapolis. 'Detroit is my track,' said Ericsson with a smile. 'Detroit usually treats me well.' This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2025 Indy 500 results: Marcus Ericsson had race won and lost to Alex Palou
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Strategy Corner: Why Charles Leclerc's extra set of mediums could be an F1 Spanish GP wild card
The Spanish Grand Prix used to be a byword for dull, processional racing, but that has changed – if only a little – in recent years. That's because while the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a known quantity, having been on the calendar since 1991, it's slightly less intensively known than it used to be, since it's no longer used as a venue for pre-season testing. The drivers could still lap it while blindfolded but the teams have rather less data than they would otherwise on tyre usage. Advertisement Another small but significant facet affecting strategy this weekend is the enforcement of a new technical directive clamping down on aero-elastic front wings through more stringent static load tests. So-called flexi-wings theoretically reduced drag, thereby improving top speed, but this was a lower-order effect. The main benefit was in mitigating some of the more severe balance shifts the current generation of ground-effect cars tend to experience mid-corner, generally moving from oversteer to understeer. Read Also: Why F1 flexi-wing changes failed to shake up the Spanish GP order Besides a small potential lap time gain through giving drivers more confidence in corners, the main benefit was to help with tyre degradation. That's why, given the lack of representative running time in race conditions, the response in the paddock to the effect of the new testing regime so far has been a general shrug of the shoulders. Advertisement As Pirelli's motorsport manager Mario Isola pointed out in his post-qualifying briefing, the average cornering loads are higher but the pole position lap was slower… if only by two tenths of a second. 'More load that is not translating in more performance,' he said. 'Then if you think about that, you understand what I'm saying…' A little bit of everything Pirelli tyres Pirelli tyres Erik Junius Erik Junius Since Barcelona has a relatively rough surface, a couple of decently long straights, and a broad variety of cornering speeds, plus two DRS zones – one of which includes a right-hand kink over a crest – it's highly demanding on tyres. While Pirelli has gone a step softer in its compound choices at many rounds this year, for Barcelona it has stuck with the hardest three in the family: C1, C2, C3. Advertisement Even so, the race is shaping up to be a two-stopper because the experience of practice has shown that the hard-compound tyre, the C1, isn't producing enough grip, so the cars have been sliding and inducing early degradation. It's also been difficult for teams to find a balance on the C1, so they have migrated towards the softer compounds, which makes a two-stop race more likely. The reason balance is such an issue is that teams generally set up their cars with a tendency to understeer in order to protect the rear tyres, which are usually more sensitive to thermal degradation. In Barcelona this presents a problem because the roughness of the surface, in combination with the high g-loadings from the fast corners, puts high stresses through the outside shoulder of the front-left tyre. So the teams are having to navigate the best compromise between wear at the front and degradation on both axles. 'Teams are trying to protect the rear axle, but then they over push the front and they can lose performance from both the axles basically,' said Pirelli chief engineer Simone Berra after Friday practice. 'We've seen that the C1 showed very low grip, so it's sliding. Also the balance is not good, it's disconnected, front and rear axle very disconnected, so you have mid-corner understeer, especially in low-speed corners, then you have rear axle sliding in high-speed corners with low support. Advertisement 'So basically teams with the C1 are struggling a little bit more to find a good compromise and a good balance. Also we've seen this on pace data for the C1, and that's why most of the teams focused on C2 and C3 in FP2 for the long runs, with better track conditions because of the track evolution, try to see where is the limit for the C2 and the C3 in terms of degradation. 'The degradation level is very similar between C2 and C3, you can apply different levels of management, but the pace is pretty similar. C3 has a higher grip level but a slightly higher degradation, C2 is slightly more consistent but lower level of grip. In the end they are quite close. 'So we do think that both the compounds will be good for the race.' How many stops, and when? Oscar Piastri, McLaren Oscar Piastri, McLaren Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images Advertisement Last year all but one driver did two stops; Yuki Tsunoda and Sergio Perez were the outliers, doing three. The most popular strategy among the frontrunners was soft-medium-soft, with the first stop coming between laps 13 and 17. But this race was shaped by events on the opening lap, where Lando Norris (the polesitter) and Max Verstappen became so consumed with one another that George Russell nipped around the outside from fourth on the grid to seize the lead. This year the frontrunners only have one set of new soft tyres left – which they will likely use for the opening stint, because track position remains king at this circuit, and a good start is important. The first pitstop window will be as the race enters the early teens in terms of lap count; anyone stopping before it reaches double figures is in trouble, all other factors being equal. What's intriguing is what's happening behind McLaren's Norris and Oscar Piastri, the drivers on the front row. As with last year, one of the occupants of the second row – in this case Verstappen and Russell – could take advantage of those in front trying not to trip over one another. Although Russell's lead only lasted until the DRS was activated last year, the leading cars are closer together in terms of pace now. Advertisement Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is something of a wild card. He will start seventh, behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton, having run out of new softs in qualifying. But he has two sets of fresh mediums, which could come into play as those in front go soft-medium-soft, running used softs in the final stint. It's also possible that as the track continues to evolve and more rubber is laid down, the hitherto unfancied hard-compound tyre could also become a viable option in preference to the used soft. Pole sitter Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Pole sitter Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images Advertisement 'On paper,' said Isola, 'If I have only one set of hard, one set of medium, and the soft is degrading more than expected, ideally, you should do soft, hard, medium. 'Because the fuel load is higher in the middle of the race compared to the end of the race. So you save a little bit of the medium. 'But I heard some comments around that it is also possible to have soft, medium, hard. Because they believe that the track evolution is important and with a better track at the end of the race, the hard is sliding less, and so giving a better performance. 'Who is right? I don't know. But this is the idea.' What if it rains? The Jetstream is going to have to undergo a tumultuous change of direction overnight if the Spanish GP is to be affected by rain. Indeed, wet races at this venue are a distinct rarity. Advertisement It was gloomy, overcast and humid when the Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya hosted its first round of the world championship in September 1991 – note the vapour trails around the wings of Nigel Mansell's Williams and Ayrton Senna's McLaren in those evocative images of their duel in that race. But warm and sunny weather has predominated since the race moved to a late-spring slot in the calendar. There hasn't been a properly wet grand prix here in almost three decades – but it was a spectacular one. Miichael Schumacher, Ferrari, Gerhard Berger, Benetton Miichael Schumacher, Ferrari, Gerhard Berger, Benetton Motorsport Images Motorsport Images In 1996 the Williams-Renault team had the quickest car on the grid, among the best to have flowed from Adrian Newey's pen – but eventual champion Damon Hill was an early casualty, spinning off after starting from pole position. Advertisement In contrast to the Williams, Ferrari's F310 wasn't designer John Barnard's best work but Michael Schumacher was hitting peak form and drove one of the finest races of his life, humbling the competition to win by 45s from Benetton's Jean Alesi. Read Also: Lewis Hamilton slams F1 Spanish GP flexi-wing changes as "a waste of money" To read more articles visit our website.
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 hours ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lance Stroll to Miss Spanish GP Due to Pain in Hand and Wrist
Aston Martin says that Canadian driver Lance Stroll won't race in the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday due to pain in his hand and wrist. Aston Martin won't be able to replace Stroll since he qualified for the race. That means Fernando Alonso will be the only driver in an emerald green car. The team did not specify which hand was hurting Stroll. It said that he had been 'experiencing pain in his hand and wrist' for six weeks and that doctors believe it is related to a medical procedure he underwent in 2023 following a cycling accident to treat fractures and a broken toe. Aston Martin said Stroll 'will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recovery.' Stroll has scored all 14 of Aston Martin's points this season while Alonso has struggled. Stroll's home race, the Canadian GP, is next up in two weeks.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Barcelona forward reveals his retirement dream – ‘I would like to drive…'
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed an intriguing ambition for life after football, which is to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. The Polish forward, who has been an extremely crucial presence for the club during the 2024/25 season, recently shared his growing passion for motorsport while attending the Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. Advertisement Speaking to DAZN, Lewandowski opened up about his interest in racing and his admiration for the sport's top drivers. 'It's not the first time,' he said. 'I've been to Monaco twice, and last year I came to Barcelona, though only for the qualifying session because we had a game on Sunday.' This time, however, Lewandowski had some free time on the weekend and fully embraced the opportunity to enjoy the F1 experience from the VIP box. Revealing the dream The Barça star admitted that his interest in motorsport is more than just casual. 'I like cars, I like racing,' he explained. 'I haven't tried a Formula 1 car yet, but I would love to. I'm playing football now, and it's a bit difficult. Then, when I have more time, I might try something else.' When asked about his favourite drivers, Lewandowski didn't hesitate. 'I have two or three. Of course, I know Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen,' he said, showing a clear awareness and appreciation of the top names in the F1 world. Advertisement While Lewandowski's future remains firmly focused on leading Barcelona's front line, it's clear the 36-year-old is already dreaming of the high-speed world of motorsport once his boots are hung up. For now, though, Barcelona fans can rest assured that he is keeping his eyes on the ball, just with a foot on the throttle of his future ambitions. Source: Mundo Deportivo
CNA
20 hours ago
- General
- CNA
Stroll to miss Spanish GP due to wrist injury
BARCELONA :Canadian Formula One driver Lance Stroll will miss Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix due to hand and wrist pain, his Aston Martin team said on Saturday. The team said Stroll, son of team owner Lawrence, had been experiencing pain for the past six weeks which his medical consultant believed stemmed from surgery following a cycling accident in 2023. "His medical team have confirmed that he will not race tomorrow and he will undergo a procedure to rectify these issues before focusing on his recovery," the team said. Stroll qualified 14th at the Circuit de Catalunya but was summoned by stewards after the session for failing to be weighed. Aston Martin will not be able to replace him for the race.
