Sergio Perez narrowly beat Charles Leclerc in Saturdayâs final practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Mexicanâs best time, a 1m43.170s, was only 0.07s quicker than Leclercâs fastest lap. He was almost 0.14s up on the Monegasque in the first and third sector, the bulk coming along the straight time between Turn 16 and the finish line, but Leclerc halved the difference in the slower middle sector.
Max Verstappen was third and a further 0.2s adrift, though the Dutchman had to abort his first flying lap on soft tires near the end of the session due to yellow flags at Turn 3, flown for an errant Valtteri Bottas.
Continue reading on RACERMercedes team boss Toto Wolff says Formula 1 should look to American sport for guidance on capping driver salaries as debate about expanding the cost cap heats up.
Drivers are opposed to moves to cap their earnings as part of a broader push to keep team spending in check. A driver salary cap would be separate from the general cost cap, which currently excludes each teamâs three biggest earners.
On Friday in Azerbaijan several drivers spoke out against the idea, claiming it would be unfair to limit their earnings when the sport is bringing in more money than ever before on the back of a popularity boom. Sebastian Vettel described it as a strategy to boost team bottom lines.
Continue reading on RACERGeorge Russell is calling for talks with Formula 1 to find a way to reduce the propensity for porpoising with the current generation of cars after a painful afternoon at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Mercedes in particular has struggled with aerodynamic bouncing for most of the year, and although upgrades brought to the Spanish Grand Prix facilitated a strong weekend for the reigning constructorsâ champion in Barcelona, the porpoising has returned with a vengeance in Baku.
The problem is particularly bad in Azerbaijan, where the cars are flat out for more than 1.3 miles down the front straight, the longest single blast in the sport. The faster the cars go, the more energized the ground-effect floor becomes, sucking the cars closer to the ground until they bottom out, which causes the bouncing.
Continue reading on RACERCharles Leclerc took top spot in second practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix ahead of Sergio Perez. The Monegasque trailed the Mexican in the first hour but snatched top spot in the late afternoon with a 0.248s margin.
Leclercâs Ferrari was running with a much skinnier wing compared to FP1, and it showed in the sector times. Whereas earlier on Friday he was dominated in the first sector, by the end of the day he was quickest of all in that split â and without sacrificing performance in the slow and twisty middle sector, where his advantage was at its largest. In fact he was quicker than Perezâs Red Bull through all three splits by the end of the afternoon as well as at the speed trap.
But the day wasnât flawless for Leclerc, who in the final five minutes complained this his engine was losing power, though the team radioed back that it was nothing to be worried about.
Continue reading on RACERSergio Perez topped a blustery first practice hour at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix ahead of Charles Leclerc. Perez, who won in Baku last season, set a best lap of 1m45.476s to beat Leclerc by 0.127s.
The Red Bull Racing and Ferrari cars were generating lap time in dramatically different ways. Perez was fastest of all in the straightforward first sector, but Leclerc made is all back with a purple time in the second split, which comprises 11 of the trackâs 20 turns.
The last sector, comprising the flat-out run from Turn 16 to the first corner, went Perezâs way by 0.2s, setting the classification in his favor.
Continue reading on RACERLewis Hamilton has welcomed FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem walking back his comments stating that drivers shouldnât be using their F1 platform to advocate social and environmental causes.
Ben Sulayem singled out Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Lando Norris for using Formula 1 to âimpose [their] beliefsâ on the audience in an interview published last week, but in a tweet on Thursday he clarified that he believed the sport could be a force for positive change.
âAs a driver, I have always believed in sport as a catalyst of progress in society,â he wrote. âThat is why promoting sustainability, diversity and inclusion is a key priority of my mandate. In the same way, I value the commitment of all drivers and champions for a better future.â
Continue reading on RACERDaniel Ricciardo has rejected rumors that he could lose his McLaren race seat, reiterating his commitment to the team through to the end of next season.
Ricciardoâs tenure at McLaren has been the subject of intense speculation since the last two rounds in Spain and Monaco, where he was comprehensively beaten by teammate Lando Norris despite the latterâs struggle with tonsillitis and failed to score points, extending his run of dry races to six from seven grands prix.
Pressure was ratcheted up by team CEO Zak Brown declaring publicly that the Australian wasnât meeting expectations and then openly discussing exit clauses in his contract. But speaking ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ricciardo said he retained the confidence of Brown and the team and was committed for the long haul.
Continue reading on RACERWorld champion Max Verstappen has hit out against the idea of a cap on Formula 1 driver salaries, arguing it would limit their ability to capitalize on the sportâs growing popularity and booming income.
F1 introduced a general cost cap last season for the first time in its history, but it excludes the three highest paid members of staff â typically the drivers and team principal.
Expanding expenditure controls to the drivers has long been mooted, with $30 million to cover a roster of two drivers informally proposed in 2020. The sport has yet to pursue it vigorously, with the question of how to deal with drivers already signed up on hefty salaries proving a tricky one to tackle, but the dramatic rise in inflation and ensuing spending squeeze has resharpened focus on its introduction in recent weeks.
Continue reading on RACERWhat do you think of Daniel Ricciardo (unusual)? We open the world-famous talkback line for the first time in Box of Neutrals history for your hot takes.
Michael Lamonato, host of the F1 Strategy Report podcast, joined Paul Heath on Sports Drive to chat all things F1.
For years Red Bull Racing has dreamed of having a teammate befitting Max Verstappenâs prodigious pace, and Sergio Perez proved heâs their man in Baku.
Stalemate in Baku. Both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton fail to score at a dramatic Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but Sergio Perez scores a breakthrough win in Red Bull overalls.
Featuring BBC F1 commentator Jack Nicholls.
ESPN Formula 1ÂŽ editor Laurence Edmondson joins us to recap a typically crazy Azerbaijan Grand Prix, debate why the Baku circuit always throws up chaotic races, assess the ramifications of Lewis Hamilton’s braking blunder and review a Sunday of both pleasure and pain for Red Bull Racing.
If the championship leaders don’t score points, did the Azerbaijan Grand Prix really happen? Sergio Perez wins, Lewis Hamilton spins and Valtteri Bottas is no good.
Sergio Perez confirmed his arrival for Red Bull Racing for his first win in navy overalls in a dramatic ending to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that saw title protagonists Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton fail to score.
Sergio Perez has won a dramatic Azerbaijan Grand Prix after one of Max Verstappenâs tyres blew up from the lead of the race with five laps to go.
Sergio Perez claimed his second career grand prix victory and first for Red Bull Racing after teammate Max Verstappen suffered an explosive tire failure from the lead with five laps to go.
Verstappenâs left-rear tire punctured at 195mph halfway down the start-finish straight while cruising with a four-second advantage over Perez and title rival Lewis Hamilton. It was the second tire failure of the afternoon, with Lance Stroll suffering a near identical crash at speed on the same hard compound after 31 laps. Verstappenâs tires were 33 laps old.
Pirelli will analyze the remains of the stricken tires before ascribing a cause for the failures.
Continue reading on RACERCharles Leclerc is on pole for the second straight weekend, and though he’ll almost certainly make the start of the race in Baku, his odds of winning the grand prix are slim.