The retiring four-time champion’s commitment to making a difference and sportsmanship ensured universal acclaim“Everyone in the paddock loves him,” observed Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz of Sebastian Vettel. “You will not hear a bad word about Seb.” One perspective on Vettel, who announced his impending retirement yesterday, that reflected a uniformity of opinion that is rare, almost unheard of, in Formula One’s fractious and egocentric atmosphere.Sainz was spot on. Vettel is admired, respected and genuinely liked. When he takes his final flag at the end of the season the four-time champion will also be missed. Continue reading...
After years of struggle the Scuderia have their sights set firmly on both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships“Next year we will have fun, you will see,” Mattia Binotto told his driver Charles Leclerc over the radio as last season came to a close in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari’s team principal could not have known quite how prophetic his words were to prove but Leclerc’s beaming smile and the infectious joie de vivre he has demonstrated in his driving leaves no doubt as to just quite what a blast he is having. The team have delivered for Leclerc then but now face the altogether more serious business of turning fun into Formula One glory.Two years ago Ferrari endured a torrid season: their...
Charles Leclerc is gaining confidence with his superior car while Max Verstappen struggles with the balance of his at Red BullCharles Leclerc’s dominant win in Melbourne was a consummate display but his Ferrari was truly the class of the field. It is well balanced, versatile, quick through the corners, easy on the tyres and the engine is a powerful beast. Having written off last year and thrown everything into developing this season’s model there must be no little sense of satisfaction at Maranello. The task for Ferrari now is not to throw it away. The challenge for the engineers this season is going to be a fierce development war, as with the new regulations there will be gains to be...
US hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground, but the sport’s growing popularity gives cause for confidenceFormula One returns to Australia this weekend after a two-year absence since the sport’s blase attitude toward the oncoming pandemic left it reeling when the meeting in Melbourne fell apart. Mismanagement and hubris had brought F1 low but, finally back at Albert Park, it could not be in ruder health.F1’s insistence on pushing on with holding the race was wildly over-ambitious, up to and including allowing fans to turn up at the gates, only not to be admitted as the event was called off with Covid cases among the teams. That weekend was a nadir for F1’s owners and the FIA. But the recovery...
Leading lights say they care about human rights but there is no evidence that grand prix racing changes oppressive regimesThe drivers may be the stars of the show but when considering the fallout from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix they should have no illusions as to where they stand in the eyes of the people running Formula One. A sport which now declares its moral stance beyond judgment will have no fear of putting pay day before the men delivering the show on track.There was clear distaste from some in even being in Saudi Arabia, expressed once more by Lewis Hamilton, who was blunt in noting at the end of the weekend that he was “just looking forward to getting...