In the round-up: Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin’s protest over the Austrian Grand Prix provisional results was not aimed at a particular rival.
In brief
Aston Martin’s Austria protest not aimed at any particular rivals – Alonso
Aston Martin’s protest over the results of the Austrian Grand Prix arose purely because of concerns not all invalid laps had been deleted, said Alonso.
The two-times world champion was one of 11 drivers, including team mate Lance Stroll, who were not penalised for exceeding track limits during the 71-lap race. Aston Martin protested the provisional race results which led to several drivers receiving post-race penalties when it was found they went beyond track limits on four or more occasions.
“This time we didn’t protest any rival or any other team. We just protested against race direction for not applying the penalties,” said Alonso.
“So it was not that we looked at the laps of everyone else and our laps just to spot one centimetre out of the line. It was just race direction said that it was 100 deleted laps and race direction did not apply those 100 deleted laps. It was very simple.
“I’m happy that the team is pushing 360 degrees. It’s not the team tried to exploit any grey area or anything. It was just a very common sense thing to do. More than anything, more than any protest or something that, I think Lance and myself, along with other eight drivers, we didn’t exceed the limits of the regulations. So that was as simple as that.”
Qualifying traffic because ‘some pay more attention than others’ – Hulkenberg
Nico Hulkenberg says the common problem of drivers being impeded by rivals in qualifying is because some pay more attention to traffic that others.
Multiple penalties for impeding have been issued in qualifying in recent rounds due to drivers getting in the way of rivals on flying laps. However, Hulkenberg believes there is no particular reason why it should be more common in 2023.
“I think it’s not just now a problem, it’s always been a problem – sometimes more, sometimes less,” Hulkenberg said in response to a question from RaceFans.
“I think the truth is there some people who pay more attention than others. Yes, we rely on the engineers – especially on street circuits where it’s blind, you don’t see what’s going on – but in a case like Barcelona or Austria, there’s long straights. You have mirrors. But some use them more than others and some people also run into trouble more than others. I think it’s sometimes it’s a man-made problem.
“Drivers just can’t say ‘I just rely on the team’ and things – you need to watch the mirror too. Pay some attention.”
F2 and F3 to return to Australian Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix organisers have confirmed that both Formula 2 and Formula 3 will return to Albert Park to support the Australian round of F1 next season.
The two main junior series in the FIA’s single-seater pyramid joined the Australian Grand Prix support bill for the first time alongside the regular appearance of the Australian Supercars.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Silverstone boss warns against ‘reckless’ protests at F1 race (BBC)
”It is a ridiculously reckless thing to put your own life at risk. (It also risks the lives) of the drivers, spectators and marshals. Unlike cricket or tennis, we have a fence which is designed to stop parts of a racing car, in the event of an accident, going into the crowd. That is helpful but it is designed to help keep debris going in the fans, not to stop a determined person that wants to put their life at risk.”
Ready, set, go! It’s F1 superstar Norris! (ITV)
‘Ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, and after putting on his best performance of the season in Austria, Formula 1 superstar (and This Morning’s own adopted racing driver) Lando Norris joins us live from Silverstone.’
The time gains available by exceeding track limits (Motor Sport)
‘It is clear that there was significant time to gain by running wide through the final corners and having a better run onto the start/finish straight. Chart two illustrates this by comparing telemetry from two of Alex Albon‘s qualifying laps: the legitimate lap 17 and the deleted lap 20, which was almost half a second quicker. It’s a huge advantage in qualifying, and the reason that we’ve picked this example.’
Merhi to see out season with Mahindra Racing (Formula E)
”I’m really looking forward to jumping back into the car for the final two weekends of the season. I would like to thank Mahindra Racing for the opportunity and the trust they have shown in me. I know Rome and London are new tracks for me, which will make it a bit more challenging, but I will make sure I adapt quickly.”
Dates confirmed for 2024 Adelaide Motorsport Festival (Adelaide Motorsport Festival)
‘The Adelaide Motorsport Festival will be held on March 15, 16 and 17 in 2024, the week before the Australian Grand Prix. The release of the Formula 1 calendar for 2024 and confirmation of the date for the Australian Grand Prix locks in the Adelaide Motorsport Festival in what will be its traditional date, the week before the grand prix.’
Dates and 26 categories already confirmed for 2024 FIA Motorsport Games (FIA)
‘The third edition of the FIA Motorsport Games will take place from 23-27 October 2024 in Spain, with the Generalitat Valenciana and Circuit Ricardo Tormo set to host the popular multidisciplinary event that unites athletes from all four corners of the globe in a unique spirit of sporting competition.’
Silverstone’s plans to ‘nail it’ at British GP as F1 contract talks loom (Motor Sport)
Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle: ”The challenges of 10-15 years ago when hosting the British GP was really marginal are behind us, in large part because of the quality of the product F1 is producing these days. It’s what people want to see and they’ve done a really fantastic job of getting a whole new audience engaged. Our balancing act is to run an established event with a core fanbase, not alienating old fans – and not boring the new fans. We have to pick a line through the middle which I think we’re doing pretty successfully.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Special helmet for a special weekend ???????? A tribute to everyone in my team who make it all possible ????❤️???? #Thankyou #Merci pic.twitter.com/i9kR3YKFSN
— Esteban Ocon (@OconEsteban) July 6, 2023
Former Scuderia Ferrari and current F1 boss Stefano Domenicali at Iconic Images Gallery in London with @Jamesallenonf1 for tonight’s launch of the latter’s ‘Ferrari: From Inside and Outside”, a handsome volume of photographs by Ercole Colombo and Rainer Schlegelmilch. pic.twitter.com/78blMbxWav
— Richard Williams (@rwilliams1947) July 5, 2023
F1 driver turned rocket scientist! ???????? @LandoNorris joined children of the @ST3AMCo project for an extra special science lesson at Silverstone. ????
Proud to be carrying @ST3AMCo on our car this weekend, thanks to @Smartsheet‘s #SponsorX initiative.#BritishGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/rEPlInrhr4
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 6, 2023
Our 800 Grands Prix adapted livery will be on @EASPORTSF1! ????
Stay tuned…????
#WeAreWilliams #F123 pic.twitter.com/WYBCS40pp9— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) July 6, 2023
We will not be posting anything about racing until after the funeral of Dilano.
We wish our F2, F3 and F1 Academy drivers and teams all the best for this race weekend pic.twitter.com/h8K1OiSHsM
— MP Motorsport (@OfficialMPteam) July 6, 2023
???? Very excited to announce that I’ll be on @Formula2 commentary for the #BritishGP???????? ????
Will be stepping in for the main man @AlexJacquesF1 ????
Going to be a BUSY weekend with @Formula3 & @PorscheSupercup as well, but very excited to take it all on alongside @AlexBrundle ????????️ pic.twitter.com/6xrYfYrag4
— Chris McCarthy (@ChrisMcCarthy32) July 6, 2023
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