In the round-up: F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali shares his thoughts on improving the chances for women drivers in single-seaters.
In letter
Domenicali working on age equalization between genders on ladder to F1
Stefano Domenicali, the chief executive officer of Formula 1, does not expect a female driver to arrive in F1 over the next five years. However he said the championship is working to increase the chances of it happening soon.
“We are trying to understand how we can, let’s say prepare the right parameters. Also for the girls to come into the pyramid at the right age with the right car,” he said. “Because this is really the key point.”
F1 is being supported at some races this year by W Series, which Jamie Chadwick is on course to win for the third season in a row. “We are very happy with the collaboration with W Series, but we believe that in order to be able to give the chance to girls to be at the same level of competition with the guys, they need to be at more or less the same age ,” said Domenicali. “Then they can start to fight on the track at the level of Formula 3 and Formula 2.
“So we are working on that in order to see what we can do in order to improve the system, and you will see some action as soon.
“What I can say on the other hand, realistically speaking, I don’t see, unless something that will be like a sort of meteor coming into the earth, a girl in F1 in the next five years. That’s very unlikely.”
Calderon replaces Bolukbasi in F2
Calderon had to cut her IndyCar season shortFormula 2 will have a female driver on the grid at Spa this weekend, as Charouz Racing System have replaced Cem Bolukbasi with Tatiana Calderon for the rest of the season.
Former Esports driver Bolukbasi joined Charouz this year after winning in Euroformula in 2021, but struggled to adapt to F2 and suffered a concussion early in the season. He was forced to miss four races and failed to score before his contract was “terminated by mutual consent” ahead of the Spa round.
Calderon, who raced in F2 in 2019 and also failed to score, arrives in the paddock after the funding for her part-time IndyCar drive with AJ Foyt Racing ended. She spent 2020 and 2021 racing in Super Formula, before moving to IndyCar for road and street course-based rookie campaign.
“I’m really excited about my return to the F2 championship, I still can’t believe I’m back,” Calderon said. “It’s been a long while since I drove the car, but it’s an amazing opportunity which I want to make the most out of. I’m very thankful to the Charouz Racing System and I’m really looking forward to this busy triple-header of races and beyond.”
Magnussen gets new engineer for next three races
Haas has put a new engineer in charge of Kevin Magnussen’s car for the next three grands prix as an internal change takes place at the team.
Ed Regan, Magnussen’s usual race engineer, has moved into an office-based role and will remain there until his planned departure from Haas later this year. In his place at the Belgian, Dutch and Italian grands prix will be Dominic Haines, who was previously race engineer to Romain Grosjean and then Nikita Mazepin in the team before also switching to an office-based position at Haas for 2022. It is the team’s plan that a new race engineer will come in for Magnussen by the Singapore Grand Prix, and Haines will return to a role that does include traveling with the race team.
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Motor racing links of interest:
Krack on Alonso’s Aston Martin F1 move (Aston Martin)
How did Aston Martin F1 convince Fernando Alonso to join the team, how will Fernando get on with Lance Stroll, and is 41 too old to return to the Formula 1 winners’ circle?
Ultimate Karting champion Louis Harvey gets prize GB4 test (GB4)
‘Newly-crowned Ultimate Karting Champion Louis Harvey will get behind the wheel of a GB4 car next month with the Scorpio Motorsport team, after winning the Senior Rotax category. The 18-year-old will now prepare for his first taste of single-seaters with the GB4 test, likely to be held at MSV’s Bedford Autodrome complex.’
Euroformula leader Goethe stays on with Campos (Campos Racing)
‘FIA F3 resumes after the summer break with Campos Racing entering its three-car army for Spaniards David Vidales and Pepe Martí. Danish-German Oliver Goethe will be still in Campos colors as American Hunter Yeany is still recovering from his left wrist injury, which he got fractured following a clash with another car in Spielberg.’
A successful US driver would take F1 to the next level, COTA boss says (Racer)
‘Circuit of the Americas boss Bobby Epstein says Logan Sargeant’s FP1 run for Williams at the United States Grand Prix is ’pretty fantastic’ but believes an American race-winner is needed to take Formula 1 to the next level in the States.’
Amp and F1 announce brand-new ‘Fast and Loose’ radio shows (F1)
‘Amp, the new live radio app from Amazon, will premiere their new exclusive F1 program Fast and Loose during this weekend’s Belgian GP as part of a brand new partnership with F1. Fast and Loose will include a live and interactive post-race show hosted by actor and comedian Will Arnett, plus a live simulcast show hosted by Michelle Beadle and The Kid Mero.’
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On this day in motorsport
- On this day in 2002 Dario Franchitto won the CART IndyCar round at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve ahead of championship leader Cristiano da Matta
