Red Bull’s Perez sets pace in ice-resurfacing Zamboni ahead of Canadian GP
F1’s race control remains too easy to manipulate during a grand prix, claims Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, after he was apparently forced into the pits by the gamesmanship of Esteban Ocon in Montreal last weekend. The ability to influence race control came under scrunity as Max Verstappen’s infamous win over Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi last year and Magnussen believes it was susceptible to outside pressure when Ocon said over radio that damage on the Haas was potentially dangerous and needed fixing in the pits , with an FIA order soon following.
Meanwhile Formula 2 driver Juri Vips has been suspended by Red Bull after using racist language during a live gaming stream. The 21-year-old Estonian has been stood down from all team duties pending an investigation into the incident.
Vips, currently in his third F2 season, took to his Instagram account to apologise for his “unacceptable” language. He said: “I wish to unreservedly apologise for the offensive language used during a live gaming stream earlier today. This language is entirely unacceptable and does not portray the values and principles that I hold. I deeply regret my actions and this is not the example I set with. I will cooperate fully with the investigation.”
Follow all the latest F1 news and build-up to the British Grand Prix below.
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Can Max Verstappen be stopped in his bid for a second straight F1 title?
With Formula One returning to Montreal for the first time in three years, it was the Red Bull of Verstappen which took the checkered flag to move 46 points clear at the top of the standings.
Carlos Sainz was almost in the closing stages following a period behind the safety car but could not find a way past Verstappen and had to settle for second place, the pair joined on the podium by Lewis Hamilton – the man who Verstappen beat to his maiden world title in 2021.
Here we look at the factors which might stand in the way of Verstappen charging to his second title in succession.
Michael Jones22 June 2022 13:30
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Max Verstappen details key to defending Carlos Sainz to land Canadian Grand Prix
Verstappen was the dominant force all weekend in Montreal and looked set for a comfortable victory until a safety car after Yuki Tsunoda crashed out tightened up the field in the closing stages.
It ensured a 15-lap shootout to decide the race and – despite being on slightly older tires, as well as his pursuant having the benefit of DRS speed boosts – Verstappen demonstrated his incredible driving skill to keep Sainz at bay.
The Ferrari had greater straight-line speed and the long back straight at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve enabled the Spaniard to use DRS to get up to the Red Bull’s rear wing but he was unable to get past at either the final corner or Turn 1 of the following lap.
Michael Jones22 June 2022 13:20
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Brown reveals Andretti’s attempt at F1 entry is “meeting a lot of resistance”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently revealed that the Andretti family’s attempts to enter Formula 1 are meeting a lot of resistance but that he hopes in their bid may be accepted by the time the next set of new regulations comes into effect.
The Andretti team has made it very clear that they want to be a part of F1 as soon as possible with both Michael and Mario Andretti confident about the team’s resources and feel they can become a competitive force in F1.
The sport’s recent expansion and growth make the addition of an 11th team seem a reasonable next step, and Stefano Domenicali has already revealed that several parties are interested in joining F1.
But, with the newly implemented Concorde Agreement and entry fee (requiring new teams to pay an estimated $200 million), Domenicali has downplayed the importance of another team joining F1.
No team has entered F1 post-Concorde Agreement, there is no fixed timeline on when there will be a response to Andretti’s advances but Brown hopes the bid ‘isn’t dead’.
“I hope it’s not dead, but it certainly seems like it’s meeting a lot of resistance.” He told Sports Business Journal.
“I wouldn’t want to comment on what I think the right number is [for the entry fee] but what I would say is the value of an F1 franchise – from when the Concorde Agreement was signed to now – it’s grown rapidly.
“Ultimately, it’s up to F1 to decide what the right number to buy in is.”
Michael Jones22 June 2022 13:10
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Drivers standing after Verstappen wins Canadian Grand Prix
Here are the current drivers’ standings after Max Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix.
13) Daniel Ricciardo – 15
14) Sebastian Vettel – 13
Lawrence Ostlere22 June 2022 12:55
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Constructors’ standings after Red Bull win Canadian Grand Prix
Here are the current constructors’ standings after Red Bull won their sixth successive race at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Lawrence Ostlere22 June 2022 12:35
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Binotto hopes Leclerc can ‘attack’ next few races
Ferrari boss, Mattia Binotto spoke about the performance of Charles Leclerc in the Canadian Grand Prix and how the decision to take penalties for changes to his power unit was taken early in the week.
Leclerc started at the back of the grid in P19 but a battling race on Sunday sawy him fight through the pack to claim a P5 finish to limit the damage of taking on board the new equipment.
Binotto hopes the new gear on the car can allow Leclerc to “attack” over the next few races and help Ferrari claw back some of the 76-point deficit on Red Bull who have won the last six races on the bounce.
“It was something we decided very soon after Baku [to take the power unit penalty],” said Binotto. “So, it is something he has been aware of for many days, to adjust and prepare for the race weekend, he knew he would be starting from the back of the grid today on the race.
“So even his Friday, Saturday program was focused on the high-fuel runs to make sure he was prepared for the race itself. It is certainly a frustrating situation for a driver… The race would have required a lot of patience, which was certainly the case; you would certainly like to overtake but you cannot because there is a DRS train or because your tires are worn.
“But finally, limiting the damage, starting from the back, finishing fifth is still a good race result and I know he’s got fresh power units for the next races certainly. We’ve got four races until the summer break – that will be important to him where he can attack, and let’s try to somehow recover some points if we can.”
(Getty Images)
Michael Jones22 June 2022 12:15
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Toto Wolff sends warning to Lewis Hamilton despite Canadian Grand Prix podium
Michael Jones22 June 2022 12:04
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Haas form a concern for Magnussen
Perhaps the biggest losers at the Canadian Grand Prix who the duo from Haas. Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher qualified P5 and P6 respectively on Saturday and hopes of a double-point finish were high for the American team.
They were quickly dashed as Magnussen was forced into an early stop due to his front wing making contact with Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes on the opening lap and he could only recover to come home 17th.
Haas’ hopes of points then rested with Schumacher but his race ended early due to a power unit issue on lap 18. The German driver, who is still chasing his first points in Formula 1, described his retirement as “unfortunate,” while believing there are still positive for his team to take forward.
“We had a PU issue which was very unfortunate,” said Schumacher. “I think we were having a good race up to that point. Our feeling in the car was great and I think that the pace was looking not too bad either. Quite upsetting but hey, we still have a few more races to go.
“In terms of pace, yesterday but also today it looked very strong. It’s a good thing, we can take it away from here and, you know, put it into play for Silverstone.”
Kevin Magnussen admitted that Haas’s form of late is a concern – they have gone five races without picking up points.
“Yeah, it’s frustrating [how the race finished]four races or something we haven’t scored points so we want to try to get in the points soon,” admitted Magnussen.
“The FIA thought we had to pit [after the collision with Hamilton] with that. You know it was nothing, this was normal. You’ve got to be able to finish the race with a little bit of scratches on your car, you can’t have it in one piece. I get it if the whole front wing is hanging by one stay or whatever, but it was nothing, so I don’t get it.”
(EPA)
Michael Jones22 June 2022 11:55
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Nico Rosberg advises George Russell on life as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate
Hamilton, 37, claimed his first podium in almost three months when he finished third at Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix – one place ahead of Russell in the other Mercedes.
But Russell, in his first season alongside Hamilton, is 34 points ahead of his more illustrious team-mate in the standings.
The result in Montreal on Sunday brought an end to a run of eight races – including Imola’s sprint round – where Hamilton has taken the checked flag behind his compatriot.
Michael Jones22 June 2022 11:46
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Mercedes F1 push for FIA help on porpoising has “backfired” says Marko
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko believes Mercedes’ calls for the FIA to intervene on porpoising in Formula 1 has “backfired”.
Mercedes’ drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have been very vocal in asking the FIA to address the extreme bouncing on safety grounds leading to a technical directive from the governing body being issued ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.
The TD revealed plans to impose a vertically oscillating metric that would force teams to limit the bouncing of their cars, or risk having to raise ride height and on top of that teams are to be allowed to take extra measures to strengthen their floors – which included the addition of a second floor stay.
The FIA’s technical directive does not strictly follow the right procedures in terms of making rule changes and caused uneasiness in the paddock over the weekend and Marko believes Mercedes’ lobbying will be to their own detriment.
The planned bouncing limit is expected to come into play later in the year, possibly in time for the British Grand Prix, and with the need to run Mercedes’ W13 close to the ground to deliver its maximum performance the team are at risk of being forced by the FIA to raise the ride height to avoid bouncing.
Marko, and the wider Red Bull team, do not see the need for the FIA to get involved and think Mercedes should be able to deal with the matter themselves. Speaking to Motorsport.com Marko said: “In German we say: ‘the shot backfired’. So it basically backfired for Mercedes.
“I fully agree with Max [Verstappen], it is not correct to change something like this during the season. It can’t be the FIA who is making our set-ups. Changing the ride height means changing the set-up and the FIA can’t do that. My next point is that all of this is the result of one team having problems.
“That team should just sort out their own problems and not affect the other teams. I think there are too many parameters which are not clear yet so I think the FIA has to come up with another clarification.”
(Getty Images)
Michael Jones22 June 2022 11:38
