Motorsports Racing News & Blog Articles

Part of a farewell tour before the car returns to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. Legendary Mille Miglia-winning Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR “722” drives through the heart of central London along the famous sites.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Stuttgart. “Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?” This, so the story goes, is what a policeman asked the legendary British racing driver following a particularly ‘daring’ overtaking manoeuvre on the streets of London. “Yes sir, I am” was the honest reply.

There’s a nod to this legendary tale – and a number of other aspects of Moss’s life and career – in “The Last Blast”, a new short farewell film by Mercedes-Benz Classic. A police motorcycle outrider admonishes the over-enthusiastic driver of the very Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR made famous by Moss’s win in the 1955 Mille Miglia race. As the camera zooms in on the front wing of the bike, we see a sticker bearing the famous question.

With this, part of a police-escorted drive across central London, ‘The Last Blast’ celebrates the life of Moss, who died on 12 April 2020 at the age of 90. Filming took place at the end of September 2021 in London – where he lived for more than 60 years – yet somewhere the famous Mercedes-Benz racing car, with its legendary Mille Miglia starting a number of 722, has never been driven before.

Introduction

Lewis Hamilton won a controversial debut 2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from pole position ahead of Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas amid two red-flag stoppages. The result means the two championship protagonists go to the Abu Dhabi finale level on points.

Hamilton led Bottas and Verstappen – who shrugged off his qualifying crash – at the start but on Lap 10, Mick Schumacher spun and hit the Turn 23 barriers. The Safety Car soon turned into a red flag, crucially giving Verstappen a free stop in the pits, while the Mercedes had stopped under yellows.

The Lap 15 standing start saw Hamilton lead, but Verstappen went wide and off-track at the first chicane, cutting back across Hamilton, who dropped to P3 behind Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (who also enjoyed a red flag tyre change and the subsequent advantage). However, there were two separate incidents behind which Sergio Perez was collected by Charles Leclerc and Nikita Mazepin collided with George Russell – so another red flag was called.

A cacophony of bargaining calls by the Red Bull and Mercedes pit walls followed but the Lap 17 restart would see Ocon start ahead of Hamilton then Verstappen in P3. In that restart, the Dutchman made a terrific move using his brand-new medium compounds down the inside of the opening chicane for the lead while Hamilton found himself impeded by Ocon, who like Verstappen missed the Turn 2 apex, passing the Alpine a lap later.

There are some DIY jobs around the home but all better left to the professionals. However, there are lots of tasks in the home that you can easily complete by yourself.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Even if your home appears spotless at first glance, there’s probably at least one or two potential DIY tasks lurking somewhere.

All you need to succeed with your DIY tasks is a great set of tools and a little patience! If you’re brand-new to the DIY world, things might take you longer to complete. But it’s often worth investing the time and effort into these tasks to save yourself paying somebody else to do them.

A successful DIY task begins with your toolkit. Without the right equipment, it becomes almost impossible for you to complete your tasks at home. Not to mention that using the wrong tools is also dangerous.

Patrick Friesacher gave F1 fans a glimpse of what they can expect at this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when he powered the title-winning RB8 car along the Jeddah Waterfront in front of thousands of onlookers for Red Bull Racing’s latest Showrun. Here is all you need to know:

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship is going down to the wire in both the driver and constructor races with Red Bull Racing Honda in the mix for both trophies against Mercedes with two races left.

Championship leader Max Verstappen and Mexican teammate Sergio Pérez will duel it out under the lights with the Mercedes pair at the brand-new Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday for the inaugural race.

Ahead of that on November 12, Saudi speed and motorsports enthusiasts got the chance to experience a taste of the electrifying energy and atmosphere that accompanies the pinnacle of motorsport.

This year, we celebrate 10 years since the launch of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – the electric cars motorsport racing series that promotes clean mobility. Since its inauguration in 2014, the series has hosted seven seasons and has gained millions of viewers from all over the world.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The amalgamation of the climate crisis, eco-awareness, and the boom of electric cars are all vital in the positioning of Formula E as a pioneer in green mobility. But where does the sustainable motorsport stand compared to the original racing series that defined years of single-seat motorsports – Formula One?

Formula E’s sustainability manifesto

In September 2020, Formula E was certified as the first and only net-zero carbon sport since its launch. But the journey to offsetting its carbon emissions is imbued with consistent efforts to implement and promote sustainability in every aspect of the race in line with the UN Climate Neutral Now initiative. The initiative has the Paris Agreement as a framework of stimulating organisations to adopt transformative changes that will help them reach carbon neutrality in the second half of the twenty-first century.

It all started with a clear vision for putting clean mobility at the forefront of the streets of some of the most iconic cities in the world. Formula E’s aim is to achieve “a clear trajectory for the global sports community to combat climate change,” while raising awareness for climate action. In the words of Formula E CEO Jamie Riegle, “We have a responsibility to minimise the environmental impact of our global sport and are pleased to support vital environmental projects in each of our race markets.”

Kingspan, the global leader in advanced insulation and building envelope solutions, to chair a new Sustainability Working Group for the team. Ambitious carbon reduction objectives shared by Kingspan and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. High performance, sustainability, teamwork and innovation are key themes of the new partnership. Kingspan logo to make debut on team cars during Saudi Arabia Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton battles it out for the Drivers’ championship and Mercedes-AMG Petronas eyes Constructors’ prize.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team is proud to announce high-performance insulation and building envelope solutions group Kingspan has joined the team in a global sustainability partnership. Breaking new ground for Formula One, Kingspan will chair a Sustainability Working Group for the team. The working group’s remit will be to draw together expertise from diverse fields to contribute to the team’s objective of pioneering new approaches and technologies for emissions reduction in motorsport.

Headquartered in Ireland, Kingspan is the global leader in high-performance insulation and building envelopes. Having started its first sustainability programme (Net Zero Energy) in 2011, the company is now in the second year of its Planet Passionate sustainability programme which is underpinned by ambitious Science Based Targets aligned with the IPCC’s 1.5-degree scenario. The company’s targets include net-zero carbon manufacturing by 2030 and a 50 per cent reduction in the CO2 intensity in its primary supply chain partners by 2030.

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team has set a target of reducing CO2 emissions in its operations by 50 per cent by 2022 and is working on ambitious targets to become net zero. The team’s high-tech chassis factory in Brackley already uses renewable energy to power all its operations, while its Brixworth technology centre in Northamptonshire produces more than half of its electricity using solar panels and an on-site CCHP plant.

Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen will continue one of the most distinctive relationships in the world of Formula One as the team and Polish giant PKN Orlen extend their title partnership, alongside Alfa Romeo, for a third consecutive year.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Orlen, a leader in the field of fuel and lubricants with a growing presence in several Eastern and Central European markets, has been a partner of Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen since 2020, with its brand added to the team’s entry name and its distinctive logo, featuring the Orlen eagle, adorning the livery of the Swiss team’s cars.

The partnership between Orlen and the team has extended beyond the race track and into novel territory in the two years spent together so far. The team’s 2021 contender, the C41, was launched in the magnificent setting of the National Theatre in Warsaw – the first time an F1 car was unveiled in Poland – and the Alfa Romeo Racing Orlen racers have been a key element of a rich activation programme deployed by ORLEN across Poland and other countries, not least in its extensive chain of petrol stations.

This programme, as well as the presence of national hero Robert Kubica, who is returning in his role as Reserve Driver for the team, is sure to boost interest from fans, which is already at sky-high levels: to strengthen this positive feeling, the team and Orlen are planning an even more exciting range of activities for their supporters, to be delivered throughout the length of the partnership.

Robert Shwartzman, a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and a two-time winner in the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship with the support of SMP Racing, will take the wheel of the Uralkali Haas F1 Team VF-21 at the end-of-season Formula 1 Young Driver Test at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The 22-year-old from St Petersburg, Russia is currently in his second season competing in Formula 2 with Prema Racing – Shwartzman having been a teammate to current Uralkali Haas F1 Team driver, and fellow Ferrari Driver Academy member – Mick Schumacher, in his rookie season in 2020. Having stepped up to Formula 1’s official feeder series off the back of title success in the 2019 FIA Formula 3 European Championship, Shwartzman enjoyed an impressive maiden season with three Feature race victories and a Sprint win taking him to fourth overall in the points.

Shwartzman has continued his winning ways in 2021 where he sits third in the Formula 2 standings on 135 points having collected Sprint wins in Baku and Silverstone. Just two rounds remain this season in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi with six more races left to bolster his resume. Upon completion of his regular season, Shwartzman will then ready himself for a full day test with Uralkali Haas F1 Team.

 Robert Shwartzman said:

The new and flawless-looking Monster motorbike from the legendary Italian manufacturer reflects the essence of Ducati in the smoothest, lightest, most compact, and essential form possible. You can already guess it from the name: Monster +, nothing else.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The design of the new Monster + is exactly what you might expect from the sport naked par excellence but in an even more cutting-edge and modern guise. Slinky yet aggressive curves. Classic details with a modern twist. A design that aims to offer pure Monster-style emotion.

A real concentration of style, sport and fun that will make you want to get rid of the superfluous and focus only on what counts, sheer riding pleasure. You can be sure to improve as a rider, experience intense emotions, and enjoy yourself every time you climb on board.

The style 

The work of a fleet manager is never done. You have to manage your drivers and look after your vehicles daily. You purchase fleet insurance because it gives both your most essential assets full protection, but that has to be managed as well. Of course, you can always just “get and forget” your fleet insurance, but that is only applicable if you have money to burn and you can afford every coverage and inclusion you set your eyes on.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Choosing the right fleet insurance and managing it to give you maximum protection for a reasonable price is essential, especially for newer fleets.

Choosing the Right Vehicle Insurance for Your Fleet

When it comes to choosing the best insurance for your fleet, here are the things you need to consider:

How Much Should You Spend on Insurance?

Introduction

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton has closed the gap to title rival Max Verstappen following a dominant victory in the inaugural 2021 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit, with Verstappen recovering from a grid drop that saw him start P7 to finish second, as Alpine’s Fernando Alonso took the final podium position.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

After a clinical start from pole position, Hamilton was able to control the pace at the front of the field with an indomitable lights-to-flag win, his second in a row after Brazil. But while Hamilton was impressive, so too was Verstappen, who was dropped from P2 to seventh on the grid for failing to respect double waved yellow flags in qualifying.

Verstappen shrugged off the disappointment, though, jumping to P4 at the start before quickly making his way up to second, before following Hamilton home to limit the damage to his title lead, which now stands at eight points as Verstappen claimed the fastest lap bonus point.

McLaren Racing announced this week a new partnership with AI Cloud platform leader, DataRobot, as an Official Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 team, which will start at the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

DataRobot delivers a unified platform for organisations across industries to unlock the full potential of AI and deliver a clear impact for their business goals, powering over a trillion predictions for leading companies around the world.

As part of this relationship, DataRobot’s AI Cloud technology platform will be integrated into the McLaren Racing infrastructure, delivering AI-powered predictions and insights to maximise performance and optimise simulations.

From this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, DataRobot branding will be visible on the nose of the McLaren MCL35M race cars and on the race suits of McLaren F1 drivers, Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo.

After Mexico and Brazil, Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow now heads for the Qatar Grand Prix, on the coast of the Arabian Peninsula, also bordering Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. It will be the first time a Formula 1 Grand Prix has been held here. Qatar covers an area of just over 11,500 square kilometres, with a population of 2,800,000.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The track. The track-only took a year to build, thanks to a workforce of around a thousand, at a cost of 58 million US dollars. It was inaugurated in 2004, staging that year’s MotoGP, the first such race to be held at night as from 2007 when a powerful 3600 floodlight system was installed. It is 5.380 kilometres in length, with the main straight measuring 1.068 kilometres. The track is surrounded by artificial grass to prevent sand from blowing onto it from the surrounding desert. The first corner is very important, as it requires very heavy braking before a quick section where it is important to carry speed before braking for turn 4, which marks the start of a section with more corners. A hairpin at turn 6 is the slowest point on the track and leads into the most technical part of the circuit. The complex of corners 12, 13 and 14 are taken as one turn, similar to the famous turn 8 at Istanbul Park. Turn 15 is a fairly quick right-hander before the final braking point on the lap. Here there is more than one possible line, which means overtaking is a possibility.

Programme. The race will take place at night so that all other sessions are later than usual in the day. The first free practice on Friday starts at 13.30 local (11.30 CET), with the second at 17 (15 CET). On Saturday, the final hour of preparation begins at 14 (12 CET) prior to qualifying at 17 (15 CET). The inaugural Qatar Grand Prix gets underway at 17 (15 CET).

Qatar Grand Prix: facts & figures

1. The number of current Formula 1 drivers who have raced at the Losail circuit. In February 2009, Sergio Perez took part in the two legs of the GP2 Asia championship. The Mexican won Race 1 and came second in Race 2, which was won by Nico Hülkenberg.

Introduction

Lewis Hamilton won the 2021 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix after a sensational battle with his rival Max Verstappen in an absolutely enthralling return to Brazil for F1. Verstappen finished runner-up ahead of pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Hamilton enjoyed a terrific start from P10 on the grid and was clearly on the charge, teammate Bottas – who lost the lead to Verstappen at the start – letting him for P5 by on Lap 5. Hamilton then took P2 off Perez in a duel that began on Lap 17 and culminated in a Lap 19 pass at Turn 4. The first stops took place around Lap 25 but the action built up to a terrific crescendo after Verstappen took a second stop on Lap 41, Hamilton on Lap 44.

The Mercedes driver bore down on Verstappen and despite being shoved wide at Turn 4 – the stewards noting but not investigating – on Lap 48, Hamilton didn’t give up, trying it again on Lap 58 only to meet a stubborn defence. A lap later came the winning pass with DRS on the run-up to Turn 4, this time Verstappen having no choice but to concede. Hamilton ended up 10.4 seconds up the road in first place at the flag, cutting Verstappen’s championship lead from 21 points to 14 points.

Ocean Bottle goes full throttle with Red Bull Racing Honda. With research indicating that the amount of plastic in our oceans will quadruple by 2030 and that over 75% of this pollution will come from uncollected plastic waste, reducing the amount of single-use plastics and supporting sustainable actions has never been more crucial.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Red Bull Racing Honda is therefore pleased to announce a new partnership with a reusable water bottle company to help prevent pollution of our ocean and lower the Team’s environmental impact.

In 2022, the company will supply the Team and its guests with fully recyclable reusable water bottles made from recycled materials, and that’s not all! With each unit supplied to the Team, Ocean Bottle will commit to collecting the equivalent of 1,000 plastic bottles.

Since launching in January 2019, Ocean Bottle has funded the collection of more than 2.5 million kilos of ocean-bound plastic, equivalent to 245 million plastic bottles and by 2025 it aims to have collected 80 million kilos of plastic, equivalent to 7 billion plastic bottles. With each unit supplied to the Team, Ocean Bottle will commit to collecting the equivalent of 1,000 plastic bottles.