Motorsports Racing News & Blog Articles

Introduction

2021 Formula 1 Styrian Grand Prix was great for Max Verstappen, who claimed a second win in seven days with a great victory, enjoying a dominant lights-to-flag performance at the Red Bull Ring over the Mercedes of title rival Lewis Hamilton, as Valtteri Bottas claimed third ahead of Sergio Perez.

Following on from his win in the French Grand Prix, Verstappen led away from pole position at a dry Red Bull Ring, leading every lap of the race to claim his 14th career win, and his third at his team’s Red Bull Ring home track.

The Dutchman duly stretched his lead over Hamilton to 18 points in the drivers’ standings, after the Mercedes driver was unable to offer any serious answer to Verstappen’s pace on race day, although he was at least able to limit the damage after taking the bonus point for fastest lap thanks to a late pit stop.

Having started P5 after his grid drop for spinning in the pit lane on Friday, Bottas was able to claim third, holding off a late charge by the second Red Bull of Perez for Finn’s first podium since the Spanish Grand Prix.

Frank Appel was born in 1961 in Hamburg and completed a masters in chemistry from the University of Munich in 1989 before going on to obtain a PhD in neurobiology in 1993, during which he was involved in spinal cord regeneration research with ETH (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology). He then sharply changed direction at the age of 32 and started working as a consultant with McKinsey & Co in 1993, becoming a partner in the firm in 1999.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Having begun his career in scientific research before moving into management consultancy, Appel then took another volte-face in joining Deutsche Post, assuming the position of Managing Director of Corporate Development in 2000. He rose quickly to prominence, becoming a member of the board in 2002, holding a number of positions thereafter. Finally, Frank Appel was appointed CEO in February 2008.

One of the most important developments that Appel has spearheaded has been the expansion of the business into Asia, where he has overseen the investment of more than $2.5bn. In 2013, this region contributed nearly 20 per cent of DHL’s total revenue. Furthermore, projections for the next five years estimate that the Asia-Pacific region will amount to approximately one-third of the group’s total global income.

DHL draws on over 35 years of motorsports experience to ensure that the “race behind the race” runs smoothly at all times. As the global Logistics Partner of Formula 1, DHL manages the complex shipping of up to 2,000 tons of freight to the racetracks including cars, replacement parts, marketing and hospitality equipment. In doing so, DHL provides a multi-modal transport solution, using land, sea and air freight, depending on the race calendar requirements.

Attempts to change the Formula 1 format is nothing new. The official announcement from the Formula 1 management came in April this year to confirm three sprint races for the 2021 season. The experiment will make its debut on the track in Silverstone, then in Monza, and maybe in Interlagos.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Opinions about the new format of race weekends divided F1’s paddock. This innovation has already received a lot of criticism. We decided to take a look at the history of the championship and recall several reforms that were initially doomed to failure.

Qualifying experiment

Today’s Saturday Formula 1 qualifying with three segments was not like this before. During its history, the championship has tried various options. In the first decades, the format did not change, but in the 1990s, the first experiments began. For example, in 1993, racers could drive a maximum of 12 laps in qualifying. Ten years later, in 2003, a new format has been chosen: drivers took turns driving only one lap on Saturday. Friday’s session determined the starting order. According to the results, the slowest driver went to the track first.

But the most ambiguous change occurred in 2005. That season was very unusual and eventful. A new qualification system has been introduced, according to which the starting grid has been determined by summing up two attempts. Drivers drove one lap on an empty track and an empty tank on Friday. On Saturday – with a refuelled one for the first segment of the race. Then the cars were lined up on the grid according to the final results. There was an assumption that this was supposed to make the drivers give their best. This rule was not to the taste of either the racers or the fans and existed for only five stages. After this change, everything came almost back as the previous season, with only one qualifying session which determined the grid for Sunday’s race.

The Ferrari 296 GTB, the latest evolution of Maranello’s mid-rear-engined two-seater Berlinetta, was premiered yesterday during an online event broadcast on Ferrari’s social media and web channels. The 296 GTB redefines the whole concept of fun behind the wheel, guaranteeing pure emotions not just when pushing the car to its limits, but also in day-to-day driving situations.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The 296 GTB ushers in an authentic revolution for Ferrari as it introduces a new engine type to flank the marque’s multi-award-winning 8- and 12-cylinder power units: a new 663 cv 120° V6 coupled with an electric motor capable of delivering a further 122 kW (167 cv). This is the first 6-cylinder engine installed on a road car sporting the Prancing Horse badge; it unleashes its massive 830 cv total power output to deliver previously unthinkable performance levels and an innovative, exhilarating and unique soundtrack.

The car’s name, which combines its total displacement (2992 l) and a number of cylinders was chosen, with the addition of the GTB (Gran Turismo Berlinetta) acronym in finest Ferrari tradition, to underscore this new engine’s epoch-changing importance to Maranello. It is not simply the living, beating heart of the 296 GTB, but it also ushers in a new V6 era that has its roots deep in Ferrari’s unparalleled 70-year-plus experience in motorsports.

The very first Ferrari V6, in fact, featured a 65° architecture and debuted on the 1957 1500 cc Dino 156 F2 single-seater. This was followed in 1958 by bigger displacement versions on the front-engined sports prototypes – the 196 S and 296 S – and F1 cars, such as the 246 F1 which powered Mike Hawthorn to the F1 Drivers’ Championship title the same year.

Williams Racing is pleased to announce that PPG, a leading global manufacturer of paints, coatings and speciality materials, will continue as the team’s long-standing Official Supplier.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The partnership marks its 18th consecutive year, as PPG’s paints and coatings continue to ensure that Williams Racing cars achieve minimum weight and high definition. This synchronised focus on performance and appearance is a hallmark of PPG’s innovative paint system, which allows for an increase in paint application speed, in addition to reducing the total volume of the high-finish coatings. The custom approach contributes to vital weight reductions, translating to all-important time savings on the racetrack, while simultaneously achieving the highest possible presentation standards for Formula One race car – the Williams FW43B.

“Williams Racing is delighted to continue our relationship with PPG, which began in 2003,” said Al Peasland, Williams Racing Head of Technical and Innovation Partnerships. “We have benefited enormously from the constant innovation and quality that PPG has been able to deliver. Through dedication and creativity, the company has consistently provided a custom approach to help meet our demands in a fast-paced and challenging industry. We look forward to continuing our partnership with PPG for many years to come.”

PPG will supply paint finishes for Williams Racing cars and for use within the team’s headquarters at Grove. PPG will also have prominent branding on the team’s race trucks, within the garage and in the hospitality areas at Grands Prix.

Fanatics and Formula 1, the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, has yesterday announced a multi-year extension to their e-commerce and manufacturing deal.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The extension agreed following an outstanding 2020 performance, will see Fanatics retain global e-commerce and manufacturing rights and is announced following a year in which sales on the official online F1 Store grew by more than 40% globally, with official F1 merchandise being delivered to fans in 143 different countries across the world. This strong performance has accelerated in the first six months of 2021, with sales on the official online F1 Store growing by triple digits compared to the same period in 2020, while the sport’s increased presence in the US is evident, as the region has become the most significant market (most sales) for the F1 site.

Fanatics, which partners with more than 300 of the biggest sports clubs and organizations in the world, has worked with Formula 1 to grow sales by almost 200% since 2017 and has changed the way F1 fans purchase their merchandise online through an innovative, tech-infused approach to making and selling fan gear in today’s on-demand, mobile-first culture.

The official F1 online store utilizes Fanatics’ vertical commerce model, which combines on-demand manufacturing with an agile supply chain to produce the timeliest assortments of merchandise for Formula 1 fans. A key driver of sales on the official F1 online store in 2020 was the store’s move to Fanatics’ industry-leading Cloud Commerce technology, which provides rapid navigation for fans across online and mobile sites. It meant faster website performance, larger hi-resolution product displays, local languages and currencies and frictionless checkout, transforming the online shopping experience for F1 fans.

The Finnish driver from the Alfa Romeo Racing – ORLEN Formula 1 team has conducted the final testing session on the definitive versions of the Giulia GTA and GTAm.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

The session comes after the tests conducted last fall by the drivers Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi, aimed at honing the new aerodynamic solutions developed by Alfa Romeo and Sauber Engineering.

To follow the testing session on the Giulia GTA and GTAm last fall, the Finnish world champion was back at the Balocco Proving Ground a few days ago to personally evaluate the work done on the highest-performing sports sedan the Italian brand has ever produced. His words leave no doubts in the mind: “I really like it. We’re looking at a car that can be used on an everyday basis, but that can also be taken onto the track, one in which you can really enjoy yourself.”

Introduction

2021 Formula 1 French Grand Prix saw Red Bull taking their third consecutive win of the season with a cracking victory of Max Verstappen, who passed Lewis Hamilton with two laps to go to claim the thirteenth victory of his career, Hamilton finishing second as the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez completed the podium.

In a mirror of the Spanish Grand Prix – when Mercedes out-strategised Red Bull to claim the victory – Verstappen stopped twice to Hamilton’s one-stop, with the Dutchman then using his fresher tyres to close up to the Mercedes, passing on Lap 52 of 53 to check out for his third win of the year.

It more than made up for Verstappen losing out to Hamilton from pole at the race start, Verstappen taking the win as well as the extra point for fastest lap – with the result also marks the first time Red Bull have won three races on the bounce in the turbo-hybrid era.

Behind, Valtteri Bottas ended up a disgruntled fourth behind Perez, having complained to Mercedes that he was ignored when he advised them to switch to a two-stop, as Red Bull did with Verstappen.

Amazon Web Services and Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow announced it has entered into a new technical and commercial partnership.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

For over 15 years, AWS has been the most popular cloud platform and has continuously expanded its services in high technology fields such as machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Apart from the technical partnership, which will also cover GT racing, the Challenge series and the road car business, Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow and AWS will jointly develop a new fan engagement platform which, through personalisation tools, exclusive content and interactive applications, will strengthen the relationship with the millions of fans around the world, involving even the youngest of them in the daily life of the Scuderia and its drivers.

Mattia Binotto, Managing Director and Team Principal commented:

Ferrari and AWS are both exceptional in their respective spheres of activity and I am pleased to welcome a partner known for the excellence of its innovation and creativity. As the Official Cloud Provider, AWS will be able to transform our company into an organisation driven by data analysis, that uses the power of this technology, not just to improve our products, but also to better relate with the millions of fans we have around the world.

McLaren Racing and Tezos to build an NFT fan experience platform on the energy-efficient blockchain network.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

McLaren Racing has selected Tezos, the world’s most advanced blockchain, to become the team’s Official Technical Partner in a new multi-year technical partnership across Formula 1, INDYCAR and esports. McLaren will use the energy-efficient and upgradeable Tezos network to create a non-fungible token (NFT) platform with a fan experience at the heart.

Tezos, an open-source blockchain for assets and applications, is a continuously evolving blockchain that upgrades itself through efficient on-chain governance. McLaren will build a dedicated platform that brings its illustrious racing heritage and renowned driver line-ups across its multiple teams to offer an unrivalled NFT fan experience.

For Tezos and McLaren, sustainability through innovation is key. Embracing clean NFTs and energy-efficient networks ensures that the impact of this new medium to share creative expression is not offset by unnecessarily high energy consumption. Unlike traditional Proof of Work blockchains, Tezos’s pioneering Proof of Stake mechanism is a significantly more energy-efficient approach to securing its network, using two million times less energy than Proof of Work networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum. This allows Tezos to operate cleanly, with minimal energy consumption and a negligible carbon footprint.

Maui Jim sunglasses, the world’s fastest-growing premium eyewear company, has partnered with Uralkali Haas F1 Team in the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship with the innovative lifestyle brand now becoming the ‘Official Eyewear Partner’ of the American team.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Born on the beaches of Maui, the brand is sold in more than 100 countries worldwide with all Maui Jim sunglasses designed to block 100 per cent of harmful UV rays and eliminate glare. Moving forward Uralkali Haas F1 Team drivers Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher will be sporting Maui Jim sunglasses in the Formula 1 paddock as will members of the Uralkali Haas F1 Team. Maui Jim will enjoy branding across the team’s platforms, both prominently at-track and online through the team’s website and social media channels.

“Maui Jim, as a global brand and an innovative leader in their field, are a very welcome addition to our partner line-up,” remarked Guenther Steiner, Team Principal of Uralkali Haas F1 Team. “Their sunglasses are naturally stylish, but more impressive is the investment they make into their technology and how that then reflects into the quality of the product available to the consumer. With a global reach and a passion for performance, the synergies between what they do as a brand and what we do as a team competing in Formula 1 – well, it’s a perfect match and we’re delighted to welcome them to the team.”

“There is a parallel between Maui Jim sunglasses and Formula 1; we’re both rooted in technology and innovation,’ states Renaud Schneider, Events and Sponsorship Manager for Maui Jim Europe. “In F1, it’s all about innovating to build the fastest and most reliable car and implementing technologies to develop a top-notch team. For Maui Jim, our central tenet is all about constant innovation to find the best lens technologies that protect eyes while enhancing the rich colours of the world. Uralkali Haas F1 Team is an exciting team with young talent who face challenges head-on. We’re excited to partner with them and ready to spread Aloha to all Formula 1 fans.”

Best Water Technology (BWT), one of the most important suppliers of water treatment systems worldwide, will be the Title Sponsor of Formula 1 BWT Grosser Preis von Steiermark 2021 and Formula 1 BWT Grosser Preis von Osterreich 2021 at the Red Bull Ring, Austria.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Via the unique F1 platform, BWT will use the iconic pink branding, that has become so recognizable within the sport, to spread its sustainability message further around the world. BWT – Best Water Technology – Europe’s market leader in water treatment continues the mission to provide water of perfect quality for all purposes and everywhere in the world. With its patented technologies, BWT enables people to drink water out of the tap, that is enriched with valuable minerals and trace elements such as magnesium, zinc and silica.

Through the partnership with BWT, F1 is reinstating its commitment to combat the use of single-use plastics within the sport’s community of teams, partners and promoters, and the continued efforts to inspire change.

FIA Presidential candidate Mohammed ben Sulayem has launched a report and comprehensive plan to increase diversity, access and inclusion in global motorsport.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

In line with the strong views expressed by Formula 1 world champions Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, who advocate for more opportunities for lower-income youngsters, Ben Sulayem has promised to create FIA-funded educational and training hubs to help nurture talent in developing countries. His wish is that motorsport at all levels, from local races to Formula 1, can benefit from the inclusion of a diverse group of young people who can access a whole range of educational training and vocational opportunities within motorsport from engineering to driving, to logistics to time-keeping and so on.

The former Emirati rally champion believes that an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme developed with partners in Formula 1 and other FIA championships can lead to quick results including the doubling of motorsport participation. Ben Sulayem also believes the major championships have a big role to play, especially Formula 1: “They are an important partner and indeed have already allocated funds but it’s only an FIA-led programme that can deliver effective regional talent development programmes. This, in turn, will lead to more fans, TV and sponsors in the developing world,” he said.

McLaren and Castore reveal their second collection: the collaboration between the British luxury supercar manufacturer and premium British sportswear brand.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Pioneering luxury supercar company McLaren Automotive today unveils its summer capsule collection with British premium sportswear brand Castore.

Following a successful autumn/winter collection in 2020, the collaboration between the two performance brands introduces a new line of technical clothing suited to performance amid the rigours of everyday life.

Inspired by the design and engineering of McLaren Automotive supercars, the new summer 2021 collection uses lightweight, technically superior performance fabrics and manufacturing techniques to create a range that feels as luxurious to wear as McLaren does to drive – while providing exceptional performance characteristics for the wearer.

The enduring dominance of Mercedes in Formula One has almost become a monotony, with few other teams able to come anywhere close to the power and consistency of their cars. Having an F1 driving phenomenon such as Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel certainly helps, forming a tandem that has thus far seemed unbeatable. That is, until the 2021 season.

Click here to subscribe to our print edition!

Amongst people regularly betting on the favourite sports around, Formula One has become increasingly popular over the last few years, largely due to the greater variety of betting markets available. This includes outright markets for the Drivers Championship and Constructors’ Championship standings, with Max Verstappen at 13/10 and Red Bull now evens for the 2021 F1 titles.

Lewis Hamilton at 13/20 and Mercedes at 3/5 odds remain the current favourites, although their odds have notably lengthened after the opening rounds of the 2021 season. The coming races will go a long way towards highlighting whether the British driver can win a fifth consecutive F1 crown, while his team is also in the hunt for an unprecedented eighth championship in a row.

Since the introduction of the F1 World Constructors’ Championship in 1958, when Vanwall triumphed with Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks in their cars, no team has managed to dominate quite as Mercedes has for much of the last decade. Competing teams have always usually found a way to match or exceed the speed and consistency of the best in each era.