Motorsports Racing News & Blog Articles

McLaren F1 Team Principal Andrea Stella was disappointed to come away from the Canadian Grand Prix without points due to Lando Norris’s penalty, which saw him drop from ninth down to thirteenth place. Oscar Piastri narrowly missed out on points as well, finishing in eleventh.

Nonetheless, Stella was pleased with the performance of MCL60 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, as both cars made it through to Q3 on Saturday and showed improved pace on race day. 

“We return from Canada with mixed feelings. On one hand it’s a shame that the five second penalty given to Lando resulted in a demotion to P13, but on the other hand we showed better pace and both cars were fighting for points.”

Going into the second sprint weekend of the season, Stella emphasized the importance of acclimating to the Red Bull Ring quickly with just one practice session to prepare ahead of qualifying. 

Stella added that McLaren has had a “positive” track record in Austria over the past few years, with Norris taking two consecutive podiums for the team in 2020 and 2021, and a double points finish in 2022. 

Max Verstappen is hoping to extend his remarkable start to the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season this weekend in Austria as he bids to extend his advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings.

The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver has taken six victories in the opening eight races and took second place in the other two, and he holds a significant sixty-nine point advantage at the top of the standings heading to the Red Bull Ring.

This weekend will see the second of six sprint races across the season, and Verstappen acknowledges it is a more hectic schedule as a result, and with the weather potentially looking unsettled, he says it could mix everything up.

“This is the second Sprint race of the season, they are always more hectic and complex compared to a normal race,” said Verstappen.  “The weather looks a bit unpredictable too so it will definitely mix things up a little bit.

“Of course Austria is a home race for us. I’m looking forward to seeing all the support again at the track, hopefully we’ll put on a good show for everyone in the grandstands.

Toto Wolff hopes the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team can build on their recent momentum this weekend in Austria, at a circuit that he feels should suit their upgraded W14 better than the previous round in Canada.

Although George Russell was forced to retire from the race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Lewis Hamilton gave Mercedes a boost by securing a podium finish in third place, and Team Principal Wolff believes the car should perform even better at the Red Bull Ring.

“There were plenty of positives to take from the last race in Canada,” Wolff said.  “Although we didn’t get both cars to the chequered flag, a podium was a solid result and we saw encouraging signs from our updated package.

“We will aim to build on the momentum we have generated over the past two races and continue our positive trajectory with the car. It’s a venue where the W14 should perform better than in Canada, but we won’t take anything for granted.

“As always, we will be working hard to maximise our performance and deliver strong results.”

Jimmie Johnson will not enter Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Course after his in-laws and nephew were reportedly killed in a murder-suicide on Monday. Legacy Motor Club confirmed his withdrawal on Tuesday.

“LEGACY MOTOR CLUB has elected to withdraw the No. 84 Carvana Chevrolet from this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event in Chicago,” the team stated. “The Johnson family has asked for privacy at this time and no further statements will be made.”

Dr. Jack and Terry Janway, the parents of Johnson’s wife Chandra, and their 11-year-old grandson Dalton were found dead from gunshot wounds at their home in Muskogee, Oklahoma. According to the Muskogee Police Department, 911 was summoned on Monday night following an emergency call regarding a gun; upon arriving at the house and discovering one of the victims, they heard another gunshot further inside the building. Officers attempted to call out into the house to no response, and discovered two more deceased upon going in.

Dr. Janway, who died at 69 years of age, worked at Janway Chiropractic and Acupunture Clinic. Terry Janway, 68, is considered the primary suspect by police.

“Muskogee Public Schools mourns the loss of Dalton Janway who died Monday night,” reads a statement from Dalton’s school district. “Dalton was a fifth grade student at Sadler Arts Academy who was cherished by his teachers and fellow classmates. Our heart goes out to the entire Rougher community who knew him as a friend and classmate.”

Justin Gerlach has been an off-road bike racer since his teenaged years, competing in enduro events and amateur rallies in Europe. However, he now has his sights set on something bigger: the Dakar Rally.

Last Thursday, as he prepared for his sixth Rallye Breslau, The Checkered Flag spoke with Gerlach on his quest to run the 2024 Dakar Rally.

Dakar Dreaming and Abu Dhabi

Gerlach’s interest in racing began from an early age with help from his father Hardin Gerlach. The elder Gerlach used to compete in rallies before stopping following his son’s birth in April 2001. When he was seven, he began following the Dakar Rally via news coverage in Germany, from which it became “the biggest point on my to-do list”.

“It all started when I was five years old. I got a motorcycle for my birthday,” he recalled. “I didn’t really expect it, but that’s probably where it all started. My parents decided that I should try that out. It just was a hobby for a very long time. I did some local races and just trained a bit together with my father. Just for many years, I switched to bikes, got a little bigger, but I was just like, ‘It was really a hobby for me.’

“When I was like fifteen years old, I decided I want to do my driving licence, which you can make when you’re sixteen years old here in Germany, and I had the question of which bike I should choose, which is good for street and for off-road racing because I had some standards there and not every bike would really fit them. My father and I decided to do a rebuild of an old KTM EXC and modify it to be street legal and that’s where it all started really, with the big bikes, still at 125cc, but with a good suspension. 

Skyler Howes and Husqvarna Factory Racing have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately.

“Husqvarna Factory Racing would like to thank Skyler Howes for his commitment, enthusiasm, and success during his two years racing for the team in both the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship and the prestigious Dakar Rally,” reads a team statement released Tuesday. “Husqvarna Factory Racing wishes Skyler well in his future endeavours.”

After being one of the top amateur riders in American desert racing, including racing the Dakar Rally on a KTM, Howes joined Husqvarna’s factory programme starting at the 2021 Sonora Rally where he finished second. His Dakar début with the team in 2022 ended with a crash after five stages, but he rebounded by winning Sonora later in the year as well as the World Rally-Raid Championship’s Rallye du Maroc. He also returned to America and won the Best In The Desert Vegas to Reno in bikes.

At the 2023 Dakar Rally, Howes was the class of the field as he battled Toby Price and Kevin Benavides for the overall win. Despite not scoring a stage victory, he was the overall leader in RallyGP for much of the event before a series of poor finishes relegated him to third by the end. Howes then finished sixth at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

His last start for the team at the Sonora Rally was cut short by a massive crash in Stage #2 that resulted in multiple scapula fractures and a torn rotator cuff. He had been eighth in the RallyGP classification at the time of the accident. By early May, his recovery had progressed such that surgery might not be required.

The British Grand Prix is a Formula One motor race that takes place in the United Kingdom. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious races in the Formula One calendar. Here are some key details about the British GP:

1. Venue: The British Grand Prix is currently held at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, England. Silverstone has been the host of the British Grand Prix since 1987, with a few exceptions.

2. History: The British Grand Prix has a rich history, dating back to the inaugural Formula One World Championship in 1950. The race has been held at various venues over the years, including Aintree and Brands Hatch, before settling at Silverstone.

3. Circuit: The Silverstone Circuit is known for its high-speed layout and challenging corners. It is a favorite among drivers and fans alike. The circuit has undergone several modifications over time to improve safety and enhance the racing experience.

4. Attendance: The British Grand Prix attracts a large number of spectators each year. It is known for its passionate and enthusiastic crowd, creating a vibrant atmosphere at the circuit.

Eighteen-year-old Jayden Els is heading to the Dakar Rally.

Els was the highest finisher in the TGR 1000 Desert Race among those in the Road to Dakar category, limited to those who have never run the Dakar Rally, which earned him and co-driver Elvéne Vonk free admission to the 2024 Dakar Rally. While he can also defer to 2025, he has elected to use his ticket for next year’s race.

Driving an SVR for King Price Xtreme, Els dealt with a multitude of mechanical issues including broken driveshafts and differential, which relegated him to twenty-fifth overall in qualifying. He finished tenth overall time-wise in the first day of actual racing, which he improved upon to sixth after a near perfect outing.

By the end, he was seventh overall and third in the T1 class.

“The first two days we broke 3 driveshafts and a diff part,” wrote Els. “However thanks to great friends who drove all the way to the boarder to bring parts the team was able to fix the car by pulling out a all nighter! The 3rd day went smoothly, [Vonk] was superb and made no mistakes which allowed us to take the Road to dakar prize!”

Ian James, Team Principal of the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, has admitted that the Woking-based side have a “huge amount of work to do” ahead of the final four races of the season, following a very disappointing Portland E-Prix.

McLaren started last weekend on the West Coast with some real pace, as René Rast topped Free Practice 1 at the Portland International Raceway. The German went on to have an excellent qualifying, where he claimed fourth on the grid. Jake Hughes also went well in qualifying and secured sixth, giving McLaren hope of a good points haul.

Once again though that failed to happen, as both Rast and Hughes seriously struggled with their race pace. Neither driver ended up scoring any points, as Rast finished in fourteenth whilst Hughes dropped all the way to eighteenth. Race pace and energy management have been two huge problems for the Nissan customer team this season, whilst they’ve often boasted exceptional one-lap performance.

This was seemingly the case again in Portland, with the team boss being aware that work needs to be done. James labelled the result as a “huge disappointment”, whilst he also wasn’t impressed by the style of racing which was on show.

“It has been great to be able to race in the US again. After showing some really strong pace in both Free Practice sessions, and then that resulting in strong Qualifying performances from both René and Jake, the race itself was a huge disappointment.

René Rast left the inaugural Portland E-Prix feeling like the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team “deserved more”, after the British side endured a challenging race.

Similar to so many rounds of the 2022/23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Rast and McLaren in general showed excellent pace throughout free practice and qualifying. The German driver actually topped Free Practice 1, before going on to make the Semi-Finals in qualifying. Rast had to settle for fourth on the grid after being eliminated by polesitter Jake Dennis; however, it still marked an excellent starting position.

Once again though, Rast struggled to manage his energy during the race, which caused him to tumble down the order. He was left to finish the race in a disappointing fourteenth, with him now wanting the team to investigate “what went wrong exactly” to cause him to struggle so much during the race.

“That was a difficult weekend, and we’re coming away without any points. On the positive side, our pace was good in Qualifying. I qualified P4 and we were fighting for Pole Position, so we know our one-lap pace is strong.

“The race didn’t go our way, we made some errors and we weren’t able to collect any points. I think we deserved more, but we need to analyse what went wrong exactly and come back fighting in Rome.”

DS Penske endured a disastrous race last Saturday at the Portland E-Prix, all through their own doing.

Both Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Éric Vergne were disqualified from qualifying and forced to start from the pit-lane, after it was discovered ahead of Free Practice 2 that the team were using illegal RFID scanners in the pits. DS Penske were using the scanners to see what set of tyres their rivals were on, something which breached several Articles.

It was unfortunate for both drivers as the team did demonstrate good pace, as Vergne made it into the duels. Had he not been disqualified from the session then he would’ve started the race from sixth, rather than the points. Due to the peloton-style of racing though, Vergne was able to catch the pack, with him having progressed to fourth mid-race.

However, he got “pushed off” onto the grass whilst amongst the frontrunners, which caused his car to overheat. As a result he struggled to manage his energy, which led to him finishing in twelfth. His slim title chances are now all but over, following what Vergne labelled as an “unfortunate” day.

“The race was going very well up to the point I came to 4th, then I got pushed off in the middle of the race, in the grass, and the radiators were full of it and overheating, the car was not generating the same as the others, that costs me a lot of energy and eventually a strong finish.

It was a frustrating Portland E-Prix for the ABT CUPRA Formula E Team as they left the Portland International Raceway with just one point for their efforts, following a huge crash for Nico Müller.

The Kempten-based team have certainly been making sensational progress over recent rounds, with the side having looked to have further improved on the West Coast. Robin Frijns started the race from a brilliant ninth whilst Müller was close behind in twelfth, giving both drivers a chance at scoring some good points.

Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out that way, as Müller had a huge crash in the opening stages of the race at one of the fastest corners on the track. It appeared that he suffered a brake failure which sent him off onto the grass, before smashing into a barrier. It was a hefty hit for the Swiss driver, with the impact having been measured at 27G. His car was destroyed, whilst he was thankfully OK but visibly shaken.

It left Frijns as the only ABT CUPRA driver in the race, with him having held on to finish tenth. It certainly wasn’t the result the team were hoping for; however, the Dutchman’s point was “cold comfort”.

Team Principal Thomas Biermaier was disappointed to see his team “hardly rewarded” for another huge effort, as a result of Müller’s crash.

Robin Frijns put in a terrific display last Saturday at the inaugural Portland E-Prix, to claim his second points finish from the last three races.

Since returning from his hand injury, the Dutchman has been slowing returning to his former-self. He’s looked much quicker in recent rounds, with him having proven that in Portland where he started from ninth. This gave him a great chance to score some points, something he did after bringing his car home in tenth place. Frijns used all of his Formula E experience to “make the best of all situations” at the Portland International Raceway, which saw four-hundred three overtakes.

He made sure he stayed out of trouble and kept himself in the “right place at the right time”, to bring home another point for the ABT CUPRA Formula E Team.

“We tried to make the best of all situations with our efficiency and performance capabilities. In a strategic race like this, you always have to be in the right place at the right time and at the same time pay tremendous attention. We succeeded in that today, at least to some extent.”

“All that remains is a lot of damage” – Nico Müller

On the other side of the ABT CUPRA garage and it was a painful race for Nico Müller, who crashed out in the early stages of the race following what seemed to be a brake failure. The Swiss driver went straight off the track at one of the fastest corners, before having an impact measured at 27G.

The Nissan Formula E Team left the inaugural Portland E-Prix having taken “positives” away from qualifying, but not really the race.

The Japanese manufacturer were incredibly fast over one-lap at the twelfth round of the 2022/23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship; however, they once again struggled for race pace. Sacha Fenestraz qualified second with Norman Nato in third, highlighting how fast the side were over a single lap. In the race and it was a bit of a disaster, as Fenestraz drove into the back of Nato.

The rookie broke his front wing as a result, which forced him to pit for a new one. This put him at the back and some way off the field, although, a Safety Car allowed him to catch up. Once back with the pack, the rookie failed to make much progress, as he crossed the line in fifteenth. Nato salvaged a much better result than his team-mate; however, it still wasn’t as good as the team were hoping for. The Frenchman scored two points after finishing ninth, with a brief spell at the front having cost him vital energy.

Team Principal Tommaso Volpe admitted that his side didn’t score the number of points they were expecting, in what was a “challenging race” for Nissan.

“It was a challenging race weekend, where we achieved a great result in qualifying, showing how fast we can be, but it was a chaotic race. A small contact compromised Sacha’s run, and after leading several laps, Norman didn’t have the pace in the car to stay at the front and lost a few positions. We didn’t score as many points as we hoped for, but we have to take the positives. We have a quick car in qualifying and from tomorrow our focus turns to the next race in Rome.”

Norman Nato was left with mixed emotions after finishing ninth last weekend at the inaugural Portland E-Prix, with the Nissan Formula E Team having once again boasted excellent one-lap pace.

The Frenchman looked quick at the Portland International Raceway and actually topped Free Practice 2, filling him with hope ahead of qualifying. He progressed to the Semi-Finals of the duels were he was once again beaten by his team-mate; however, his lap was still good enough for third. Nato did find himself in the lead of the race briefly, although this hurt his energy saving.

The Nissan driver did tumble down the order somewhat in the closing stages, with him having done well to hold on for ninth. Having started third, finishing towards the bottom of the points wasn’t what Nato was targeting. Nevertheless, he left the West Coast “still happy for the points”.

“We had great pace in qualifying today and I was really happy with the one-lap performance of the car. In the race, it was difficult as everybody was together as one big pack. Managing the energy was really tough, especially when leading, which caused constant side-by-side action as nobody wanted to be at the front. We didn’t have podium pace today, but considering we started third our target was definitely higher than P9, although we are still happy for the points.”

“I made a small mistake” – Sacha Fenestraz

Rookie Sacha Fenestraz definitely left Portland disappointed, as the Frenchman failed to capitalise on a front row start. Fenestraz made it to the Final of the duels where he was beaten by Jake Dennis. Missing pole didn’t really matter, given that the field were bunched together for the entire race.