In the round-up: Alpine driver Pierre Gasly does not believe that Formula 1’s sprint race format has yet proven itself as a spectacle.
In brief
Sprint races ‘haven’t proved their worth to me as a spectacle’ – Gasly
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly does not believe that Formula 1’s sprint race format has yet proven itself as a spectacle.
The format has featured at three rounds for both of the last two year and will be expanded to six rounds this season. Gasly says he prefers the traditional race weekend format of qualifying on Saturday followed by a single race on Sunday.
“Personally I really like the normal format with the qualifying on Saturday and then one grand prix on Sunday,” Gasly said.
“Sprint races – I see the positives financially for the organisation. In terms of spectacle, it still hasn’t proved to me that it’s worth having more and more races. So in my opinion, the normal format is better.
F2, F3 to ship race fuel to Melbourne three months in advance
Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 will send their race fuels to Melbourne three months in advance of the series’ first races at the Albert Park circuit.
Asked about the logistics of travelling to Australia, series CEO Bruno Michel said that some resources had to be sent out well in advance of the event in early April.
“It’s complicated, but we really enjoy to do that,” said Michel. “Especially because it’s at the beginning of the season, it’s going to be right after Bahrain. So there are a lot of things that needs to be organised in advance.
“We need to, for instance, send the fuel very, very early in advance because we knew it takes three months to get there and we’re not going to fly it. So yes, it makes things a little bit more complicated. In terms of cost, it’s not going to change anything for the teams because we will pay for the freight because the promoter is giving us the money to pay for that. So that’s absolutely fine.”
Quotes: Hazel Southwell
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Watch: Logan’s 2023 F1 seat fit (Williams)
“As our preparations for the 2023 Formula 1 season continue, our new driver Logan Sargeant recently completed his all-important seat fit at Grove.”
Welcome, Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
“The most experienced grand prix driver of all time, Fernando joins the team off the back of two impressive seasons in Formula 1 following a two-year sabbatical from the sport. More than 20 years after making his Grand Prix debut, he retains the same restless hunger for success and raw speed that have seen him win 32 Grands Prix and two Formula One drivers’ titles. He now looks to use all his skill, speed and experience to drive AMF1 to the front of the grid.”
Coulthard backs Ferrari title bid and puts 2022 woes down to being ‘not match fit’ (Mirror)
“There might be an element of just not being match fit, having not operated at that level (for a while). Ferrari are the most famous name in Formula 1, and have been the longest running members so there might be an element of mass fatigue as well.”
The Formula 4 title battles you might have missed in 2022 (Formula Scout)
“Most of the plaudits in Formula 4 this year went to the dominators of the three most high-profile series. Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli crushed the opposition in ADAC and Italian F4, Alex Dunne took British F4 honours despite missing the final round and Fernando Alonso protege Nikola Tsolov, a car racing debutant, dominated Spanish F4.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Wishing you all the best for 2023 🍾 pic.twitter.com/GEWxubqXPi
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) January 1, 2023
Dear 2022 – thank you for the memories, for the challenges, for the smiles, for the struggles, for the victory, for the defeats. You’ve been a hell of a year for many different reasons, but one I’ll forever remember. Cheers pic.twitter.com/Rt4lDAIkAK
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) December 31, 2022
2023! 🎇 60 years of McLaren, let’s make this year another special one. 🧡
Happy new year, team! pic.twitter.com/04zCoyjV9T
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 1, 2023
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Regis and T3X!
