In the round-up: Former Mercedes reserve driver Esteban Ocon says Mick Schumacher has an important opportunity to learn from the team while serving as their third driver for 2023.
In brief
Schumacher has “very rare opportunity” at Mercedes – Ocon
Mick Schumacher has an important opportunity to learn from Mercedes while active as their third driver for 2023, believes Esteban Ocon.
Schumacher raced the last two seasons with Haas before being dropped by the team at the end of last year. He has since joined Mercedes as their reserve driver for 2023, a role Ocon held in 2019 before he became a Renault driver.
“He has a very rare opportunity – and an opportunity that I had as well – to work with a team that has dominated the sport for so long and that has huge knowledge,” Ocon said. “That’s not a negligible thing. It’s a very great asset, when you come back as a full-time driver.
“You’ve seen a team like that work from the inside and you have keys and information that you can bring to your future team. So I’m hoping Mick will find a solution very soon. And I have no doubt that a team would be interested in him.”
Sargeant excited for debut after “most kilometres I’ve ever done”
Williams rookie Logan Sargeant says he “can’t wait to go racing” after he logged 154 laps in the second day of testing to complete his pre-season preparation.
Sargeant covered over 800km on Friday in the FW45 to finish his testing programme with 1,239km – the greatest distance of any driver in the test so far. The Williams driver says he is excited to make his grand prix debut next weekend.
“I think today tops the most kilometres I’ve ever done in a day,” Sargeant said. “I was able to physically hold up well. We got through so much running which is a testament to the team and the hard work they’ve put in.
“Throughout the long runs this afternoon the car was in a good window and I could drive it exactly how I wanted to. There are still somethings we’re chasing but I’ll leave that up to Alex [Albon] tomorrow. Overall, I’m really happy with where we’ve got the car and I can’t wait to go racing next week.”
IndyCar adds alternate compound to Gateway oval race
IndyCar will extend its mandatory use of the alternate tyre compound rule to an oval race for the first time this season.
The series’ regulations require all cars to run on the alternate compound tyres for at least two laps during all road course and street circuit races, but not during oval races, in which only primary compound tyres are used.
This year, IndyCar will extend the alternate tyre requirement to its race at the Gateway speedway, the final oval race of the season. Other oval rounds, including the Indianapolis 500, will not be affected by the rule change.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Where could Logan’s 830km drive get you? (Williams)
“That’s right, Logan could have taken his FW45 out of the doors of our Oxfordshire factory, under the English Channel and across to Germany’s iconic Nürburgring. He’d also have enough kilometres left in the tank to lap the famed Nordschleife three times over, though we’re not sure what the team would have to say about that.”
Eddie Jordan speaks out on F1’s troubled relationship with the FIA (Metro)
“I’ve known Mohammed Ben Sulayem for 30 to 40 years when he was a rally driver and he had an Irish co-driver, Ronan Morgan. I find him an extremely nice person and an extremely nice person to work with. However, some of the stories coming out… he wants to be quite strong about them, and him stepping back I’m quite surprised by because I would have thought that the sport needs strength on both sides. You need very strong management on Formula 1 and you absolutely need a similar situation with the FIA.”
F1 Exhibition creator on mission to tell “really truthful account” of the sport’s history (Mirror)
“The ambition now, for all of the teams and everyone involved in F1, is ‘how can we make this one of the 21st century’s great stories? How do we reconfigure this sport and go about a new set of goals and ambitions which makes it relevant?’ That’s really what we’re trying to do with this exhibition – exploit this inflection point that we have, at the moment, looking back and looking forward.”
Oscar’s first lap in the MCL60 (McLaren)
“Jump onboard with Oscar Piastri as he takes the MCL60 for a spin in Bahrain.”
“The day will include a tour of the Newport Pagnell facility and heritage dealership, as well as a conversation and panel event with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One team. Guests will also have the chance to hear from female leaders across Aston Martin’s business, before a meeting with Aston Martin Formula One team chief information officer Clare Lansley.”
We need to talk about Fernando Alonso’s griddy (SB Nation)
“It sounds like whoever is filming this comments that it looks like Alonso is doing the griddy on ice which, well, might be the perfect description. Thankfully for Aston Martin, Alonso’s griddy skills do not translate to the track. “
Six people found guilty of conspiracy to cause public nuisance (Northants Police via YouTube)
Northamptonshire Police has shared footage of the demonstration held by six protesters on the opening lap of last year’s British Grand Prix, in which they were recently found guilty of causing a public nuisance.
McLaren Unboxed | Clear For Launch (McLaren via YouTube)
“You’ve seen us launch our 2023 F1 challenger, the MCL60, now it’s time to go behind the scenes with Lando, Oscar and the team.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
It’s only testing but a nice way to end my pre season testing! ✌🏼 pic.twitter.com/0izGvAX5QC
— 周冠宇 | Zhou Guanyu 🇨🇳 (@ZhouGuanyu24) February 24, 2023
No regrets. Driving for McLaren was a rare opportunity @OscarPiastri could not turn down. 👊🧡#DriveToSurvive @NetflixUK @F1 pic.twitter.com/mMmxY8g4KZ
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) February 24, 2023
Debriefing day two with the man himself. 👊
After a mammoth day putting in 130 laps, @alo_oficial gives us his thoughts on #F1Testing so far and looks ahead to the #BahrainGP. pic.twitter.com/0cf0TKtoiR
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) February 24, 2023
Photo finish for the #BahrainGP podium?
We’ll take it. 👍 #F1Testing #F1 pic.twitter.com/CkJQO2q4jl
— Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake (@alfaromeof1) February 24, 2023
Listen to Sir @LewisHamilton outline how our new MSc Motorsport Scholarship Programme could help eligible students achieve their dreams of working in motorsports. Applications close 6 March: https://t.co/wjVd4DtobX@MercedesAMGF1 #EngDiversity pic.twitter.com/W3qGObWK5i
— Royal Academy of Engineering (@RAEngNews) February 24, 2023
Support the amazing work of @petitsprinces and you could win my special helmet from last year’s French GP. Thank you and good luck!
👉🏼 https://t.co/qlx1meEHBD pic.twitter.com/MBqgm6bez1
— Esteban Ocon (@OconEsteban) February 24, 2023
So I just found out, this DID happen… I will not stop until this is overturned. If not, I won’t be staying in the sport for very long. https://t.co/FdfbgHVxRL
— Krystina Emmanouilides (@kr_ys_ti_na) February 24, 2023
Sorry, Cape Town but we’re closing down your streets⚡️#CapeTownEPrix pic.twitter.com/4QSxc6Gg7g
— Jaguar TCS Racing (@JaguarRacing) February 24, 2023
Thoughts are with the team’s Sporting Director, Leon Price and his family following the passing of his father.
This weekend we will be racing with motorsport legend David Price at the forefront of our minds. pic.twitter.com/x0xqJDBRCB
— Envision Racing (@Envision_Racing) February 24, 2023
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Ivz, Jake and Mike Roach!
On this day in motorsport
- 30 years ago today reigning champions Williams were given permission to enter the upcoming season despite having failed to submit an entry. New cost-cutting regulations shortening practice and limiting tyre use were also introduced
