In the round-up: The new circuit in Las Vegas which Formula 1 will race on for the first time in November has been named after the famous Strip which the cars will race along.
In brief
Las Vegas circuit name confirmed
The organisers of the Las Vegas Grand Prix have confirmed their application to trademark the Las Vegas Strip Circuit title for their new track has been approved.
The name reflects the famous strip renowned for its many hotels and casino which F1 cars will race along at speed of up to 340kph. The new event, which will be the first for 38 years to take place on a Saturday, is the penultimate round of the championship.
Starting well the best way for Alfa Romeo to score points – Pujolar
Alfa Romeo’s head of trackside engineering, Xevi Pujolar, says the work the team has done addressing the poor starts it made last year is the best thing the team can do to help score points.
Valtteri Bottas took four points in the opening round in Bahrain in eighth place after gaining four positions on the opening lap. Last year Bottas lost more combined places on lap one than any other driver over the 22 rounds.
“It’s something that we have been working on over the winter,” Pujolar said, “trying to improve the starts and lap one. That’s what we want to have for both cars moving forward.
“If we can start in the top ten, but then keep or gain positions like this, getting out of the traffic is the best way to be able to reach points.”
Vips replaces injured Harvey at test test
Juri Vips stepped into Jack Harvey’s Rahal Letterman Lanigan car for a private team test at Barber Motorsports Park yesterday. Harvey was not cleared by IndyCar’s medical team following the injuries he sustained in the season-opening race at St Petersburg.
Harvey was involved in a multi-car crash when he was unable to avoid Rinus VeeKay’s car which had hit the tyre wall and was hit from behind by Kyle Kirkwood, who flew over the rear of Harvey’s car.
Harvey was supposed to participate in the three-car test for the team but former Formula 2 driver Vips was drafted in to replace him. Harvey will be evaluated again by IndyCar’s medical team ahead of the next round at Texas Motor Speedway on April 2nd.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Andretti F1 makes first significant hire (Speedcafe)
“Andretti Autosport is understood to have secured the services of former Renault technical director Nick Chester as it ramps up its operations ahead of its hoped-for F1 entry.”
“Fans with American Express cards will get first access starting at 10am March 20, with the general public getting their shot at 10am March 24. Fans who signed up for the race’s priority interest list, paying the $7.77 donation fee, will get access March 22, with varying assigned access times.”
A life well lived – Jody Scheckter (Ferrari)
“Enzo Ferrari was smart, very tough and everyone was scared around him. I remember being in the office – a dark environment, the light furniture – and being asked ‘how much money do you want?’. I said I was too young to think about money, and I think Enzo was testing me, seeing what my motivation was.”
“In racing, it was Harry Stiller; he was the first person to put me in a Formula 1 car in 1974 in a Formula Atlantic. On the broadcasting front, when I came back from overseas, I got asked by the local Australian Formula 1 broadcaster at the time if I’d like to do some commentary and I said yes.”
Calado: From go karts to the Ferrari Hypercar to keep on dreaming (Ferrari)
“Endurance isn’t about speed alone, but also strategy, management and patience. For my first Le Mans I stayed awake for 40 hours, I felt agitated and tense, but the tiredness had a negative effect on my performance in the long run. It became a lesson for me. I learnt that a 24 Hours is a real marathon during which, as well as not committing errors, you have to find time to rest.”
Another step forward: Formula 2’s switch to electric wheel guns (Formula 2)
“The number one reason behind this change is to get the pit lane much cleaner than it was before and, by doing that, much safer. If you looked at all the equipment teams used to have in the pit lane, there was so much with the bottles of air, the gantries and everything needed for those old wheel guns. Now, we’ve made it things much more simple and much safer.”
Formula E’s centurions: Which drivers have hit the 100-race mark? (Formula E)
“There are now a handful of drivers who have now passed that 100-race milestone in the all-electric championship as we work our way through season nine.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Remembering ‘The Voice of F1’, Murray Walker, who sadly passed away two years ago today.
It warmed our hearts to watch this film again when in 2018, Murray lent his iconic voice to us as we reimagined Ayrton Senna’s incredible 1988 Monaco pole lap.
Rest in peace, Murray. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/zlc0SKMfzM
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) March 13, 2023
Valtteri Bottas will be at the 2023 Adelaide Motorsport Festival on Sunday March 26! The Finnish Formula 1 race winner will take part in on-track demonstrations and meet fans in the event’s ‘Grand Marquee’ and in the corporate villas: https://t.co/SNA84uWaC5 #AMF #F1 #Adelaide pic.twitter.com/VPuav0CFLK
— Adelaide Motorsport Festival (@AdelMotorsFest) March 3, 2023
Have to say……jelous of everyone getting to drive Jeddah this weekend. What a track that was last year 🤩 #SaudiArabianGP
— Jake Hughes (@JakeHughesRace) March 13, 2023
Huge Congratulations Michelle Yeoh on your Best Actress #Oscar Hurray! 🎉Thank you for being Everything, Everywhere for road traffic danger and so many social issues. It’s always been a privilege and a pleasure to campaign with you! pic.twitter.com/DD7fs3QIfG
— FIA Foundation (@FIAFdn) March 13, 2023
Jump-start your @F1 2023 season with exclusive access to @alfaromeof1 in F1 Mobile Racing 🏆
From the 17th of March, access this time-limited event where you can drive the C43 for yourself! 🏁
🖥️ more details: https://t.co/GBYsC9axrc pic.twitter.com/lziHNSJUvJ
— F1® Mobile Racing (@F1MobileRacing) March 13, 2023
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Patrickl and Chapmankillie!
On this day in motorsport
