In the round-up: Charles Leclerc insists that having Brad Pitt and Lewis Hamilton’s movie production crew in the paddock will not be a distraction for him or his fellow drivers.
In brief
Movie crews won’t disrupt paddock, Leclerc insists
A film production crew, Dawn Apollo Films – set up by Lewis Hamilton – will be filming on location in the F1 paddock across the rest of the 2023 season as part of a movie about Formula 1 starring Brad Pitt.
Asked by RaceFans whether having the filming crews around the paddock would be a distraction to drivers and teams, Leclerc replied: “No, I don’t think it is.”
“In the end, one more camera or one less camera, I don’t think we realise it that much,” Leclerc continued.
“I think it’s amazing for the sport, though, I think it’s great. It gives us a really big visibility, big reach to people that might not know or might not be interested so much into Formula 1 just for them to understand it in a better way, in a more lucrative way and with the movie I think is the best possible way. So no or at least for me, it won’t add any pressure, but I don’t think for anybody, as we are getting used to having cameras around.”
Reports elsewhere suggesting Pitt will be driving an F1 car in official session as part of filming plans are not correct – the actor will instead be driving either a modified F2 or F3 car which will be driven only outside of official track activity.
Hamilton to run pride flag on Miami helmet
Lewis Hamilton says he will race with a pride flag on his helmet once again this weekend in Miami in support of the LGBTQ+ community in the midst of a ongoing statewide suppression of their rights.
The Floridian state legislature has passed a series of bills and laws to target rights of LGBTQ people in the state. Asked by RaceFans if questions should be asked about whether it was appropriate to be racing in Miami, which is in Florida, Hamilton said it was “not for me to decide something like that.”
“I have read about some of the decisions that have been made in government here, and I do not agree with it and I do not support it,” Hamilton continued. “And I really do continue to stand with the LGBTQ community. I continue to wear the rainbow flag on my helmet this weekend. And I just really want to continue to support the community here and let them know that I stand with them. And I hope that they continue to fight against it.
“It’s not the people of Miami that are making these decisions it’s the people in government, and that’s the issue. I think all I can do, this sport is going to be here whether I am or not. So while I’m here I’m just going to try and continue to be supportive and just by being here and having them on my helmet, hopefully that speaks volumes.”
Sargeant excited for first car race on home soil
Williams rookie Logan Sargeant says he is looking forward to racing in the United States for the first time in cars.
The Florida-native left the USA in his karting days to compete in Europe. While competing in Formula 4, Formula Renault, FIA F3 and Formula 2, Sargeant never raced in his home nation until this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
“It’s amazing to be here,” said Sargeant. “I’ve probably had about a thousand ticket requests at this point – no, maybe a hundred.
“It’s going to be nice to actually take part in my first ever car race in America – that will be pretty cool. Just to see the American fans, our friends and family here. The atmosphere I know is always good in America – the American fans put out. So I’m excited to have that home atmosphere for the first time and really just enjoy every part of the weekend.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Andretti planning European feeder series program (Racer)
“We would set up shop over in England where we’re going to have the engineering shop for the F1 team. If the F1 deal comes through, I want to do Formula 3 and Formula 2 as well. I want to be in control of bringing our drivers up through the system, because then you know what kind of equipment they have and how they’re being treated.”
Don’t have tickets to the Miami Grand Prix? Here are some fun (and free!) fan events (Miami Herald)
“Hyde Beach claims to be hosting the ”ultimate pool party” for Grand Prix groupies on Sunday, and it certainly sounds festive. Twenty-foot-wide LED screens will display the action while guests dance, dine, sip and swim. A highlight of the cookout is a ”Winner’s Circle Burger” made with 100 percent wagyu beef topped with truffle aioli, pork belly and pickled red onions and 24K gold (edible) flakes. This Instagrammable meal will set you back $100, but at least admission is free with RSVP,”
Tommy Hilfiger’s Life in the (Very) Fast Lane (GQ)
“Fast-forward to the ’80s, after I started my brand, my partner, Lawrence Stroll, who now owns Aston Martin and oversees the Aston Martin team, introduced me to Team Lotus, an English team competing, and they needed a clothing sponsor. So we became the clothing sponsor, and we dressed the team. We created these really cool uniforms. We went to the races. We had a big logo on the car and it sort of reintroduced me to the sport. We were going to races in Monte Carlo and Monza and Montreal, and more exotic places than Watkins Glen. And a couple of years later, the Ferrari team thought they needed an apparel partner So we met the powers that be at Ferrari, and designed all the uniforms for the pit crew, for the drivers, for the travelling team.”
Can synthetic fuels save racing as we know it? Probably, but their promise likely ends there (ESPN)
“Instead of drilling crude oil out of the ground, P1’s synthetic fuels use ethanol from waste biomass and renewable-energy-sourced captured carbon and hydrogen from electrolysis of water. Waste biomass ethanol avoids farming new crops for fuel, so is an environmental bonus, while the captured carbon should — in theory — make what comes out of burning the fuel cycle neutral.”
10 Things F1 Driver Logan Sargeant Can’t Live Without (GQ Sports via YouTube)
“From his Williams Racing helmet and an Eminem CD to a ton of Miami sports memorabilia and his passport, these are the Logan Sargeant’s essentials.”
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it to us via the contact form.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Sush Meerkat, Daniel Dumlao and Aimal!
