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Ocon defends his driving after ‘hurtful abuse’ over Monaco GP crash with Gasly Here is a summary of the article: Esteban Ocon, an Alpine Formula 1 driver, defended his driving after a first-lap collision with teammate Pierre Gasly in the Monaco Grand Prix, which resulted in his DNF (did not finish). Ocon accepted blame for the incident and acknowledged making "honest mistakes" in a high-pressure sport where emotions run high. He emphasized his commitment to working collaboratively with his teammate and the team, despite criticism from Alpine's principal Bruno Famin, who said there would be consequences for Ocon's actions. Ocon expressed sadness over receiving abuse online but defended his character, driving, and career as a tough competitor who also makes mistakes.. Source: Race Fans

“No doubt” Vasseur is right man to lead Ferrari to championships – Leclerc Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc expressed confidence in Ferrari's ability to become world championship contenders under new team principal Frederic Vasseur, stating he has "no doubts" that Vasseur is the right person to lead the team back to success. Meanwhile, Alex Palou set the pace in the opening practice session for the Detroit Grand Prix. In other news, IndyCar drivers Graham Rahal and Kyffin Simpson will receive six-place grid penalties due to exceeding their engine allocations. Additionally, Jamie Chadwick credited gaining muscle over the off-season for her improved form in the Indy Nxt series, taking her first podium in the championship.. Source: Race Fans

Can an F1 car beat a speedway bike on dirt? Hold my Red Bull... Formula 1 drivers David Coulthard and Mark Webber participated in an unusual event, racing a Speedway bike and F1 car on a short dirt track at Wrocław's Stadion Olimpijski. The F1 car struggled due to unique Pirelli tires designed for the dirt track, but still managed to keep up with the speedway bike. Despite being out of practice, Webber started strong but was eventually defeated by Coulthard, who adapted to the clockwise direction. The two drivers ended in a 1-1 draw, with Coulthard suggesting no ride swap for future events due to safety concerns. Coulthard found that racing on the dirt track required quick reactions similar to rally driving and suggested ways to improve his performance, including having more space to maneuver.. Source: Racer

Latest Antonelli test was not a “shootout” – Mercedes Mercedes held a recent test at Silverstone featuring drivers Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, and Mick Schumacher, which was not a "shootout" to decide its future driver lineup as previously claimed. The test involved each driver completing different programs under varying conditions, with no simultaneous testing. Mercedes clarified that the unverified speculation did not accurately reflect the events of the test. A three-day test is scheduled for next week in Spain using the 2022 specification W13 chassis. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a Formula 2 driver, is being considered to replace Lewis Hamilton, who will leave the team at the end of the year.. Source: Race Fans

Ocon defends his driving after ‘hurtful abuse’ over Monaco GP crash with Gasly Esteban Ocon has defended his driving after a first-lap collision with teammate Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix, which forced him out of the race. Ocon acknowledged making mistakes but rejected claims he has a tendency to collide with teammates. He accepted blame for the incident and emphasized that Formula 1 is a high-intensity sport where emotions run high. Ocon expressed disappointment over online abuse and negativity he received, stating that he will continue to work collaboratively with Gasly and Alpine.. Source: Race Fans

Ferrari technical director targeted by Aston Martin for F1 switch Aston Martin, owned by Lawrence Stroll, is trying to poach Laurent Cardile, Ferrari's head of chassis and aerodynamics, to join their technical team. Cardile played a key role in developing Ferrari's recent cars, including the SF-24 that won the Monaco Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc. Aston Martin aims to strengthen their technical department to compete more effectively against top teams like Ferrari. Meanwhile, Red Bull's outgoing chief technical officer Adrian Newey is reportedly considering a move to Ferrari, but Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur prioritizes maintaining stability within his current staff over potential new signings.. Source: Motorsport

Alpine's Monaco drama: Ocon blasts 'hurtful and damaging' talk Esteban Ocon defended himself on social media after colliding with Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix, causing damage to his car's gearbox and forcing him out of the race. Alpine team principal Bruno Famin threatened "consequences" and named Ocon as the guilty party, sparking speculation he may be stood down for the Canadian Grand Prix. Ocon acknowledged responsibility but disputed Gasly's version of events, citing past clashes with other teammates. Despite controversy, Ocon is expected to leave Alpine at the end of the year and has other F1 suitors. Meanwhile, Gasly accused teammate Charles Leclerc of deliberately pushing him into a spin during the race, which Leclerc denied, stating he is willing to work with Gasly and emphasizing their team-first approach.. Source: The Race

Pirelli working on softer C6 compound for F1 street tracks in 2025 Pirelli, Formula 1's tire supplier, plans to expand its compound selection in 2025 to better suit street circuits on the schedule. Currently offering six slick compounds with three soft, medium, and hard options per event, Pirelli is testing a new, even softer compound at Paul Ricard, which will be introduced alongside an additional C6 compound next year. The goal is to reduce overheating while maintaining degradation, allowing for more flexible strategies and potentially increasing the number of homologated compounds from six to seven or eight. This change is not requested by teams but rather a proactive move by Pirelli to adapt to the evolving calendar and promote one- and two-stop strategies.. Source: Racer

From Mansell mania to Senna in Sao Paulo – The most emotional home wins in F1 The 1955 Argentine Grand Prix was the opening round of the Formula 1 season, held in extreme heat conditions. Juan Manuel Fangio, an Argentine driver, drove a Mercedes W196 for the entire race despite suffering burns on his leg due to a chassis tube rubbing against it. Despite this, he persevered and won the race, earning the admiration of the home crowd. This victory marked one of three consecutive wins by Fangio in the Argentine Grand Prix from 1955 to 1957...png) Source: Formula 1

Pirelli open to soft-tyre-only F1 Monaco GP, but skeptical The Monaco Formula 1 race lacked overtaking due to similar starting positions among top ten drivers. Mercedes driver George Russell proposed using only soft tires, which Pirelli's Mario Isola is willing to simulate with teams. However, Isola believes this change would lead to greater tire conservation rather than dramatic results and rejected other ideas, such as mandating pitstops or softer tires. Instead, he suggests considering all proposals and simulations to mix up one-stop and two-stop strategies with different compounds used. Pirelli's director discussed potential changes for Monaco and street circuits, including softening tires for two-stop strategies in Miami and Las Vegas, and nearly finalized new slick tyres designed to reduce overheating, set to debut next year, as well as a softer compound specifically for street circuits.. Source: Motorsport

How the midfield’s hottest team mate rivalry boiled over Here is a summary of the article about Formula 1: Alpine F1 teammates Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have a long-standing feud dating back to their karting days, fueled by Gasly's claims that Ocon didn't take kindly to being beaten by him. The two drivers, both one-time grand prix winners, have clashed on track multiple times, including during the Monaco Grand Prix and Hungarian Grand Prix. Their rivalry is considered one of the most intense in F1, with each driver determined to outdo the other regardless of their team's overall situation. Despite initial struggles due to an underperforming car, Alpine improved as the season progressed, and Ocon eventually edged ahead of Gasly to finish 16 points behind him. The collision between Ocon and Gasly during the Hungarian Grand Prix has raised concerns about their relationship and the team's lineup, with Team Principal Bruno Famin initially threatening "consequences" but potentially considering a longer-term change in the driver lineup due to their intense rivalry.. Source: Race Fans

Latest Antonelli test was not a “shootout” – Mercedes Mercedes denied claims that a recent test involving Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, and Mick Schumacher was a "shootout" to decide its future line-up. The test at Silverstone saw each driver complete different programs in varying conditions, with no simultaneous testing. Mercedes emphasized it wasn't a comparison or evaluation of drivers, but rather individual opportunities for them to complete tasks. A further three-day test is scheduled next week at Circuit de Catalunya featuring the team's 2022 W13 chassis, allowing Mercedes to evaluate Antonelli and other candidates for Lewis Hamilton's vacant seat by the end of the year.. Source: Race Fans

Ferrari is back, but don't tell Vasseur: 'If you think you are good, you are dead' Ferrari has closed the gap with Red Bull in the Formula 1 championship, with Charles Leclerc within 31 points of Max Verstappen. Team boss Frederic Vasseur attributes their success to a top-to-bottom overhaul, making every department more efficient and performant. The team has become more confident and less tense under his leadership, with clear vision and strategy for success. Ferrari is focused on the next race rather than looking ahead to the end of the championship, with Vasseur emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and development. The team's recent win at Monaco has boosted confidence, particularly for Leclerc who had gone 40 races without a victory. Carlos Sainz, expected to leave the team at the end of the season, remains committed despite not being able to win due to Lewis Hamilton's arrival next year. Vasseur celebrated the team's victory in the Constructors' Championship by emphasizing everyone's role in achieving success and acknowledging the team's dedication and professionalism under his leadership.. Source: Motorsport

McLaren can now compete for wins everywhere - Piastri McLaren driver Oscar Piastri believes his team's recent podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix demonstrates their capability to compete for victory on any circuit type. The team has been competitive on three different circuits in the past three races: Miami, Imola, and Monaco. Piastri credits the latest upgrades, which have improved performance in low-speed corners, for their improved form. Team principal Andrea Stella agrees, noting that the upgraded car provides more downforce in all conditions, particularly in slow corners, making it well-behaved and competitive on circuits with tight turns. Piastri is confident that McLaren can be in contention every weekend due to the tight pecking order among teams, with four teams potentially able to take pole position in qualifying.. Source: Racer

Pirelli working on softer C6 compound for F1 street tracks in 2025 Pirelli plans to introduce a new, softer tire compound in 2025 to address overheating issues on street circuits, which make up a growing portion of the Formula 1 calendar. The company currently offers six slick compounds per weekend, with three nominated as soft, medium, and hard options. Testing has been done at Paul Ricard to develop an even softer compound, expected to be homologated in 2025, for use on multiple circuits. This move aims to encourage a mix of one- and two-stop strategies and provide more strategic flexibility for teams. Additionally, Pirelli proposes increasing the number of compounds it homologates from six to offer more options for teams.. Source: Racer

Alpine releases long-serving operations chief White in further F1 team shake-up Alpine Formula 1 team has announced the departure of Operations Director Rob White due to a wider operational restructure. White had been with the team since 2016 and previously worked for Renault's powertrain arm and Cosworth's F1 engine project. The team is struggling in the 2024 season, having scored only two points in eight races, and has recently implemented a three-pillar technical leadership structure. Additionally, the team is addressing weight issues with their 2024 car, which was initially 10kg overweight. The team has also been dealing with tensions between drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, who collided during a race, causing significant damage to both cars. Team boss Cyril Abiteboul warned of "consequences" for Ocon following the incident.. Source: Motorsport

McLaren chasing answers to unexpected F1 upgrade success McLaren's recent updates to their MCL38 car have resulted in unexpected lap time improvements, with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri achieving top finishes. Team principal Andrea Stella attributes this improvement to increased driver confidence, allowing them to push harder, as well as technical elements at play. Despite the actual downforce gain being on target, the team is investigating why the lap time gains are greater than expected, particularly in low-speed corners, to inform further car development.. Source: Motorsport

Las Vegas GP promises reduced disruption in 2024 The Las Vegas Grand Prix is scheduled for November 23 and aims to minimize disruption and improve communication compared to its inaugural edition. The track build process has been reduced, as the surface is already paved, eliminating the need for extensive preparatory work. Organizers, including Formula 1's chief commercial officer Emily Prazer, acknowledge concerns from local residents and workers about the impact of the race on traffic and access routes. To address these issues, a stronger community and communications plan has been developed to ensure clear communication with stakeholders, including hotel visitors, employees, and the general public, which will be launched in June.. Source: Racer

Special tire wouldn’t solve Monaco issues - Pirelli Pirelli is considering creating a specialized tire compound for the Monaco Grand Prix due to its unique challenges, but faces difficulties in testing and validation because of limited opportunities at the track. Despite this, teams would likely prioritize managing pace to extend tire life rather than seeking overtaking opportunities, which are scarce at Monaco due to narrow roads and large cars.. Source: Racer

Hamilton ceded new front wing to Russell in Monaco, Shovlin says During the Monaco Grand Prix, Mercedes made an unconventional decision by allowing George Russell to run a new front wing upgrade despite only having one available. This was initiated by Lewis Hamilton, who suggested that Russell take the update instead of himself. Typically, the team waits until they have multiple updates before bringing them to the track, but in this case, they decided to bring it to Monaco to improve performance and close the gap to top teams. The team plans to have more updates available in future races and will alternate between drivers. Hamilton was positive about Mercedes' development rate, saying its true performance will be shown at circuits like Barcelona.. Source: Racer