Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
Sausage kerbs scrutinized after spinal injury, Liberty's NFL-inspired turnaround, and other big updates from around the world of Formula 1.
- Sausage kerbs scrutinized after spinal injury
- Liberty's NFL-inspired turnaround
- Azerbaijan GP sprint impacts raises tension
- Yuki vs. bullet train
- Overhaul FIA rulebook after "unfair" Australian GP finish
Sausage kerbs scrutinized after spinal injury
FRECA driver Adam Fitzgerald suffered a spinal injury after hitting sausage kerbs at Imola, causing him to withdraw from the remainder of the race weekend. The incident, which resulted in three fractured vertebrae, has intensified scrutiny of sausage kerbs' safety in Formula Motorsport. Notably, drivers like Lando Norris and Valtteri Bottas have openly spoken about removing sausage kerbs. This is not the first time drivers have sustained back injuries due to high kerbing, prompting calls for alternative solutions to improve driver safety on the track.
Click here to read the full article by Thomas Maher (planetf1.com).
Liberty's NFL-inspired turnaround
Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei discussed how they took inspiration from the NFL to improve F1's financial situation for teams. With four main goals, including creating more on-track parity, a less steeply graded payout structure, new designs for overtaking, and making teams franchises, Liberty Media aimed to foster a healthy ecosystem for the sport. As a result, F1 is experiencing explosive growth, and teams are starting to turn a profit.
Click here to read the full article by Jake Nichol (RacingNews365.com)
Azerbaijan GP sprint impacts raises tension
Aston Martin's F1 Performance Director, Tom McCullough, has expressed concern about the potential for costly accident damage caused by the two-race format in Baku City Circuit. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will host the first Sprint weekend of the season, where drivers will compete in a 100km race on Saturday and the full Grand Prix distance on Sunday. With these races scheduled after street events in Australia and Miami, McCullough noted that the cost cap could be impacted, as teams are only given a financial allowance for Sprint weekends. He also shared his opinion on the potential changes to the qualifying format, stating that he is not convinced about the proposal to get faster cars at the back of the grid and slower ones at the front.
Click here to read the full article by Ewan Gale (racingnews365.com).
Yuki vs. bullet train
Japanese Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda recently showcased his speed, racing against a bullet train in Japan. The event, shared by Red Bull Motor Japan's official Twitter account (@redbullmotorJP), showcased Tsunoda's extraordinary driving skills as he went head-to-head with the high-speed train, also known as Shinkansen. The thrilling spectacle highlights not only Tsunoda's prowess behind the wheel but also the impressive engineering of Japan's advanced transportation systems.
Overhaul FIA rulebook after "unfair" Australian GP finish
Former F1 driver and Le Mans winner Stefan Johansson, has criticized F1's attempts to end races under green flag conditions, calling it "unfair" and leading to questionable decision-making. Johansson believes the lines between sport and entertainment are becoming increasingly blurred under Liberty Media. Instead of trying to reset a race to resume under green flag conditions, Johansson suggests F1 shouldn't be afraid of ending a race behind a Safety Car, even if it does annoy fans who are there purely for the entertainment side. He argues that F1 should focus more on the sporting level rather than the show.
Click here to read the full article by Thomas Maher (planetf1.com).