Fast Five: F1 Commission to vote on sprint changes today, Leclerc apologizes for new song mishap, and other big updates

F1 Commission to vote on Sprint changes today

Today, a vote will take place on whether to implement proposed changes to Sprint weekends in Formula One, with the changes hoped to encourage drivers to take more risks and attack more. The proposed changes mean that Friday's qualifying would set the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix, while a Saturday morning sprint qualifying will determine the sprint order later that afternoon. If approved, the changes will need further approval from the FIA's World Motor Sport Council to be in place for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Click here to read the full article by Andrew Maitland (grandpx.news)

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AlphaTauri hires Ferrari racing director

Ferrari Racing Director Laurent Mekies is set to join AlphaTauri Formula 1 team, working alongside Team Principal Franz Tost. This move is part of a wider personnel rearrangement at AlphaTauri, which also includes the recent signing of Lars Stegelmann as Head of Commercial. Despite offers to purchase the team, including one for $800m, Red Bull remains committed to improving the performance of their second team, suggesting AlphaTauri is not for sale for the foreseeable future.

Click here to read the full article by Luke Murphy & Dieter Rencken (RacingNews365.com).

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Leclerc apologizes for new song mishap

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F1 driver Charles Leclerc apologized to fans on Twitter for his song not being available on Spotify, saying his team is working on it and it will be back on the platform soon. Fans had been expressing disappointment over not being able to find Leclerc's song - titled AUS23 (1:1) - on the streaming platform. The song features Leclerc's piano skills and has been praised by fans for showcasing his musical talent outside of racing.

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Smedley mulls potential F1 comeback

Rob Smedley has said he still gets offers to return to F1, but he'd only return if the "right project" was available. The former race engineer to Felipe Massa at Ferrari stated that he doesn't want to return just to make up the numbers. Instead, he's more interested in working with a team with a strong possibility and is committed to winning.

Click here to read the full article by Jake Nichol (racingnews365.com).

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Hamilton, Musk plan space adventure

Lewis Hamilton, seven-time F1 world champion, has confirmed plans for a trip to space with SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk. Hamilton has spoken with Musk and is eager to join a space voyage, although he is willing to let others go first due to the risks involved. Meanwhile, Hamilton currently ranks fourth in the drivers' standings after the first three rounds of the 2023 F1 season.

Click here to read the full article by Formula1.com.