Fast Five: Aston Martin declares £53M loss for 2022 season, Williams sets 'clear targets' for Sargeant, and other big updates

Aston Martin declares £53M loss for 2022 season

Aston Martin reported a £53 million loss for its 2022 Formula 1 season, an increase from its 2021 deficit, despite a turnover boost of £32 million from sponsorships and prize money. The company expanded its F1 presence, opening a new factory in July. The figures showed a turnover of £187.7 million for AMR GP in 2022, up from £150.4 million in 2021, but racing expenses also rose significantly to £152 million. With other costs considered, the total loss reached £52.9 million compared to £43.3 million in 2021. China's Geely holds a 17% stake in the company, and AMR GP had 504 employees, with marketing contributions down slightly. 

Click here to read the full article by Fergal Walsh (racingnews365.com)

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Williams sets 'clear targets' for Sargeant

Williams Team Principal James Vowles emphasizes that Logan Sargeant must achieve specific performance goals to secure his Formula 1 seat for 2024 but reaffirms that Sargeant remains their preferred choice. Sargeant, the only driver without points this season, has struggled against teammate Alex Albon. Despite recent incidents, Williams is committed to helping Sargeant reach his targets and succeed, acknowledging the challenges faced by rookie drivers. Vowles agrees with Williams' Head of Vehicle Performance that Sargeant's recent incidents have masked his steady improvement, highlighting performance similarities and disadvantages compared to Albon. 

Click here to read the full article by Taylor Powling (motorsportweek.com)

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Alpine in talks with Schumacher for 2024 endurance racing

Interim Alpine F1 team boss Bruno Famin has confirmed discussions with Mick Schumacher about a potential drive in the 2024 World Endurance Championship. Alpine is returning to endurance racing and sees this as an opportunity for both parties. Famin also mentioned ongoing assessments and changes in the F1 team to improve performance and collaboration among the staff at both factory sites.

Click here to read the full article on formula1.com

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How F1 tires are fitted

Formula One TV presenter Will Buxton joins F1 technical expert Albert Fabrega to give a detailed demonstration on how to prepare a tire for the track. Fabrega revealed that similar to regular cars, all the rims in a Pirelli F1 tire are the same. So, the first step is to securely fix, tighten, and apply glue to the rim to keep the tire in place. It's quite similar to changing a regular tire, but this is just the starting point. Click here to watch the video.

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Mercedes strategist talks damage limitation

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Mercedes' Head of Race Strategy, Rosie Wait, fielded questions from fans regarding some racing and split strategy for Lewis and George at the Japanese GP. Rosie explained that Mercedes' primary strategic focus for the race was centered on regaining track position. She acknowledged that Suzuka was a challenging circuit for overtaking, so they planned to make fewer pit stops than their competitors in order to maintain their position on the track.