Drivers speak up against FIA president, Williams pays the 'brutal' price for five crashes in 10 days, and other big updates

Drivers speak up against FIA president

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) has released a letter pushing back against recent penalties from the FIA over swearing. They argued that drivers, as adults, should be free to use casual language when frustrated, as long as it's not directed at others. The GPDA also asked the FIA to be clear about how fine money is used, saying that constant fines make the sport look bad. They also criticized the FIA's rules on personal choices like wearing jewelry, saying drivers don't need such restrictions.

Click here to read the full article by Henry Valantine (planetf1.com)

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Williams pays the 'brutal' price for five crashes in 10 days

Williams endured five major crashes over the Mexico City and São Paulo Grand Prix weekends, a burden that team principal James Vowles says no team could handle easily. Alex Albon collided twice in Mexico—first with Ollie Bearman's Ferrari during practice, then with Yuki Tsunoda in the race. In Brazil, both Albon and teammate Franco Colapinto crashed in a rainy qualifying, and Colapinto crashed again in the race, causing a red flag. Now facing high repair costs and a shortage of spare parts, Williams is struggling to get cars ready for Las Vegas and the rest of the season.

Click here to read the full article by Ian Parkes (racingnews365.com)

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Pirelli reveals tire choices for final races

Pirelli has selected tire compounds for the final three rounds of the Formula 1 season, with all five compounds being used in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. The Las Vegas Grand Prix, from November 21-23, will use the three softest compounds (C3, C4, C5), while the Qatar Grand Prix on November 28-30 will use the hardest compounds (C1, C2, C3). Abu Dhabi, from December 6-8, will also use the same compounds as Las Vegas. After the season finale, a test in Abu Dhabi on December 10 will see teams testing 2024 tires and next year's final versions.

Click here to read the full article by Balazs Szabo  (f1technical.net)

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Norris fine raises questions about F1's aborted-start rule

Lando Norris and George Russell were fined after accidentally starting a second formation lap at the Brazilian Grand Prix when an aborted start was called late. McLaren believes F1's start rules are confusing since the aborted start message came after all cars were already on the grid, causing some to think they needed to do another lap. Team principal Andrea Stella pointed out that the rules mention both "delayed" and "aborted" starts, but the instructions for each case are unclear. He suggested F1 should simplify these rules to avoid similar mix-ups in the future.

Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble (motorsport.com)

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Meet Gabriel Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto is joining Sauber in 2025 to race alongside Nico Hulkenberg. He has done well in F2, leading the championship with two wins and several podiums. Bortoleto’s success in F3 and his strong F2 season caught the attention of McLaren. As Brazil’s first F1 driver since 2017, he will face pressure, but his talent could help Sauber improve as they prepare for Audi’s takeover in 2026.

Click here to read the full article by James Phillips (motorsportweek.com)