Pirelli's IT glitch disrupts qualifying data, Leclerc blames grip struggles for Mexico qualifying setback, and other updates

Pirelli's IT glitch disrupts qualifying data

A server crash for Pirelli disrupted data for timing screens and broadcast graphics during the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix qualifying. This caused incorrect information, such as showing McLaren and Ferrari drivers on soft tires when they were actually on mediums and failing to display whether the tires were new or used. Pirelli's Mario Isola explained the issue stemmed from a system failure that blocked data from reaching F1, a problem that had never occurred before. Pirelli is investigating the cause to prevent future issues during the race.

Click here to read the full article by Alex Kalinauckas (motorsport.com)

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Leclerc blames grip struggles for Mexico qualifying setback

Charles Leclerc struggled with grip and feeling during qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix, which limited his performance. A slide at Turn 10 in Q3 prevented him from challenging for a higher grid position, leaving him fourth, 0.319 seconds behind teammate Carlos Sainz. Leclerc admitted he often pushes too hard on low-grip tracks, which has caused problems before, like in Monza. Even with this issue, he feels confident his race pace will be stronger, as it was good in practice.

Click here to read the full article by Michael Delaney (f1i.com)

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Russell downplays budget cap concerns after crashes

George Russell has downplayed worries that his recent crashes could push Mercedes over Formula 1's budget cap, even though team boss Toto Wolff is concerned. Wolff said that Russell's latest crash during practice put the team in "serious trouble," following another crash at the United States Grand Prix that damaged key upgrades. Russell believes using older parts might help the team focus on next season and said he has no worries about the budget cap. 

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

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What it's like to be Albon

What's it really like to be Alex Albon for the day? Behind the scenes in Austin, Albon starts his day by interacting with the team and snapping a few pictures with his surprise helmet. He talks about the city, the food, and the weather and signs a couple of autographs. After the fan zone, he wraps up his day by playing tennis with Vowles and a few team members.

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How drivers pulled up at the Austin GP

This year's Austin GP showcased some of the most impressive road cars and motorbikes ever seen. Starting with the Ferrari drivers, who drove a Ferrari Purosangue, and these bad boys each have suicide doors. So if you're seated in the back, you'll want to keep your seatbelt on at all times. Perez and Verstappen showed up in a Ford F-150, while Norris stood out in a pricey vintage car.