F1 Fast Five: Sergio Pérez's father rushed to hospital after stress-induced emergency, How downforce keeps cars grounded, and other big updates

Sergio Pérez's father rushed to hospital after stress-induced emergency

After the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Sergio Pérez's father, Antonio Pérez Garibay, was taken to the hospital after he was found unconscious at his home in Mexico City. The medical issue was thought to be caused by the stress from his son's crash during the race. Sergio Pérez had collided with Carlos Sainz on Lap 50, and both were forced to leave the race, with no one being blamed. Oscar Piastri won the race, and George Russell got a podium finish thanks to the Virtual Safety Car.

Click here to read the full article by Alex Harrington (si.com)

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How downforce keeps cars grounded

Formula 1 cars generate downforce using advanced aerodynamics, including wings and ground effect designs, which allows them to corner at high speeds. The front and rear wings play a crucial role by shaping airflow to push the car toward the ground, while the floor's ground effect creates a low-pressure area underneath for additional downforce. At higher speeds, an F1 car can generate downforce up to three times its own weight, boosting grip, stability, and cornering performance. Engineers continually refine these aerodynamic elements to balance downforce and drag for optimal track performance.

Click here to read the full article by George Howson (f1chronicle.com)

Ferrari's SF-24 gains momentum ahead of Hamilton's arrival

The win at Monza might have seemed like a one-off, but the Azerbaijan Grand Prix showed that Ferrari’s SF-24 is improving, finishing just behind Piastri’s MCL38. At Monza, Ferrari introduced new parts for the car, including a new floor and diffuser, which helped make the car more stable and better at managing tires. These upgrades worked well in both Monza and Baku. Ferrari is hopeful for a good result in Singapore, but they’ll need to see how they perform at Austin to truly measure their progress against McLaren and Red Bull.

Click here to read the full article by Francesco Bianchi (gpblog.com)

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Is Piastri a future F1 champion?

Oscar Piastri's performance in Azerbaijan was one of the standout moments of the F1 season so far. His drive in Baku was impressive, and it left many fans wondering if he could be a future F1 world champion. Lando Norris also had a strong race, which helped McLaren lead the constructors' championship.

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Why has Mercedes slowed down after summer?

Mercedes won three of four races before the 2024 summer break, but things have since gone downhill. Is it due to struggles with car development, as George Russell hints at with the "infuriating" Pirelli tires, or does Mercedes still lack the understanding needed for ground-effect cars? There's only one way to find out.