In the summary: Pierre Gasly hopes AlphaTauri will have their first ‘clean weekend’ of the season in Barcelona.
In short
Gasly hopes for AlphaTauri’s first ‘clean weekend’ of the season in Spain
AlphaTauri is currently seventh in the constructors’ championship with 16 points but has made no significant upgrades to the AT03 for this weekend’s race. Gasly says he’s more concerned about the team enjoying a trouble-free weekend than the lack of updates compared to their rivals.
“I haven’t really read much about which team brings what,” Gasly says. “It’s more like trying to watch us over the last few weekends – what went right, what went wrong. How can we just maximize because I feel like so far in this season we haven’t really had a clean weekend.
“For various reasons, we were never really able to get a clean qualifying, a clean race, with no problems and maximizing the points at the end of the day, that’s what we have to do. In the middle of the field, we have six cars capable of finishing between seventh and tenth, so it’s quite difficult, but at the same time it’s a good challenge and it puts more pressure on us to perform at a higher level.
“Like last year, even sometimes we were performing at 98-99% of our potential and were still there. This year I don’t think we have that buffer compared to last year. We just have to be great every time, especially if we want to score points.
Andretti struggling with BMW works team transition, says Griffiths
Andretti Formula E team principal Roger Griffiths admits the team has struggled to adapt to the loss of BMW resources following the transition from a factory team to an independent outfit.
Andretti still uses a BMW powertrain, with only one homologation for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons. However, the German brand left the series at the end of last year and the team has since struggled to find similar performance, despite maintaining access to BMW simulation and engineering facilities.
The team started the 2022 season relatively strong, with a third podium finish for Jake Dennis and a points finish for rookie Oliver Askew in Diriyah’s first race. However, Dennis struggled to score more than a handful of points and Askew hasn’t been able to find a competitive rhythm since.
“I think it’s thanks to us as a team moving from a factory BMW team to an independent team,” Griffiths explained. “We don’t quite have the resources we had before, we’re learning more about how to drive the car on our own.
“With this learning, there will always be one or two cases that don’t always work. I think we got caught up in Rome with the pace of the cars there and how it evolved and we just didn’t do enough. We reacted pretty well in Mexico but ultimately there were other challenges we faced there that held us back a bit. But we made progress each time. So every time we come out of a race, we understand the shortcomings we may have had, and how to work on them and improve.
Quotes: Hazel Southwell
Hadjar “really impressive”, says Hitech F3 boss
Hitech GP founder Oliver Oakes said he was impressed with how quickly Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar has adapted to the team so far in this year’s FIA F3 Championship.
The 17-year-old is part of the Red Bull Junior team and is playing his first season in the FIA F3 championship. Hadjar finished third in this year’s Formula Regional Asian Series with the team before moving up to the FIA F3 Championship, where he sits fifth after four races after winning the opening round in Bahrain.
“I think Isack was a bit of a surprise,” Hitech boss Oakes said. “Last year we had two really talented recruits and it was obvious to us that they were going to be really good, finding their feet. What surprised us with Isack was that he found his feet a lot more rapidly.
“I think what surprised me, more than his results, was how seriously he takes it, how much he studies with his engineer and it’s really nice to see at that age. Because normally it’s the battle, really, as a team – trying to get across to them that at F3 and F2 level you can be as talented as you want, but all the details matter. positioning on the track, your tire warm-up – it’s all so difficult with 30 cars and I think the way he’s handled it so far has been really impressive.
Quotes: Hazel Southwell
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social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Incredible to live my first day of testing in a @F1 auto. To have something I dreamed of since I was a little boy come true was very special and I can’t thank @AlpineF1Team enough to give me this opportunity. pic.twitter.com/YLVzeSYGSw
—Jack Doohan (@jackdoohan33) May 19, 2022
Now to understand how to use scissors 🤔💇♂️👨🦲 pic.twitter.com/ypd1FYLmkt
— Alex Albon (@alex_albon) May 19, 2022
Both McLarens are fitted with new carbon fiber brake covers. The old titanium parts eventually disappeared. #AMuS #F1 #Spanish GP pic.twitter.com/CQzHFNvvXo
— Tobi Grüner 🏁 (@tgruener) May 19, 2022
Formula 1 aims to be Net-Zero Carbon by 2030, from factory to flag. Together with key stakeholders, including promoters, we work to leave a legacy of positive change everywhere we race.
Here is what the @circuitcat_eng made to help this weekend #Spanish GP pic.twitter.com/0Je6nCEB3y
— F1 Media (@F1Media) May 19, 2022
Please can we relax calling drivers who are over 35 veterans all the time. They are DRIVERS… did Mario and AJ, when they were driving in their 50s, have to listen to the same weird lingo. “Veteran Ed.. Veteran TK.. Veteran Scotty. It’s weird.
— Emma Davies Dixon (@EmmaDaviesDixon) May 19, 2022
Connections
Interesting motorsport links:
Mercedes participates in secret test in bid to overcome current racing problems (Telegraph)
“It is understood Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell drove the revamped Mercedes in a behind closed doors test on Wednesday.”
“Welcome to my world, Lewis!” Fernando Alonso on life in F1 (BBC)
“It’s the nature of the sport. Sometimes you have a better car, sometimes you don’t have such a good car and you always have to fight and improve.”
McLaren launches British GP fundraising challenge to raise £59,000 for charity Mind (Formula 1)
“One Lap for Mind will be a fundraising challenge where participants can walk, run or cycle 5.9km – the distance of one lap of the Silverstone circuit – between June 27 and July 3, i.e. by covering the full distance in one stroke, or by breaking it down into steps.”
Interview with Jamie Chadwick: “Entering F1 as a woman is not about sex, just money” (Evening Standard)
“Of course I would like to be in Formula 1. That’s the ultimate goal and there’s a long way to go. I’m realistic in what I have to achieve and I know there’s still a lot to achieve. . It puts pressure on me, but I’m convinced it’s possible.”
Crazy F1 student from Northampton University joins Mercedes team (Northants Live)
“I looked on the map and knew it was close to some of the main teams in F1 which made me think maybe I could get a placement in one of them. – and here I am, now studying for a Masters and working for Mercedes F1.”
20 of the best runners in the world who failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 (Jalopnik)
“When Juan Manuel Fangio arrived at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1958, he did so to great fanfare. He was already a famous F1 champion, and he was one of motorsports most revered drivers. Unfortunately , his Kurtis Kraft machine just wasn’t up to snuff, and Fangio failed to achieve competitive speed.”
FIA Motorsport Games ready for return in 2022 (FIA)
“From October 26-30, 2022, around 80 nations are expected to compete, representing the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) of each country. They will race in a significantly expanded program of 17 disciplines. covering the spectrum of motorsport, organized at the three sites of Circuit Paul Ricard, Veynes and St. Baume.”
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