Race Weekend Central

F1 Review: Max Verstappen Magnificent in Mexico, Lost Opportunities Aplenty

2021 Mexico Formula 1 Max Verstappen Lars Baron Getty Red Bull

(Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

Max Verstappen failed to earn the pole for the Mexican Grand Prix and it may have been a blessing in disguise. His third-place starting position allowed him to use the slipstream to blow past the Mercedes front row and then steal off into the distance. With P1 secure, he tore away from second-place Lewis Hamilton …

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Slipstream Saturday: Max Verstappen Sending a Message in Mexico

Max Verstappen paces the F1 field during practice for the Mexican Grand Prix. (Photo: Getty Images)

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 05: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on November 05, 2021 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202111050806 // Usage for editorial use only //

While NASCAR may be wrapping up its season this weekend, Formula 1 has traveled to Mexico City, Mexico.  The Mexican Grand Prix comprises one of the season’s final five races, and Max Verstappen leads Lewis Hamilton by 12 points (287.5 – 275.5) in the driver’s standings after winning the American GP in declarative fashion on …

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F1 Midweek: F1 Celebrates Stellar Return to the U.S.

F1 made a triumphant return to the U.S. in October 2021 with the U.S. Grand Prix. (Photo: Getty Images)

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda during the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 24, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

This past weekend (Oct. 23-24), Formula 1 made its return to the U.S. F1 visited Texas and the Circuit of the Americas for the first time since 2019. Max Verstappen won the 2021 United States Grand Prix in thrilling fashion, holding off Lewis Hamilton over the final six laps, who had closed the gap from …

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F1 Review: Max Verstappen Wins USGP in Commanding Fashion

F1 Grand Prix Of Usa

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium with NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal during the F1 Grand Prix of USA at Circuit of The Americas on October 24, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202110250089 // Usage for editorial use only //

Red Bull and Mercedes used different strategies to give their Formula 1 drivers the best chance of winning the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday (Oct. 24). When the checkered flag waved on lap 56, Red Bull and Max Verstappen prevailed, giving him his eighth win of the year and …

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Slipstream Saturday: Mercedes Tinkering & the Colton Herta Question

Formula One COTA NASCAR 2021

Mercedes on track at COTA, 2021 United States Grand Prix, Friday (credit: LAT Images / Mercedes F1)

Formula 1 is back in the U.S.! After a hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the series has returned and brought with it the drama of a close title battle. While Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen may be stealing the spotlight, that does not mean that the lights are not shining on other parts …

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F1 Midweek: Circuit of the Americas in the Spotlight; Danica Patrick on Sky Sports?

F1 Grand Prix Of Usa, Max Verstappen

(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

After a one-year hiatus owing to the restrictions enacted by Formula 1 regarding travel and COVID-19, the series returns to Texas for the U.S. Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. This trip is the first in the final half-dozen races of the season and the first of two in North America, with the Mexican …

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F1 Review: Steady & Smooth Valtteri Bottas Wins Wet Turkish Grand Prix

Valtteri Bottas celebrates winning the Turkish Grand Prix, drinking champagne, LAT Images

Valtteri Bottas celebrating his Turkish GP win (Photo: LAT Images via Mercedes AMG F1)

Valtteri Bottas nailed the start of the Turkish Grand Prix and then set sail on his way to claiming his 10th win in Formula 1. Bottas’ last win came at the Russian GP in 2020 and he had struggled through some poor performances in 2021, but after starting from pole, he put together a clean …

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Should NASCAR Be Following Formula 1’s Lead?

NASCAR Female Fan Nashville 2021

Female NASCAR fans, the overlooked demographic (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

I’ve been running into some fascinating surprises over the past few months. Of course, nothing foreshadows these little moments, and, really, they seem to be tangential conversational detours. But what I’ve encountered is that many women are starting to watch Formula 1. As a usual F1 scribe, I love to hear this. Not only does …

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F1 Midweek: Tires & the Turkish Grand Prix; Underwhelming Aston Martin

Lance Stroll Feature

(Photo: Aston Martin Media)

With Formula 1 returning to action this weekend after a rest weekend, there are a number of topics to consider as the teams turn laps in Turkey. The main focus for the weekend will no doubt center on the driver’s championship and the close race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen (246.5 points – 244.5). …

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F1 Midweek: Losing & Learning, McLaren & Lando Norris

Lando Norris, Mclaren Mcl35m Front On

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M out front at Sochi (credit: McLaren Media)

This past Sunday (Sept. 26) at the Russian Grand Prix, Lando Norris gave away what would have been his first Formula 1 win. His mistake came when he thought he could manage his slick tires to the end of the race on an increasingly wet track. While it might be easy to chalk up his …

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F1 Review: Sir Lewis Hamilton Extends His Excellence at the Russian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton emerged victorious at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix. (Photo: Steve Etherington / Mercedes)

Lewis Hamilton celebrates at the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, Sunday - (credit:Steve Etherington, Mercedes - AMG)

Lewis Hamilton started fourth, got squeezed heading into turn 1, fell back to seventh, and then started his climb through the Russian Grand Prix field.  By lap 2, he had taken sixth but could not make the gains that would be anticipated from his Mercedes in the early stages of the race. Instead, he held …

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F1 Slipstream Saturday: Aston Martin Stays the Course, Red Bull Make Excuses and Schumacher

Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin Amr21

Action, Autodromo Nazionale Monza, GP2114a, F1, GP, Italy Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21 (credit: Aston Martin Media)

With Formula 1 taking the weekend off before returning in Sochi, Russia, the news cycle has been somewhat quiet. That, of course, does not mean that are not a few things to check on as the sport heads off for the penultimate race at the Sochi Autodrom. Odds & Sods – Aston Martin announced that …

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