Race Weekend Central

Slipstream Saturday: News from the Saudi Arabian GP as the F1 Show Must Go On

F1 Grand Prix Of Saudi Arabia Practice

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 25: Sparks fly behind Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 25, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202203250569 // Usage for editorial use only //

Formula 1 faces the issue of racing in Saudi Arabia as the Houthi separatists attacked a nearby Aramco oil facility. After more than four hours of meetings between the governing body, the drivers, and the team principals, the race will proceed as scheduled. Currently, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc looks to be leading the way.

Slipstream Saturday: The F1 Barcelona Test – Pace, Porpoising, Power, & Politics

2022 Barcelona Pre Season Test, Day 3 Wolfgang Wilhelm

2022 Barcelona Pre-Season Test, Day3 - Wolfgang Wilhelm

With the first pre-season test for the Formula 1 season over, it is time to look at some of the storylines that emerged from Barcelona.

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 …

Read more

George Russell, Valtteri Bottas, Sebastian Vettel to Receive Grid Penalties at US Grand Prix

Valtteri Bottas Wolfgang Wilhelm

(Photo: Wolfgang Wilhelm/Mercedes AMG F1 Media)

George Russell and Valtteri Bottas will both join Sebastian Vettel in receiving grid penalties for this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, the Formula 1 teams announced on Oct. 22. Bottas, who won the most recent grand prix in Turkey on Oct. 10 for his first victory of the 2021 season, will be hit with a …

Read more

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). …

Read more

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 …

Read more

Lance Stroll, Sebastian Vettel Returning to Aston Martin

Sebastian vettel

(credit: FIA Images)

The driver lineup for Aston Martin will remain the same next year, the team announced Thursday (Sept. 16). Both Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel will continue to drive for the organization in Formula 1. “Next season I will be embarking on my sixth year in Formula One, alongside my team-mate Sebastian,” Stroll said in a …

Read more

F1 Midweek: The Belgian Grand Prix Debacle & Silly Season’s Answers

Rain cut short the Belgian Grand Prix to just a single lap in a race won by Max Verstappen. (Photo: Getty Images)

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB16B and George Russell (GBR) Williams Racing FW43B behind the Mercedes FIA Safety Car. Belgian Grand Prix, Sunday 29th August 2021. Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.

The Belgian Grand Prix last weekend stands as the shortest “race” in Formula 1 history, as well as the most pathetic excuse of an event.  Even a few days after the GP, the sport is dealing with the fallout and recognizing that how it handled things in Belgium was unacceptable. Many drivers voiced their opinions, …

Read more

F1 Review: Max Verstappen Wins the Belgian Grand Prix That Wasn’t

Race winner Max Verstappen poses after the rain-shortened 2021 Belgian Grand Prix. (Photo: Getty Images)

SPA, BELGIUM - AUGUST 29: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing, second placed George Russell of Great Britain and Williams and third placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 29, 2021 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202108290481 // Usage for editorial use only //

Max Verstappen earned his 16th Formula 1 win at the Belgian Grand Prix after turning just one lap at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on Sunday (Aug. 29).  There may be a prospect for confusion, a reason to question that one lap is the correct distance, but that is how the GP is officially scored. …

Read more

Slipstream Saturday: Vettel’s Penalty Stands, Steiner Warns of Too Many Crashes

Sebastian Vettel

(Photo: Aston Martin F1 Media)

Formula 1 is on its annual summer break, with the next race not until Aug. 29 when the Belgian Grand Prix is held at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. This allow the usual hectic buzz surrounding F1 to die down a little, and things have been fairly quiet since the teams left Hungary.  One of the questions …

Read more

Slipstream Saturday: The F1 Summer Break, Checking the Waters

F1 Grand Prix Of Hungary

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 01: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda with a broken bargeboard during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 01, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202108010407 // Usage for editorial use only //

The Formula 1 show is on hiatus for the next few weeks, taking the customary summer break and allowing all the drivers time to flock to their yachts and relax. The series has raced 11 times thus far, and Lewis Hamilton has managed to find himself atop the standings once again, even if he is …

Read more