Race Weekend Central

Slipstream Saturday: Lando Norris Takes Shock Pole in Wet Qualifying

Lando Norris, Mclaren Mcl35m Front On

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M front on

The rain arrived early in Sochi, cancelling the third free practice, and while the rain had stopped by the time qualifying got underway, the track was still damp, forcing the drivers to start qualifying on wet or intermediate tires. However, with around five minutes left in Q3, the track began to dry out, and Williams’ …

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F1 Midweek: Is F1 Sending a Message to Max Verstappen?

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 11: Second place finisher Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 11, 2021 in Monza, Italy. Lars Baron/Getty Images

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

While Daniel Ricciardo celebrated by drinking the victory champagne out of his shoe at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend in Monza, Italy, the big story from the race – well, truly, the big story – is that Daniel Ricciardo won a race. A quick aside: Ricciardo’s win should not be cast aside too quickly. …

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F1 Review: Daniel Ricciardo’s Victory at the Italian Grand Prix Ends McLaren Drought

Daniel Ricciardo celebrates on the podium of the 2021 Italian Grand Prix Sept. 12.

(credit: McLaren Media)

For the second straight year, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza (Sept. 12) provided an upset winner.  Last year, Pierre Gasly benefitted from an unusual set of circumstances that placed him in second on a restart after a red flag – a position from which he jumped to the lead and then held on for …

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F1 Review: Max Verstappen Peerless in F1’s Return to the Dutch Grand Prix

F1 Grand Prix Of The Netherlands

ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 05: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on September 05, 2021 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // SI202109051288 // Usage for editorial use only //

By the end of the first lap, Max Verstappen had cleared Lewis Hamilton by almost two seconds and from then on, he faced no challenge in claiming the win at the Dutch Grand Prix. Formula 1 returned to Zandvoort, Netherlands for the first time since 1985 on Sunday (Sept. 5) and the scene surrounding Verstappen’s …

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Slipstream Saturday: Max Verstappen Surpasses George Russell to Take Pole at Spa

Max Verstappen celebrates winning the pole in Spa, Belgium; Formula 1 2021, rainy and wet conditions. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

(Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images, via Red Bull Content Pool)

In changeable conditions, Max Verstappen excelled to take pole position for Sunday’s (Aug. 29) 2021 Belgian Grand Prix for Formula 1 with a lap time of 1:59.765. However, it wasn’t Lewis Hamilton that the Red Bull driver had to beat to pole but George Russell, with the Williams driving looking incredibly comfortable in the wet. …

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Slipstream Saturday: Red Bull Still Sore, Sprint Race at Monza & Valtteri Bottas Rumor

F1 Grand Prix Of Great Britain

(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Formula 1 is taking this weekend off before heading to the Hungaroring for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Aug. 1.  That means everyone involved in the sport can lean back into comfy chairs, sip a cold beverage and watch The Olympics; leaving the worries of the F1 world to pass by. That’s not how F1 …

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F1 Review: Peak Lewis Hamilton Wins British Grand Prix After Contact With Max Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton cheers after winning the 2021 British Grand Prix (Photo: LAT Images)

Lewis Hamilton 2021 British Grand Prix, Sunday - LAT Images

Lewis Hamilton made the most of his trip to his home track for the British Grand Prix.  After earning pole for the qualifying sprint race and losing the pole for the GP to Max Verstappen, Hamilton put together a classic performance in charging to victory Sunday (July 18). But his win at the British GP …

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F1 Review: Max Verstappen Makes It Look Easy at the Austrian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen wins again in Austria GP, Red Bull Honda Mobil 1, celebration with champagne, Photo by Christian Bruna - Pool/Getty Images

(Photo by Christian Bruna - Pool/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

Max Verstappen breezed to his fifth win of 2021 at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday (July 4).  After securing the pole on Saturday, the race was Verstappen’s to lose and once he eked ahead of Lando Norris once the lights went out, Verstappen was on his way to the win. By claiming his 15th …

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F1 Review: Max Verstappen Victorious in Styrian Grand Prix

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JUNE 27: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Styria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2021 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

(Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images via Red Bull Racing)

Max Verstappen earned his fourth win of the 2021 Formula 1 season with a dominating drive in the Styrian Grand Prix on Sunday (June 27).  The victory, coming at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, is the 14th of his career and gives him a 156-138 lead over second-place point man Lewis Hamilton in the …

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F1 Review: Red Bull Beats Mercedes at Its Own Game at the French Grand Prix

2021 France F1 Max Verstappen Sergio Perez embrace Clive Rose Getty Images Red Bull

(Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images via Red Bull Racing)

Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team turned the table on Mercedes at the Formula 1 French Grand Prix on Sunday (June 20).  Verstappen earned his third win of the 2021 season and the 13th of his career.  The victory extended his lead in the championship from four points to 12 (131-119) over Lewis Hamilton, …

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F1 Review: Sergio Perez Prevails in Bizarre Azerbaijan Grand Prix

2021 Azerbaijan GP Sergio Perez trophy Peter Fox Getty

Sergio Perez celebrating in Baku (Photo: Peter Fox/Getty Images via Red Bull Racing)

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix looked like it might be another Lewis Hamilton romp after he took the lead on lap 3.  For a few circuits, that narrative stayed true and it would have been easy to consider finding something else to do rather than watch Hamilton add to his ridiculous win total. But the way …

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F1 Review Monaco: Max Verstappen Cruises, Vettel Shines, Ferrari Falters

2021 F1 Monaco Max Verstappen Celebrates Champagne Sebastian Nogier Pool Getty Images

Max Verstappen enjoying his victory at Monaco (credit: Red Bull)

Max Verstappen was essentially gifted the pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix after Charles Leclerc withdrew with driveshaft issues.  Though he started in the second spot, Verstappen had no one alongside him and enjoyed a clear getaway at the start.  And that was all he needed. Verstappen managed the entire race, giving up the …

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