Page 3 - Formula One

McLaren boss Zak Brown calls the ongoing Formula 1 season the best

After a thrilling Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it seems like nearly half the field is capable of winning races in Formula 1. McLaren chief executive Zak Brown, whose driver Lando Norris is Max Verstappen's closest title challenger, says he's enjoying the best show he's seen in his eight years in F1. There have been six different winners in the last eight races, representing four different teams. Verstappen, whose dominance in 2022 and 2023 broke records, still leads the standings but his last win was in June. I think this is the best season I can think of ever in Formula 1 since I've been here," Brown told The Associated Press from the IndyCar season finale at Nashville Superspeedway in Tennessee. Could it even be better than the 2021 fight between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, which was decided on the final lap of the year and helped fuel F1's Netflix boom? Brown thinks it might be. That was mega exciting, but it's just two guys, two good guys. Now you've got four good teams in today'

Mercedes named Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's replacement in Formula 1

Teenager Kimi Antonelli has been named as Lewis Hamilton's replacement next year at Mercedes, a day after his Formula One debut ended in the 18-year-old Italian driver hitting the wall. Antonelli took over for George Russell in the opening practice session for Sunday's Italian Grand Prix at Monza. But his much-anticipated first appearance lasted fewer than two laps, and only 10 minutes, after he lost control of his Mercedes at the Parabolica, sliding backward through the gravel and into the tire barrier. Team principal Toto Wolff said Saturday the crash would have no impact on Antonelli's F1 chances, and confirmation of his elevation as a junior driver with the team was confirmed ahead of final practice at his home event. It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025, Antonelli said in Saturday's announcement. Reaching F1 is a dream I've had since I was a small boy." Antonelli has been with Mercedes since he joined its junior program

Leclerc's podium finish raises spirits at Ferrari ahead of Monza Grand Prix

Ferrari had an unexpected boost at the Dutch Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc's hard-earned podium finish cheered the out-of-form Italian team ahead of its home race in Formula 1. Leclerc was sixth on the grid Sunday but overtook Red Bull's Sergio Perez at the start before also getting ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and the on-form McLaren of Oscar Piastri. Leclerc kept Piastri behind him to hold on for third, while his teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. surged from 10th on the grid to finish fifth. Not bad for a team which Leclerc said was targeting sixth place in a damage limitation exercise before planned car upgrades at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza next week. It's a well-timed morale boost for a team which started 2024 fighting for wins but had dropped out of contention. Very, very surprised. I'm not very often happy with a P3 but I think with today's race we can be extremely happy with the job we've done on a difficult weekend for the team," Leclerc said. "We'd been struggling from

Brad Pitt's F1 teaser is out; movie set to hit theatres in June next year

The teaser of Brad Pitt's F1 has been released. It is directed by 'Top Gun: Maverick' director Joseph Kosinski and is expected to hit theatres in June next year

Formula 1 and Amazon aim for AI-powered 'personalized' race viewing

Vying against other sports, streaming shows, TikTok and video games, the battle for attention has never been so intense

Max Verstappen wins 3rd straight Canadian Grand Prix, completes 60 F1 wins

Max Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix for the third straight year for the Red Bull star's 60th Formula 1 victory and sixth in nine races this season. Verstappen started second in the rain alongside pole-sitter George Russell and dominated late again at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Ile Notre-Dame on Sunday. The 26-year-old Dutchman has a staggering 50 victories in the last 75 F1 races. Verstappen finished 3.879 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris in the 70-lap race on the 2.71-mile (4.36-kilometer) road course. Last year, Verstappen started from the pole and led every lap. The race Sunday started with a soaking wet track before the sun emerged 10 minutes in, but rain showers returned periodically throughout the afternoon. "It's a lot of fun to drive these kinds of races now and then," Verstappen said. "You don't want it all the time because that's too stressful. But I had a lot of fun out there today." Norris lost a 10-second lead when Logan Sargeant brought put the safet

25-30% more Indian fans flying across globe for key sporting events in 2024

Indian sports fans are flying across the world in huge numbers for T20 World Cup 2024 as well as Wimbledon in London, and Formula One races in Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Bahrain

F1: Verstappen hopes to use Japan's Suzuka circuit to reassert dominance

Max Verstappen said he found Japan's Suzuka circuit "intimidating the first time he navigated a Formula 1 car around the figure-eight layout with its high-speed corners and narrow confines. No longer daunted by Suzuka, the track looks like is an ideal bounce-back destination for Verstappen. In the last F1 race two weeks ago in Australia, a fire on his right-rear brakes forced him out on the fourth lap ending a nine-race victory string. I think if you look at Melbourne performance-wise, I think we were quick, but we didn't finish the race," Verstappen said. "So that's not ideal, but our car normally likes the higher-speed corners, so hopefully we can show that again this weekend. That's what's expected Sunday from the three-time defending F1 champion. He was the quickest in Friday's first practice session. The second session was dampened by a light rain with most teams deciding not to run in the damp to save tire wear. Verstappen was among those sitting out. Verstappen clocked 1 .

Liberty Media, owners of Formula One, buys MotoGP for $4.5 billion

Qatar Sports Investments, owners of the PSG football team, and TKO Holdings, which owns the UFC and World WWE, were also interested in buying MotoGP

IOC to become first Indian firm to manufacture fuel for Formula 1 cars

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) - the nation's top oil firm - will in three months start manufacturing fuel used in adrenaline-pumping Formula One or F1, motor racing as it looks to expand its basket of niche fuels. IOC, which already has three branded fuels, including high-selling XtraGreen diesel, on Wednesday unveiled 'Storm' petrol that it will supply for the Asian region motorcycle road racing championship. "Today, we are partnering with FIM Asia Road Racing Championship for the supply of 'Storm'. We are the first company in India to manufacture fuel of specifications used in road racing," IOC Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya said. IOC will supply fuel for all the motorcyclists from 15 countries that will participate in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. "Our R&D (research and development) in two months will be able to produce Category-1 fuel and in three months Formula 1 fuel," he said. "Unless we go to F1, the journey is not complete." 'Storm - Ultimate Racing Fuel' is

Max Verstappen wins season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix amid Red Bull turmoil

Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen eased to victory in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday despite the turmoil surrounding his Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Verstappen started on pole position and was never seriously challenged on his way to a commanding one-two win for Red Bull ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez. Carlos Sainz Jr. was third for Ferrari after fighting hard with teammate Charles Leclerc. At the start of the longest-ever F1 season at 24 races, Verstappen already shows signs of repeating his near-perfect record from 2023, when the Dutch driver won 19 of 22 races on his way to a third straight title. Saturday was the eighth win in a row for Verstappen going back to September last year. He set an F1 record of 10 consecutive wins last season.

Lewis Hamilton kept his Ferrari move so quiet even his parents didn't know

Formula 1 great Lewis Hamilton kept his Ferrari move so closely guarded that he didn't even tell his parents until the day it was announced. The British driver rocked the F1 world when it was announced on Feb. 1 he was joining the Italian manufacturer next year, despite signing a new contract with Mercedes last summer. I didn't speak to anybody. I didn't tell my parents till the day of it being announced. So, no one knew," Hamilton told a BBC podcast. I really wanted to do it for myself. Ultimately, I had to find out what would be the best for me. It then emerged that the two-year deal penned with Mercedes and announced last August was actually for one year with an option for a second year, which Hamilton did not take. Hamilton informed Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff of his decision to leave only the day before over breakfast at Wolff's home. They have become close friends over the years after Hamilton joined Mercedes from McLaren in 2013. The 39-year-old Hamilton and Michael

Hamilton's team switch: Ferrari gambles on new red storm for 2025 F1 season

Hamilton is hungry for a podium finish. His move from Mercedes to Ferrari could be a recipe for success or a disaster in the making

Not concerned about report on gambling sponsorship: Sauber F1 team

The Sauber Formula 1 team says it is not concerned by a report that it could potentially face a fine in Switzerland over its sponsorship deal with online gambling company Stake. Swiss broadcaster SRF reported Tuesday that the national gambling regulator had opened proceedings against Sauber. The team is based in Switzerland, where gambling advertising by foreign companies is restricted. SRF reported a fine of up to 500,000 Swiss francs (USD 573,000) was possible. In an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press, the regulator, known as the ESBK, said it would not comment on any proceedings. It said Stake's online gambling website was not approved to operate in Switzerland and had been on a blocked list since 2021. "Sauber Motorsport AG have always complied and continue to comply with all existing regulations, both Swiss and of whichever country we race in," Sauber said in an e-mailed statement Wednesday. "The report of an ongoing investigation by the Swiss Authorities does not con

Formula One extends Japanese Grand Prix contract at Suzuka to 2029

The Japanese Grand Prix will stay on the Formula One calendar until at least 2029 after a five-year contract extension to keep the race at the Suzuka Circuit. It's a sign of confidence in the Japanese GP ahead of a move from its usual date in September or October to April, between the races in Australia and China. That's part of efforts to reduce the distance that teams travel between races and cut back on carbon emissions. The extension was announced Friday by F1 and Honda Mobilityland, the Honda subsidiary that owns the track. Suzuka is a special circuit and part of the fabric of the sport, so I am delighted that F1 will continue to race there until at least 2029, F1's president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said in a statement. Suzuka's traditional slot later in the season has seen it often play a crucial role in deciding the title. Max Verstappen secured his second championship there in 2022. The Japanese GP was first part of the F1 schedule in 1976 and Suzuka hoste

Why is Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes, and where will he be heading now?

Lewis Hamilton shocked the motorsports world when the seven-time Formula One champion said he will leave Mercedes at the end of the season to join Ferrari, which had tried to land Hamilton before he signed his latest contract extension with the Silver Arrows. Hamilton only finalized a two-year extension with Mercedes at the end of August. Mercedes said Thursday the 39-year-old British driver has activated a release clause in that new deal that will allow him to join Ferrari in 2025. I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I'm so proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old, Hamilton said in a team statement. It's a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I'm excited to be taking on a new challenge. Hamilton moved from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013 and won six of his seven titles with the Silv

Right time to move to Formula E, no regrets about chasing F1 dreams: Jehan

Indian racer Jehan Daruvala says it's the right time for him to move to Formula E, adding that he has no regrets about spending a few extra years in the junior series for a shot at the elusive Formula 1. Jehan moved to Formula E after spending four years in the F1 feeder series Formula 2, where he was a part of the Red Bull junior team. However, he failed to land a seat in F1. Post Formula 2 stint, the 25-year-old served as a reserve driver for Mahindra Racing in Formula E for a year. "In hindsight yes, everything is different. I was pushing to get into Formula 1 for those few years so I don't have any regrets," Jehan told PTI ahead of his debut Formula E race here. "I feel like I have come here (Formula E) at the right time, I have matured and I'm still only 25, still young," he added. Jehan will drive for the Maserati MSG Racing, becoming only the second Indian to take part in the all-electric series after Karun Chandhok. Jehan's learning process with the Gen 3 Formula E car wi

Formula E could return to India as soon as 2025: Co-founder Alberto Longo

Formula E could return to India in 2025 and discussions with other cities to host a race will begin soon, said co-founder Alberto Longo, making it clear that the electric series is keen to race in the country despite the Hyderabad E-Prix cancelation. The Hyderabad race, which was scheduled to take place on February 10, was cancelled last week after just one season with Formula E alleging a breach of the host city agreement by the newly-elected Telangana government. "We are working to coming to India in the future, we will be starting conversations with different cities in India soon," Longo told PTI ahead of the season-opening Mexico E-Prix. "But we will be looking to race in India in the future, hopefully as soon as 2025," he added. He also revealed that one Indian city has already expressed interest in hosting the electric race. "Too fresh (the Hyderabad cancellation), but there has been some approach when they got to know the news of us not coming back to Hyderabad. There was o

Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll sells F1 team stake at £1 bn valuation

The deal comes on the eve of the much-hyped Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend and shows the growing appeal of F1 in the US, the Aston Martin team said in a statement on Thursday

Kush Maini joins young driver development programme of Alpine F1 team

India's Kush Maini on Tuesday joined the young driver development programme of Alpine Formula 1 team. Before Kush, Jehan Daruvala was another Indian who was on the driver programme of a Formula 1 team -- Red Bull Racing in his case -- but he could not graduate to the highest level after three mixed Formula 2 seasons under their wings. Kush, 23, is competing in his rookie Formula 2 season. The Bengaluru-based driver secured his first Formula 2 podium with a third-place finish in the Sprint Race in Australia and his best Qualifying result of second at Silverstone. He currently sits just outside of the top 10 in the championship standings having secured 11 point scoring finishes across the season. Kush's brother Arjun was a development driver with the Haas Formula 1 team but he too could not reach the pinnacle of four-wheel racing. Kush will join the growing Alpine Academy line-up which currently features drivers such as Alpine F1 Team Reserve Driver Jack Doohan and 2022 FIA Formula