List of All Articles with Tag 'f1'

The setting is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: home to the world-famous Indy 500 race. Ahead of the 2005 United States Grand Prix, at a circuit modified for Formula 1, ITV pundit and former F1 driver Martin Brundle is interviewing the sport’s long-term supremo and commander-in-chief Bernie Ecclestone on the grid. And you may well say, nothing unusual about that. What is more unusual is Brundle’s direct, bordering on combative, line of questioning. A huddle of camera crew and journalists huddle around, eager for answers. Because F1’s only race in the land of the free is about to become a farce. Out of 20 cars, only six take to the start line. For the sport and its tempestuous 55-year relationship with the US, it is the ultimate moment of absurdity. “The future of Formula 1 in America?” asks Brundle. “Not good,” Ecclestone replies. It is a far cry from where the sport is stateside now. Formula 1 is pushing boundaries and breaking the glass ceiling in a manner which would be unambiguously imposing if it wasn’t in the United States. There are now three races, with this week’s grand prix on the Las Vegas strip following on from a highly successful rebirth of the US Grand Prix in Austin and a street track in Miami. After 75 races at 11 different American venues, F1 has finally cracked the American code. “At my kids’ soccer game, you’ll see someone with a Red Bull shirt on,” says Scott Speed, a Californian native who raced in F1 for two years in the 2000s. “It’s been a long time coming but there is a noticeable difference when you see people walk around in F1 apparel. That’s very different to when I was in the sport.” But sometimes to understand the scale of the current highs, you have to revisit the lows of yesteryear. That ludicrous weekend in Indianapolis 18 years ago was, in his own words, a “super huge” weekend for Speed. He was testing for Red Bull at his home race, a week on from his first F1 test in Canada, but his team along with six others would not be racing come Sunday. Fourteen of the cars were using Michelin tyres which had resulted in several tyre failures in practice and qualifying at the final corner, including a heavy shunt for Toyota’s Ralf Schumacher, due to the abrasive nature of the high-speed banked turn. Installing a chicane to reduce speeds was suggested and rejected on the grounds that it would be unfair to the Bridgestone tyre runners – which included Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari team. Unable to take the risk of a serious accident, all Michelin cars did not start the 73-lap race. Schumacher won the six-car race to a chorus of boos in the grandstands. “The penalty if you went off there [turn 13] was just too hot, it was a big shunt,” Speed recalls. “I remember in my meeting with the engineers, they said ‘your tyre was two laps from blowing up as well.’ That was a really surreal feeling and then I had a big feeling of relief. It was very scary knowing I’d have been in the same situation that Ralf [Schumacher] was in.” F1 did race in Indiana again, fulfilling its contract for two more years. But Lewis Hamilton’s win in 2007 was F1’s last venture at a track simply inadequate for both the basics and spectacle of the sport. One of F1’s lowest moments had been the catalyst for a period of nonexistence, with the sport undergoing a four-year period of inactivity across the Atlantic. Brundle closed that Ecclestone episode with one of his most famous lines. Trundling over to speak to the chief’s then-wife Slavica, he asks: “Mrs Ecclestone, this needs a women’s intuition on this don’t you think?” She refuses to comment. “I think you should have something to say,” quips Brundle. “And give him a jolly good slapping.” *** There have been years of ingenuity, dissatisfaction and scandal ever since the United States first hosted a race in Formula 1 in the sport’s inaugural year in 1950. Back then, the Indy 500 was classed as a championship race. In the decades since, Ecclestone and his team of millionaire race-makers had flirted ferociously with the American market – a crowded field of ultra-popular US sports, college competition and their own brand of motorsport with Indy Car and NASCAR. But the first signs of a rebirth after the Indiana farce came just over a decade ago. The composition and creation of the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, gave F1 a lifeline in the United States. “They finally got their location right,” Speed tells The Independent. “Austin is a booming demographic, it’s like having a grand prix in New York. You’re in close proximity to a lot of fans and they’ve built a fantastic racetrack. That helps a lot, it’s a really special circuit.” But it was still merely a foothold; hardly the stamp it craved. A proposed race in New York, with the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River in the backdrop, was crafted and discarded. COTA’s attendance of 265,000 at the inaugural race in 2012 dropped consistently to 224,000 by 2015. But Ecclestone’s 40-year stranglehold on the sport was loosening. New suitors showed their hand and Liberty Media – the world’s biggest sports media company – completed an $8billion takeover in January 2017. What followed was a revolutionary revamp of Formula 1, its leaders and, most significantly, its output. Liberty took full control, revitalising the sport’s social media output and relaxing out-of-date restrictions on teams publishing their own content. The immediate target demographic was young people and expanding the audience beyond its traditional European borders. But they still lacked a crown jewel. Enter Netflix and production company Box to Box Films. The US has been ahead of the curve in the department of fly-on-the-wall sports documentaries, with Hard Knocks on HBO and more recently All or Nothing on Amazon Prime proving popular with sports fans stateside. Now, F1 was making their own dive into the arena with Drive to Survive. “Fans have a lot of games to watch live, highlights to see, stories to read – all of that,” says sports media expert Brian Moritz. “But sports fans are typically insatiable in their desire for content, right? There’s never too much. “Going behind the scenes is exciting for fans. And I do think F1 was ahead of the curve in terms of taking a sport that Americans didn’t know or care a ton about and getting them to care. When you haven’t followed a sport your entire life, it can be hard to jump into a sport as an adult. I think Drive to Survive provided an entry point for American fans into the sport.” The growth of the series, year-on-year, has been staggering. Since the show’s first season in 2019, the viewership has increased by more than 350,000. F1’s audience for live races has skyrocketed to above one million per-race. Cards fell favourably too: the Covid pandemic meant more people were stuck at home browsing and streaming online, while the 2021 title battle for the ages between Hamilton and Max Verstappen engaged a wider range of people too. The “Man on Fire” episode in season three – when Romain Grosjean’s car dramatically bursts into flames in Bahrain – is rated the most popular episode, according to IMDB. “F1 has this kind of exotic feel to it,” adds Moritz. “It’s primarily European and with all the money, glitz and glamour… I think that appeals to American viewers. Never underestimate the appeal of fast cars and rich people.” It would be a form of content that became almost a necessity when the professional tennis and golf tours went a similar way earlier this year with their first Netflix shows: Break Point and Full Swing. F1 has shown the path for all sports to draw in more engagement from an American market who, unequivocally, live and breathe for sport – but perhaps absorb the personalities of the stars and the elaborative storylines even more. Never underestimate the appeal of fast cars and rich people.” Drive to Survive’s impact is undeniable. But for Formula 1 and Liberty, there was still more to strive for – and two of the sport’s biggest stars has their sights set on unparalleled glitz and glamour. When asked in Australia in 2017 what their one wish from the sport’s new owners would be, Red Bull’s Aussie driver Daniel Ricciardo and Hamilton did not hesitate. “Race in Vegas!” beamed Ricciardo. “Miami, race,” added Hamilton. It was met with laughter among the media assembled. Even the drivers themselves perhaps were speaking more in hope than expectation. But boy how F1 have delivered. Miami was first proposed in 2018 and after tossing and turning over location and logistical plans for a few years, the sport landed on a custom-made street track around the city’s Hard Rock Stadium. It debuted last year and while initial impressions of the circuit and the racing have been mixed at best, it gives F1 a marquee event on the East Coast. And with Austin in the centre of the country now attracting 400,000+ spectators, there was one obvious slot left to fill. *** So to Vegas, where slots are at every turn. F1 has tried and failed in Sin City before, toiling in an ineffective track in the car park of the Caesars Palace hotel for two years in the 1980s. But a race down the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard – the strip – was former F1 CEO Chase Carey’s dream concept when he took over the sport from Ecclestone. Indeed, Carey insisted F1 needed to start arriving in “destination cities.” But while the pandemic delayed plans, it didn’t derail them. F1 has spent $500m on a state-of-the-art pit building, the length of three NFL fields. Cars will zoom around the city’s new $2.3bn MSG Sphere. The sport is expecting to bring in $1.28 billion for the city in year one alone. There has been anger and frustration among locals and tourists in recent months due to construction and road closures but the vision of an unparalleled ambition is now on the cusp of its grand opening. “It will be the biggest race in racing history,” famous American ex-driver Willy T Ribbs said. “The most talked about and the most glamorous. Vegas will be the one which is going to take Formula 1 in this country to a bigger level.” Yet where does F1 in the United States go from here? Like any sport, the spectacle can only do so much when the sport is not at its most enthralling. Verstappen’s two-year supremacy has not aided the product but periods of domination are not uncommon in Formula 1. This weekend’s race for example – in contrast to Saudi Arabia’s debut two years ago – does not have any world title at stake. Other factors can improve F1’s reach in the US further still. A driver capable of challenging at the top, with the only present American driver Logan Sargeant last out of all the current drivers this year, would entrap a significant following. Andretti’s application to join Haas as an American team – decision pending – could have a similar impact. Much like in Brazil, American fans are usually left rooting for seven-time world champion Hamilton, whose ground-breaking impact should not be forgotten as well. Ultimately, the world is their oyster. But more so than a likely upward trajectory, just how far will F1 push in search of further growth in the US? And will it lose its core, its traditionality, in the pursuit of further grandeur? Some may argue that’s already happening. Nonetheless, F1’s expansion in the United States can be decreed as nothing other than a roaring success. The most lucrative sporting market on the planet – in terms of fans and finances – has finally taken to Formula 1. It is now a sport and a product virtually unrecognisable from the shambles of Indiana in 2005. Read More ‘I would not be shocked if King Charles showed up’: Las Vegas opens its doors to F1 F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Las Vegas Grand Prix? On this day in 2010: Sebastian Vettel becomes youngest ever F1 world champion On this day in 2010: Sebastian Vettel becomes youngest ever F1 world champion F1 2023 official calendar: All 23 Grand Prix this year Michael Schumacher fans set for rare insight into F1 legend’s life in new documentary

Sebastian Vettel rewrote the record books on this day in 2010 after clinching the Formula One drivers’ championship by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The German’s success in the season-ending finale saw him claim the mantle of the youngest world champion in F1 history. Vettel took the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi for his fifth victory of the year, and with title rival Fernando Alonso a distant seventh in his Ferrari, it allowed the the Red Bull driver to make sure of his place in the record books. At 23 years and 135 days, Vettel beat the mark of Lewis Hamilton – who finished second in Abu Dhabi ahead of McLaren team-mate and outgoing world champion Jenson Button – by 166 days. It guaranteed Vettel the title by four points from Alonso, with Red Bull completing a championship double after winning the constructors’ crown a week previously in Brazil. Vettel was clearly in tears on his slow-down lap as he attempted to speak over the in-car radio, with team principal Christian Horner proclaiming: “Sebastian Vettel you are the world champion!” Vettel would go on to win four successive Formula One world titles before seeing his reign ended by Hamilton in 2014. Read More Lewis Hamilton ‘counting down days’ to end of season after another poor race Max Verstappen thwarts Lando Norris’ bid for first F1 win with sprint victory On this day in 2015: Susie Wolff ends her bid to get on an F1 starting grid

Las Vegas opens its doors to Formula 1 this week ahead of the inaugural race on the city strip – and anticipation is at fever pitch. After more than three years of planning and $500m spent on a state-of-the-art pit building facility, F1 is on the cusp of its ultimate moment in the American spotlight in the entertainment capital of the world. While the penultimate race of the 2023 season won’t have an impact at the top of the world championship standings, with Max Verstappen having already claimed the title last month in Qatar, the third US race of the year will be unique in the fact it takes place on Saturday night at 10pm local time (6am GMT, Sunday morning). There is also a lavish opening ceremony, planned for Wednesday evening. Former American racing driver Willy T Ribbs – who made history by becoming the first Black man to test an F1 car in 1986 – insists it will be the biggest race “in racing history.” “It is going to be mega – I would not be shocked if King Charles showed up,” Ribbs told The Independent. “I would not be shocked because the A-list is going to be insane. You’re going to be bumping into more celebrities and sports stars than you will fans. “Without any hyperbole, it will be the biggest race in racing history. That encompasses everything – the most talked about and the most glamorous. If you look at Las Vegas, it has a history of putting on the biggest event – whether it’s a boxing fight or an NFL game.” It is a huge week for Formula 1 which, unusually, is promoting the event itself as opposed to outsourcing the promotion. F1 has a 10-year deal with Las Vegas for a race in Sin City, on the assumption all goes smoothly this week. However, preparations have not been plain sailing, with disruption in the city due to the mammoth construction projects leading to some anger among locals and tourists in recent months. But ultimately, F1 is confident the race will bring in more than $1 billion for local enterprises. “We’re going to bring in something like $1.7 billion of revenue to the area,” said Greg Maffei, CEO of F1’s parent company Liberty Media. “I want to apologise to all the Las Vegas residents and we appreciate that they have their forbearance and their willingness to tolerate us. “It’s not just for the benefit of fans who want to view. We hope this is a great economic benefit in Las Vegas. We hope this is the most difficult year with all the construction that went on and things will be easier in the future. “There will be 105,000 people so the sheer scale of it, even for Las Vegas, will be the largest event Las Vegas will have,” Temperatures are expected to drop to around 12C during sections of the race weekend, presenting a different challenge to the norm for the drivers and teams. There is also the possibility of rain for qualifying on Friday night. LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX - SCHEDULE Friday 17 November Free practice 1 - 4:30am Free practice 2 - 8am Saturday 18 November Free practice 3 - 4:30am Qualifying - 8am Sunday 19 November Race - 6am All times GMT F1 has raced in Vegas before, in the parking lot of the Caesars Palace hotel in 1981 and 1982. Yet this event, twisting around the city’s famous landmarks including the Bellagio Fountains and the new Sphere building, should take the razzmatazz up to the next level. “Vegas is all about show. When the drivers get on the track they’re going to put on a show,” Ribbs added. “For Max, he might have won the world championship – but he still has races to win. And he hasn’t won the most races in the history of F1, so there’s the incentive. It’s also just seeing who can knock him off. “Who’s going to be the team and the driver to win the first Las Vegas Grand Prix? If I was the promoter, that’s how I’d be promoting it. If I was talking to the drivers in the drivers’ meeting, that would be my message. The championship is decided, but you guys go knock it out anyway and put on the best show for the fans and for TV. “I think Vegas will knock it out of the park – and take Formula 1 in this country to the next level.” Read More F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Las Vegas Grand Prix? Michael Schumacher fans set for rare insight into F1 legend’s life in new documentary F1 boss urges teams to improve and close gap after Max Verstappen dominance Martin Brundle predicts F1 sprint change to produce ‘thrilling’ Saturdays in 2024 Machine Gun Kelly defends bizarre clash with F1 presenter at Brazilian Grand Prix Las Vegas hospitality workers’ strike poised to derail F1 race

A new documentary is set to offer insight into the life of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. The German has not been seen in public since suffering a brain injury in a skiing accident in December 2013. The seven-time F1 world champion left hospital in 2014 and his family have maintained strict privacy over his injury and condition. A new five-part documentary by German broadcaster ARD is set to air to mark ten years since his incident in the French Alps. The final details of the documentary are yet to be revealed, but it is due to be released on 28 December. Schumacher won 91 races during his F1 career and five successive Drivers Championship crowns between 2000 and 2004. A Netflix documentary, “Schumacher”, aired in 2021 and featured an update from his wife, Corinna, who said that her husband was “different, but here”. “Unfortunately, life isn’t fair sometimes,” the seven-time world champion’s younger brother Ralf Schumacher told German magazine Bunte recently. “We have to accept it. When I see his children Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart smiles. If anyone in the family seeks my advice, I am there. They go their own way.” The Schumacher siblings remain the only pair of brothers to each win a Formula 1 race, with Ralf winning six times across a decade in the sport. “In the Schumacher family we have always stuck together,” Ralf explained of his relationship with his older brother while the pair were both racers. “There was no envy. I just wasn’t good enough here and there.” Read More F1 2023 official calendar: All 23 Grand Prix this year ‘Sometimes life isn’t fair’: Michael Schumacher’s brother opens up about accident Michael Schumacher update: Lawyer explains lack of ‘final report’ on F1 star’s health

Martin Brundle believes that Formula 1 can create a series of “thrilling” Saturdays in 2024 by making tweaks to the sprint races. Introduced during the 2021 F1 season, the condensed races were designed to provide a short, fast-paced spectacle to enhance the standard Sunday racing. Having been trialled at three events that year and in 2022, the number of sprints on the calendar was doubled ahead of this season, with the format also adapted to no longer set the grid for Sunday’s race and instead operate as a standalone event for which points were awarded. The six sprints this season have consisted of sprint qualifying on Saturday morning before the sprint race later in the day, with grand prix qualifying held on a Friday. Fans, however, have questioned the revamp, while Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that the current system is “confusing”. F1 bosses are contemplating restructuring the weekend schedule for next year, perhaps by moving race qualifying until Saturday afternoon and holding the sprint race that morning. And Sky Sports pundit Brundle believes that could create a spectacular day of action for spectators to enjoy. “The sprint format will be tweaked for next year and qualifying for the main race will revert to Saturday afternoon, I suspect,” former F1 driver Brundle explained in his Sky Sports column. “Saturday will become a thrilling day should they schedule the sprint race in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon, although teams will be nervous of having sufficient time to repair any damage from the morning event. “Friday will then be one practice session in the morning, which I believe should revert to 90 minutes, and the Sprint Shootout qualification in the afternoon. Another very decent day for the fans trackside and watching on TV or online. “That chronology flows more logically, and tyre allocations should be standardised for every weekend - we already talk more than enough about tyres.” The final sprint race of the season was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the Brazilian Grand Prix, with the Dutchman subsequently extending his unassailable advantage at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings with race victory. Verstappen has now won seven of the 12 sprint races since the format’s introduction at the 2021 British Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver has admitted, though, that he is not entirely enamoured with the extra racing, but Brundle believes that it is here to stay and significantly better than the traditional three free practice schedule. “I see a lot of social media traffic, as well as talking with fans, friends, and media, where many say they don’t like sprint format at all,” Brundle outlined. “Despite being a pure racer and having won many of them, Verstappen says the same. “That’s all valid opinion, but the TV audience numbers show a lot more eyeballs watching these ‘appointments to view’ live sport. And that’s fact. “As I said in our shows, the worst Sprint will always be better than the best FP2, because in free practices nothing is decided, and the teams need to keep the cars well apart on track and use as little tyre and power unit life as possible. The sprints simply must be more entertaining trackside too for those splashing their hard-earned cash. “The whole sprint format needs sharpening up schedule wise, and then it can likely work at a few more circuits. Let’s see what the F1 Commission come up with after their meeting in Abu Dhabi.” The Formula 1 season will conclude with back-to-back race weekends in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi on 18 and 26 November. Read More Max Verstappen thwarts Lando Norris’s bid for first F1 win in Brazil sprint Lewis Hamilton makes dispiriting Red Bull prediction ‘for next couple of years’ Toto Wolff blasts ‘horrible’ and ‘unacceptable’ Mercedes form after Lewis Hamilton struggles Machine Gun Kelly defends bizarre clash with F1 presenter at Brazilian Grand Prix Martin Brundle responds to bizarre Machine Gun Kelly dispute Machine Gun Kelly storms off after bizarre ‘air guitar’ exchange with Martin Brundle

Ralf Schumacher has opened up about his brother Michael Schumacher’s accident nearly 10 years ago, simply stating: “Sometimes life isn’t fair.’ Seven-time F1 world champion Michael has not been seen publicly since suffering life-changing injuries in a near-fatal skiing accident in December 2013 in Meribel, France. Michael’s wife, Corinna, has insisted on keeping Michael’s medical condition private in the years since as he recovers at home in Switzerland. Ralf, who raced against Michael in Formula 1 from 1997-2006, has this week briefly spoken publicly about the accident and the impact it has had on the Schumacher family. “Sometimes life isn’t fair, unfortunately. We have to accept it,” Ralf told German outlet Bunte. “When I see his [Michael’s] kids, Gina-Maria and Mick, my heart smiles. If anyone in the family seeks my advice, I’m there. “They’re making their way.” Schumacher’s son Mick lost his F1 race seat at Haas last year and is now a reserve driver at Mercedes, who Michael drove for from 2010-2012. The Schumacher family lawyer, Felix Damm, detailed this week why no formal “final report” has ever been publicised on the Ferrari icon. “It was always about protecting private things,” Damm told German outlet LTO. “We considered whether a final report about Michael’s health could be the right way to do this. “But that wouldn’t have been the end of it and there would have had to be constantly updated ‘water level reports’ and it would not have been up to the family when the media interest in the story stopped.” Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt has a close relationship with the Schumacher family, revealing last year he has seen the German three times a week on some occasions – adding that the 54-year-old is in the “best of hands… surrounded by people who love him.” Todt also said as recently as last July that he still watches F1 races with Schumacher despite the German’s unknown medical state. “I don’t miss Michael, I see him,” Todt told German broadcaster RTL. “Yes, it’s true, I watch grand prix with Michael. But sure, I guess what I miss is what we used to do together.” Todt is a close friend of Schumacher’s since their time working together during a successful era at Ferrari, when the German won five of his seven world titles from 2000-2004. In April, an editor of a German magazine was sacked after the Die Aktuelle publication used artificial intelligence to produce fake quotes from Schumacher. The magazine was labelled “disgraceful” by fans online for depicting the AI responses as an “exclusive interview” on their 15 April front cover. In a Netflix documentary which aired in 2021 titled Schumacher, Corinna detailed how his family have dealt with the situation and continue to “get on with their lives.” “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find,” Corinna said. “We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond. And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will. “We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives. ‘Private is private’, as he always said. “It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael.” Read More Alpine provide update over Mick Schumacher seat for 2024 after test session F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Brazilian Grand Prix? Michael Schumacher update: Lawyer explains lack of ‘final report’ on F1 star’s health Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin and a ‘miserable’ decline which could have consequences Max Verstappen gives blunt verdict on Sergio Perez’s Mexican Grand Prix crash Christian Horner drops Daniel Ricciardo hint as pressure mounts on Sergio Perez

Mercedes have parted company with technical chief Mike Elliott following the team’s failure to win a single race this season. James Allison returned as Mercedes’ technical director just three races into the new season – with Elliott moving into the chief technical officer role. Although Mercedes said the job swap was Elliott’s decision, the announcement arrived after Lewis Hamilton and team principal Toto Wolff criticised the design philosophy of this year’s car on the eve of the curtain raiser in Bahrain on March 5. The Silver Arrows, who claimed a record eight consecutive constructors’ championships and carried Hamilton to six world titles, have won only one race in the past two years. And ahead of this weekend’s round in Brazil – with only races in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi to follow this year – Mercedes said Elliott is departing the team. “Mike has been one of the pillars of the team’s achievements over the past decade,” said Wolff. “It’s with truly mixed feelings that we say goodbye to him today. “Mike is a fiercely intelligent technical brain and a great team player. He has made a strong contribution not just to winning racing cars but also to building the culture of our team. “But on the other side, it’s clear that he’s ready for new adventures beyond Mercedes – so I know this is the right step for him to take, too. “He leaves the team today with our thanks for the effort, commitment and expertise he has brought to the team over the past 11 years and our very best wishes for the future.” Hamilton finished a distant runner-up to Verstappen in Mexico last weekend, with the Dutchman winning a record 16 of the 19 races so far in his all-conquering Red Bull machine. It is nearly two years since Hamilton, who will remain alongside George Russell at Mercedes until at least the end of 2025, won a race. Elliott, who is now set for a period of gardening leave, said: “Although the last two seasons have not seen us winning races in the manner we aspire to, they have tested us in many other ways – and forced us to question our fundamental assumptions about how we deliver performance. “During the past six months, I have enjoyed developing the technical strategy that we hope can provide the foundations of the team’s next cycle of success. “I have decided that now is the right time to make my next step beyond Mercedes – first to pause and take stock, after 23 years of working flat-out in this sport, and then to find my next challenge.” Read More Charles Leclerc secures pole position for the Mexican Grand Prix Charles Leclerc leads Ferrari front row at Mexican Grand Prix Essex boy with Italian twang – History-maker Ollie Bearman impresses in Mexico Max Verstappen sets fastest time in Mexican Grand Prix practice Max Verstappen urges fans to show him respect ahead of feisty Mexican Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton claims many more cars were illegal at United States Grand Prix

Mercedes chief technical officer Mike Elliott has announced his resignation - just months after swapping his role at the Formula 1 team. Elliott has been with the team for 11 years and has overseen eight constructors' world championships and seven drivers' titles, six for Lewis Hamilton and one for Nico Rosberg. However, his surprise departure comes just six months after he moved back to a role based at the factory in Brackley, with James Allison returning as technical director based predominantly in the paddock. Elliott has come under scrutiny as a result of Mercedes’ unique ‘no-sidepod’ design and their subsequent lack of pace and porpoising problems last year. George Russell’s victory in Brazil last year has been Mercedes’ only race win in the last two seasons. Mercedes announced the surprise shake of their management team back in April, with key personnel Alisson and Elliott swapping jobs. The shuffle, driven by Elliott, came as Mercedes target a return to the top of the sport after struggling to adapt to a change in regulations last year. However, despite some signs of progress in recent weeks, Mercedes have been left trailing behind Red Bull as Max Verstappen cruised to a third consecutive title.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has revealed Lewis Hamilton’s reaction to his joint-best performance of the season after finishing second at the Mexican Grand Prix. It’s been a long grind of a season for Mercedes, who have struggled to consistently get the desired results from their W14 car, prompting plenty of frustration from Hamilton and teammate George Russell amid Red Bull’s domination. But there were signs of life in Mexico over the weekend as Russell finished sixth but Hamilton crossed the line in second place for just the third time this season following the Spanish GP in June and the Australian GP back in April. The 38-year-old couldn’t catch the unstoppable Max Verstappen cruising to another race victory but team boss Wolff joked that the veteran British driver was finally happy with the W14. “Today I think it was a first where he said ‘the car is actually good!’,” smiled Wolff. “But it was a brilliant, brilliant drive and we have these oscillations in performance. We don’t really know, sometimes the tyres stick, sometimes not. “The smiles on our faces because the car was strong. I think once Lewis was in free air, we had so much margin on the medium, fastest lap at the end. It was good.” Mercedes are hardly alone in struggling this campaign, with Red Bull having won all but one of the 19 races so far, with Verstappen claiming victory in 16 of those – already breaking his own record from last year of most wins in a single season. Not since Russell crossed the line first at Interlagos in 2022 have the German manufacturer finished top of the podium but Wolff is pleased with the progress shown, although he refused to commit to an exact timescale on when that elusive win might come. “Not sure,” Wolff said. “It’s been a few weekends now that we’ve been saying ‘we could have’ but we didn’t. “I think we need to qualify better and then probably in straight-line speed, it wouldn’t have been so competitive against Max but who knows? The pace is there.” Read More F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Brazilian Grand Prix? Max Verstappen gives blunt verdict on Sergio Perez’s Mexican Grand Prix crash Sergio Perez lasts just 14 seconds in home race as Max Verstappen wins in Mexico

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Team Alpine boss Bruno Famin revealed the team were “very happy” with Mick Schumacher’s performance in a recent 2024 World Endurance Championship test session. Schumacher, son of the seven-time World Champion Michael, had two seasons with Haas on the Formula One grid, but finished in the points on just two occasions in 44 races. He then moved to Mercedes as the team’s reserve driver but had limited opportunities and began to look outside F1 for racing options. In October, Schumacher took part in a multi-day Test event in Spain behind the wheel of Alpine’s Hypercar, with a hope of being signed as one of the available six slots in the WEC 2024. Ahead of the Mexico Grand Prix, Famin said Schumacher’s test was a success. “Mick tested the car in Jerez 10 days ago or eight days ago. We were very happy with his performance, his global performance, how he was with the team and I think he was happy too,” Famin said reported by planetF1.com. “That means that we can still discuss about trying to do something next year together. But here we are only [at this stage].” According to Speedweek, Schumacher said: “It’s a completely different feeling. “The car is relatively big, relatively heavy. The cockpit is completely closed, which felt a bit claustrophobic at the beginning. But I got used to it relatively quickly. “In terms of racing, it’s a bit different because you share the car. That is exciting in a way. The car has to last 24 hours. It’s a different challenge. “You never notice whether the tyre stops or not. You have little lights that indicate that, but nothing else. It was a bit abstract to sit in there in a completely closed cockpit and not get any wind. “But the biggest change for me was the draught in the back. There is a cooling system that blows air in and I was not really prepared for that at the beginning.” Read More Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin and a ‘thoroughly miserable’ decline which could have consequences F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Brazilian Grand Prix? Max Verstappen gives blunt verdict on Sergio Perez’s Mexican Grand Prix crash Michael Schumacher update: Lawyer explains lack of ‘final report’ on F1 star’s health F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Brazilian Grand Prix? Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin and a ‘miserable’ decline which could have consequences

Michael Schumacher’s family lawyer Felix Damm has revealed the reason no “final report” has been publicised on the F1 star’s health: “It’s all about protecting private things.” The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has not been seen publicly since suffering a near-fatal brain injury while skiing in December 2013 in Meribel, France. His wife Corinna has insisted on protecting Schumacher’s privacy in the near 10 years since, with his medical condition shrouded in secrecy as he continues to recover at home in Switzerland. Damm, who acts as a representative for the Schumacher family, has now given more detail as to why those close to the Ferrari icon don’t want to publicise details about his health. “It was always about protecting private things,” Damm told German outlet LTO. “We considered whether a final report about Michael’s health could be the right way to do this. “But that wouldn’t have been the end of it and there would have had to be constantly updated ‘water level reports’ and it would not have been up to the family when the media interest in the story stopped.” The lawyer also emphasised how the precedent of “voluntary self-disclosure” would have made the past 10 years even more difficult for the Schumacher family should intricate health details be made public. Damm added: “They [the media] could pick up on such a report again and again and as ‘and what does it look like now?’ one, two, three months or years after the message. If we then wanted to take action against this reporting, we would have to deal with the argument of voluntary self-disclosure. “If it is not the person concerned himself but friends or acquaintances who disclose private information, it is not a case of ‘voluntary self-disclosure’ of privacy. “Therefore, the data subject can defend himself against disclosure of private circumstances even if the information comes from an acquaintance.” Former Ferrari boss Jean Todt has a close relationship with the Schumacher family, revealing last year he has seen the German three times a week on some occasions – adding that the 54-year-old is in the “best of hands… surrounded by people who love him.” Todt also said as recently as last July that he still watches F1 races with Schumacher despite the German’s unknown medical state. “I don’t miss Michael, I see him,” Todt told German broadcaster RTL. “Yes, it’s true, I watch grand prix with Michael. But sure, I guess what I miss is what we used to do together.” Schumacher’s son Mick lost his F1 race seat at Haas last year and is now a reserve driver at Mercedes, who Michael drove for from 2010-2012. Todt is a close friend of Schumacher’s since their time working together during a successful era at Ferrari, when the German won five of his seven world titles from 2000-2004. In April, an editor of a German magazine was sacked after the Die Aktuelle publication used artificial intelligence to produce fake quotes from Schumacher. The magazine was labelled “disgraceful” by fans online for depicting the AI responses as an “exclusive interview” on their 15 April front cover. In a Netflix documentary which aired in 2021 titled Schumacher, Corinna detailed how his family have dealt with the situation and continue to “get on with their lives.” “Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find,” Corinna said. “We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond. And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will. “We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives. ‘Private is private’, as he always said. “It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us and now we are protecting Michael.” Corinna was in attendance to collect an award last July on behalf of husband Michael, with daughter Gina and Todt joining her to collect the State Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia - the highest civilian honour available to those born within the region. Schumacher holds the joint-record for the most Formula 1 world titles with Lewis Hamilton. Read More Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin and a ‘miserable’ decline which could have consequences Max Verstappen gives blunt verdict on Sergio Perez’s Mexican Grand Prix crash Christian Horner drops Daniel Ricciardo hint as pressure mounts on Sergio Perez Kevin Magnussen’s car catches fire after high-speed crash in Mexico F1 fan banned for life after attacking Ferrari supporters in Mexico Sergio Perez lasts just 14 seconds in home race as Max Verstappen wins in Mexico