Tag: Formula 1

‘Audi, Porsche have decided to join Formula 1’ Volkswagen’s CEO Diess

Posted on by A Sports

BERLIN: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Volkswagen Herbert Diess has claimed that the company’s two premium brands – Audi and Porsche – have decided to join Formula One.

Diess, in an interview on YouTube, revealed the plans of two brands to join Formula One.

For months, there have been rumours that the two brands were in talks about forming a collaboration to compete at the top level of international motor racing. But Diess, however, has now approved the speculations with his revelations.

The German carmaking company, which has previously collaborated with Red Bull in the world rally championship but not in Formula One, did not say how it planned to enter the sport.

Audi has decided to launch a bid of roughly 500 million euros ($556.30 million) for McLaren, a British luxury sports car manufacturer, while Porsche plans to form a long-term collaboration with racing team Red Bull in the coming years.

It is pertinent to mention here that their entry into Formula One racing would likely take a few years.

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Max Verstappen wins Emilia Romagna GP as Leclerc makes costly error

Posted on by A Sports

IMOLA: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won a wet-dry Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to resurrect his title aspirations, as challenger Charles Leclerc squandered third place with a costly error.

Ferrari’s Leclerc, who was thrusting to move past Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez after a late pit stop, lost control at the Variante Alta chicane here, which eventually denied him the podium at Emilia Romagna.

Leclerc then had to pit for a new front wing and tyres which resulted in him falling to the ninth place, from which he could only recover to sixth at the end.

After turning his pole position from Saturday’s race into a lead at the first bend, Verstappen was in complete command.

Despite the tough conditions, the late drama enlivened what had been the most uneventful race of the season thus far, as Verstappen stayed unchallenged throughout the race.

His teammate Sergio Perez, on the other hand, also carried on his exceptional stint as he finished second to get his second podium of the season. Whereas McLaren’s Lando Norris made the most of Leclerc’s blunder as he claimed the third position and his first podium of the season.

 

Following a comprehensive victory, Verstappen managed to cut the margin between him and Ferrari’s Leclerc from 45 points to 27, moving three places up to secure the second position on the leaderboard – led by Leclerc with 86 points.

Verstappen finished the weekend with a total of 34 points after posting the fastest lap and winning the sprint race on Saturday. It was Red Bull’s first one-two finish since the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2016.

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Emilia Romagna Grand Prix rolls into action today at Imola

Posted on by A Sports

EMILIA ROMAGNA: The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is poised to host its first-ever Sprint weekend in 2022, now in its third year since returning to the calendar in 2020. Before the race rolls into action, here are the schedule, as well as the favourites for pole, and points.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will embark with the first practice, which is scheduled to trigger at 13:30 Local and 16:30 PST. The first round of the practice will be an hour-long, which will then be followed by the Qualifying race – starting at 17:00 Local and 20:00 PST.

The second day at the Imola will commence with the second round of the practice, followed by the Sprint, scheduled to be held from 16:30 – 17:30 Local (19:30 – 20:30 PST).

 

The final race, on the other hand, will roll into action on Sunday at 15:00 Local (18:00 PST).

Battle for Pole Position

In the last two editions of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, it was Mercedes, which claim the pole position. Valtteri Bottas took it in 2020, while Lewis Hamilton claimed it in 2021.

However, this time around, Ferrari and Red Bull are the top favourites to secure the pole position, following their recent form and positions in the previously concluded races.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who won the Australian Grand Prix, is the hot favourite for claiming what would be his third pole of the season.

Points Table after Australian Grand Prix

Ferrari will clearly have the advantage heading into one of their two home races this year, with Leclerc winning two of the three races so far this season – and missing out on victory in Saudi Arabia by less than a second as well.

Following his excellent run in the previous races, Ferrari’s Leclerc leads the points standings with 71 points, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell on 37 points. On the other side, Leclerc’s teammate Sainz sits in third place with 31 points.

READ: Ferrari’s Leclerc beats Perez to win Australian GP, Verstappen retires

Ferrari’s Leclerc beats Perez to win Australian GP, Verstappen retires

Posted on by A Sports

MELBOURNE: Charles Leclerc has won the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, consolidating his and Ferrari’s championship leads, while Max Verstappen retired for the second time in three races. Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez finished second, with Mercedes’ George Russell rounding out the podium.

The 24-year-old from Monaco swept away his rivals, starting from the pole and winning by more than over 20 seconds over Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.

With only three races in the 2022 campaign Leclerc’s Ferrari’s speed and dependability, combined with Max Verstappen’s difficulties at Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton’s woes at Mercedes, have made him the early favourite to win a maiden drivers’ title.

 

After a victory in the season-opening in Bahrain and a second-place finish in Saudi Arabia behind world champion Verstappen, Leclerc now leads the standings by 34 points.

Leclerc and Ferrari will have further motivation, but also added pressure, to consolidate their lead with the next race at Imola on April 24 in front of their home supporters.

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