Race Weekend Central

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 Midweek: Big Decision at Mercedes, Pirelli Failures, Williams Shake-Up

Motor Racing - Formula One World Championship - Monaco Grand Prix - Thursday - Monte Carlo, Monaco

George Russell (GBR) Williams Racing. Monaco Grand Prix, Thursday 20th May 2021. Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The Formula 1 silly season is beginning to gain more energy and attention, which seems kind of funny for a market that appears rather limited this year.  While last year brought on many changes, both expected and surprising, there does not appear to be the same kind of movement. Last year, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, …

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F1 Slipstream Saturday: COTA Double; Mercedes and 2022

Motor Racing - Formula One World Championship - Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Qualifying Day - Baku, Azerbaijan

George Russell (GBR) Williams Racing. Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Saturday 6th June 2021. Baku City Circuit, Azerbaijan.

One of the bigger stories surrounding Formula 1 in the past couple of weeks is the cancellation of the Singapore Grand Prix because of COVID-19 precautions and restrictions.  Of course, Singapore falling off the schedule is not the first change for the 2021 season. At the onset, Australia switched from its opening slot to move …

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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 Midweek: Max Mosley’s Extensive Influence

Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2017

(Photo: ©Rolex/Jad Sherif)

For 16 years, Max Mosley lorded over Formula 1, working in concert with his friend and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. Together, the two ruled the sport, with Mosley holding the position of FIA President and overseeing on-track matters while Ecclestone was in charge of television rights, promotion and expansion. Mosley died, age 81, on Monday …

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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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F1 Midweek: Checking on 2021 New Driver Hires

Sergio Perez drives at the F1 Grand Prix of Spain, May 2021. (Photo: Getty Images)

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 09: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 09, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202105090420 // Usage for editorial use only //

With four races complete in the 2021 Formula 1 season, there is enough data to start checking on not only the teams that are performing well, but more importantly on the drivers that have switched seats. Consider this F1 column a way of checking on the new faces and places. Before touching upon the drivers, …

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F1 Review: Lewis Hamilton & Mercedes, the Perfect Marriage in Spain

2021 Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday - Steve Etherington

2021 Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday - Steve Etherington

The start of the Spanish Grand Prix portended Max Verstappen might equal Lewis Hamilton’s tally for Formula 1 race wins in 2021.  Verstappen powered by pole-sitter Hamilton into turn 1 and then pushed out to nearly a two-second lead. The power failure to Yuki Tsunoda’s Alpha Tauri brought out a safety car that looked like …

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F1 Review: Lewis Hamilton Wins, Lando Norris Solid & Fernando Alonso Surges

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M front on

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M front on

Lewis Hamilton did it again in Portugal, cruising to his 97th Formula 1 win.  Max Verstappen tried to apply some pressure to the Briton but could never muster the pace to do so. Valtteri Bottas, the pole-sitter, finished third after a confounding drive. Sergio Perez earned the fourth spot with Lando Norris taking fifth. Charles …

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F1 Midweek: Lando Norris Leading McLaren Rise; Adieu to Canadian Grand Prix?

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M front on leaving corner.

(Photo: McLarenF1 media)

This past weekend, Lando Norris scored the second podium finish of his Formula 1 career. At Imola last year, the Brit secured an eighth-place finish, a result that at the time appeared satisfactory. But if there’s anything that is to be learned about Norris’s career thus far, satisfactory does not seem to be how it …

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F1 Review: Max Verstappen Wins, Lando Norris Impresses at Imola

F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna

IMOLA, ITALY - APRIL 18: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on April 18, 2021 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Max Verstappen won the Emilio Romagna Italian Grand Prix with a modicum of ease on Sunday (April 18).  Racing on the Imola track for the second year in a row, the once-dismissed circuit provided a great theater for action, one where Verstappen seemed to miss everything and cruise to the win. In reality, Verstappen appeared …

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F1 Midweek: Max Verstappen’s Slow Pace and More

verstappen_bahrain

Verstappen out front in Bahrain (credit: FIA images)

The Formula 1 season is enjoying the first of its two weeks off before resuming in Italy on the weekend of April 18. That means the news cycle is slow and everyone is offering very little in the way of salvos or defenses. In fact, the past week has been dreadfully boring. After Sir Lewis …

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