Race Weekend Central

F1 Midweek: Checking the Sportʻs Pulse with a Season-Opening Roundtable

Formula 1 Testing In Bahrain Day 1

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 10: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during Day One of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on March 10, 2022 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202203100708 // Usage for editorial use only //

Before the lights go out to start the 2022 Formula 1 season, our writers offer a roundtable to discuss some of the notable storylines. 

F1 Midweek: Saying Cheers to 2021 in Roundtable Fashion

Max Verstappen

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

This week the Frontstretch Formula 1 crew looks back at the 2021 season.  From the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to Esteban Ocon’s surprising win to the question of how many races the US should host, they offer their thoughts on many of the year’s top storylines. Favorite moments of the season Caleb …

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F1 Midweek: Examining the Abu Dhabi GP Ending and What To Do Differently

2021 Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton start overtakes Verstappen Peter Fox Getty

(Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

This week we’ve got a roundtable discussion on the controversial ending to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that saw Max Verstappen benefit from race director’s Michael Masi strange decision-making process.  First calling off having lapped cars unlap themselves, then reversing the decision, then pulling in the safety car without the one-lap grace period all amounted …

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F1 Midweek: China’s Motorsport Conundrum, Pt. 2

2019 Chinese Grand Prix, Sunday Lat Images

2019 Chinese Grand Prix, Sunday (credit: LAT Images/Mercedes AMG)

My first visit to China, in March of 2018, was a 10-day trip to Shanghai. Of those 10 days, seven were allocated to business meetings and interviews with foreigners who had founded or worked for various companies both in Shanghai and in other Chinese megacities. At that time, I had been to six NASCAR events …

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F1 Midweek: Where Are the Chinese Drivers?

2021 Italy F2 Theo Pourchaire Guanyu Zhou Christian Lundgaard podium Florent Gooden DPPI Alfa Romeo Racing

(Photo: Florent Gooden/DPPI via Alfa Romeo Racing)

With his deal to drive for Alfa Romeo in 2022, Shanghai’s Guanyu Zhou became the first full-time Chinese driver in Formula 1 when it was announced on Nov. 15. Zhou, currently in his third season of Formula 2, has four wins to his name and is a championship contender for 2021. He also won the …

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F1 Midweek: Which Could Be the Next Country Represented for the First Time?

Zhou Alfa Romeo

Guanyu Zhou will drive for Alfa Romeo in 2022 (credit: Alfa Romeo media)

Guanyu Zhou became the very first Formula 1 driver from China when Alfa Romeo announced that he would be driving for the team in 2022.  The move signals a shift that has been occurring in F1 over recent years as more countries are represented on the grid.  Alex Albon became the first driver with Thai …

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