Race Weekend Central

F1 Midweek: The Belgian Grand Prix Debacle & Silly Season’s Answers

Rain cut short the Belgian Grand Prix to just a single lap in a race won by Max Verstappen. (Photo: Getty Images)

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB16B and George Russell (GBR) Williams Racing FW43B behind the Mercedes FIA Safety Car. Belgian Grand Prix, Sunday 29th August 2021. Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.

The Belgian Grand Prix last weekend stands as the shortest “race” in Formula 1 history, as well as the most pathetic excuse of an event.  Even a few days after the GP, the sport is dealing with the fallout and recognizing that how it handled things in Belgium was unacceptable. Many drivers voiced their opinions, …

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F1 Midweek: The Battles Shaping the Hungarian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton inside Max Verstappen at the start of the 2021 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, LAT Images via Mercedes AMG F1

Start of British GP at Silverstone (Photo: LAT Images via Mercedes AMG F1)

The upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix marks the 11th race of the 2021 Formula 1 schedule and also the last before the summer break. When everyone in the sport goes and does whatever they do for the month of August, the sport will not even have reached its midpoint. The way this season is going, that’s …

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When Will Ferrari Win Again?

Ferrari Brazil

The Ferrari team were impressive but not always in the best way (FIA Images)

At the end of 2019, fans were excited at the prospect that Ferrari were finally going to take it to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes in 2020. Oh how wrong we all were. After falling off the Kangshung Face of Mt. Everest, Ferrari have been clawing their way back up the grid after the disaster that …

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F1 Midweek: The Race Before the Race – Sprint Race Qualifying at Silverstone Grand Prix

2021 Austrian Grand Prix, Saturday Steve Etherington

2021 Austrian Grand Prix, Saturday - Steve Etherington

This weekend, Formula 1 visits the historic Silverstone circuit, the host of the British Grand Prix in intermittent fashion beginning in 1948 and the sole site since 1987. In an effort to add spice to the racing at a track where the races have been somewhat unremarkable over the past few years, F1 will be …

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F1 Midweek: The Next Big Pay Drivers?

Formula 1 2021: Austrian Gp

RED BULL RING, AUSTRIA - JULY 04: Nikita Mazepin, Haas VF-21 during the Austrian GP at Red Bull Ring on Sunday July 04, 2021 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images)

So we all know the story of the Nicholas Latifis and the Lance Strolls, the Nikita Mazepins and the Pastor Maldonados who have frittered away positions on the Formula 1 grid but backed by wealthy benefactors – usually their families/fathers. However, with F1 being a sport reliant on money, as is not a surprising statement, …

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F1 Midweek: Is Mercedes Really Done With 2021?

Lewis Hamilton 2021 Spanish GP F1 Saturday car Formula 1 LAT Images Mercedes AMG

(Photo: LAT Images via Mercedes AMG F1)

The Formula 1 season is nine races old, and the battle that many followers of the sport had longed for has arrived – and seemingly passed. But, as the Tower of Power might appreciate, Red Bull came to play at the Bahrain Grand Prix to open the season. Max Verstappen took the pole and provided …

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F1 Midweek: Why No F1 Driver Should Join the Alpine Driver Academy

Renault Belgian Gp

Daniel Ricciardo (credit: Renault F1)

When joining the Formula 1 feeder systems, usually a young driver academy picks a prospect up or a driver is able to bring enough backing to find a place. Sometimes they get lucky and join the Red Bull, Mercedes or Ferrari academy, other times they’re unlucky and get stuck with Williams or Alfa Romeo. While a …

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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 Midweek: The Pursuit of the Mercedes Killer

Verstappen Bahrain

Verstappen out front in Bahrain (credit: FIA images)

With Max Verstappen becoming the first non-Mercedes driver to lead the championship standings since Sebastian Vettel in 2019, Formula 1 fans have been foaming at the mouth to see what team will eventually end the Mercedes dominance of the Hybrid era. F1 has always been a sport of domination, with only two different teams and …

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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 Midweek: Drivers Excited for Return to Monaco After 2020 Absence

Hamilton Monaco

Lewis Hamilton drove an efficient race on his way to his third Monaco GP win (credit: FIA Images)

It’s been two years since Formula 1 last raced in the Principality of Monaco, due to the 2020 Grand Prix being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the most famous grand prix in F1 is back, and the drivers could not be more excited. For some, it’s the return of an old friend. For …

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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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