Race Weekend Central

F1 Review: Max Verstappen Victorious in Styrian Grand Prix

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JUNE 27: Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Styria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2021 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

(Photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images via Red Bull Racing)

Max Verstappen earned his fourth win of the 2021 Formula 1 season with a dominating drive in the Styrian Grand Prix on Sunday (June 27).  The victory, coming at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, is the 14th of his career and gives him a 156-138 lead over second-place point man Lewis Hamilton in the …

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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 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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5 Points to Ponder: The Road Ahead

Chase Elliott practices at COTA

March 2, 2021: Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. ( +CMS-HHP-Harold Hinson)

1. The “Road” Ahead For the second half of the 2021 regular season, the Cup Series regulars face an eclectic mix of tracks, including a doubleheader at Pocono Raceway (the only two-fer of this year), a brand new circuit in Nashville, and, count ’em, five road courses. Of the quintet, three road courses are new …

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Slipstream Saturday: Calendar Changes and Aerodynamic Controversy

2020 Belgian GP Formula 1

(Photo: ©Rolex/James Moy)

Millions of people have been vaccinated and businesses are reopening their doors, but the coronavirus still looms large, challenging Formula 1’s organizers as they plot a 23-race calendar for the globetrotting series. Just two weeks ago, the Canadian Grand Prix had to be cancelled for the second year in a row, with the event replaced …

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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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Lewis Hamilton Plays Perfect Strategy to Steal 6th Spanish Grand Prix Victory

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

(Photo: LAT Images via Mercedes AMG F1)

After clinching his record smashing 100th career pole Saturday, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes proved why they have been the most dominant team in F1 over the last decade. Using a perfectly executed two stop strategy, Hamilton ran down Max Verstappen to win his sixth career Spanish Grand Prix. Despite dominating the race, Verstappen was left …

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Slipstream Saturday: Lewis Hamilton Takes His 100th F1 Pole Position

Lewis Hamilton 100 pole at Spanish GP Formula 1 Mercedes AMG LAT Images

(Photo: LAT Images via Mercedes AMG F1)

After being denied by his teammate Valtteri Bottas last time out in Portugal, Lewis Hamilton became the first Formula 1 driver ever to reach 100 pole positions. His best lap time of 1:16.741 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was just 0.03 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen’s quickest effort. The top three’s best qualifying times came …

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5 Points to Ponder: Milestone Moments

Matt DiBenedetto raceswith Austin Dillon in the Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway, May 2021. Photo: NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

1. Next Gen We’ll get our first “official” look at the Next Gen car this Wednesday as all three OEMs, Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota, reveal their own unique looks for the 2022 Cup season. The Gen-7 car project, delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is designed primarily to lower costs for teams …

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