In the round-up: Toto Wolff says Aston Martin’s planned move from customer Mercedes power to a works engine deal with Honda is “the kind of step that you need to make” to win world championships.
In brief
Wolff gives his take on Aston Martin’s Honda deal
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff does not believe Aston Martin’s switch to Honda power units in 2026 is reflection on the power units provided by the team’s current supplier Mercedes.
The Lawrence Stroll-owned team has used Mercedes engines since 2009, when it was known as Force India, and will become a works team for Honda when Formula 1 introduced news power unit regulations in three years’ time.
“I don’t think them switching from a Mercedes client situation to a Honda has anything to do with the power unit,” Wolff told media including RaceFans. “I think we are competitive in terms of power unit, but they always wanted to emancipate themselves and become a true works team, and that’s what they’re doing.
“They have their own exclusive power unit supply deal, they have their own fuel supplier, they are building a big factory that’s going online in the next few months – and Lawrence’s aim is never small. I think when you want to be competitive and win championships, that is the kind of step that you need to make.”
Sargeant still adjusting to requirements of an F1 driver
Williams’ rookie Logan Sargeant has admitted that the lifestyle of a Formula 1 driver is still something he is adjusting to after six grands prix.
“It’s a busy schedule, a lot of marketing, a lot of media, a lot of commitments, a lot of time on the sim. So you don’t get much time to yourself,” Sargeant told the official F1 website.
“So I’m learning how to do all that and not let it mentally drain me as much, and also have time to just hang out with some friends and I go play golf on the weekend or something like that.”
Barcelona DRS zones go unchanged
No changes have been made to the DRS zones at the Circuit de Catalunya for this weekend’s race. Drivers complained about some of the changes made to DRS zones over the first five races of the season, including the decision to shorten some of them.
In addition to the extension of the run-off area at turn one and bypassing of the chicane at the end of the lap, other changes for this year including the removal of artificial grass at turn three and new barriers on the outside of the high-speed turns 13 and 14, which F1 drivers will tackle for the first time since 2006.
Asteroid named after Alonso
Fernando Alonso now has an asteroid named after him. The Foundation of the Institute of Astronomy and Astronautics of Mallorca has chosen to rename asteroid 73533 in honour of the two-times world champion, who is seeking his 33rd F1 win.
“This asteroid has a peculiar numbering ending in ’33’, the same number of victories that the Asturian pursues in his long career in the highest category of the world motorsport,” said the foundation in a statement.
Asteroid 73533 Alonso is four kilometres wide and travels at a speed of around 32,400kph, some 87 times faster than the top speed Alonso will reach in his Aston Martin this year. It lies between Mars and Jupiter and can be tracked on NASA’s website here.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Inside F1’s drive to win the hearts and wallets of America (Newsweek)
‘Some 400,000 fans headed to Austin for the United States GP last year — the most of any race on the calendar— while F1 said that in 2021 followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitch and Chinese social platforms increased to 49.1 million. By 2022, that had grown again by another 23%. And it’s now a gender-diverse group too: Around 40% of F1 fans are female, up from just 8% when Liberty Media bought the racing series in 2017 for $4.4 billion.’
Motor racing commentator sacked after complaints of inappropriate behaviour (The Guardian)
‘Jack Nicholls has been sacked from his job commentating for the Formula E world championship after complaints of inappropriate behaviour towards women and an external investigation by an employment specialist.’
iRacing to partner with FIA for authentic Formula 4 experience (iRacing)
‘iRacing, the world’s premier motorsport simulation and leader in eSports, is extremely pleased to announce an official partnership with the FIA to bring a licensed FIA F4 experience to iRacing. As part of the agreement, the car currently known as the iRacing Formula iR-04 will be relaunched as the FIA F4 with iRacing’s 2023 season three release in June.’
German sports stars Sebastian Vettel and Erik Heil announce first Germany SailGP team (SailGP)
‘Two of Germany’s leading sports stars – four-times F1 champion Sebastian Vettel and double Olympic sailing bronze medallist Erik Heil – came together today alongside team owner Thomas Riedel to announce the Germany SailGP Team. Germany will be the latest nation to contest the purpose-led global racing league, which kicks off its fourth season with the United States Sail Grand Prix.’
Lawrence Stroll sells off £117m Aston Martin stake after Chinese investment (The Telegraph)
‘Change in shareholding comes as the business eyes Beijing’s car market, with Stroll selling his stake in the automotive brand.’
Floersch ‘trying to use’ her sportscar experience in her return to F3 (Formula Scout)
‘Sophia Floersch returned to single-seaters for 2023, and she told Formula Scout about the value of her interlude in sportscars and how it compares to her experience of Formula 3.’
‘Few people could claim to know more about cars than Jean Todt, the former rally car driver who went on to become the president of F1’s governing body FIA and general manager of Ferrari. But now, in his role as the United Nations’ special envoy for road safety, he says it’s time for their reign over our cities to end.’
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On this day in motorsport
- 25 years ago today Juan Pablo Montoya lapped the entire field as he won the Pau Grand Prix, which was being run to Formula 3000 rules for the final time
