In the round-up: The International Olympics Committee is considering whether to include a motorsport event as part of the 2028 games.
In brief
Motorsport considered for 2028 Olympics
Motorsport is among the categories being considered for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games, to be held in Los Angeles, USA. The IOC is expected to make a decision on which new competitions to include “in the coming weeks”, according to Reuters. The final selection is due to be ratified in October.
Electric karting was included as a competition for the first time at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. The event, opened by then-FIA president Jean Todt, took place at the karting circuit at the Autodromo Juan y Oscar Galvez in Buenos Aires, which held 20 rounds of the world championship between 1953 and 1998. Another electric karting event took place at the 2020 Youth Olympic Games.
Other sport under consideration include flag football – a non-contact variant of American football -cricket, lacrosse, breakdancing, karate, kickboxing, squash, baseball and softball.
F1 right to err on “super safe side” at Spa
Formula 1 drivers and team principals largely backed race director Niels Wittich’s call to delay the start of the sprint race during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend due to heavy rain. The shortened race eventually began after five laps behind the Safety Car.
“I think you can absolutely understand that everyone needs to play it safe in Spa,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, referring to the crash which claimed the life of Formula Regional European Championship racer Dilano van ‘t Hoff last month.
“We had two terrible accidents, the last one under similar conditions in the rain where drivers couldn’t see because of the spray. So, it was clear that the approach here needed to be on the super safe side and I think that was right. The spray on the new Tarmac is pretty bad and doing these laps was the right thing to do.”
Max Verstappen, who led the queue of cars behind the Safety Car, said the call was “probably quite a safe view on things but I prefer that than risking it and going too early. But other tracks again, maybe it’s a bit different.”
Iron Lynx tests WEC Lamborghini
Iron Lynx, who will run Lamborghini’s entry in next year’s World Endurance Championship, ran a two-day test for its SC63 at Imola last week. It previously shook down the chassis at Vallelunga.
Daniil Kvyat, Mirko Bortolotti and Andrea Caldarelli took turns driving. Team principal Andrea Piccini said the first signs were encouraging.
“Since we drove the car out of the pits in Vallelunga last week, the drivers reported a general positive feeling. We didn’t have any major issue so far, step by step we’re driving longer stints, learning the car and getting faster. Still a long way to go, a lot of debugging and development needed, but the first impression is definitely positive.”
O’Ward “driving my ass off” for first win of 2023
McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward admitted he is eager to score his first win this season after taking his sixth podium finish of the year at Indianapolis last weekend. “A fricking win would be great,” he said on Saturday.
“I’ve been driving my ass off every single race. There is nothing more than I want than to get wins. Obviously there’s been little things here and there that have got us out of contention and out of being able to kind of capitalise on that.”
O’Ward finished third behind Scott Dixon and Graham Rahal last weekend. “I’m very pleased with today, very happy with how the team and I attacked because I was playing around with Graham in the warm-up, and he was just stronger than me. I know he was. I knew it was going to be a tall ask, just from outright pace, to try and beat them.
“But I was very happy with my car balance. I was very happy with every other call. We’ve just got to keep pushing.”
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(La Gazzetta dello Sport – Italian, subscription required)
“‘Would he have liked Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz?’ ‘Definitely yes, because they are both young and very professional, they dedicate a lot to their work. This was a quality that my father liked very much. He didn’t appreciate those riders who refused to do tests and only showed up to races to race. Today tests are no longer done, but Charles and Carlos test on the simulator almost every week, helping the team.'”
Marko: Red Bull’s engine for 2026 ‘miles ahead’ of Ferrari and Audi (Motorsport-Total)
‘The weight is a safety risk. The Silverstone accident that Max (Verstappen) had in 2021 can end very differently with such a heavy battery’
Massa: Verstappen will win everything until 2026 (Marca)
‘Until 2026, when we will have the change of regulations, Verstappen wins everything. I think we will have equal regulations and Verstappen is superior, Red Bull is superior. So until 2026 we can expect Verstappen to win all the titles’
Larson to climb ‘Mount Everest’ with Indy-Charlotte double (IndyCar)
‘Busch was the last driver to successfully attempt the double, in 2014. Stewart produced the most successful double in 2001, when he finished sixth at Indianapolis and third at Charlotte. Larson, who started sixth in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on Sunday at IMS, is aiming even higher.’
Correa: A race in my words (F2)
‘It’s now quite special because I got to share the podium with him. It was a big deal for him. A Frenchman at the French Grand Prix. It was a big podium and now, looking back, it was very special.’
Senior trio to leave McLaren (Racer)
‘According to a spokesperson, Vincent’s exit will be preceded by Jeff Darks, McLaren’s (vice-president) of marketing operations, who has been with the team since 2009 and rates among the most respected members of the team. Darks has Sept. 1 listed as his final day, and he’ll be joined by Mark Myers, Arrow McLaren’s director of partnerships.’
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Enzo Ferrari left us on 14 August 1988, but his legacy certainly hasn’t.
People, technologies, buildings. Our Maranello factory’s expansion stands testament to his vision, enabling us to push boundaries and shape the future of automotive innovation. #Ferrari #RememberingEnzo pic.twitter.com/rJiLvZFFZM— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) August 14, 2023
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On this day in motorsport
- 30 years ago today Damon Hill scored his first F1 win in the German Grand Prix
