In the round-up: Fernando Alonso is more focused on beating Lewis Hamilton in the championship than catching Sergio Perez.
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In brief
“Difficult” to overtake Perez in championship – Alonso
Aston Martin driver Alonso says it is going to be a challenge for him to beat Perez to second in the drivers’ championship.
Alonso sits third in the standings, 33 points behind the Red Bull driver and 12 ahead of Hamilton. After if he still felt he could challenge for second by the end of the year, Alonso admitted “it’s difficult.”
“Let’s see race-by-race,” Alonso continued. “But I think 33 points behind Checo is a big gap – especially because they start every weekend aiming for first and second, so it’s not that they are dropping performance or we are getting closer or things that maybe can put you in a place to fight.
“Our aim is more in the constructors championship, try to score points with both cars. Hopefully keep Ferrari behind, because I think they are getting stronger and stronger. And then in the drivers’ championship, to be honest, I’m a little bit more focused on Lewis than Checo.”
Stroll spoke to Ricciardo about hand injury
Lance Stroll, who was treated for broken wrists by Spanish traumatology specialist Dr Xavier Mir before the start of the season, passed on his encouragement to Daniel Ricciardo after the AlphaTauri driver broke his hand last week.
Ricciardo broke a metacarpal in his left hand in a practice crash last weekend at Zandvoort and will miss this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.
“We had a quick chat, poor guy,” Stroll told media including RaceFans. “It’s not fun – I’ve been in his shoes. It’s just a mental game now. It takes the time it takes, unfortunately. But wishing him all the best, for sure. He’s in very good hands. He’s with the right guy.”
Asked how long he thought Ricciardo may be out of action for, Stroll said that it “depends what his fracture is.”
“Not exactly sure. If it’s a clean break, if it’s what the surgeon and what Dr Mir can do with his fixation, I don’t know. It depends a lot on the type of fracture.”
Ganassi signs Lundqvist for 2024 and beyond
Chip Ganassi Racing has announced Linus Lundqvist will take Marcus Ericsson’s seat at the team when he departs for Andretti at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old IndyLights (now Indy Nxt) champion from 2022 has competed in three IndyCar races this season at Meyer Shank in place of Simon Pagenaud, recording a best finish of 12th in the second Indianapolis road course race.
“Stepping up to race full time in the IndyCar series and to do so with one of the most successful teams in the history of the championship, is the moment I’ve been working for throughout my career,” said Lundqvist. “It is hard to explain how much this means to me. I am incredibly grateful to Chip, Mike [Hull, managing director] and to everyone who has backed me on this journey, including, of course, my family.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Formula One’s Top Star Savors Netflix Boost, Laments the ‘Spice’ (BNN Bloomberg)
”I know how important Netflix is to try and attract new fans, but it’s important really to see the reality of the sport. I like things to be portrayed like they actually are, not with a lot of, say, spice to it. Every year I have an interview and I do explain my side of the story and I think that’s important.”
‘Whatever it Takes’, from Monza to Venice! (AlphaTauri)
‘Whatever it Takes – the Race before the Races’, the film which tells the story of our team, will have its world premiere on 6 September in Venice and to celebrate the event the cars driven by Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson will have its title on the side of the cockpit throughout the Monza weekend.’
”I have a history with this watch going back many many years to 2004. I had a team in what is now Formula 2 and we had a race in Monaco and Vitantonio Liuzzi, the Italian driver, he won the race. In those days Berine used to pay cash for the victory and so I got his envelope full of cash for the victory and I thought I’m only going to spend it on something so I wanted a memory of that victory.”
Ferrari review – Michael Mann’s watchable race-car drama rarely puts pedal to metal (Guardian)
‘The result is a film which, though watchable, is a weird combination of brash and dour, rarely putting its pedal to the metal. It has some impressive and deafening race scenes, set in that extraordinary era when there was no safety either for drivers or the crowds behind the straw bales (or behind nothing at all). But it only really comes to life at the moments of pure horror – one death of a driver early on and then later a grotesque tragedy involving nine members of the public, four adults and five children.’
Scooter business backed by F1 supplier buys VanMoof (Telegraph)
‘The Dutch electric bike manufacturer dubbed the ‘Tesla of e-bikes’ has been acquired out of bankruptcy by a scooter business backed by Formula 1 supplier McLaren Applied. VanMoof, which gained a cult following for its minimalist bike designs, collapsed in July despite raising more than $200m (£160m) in funding.’
Formula 1 Craze Takes Over Milan Ahead of Italian GP (Women’s Wear Daily)
Charles Leclerc: ”I love fashion, it’s always something that I’ve looked into. My style has changed over the years: (when I arrived) in Formula 1, I was more (into a) lot of colors, very baggy (shapes). Now I’m more about a classic style, but I like (fashion) and I change it with my humor of the day. I think it’s an amazing way to express yourself without speaking.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Music to the ears. 😍 pic.twitter.com/Nkm63DNTRz
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) August 31, 2023
Monza helmet 🇮🇹
Going back to 1950’s. For @alfa_romeo 🏁#VB77 #F1 #AlfaRomeo #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/Qn6ammrnyh
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) August 31, 2023
LET. THEM. COOK. 👊
🧑🍳 @LandoNorris 🤝 @OscarPiastri 🧑🍳
Celebrating our 60th birthday weekend with some beautifully decorated cakes. 😉#ItalianGP 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/tXDMGbgCIk
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) August 31, 2023
Who does what in an @F1 pitstop? 🛞🔄
Our Chief Mechanic, Ben Howard, explains 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/hTjmNzrdx3— Williams Racing (@WilliamsRacing) August 31, 2023
As close as it gets.
Last round, we brought Mirte and Maura behind the scenes to see the heart of the team. Here in Monza, we’re ready to feel your support again.#IAM pic.twitter.com/LkoQqJLnGR
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) August 31, 2023
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Chris Sz, Meander, Glaszwiebel and Erzen!
On this day in motorsport
- 60 years ago today Jack Brabham won a non-championship grand prix at Zeltweg, which one year later held Austria’s first world championship race
