Alonso “can’t wait” for last races as team rebounds

In brief

Alonso thinks he can remain “in the mix” at final races

Aston Martin claimed their second biggest points haul of the past three seasons in last weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, and Alonso believes more of the same is possible after they turned around their mid-season slump in form.

“I was a little bit concerned, no doubt, for the last few races and maybe the final part of the championship,” he admitted. “Now I cannot wait to go to Vegas. So it’s a very different energy when you have a performing car.”

After taking the final podium place by five hundredths of a second in Brazil, Alonso conceded a repeat may not be on the cards in the final two races, but he believes they will be “at least closer than Mexico” where they had failed to contend for points the week prior.

“I think there are a couple of things that have been understood inside the team and the direction to go,” he said. “We had some hopes for this race and they proved to be right. And now, why not to be competitive in the last two?”

Open-wheel talents and motorcycling legend in WEC’s rookie test

The World Endurance Championship’s post-season rookie test at Bahrain attracted some big names who all fitted the rookie criteria for the respective class of car they were driving in.

Ferrari’s Formula 1 reserve driver Robert Shwartzman drove their 499P hypercar along with Lilou Wadoux. Moto GP legend and BMW factory driver Valentino Rossi tested an LMP2 car run by WRT – who will run BMW’s upcoming WEC hypercar programme – while Andretti’s new Formula E signing Norman Nato and Asian Le Mans Series champion Rene Binder got a taste of hypercar machinery in Porsches.

Formula 2 racer and total sports car newcomer Clement Novalak was the second-fastest driver in the test’s LMP2 classification behind three-times GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup champion Charles Weerts.

F1 CEO tight-lipped over Andretti

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is giving no indication when they are likely to reach a decision on the commercial terms which will be offered to Andretti-Cadillac after the FIA approved their entry to the championship.

“There is a process that is in place, so as always, we don’t have to give any anticipation,” said Domenicali in an F1 investors call last week. “The FIA did its right role of doing its first assessment. Now we’re in the process of doing our assessment on the commercial and marketing side.

“As soon as this process will be finished, of course, we will inform everyone accordingly. First of all, of course, sharing this info in the first instance with the FIA.”

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

Brazil police arrest 10 fugitives at Sao Paulo F1 race (Reuters)

‘Brazilian police arrested 10 fugitives who were trying to make their way into Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit for the grand prix, the state government said. Those arrested include people fleeing convictions for crimes such as robbery and paedophilia, said Sao Paulo’s public security department which added the operation was part of a programme it named ‘The Great Wall of SP’.’

This was the most embarrassing day of Hamilton’s career (Daily Mail)

‘There is no prospect of his team ending their misery this year or next, or perhaps the one after. What that means for his title dream is obvious. He is 38 and has two seasons to run on his new contract.’

‘A purposeful investment’: Why Rory McIlroy and Anthony Joshua are buying into F1 (The Athletic)

‘Now, the duo are a part of the sport they enjoy. McIlroy and Joshua say their joining Otro Capital’s investment group, which bought a 24% stake in Alpine this summer, is more than a business move. The pair said it’s a move to offer proper support however the F1 team needs them to.’

Las Vegas F1 race is a love-hate relationship for locals (Las Vegas Review Journal)

‘As we’ve reached less than two weeks before the big event, more and more concerns have been raised about what F1 will do to the city, how it already has impacted us and what we can look forward to in the nine-plus years of future races.’

Ecclestone case shows HMRC using enforcement powers more vigorously (Financial Times Advisor)

‘Ecclestone’s guilty plea relates to a false representation made to HMRC that he was not the settlor or beneficiary of any trusts outside of the UK, except a single trust established and declared in favour of his children. The remarks made by the sentencing judge refer to Ecclestone being linked to two trusts outside the UK and a Singaporean bank account containing ‘very substantial’ funds.’

Foyt’s day in the sun: The story of the 2013 Long Beach GP (Racer)

‘History wasn’t necessarily on the side of team nor driver, either. Sato’s most recent win of any kind had come 12 years earlier in Formula 3. For Foyt, the wait had been almost as long: the team’s last champagne shower had come when Airton Dare found the top step of the podium in the 2002 IndyCar race at Kansas. Narrow the lens to the last time the team had won on a road or street course and you’re going all the way back to 1978, when A.J. himself was victorious at Silverstone.’

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