Brendan Lines 7th Sept, 2020

Pierre Gasly took his maiden Formula 1 victory in a chaotic Italian Grand Prix for Alpha Tauri, beating McLaren’s Carlos Sainz in a last lap showdown by just under half a second, Racing Point’s Lance Stroll took third.

The Frenchman’s win came in the most chaotic circumstances, as the race was red-flagged and race leader Lewis Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty for ignoring closed pitlane signals under a safety car on lap 20.

Pierre Gasly celebrates with Alpha Tauri team members – Image Scuderialphatauri.com

But in the chaos Gasly rose to the occasion to be the unlikely toast of Monza, in place of the albeit ‘virtual Tifosi’s much loved Ferrari — who suffered a double DNF for drivers Sebastian Vettel (Brakes) and Charles Leclerc (Collision).

“This is amazing! I’m lost for words! It’s unbelievable! I’ve been through so many things in the past 18 months and it’s better than anything I expected.” Gasly said after the race.

“I focused hard when I re-joined Scuderia AlphaTauri. Day by day, race by race, we improved ourselves and got stronger and stronger – this team gave me my first podium in F1 last year in Brazil and today, these guys gave me my first win in Formula 1, in Italy, in Monza, with an Italian team.

“I’m not someone who gives up on anything, I always fought for everything in my life until I made it to F1. Today it was a great day!

“When I was fighting the last few laps to keep P1, I knew how gutted I would have been if I had lost it, I wouldn’t have been happy with P2.

“I gave it everything I had – it was difficult – I pushed hard at the start of the stint to not give anyone the slipstream behind, then the last five laps were so intense, I almost shunted 10 times… I was pushing so hard!

“My tyres were gone but I wanted that win so much, it still feels weird to say I’m an F1 race winner.

“A big thanks to all of these guys here at the track and at the factory, in Faenza and Bicester, it’s a great day for them too. Most of them are Italian and the HQ is in Faenza, Italy, so to win the Italian Grand Prix is amazing. Thank you all.”

There was more reason to celebrate as the Faenza-based team took its first win since 2008 — coincidentally at Monza for Sebastian Vettel’s maiden win in extraordinary wet conditions.

If there was ever an argument for a reverse order grid race, the 2020 Italian Grand Prix was a perfect case study, as the race was turned on its head after Hamilton’s pit lane transgression and the red flag.

The first phase of the race played out in expected fashion as Hamilton dominated the start building a 13-second lead over the charging McLaren’s of Sainz in P2 and Lando Norris, P3.

While the sister Mercedes of Valterri Bottas had a wobbly start, dropping from P2 to P6, the Fin struggled in the aero wake of Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault, exposing Mercedes the Achilles heel to the seemingly invincible speed of the Silver Arrows.

But the natural order of things was tenuous, as on lap 26 the race was red flagged as Leclerc’s car left the exit of the Parabolica at high speed making a frighteningly spectacular impact with the wall, fortunately the Monegasque walked away unscathed.

The teams took advantage of a change of tyres during the stoppage, Racing Point’s Lance Stoll effectively gained a free pit stop to fit Medium tyres.

But the change to fresh rubber didn’t improve Red Bull’s Max Verstappen’s already tough day, retiring from P14 with engine failure after the re-start.

Gasly drove brilliantly on the re-start keeping up with Hamilton, the Brit came into the pit lane for his penalty handing Gasly the lead.

The Brit had to charge from the back of the field recovering to P7 for seven valuable world championship points.

While Sainz and Stroll battled for P5 and P6, behind the surprisingly racey Alfa Romeos of Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi.

Giovinazzi’s own 10-second penalty got him out of the way of the Sainz-Stroll duel, the pair soon accounted for Räikkönen on lap 34.

Sainz could almost smell victory as he hunted down Gasly over the final laps, deploying every advantage of DRS and MGU-K battery power he could while his Renault engine in his McLaren was hamstrung by the recent banning of engine modes.

On the final lap Sainz was had a look down the inside of Gasly at the Rettifilo chicane, but Gasly’s Alpha had the traction to keep the McLaren in his wake as Sainz ate into the lead corner by corner.

Gasly kept the door shut into the final turn at the Parabolica and taking the chequered flag by just +0.415s.

Gasly now becomes the first French driver to win a Grand Prix since Olivier Panis’ unlikely win in the wet at Monaco in 1996.

The race also marks the final race founder Sir Frank Williams and daughter Claire with the legendaty British team.

Brendan Lines 6th Sept, 2020

The Renault F1 team will take on the Alpine name for 2021 after parent company Groupe Renault announced earlier this current Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul was put in charge of the Alpine name.

After Formula 1 teams unanimously signed the new Concorde agreements, with the capping of budgets and the implementation of new technical regulations from 2022, Abiteboul says it’s the right time for the team to change.
“This change comes at a key moment in the trajectory of the team and the sport. Alpine brings a new meaning, new values and colours to the paddock with the spirit of competition from other worlds and French creative agility,” Abiteboul said.

“These will be assets in the preparation of 2022 deadlines. The new regulatory and financial framework will establish the conditions for a fairer motor sport in its redistribution of revenues; simpler and progressive in its governance.

“The implementation of the “budget cap” will put an end to the expense race and will allow the signatory teams to be measured for their sporting value. Alpine has its place in Formula 1 and can challenge for victory.”

The change coincides with two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso’s return to the team as Australian Daniel Ricciardo leaves the team for McLaren next year.

Alpine is a subsidiary of the French Renault car brand, known for its success in endurance racing and rallying.

From 2021 the familiar yellow livery of the Renault team will take the French national colours Red, Blue and White.

From 2021 Alpine F1 cars will be designated the chassis name A110, the team’s engine will continue to benefit from the support of Groupe Renault’s hybrid powertrains and its E-Tech name will be retained.

CEO of Groupe Renault Luca De Meo, welcomed the announcement in a statement released by Renault on Sunday, the statement read:

“Alpine is a beautiful brand, powerful and vibrant, that brings a smile to the faces of its followers,” De Meo said.

“By introducing Alpine, a symbol of French excellence, to the most prestigious of the world’s automotive disciplines, we are continuing the adventure of manufacturers in a renewed sport.

“We are bringing a dream brand alongside the biggest names, for spectacular car races made and followed by enthusiasts. Alpine will also bring its values to the F1 paddock: elegance, ingenuity and audacity.”

Brendan Lines 5th Sept, 2020

Lewis Hamilton was back on top as the fastest Mercedes in FP2 overnight, the Brit finished two tenths ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas, Lando Norris was best of the rest with a late lap surging him to P3 for McLaren.

Both Mercedes again were the only cars to lap in the one minute twenty mark, but despite his fastest lap if 1:20.192s.

Hamilton says there is more work to be done to be in the fight for Saturday’s qualifying and to avoid the nightmare Q3 traffic of last year.

“The car didn’t feel great in the first session but in the afternoon, it felt like we made some encouraging improvements and it was much better,” Hamilton said in Friday.

“We have a few more steps to make overnight and then I think it’ll be where it needs to. It’s quite a bumpy track here and with the low downforce, there’s a lot of sliding. You need to find the right balance with the bumps and between the low and high-speed turns.

“The field is typically a lot closer here, compared to Spa, as it’s such a fast lap and there aren’t many corners. Valtteri’s quick here, too, so it’s going to be a fun battle. It’s going to be interesting in Qualifying, obviously we didn’t get our final lap in last year and I think the last corner will be a bit of a nightmare with everyone trying to get a gap, so it’s going to be hard work.”

Alpha Tauri continued its solid Friday pace from the morning session, this time Pierre Gasly was fastest in P4, just over a tenth ahead teammate Daniil Kyvat in P7.

Max Verstappen wasn’t affected by his off in FP1 going fastest of the Red Bull with a lap of 1:21.228s for P5, six tenths ahead of the sister Red Bull of Alex Albon in P14.

Carlos Sainz improved from FP1, despite the team and engine supplier Renault still not able to pin point the exhaust issue that kept him out of the Belgian GP, the Spaniard’ s time of 1:21.313s was enough for P6.

Lance Stoll reversed the orders at Racing Point after the morning session, his time of 1:21.389 was some two tenths quicker than teammate Sergio Perez.

Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari some hope at its home race finishing P10 for FP2, the Monegasque complained the car was ‘very hard to drive after he had a similar off at the first if the Lesmo corners.

Sebastian Vettel’s rear end spun around earlier in the session, though he improved on FP1, the German could only manage P12 for the afternoon session.

Esteban Ocon was fastest of the Renaults in P11 some four tenths ahead of Daniel Riccicardo, but don’t be fooled, both Renault drivers had much faster lap times deleted for exceeding track limits.

Antonio Giovinazzi was again faster of the Alfas from the morning session in P13 ahead of Kimi Räikkönen in P17.

Kevin Magnussen was this time the fastest if the Haas cars in P16, two tenths quicker than Romain Grosjean in P18.

George Russell echoed Hamilton’s comments of the ‘nightmare slow moving traffic, the Brit was back in his car for FP2 but finished P20 behind teammate Nicholas Latifi in P19.

FP3 and Qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix begins 7:30pm ACST tonight.

Brendan Lines 5th Sept, 2020 08:18am

Valtteri Bottas began his hunt to close the gap in the World Championship lead setting the pace in Friday’s FP1 for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the Fin was +0.245 quicker than Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in P2 And Red Bull’s Alex Albon in P3.

Mercedes were able to stay ahead of the mixed up field despite new technical directives limiting the use of engine modes.

The Silver Arrows appear to have carried over its top speed in the low-downforce configuration, but Bottas believes there’s more to unpack.

“The car didn’t feel great in the first session but in the afternoon, I’m sure we can still improve it, for example the rear stability was lacking a bit in a few of the corners,” he said after FP1.

My lap in practice two wasn’t great so from my side, there’s quite a bit more to come as well. It’s an unusual track here, quite stop and start, with not so many high-speed corners and traction being very important out of the slow turns.

“The margins are so fine here and there aren’t many corners to make the difference.

“I was a little surprised by the lap times and performance compared to the others at this stage in the weekend, but I’m sure every team will find more time and it’ll be closer tomorrow, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Red Bull’s Alex Albon was quick from the get-go his time of 1:21.500 was two tenths quicker than teammate Max Verstappen in P5, who’s struggle with car balance sent the Dutchman into the wall at the Ascari chicane red-flagging the session.

There was a deja-vu moment from 2019 as cars queued down the back straight looking for an aero advatage in the tow, but fortunately the field got on with the business of punching in fastest laps.

Alpha Tauri’s Daniil Kyvat did just that finishing P5, just over a full tenth of a second ahead of his counterpart Pierre Gasly in P6, making for encouraging signs Alpha Tauri could be the fastest Italian team this year at Monza ahead of Ferrari.

The Scuderia had another double bogey session, finishing outside the top ten, Caherles Leclerc took P11 while Sebastian Vettel slumped to P19 some one and a half tenths down on Williams’ stand-in driver Roy Nissany in P18.

Sergio Perez was the fastest of the Racing Point cars in P7 fishing almost half a second clear of teammate Lance Stroll in P13.

Daniel Ricciardo was Friday’s curious case, after consecutive top three finishes in free practice sessions in recent weeks, Renault reported the Aussie was ‘focusing on future concepts‘ on his R.S.20.

Ricciardo finished P9 just over two tenths clear if teammate Esteban Ocon in P12.

Lando Norris was the fastest of the McLaren’s in P8 one and a half tenths ahead off Carlos Sainz in the sister McLaren, who rounded out the top ten.

Haas drivers Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen occupied P14 and P15 respectively, ahead of both Alfa Romeo’s lead by Antonio Giovinazzi from Kimi Räikkönen.

Nicholas Latifi finished P20 for Williams.

Brendan Lines 3 Sept, 2020 11:00pm

This weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza will mark the an end of an era in Formula 1 as the last race the Williams family will be at the helm of the team created by Sir Frank Williams in 1977, Williams won its first Drivers and Constructors World Championship with Australian driver Alan Jones in 1980.

The departure comes as Williams Racing was sold to US investment company Dorilton Captial in late August, after the team said in May it would embark on a “new strategic direction,” as the team felt the financial strain of the 2020 season’s COVID lockdown period along with eight years of declining performance since its last win in Spain 2012.

After 43 years and 739 Grands Prix, 114 Grand Prix wins, 128 pole positions, 133 fastest laps, seven Drivers and nine Constructors World Championships, the Williams family will leave the sport, after the recent conclusion of the Strategic Review process and consequent sale of Williams Grand Prix Engineering to the US-based investment firm ensuring the team’s future.

Daughter to Sir Frank and Deputy Team principal since 2013, Claire Williams says it is a timely point at which the Williams family have chosen to exit the sport.

“With the future of the team now secured, this feels like the appropriate time for us to step away from the sport,” she said.

“As a family, we have always prioritised Williams. We have demonstrated that by our recent actions with the Strategic Review process and we believe now is the right time to hand over the reins and give the new owners the opportunity to take the team into the future.”

Sir Frank and Claire have ensured the family have remained at the helm of the team since its first race in 1977. The team has been through many periods of triumph and adversity, but the rising costs to compete at the front of the field has simply gone beyond the means of a family business model.

Before her last Grand Prix this weekend, Williams’ last act as Team principal has been to be influence the successful campaigning for a more sustainable Formula 1 set out in the new Concorde Agreement.

The Agreement, now signed by all teams, maps out a more level playing field for the sport with more equitable financial and technical regulations moving forwards that all Formula teams will be able to capitalise upon from 2021 and beyond.

Williams said in a statement from the team she had hoped to continue her tenure into the future, but the need for inward investment, Williams said lead to ‘a number of factors, many of which were outside of our control, resulted in the sale to Dorilton Capital.’

At last week’s Belgian Grand Prix, Williams confirmed the family no longer owned the team, but was coy about her future; “This is very early days obviously, for the moment it’s business as usual,” she said.

The sale is reported to be US$ 180 million, the Williams family were paid 52 per cent of this from the US based company buyer who is believed to have strong European ties.

Dorilton is a private investment firm headquartered in the United States and Savage has lead the company since 2009. Prior to founding Dorilton, Savage was with Rothschild as an advisor for 22 years in both London and New York.

Williams also announced the Chairman of Dorilton Matthew Savage along with Darren Fultz and James Matthews will make up the company’s new Board of Directors following the acquisition of the team.

Having no apparent prior involvement in Formula 1 are Dorilton simply doing a favour or is there something else in mind? A sale of this value and the amount of debt involved is an interesting mix in the current world economic climate.

Savage, the now Chairman of Williams Grand Prix Engineering and Dorilton Capital said: “We fully respect the very tough decision of Claire and the Williams family to step away from the team and the business after securing new resources for its future,

“She has also been hugely instrumental in shaping a more level technical and financial playing field for F1, which will help to ensure the team’s return to the front of the grid in seasons to come.”

As the Formula 1 paddock farewells the Williams family at Monza this weekend, it will be the final end to the sport’s guard of pioneering constructors racing cars built in a garage born out of the dream of one man’s vision, to dominate the world’s most fiercely competitive and highest motorsport category.

Formula 1 is now exclusively where the conglomerates race.