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Author: INDIAinF1 Desk
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Kolkata Royal Tigers make IRL debut; A brief look at the teams
Chennai, 23 August 2024: As the second season of the Indian Formula 4 Championship (Indian F4) kicks off at the Madras International Circuit, racing fans across India are eager to witness the spectacle once again. The championship, organized by Racing Promotions Private Limited, features a mix of seasoned racers and rising stars from around the globe, with teams competing for the coveted championship title. Here’s a look at the drivers set to compete in the Indian Racing League. The six teams are Goa Aces, Hyderabad Blackbirds, Speed Demons Delhi, Kolkata Royal Tigers, Chennai Turbo Riders, and Bangalore Speedsters. There are some last-minute changes of drivers which will be updated soon.
Goa Aces:
Jaden Pariat, who was crowned the Formula 2000 Indian champions last Sunday turns out for Bangalore Speedsters at a practice session on Friday. Photo by Srinivasa Krishnan Goa Aces JA Racing has an impressive lineup of talented drivers who have made their mark in various motorsports championships across the globe.
Sohil Shah, a young Indian driver born on February 24, 2001, is a rising star in Indian motorsport. He recently became the 2023 Indian Racing League Champion, a prestigious title that marks his growing dominance in racing. In 2022, Sohil secured 3rd place overall in the F2000 category and competed in the Formula 4 UAE, showcasing his versatility and commitment to racing at high levels.
Shahan Ali Mohsin, another Indian talent, was born on July 13, 2004. Despite his young age, Shahan has already achieved remarkable success. In 2023, he clinched three wins and seven podium finishes in the F4 India series. The previous year, he impressed in the Indian Racing League, winning a Sprint Race and finishing P2 in the Feature Race. Shahan was also the 2021 champion of the Indian National Car Racing Championship in the MRF Formula 1600 class, further cementing his position as one of India’s brightest motorsport prospects.
Raoul Hyman, a British driver born on May 12, 1996, brings a wealth of experience to Goa Aces JA Racing. In 2023, Raoul not only became the Indian Racing League Champion but also competed in the Super Formula Championship. His standout achievement came in 2022 when he was crowned the FIA Formula Regional Americas Champion, proving his mettle in international racing.
Gabriela Jílková, hailing from the Czech Republic, was born on April 2, 1995. Gabriela’s racing career has been impressive, and in 2023 and 2024, she served as a Porsche Formula E Sim and Development Driver. Her diverse racing accomplishments include securing 3rd place in the 2023 FFSA GT4 and earning a race victory in the Prototype Cup Germany. Gabriela’s adaptability across different racing formats highlights her talent and dedication to motorsports.
Chennai Turbo Riders
Chennai Turbo Riders boasts a lineup of skilled drivers who have made significant strides in motorsport, representing a blend of seasoned champions and rising stars.
Sandeep Kumar, born on November 11, 1992, is a proven force in Indian motorsport. In 2023, he emerged as the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 National Champion, further solidifying his reputation as a top driver. Sandeep has consistently performed at a high level, finishing as the Vice National Champion in the 2022 MRF Indian Touring Car Championship. Additionally, he holds the title of National Champion in the MRF Volkswagen Polo Cup, highlighting his versatility across different racing formats.
Ace photojournalist Srinivasa Krishnan captures a Chennai Turbo Riders car during a practice session on Friday. Mohamed Ryan, born on March 29, 2004, is one of the promising young talents in Indian motorsport. His impressive runner-up finish in the 2022 MRF Formula 2000 series showcases his potential in competitive racing. Mohamed’s journey began with success in karting, where he won the 2019 Rotax Junior Max Karting Championship, and in 2020, he competed in the MRF 1300 Indian National Racing Championship. With his rapid progression, Mohamed is a driver to watch closely.
Jon Lancaster, a British driver born on December 10, 1988, brings a wealth of international experience to the team. In 2024, Jon secured podium finishes in the European GT4 series, and in 2023, he achieved multiple podiums in the McLaren Trophy. His extensive background in various high-profile racing championships makes him a valuable asset for Chennai Turbo Riders, contributing both skill and experience to the team.
Emily Duggan, born on August 13, 1996, is an accomplished driver with multiple race wins in Series X3 Supercar and a strong presence in the Super3 series. She has consistently delivered top-10 finishes in the Toyota 86 Championship, demonstrating her racing acumen and competitiveness in a variety of racing categories. Emily’s success across different formats highlights her adaptability and determination.
With a mix of national champions and international contenders, Chennai Turbo Riders is primed for success in the racing world.
Speed Demons Delhi
This diverse and talented team is poised to make its presence felt representing Goa Aces JA Racing with skill and passion on the track.
Speed Demons Delhi has assembled a formidable team of experienced and emerging talent from around the world. Each driver brings unique strengths and a proven track record, making them a competitive force on the racing circuit.
Akash Gowda, an Indian driver born on August 27, 1998, has consistently demonstrated his potential in motorsport. In 2022, he competed in the Indian Racing League, and before that, he raced in the F3 Asian Championship during the 2018-19 season. Akash’s participation in these high-profile racing series underscores his dedication to climbing the ranks in motorsports.
Sai Sanjay, born on December 3, 2002, is a promising young driver from India. His career highlights include becoming the first driver from Tamil Nadu to compete in the prestigious British GT series in 2024. In 2023, he showcased his racing prowess by winning the GT Cup Snetterton Finale, and in 2022, he was crowned the MRF Formula 2000 Champion. Sai’s rapid ascent in the racing world signals a bright future ahead.
Alvaro Parente, a seasoned Portuguese driver born on October 4, 1984, brings extensive international experience to Speed Demons Delhi. Alvaro’s impressive career includes winning the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge America Championship and the 2016 Bathurst 12-Hour endurance race. In 2015, he also claimed the GT Open Championship, making him a highly accomplished and versatile driver in the world of GT racing.
Angelique Detavernier, from Belgium, was born on January 24, 1986, and has an impressive resume across various racing formats. In 2024, she competed in the Campionato Italiano Sport Prototipi, further establishing her versatility as a driver. Angelique’s accomplishments include a podium finish in the 2022 Championat de France GT4 and another podium in the 2021 Belcar Endurance Prototype series. Her experience and success in endurance racing make her a valuable asset to the team.
With a mix of youth, experience, and international success, Speed Demons Delhi is well-positioned to compete at the highest levels of racing.
Bangalore Speedsters
Bangalore Speedsters brings together a dynamic and diverse team of drivers, each excelling in different areas of motorsport and contributing to the team’s competitive edge.
Abhay Mohan, an Indian racer born on 14 April 2008, has already claimed the titles of National Karting Champion in 2022 and National Champion in the MRF 1600s in 2024. He expressed his pride in competing at home, saying, “It’s a privilege to race in this championship on home soil. I want to thank my parents and the committee for this great opportunity.”
Kyle Kumaran, born on December 3, 2002, is a young Indian driver with an impressive record on the international stage. In 2022, he became the Dubai O Plate DD2 and F4 Champion, showcasing his versatility and talent. In 2021, Kyle won the IAME Summer Series as a Senior Champion and finished as the Vice World Champion in the RMC Grand Finals for the DD2 category. His rapid ascent through the racing ranks highlights his immense potential.
Rishon Rajeev, born on October 25, 2005, is another talented young driver from India. In 2023, Rishon made waves by becoming the Vice Champion in the FIA Formula 4 Indian Championship, a significant accomplishment at such a young age. He also participated in the prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy Selection Programme in the same year, reflecting his growing reputation in motorsport. Back in 2021, Rishon secured a 2nd Runner-Up position in the MRF Formula 1600, signalling his early promise in racing.
Julius Dinesen, a Danish driver born on April 21, 2007, is one of the youngest rising stars in the team. In 2023, Julius competed in the BMW M2 Cup Germany, building on his previous success as the 2022 Formula 4 Danish Champion. His early career was marked by a European Karting race win in 2021, indicating his potential to compete at higher levels of motorsport as he continues to develop his skills.
Caitlin Wood, an Australian driver born on January 15, 1997, brings a wealth of experience and accomplishments to Bangalore Speedsters. In 2024, she was named a Barbie Sports Ambassador and made history as the first Australian woman to win a class at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Her career also includes three podium finishes in the Porsche Sprint Challenge UK, proving her competitiveness and skill across various racing formats.
With a mix of young talent and experienced champions, Bangalore Speedsters is poised to make a strong impact.
Kolkata Royal Tigers
Kolkata Royal Tigers have assembled a team of talented and diverse drivers, each bringing a wealth of experience and success from various motorsport championships worldwide.
Nikhil Bohra, born on January 25, 2005, is one of India’s promising young racers. In 2024, he achieved a significant milestone with a win in the Formula 3 Regional Middle East Championship. His 2023 season saw him securing a podium finish in the Formula 3 Regional European Championship, as well as two wins and a pole position in the Indian Racing League. Nikhil’s consistent performances demonstrate his ability to compete at the highest levels of motorsport.
Ruhaan Alva, born on May 12, 2006, is another rising star from India. In 2023, he made a mark in the British GB4 Championship by securing a podium finish. Ruhaan was also part of the Ferrari Driver Academy Asia Pacific Zone Selection in 2022, underscoring his potential as a future racing star. Additionally, he was part of the team that won the Indian Racing League in 2022, showcasing his talent and teamwork.
Alister Yoong, a Malaysian driver born on January 10, 2003, brings significant racing experience to the Kolkata Royal Tigers. In 2023, Alister had a standout season with four wins in the Italian Sports Prototype Championship. His 2022 campaign in the Indian Racing League was equally impressive, where he contributed to his team’s championship victory and finished P3 in the drivers’ standings, with three wins and two pole positions. Alister’s accomplishments in the FIA Formula 4, with multiple wins and podiums, further highlight his skill and competitiveness.
Fabienne Wohlwend, from Liechtenstein, was born on November 7, 1997, and brings a wealth of experience and success in endurance and single-seater racing. In 2024, she secured 3rd place in the 24h Nürburgring GT4 Class, demonstrating her endurance racing prowess. Fabienne also had a successful stint in the W Series from 2019 to 2022, where she achieved one pole position and three podium finishes. In 2018, she made history by winning the Ferrari Challenge World Finals, establishing herself as a highly accomplished and versatile driver.
With a strong lineup of young talents and experienced drivers, Kolkata Royal Tigers is set to make an impact in the competitive world of motorsport.
Hyderabad Blackbirds
Hyderabad Blackbirds have assembled a remarkable team of drivers, blending experienced champions with emerging talents, making them a formidable force on the racing circuit.
Akhil Rabindra, born on May 22, 1996, is a distinguished Indian driver with a strong track record. In 2022, he claimed the Indian Racing League Drivers’ Championship, further establishing his reputation in the Indian motorsport scene. Akhil’s international experience is equally impressive, with two podium finishes in the 2022 GT4 European Series. Since 2019, he has been a driver for the Aston Martin Racing Academy, where he continues to hone his skills in high-level GT racing.
Anindith Reddy, born on February 23, 1990, brings a wealth of experience and consistency to the team. In 2022, he played a crucial role in securing a 2nd place finish in the Teams’ Championship of the Indian Racing League. Anindith’s versatility is evident from his 2021 season, where he secured a win in the Indian Touring Car Championship and triumphed in the ITC Endurance KMS 50. His experience and success in endurance racing make him a valuable asset to Hyderabad Blackbirds.
Neel Jani, a Swiss driver born on December 8, 1983, is one of the most accomplished drivers on the team. Neel’s career highlights include winning the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship as the World Drivers’ Champion and achieving both pole position and victory at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the 2023/24 season, Neel is serving as an Audi F1 Sim Development Driver, building on his extensive experience as an F1 Test Driver from 2004 to 2012. His vast experience in endurance and Formula 1 racing brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to the team.
Laura Camps, born on March 28, 2005, is an exciting young talent from Spain. In 2023, Laura competed in the Indian Racing League, gaining valuable experience in a competitive environment. Her racing journey includes being part of the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2022, a prestigious program that identifies and nurtures young racing talents. Laura also showcased her skills in karting as a Tony Kart WSK Driver in 2022. Her inclusion in the team adds fresh energy and potential to Hyderabad Blackbirds.
With a blend of seasoned champions and emerging talents, Hyderabad Blackbirds is well-equipped to excel in this edition.
About the Formula 4 Indian Championship
Entering its second year, the Formula 4 Indian Championship is India’s only FIA-certified single-seater series. After a successful debut season, Indian F4 continues to provide young racing talent with the opportunity to earn super license points, paving the way to Formula 1. The 2024 season features 16 drivers from 8 teams, competing across 5 rounds, including street circuits and permanent tracks. MP Motorsports manages the cars, which are equipped with Mygale F4 Gen 2 chassis and Alpine 1.3L Turbo engines, reaching top speeds of 210 km/h.
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Bastianini storms to Tissot sprint victory: MotoGP
Silverstone, 3 August 2024: Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) stormed to an incredible Tissot Sprint victory at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, taking his first Saturday podium in some style: on the top step. Beast mode was very much engaged as the #23 denied Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), although the #89 claws back some crucial Championship points after drama for points leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) saw the reigning Champion slide out.
Completing the rostrum on Saturday was polesitter Aleix Espargaro as the Aprilia Racing rider ran the top two close, escaping the attentions of Bagnaia and having pulled ahead of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) on the chase. The eight-time World Champion then also slid out late on to cede third overall in the Championship to Bastianini in a dramatic afternoon at Silverstone.
As the lights went out it was a fantastic launch from Bagnaia, who pushed Espargaro wide on the entry to Turn 1. It was an immediate melee at the front, however, and Martin was able to sneak through and snatch the Sprint lead on the opening lap at Silverstone.
There was drama behind too as Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) crashed on the opening lap after the former overshot Turn 1 and sent both sliding out. Both passed fit, but Morbidelli given a double Long Lap penalty to serve on Sunday.
There was soon more drama in the fight just behind the podium battle too as Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) clashed, with no harm done to either but a confetti shower of winglets sent into the air. The clash was also just enough for Marc Marquez to pry the door open and slice past both, needing no second invitation and at least briefly getting past the duo.
At the front, Martin continued to lead from the chasing Bastianini, with the Italian hanging on to the tail of the #89 as Espargaro and Bagnaia shadowed the duo.
The first title fight drama then unfolded, with Bagnaia losing the front on Lap 5 at Turn 4. Rider ok, but that was all she wrote and the Italian was forced to watch from the sidelines as teammate Bastianini started to harry Martin. Polesitter Espargaro was released from the pressure of having the reigning Champion sat on his tail too, and with Martin still at the front the #1 looked to have lost the Championship lead.
However, after one failed attempt that saw Martin hit back immediately, the Beast then sliced through to the lead on Lap 6 and attempted to stretch away almost instantly. The #23 put together a series of impressive times inside the 1:58 bracket with a handful of laps remaining, gaining a little breathing space but Martin still very much in touch. A Bastianini win was a 1-point lead for Bagnaia in the title fight, a Martin win was the #89 back on top.
Then, further drama for the top echelons in the standings: Marc Marquez lost the front at Turn 16. That brought an end to the Spaniard’s chance to earn some vital Championship points as he retired to the pitlane, leaving it as a KTM-GASGAS battle for fourth and likely about to drop out the top three in the standings given Bastianini was now holding station at the head of the field.
With one lap remaining, all that was coming in was perfection from Bastianini. The #23 extended his lead from a handful of tenths to one second and that was that – a first ever Sprint victory secured at Silverstone. Martin consolidated second nevertheless, clawing back crucial Championship points to now sit just one behind Bagnaia. And behind him is now Bastianini in third.
Binder and Acosta’s battle didn’t stop as they continued their fight until the line, with the South African pipping the rookie for fourth after the 10-lap dash. Alex Marquez took sixth, having homed in but not able to get the better of the two.
It was a competitive battle for seventh place and the final point-scoring positions as Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crossed the line just 0.185s ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), with the latter taking that final point on Saturday.
Now all eyes turn to Sunday for the British Grand Prix, with Bagnaia and Marc Marquez aiming for redemption and Martin well within striking distance of the lead. Who will come out on top on for 25 points? The stage is set, the style will be vintage and the action is guaranteed to be a modern spectacle. So make sure you join us at 13:00 local time (UTC +1)!
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Max Verstappen takes pole in wet conditions at Spa: F1
27 July 2024: Max Verstappen dominated a wet qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by almost six tenths of a second, with under pressure Sergio Pérez putting in a good performance to take third. However, with Verstappen set for a 10-place grid penalty for the race, Leclerc grabs pole for tomorrow’s Belgian Grand Prix.
“It was a nice qualifying. It was raining a little bit but we could do a decent qualifying,” said Verstappen, who will start the race from P11 after taking a fifth ICE of the season this weekend. “I know that I have to start 10 places back so this was the best I could do today. We’ll go from there. I don’t know how quick we are going to be but I hope that we can be in the mix to try to move forward.”
The opening session of qualifying began on a damp track, on Intermediate tyres but with no rain falling and Verstappen was quickly to the fore. The Red Bull driver posted a lap of 1:56.003 on his opening lap to take top spot from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, with Pérez in third.
With a little less than seven minutes remaining, Piastri jumped back to top spot with a lap of 1:55.549, 0.454 ahead of Verstappen who was starting another flyer. And when the Dutchman crossed the line, he returned to the top of the leaderboard with a time of 1:54.938, six tenths ahead of Piastri.
In the final minutes, Piastri once again stole top spot with a lap of 1:54.835. Verstappen went for a last attempt but the Dutchman came across a slow Guanyu Zhou on his flyer and as Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took P2, Verstappen eased through in third place having used just one set of Inters during the session, with Pérez in fourth.
At the other end of the table, Haas’ Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen were ruled out in 16th and 17threspectively, with RB’s Yuki Tsunoda exiting in P18 ahead of Williams’ Logan Sargeant and the Sauber of Zhou.
Alex Albon kicked things off in 1:54.724, but he was swiftly demoted by Lando Norris who went almost three tenths of a second quicker than the Williams driver. Verstappen, though, was going even quicker and he jumped to top spot with a lap of 1:53.857, six tenths ahead of Norris and eight clear of Albon.
Verstappen then shaved two hundredths of a second off his first flyer to cement himself into P1 but further back, Pérez, was flirting with trouble.
The Mexican bolted on more fresh Inters and jumped to fourth but as the track improved further and better times flooded in elsewhere, he began to slide down the timesheet. And when the order settled after the final shake-up, the Mexican scraped through to Q3 in tenth place, just 0.003s ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon who was eliminated ahead of Gasly, RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas and Stroll.
At the start of the top-10 shootout, the Red Bull pair were last out on track and on new Inters Verstappen powered to the top of the order with a lap of 1:53.159, six tenths of a second ahead of Pérez who put in a strong lap on used tyres to post a lap of 1:53.765. That put the Mexican over two tenths clear of Hamilton who was on fresh tyres.
And with only the Ferrari cars with fresh inters for the final runs, Verstappen’s opening time proved untouchable as claimed top spot in qualifying, meaning that after his penalty for taking a fifth ICE of the season, the champion will start from 11th place on the grid.
Behind him, Leclerc, one of the few to have a fresh set of Inters for his final run, edged ahead of Pérez by 0.011s in the final moments to claim P2 and a front-of-the-grid start for the race. Pérez, third in the session, will line up on the front row for the first time since the Chinese Grand Prix in April.
Behind Checo, Hamilton qualified fourth ahead of Norris, with Piastri in sixth place. Russell took seventh in the second Mercedes ahead of Sainz, while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso ended the session in ninth place ahead of Ocon.
2024 FIA Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix – Qualifying
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1’53.159
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1’53.754 0.595
2 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1’53.765 0.011
4 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1’53.835 0.081
5 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1’53.981 0.227
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1’54.027 0.273
7 George Russell Mercedes 1’54.184 0.430
8 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1’54.477 0.723
9 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1’54.765 1.011
10 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1’54.810 1.056
11 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1’54.473 0.719
12 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1’54.635 0.881
13 Daniel Ricciardo RB/Honda RBPT 1’54.682 0.928
14 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 1’54.764 1.010
15 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1’55.716 1.962
16 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 1’56.308 2.554
17 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1’56.500 2.746
18 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 1’56.593 2.839
19 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 1’57.775 4.021
20 Logan Sargeant Williams/Mercedes 1’57.230 3.476 -
Oscar Piastri claims maiden F1 win in a McLaren 1-2 finish ahead of Hamilton:F1
Oscar Piastri claimed his first Formula 1 victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with team-mate Lando Norris finishing second to hand McLaren its first 1-2 finish for three years, as Lewis Hamilton took the final podium spot for Mercedes.
Piastri’s win was set up at the start when he overtook Norris in Turn 1, but the Australian’s first victory was thrown into doubt late on when a strategic decision to pit Norris ahead of his team-mate in the final stops handed the British driver an undercut that put him in the lead. A lengthy team orders discussion followed, but eventually Norris ceded first place back to Piastri who led McLaren to its first one-two finish since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.
At the start of the race, polesitter Norris got away well but on the run to the first corner Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen drew level with the Briton and they went three abreast into Turn 1. Verstappen went off track and with Norris also battling to stay on track, Piastri snuck through on the inside to take the lead.
Verstappen rejoined in second but with the incident being investigated, he was told to give back the place back to Norris and did so soon after. and soon after the start the championship leader handed the place back into Turn 1.
At the end of a tight first stint, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was the first of the frontrunners to pit, from fourth place, followed by Norris and Piastri. Verstappen stayed on track, however, waiting until lap 21 to make his first stop and as the first round of tyre changes played out, Piastri returned to P1, three seconds ahead of Norris, but Hamilton had made the undercut work and he was now third ahead of Verstappen.
Verstappen, with fresher tyres, closed up to Hamilton over the following laps and at the start of lap 35 he attacked into Turn 1. The Mercedes driver locked up and went wide, giving Verstappen the chance to pass on the outside into Turn 3, but on his second attempt it was the Dutchman who went off track and Hamilton held on.
With Verstappen continuing to press, Mercedes eventually pitted Hamilton and the Red Bull driver began to eat into the gap to Norris ahead.
Meanwhile, at the front, Piastri suffered a brief off on lap 33 and that allowed Norris to close the gap at the front to just 1.5s. On lap 45, with both Verstappen and Hamilton threatening, McLaren pitted Norris ahead of leader Piastri to cover the charge. And with Piastri staying out for two more laps, Norris’ undercut promoted him to the race lead.
The strategy decision set up an increasingly techy finish for McLaren as Norris questioned the need to cede the position to Piastri and his race engineer talked the Briton into letting Piastri past.
Verstappen pitted at the end of lap 49, but even though the Dutchman’s stop of 2.3s good, he emerged in fifth place behind Hamilton and Leclerc with the task of passing both in the final 20 laps.
Leclerc’s defence was solid, but with Verstappen carrying more pace on fresh tyres, it was also brief. But after dismissing the Ferrari driver at the start of lap 56, Verstappen’s attempts to pass Hamilton proved frustrating and eventually debilitating.
The Dutchman attacked on lap 62 but Hamilton defended well. Max went for it again on the following lap but his lunge down the inside was too late. As Hamilton turned in, Verstappen locked up and there was contact.
The Red Bull driver was pitched into the air and then off track. Hamilton powered off into third and as Verstappen rejoined, Leclerc swept past to demote the Red Bull driver to fifth.
At the front, Norris eventually gave way to Piastri on lap 69 and two laps later the Australian took the flag to score his maiden F1 victory. Norris completed the 1-2 for McLaren and Hamilton took the remaining podium place ahead of Leclerc.
That left fifth place for a frustrated Max, who was also summoned to the stewards to review the Hamilton incident. Sainz took sixth place while another trademark Checo charge brought the team six hugely valuable points at the end of a difficult afternoon. Russell was left with eighth ahead of Tsunoda and the final point went to Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
2024 FIA Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix – Race
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 70 1:38’01.989
2 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 70 1:38’04.130 2.141
3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 70 1:38’16.869 14.880
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 70 1:38’21.675 19.686
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 70 1:38’23.338 21.349
6 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 70 1:38’25.062 23.073
7 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 70 1:38’41.781 39.792
8 George Russell Mercedes 70 1:38’44.357 42.368
9 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 70 1:39’19.248 1’17.259
10 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 70 1:39’19.965 1’17.976
11 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 70 1:39’24.449 1’22.460
12 Daniel Ricciardo RB/Honda RBPT 69 1:38’19.913 1 lap /17.924
13 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 69 1:38’35.173 1 lap /33.184
14 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 69 1:38’38.758 1 lap /36.769
15 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 69 1:38’47.291 1 lap /45.302
16 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 69 1:38’47.398 1 lap /45.409
17 Logan Sargeant Williams/Mercedes 69 1:38’54.580 1 lap /52.591
18 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 69 1:39’02.918 1 lap /1’00.929
19 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 69 1:39’05.587 1 lap /1’03.598
Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 33 47’39.255 Retirement -
Lando Norris takes Hungarian pole; McLaren lockout front row: F1
Lando Norris beat team-mate Oscar Piastri by just two hundredths of a second to take pole for the Hungarian Grand Prix, as the pair handed McLaren its first front-row lockout in 12 years. F1 Drivers’ Championship leader Max Verstappen was third, another two hundredths of a second further behind.
Despite light rain falling in the hour before Qualifying, the start of Q1 was judged dry enough for slick tyres and when the lights went green all 20 cars streamed out on track ahead of an expected further shower. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton made the most of the tricky conditions with the Silverstone winner taking an early lead with a lap of 1:17.087. Carlos Sainz then moved to second for Ferrari and after taking P6 with his opening flyer, Verstappen jumped to third place with a lap of 1:17.287.
The Dutchman’s team-mate Sergio Pérez was not finding similar improvements, however. Sebeth after his first run, the Mexican failed to improve on a second attempt. He stuck with the same set of tyres for a third run but midway through his flying lap he took too much of the damp kerb on the right-hand side as he went into Turn 8 and he spun off into the barriers. The red flags came out and the session was halted as his car was recovered.
After an 11-minute delay and with six minutes left on the clock, the session resumed. With more rain having fallen during the halt, and with DRS disabled, it looked like improvements would be hard to come by. However, as the final minutes unfolded the track rapidly dried and the final flyer became all important.
Verstappen was one of the first to profit and the Red Bull driver’s final lap of 1:17.087 initially moved him up to second behind Hamilton. It was RB’s Daniel Ricciardo who made the biggest leap, though, and the Australian put in an impressive lap of 1:17.050 to jump from 16th to top spot at the end of the session.
Others, though, were headed the other way. Pérez, already out, dropped to 16th as improvement arrived elsewhere but it was George Russell who became the biggest casualty of the session. The Briton was unable to find the same kind of pace as team-mate Hamilton and he slumped to 17th at the end of the session, exiting ahead of Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu and the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
Verstappen was first on track at the start and new Softs the Dutchman laid down a marker with a time of 1:15.770, eight tenths clear of Hamilton who was on used tyres. Piastri then took second just 0.005s behind Verstappen as Sainz slotted into third with a second flyer ahead Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Norris.
In the final runs it was Norris who set the pace. The McLaren driver went quickest in the final two sectors to steal P1 with a lap of 1:16.540, with Verstappen progressing in P2 ahead of Piastri and Sainz.
Hamilton narrowly avoided the exit door at the end of Q2. With both RBs through to Q3, with Tsunoda in eighth ahead of Ricciardo, seven-time champion Hamilton just scraped into Q3 in 10th place one hundredth of a second ahead of Haas’ Nico Hülkenberg, who went out in P11 ahead of Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas, the Williams pair of Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, and the second Haas of Kevin Magnussen.
With rain expected midway through the final session, the 10 remaining drivers took to the track on new Softs at the start of Q3. Verstappen was first across the line and it looked like the Red Bull driver was determined to take a ninth pole of the season as he stopped the clock in 1:15.555 to take provisional pole. Norris was finding more time, however, and the McLaren driver moved ahead of the Red Bull driver with a lap of 1:15.227.
Verstappen was now under pressure and after making swift adjustments to his front wing to cure the understeer he’d experienced on his opening flyer, the Dutchman headed out for a final charge.
Over the first two sectors it looked like the Dutchman might make it but after going quicker than Norris across the first two sectors his tyres faded in the final section and though he improved, his 1:15.273 only proved good enough for third as Piastri went 0.024s quicker. Norris therefore took his third career pole and his second of 2024 as McLaren recorded its first front-row lockout since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Behind them all, Tsunoda ran wide at the exit of Turn 5 and the Japanese driver was hurled into the barriers. The red flags immediately came out, Norris was denied a second lap out and the session was stopped for a second time, with just over two minutes on the clock.
After a 13-minute delay the session resumed, but with only used tyres available, any improvements were unlikely. Verstappen and Alonso chose to settle and climbed out of their cars. Norris and Piastri took their place at the head of the queue to defend their positions but in the end the only diver to find a meaningful improvement on his final lap was Ricciardo who leapfrogged Tsunoda to take P9.
2024 FIA Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix – Qualifying
1 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:15.227 – –
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:15.249 0.022
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:15.273 0.046
4 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:15.696 0.469
5 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:15.854 0.627
6 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:15.905 0.678
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:16.043 0.816
8 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:16.244 1.017
9 Daniel Ricciardo RB/Honda RBPT 1:16.447 1.220
10 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 1:16.477 1.250
11 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 1:16.317 1.090
12 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 1:16.384 1.157
13 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:16.429 1.202
14 Logan Sargeant Williams/Mercedes 1:16.543 1.316
15 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1:16.548 1.321
16 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:17.886 2.659
17 George Russell Mercedes 1:17.968 2.741
18 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 1:18.037 2.810
19 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1:18.049 2.822
20 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:18.166 2.939 -
Perfect weekend for dominant Razgatlioglu at Donington Park
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) dominated the UK Round of WorldSBK with pole position, three victories and three fastest laps at Donington Park
- Razgatlioglu extends his championship lead to 41 points from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) a further 14 points adrift.
Tissot Superpole Race Highlights:
- Bulega took the hole-shot and led the opening two laps before Razgatlioglu came through to lead at Turn 11
- Razgatlioglu opened his lead consistently to take the victory by just under five second from Bulega
- Starting from the middle of the third row Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) was able to move into third position on the opening lap. With riders fighting behind him Rea opened a lead over the chasing pack and after 14 races was able to claim his first Yamaha podium
- After suffering a technical failure in Race 1 Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) claimed his first top five finish of the season in fourth position. Redding ran inside the top six throughout before moving past Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) as the race progressed to finish fourth
Race 2 highlights:
- A crash for Bautista on his way to the grid for Race 2 saw the Ducati team repair his bike on the grid. Despite a good start he dropped down the order from sixth position on the grid. The Spaniard recovered to finish fifth
- Razgatlioglu led for the 23 lap duration of Race 2 with the BMW rider able to claim his seventh consecutive victory. The win also marked his ninth for BMW and equalled the record of Marco Melandri as the most successful rider for the German manufacturer
- Bulega was the closest challenger to Razgatlioglu throughout the race and held an advantage of two seconds to the chasing pack for much of the race. It was Bulega’s eighth second place finish of the season
- Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was the leading British rider once again and finished third after battling with Redding for the opening third of the race
Key Points:
Pole position: Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’24.629s
Race 1 winner: Toprak Razgatlioglu
Tissot Superpole winner: Toprak Razgatlioglu
Race 2 winner: Toprak Razgatlioglu
Race fastest lap: Toprak Razgatlioglu – 1’25.597s – new lap record.P1| Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“I’m feeling incredible. My target coming here was to win all three races and we did that. I’m strong but my bike was also incredible at this circuit, and the team found improvements for the bike each day. I want to say thank you to everyone because I’m really happy about how this weekend went. We will see what happens in the next race but even though there are many races to go we can look to the World Championship title.”
P2 | Nicolo Bulega| Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“I’m really happy because we improved the bike from yesterday. I worked a lot with all my guys inside the garage and we found some improvements. The feeling on the bike was better and it was a great Superpole Race this morning. I started really well and then Toprak overtook me. When he overtook me I forgot about him because this weekend he was very fast. In Race 2 I understood that if I could follow Toprak during the first laps I could open a gap to the riders behind. Alex was very fast at the end and he pushed until the last lap. It’s very difficult to keep your concentration and stay on the bike until the last corner, but I’m really happy to have another podium.”
P3 | Alex Lowes | Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK
“I’m delighted. I was on the limit for the whole race. I didn’t make the best start and I had to attack from the first lap to pass Johnny and Alvaro and then I managed to pass Scott. I hoped that Nicolo would come back to me a little bit, but his pace was relentless. I was on my limit to stay in third and I couldn’t do any more. I wanted to try to get into second but I wasn’t fast enough. I did a good job this weekend and the team did a fantastic job. I really enjoyed the weekend. To have two podiums at my home round is a dream come true with everybody here.” - Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) dominated the UK Round of WorldSBK with pole position, three victories and three fastest laps at Donington Park
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Bagnaia back on top, Marc Marquez battles to second; Martin crashes: MotoGP
A ten point lead remains, but for Bagnaia as Martin makes a late blunder at the Sachsenring – while Marc Marquez scythes through and Alex Marquez makes it a historic double podium.
Sachenring, 7 July 2024: A dramatic Liqui Moly Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland saw Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) come out on top after piling the pressure on Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) throughout as the duo pulled away to make the race a chess match at the front. Martin was holding on to a half second advantage as the final laps closed in, but then suddenly went sliding out at Turn 1, rider ok but Championship lead far from it. The #89 cedes the top of the leaderboard to Bagnaia as the reigning Champion swept through to take the 25-point haul.
If the fight for the win was a chess match decided by tenths, the battle behind was a rollercoaster ride. Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) scythed through from P13 on the grid to take second place after battling a gallery of rivals, the last of whom to overcome was brother Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). But the #73 held on to third and took his first GP podium of the season, with the Marquez brothers becoming the first to share a premier class podium since Nobuatsu and Takuma Aoki in Imola in 1997.
Martin got the best start but didn’t get the perfect T1, giving Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) chance to have a look, but the Portuguese rider was forced to settle into second. Bagnaia was holding third but the reigning Champion struck at the end of Lap 1 to overtake Oliveira, taking up the chase as Martin tried to bolt at the front. He couldn’t, however, and the #1 pulled off a carbon copy of his last corner move on Oliveira to take the lead.
Morbidelli was then the rider in the spotlight as he shot past Oliveira and into second, then starting to harry his teammate Martin. Bagnaia, Martin and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) started to build a small gap as the shuffle continued in a big group battle behind, but then the shuffle kicked off again in theirs as Martin struck late at Turn 1 to take back the lead with 24 to go.
Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) then suffered a run off from the battle behind, leaving Alex Marquez, Oliveira and now Marc Marquez in the chasing group as Martin started to put the hammer down at the front. Bagnaia had been reeling a couple of tenths back in, but then Morbidelli sailed down the inside of Turn 1 past the reigning Champion, somehow getting it stopped and nabbing second. And there were still 22 to go.
Martin led Morbidelli with around half a second between the Prima Pramac duo, with the group behind holding high-speed station. By 16 to go Morbidelli then went deep at Turn 1, and Bagnaia was right on him looking for a way though. He found one at Turn 12, and then Marc Marquez found one on Oliveira. Martin was a second clear, Bagnaia was now the rider on the chase, and Alex Marquez got past Morbidelli before Marc Marquez also homed in. The podium fight was starting to take shape.
As Morbidelli headed wide at Turn 1 with nine to go, #93 went for it, but the #21 cut back. The two bashed into each other and just stayed on, but Marquez ultimately came off worse, dropping back into the clutches of a charging Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). One dance of high-speed ballet wasn’t enough and the two staged another at Turn 1 next time around. Marquez was then able to hold him off, and the duo stalked down the deficit to Morbidelli up ahead.
It was an absolute late lunge when it came, the #93 suddenly darting out from behind the #21 at the final corner and making the pounce stick to perfection. At the front, Martin was holding Bagnaia at bay by five, seven, six tenths, and Alex Marquez was now in the space between the duo and the #93. The gap between the two Gresini machines was over two seconds. But then it was 1.5, then just under a second, then even less… when the #93 arrived he sliced straight past, more tyre underneath him and only a few laps to go.
Those few laps delivered the headline drama. Martin seemed on course to complete his second consecutive double at the Sachsenring, with that margin to Bagnaia looking to be enough. And then the #89 was sliding out across the tarmac into the gravel, with his closest rival so far this season sweeping through to create a 20-point swing in the title fight.
Bagnaia just had to avoid the same to take the victory, and that he did as he crossed the line with just under four seconds in hand to become the Championship leader for the first time since Saturday in Portimão
Marc Marquez, after his huge highside on Friday, a dramatic Q1, and then an all-out war up from P13 in the Grand Prix – including full combat with Franky – takes second for this fourth podium of the season, but loses that undefeated record at the track. Alex Marquez is back on the podium for the first time since Sepang last year and makes that history as two brothers sharing the podium in the premier class.
Bastianini added some stunning racing to the mix at the front but had to settle for fourth this time round, ahead of Morbidelli in fifth after a standout race day for the #21. Oliveira takes a very solid P6 to follow up his Tissot Sprint podium on Saturday, with some breathing space ahead of a big battle for seventh. That was won by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) completed the top ten.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) stayed ahead of Viñales after his run off, with another close set of finishes just behind as Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) pipped Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) and Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) after tyre pressure penalties for Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR). For Marini, a point rewards a weekend with a big step forward seemingly taken in all sessions just ahead of summer break.
That summer break sees Bagnaia head in as the points leader, a position he’s not held since Saturday night in Portugal. A 20-point swing in one weekend is a big one, and Martin will be looking to hit back immediately. First, he has to stew on it. And it’s far from a two-horse race in the world’s most exciting sport, with the whole grid ready to be back out at Silvestone from the 2nd to the 4th of August as the second half begins… in vintage style for a very modern spectacle!
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Hamilton takes emotional, record ninth win at Silverstone ahead of Verstappen: F1
Silverstone, 7 July 2024: After two and a half years away, Lewis Hamilton returned to the top step of the podium to win a remarkable ninth British Grand Prix and to set a new record for the most victories at a single event. In tricky, mixed conditions at Silverstone, seven-time champion Hamilton put in a finely judged driver to navigate rain showers, critical tyre choices and to hold off a later charge by Max Verstappen to take his 104th win in Formula 1 and his first since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“I can’t stop crying,” said a visibly emotional Hamilton afterwards. “I think, it’s been since 2021, just, every day getting up, trying to fight, to train… I’m very grateful to everyone in this team, everyone at Mercedes, and all of our partners. And I just want to say thank you to all of you for being here with us today. And then otherwise to all our incredible fans. I could see you lap by lap as I was coming around, and there’s just no greater feeling than to finish at the front here.”
When the lights went out at the start, polesitter George Russell got away well to take the lead ahead of Hamilton. Verstappen also made a good start and as Norris struggled for grip off the front row, the Dutchman snatched third as they swept through Turns 3 and 4. Behind the top four, Mclaren’s Oscar Piastri held fifth but Nico Hülkenberg dropped from sixth down to ninth as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc jumped up to P8 from 11th on the grid.
With rain on the horizon and with drivers carefully managing the life of their starting tyres in case they needed a long stint ahead of the wet weather, the order at the front froze. By lap 14 Russell was 1.5 seconds clear of Hamilton, while Verstappen, struggling for pace, had allowed the gap to the Mercedes cars to grow to 4.5s. Norris was just under a second behind the Red Bull with Piastri still in fifth ahead of the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Leclerc.
On lap 15 Norris closed in and on the run to Stowe he powered past Verstappen to retake third place. The Red Bull driver’s pace was now flagging and on lap 17 Piastri made the same move into Stowe and Verstappen slid to fifth as the rain began to fall across Silverstone.
At the front, Russell was beginning to struggle in the increasingly treacherous conditions and on lap 18 Hamilton roared past his team-mate to take the lead. Russell tried to fight back with the result that at the start of lap 19 both went off at Turn 1. That allowed Norris to slip past Russell and on the following lap the McLaren driver muscled past Hamilton on the pit straight to take the lead.
The McLarens now appeared to have huge amounts of grip in hand and as Norris began to stretch ahead, Piastri powered past both Mercedes to rise to second place.
Further back, Ferrari gambled on heavier rain arriving sooner than expected and they pitted Leclerc for Intermediate tyres. It was replicated by Red Bull, who fancied the idea of heavy rain vaulting 16th-placed Sergio Pérez up the order, but as the rain abated both were severely hindered by the slower Inters, and their chances of major points disappeared.
As second, heavier shower eventually arrived and Verstappen and Sainz seized the moment, pitting for Intermediate tyres ahead of the pack. Norris then pitted from the lead at the end of lap 27, followed by both Mercedes. That briefly propelled Piastri into the lead on Medium tyres, but the Australian pitted on the following lap and when he came out he dropped back to sixth place.
Russell, slowed by being the second car in a stacked Mercedes stop also lost time and after the changes, Norris led ahead of Hamilton with Verstappen in third with Russell now in fourth ahead of Sainz. However, Russell’s race went from annoyance to furious exit soon after. On lap 34 the Mercedes was given the message to box and retire his car due to a water system issue. The Briton’s exit boosted Sainz to fourth, nine seconds behind Verstappen
As the race entered its final third, the conditions began to improve and that sparked a move back to slick tyres.
On lap 38, Hamilton and Verstappen made their moves with the Mercedes driver taking Softs and Max moving to Hard tyres. Norris, though, stayed out, and the delay cost the McLaren driver dearly. Slower on his in-lap and then slow in the pits as he overshot his marks, Norris rejoined just as Hamilton swept through to take the lead once more.
It was Verstappen, though, who appeared to have made the best call. With 11 laps to go the champion was just 2.7s behind Norris but surprisingly lapping much quicker than the Sof-tyre pair ahead of him.
Over the next seven laps, the Red Bull driver stalked Norris and on lap 48 he outdragged Norris down the Hangar Straight before sweeping past the McLaren around the outside through Stowe.
Verstappen began to chase down Hamilton and with three laps to go he was just three seconds off the leader. However, although the Red Bull driver managed to halve the gap, Hamilton held on to take a stunning ninth British Grand Prix win and the new record for most wins at a single circuit.
“It’s so tough, but I think the important thing is just how you continue to get up and you’ve got to continue to dig deep even when you feel like you’re at the bottom of the barrel,” said Hamilton afterwards. “I mean, there’s definitely been days between 2021 and here where I didn’t feel like I was good enough or whether I was going to get back to where I am today. But the important thing is I had great people around me continuing to support me. And my team, every time I turn up and see them putting in the effort that really encouraged me to do the same thing.”
Behind Norris, Piastri took fourth ahead of Sainz and Haas’ Nico Hülkenberg, while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso took seventh and eighth respectively. Alex Albon took ninth place for Williams and the final point on offer went to RB’s Yuki Tsunoda.
2024 FIA Formula 1 British Grand Prix – Race
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 52 1:22’27.059
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 52 1:22’28.524 1.465
3 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 52 1:22’34.606 7.547
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 52 1:22’39.488 12.429
5 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 52 1:23’14.377 47.318
6 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 52 1:23’22.781 55.722
7 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 52 1:23’23.628 56.569
8 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 52 1:23’30.636 1’03.577
9 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 52 1:23’35.446 1’08.387
10 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 52 1:23’46.362 1’19.303
11 Logan Sargeant Williams/Mercedes 52 1:23’56.019 1’28.960
12 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 52 1:23’57.212 1’30.153
13 Daniel Ricciardo RB/Honda RBPT 51 1:22’36.996 1 lap /9.937
14 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 51 1:23’07.532 1 lap /40.473
15 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 51 1:23’08.880 1 lap /41.821
16 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 50 1:22’37.741 2 laps /10.682
17 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 50 1:22’45.064 2 laps /18.005
18 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 50 1:23’21.535 2 laps /54.476
George Russell Mercedes 33 52’51.677 Retirement
Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 0 – Not started -
Martin halts Bagnaia’s charge as Oliveira claims Sprint podium for Trackhouse
The Sprint King extends his lead back to 15 points, Marquez vs Viñales goes down to a photo finish.
Sachsenring, 6 July 2024: Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) converted pole position to a sublime Tissot Sprint win at the Sachsenring – extending his Championship lead to 15 points. Despite losing out slightly in the launch off the line, Martin battled back to the front to finish 0.676s ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing), who put together an impressive ride to follow Martin home in P2 and take Trackhouse Racing’s first rostrum finish in the paddock.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the Sprint podium to put in some damage limitation, but some more headlines also went to a duel to the flag between Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) as the two crossed the line in a photo finish to decide sixth.
As the lights went out it was Oliveira who was brieflly ahead on the run to Turn 1, before Bagnaia threaded the needle in signature style to launch down the inside of both the Portugese rider and Martin as the polesitter dropped to third. He didn’t wait there long though, launching his attack for P2 on Lap 2.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez cracked on with a tough task ahead after qualifying down in 13th. The #93 made a solid start and latched onto the back of his brother Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) in the battle for P9 early doors.
Martin soon pulled off a carbon copy of his earlier move at Turn 1 on Lap 3, this time on Bagnaia, but this time with the #89 running wide and handing the Italian the lead once again. It instantly turned into a dogfight at the front with Martin making a move stick later in the lap, and Oliveira then passing the reigning World Champion at the final corner.
Further back, Marc Marquez’ charge continued and he was on the back of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in the fight for P8. The #93 found a way through at the end of Lap 4, and then soon began to set his sights on passing Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing), who began to struggle as the Sprint progressed.
At the front, the front three were holding station but Martin was starting to get the hammer down as Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) arrived on the scene, having escaped the clutches of Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) and Viñales. Martin had extended his gap to over one second on Lap 12.
Further back, there was some drama for the #31 as any point-scoring hopes were quickly taken away from Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) with a trip through the gravel – dropping down to last position, but able to rejoin.
Down to the final lap at the front though, everything was still to play for in the podium fight and the duel behind. Martin was in just enough clear air to hold off Oliveira, who likewise kept himself with just enough in hand to take some historic silverware for Trackhouse.
Ducati Lenovo Team had to hold their breath as Bastianini swarmed behind Bagnaia, but over the line the reigning Champion kept it, ensuring Martin’s win only extends his lead by five points. Bastianini was forced to settle for fourth, with Morbidelli taking fifth and one of his best finishes of the year after accelerating away from Viñales.
Binder and Alex Marquez also battled to the line to decide the final spots inside of the Sprint points at the Sachsenring, split by just a tenth and a half. For full results, click below!
After a Saturday of storylines we know Sunday only offers the chance to make more. Can Martin complete the double? Will Bagnaia hit back? Can Marquez use those laps to make more progress… and can Aprilia stay in that fight at the front? We’ll find out at 14:00 (UTC +2)!
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George Russell takes pole at home Grand Prix ahead of Hamilton: F1
Silverstone, 6 July 2024: George Russell led an all-British top three in qualifying for the British Grand Prix with the Mercedes driver beating team-mate Lewis Hamilton by just under two tenths of a second as Lando Norris took third for McLaren. Drivers’ Championship leader Max Verstappen will start fourth after his qualifying was compromised by floor damage sustained in an early off.
At the start of Q1, on a damp track and on Intermediate tyres, Verstappen took top spot with a lap of 1:37.518, with Norris a tenth off in P2. They were soon shuffled back by Mercedes George Russell who took top spot with his second flyer, but the track was rapidly drying and Charles Leclerc quickly headed back to the pits for a set of slick Soft tyres.
That prompted Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez to make the same switch but on a still slippery track he suffered a snap of oversteer going into Copse corner and though he managed to save that he lost control in the run-off and slid backwards into the gravel where he exited the session and the red flags came out.
After a nine-minute halt the session resumed with all drivers on Softs. But as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took P1 with a lap of 1:30.895, Verstappen almost suffered the same fate as his team-mate. A snap in Copse sent the Red Bull driver off track and though he was able to keep going, a thumping trip through the gravel trap caused floor damage that would have a major impact on the rest of his session.
With improvements flooding in elsewhere, the Dutch driver sank down the order and with the clock counting down he had to immediately make another attempt and as Hamilton took top spot ahead of Russell, Leclerc and Sainz, the world champion limped through in a relatively lowly P11 thanks to a lap of 1:31.242.
Out, though went Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas in P11 ahead of Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, Checo, in P19, and last placed Pierre Gasly in the second Alpine.
In the early exchanges of Q2 it was Norris who took top spot, with the McLaren driver posting a lap of 1:27.432 to sit a tenth clear of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. Verstappen, meanwhile, was again suffering and after claiming fourth with a time of 1:27.799 he soon slid back to 10th as drivers stayed out and improved. It was a similar story after his second flyer and after initially rising to third he dropped to an eventual sixth as Norris took P1 ahead of Russell and Alonso.
However, while Verstappen avoided becoming the major casualty of Q2, Leclerc was unable to avoid that fate and battling porpoising in his Ferrari, the Monegasque driver was ruled out in P11 ahead of Williams’ Logan Sargeant, RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu and the second RB of Daniel Ricciardo.
In the opening runs of Q3 Russell led the way by just 0.006s over Norris, as Hamilton and Piastri were both within touching distance in the battle for pole and with Verstappen down in fifth it was shaping up to be a duel between Mercedes and McLaren.
Neither Hamilton nor Russell improved on their first sectors, but both improved later in the lap and, first across the line, Hamilton jumped to top spot with 1:25.990s. Russell was finding more time, however, and when Norris made a mistake in Turn 14, Russell’s improved time of 1:25.819 was enough to clinch his third F1 pole.
Norris preserved his place in that top three, but couldn’t improve on his final run and ceded one position to Hamilton to lead the second row alongside Verstappen. Behind the Red Bull man, Piastri qualified fifth ahead of Hülkenberg, while Sainz took seventh ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Williams’ Alex Albon and the second Aston of Fernando Alonso.
2024 FIA Formula 1 British Grand Prix – Qualifying
1 George Russell Mercedes 1:25.819 – –
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:25.990 0.171
3 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:26.030 0.211
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:26.203 0.384
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:26.237 0.418
6 Nico Hülkenberg Haas/Ferrari 1:26.338 0.519
7 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:26.509 0.690
8 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:26.585 0.766
9 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:26.640 0.821
10 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:26.917 1.098
11 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:27.097 1.278
12 Logan Sargeant Williams/Mercedes 1:27.175 1.356
13 Yuki Tsunoda RB/Honda RBPT 1:27.269 1.450
14 Zhou Guanyu Sauber/Ferrari 1:27.867 2.048
15 Daniel Ricciardo RB/Honda RBPT 1:27.949 2.130
16 Valtteri Bottas Sauber/Ferrari 1:32.431 6.612
17 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 1:32.905 7.086
18 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1:34.557 8.738
19 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:38.348 12.529
20 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:39.804
