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  • Mugello welcomes MotoGP back to Tuscany

    Mugello welcomes MotoGP back to Tuscany

    The Pre-Event Press Conference sees Quartararo joined by Bagnaia, Zarco, Miller, Aleix Espargaro and Rossi ahead of track action at the stunning Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello

    Mugello, 27 May 2021: Here we go! The sun is shining, the Championship is close and we’re back at the fabulous Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. But before it’s time for engines on in Tuscany, it was time to talk shop in the Pre-Event Press Conference, with Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) joined by closest challenger and home hero Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), top Independent Team rider Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), back-to-back winner Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro and, of course, the man who would normally – with fans in the stands – paint the hills yellow: Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT).

    Can anyone beat Ducati on home soil?

    The Bologna bullets have taken the last three victories at Mugello thanks to Danilo Petrucci, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso, and everyone knows the advantage they’re going to have down the 1.1km home straight. Ducati have proved their package is competitive everywhere this season though, they’ve had at least one rider on the rostrum at all five races this year, so they’re going to be understandably confident on home turf this weekend. However, Quartararo is also relishing Mugello, because it’s not just about superior straight line speed.

    Here are some key quotes:

    Back in the hot seat… by a single point: Fabio Quartararo

    Fabio Quartararo: “I’m expecting a great race, you know when we were in Qatar I was feeling a bit the same because Ducati had won the last three races and actually I’m feeling good on the bike. On the straight we know it’s not a strong point for us but there are many corners here, and the fast corners are where I feel good. I think we need to just start the weekend like a normal weekend, not thinking about the last three wins of Ducati or the big straight here, just go for it, do our pace and see on Sunday. The most important thing is that we have a really great feeling on the bike.”

    Francesco Bagnaia: “It would be great if I could win my first race here but at the moment it’s not my objective. First of all, it’s more important to be constant and then competitive from the start of the weekend. Then, if the win is possible, I will try to achieve it. At the moment I’m just thinking about being competitive like the last race in Le Mans. In the wet conditions I was struggling a lot at the start of the race so we have to understand that this weekend. I want to be competitive from the start like in Portimao, like in Jerez and then we will see. It’s a track that I like, it’s a track where the Ducati is really sweet so I think we have a great opportunity.”

    Johann Zarco: “Having a nice feeling on the Ducati and knowing the Ducati is quite competitive here, I’m hoping to use the advantage of the bike pretty well. The race in Le Mans, the wet conditions helped me to get a nice podium and 20 points in the championship, so pretty happy to be back in the top three and try to stay there, keep gaining points on Fabio to play my game. Ducati’s situation, if we can enjoy, Pecco, Jack and me together and put some pressure on the main opponent which is Fabio on the Yamaha, this would be great for the Championship.” 

    What’s the most demanding part of the track?
    “As we know, we have this long straight where we will have this advantage but with every bike, Turn 8 and 9, with the MotoGP bike you feel a lot of pressure on your body. Because of the track you feel you can always go fastest and faster, but it’s not that easy. But you feel you can do it and you try. It feels like some corners like Portimão, very physically demanding. All these parts, 8, 9 and going into 10 when you can’t see it braking downhill, I think this area is one of the most demanding.  .”

    Can Miller emulate Stoner and get a Ducati hat-trick?

    Miller says, It feels unreal to get the contract signed

    Jack Miller: “If you’re unhappy in my situation I mean, you’ve got something going wrong. I’ve had a pretty phenomenal couple of weeks and it feels unreal to get the contract signed up and not have to worry about that for another eight months or so and just focus on what I enjoy the most, which is riding my motorcycle. Mugello demons? I mean it’s a place I love, as I think everyone else does. Just arriving here in the beautiful landscape of this place, it’s just, you know, we definitely missed it last year. My report card of Mugello is not the most pleasant one, I’ve always been pretty quick here but just haven’t been able to see too many chequered flags. I’ll try to put that right this weekend but we’ll see what happens.”

    Miller looks for his third win in a row… captured at the Thursday Press Meet

    He could become the first Ducati rider to win three in a row since his countryman Casey Stoner in 2008 too…
    “That was basically the time when I started watching racing. I started racing the following year but we all started really watching in 2007. Of course, with an Aussie doing well. I unfortunately missed most of Mick’s era. Seeing an Aussie do well is what turned me on to the sport. I mean I prefer to not even think about the whole three on the trot or anything like that, I’m just happy to be here and be in one piece and try to do a decent weekend. No, I haven’t spoken to Casey recently. To be honest, I’ve been flat out trying to get back to as many people as possible but I’m not really good on my telephone, as most people know. I’m trying my best though.”

    Aleix Espargaro: “I’m pleased, happy with how things are going. It was a shame in Le Mans because I was in sixth and chasing Alex Marquez for fifth place so it would have been very nice points for the championship, but races are like this. We had a small technical problem but now arrive here in Mugello and as Jack said, it’s one of the most difficult, challenging but at the same time fun tracks to ride in the world. We missed this circuit last season so I can’t wait to try the new bike here, we know it’s not going to be easy because the straight is very, very long and this is one of the weak points – top speed. But the bike is going very well on changing direction and stability side, so I can’t wait to try the bike here and I’m very curious as to how we go.”

    The Aprilia rider was also asked about his comments on MotoGP™ Podcast Last On The Brakes, where he said the tougher times even made him consider retiring:
    “It’s difficult to go to the races to fight for the top 15 and not more. Every race giving your best, feeling you’re riding good, working at your maximum level but impossible to finish in the top 10. I’m not saying to win races but at least to finish in the top 10 or top six like we’re doing this year, so it was very frustrating. Every time I arrived home I couldn’t disconnect and I was very angry, I wasn’t enjoying life. Yes I love MotoGP, it’s my passion since I was born but I think life is too short to not be happy and not enjoy what you’re doing. I think I’m able to do a lot more things over than ride MotoGP so yes, I was thinking to change my life but then with the arrival of Massimo, things started to change in Aprilia. By changing things he convinced me, the project grew and I think I took the right decision. Thanks to him the results are arriving, the team and the project is growing so much and we are working very, very hard, the results are there. The new bike is much more competitive, again we aren’t fighting for victories but we’re closer than ever. When you can go to the races and fight for top sixes, the approach and mentality is another story. Now I’m enjoying life and I hope I can bring the project to the next level like we deserve!”

    Valentino Rossi: “This is a special place for all the Italians that are fans of MotoGP because it’s been the home of the Italian Grand Prix for nearly 30 years. Also, it’s a special place. When I arrived yesterday during the night, it’s great you know. The track, the Tuscan hills, all the paddock, so it’s unbelievable. We have to see because in Le Mans it was a bit better. Unfortunately on Sunday the conditions were very difficult for everybody. We will see here what my speed is like during the weekend.

    Rossi is the most successful rider at Mugello – All images by MotoGP

    “We now have a very important period of the championship because we have four races in five weeks. Also, at important racetracks like Mugello, Barcelona and Assen and then without Finland we will have one month off. Everybody will start to think about 2022 during that period, so like I said that the beginning, in that point I will make my decision. But also it’s not only my decision, I have also to speak with the Petronas team and also with Yamaha to understand what their plans are for next year. We will see but for sure now these four races are very important for us to try and find some good results.”

    That’s it from Thursday, tune in for Free Practice and qualifying before MotoGP™ brings the Tuscan hills alive at 14:00 (GMT +2), that is 4pm IST on Sunday.

    Action from  MotoGP Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley Qualifying Race will be LIVE in India on EUROSPORT and EUROSPORT HD from 16:00 Hrs (04:00 pm IST) onwards on Saturday, 29th March 2021. The same will also be live streamed on discovery + app.

  • WorldSSP heads to Estoril for the second round of 2021

    WorldSSP heads to Estoril for the second round of 2021

    Just a week on from a thrilling weekend at Aragon full of drama and tension, the WorldSSP paddock gets to do it all again at Estoril

    Estoril, 26 May 2021: After returning to action at MotorLand Aragon last week, the FIM Supersport World Championship heads straight across the Iberian Peninsula for the Gaerne Estoril Round for the second round of the 2021 campaign at the Circuito Estoril, the same venue that closed out the 2020 season in sensational style. In Race 2 last year, the top four were separated by just one second at the line as the chequered flag fell on the season.
     
    South African Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) leads the Riders’ Championship after taking a maximum points haul from Aragon with two wins in different styles. Last year at Estoril, Odendaal secured his joint-best result of the season with fourth place after a thrilling four-way battle in Race 2, and with two of the four from that battle having moved on, he will be looking to move up the order. If the Race 2 battle from Aragon is anything to go by, as well as last year’s Estoril thriller, then the 2021 edition could be just as dramatic and exciting.
     
    Rookie Dominique Aegerter (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) made a strong start to his WorldSSP career and currently lies second in the Championship after taking second and fifth at Aragon. Although he has not raced at Estoril on WorldSSP machines, he has competed there on three occasions while in the Moto2™ World Championship, claiming a best result of fourth place. The Swiss rider will be hoping he can at least repeat that performance as he looks to close the gap to Odendaal.
     
    Aegerter lies just four points ahead of third-placed Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), who so narrowly missed out on his maiden win in WorldSSP last time out, finishing 0.100s behind Odendaal. Like Odendaal, De Rosa was involved in the mega Race 2 scrap at Estoril last season, finishing ahead of the South African to claim a podium place. De Rosa also brings Moto2™ experience with him with a best finish of sixth. It’s been a strong circuit for the Italian in the past, could this be the weekend he finally claims his maiden WorldSSP victory?
     
    Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) is five points behind De Rosa, on 22 points, after another strong showing at Aragon, as he continues his fine form. Soomer claimed one podium at last year’s Estoril Round, in Race 1, and was only just over three seconds away from victory in Race 2 despite finishing in eighth. Another rider who has had strong performances at Estoril, Soomer will be one to watch out for.
     
    Christoffer Bergman (Wojcik Racing Team) finds himself fifth in the standing after a history-making Aragon Round where he became the first Swedish rider to lead a race in WorldSSP. Bergman did not race at Estoril in WorldSSP last year but did make an experience in endurance racing at the venue, his experience could prove to be useful as he looks to continue his fine start to the season.
     
    One rider who can count himself very unlucky to not be further up the standings after two races is Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) after the Frenchman was taken out of the lead by Niki Tuuli (MV Agusta Corse Clienti) in Race 1, while he led Race 2 for a few laps after starting at the back of the grid. Cluzel has experience of Estoril having raced there in 2020, securing two ninth places. However, for Cluzel it was his first race back after suffering an injury following a crash at MotorLand Aragon.
     
    Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha ParkinGo Team) go into Estoril level with Cluzel in the standings, with San Marino’s Luca Bernardi (CM Racing) three points behind. Gonzalez secured his best result in WorldSSP last time out at Aragon while Bernardi secured San Marino’s best ever result in the class; with all three riders showing rapid pace throughout the Aragon Round.
     
    2019 Champion Randy Krummenacher’s (EAB Racing Team) return got off to a challenging start at Aragon but the Swiss rider brings with him experience of Estoril having competed there in Moto2™, taking a best result of ninth. Federico Caricasulo (GMT94 Yamaha) also had a challenging weekend on his WorldSSP return, but heads into Estoril with experience of the circuit from his 2020 WorldSBK exploits.

    Championship Standings (after Race 2, Round 1)

    1. Steven Odendaal (RSA) Yamaha (50 points)
    2. Dominique Aegerter (SUI) Yamaha (31 points)
    3. Raffaele De Rosa (ITA) Kawasaki (27 points)

  • Ferrari 312B,will provide F1 fans, a rare peek into the behind-the-scenes story

    Ferrari 312B,will provide F1 fans, a rare peek into the behind-the-scenes story

    “Ferrari 312B”,will provide Formula one fans with a rare peek into the behind the scenes story, of getting the revolutionary Ferrari 312B model back on the iconic Monaco circuit after almost half a century.

    Mumbai, May 25, 2021– discovery+, India’s first aggregated real-life entertainment streaming app, has added two more sporting legends into their sports documentary streaming list for Indian fans.

    The addition to the discovery+ roster, “Ferrari 312B”, promises to be a treat for Formula one lovers as legendary drivers like Niki Lauda, Damon Hill and Jacky Ickx take us through the crazy happenings in the build up to getting the revolutionary Ferrari model restored and back on the iconic Monza circuit track after a gap of 46 years.

    It is also a tribute to its original designer in the seventies, the legendary Mauro Forghieri, under whom the restoration project also took wings.

    Pele still remains amongst the greatest in the field of sports while Ferrari remains a dominant name in motorsports. Both the documentaries are available for streaming on the discovery+ app.

    Another addition, “Pele: The Last Show”, will take fans on a journey through the Brazilian football legend’s final competitive game, giving rare insights into his personality through the eyes of people who knew him; while the second, “Ferrari 312B”, is a treat for Formula one loving audiences and features the behind the scenes story of getting the famous Italian car manufacturer’s revolutionary model back on the iconic Monza track, after almost half a century.

    The documentary, “Pele : The Last Show”, is set on the backdrop of Pele’s final game for the New York Cosmos team, that dominated the golden age of Football in USA in the late seventies and early eighties. Cosmos as they were popularly known, were “the” team of Gods, celebrities and artists of soccer, with legends like Pele, Carlos Alberto and Franz Beckenbauer among others featuring in it and backed by Warner Communications at the time.

    About Discovery Plus

    ‘Discovery Plus’ is an exciting new D2C streaming app, launched to satiate the unmet need of a differentiated product offering premium real-life entertainment. Priced competitively with an introductory offer price of INR 299 per annum, the app has been developed and curated specifically for India.  Discovery Plus offers thousands of hours of exclusive content across 40+ genres, including Science, Adventure, Food and Lifestyle, in 8 languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali & Marathi.  The premium subscribers have access to a large selection of never-seen-before Premium Discovery titles, must-watch documentaries, India originals and exclusive acquisitions. Free users of the app have access to all-time favourites from the Discovery and Animal Planet library and a dedicated shorts section.

  • Can Ducati keep up the momentum at Mugello?

    Can Ducati keep up the momentum at Mugello?

    Home turf beckons for the Italian manufacturer and with Miller on a roll, three Ducatis in the top four and two 1-2s in a row, it’s great reading for Borgo Panigale and a warning for the rest.

    Mugello, 24 May 2021: Would you have predicted this in Qatar? The gossip went into overdrive back in the desert as Ducati didn’t win either of the season openers at one of their “favourite” or most successful tracks, but now the factory can enjoy its elegant silence on the matter even more. Two 1-2s in a row, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the top step in both and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) taking a second place apiece, make quite a statement. The three are all in the top four in the standings too – something Ducati have never had before – and Bagnaia is only a point off the lead. That would be enough to grab some attention in itself but the next track up, unfortunately for the rest, is also the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello.

    The Italian venue is a rider and fan favourite for a reason, a stunning enough landmark in itself even before adding the spectacle of one of MotoGP™’s most golden of eras carving its way through the Tuscan hills. Fast, flowing and fast becoming a place synonymous with Ducati glory, yes it’s home turf. But it’s also somewhere Borgo Panigale machinery has won the last three editions and been on the podium since 2015.

    The favourite to keep the roll going must be Miller. With his win in Le Mans in tough conditions, and that despite two Long Lap penalties, he followed up his Jerez stunner in style and it seems safe to say the Australian will now read the stats about Mugello with glee rather than pressure. Miller is a key architect of the momentum behind the manufacturer and the monkey some saw on his back after the first three rounds of the season is nowhere in sight now, whichever way you want to spin it. Can he make it three in a row? Or can his teammate fight back?

    Bagnaia has been impressive in 2021 and led the standings for the first time just before Le Mans, with speed at every venue and few mistakes to go with it. With less premier class experience than Miller, he could have been forgiven for a few too. His French GP was a solid statement of intent, however, as the Italian somehow found himself down in 19th just after the start… then rode back through to fourth in conditions that caught out the very best, and again, like Miller, despite two Long Lap Penalties. If there was a day to lose your head, it was leading the Championship and sinking to the bottom of the top 20 early doors. But he didn’t.

    And what about Zarco? The Frenchman hunted down another podium and moved back up to third overall, so what does he have in the locker? A Pramac win on home turf would be a popular one and the number 5, like Bagnaia, hasn’t yet tasted the top step in the premier class although he’s been close. His teammate this weekend could also be one to watch complicating the lives of a few riders who could find themselves on the cusp of Q2 too as Michele Pirro steps in to replace the injured Jorge Martin. Pirro knows both track and machine, and has impressed aplenty on wildcards.

    All that said, it’s far from a foregone conclusion that Ducati will take their fourth Mugello win in a row. Three in the top four they may have, but it’s Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) back on top – and the Frenchman’s there despite his tough plummet down the order after arm pump in Jerez. He took a well-earned home podium at Le Mans despite coming back from surgery, and before Ducati started to assert their dominance at Mugello it was Yamaha territory. Jorge Lorenzo took the most recent wins but Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was on the podium in 2018 and Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) the year before that. With a dry, less chaotic weekend hopefully ahead, what can they – and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) – do?

    Dry and less chaotic will likely be a hope for Team Suzuki Ecstar too. A double DNF in France saw reigning Champion Joan Mir fall outside the top five in the standings, and left teammate Alex Rins with an even bigger hill to climb to get back into real contention. The Hamamatsu factory have form at Mugello though, with Rins only two tenths off the podium in 2019 as he hung on to the Marquez-Ducati fight and almost managed to ruin the party for all of them. The Suzuki works well around the majority of the venue and Rins will be out to show that and bounce back, as will Mir – but the reigning Champion also has a fair bit less experience of the track on premier class machinery, with MotoGP™ having not visited Mugello last year.

    Aprilia are another who, like Ducati, will be both optimistic and riding on home turf. The Noale factory have taken a big step forward in 2021 and their bike should prove a good fit for Mugello. It may have been heartbreak at Le Mans but Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) just keeps impressing, and teammate Lorenzo Savadori was a serious threat in the damp. Can he take another step forward, and can Aleix Espargaro pick up where he left off? Aprilia also have Andrea Dovizioso confirmed as doing more testing throughout the season, whose record at Mugello is one of the best in recent years. He’s also already ridden the RS-GP there, although the weather didn’t play ball…

    Mugello, meanwhile, was also a place where Honda really hammered home their top speed gains in 2019 as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) went toe to toe with the Bologna bullets and was absolutely not left in the dust. Marquez’ win in 2014 at the track is the only non-Ducati win for a rider still on the grid since then too, and his 2019 battle at the front against the factory Ducati duo at the time was a stunner. The French GP saw flag-to-flag master Marquez make an uncharacteristic mistake and crash out, but there were more flashes of his former self as his comeback continues. What can he do?

    LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami and LCR Honda Castrol teammate Alex Marquez both took solid results in France too after a tougher start to the season, and Nakagami equalled his best ever result in Jerez just before that. Alex Marquez won at Mugello in Moto2™ last time he rode there as well, although this is his first taste of it in the premier class. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) was also gaining ground in France, so they can’t be counted out of the increasingly tough fight for Q2 and more.

    That also goes for KTM. It’s been a tougher start to the season but Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) equalled the best result of the Austrian factory’s year so far at Le Mans, and he knows the top step at Mugello, although in red. Teammate Iker Lecuona also impressed in France, so can both start to cut the gap to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira? There have been flashes of speed from them since Binder’s fifth in Portugal, but it’s not all come together on race day for either since. Binder and Lecuona have also not yet ridden at Mugello in MotoGP™ though, so that could also factor in to the weekend. Can KTM push back towards the bigger points hauls?

    Tuscany is one of the world’s most emblematic destinations, and MotoGP™ is lucky enough to have Mugello nestled right in the middle. The paddock returns to the venue in 2021 looking quite different to the last time we were there, but the track remains the same stunner for man and machine. Make sure to tune in for the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley on Sunday the 30th of May, with lights out for the premier class at 14:00 (GMT +2).

    MotoGP standings after five rounds:

    1 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 80
    2 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 79
    3 Johann Zarco* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – 68
    4 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 64
    5 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 56
    *Independent Team rider
  • A tribute to former FIA president Max Mosley: 1940 to 2021

    A tribute to former FIA president Max Mosley: 1940 to 2021

    The FIA community was saddened to learn of the passing of former President Max Mosley on 24 May 2021 at the age of 81. The work he undertook during his 16-year presidency, detailed below, leaves an indelible mark on the world of motor sport and mobility. His passion and commitment for improving safety both on the race track and, crucially, in transferring that work to practical solutions on the road, has had a positive effect on countless lives around the world. The FIA continues to strive for improvements in safety, remaining committed to ensuring a prosperous future across the world of motor sport, and pays tribute and thanks to the contributions made by Mr Mosley.

    FIA President Jean Todt said: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Max Mosley. He was a major figure in Formula 1 and motor sport. As FIA President for 16 years, he strongly contributed to reinforcing safety on track and on the roads. The entire FIA community pays tribute to him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

    Brief Profile

    Max Mosley was born in London in 1940 and attended schools in Britain, France and Germany. He went on to study at Oxford University, where he read physics and was elected Secretary of the Oxford Union debating society. He later trained as a lawyer and became a barrister specialising in patent and trademark law.

    In his leisure time however, Mosley spent much of his youth racing cars, first in sports cars and then later in Formula 2 driving Brabham and Lotus cars. He retired from driving in 1969 to co-found March Engineering, which quickly became one of the world’s leading racing car manufacturers. Mosley dealt with legal and commercial matters for the company between 1969 and 1977.

    In the mid-1970s, he became the official legal adviser to the Formula One Constructors’ Association (FOCA), the body that represented Formula One constructors. In this role he drew up the first Concorde Agreement, settling a long-standing dispute between FOCA and the Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile (FISA), the then governing body of Formula One. In 1986, Mosley was elected president of the Manufacturers’ Commission of the FISA and represented the world’s motor industry on the World Motor Sport Council. He was later elected President of the FISA in 1991.

    Having worked closely together to plan the restructuring of the FIA, Jean-Marie Balestre and Max Mosley had agreed on the latter’s candidature for the FIA presidency when the Frenchman stood down in June 1993. It soon became clear that Mosley had majority support and he was elected President of the FIA unopposed.

    As president, Mosley pledged that the FIA should make a difference in the world outside motor racing and set about promoting increased road safety and the use of green technology.

    In his first year in office Mosley set up the FIA Brussels office, giving motor sport and 40 million members of the FIA’s motoring organisations in the European Union countries an effective voice in Brussels for the first time. In the same year, he was elected Honorary President of the European Parliament Automobile Users’ Intergroup and he formed the Expert Advisory Safety Committee, which brought together leading safety experts in motor sport to research and find solutions for the major safety issues in motor sport.

    Those issues came to a head in 1994 with the accidents in Formula 1 during the San Marino Grand Prix, in which triple world champion Aytron Senna and Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger were killed. In the wake of these deaths, Mosley instituted widespread reform of safety in the sport.

    Two years later, in 1996, Mosley led the FIA’s successful campaign to modernise and strengthen EU crash test standards for the first time since 1974, achieved by proposing amendments to the European Parliament requiring the offset frontal test and 300mm clearance side impact test.

    He also promoted the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), the independent crash-test organisation described by the European Commission as the most cost-effective road safety initiative of the last 20 years. Mosley remained Chairman of Euro NCAP from 1996 until 2004. In late 1996, Mosley also formed and served as the first Chairman of the Formula One Safety Commission, which focused on the development of Formula One circuit safety.

    In 1997 he led a successful campaign for the FIA to be recognised by the International Olympic Committee. A few years later, he launched Formula Zero, a strategy for reducing fatalities and injuries on track and road. The policy document identified the safety synergies between motorsport and motoring and outlined an approach to road safety involving a zero-tolerance approach to deaths or injuries.

    In 2002, Mosley proposed the establishment of the FIA Foundation and the FIA Academy. Mosley served as a Trustee of the Foundation, a charity focusing on promoting road safety, environmental protection and motor sport safety worldwide. The FIA Academy was created to develop important projects to stimulate research and create the necessary framework to promote road safety and protect the environment.

    In 2004, Mosley also proposed the establishment of the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety in order to develop and improve safety measures and sustainability across all areas of motor sport, from junior racing to top-level championships.

    He was re-elected as FIA President three times – in 1997, 2001 and 2005 – each time unopposed. When he eventually decided to stand down in 2009, Mosley endorsed Jean Todt as his successor and like many before him, was named Honorary President of the FIA shortly after.

    Mosley received many government and industry awards, most notably the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur’ in 2006, in recognition of his great contribution to road safety and motor sport.

    He passed away at the age of 81 in May 2021.

  • Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin win Rally of Portugal: WRC

    Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin win Rally of Portugal: WRC

    Porto (Portugal), 23 May 2021: Welshman Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin delivered a devastating performance on the final morning of the 54th Vodafone Rally of Portugal to seal a comfortable victory in their Toyota Yaris WRC and give their World Championship aspirations a major boost.
     
    The feat marked Evans’s fourth WRC triumph after a debut win in his native Wales in 2017 and two victories in Sweden and Turkey last season. It went a long way to erasing the disappointment of missing out on victory on the last stage in Croatia recently and moves him to within two points of team-mate Sébastien Ogier at the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings.
     
    Evans stunned rival Dani Sordo on the first stage of the final morning by almost doubling their overnight advantage and it was one-way traffic from then on as the Welshman eased to victory over the Spaniard by 28.3 seconds. His success marked the sixth different winner in Portugal in as many years.

    Runner-up Sordo and new co-driver Borja Rozada were a shining light for the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team on an event that offered so much and ultimately delivered little.
     
    Dramatic second-day retirements for long-time leader Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville threatened to derail the team’s push for the Manufacturers’ title, but both drivers bounced back to claim five and four bonus points for their respective performances on the final Power Stage.
     
    Sébastien Ogier was always going to struggle after running the first car on the road during the first leg. But the Frenchman persevered and began a gradual climb up the leader board as the event progressed to seal the final podium position, the seven-time World Champion holding off his talented young Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta in the process.
     
    The fourth-placed Japanese was rewarded with a best WRC finish to date, while Ogier maintained his World Championship lead.
     
    The M-Sport World Rally Team has good reason to be optimistic about the rest of the season after impressive performances by both Gus Greensmith and Adrien Fourmaux. The Briton equalled his best ever finish in the WRC (Turkey 2020) with fifth place and Fourmaux was sixth on his first appearance in Portugal with the World Rally Car.
     
    Both drivers suffered a puncture and throttle-related issues and may well have been challenging for the podium under different circumstances.
     
    FIA WRC2 cars completed the top 10. Esapekka Lappi was the class of the field to seal victory and seventh overall in his Movisport Volkswagen Polo GTi. Second-placed Teemu Suninen pushed him hard on day two, but spun his M-Sport Ford Fiesta at the start of the final morning and drifted out of contention for the win.
     
    TRT Citroën C3 driver Mads Østberg was a little disappointed not to be challenging the Finns for victory but the defending champion rounded off the podium places after getting the better of early rally pace-setter Nikolay Gryazin. Turbo and tyre issues on his Movisport Volkswagen Polo GTI ruined the Russian’s chances of claiming a podium finish and he was fourth, with young Oliver Solberg in fifth.
     
    Poland’s Kajetan Kajetanowicz reeled in Citroën driver Yohan Rossel during the course of the final morning to claim victory by 5.6 seconds in FIA WRC3. The Škoda driver and his French rival had been evenly matched for much of the rally. Chris Ingram and Nicolas Ciamin finished third and fourth.
     
    Latvia’s Martin Sesks emerged as a comfortable of the FIA Junior WRC category. Finland’s Sami Pajari was second and Czech driver Martin Koči rounded off the podium places. Jon Armstrong arrived in Portugal as the series leader but was not able to start the final morning after issues on Saturday afternoon.
     
    Three-time Rally of Portugal winner Armindo Araújo fulfilled his goal of being the leading Portuguese driver to reach the finish. He guided his Škoda to 19th overall. International soccer manager André Villas-Boas also completed his first ever Rally of Portugal in a respectable 33rd position.
     
    The conclusion of the final Power Stage was neutralised for the back-markers after a crash involving Austrian driver Nikolaus Mayr-Melnhof. Notional times were awarded.

    2021 Rally Portugal – Unofficial results

    1. Elfyn Evans (GBR) / Scott Martin (GBR)   Toyota Yaris WRC3hr 38min 26.2sec
    2. Dani Sordo (ESP) / Borja Rozada (ESP)          Hyundai i20 Coupé WRC3hr 38min 54.5sec 
    3. Sébastien Ogier (FRA) / Julien Ingrassia (FRA)                         Toyota Yaris WRC 3hr 39min 49.8sec
    4. Takamoto Katsuta (JPN) / Daniel Barritt (GBR)Toyota Yaris WRC3hr 40min 54.6sec
    5. Gus Greensmith (GBR) / Chris Patterson (GBR)                  Ford Fiesta WRC3hr 43min 18.9sec
    6. Adrien Fourmaux (FRA) / Renaud Jamoul (FRA)Ford Fiesta WRC3hr 43min 29.6sec 
    7. Esapekka Lappi (FIN) / Janne Ferm (FIN) – WRC2Volkswagen Polo GTi3hr 48min 03.4sec
    8. Teemu Suninen (FIN) / Mikko Markkula (FIN) – WRC2          Ford Fiesta MkII  3hr 49min 46.2sec
    9. Mads Østberg (NOR) / T. Eriksen (NOR) – WRC2Citroën C3   3hr 50min 27.7sec
    10. Nikolay Gryazin (RAF) / K. Alexsandrov (RAF) – WRC2Volkswagen Polo GTi3hr 51min 02.0sec
    11. Oliver Solberg (SWE) / A. Johnston (IRL) – WRC2           Hyundai NG i203hr 51min 16.9sec
  • Verstappen wins, takes title lead for the first time; Hami 7th

    Verstappen wins, takes title lead for the first time; Hami 7th

    Monaco, 23 May 2021: Max Verstappen took the lead of the 2021 F1 Driver’s Championship for the first time in his career with a perfectly judged first Monaco Grand Prix victory ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and McLaren’s Lando Norris after pole sitter Charles Leclerc failed to make the start due to a driveshaft issue resulting from damage sustained a crash in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton finished seventh in the Monaco Grand Prix, the fifth round of the F1 World Championship here Sunday, thus losing his Championship lead.

    On the Monegasque driver’s lap to grid he reported an issue and quickly returned to the pit lane. However, it swiftly became apparent that the home driver would not be taking part in the race and that Verstappen would start from P2, with an unobstructed view down to the first corner. 

    And when the lights went out to signal the start, the Dutchman got away well, and despite a small amount of wheelspin he was able to take the lead ahead of third-place starter Valtteri Bottas and as they powered out of Ste Devote, Max led from Bottas with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz third ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly. 

    Over the course of the open 10 laps, Verstappen was able to gradually build a slight gap to Bottas and then, as the Finn began to take too much life out of his tyres as he tried to stay with the race leader, the Dutchman was able to pull further away even further and by lap 27 he was almost five seconds clear of the Mercedes driver who was visibly struggling on his starting softs. 

    And as the pit stop window opened for those starting on the red walled tyres, Bottas’ race unravelled. The Finn pitted at the end of lap 30 but when he stopped on his marks his pit crew could not remove the front right wheel and with the wheel nut resolutely stuck he was forced to retire from the race. 

    Verstappen then made his first and only stop. And after taking on hard tyres in two seconds dead, the Dutchman rejoined in second place just behind team-mate Sergio Pérez who had jumped up the order as the field pitted around him. 

    One of those to pit ahead of the Mexican was Sebastian Vettel and a good stop for the Aston Martin driver saw him jump both Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and AlphaTauri’s Gasly, who had been holding up the world champion.

    Aston Martin’s exploitation of Gasly’s pace relative to Hamilton was the cue for Red Bull to then pit Pérez and the Red Bull driver was able to make a 2.8s stop and still rejoin ahead of Vettel, in fourth place. 

    At the front and on fresh hard tyres, for Verstappen the race now became one of efficient management. And over the second half of the race the Dutch driver was flawless as he carefully managed tyre life while at the same time edging further and further away from Sainz. And after 78s laps the Red Bull driver took his first Monaco win, almost nine seconds ahead of the Ferrari driver. Norris took third place 11 seconds further back after spending the final third of the race fending off a charge from Pérez who thrived on the hard tyres.. 

    Pierre Gasly took a deserved sixth place for AlphaTauri ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Lance Stroll was eighth for Aston Martin ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and the final point on offer went to Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi. 

    The victory in Monaco, allied to Hamilton’s P7, means Verstappen now has a four-point lead over the defending champion in the Drivers’ standings with 105 points to 101. The Team also takes the lead in the Constructors’ Championship with 149 points to Mercedes’ 150 points. 

    2021 FIA Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix – Race
    1 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda 78 1:38’56.820
    2 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 78 1:39’05.788 8.968
    3 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 78 1:39’16.247 19.427
    4 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda 78 1:39’17.310 20.490
    5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin/Mercedes 78 1:39’49.411 52.591
    6 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri/Honda 78 1:39’50.716 53.896
    7 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 78 1:40’05.051 1’08.231
    8 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 77 1 Lap
    9 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 77 1 Lap
    10 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 77 1 Lap
    11 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 77 1 Lap
    12 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren/Mercedes 77 1 Lap
    13 Fernando Alonso Alpine/Renault 77 1 Lap
    14 George Russell Williams/Mercedes 77 1 Lap
    15 Nicholas Latifi Williams/Mercedes 77 1 Lap
    16 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri/Honda 77 1 Lap
    17 Nikita Mazepin Haas/Ferrari 75 3 Laps
    18 Mick Schumacher Haas/Ferrari 75 3 Laps
    Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 29 Wheel
    Charles Leclerc Ferrari 0 Not started

  • Martins Sesks takes his second Junior WRC victory

    Martins Sesks takes his second Junior WRC victory

    Porto (Portugal), 23 May 2021: Martins Sesks took his second FIA Junior WRC event win of his career on Rally de Portugal after a long and hard-fought rally.
     
    Sesks, together with co-driver Renars Francis, cruised to victory on Sunday’s stages, starting the day with over three minutes in hand to Sami Pajari who finished the rally in second, claiming his first podium of the 2021 season.
     
    Finishing the rally in third place and rounding out the podium were Robert Virves and Sander Pruul, collecting their first silverware since their explosive Junior WRC debut on Rally Estonia in 2020.
     
    The rally was by no means easy for any of the 2021 Junior WRC crews, seeing multiple changes for the lead and a total of five different stage winners spread across 19 special stages.
     
    Pajari took the first Wolf Stage Win Point of the rally and with it the lead, but it was Jon Armstrong who led for a large part of Friday’s stages.
     
    The Northern Irishman took four Wolf Stage Wins in a row between stages two and five to build up a 36.4 second lead heading into stage six. His lead collapsed on stage six after suffering a puncture, losing over four minutes and falling back to fourth, handing the lead back to Pajari who was taking much more conservative approach to the rally. 
     
    Martin Koci claimed his first Wolf Stage Win Point of the rally on SS6 while sitting third in the classification as Armstrong bounced back on Mortagua, grabbing another Wolf Stage Win Point.
     
    Friday concluded with Pajari winning the Lousada Super Special Stage leading Koci by 25.7 seconds with Martins Sesks lying third after a tough day of all-out gravel action. William Creighton impressed many onlookers by consistently posting second placed stage times on Friday, but an untimely driveshaft failure put a stop to his impressive pace on stage five. Lauri Joona was on the hunt for stage wins on Friday but ultimately suffered a similar fate on the stage four.
     
    Raul Badiu’s rally didn’t start as the Romanian intended to, breaking a steering arm on stage four, when the Romanian’s car returned to service, additional engine damage was detected resulting in Baidu having to retire from the rally entirely.
     
    Saturday presented a brutal rate attrition with it as Junior WRC embarked on some of the roughest stages in the championship this year. 
     
    Joona had regrouped following a disappointing day on Friday by winning the opening stage of the day to open his account of Wolf Stage Win Points while Koci closed to within 11 seconds of Pajari’s lead.
     
    Sesks claimed his first stage win of the rally to mark five different stage winners on SS10 while also taking the lead as a steering issue hampered young Pajari.
     
    Armstrong bagged another stage win on the longest stage of the rally through Amarante, just 1.7 seconds ahead of Sesks after 37.92-kilometre duel. This would be the highlight of Armstrong’s day who ultimately retired from the rally owing to terminal engine damage. 
     
    Joona claimed another Wolf Stage Win Point on SS13 with Sesks taking top honours on the second pass of Amarante to compound his impressive lead as more bad luck hit Joona with a driveshaft failure. 
     
    The drama saw Robert Virves promoted to third position after a difficult Friday seeing the Estonian sustain two punctures as he endeavoured to put together a clean rally on Saturday.
     
    Sesks would round out the day on the Porto Super Special Stage with another Wolf Stage Point to give him a total of three stage with Sunday’s stages left to run.
     
    Sunday was a much less dramatic affair on Rally de Portugal but the competition for Wolf Stage Win Points was still tense as Koci headed into the day with the aim of maximising every opportunity for stage wins. The Slovakian claimed the first speed test of the day with Joona responding on the one and only pass of the Montim stage. 
     
    Koci bagged the next stage win on the first pass of the legendary Fafe stage denying Joona by exactly two seconds as Sesks had settled into a comfortable rhythm to bring his Fiesta Rally4 home for victory. Koci made it two top stage times in a row by the penultimate stage again, marginally ahead of Joona as the pair were leagues ahead of the rest of the Junior WRC field.
     
    Virves also did everything he needed to do to make sure he could take the final step on the podium in a similar way to Pajari, with both drivers having an uneventful finish to the rally.
     
    Ultimately the final stage of the rally and second pass of Fafe was cancelled, crowning Sesks the winner of Rally de Portugal with Pajari second and Virves third. 
     
    Maciej Woda, FIA Junior WRC Championship Manager: “Congratulations to Martins and Renars for their second Junior WRC victory. This rally has been incredibly tough for all competitors and the level of competition did not disappoint at all with five different stage winners. I think we are going to see this year’s Wolf Stage Win Points make a huge difference to the championship as they really help give crews a fighting chance for more points when they faced tough challenges this weekend. Sami Pajari did exactly what he needed to after Croatia with a good clean rally and a strong podium position while also collecting some stage wins. I have also been quite impressed with Robert Virves here in Portugal, he had a difficult day on Friday but has worked very hard since then and shown great maturity to arrive at this podium position. William Creighton has proved this weekend that he is all round competitive rally driver with some great times this weekend on gravel, I am really looking forward to seeing what he”
     
    1. Martins Sesks / Renars Francis
    “It feels good and it’s a big relief after a rough and tough weekend. Basically it was really tough and long all week so it’s nice to be here, especially in first place. I cannot compare this to Estonia, in Estonia there was a fight between the others whereas here it was a fight with the stage and trying to survive.”
     
    2. Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen +03:11.8
    “I really should be happy, it was such a difficult rally for all of us so we need to be happy. I think we did well, we tried to look at the condition of the stages to see where we could go fast and catch the points. There were also some difficult sections where we lost a lot of times, it was all about being clever in the difficult places.”
     
    3. Robert Virves / Sander Pruul +11:48.8
    “If I saw the speed of the other guys, it was quite obvious that not all of them can last that long with their speed on these roads. I think it’s been the most difficult rally for me so far. Mostly because of the road conditions where you can’t drive fast as it is so hard on the car but at the same time we have stage points to fight for so you have to find a compromise.”
     
    4. Martin Koci / Petr Tesisnky +38:44.8
    “The only chance to make the mood better after restarting the rally was to make some stage points. We have three from today, one stage was cancelled, we enjoyed it today for sure. I think everyone here is super competitive, it’s all about the tactics and staying on the road. This time we didn’t have good a luck with the car, hopefully next time will be more about the speed itself.”
     
    5. William Creighton / Liam Regan +40:44.9 
    “It’s been a really tricky rally for everybody and unfortunately we had an issue with the driveshaft yesterday but we were able to manage things today. I think the encouraging think was that we were able to set some good stage times. It’s been a good weekend. It’s definitely an encouraging weekend and plenty to build on and work on for Estonia.”
     
    6. Lauri Joona / Ari Koponen +01:11:09.1
    “We have a good fight with Martin Koci today, we only got one stage point but more is always better. We are happy to finish. I think this rally is the toughest rally in Junior WRC this season, we will see what happens in Estonia where I think we are strongest.”

  • Redding bounces back with slick gamble to win Race 2: WorldSBK

    Redding bounces back with slick gamble to win Race 2: WorldSBK

    Aragon, 23 May 2021: The drama continued in the final MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship race of the Pirelli Aragon Round after a tyre gamble by Scott Redding (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) meant he responded to earlier disappointment to claim a sensational victory in Race 2 at MotorLand Aragon, coming home almost ten seconds clear of his rivals.
     
    An earlier rain shower meant the track was wet but drying throughout the day and, although there was a drying line appearing, most riders decided to race with the immediate tyres. As the track dried further, Redding was able to make his slick tyres work to move into the front and he did not look back, while Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) came home in second ahead of teammate Alex Lowes.
     
    The intermediate runners started off the race in the strongest position with six-time World Champion Rea (and teammate Lowes with American star Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). Gerloff was able to make the move on Lowes for second place.
     
    He soon had his eyes on Rea but it ended with Gerloff coming off his bike and Rea taking a trip through the gravel at Turn 14; an incident that cost both riders places and was placed under investigation by the FIM WorldSBK stewards, and Gerloff given a Long Lap Penalty; the first rider in WorldSBK to be given such a penalty.
     
    The incident allowed Lowes, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) and Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) to jump ahead of Rea, with Razgatlioglu challenging Lowes for the lead of the race before van der Mark got by his former teammate to give the BMW M 1000 RR its first lap in the lead.
     
    The mixed conditions meant different strategies on the grid with tyre selection with only Scott Redding (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) and Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Action) starting from the grid, although Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) made the switch to slicks before the race started with the Italian starting from the pit lane.
     
    While the intermediate runners had the advantage in the early stages of the races, the track soon came into favour for the slick-shod bikes, with Redding passing Razgatlioglu for the lead and soon pulling out a large gap to the chasing pack to take his first win of the 2021 season.
     
    While Redding extended his lead out in front, the battle for second was hotting up between van der Mark, Rea, Lowes, Razgatlioglu and Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who managed his intermediate tyres to latch onto the battle for second place. Rea had briefly got ahead of van der Mark at the final corner, but the Dutchman was able to fight back, although Rea was able to make the same move work on Lap 10 until Turn 1 on the next lap, with van der Mark fighting back.
     
    Sykes was able to pass Razgatlioglu on Lap 12 of 18 to move into fifth place as BMW searched for a strong result on their first weekend with the new BMW M 1000 RR, although the move cost both riders time. On Lap 13, Rea was able to make a move on van der Mark and make it stick to secure second place, before Lowes followed through a couple of laps later. Van der Mark tried to fight back but found himself sandwiched between teammate Sykes, who was on the kerbs at Turn 1, and Lowes on the inside, with van der Mark eventually falling down to fifth behind Lowes in third and Sykes fourth; the first time two BMWs have finished in the top five since 2013.
     
    Drama was never far away in this race and that continued throughout the top ten with a three-way battle for sixth place between Razgatlioglu, Folger and Gerloff; the Turkish star just about holding on from Gerloff and Folger, who started on slick tyres. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) was ninth with Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) securing his first top-ten finish.
     
    Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) came home in 11th place ahead of a trio of rookies as Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured another points finish in his maiden WorldSBK weekend, Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) in 13th and Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) in 14th on an impressive weekend for the youngest rider on the grid. Christophe Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha) was the final points position with 15th, finishing ahead of Rinaldi.
     
    Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) was the only BMW rider outside the top ten, finish just clear of Leandro Mercado (MIE Racing Honda Team) who was 18th. Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) was the first to fall victim to the difficult conditions as he came off his Ducati Panigale V4 R at Turn, forcing the Welshman to retire from Race 2 on the opening lap of the race. Leon Haslam’s (Team HRC) race came to an end on Lap 5 after he came off his Honda at Turn 2, with the British rider retiring from the race. Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) was another retirement after he crashed at Turn 1. Davies was able to finish the race in 19th despite the crash, ahead of TPR Team Pedercini Racing duo Loris Cresson and Samuele Cavalieri

  • Charles Leclerc claims home pole and then crashes

    Charles Leclerc claims home pole and then crashes

    Monaco, 22 May 2021: Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took a home pole position for Formula 1’s 2021 Monaco Grand Prix beating Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen with his opening lap of Q3. Leclerc then crashed midway through his final run to deny any of his rivals an opportunity as the red flags came out.

    In Q1, Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas leds the way, with the Finn setting a session-best time of 1:10.938, around eight hundredths of a second ahead of Leclerc. Verstappen eased through to the second segment in third place thanks to a lap of 1:11.124. Lando Norris was fourth for McLaren ahead of the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz.

    At the other end of the order there was no place in Q2 for AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda. Cruelly, the Japanese driver missed out on a Q2 berth by just 0.018s, pipped by Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel. Eliminated along with Tsunoda were Alpine’s Fernando Alonso in P17 ahead of Williams’ Nicholas Latifi and Haas’ Nikita Mazepin. Mick Schumacher failed to take part in the session due to the severity of the damage caused to his car in his FP3 crash.

    In Q2 Verstappen took over at the top of the order with an opening lap of 1:10.650. That remained the benchmark until the second runs when Leclerc found enough time to edge the Dutchman out of top spot with a lap of 1:10.597. Behind Verstappen, Bottas went through to Q3 in third place ahead of Sainz.

    After the first runs Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez found himself in eighth place, behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton. However, in the final run he made a good step forward and claimed P5 with a lap of 1:11.019 that put him ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and a clearly uncomfortable Hamilton.

    At the end of Q2 Esteban Ocon was eliminated in P11 ahead of Alpine’s Daniel Ricciardo, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Räikkönen and Williams’ George Russell.

    At the start of Q3, Verstappen set a solid time of 1:10.576 on his opening flyer of Q3 and then prepared for a final push lap. In the meantime, Leclerc powered to provisional pole with a lap of 1:10.346, two tenths ahead of the Dutchman.

    However, on his final run, on the entry to the swimming pool section, Leclerc clipped the barrier with his front right wheel and with his steering arm broken he slid into the barriers at the exit of the corner. The red flags were immediately shown and with seconds left in the session Verstappen, Bottas and Sainz were denied a final flying lap and a last shot at pole position.

    With Verstappen second, third place went to Bottas with Sainz fourth. Fifth place went to Norris with AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly in an impressive sixth place. That left seventh Hamilton with the championship leader qualifying ahead of Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel, Checo and Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi.


    2021 FIA Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix – Qualifying
    1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:10.346 7 170.773
    2 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda 1:10.576 0.230 7 170.216
    3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1:10.601 0.255 2 8 170.156
    4 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:10.611 0.265 7 170.132
    5 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:10.620 0.274 7 170.110
    6 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri/Honda 1:10.900 0.554 9 169.438
    7 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:11.095 0.749  7 168.973
    8 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:11.419 1.073 6 168.207
    9 Sergio Pérez Red Bull/Honda 1:11.573 1.227 7 167.845
    10 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 1:11.779 1.433 7 167.363
    11 Esteban Ocon Alpine/Renault 1:11.486 0.889 10 168.049
    12 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren/Mercedes 1:11.598 1.001 9 167.786
    13 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:11.600 1.003 9 167.782
    14 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo/Ferrari 1:11.642 1.045 10 167.683
    15 George Russell Williams/Mercedes 1:11.830 1.233 10 167.244
    16 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri/Honda 1:12.096 1.158 13 166.627
    17 Fernando Alonso Alpine/Renault 1:12.205 1.267 12 166.376
    18 Nicholas Latifi Williams/Mercedes 1:12.366 1.428 14 166.006
    19 Nikita Mazepin Haas/Ferrari 1:12.958 2.020 12 164.659
    20 Mick Schumacher Haas/Ferrari –