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Augusto Fernandez is the 2022 Moto2 World Champion!
The Spaniard wraps up the crown on home turf in Valencia
Valencia, 6 November 2022: Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is the 2022 Moto2 World Champion! After a dramatic finale at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana that saw sole remaining rival Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) crash out, the Spaniard was already Champion before the flag – and came through to take second and secure the crown in style with a podium.
Watch Fernandez winning moments here courtesy MotoGP.
Fernandez won the European Junior Cup in 2014 and competed in Superstock 600 thereafter, where he achieved a victory in 2015. He was fifth in the Moto2™ European Championship the following year as he moved onto new machinery, and he started the next season with a podium. That year, 2017, also saw Fernandez called up to make his Grand Prix debut at the 2017 Italian GP with Speed Up.
Despite scoring points, he initially didn’t get a ride in the Grand Prix paddock for 2018 and returned to European level but not long after, everything changed. Looking for a rider mid-season, the Pons Moto2™ squad picked Fernandez to return to the World Championship and he didn’t disappoint, starting to bank top eight and top ten performances.
2019 was a huge turning point. Despite some injury struggles early in the year with a broken wrist, Fernandez was back with a bang as he returned at Jerez and took his first Grand Prix podium. Another followed at Le Mans before a first Grand Prix victory at the classic TT Circuit Assen, backed up by two more at Silverstone and Misano. His title challenge faded towards the end of the season and 2020 proved a more difficult year with no podiums, but Fernandez worked his way back towards the front in 2021, returning to the rostrum by Assen and ending the year fifth overall to sign off from Elf Marc VDS Racing Team.
Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) crowned the 2022 Moto2 World Champion! In new colours with Red Bull KTM Ajo, 2022 didn’t get off to the perfect start as Fernandez didn’t visit the podium until Le Mans, but that was a win and the eventual Champion was back in the groove. A second podium at Catalunya then prefaced three wins in a row as Fernandez began his title assault in earnest, and his form remained consistent to the end of the season barring one mistake at Phillip Island. At the time potentially pivotal, a fourth place next time out at Sepang as rival Ogura crashed out saw the number 37 regain the lead and arrive into the season finale as the rider ahead – by 9.5 points.
In a tense final showdown, both Fernandez and Ogura were fighting it out in the front positions before the Japanese rider slid out – guaranteeing Fernandez the Championship. Pressure off, the number 37 then chased teammate and Rookie of the Year Pedro Acosta home, within six tenths at the start of the final lap and taking a ninth podium of the season to celebrate the crown in style.
Congratulations, Augusto. We’ll see you on Tuesday… in MotoGP!
#FastAF IN STATS
Augusto Fernandez has nine podiums this season (more than any other rider) and 20 overall in Moto2™. He sits in 10th place on the list of riders with most podiums in the class, with one less than Franco Morbidelli and Miguel Oliveira.
With seven wins in Moto2™, Fernandez is tied in 13th place on the list of riders with the most wins in the class with Toni Elias.
He is the sixth Spanish rider to win the Moto2™ title after along with Toni Elias, Marc and Alex Marquez, Pol Espargaro and Tito Rabat, and is the ninth Spanish rider to clinch the title in the intermediate category. Fernandez’ title is also 12th in the class for Spain and the 57th in Grand Prix racing.
Fernandez is one of 12 riders who has won at least three Moto2™ races in a row.
AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ
“It’s been an amazing year. I really enjoyed the race after the first laps. Honestly today I felt the pressure out there on the first laps, and a bit of frustration because I knew I had more speed but I was being too careful. I saw the fight between Alonso and Pedro and knew they were fighting for Rookie of the Year, they were fighting hard. It was hard to pass them. I knew it was enough, but risky. But I knew I had more pace than everyone except maybe Pedro.
“I’m sorry for Ai and his crash, he was pushing hard, but after that I forgot about everything, I did my race and pace. Just tried to finished the season with a win and I went for it. Pedro was super fast in practice, like me, but with a bit extra. I’m happy with the race because I pushed to the end and I tried to push him to the last corner. It was an awesome race and I’m super happy for him also to get the Rookie, and for the team to win the teams’.
“In Australia we were so close to having a good chance for the rest of the races, the season, and for me it was also tough in Malaysia. On Sunday, during the race, it was my hardest because in Australia ok it’s my fault but I still have chances, nothing lost and only a few points with two races to fight again. But in Malaysia where he was fighting for the win and I was struggling to get into the top five, I think that was my longest and toughest race of the year.
“I’m proud of how we, as a family, got to here. My ‘strange’ career, my way to the World Championship and then to securing my place here. Every step. And the bad years, after 2019 when we’d been super competitive before two bad years. But I’m the rider I am today because of those bad years too, there’s nothing to regret. I’m just proud of my family, myself and everything.”
Biography
First Grand Prix: Italy 2017, Moto2™
First pole position: Catalunya 2019, Moto2™
First podium: Spain 2019, Moto2™
First victory: Assen 2019, Moto2™
Grands Prix: 94
Victories: 7
Podiums: 20
Pole positions: 3
Fastest laps: 11
World Championships: Moto2™ (2022)World Championship career:
2017: Moto2™ World Championship – 31st, Speed Up, 13 races, 6 points
2018: Moto2™ World Championship – 18th, Kalex, 12 races, 45 points
2019: Moto2™ World Championship – 5th, Kalex, 17 races, 207 points
2020: Moto2™ World Championship – 13th, Kalex, 14 races, 71 points
2021: Moto2™ World Championship – 5th, Kalex, 18 races, 174 points
2022: Moto2™ World Championship – 1st, Kalex, 20 races, 271.5 points -
MotoGP: Rins wins Valencia GP as Bagnaia takes 2022 title
Alex Rins wins Valencia GP from Brad Binder and Jorge Martin as Francesco Bagnaia secured the 2022 MotoGP title.
It was a hectic start to MotoGP finale in Valencia GP as title contenders Fabio Quartararo and Francesco Bagnaia went wheel-to-wheel for multiple laps for track position on their Yamaha and Ducati machines. They even touched where the latter lost a winglet.
The two gave it all but Quartararo had the last laugh to stay ahead even though he wasn’t still winning the MotoGP title then. At the front, Suzuki’s Alex Rins led the Valencia GP after a strong start with pole-sitter Jorge Martin in second in his Pramac Ducati.
Honda’s Marc Marquez was third for the starting few laps but Ducati’s Jack Miller took third from him after shedding off both Quartararo and Bagnaia. The Australian at one point fell behind the two but he got back up on pace in the fight for the podium places.
Marquez was fourth from Quartararo who fended off KTM’s Brad Binder for couple of laps. The South African was sixth after passing Bagnaia, who dropped to seventh. Suzuki’s Joan Mir was eighth from KTM’s Miguel Oliviera and VR46 Ducati’s Luca Marini in the Top 10.
Oliveira passed Marini early on after Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales dropped back. His teammate Aleix Espargaro retired due to a mechanical issue as the grand prix saw five crashes in a span of few laps with six retirements in the first part itself.
Honda’s Pol Espargaro was first to crash followed by RNF Yamaha’s Darryn Binder with LCR Honda’s Alex Marquez next, RNF’s Cal Crutchlow then and finally Honda’s Marquez from third. Only one Honda and two Yamaha bikes were running in the grand prix then.
With Rins leading from Martin and Miller, Quartararo was fourth from Binder as Bagnaia came under fire from Mir soon. Oliveira was eighth from Marini as Gresini Ducati’s Enea Bastianini was 10th where the Italian firm to secure third if he finishes the race.
As the Top 3 led the way, Binder started to close in on Quartararo and eventually passed him for fourth as Oliveira cleared Bagnaia for seventh behind. Marini closed in on the MotoGP title contender with Bastianini in the Top 10.
Bagnaia lost to Marini and Bastianini to be 10th as a transponder issue for Mir didn’t show him in sixth where he was running. Vinales was another to retire due to a mechanical issue, as at the front the fight was on for second position.
Martin held on to second but Binder passed Miller for third in his chase to register a win. The Australian crashed out in his last race for Ducati promoting Quartararo to fourth. Mir was fifth from Oliveira, Bastianini, Bagnaia and Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli in the Top 10.
At the front, Rins held onto the lead to win Valencia GP in the last race for Suzuki in MotoGP as Binder was up to second after passing Martin to complete the podium. Quartararo was fourth as he lost the title to Bagnaia.
The Italian came back from being down by nearly 100 points to eventually win his first MotoGP title and he first Italian to win the championship since Valentino Rossi did so in 2009. Ducati also completed the set of three titles in 2022.
With Quartararo in fourth, Oliveira passed Mir for fifth as Marini was seventh, Bastianini eighth, Bagnaia ninth and Morbidelli in the Top 10. VR6’s Marco Bezzecchi was 11th in points from Tech 3 KTM pair of Raul Fernandez & Remy Gardner.
The Top 15 points position was rounded out by Gresini’s Fabio di Giannantonio and LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami, with Crutchlow and A Marquez re-joining the race in 16th and 17th.
DNF: Miller, Zarco, Vinales, Marquez, Binder, A Espargaro, P Espargaro
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MotoGP: Martin on pole in Valencia GP; contenders outside Top 3
Jorge Martin takes MotoGP pole in Valencia GP from Marc Marquez and Jack Miller, with contenders in fourth and eighth.
Q1:
The first part in MotoGP qualifying in Valencia saw Suzuki’s Alex Rins set the pace early on with a 1m30.230s from Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales as Gresini Ducati’s Enea Bastianini was just on the bubble along with Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli.
Amid the final runs, Honda’s Pol Espargaro went down along with Bastianini which ended their chances of a Q2 run. At the front, Vinales pressed on the gas with a 1m30.090s lap to make it in Q2 along with Rins, who ended up second in the end.
Bastianini was third to start 13th despite his crash with KTM’s Miguel Oliveira jumping to 14th from LCR Honda’s Alex Marquez pushing Morbidelli to 16th. RNF Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow was 17th from VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi.
The Italian managed to take part in qualifying despite his crash and fire in FP3, as did Tech 3 KTM’s Raul Fernandez who was declared fit after his FP3 fall. Gresini’s Fabio di Giannantonio was 19th from Tech 3’s Remy Gardner and LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami.
Honda’s Espargaro was 22nd after his fall with Tech 3’s Fernandez managing to be 23rd despite his earlier crash as RNF’s Darryn Binder rounded out in 24th.
Q2:
The second part in MotoGP qualifying in Valencia GP where Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin led the way initially with a 1m29.621s lap from Ducati’s Jack Miller and Suzuki’s Rins. One half of the title contender – Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo – was fourth.
While Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia was only 11th after his first run. Amid the final runs, Ducati’s Miller had a crash with Pramac’s Johann Zarco also falling down. Martin eventually stayed on top to take MotoGP pole in Valencia GP with his original lap.
Honda’s Marc Marquez pushed himself up to second with Miller in third despite his crash. Quartararo was fourth amid dangers of yellow flag as Rins was fifth from Vinales and KTM’s Brad Binder. The Frenchman did have a moment on his final attempt.
But he was fourth still with MotoGP points leader Bagnaia was eighth from Zarco, Espargaro, VR46’s Luca Marini and Suzuki’s Joan Mir in the Top 12.
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Quartararo, Bagnaia quotes before title-decider: MotoGP
Martin takes pole ahead of Marquez, with Miller third and Quartararo just 0.066 off the front row as Bagnaia faces down a date with destiny from eighth
Valencia, 5 November 2022: This is it. The stage is set for the #TheDecider. On pole it’s Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) followed by Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) to make some interesting front row dynamics, while Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) pushed as hard has he could – and then some – to earn P4 on the grid at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
JORGE MARTIN
“It was a difficult day, I felt good in terms of pace but for a time attack I didn’t have that extra this morning but this afternoon I found something and with the hard front I feel much better in braking. The first stint was great which I didn’t expect because normally you need 2 or 3 laps on the right side, on the second stint I thought I could improve but I had some moments on the rear, but finally pole position, third in a row and fifth of the season. I’m happy but the important thing is tomorrow and I’ll give it everything!”
FABIO QUARTARARO
Can you win from P4?
“Yes, I think we have the possibility. Our pace looks much better than the position we start on the race and yeah, looking forward to starting tomorrow.”How much did you have to push?
“Yeah over the limit, but you know it’s a race where I need to be at my maximum to try to be on top and to have the possibility to fight for the victory tomorrow was super important to be on the second row.”Are the first 2/3 laps going to be crucial?
“Yeah it’s going to be crucial and it’s also going to be super important to not make any stupid mistakes, but I’m feeling ready and I feel like we are doing a pretty good job.”FRANCESCO BAGNAIA
Did today go to plan?
“No absolutely not. Starting from yesterday we are struggling a bit with new tyres and also for the time attack, me and other two or three riders with the Ducati are having the same issue. We have to consider the positives and I think our pace with used tyres is quite good, with new tyres we’re struggling a bit more compared to other riders but I think from 8-10 laps we can be competitive and start to be at the front.”How nervous are you for the first few laps?
“On this moment I’m just thinking of what to do to improve my bike with my team, I think the ideas we have are good. I’m just thinking on that, I know if I start thinking ‘ah I’m starting eighth, I have to do this, this and this,’ it’s the worst. So I will try to start well for sure but in this moment I just want to focus on my bike.”Qualies
Importantly for Yamaha’s title contender, he will start a full row ahead of World Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who qualified eighth – with everything still very much possible in this title fight…
As was the case a fortnight ago in Malaysia, Martin was on the pace immediately in Q2, setting a 1:29.621 which would still be fastest at the end of the first runs. Miller was second on a 1:29.834 and Quartararo fourth on a 1:30.135, while Bagnaia was back to pitlane after a single 1:30.766 which left him 11th when the track went quiet.
Miller’s hopes of one last pole for Ducati then disappeared when he crashed at Turn 2, while an under-the-weather Marc Marquez jumped from ninth to P2 when he fired in a 1:30.049. Bagnaia then moved to sixth, ahead of Quartararo, before ‘El Diablo’ leapfrogged his title rival by clocking a 1:30.027.
There were more yellow flags when Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) had a spill at Turn 6, while Bagnaia toured the run-off at Turn 8. Quartararo was still on a hot lap and, fortunately for him, it was unaffected as he sought to elevate himself further up the grid. He did indeed move up two spots more to fourth with a 1:29.900 before running into the Turn 2 gravel trap on his final lap of the session – although that was in fact a moot point with replays showing FQ20 also running onto the green at Turn 1 beforehand.
Martin had no improvement during his second run but still bagged pole, ahead of Marc Marquez and Miller, who kept his berth on the front row despite the tumble. Quartararo heads up Row 2, next to Q1 graduate Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and the pace-setter in that earlier qualifying session, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was classified seventh, ahead of Bagnaia, Zarco, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar).
Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had moved into second place in Q1 with a 1:30.193 but Rins hit back and then Bastianini’s chances of advancing to Q2 were dashed when he crashed at Turn 2 – rider okay. ‘La Bestia’ is set to start 13th and Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who topped FP4 and then threatened to upstage both Viñales and Rins late in Q1, from 14th.
On Sunday at 14:00 (GMT +1), the 2022 World Champion will be decided. Two riders, 23 points and one single crown puts everything on the line in one final showdown for the year – and era. Do. Not. Miss. This.
The top-grid;
1 Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – Ducati – 1’29.621
2 Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) – Honda – +0.205
3 Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – +0.2134 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) – Yamaha – +0.279
8 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – +0.428
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Mexico GP: Verstappen takes record-breaking 14th win of 2022 season
Max Verstappen put on a dominant show to win F1 Mexico GP from Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez to break a record.
It was a clean start from pole-sitter Max Verstappen in F1 Mexico GP in his Red Bull on the soft tyres as the two Mercedes drivers had a hefty fight where Lewis Hamilton managed to clear teammate George Russell who tried a move on the Dutchman.
A kerb moment in Turn 2-3 allowed Red Bull’s Sergio Perez to pass Russell for third as the Ferrari pair of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc gained places to be fifth and sixth with Alpine’s Fernando Alonso also jumping up to seventh in the order.
Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas had a slow start to be eighth with McLaren’s Lando Norris dropping to 10th behind Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. The fight outside the Top 10 saw McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo pass Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu for 12th after few laps of battle.
It was a solid start from Aston Martin pair of Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll who were up to 14th and 15th but the Canadian had AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly chasing him. The Frenchman locked-up and forced the Canadian off to pass him.
Gasly was handed a 5s penalty with 11 superlicense points. At the front, Verstappen continued to lead well from Hamilton and Perez. The Mexican was first to pit among the front runners but a slow stop dropped him behind the Ferrari pair.
Verstappen went late and managed to clear both the Ferrari drivers and come out in third. Mercedes waited a bit and eventually pitted Hamilton to switch to the hard tyres who soon had Perez on his tail. Russell – without stopping – led the way in F1 Mexico GP.
He wanted stay longer but his slow times forced them to switch strategy and put on the hard tyres where he returned to track in fourth. Verstappen got the F1 Mexico GP lead from Hamilton, Perez, Russell, Sainz and Leclerc in the Top 6.
Alonso was seventh from Ocon who leapfrogged Bottas in the pits but the Finn was close on his tail in the fight for eighth, as Norris was 10th. Just outside the Top 10, AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda had to fend off Ricciardo in the fight for 11th.
The Australian pressed on and tried a move on the inside but Tsunoda turned in as there was a clumsy touch which put the Japanese off. Both managed to continue on but the AlphaTauri suffered way too much damage to continue on and was forced to retire.
The incident was put under investigation as Ricciardo was handed a 10s time penalty. But McLaren wasted no time and allowed him to Norris which got him close to Bottas and he passed the Finn for ninth. He then set off in the chase of the two Alpine cars.
He eventually did so. Ocon first passed Alonso and the Ricciardo followed. The Australian then passed the Frenchman to be seventh as he then had to stretch out a 10s lead to remain in the points where Norris was chasing Bottas for 10th.
The Brit eventually passed the Finn for what became ninth after Alonso retired due to power unit issue. The Spaniard was extremely angry post the retirement as he was in the car and on the radio as Virtual Safety Car was deployed to clear the car.
At the front, Verstappen had a comfortable F1 Mexico GP win by 15.186s to register a record-breaking 14th win in a season with two more races to go. Hamilton was second as Perez was third from Russell, who took away the fastest lap on the final lap.
Sainz was fifth from Leclerc, with Ricciardo in seventh as he managed to retain the track position despite the 10s time penalty. Ocon was eighth from Norris as Bottas kept 10th despite the late push from Gasly and Albon towards the end.
Guanyu ended up 13th from Vettel, Stroll with the Haas pair of Mick Schumacher in 16th from Kevin Magnussen while Williams’ Nicholas Latifi was 18th – everyone from Ricciardo to the Dane ended up a lap down while the Canadian was down by two laps.
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Mexico GP: Verstappen takes pole from Russell, Hamilton
Max Verstappen was dominant in F1 Mexico GP qualifying taking pole from Mercedes pair of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Q1:
The first part in F1 qualifying in Mexico GP saw Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (1m19.162s) set the pace after doing another push lap towards the end as he toppled Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.053s with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ending up in third.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez needed another lap too after DRS didn’t work the first time as he ended up seventh on the same set of tyres. It was hectic in the bottom where Haas’ Mick Schumacher made it in the Top 10 with a sixth best time.
But it wasn’t for long as he used the kerbs a bit too much at Turn 2 which resulted in lap deletion. He had to another lap of 1m20.419s in 16th which was same for Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel in 17th. The other Haas of Kevin Magnussen made it in.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was 18th with a 1m20.520s as Williams pair of Alexander Albon (1m20.859s) and Nicholas Latifi (1m21.167s) ended up 19th and 20th where replays showed an off moment for the Thai racer on his quick lap.
Q2:
The second part in F1 Mexico GP qualifying saw the Red Bull pair complete their first run on the used tyre as the Mercedes pair set the pace early on. Everyone did another lap where the Top 5 were separated by just the 0.063s margin.
In fact, the Top 2 were separated by just the 0.008s margin as Hamilton led the way with a 1m18.522s lap with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in second and the other Mercedes of Russell in third from Verstappen and Perez in a close Top 5 where Charles Leclerc aborted his lap.
It was a close miss for McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m19.325s) in 11th after missing on the Top 10 by just the 0.053s margin. Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu (1m19.476s) was 12th from AlphaTauri pair of Yuki Tsunoda (1m19.589s) and Pierre Gasly (1m19.672s) as Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (1m19.833s) was 15th.
Q3:
The final part of F1 Mexico GP saw a tight run at the front where Red Bull’s Verstappen led the way from the Mercedes pair of Russell and Hamilton. But the latter lost his lap time after taking the apex at Turn 3 much like Schumacher did in Turn 2.
Red Bull’s Perez got third from Ferrari’s Sainz, who had a drift moment on the kerb. Teammate Leclerc had a moment in the early part of the lap too, to be only sixth, with Alpine’s Fernando Alons going out of turn in seventh with a moment of his own.
The final run saw Verstappen improve further with a 1m17.775s lap to secure F1 Mexico GP pole with a good margin over the Mercedes pair of Russell (1m18.079s) and Hamilton (1m18.084s). The former’s final lap was deleted due to an off at Turn 12 which left his angry.
Hamilton recovered well from lap deletion as Perez (1m18.128s) was fourth from Sainz (1m18.351s) with Bottas (1m18.401s) managing to beat Leclerc (1m18.555s) for sixth after the Monegasque did not have a good run. McLaren’s Lando Norris (1m18.721s) was eighth from Alpine pair of Fernando Alonso (1m18.939s) and Esteban Ocon (1m19.010s) in the Top 10.
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Mexico GP: Russell heads Hamilton in a Mercedes 1-2 in FP3
Mercedes pair led the way in FP1 of F1 Mexico GP with George Russell fastest from Lewis Hamilton as Max Verstappen was third.
The important FP3 session in F1 Mexico GP saw Mercedes pair lead the way as George Russell set the pace with a 1m18.399s lap from teammate Lewis Hamilton (1m18.543s) and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (1m18.876s) after soft tyre run.
It was a cleaner run from the Mercedes pair but Verstappen continued to have moments much like how he had during Friday running. A late push run from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (1m19.123s) saw him in fourth but a bit far off the pace.
His teammate Carlos Sainz (1m19.301s) was sixth behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (1m19.241s), with McLaren’s Lando Norris (1m19.317s) seventh from Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas (1m19.390s) who continued have a good Mexico GP practice run with three Top 10 finishes.
AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m19.882s) was ninth from Williams’ Alexander Albon (1m19.917s), who set a solid time in the end to be in the Top 10. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was 11th after his late lap with Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu 12th after having issues early on.
Alpine’s Fernando Alonso was only 13th from McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo, with AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly after a scrappy run. His initial quick lap was compromised by a moment while trying to pass Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and only managed 15th in the end.
Stroll was 17th from Haas’ Mick Schumacher who had multiple offs including a spin at Turn 10. Williams’ Nicholas Latifi slotted in 18th from Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel who did not enjoy the session while complaining about the car lacking everywhere. He was followed by Haas’ Kevin Magnussen in 20th.
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Mexico GP: Russell quickest in FP2 as Pirelli continues tyre testing
George Russell led the way in FP1 of F1 Mexico GP from Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon as teams had another Pirelli tyre testing.
The extended FP2 session in F1 Mexico GP saw further Pirelli tyre testing for the 2023 season as they focused on running the softer compounds this weekend after running the harder ones at the Circuit of the Americas during the US GP weekend.
It was a mixed run again as like last weekend, the Top 3 finishers set their pace on the soft tyres of 2022 with Mercedes’ George Russell (1m19.970s) leading AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m20.798s) and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m21.177s) – all three having their first run of the day.
They sat out in FP1 after Nyck de Vries, Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan drove in the first test. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (1m21.509s) was the first driver on the prototype tyres in fourth with the Red Bull pair behind them and Ferrari pair after them.
It was Sergio Perez (1m21.579s) again quicker than Max Verstappen (1m21.588s), where the Dutchman continued to have some moments. Charles Leclerc (1m21.618s) was seventh from Carlos Sainz (1m21.693s) but the Monegasque had an early end to his session.
Having lost his rear at the entry of Turn 8, Leclerc spun onto the barrier and damaged his rear resulting in a red flag. Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas (1m21.993s) was ninth from AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1m22.104s) in the Top 10, with his drift moment.
Alpine’s Fernando Alonso was 11th after his drift moment, with Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel in 12th from Williams’ Alexander Albon who set his pace on the soft tyres. The McLaren pair rounded the Top 15 with Lando Norris leading.
He had a moment towards the end as Daniel Ricciardo was 15th from Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll who led the Haas pair of Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen. The Dane had a new ICE fitted – his sixth – and is due for a grid penalty.
Williams’ Nicholas Latifi was 19th from Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu, who caused a late red flag due to a hydraulic issue with the session not resuming again where less than two minutes was remaining.
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Mexico GP: Sainz fastest in FP1 from Leclerc amid stoppages
Ferrari pair of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc headed FP1 in F1 Mexico GP with Sergio Perez third amid double red flag stoppages.
It was a clean but a bit up and down FP1 session in F1 Mexico GP which was led by the Ferrari pair of Carlos Sainz (1m20.707s) and Charles Leclerc (1m20.753s) – only 0.046s separating the two. The Monegasque had an early puncture which required a change.
The two had the Red Bull pair just behind them with Sergio Perez (1m20.827s) ahead of Max Verstappen (1m20.827s), where the Dutchman had a less grippy day. He not only went off to have a half spin, he also had a separate moment where he caught it.
The duo set exactly the same time. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (1m20.849s) was fifth whose earlier quick lap was affected by red flag. Alpine’s Fernando Alonso (1m20.899s) was sixth from Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas (1m21.083s) as McLaren’s Lando Norris (1m21.120s) ended up seventh.
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1m21.310s) lined-up ninth where the Frenchman had a moment against Williams’ Nicholas Latifi which he didn’t fancy, as the Top 10 was rounded out by Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel (1m21.525s) – sporting a Red Bull helmet.
A brake issue kept McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo in the garage for long but he finally headed out to end up 11th which also had a moment when Hamilton almost came in his way. Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu was 12th where he got stuck at the pit exit.
He couldn’t get going then and so switched off the car where he had to be wheeled in before he could get going. Haas’ Mick Schumacher was 13th from Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Latifi, who were the last of the weekend runners.
Among the FP1 runners, AlphaTauri’s Liam Lawson led the way in 16th where the Kiwi not only had a lock-up at Turn 1 but brake fire forced him to stop early to not only cause a red flag but also end the session with about three minutes to go.
The front left was smoking hugely and eventually caught fire as he led Williams’ Logan Sargeant, Mercedes’ Nyck de Vries, Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Haas’ Pietro Fittipaldi – where they replaced Yuki Tsunoda, Alexander Albon, George Russell, Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen respectively.
This was the last session for de Vries with Mercedes as he will now get no more track running since he is switching to AlphaTauri. Doohan, meanwhile stopped early due to engine issues, while Fittipaldi caused the first red flag due ti MGU-K problem.
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US GP: Verstappen clears Hamilton to win as Red Bull takes title
Max Verstappen passes Lewis Hamilton to win F1 US GP with Charles Leclerc P3, as Red Bull clinched the constructors’ title.
It was a clean start from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to lead F1 US GP at Circuit of the Americas after pole-sitter Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari was spun around at Turn 1 by Mercedes’ George Russell out-braking himself while turning left.
This allowed Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton to be second with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll up in third from Russell and the other Aston Martin of Sebastian Vettel in the Top 5. McLaren’s Lando Norris was sixth losing to the German due to the Turn 1 trouble.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez was seventh but had a front wing endplate broken after a small barge-in against Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas in the left-hander which dropped the Finn outside the Top 10 three cars that started behind him.
AlphaTauri’s Pieere Gasly was eighth from Williams’ Alexander Albon and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, where the Thai racer was undone by a huge lock-up which cost him an off moment too. Sainz suffered a puncture and also a water leak to retire from the F1 US GP.
Russell was handed a 5s time penalty for causing a collision, as he passed Stroll for third. At the same time, Perez cleared both the Aston Martin cars to be fourth as Norris lost track position to Gasly. There was a spin for Williams’ Nicholas Latifi on his own.
With the medium tyres going off sooner, the pit stop saga started but Verstappen retained his F1 US GP lead from Leclerc who had to stop still. The Monegasque was eventually helped by a safety car period when Bottas spun and beached himself in the gravel.
He radioed about losing the rear end as Verstappen led F1 US GP behind the safety car from Hamilton, Perez, Leclerc, Russell, Vettel, Stroll, Gasly, Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Norris in the Top 10 – where three drivers had some luck with cheap pit stop.
Apart from Leclerc, Vettel and Alonso also stopped under the safety car along with other drivers outside the Top 10. The re-start worked well for the drivers in the front as they stationed themselves but Norris lost 10th place to AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda.
The safety car was back out for a incident between Stroll and Alonso at the back straight. The Spaniard tried a move on the Canadian’s left but the Aston Martin’s slight movement caught him out as he went airbourne when his front wheel touched his rear.
Despite that moment, Alonso managed to continue and pit but Stroll’s day was done with the incident under investigation after the race. The re-start worked well again for Verstappen as he led F1 US GP from Hamilton, Perez, Leclerc and Russell.
Vettel was sixth from Gasly, Tusnoda, Norris and Haas’ Mick Schumacher in the Top 10 as the latter two gained places due to the earlier incident. While Verstappen led the way ahead of Hamilton, the fight was on for third between Perez and Leclerc.
The Monegasque hurried him and tried a move in the left-hander but went wide which allowed Perez to retain third. But Leclerc pressured him and eventually took the inside line to pass the Mexican for third with Russell not far behind in the fight for fourth.
The final stop saga started by Hamilton where Red Bull reacted. But it was a hugely slow stop for Verstappen due to problems with the front-left. The Dutchman dropped behind Leclerc as the two ensued in a fight for track position.
Verstappen passed him at Turn 1 but Leclerc switched over to keep the place. But the Dutchman kept the pressure on and eventually passed him at the back straight to slot into second as Hamilton passed Vettel for the lead where the German pitted.
It was not the pit stop he wanted as a gun didn’t work on the front-left which dropped to the back of the field. Leclerc was third then from Perez who battled against Russell after his pit stop. Haas’ Kevin Magnussen was sixth after he elected not to stop.
The Dane is under investigation for ignoring yellow flags, as Alonso recovered to seventh from Ocon, with Norris climbing up to ninth after passing Tsunoda, Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu and Albon back-to-back despite damage on his McLaren.
He even passed Ocon who eventually pitted as Albon and Guanyu rounded the Top 10. There was 5s time penalty for Gasly for keeping more than 10-car length behind the safety car. He was under investigation for not serving the penalty properly.
Williams’ Latifi was handed a 5s penalty too for forcing Haas’ Schumacher off the track. At the front, Verstappen started to close in on Hamilton in the fight for F1 US GP win. The Dutchman eventually made the move on the back straight to take the lead.
Hamilton did not give up easily but eventually had to bail out as both the drivers had warning for track limits. Leclerc was third from Perez with Russell in fifth. Alonso was sixth from Norris with Magnussen in eighth from Vettel and Tsunoda in the Top 10.
The German had a sound battle against Albon who eventually dropped to 13th after losing out to Tsunoda, Gasly and Ocon. At the front, Verstappen held on to win F1 US GP from Hamilton, as Red Bull finally beat Mercedes to win the constructors’ championship.
The Mercedes’ juggernaut ended in the V6 hybrid era to win their first F1 constructors’ title since the 2013 season. Leclerc was third from Perez with Russell in fifth taking the fastest lap point, while Norris passed Alonso for sixth in their constructors’ fight.
Vettel passed Magnussen on the final lap for eighth with the Dane in ninth and Tsunoda rounding the Top 10. Ocon was 11th from Albon, Guanyu, Gasly, Schumacher, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Latifi.
DNF: Stroll, Bottas, Sainz
UPDATE: Post-race, the stewards cleared both Ocon and Magnussen for overtaking under the yellow flag where the Frenchman overtook Schumacher while the Dane cleared both his teammate and Frenchman at Turn 11-12 sequence.
There was no further action into the matter as both the drivers gave back the places immediately. Additionally, Albon was handed a 5s penalty after he was found to have left the track at Turn 12 and re-joined while retaining track position.
In another bigger penalty, Stroll was given a 3-place grid drop for Mexico along with two penalty points for causing a collision with Alonso. “It was clear to us that the driver of Car 18 made a late move in reacting to the overtaking attempt by the driver of Car 14 by moving to the left. The stewards determine that the driver of Car 18 was predominantly to blame,” said the stewards note.
