Szafnauer on trying to sign Raikkonen for Force India
Otmar Szafnauer said he nearly signed Kimi Raikkonen to Force India ahead of the Finn’s return to Formula 1 with Lotus in 2012, after meeting him at the 2011 season finale in Brazil. Szafnauer said: "Nearly signed Kimi Raikkonen to Force India before he went to Lotus. Brazil... last race. I had to meet Kimi at the Hyatt in Morumbi... trying to convince him to come to Force India. As it turned out, I couldn't convince him to come to Force India... and to be fair to him, he went to Lotus at a time where they won more races than we did. So they were better."
Otmar Szafnauer reveals failed Kimi Raikkonen bid involving "Angry Birds" founders
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Permane on Lawson's need for consistency and fewer mistakes
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane says Liam Lawson needs to eliminate small mistakes and improve his consistency, despite scoring points in two of the opening four rounds of the season. Permane said: "What he needs to do, and what he is doing so far, is eliminate mistakes. We can't be qualifying third on the grid one weekend and then out in Q1 the following weekend, that sort of thing. I'd much rather he works on… not worked on the absolute pace, because I think that's there – it's working on the consistency, which he's doing."
Liam Lawson told to 'eliminate' specific weakness from F1 performance
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Eddy Cue on Formula 1's US growth potential
Apple senior vice president of services Eddy Cue said Formula 1 has a “huge opportunity” to keep growing in the United States, after Apple took over the championship’s US broadcasting rights from 2026. Eddy Cue said: "My viewpoint around it is there is a huge amount of growth. It's a much younger audience than any sport. Female participation is way up – both young and female on Apple is way up. ... It's grown from zero, so it's grown a lot. But it has a lot of room to grow... It's not a 10% or 20%. I think it's a 'how many times X can we grow it over the years?'"
Apple eyes "huge opportunity" for major F1 expansion in the United States
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Button on Brawn's arrival after Honda's 2007 season
Jenson Button said Ross Brawn was Honda’s “saviour” after what he described as a “disaster” 2007 season, with Brawn’s arrival at the end of that year giving the team a needed lift. Button said: "He walked down the middle aisle, and there he was at the front, and he was our saviour. He was the person who was going to come in and save us from the disastrous 2007."
Jenson Button hails Ross Brawn as Honda's "saviour" after 2007 F1 "disaster"
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Formula 1
@F1
Introducing La Monumental 🤩
The banked corner at the new Madring has a max angle of 24% 📐
#F1 #SpanishGP
14h ago
Glock on Verstappen boosting attention on the Nurburgring 24 Hours
Former F1 driver Timo Glock says Max Verstappen deserves thanks for boosting attention on the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Glock said: "We also see it through Max Verstappen, for whom I think we really have to fall to our knees. We do have to thank him 100 times over, because the Nordschleife would not have been named so often in recent weeks and months if he were not here."
Max Verstappen delivered praise from Nurburgring rival: 'We must thank him'
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Wendl on Verstappen's Nürburgring 24 Hours preparation
Mercedes head of customer racing Stefan Wendl says Max Verstappen’s approach to preparing for the Nürburgring 24 Hours has impressed him in a way he has “never seen before”, with the Dutchman making his debut in the race this weekend in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 car. Stefan Wendl said: "I met Max in December last year during our first test day in Portugal. I learned more about his approach and how he prepares. And I knew immediately: 'okay, this is a case apart'. In a positive sense, that is. I had never seen anything like it before, someone who adapts so quickly."
Mercedes deeply impressed with Max Verstappen in 'never seen before' declaration
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Button on the mental health cost of losing in F1
Jenson Button says racing in Formula 1 comes with a significant mental health cost because even the most successful drivers “lose more than you win”, speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast. Button said: "And it comes down to you lose more than you win. Lewis Hamilton, extraordinary what he's achieved, but he's still lost a lot more than he's won. And that is mentally why it's tough in any sport because you lose more than you win."
Jenson Button reveals mental health cost of racing in F1
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Ocon on Alpine's Brazilian GP double podium as closing chapter
Esteban Ocon said Alpine’s surprise double podium with Pierre Gasly at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix was the perfect way to close his chapter with the team before leaving for Haas in 2025. Ocon said: "It's a good closing chapter, let's say, to the Alpine story. There was no better way to close it than that. And yes, we've lived so many things with Pierre together and to be on the top of the motorsport world... I mean, it's not a win, but it's a podium together."
Esteban Ocon calls 2024 Brazilian GP podium the perfect end to Alpine chapter
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Schiff on financial impact of 2027 power unit changes
Sky Sports Formula 1 pundit Naomi Schiff says the FIA’s confirmed 2027 power unit changes could have a major financial impact, particularly for smaller teams, after heavy investment in the 2026 engine rules. Schiff said: "The big manufacturers like Mercedes, like Ferrari, etc, these teams will have spent hundreds of millions, potentially in the billions, on development of these engines. So you would probably expect a return on that investment in three to four years down the line, but if we go back to designing and all of that stuff, does that not have a massive financial impact, not just on the big teams, but particularly the smaller teams who also need to make changes to the chassis as we've mentioned?"
Naomi Schiff warns 2027 FIA rule changes could hit smaller F1 teams hard
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McNish on judging Audi's progress at the end of the year
Audi racing director Allan McNish says the team’s progress should be judged “at the end of the year” after a mixed start to its first season. McNish said: "I think we've got to remember as well, this is race four for a new team. Sauber was there before, but it's also the integration of the Audi power unit into that system as well. Therefore, judge us at the end of the year."
Audi progress not to be judged until ‘the end of the year' - McNish
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Vettel splits with long-time press officer
PlanetF1.com understands Sebastian Vettel has split from his long-time press officer Britta Roeske after 17 years working together. German outlet F1 Insider reported earlier this week that Roeske is set to part ways with Vettel, with Roeske saying in a statement she is starting “a new professional chapter” and describing her time with Vettel as “formative and enriching”.
Sebastian Vettel splits from long-term press officer Britta Roeske after 17 years
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Max Verstappen vs 24hr Nurburgring | Full Onboard Live
Max Verstappen. 24 hours. The green hell.
Sainz on Madring's flowing layout after first laps
Carlos Sainz says the new Madring circuit is “impressive” and more flowing and wide than he expected after completing his first laps of Formula 1’s newest Spanish Grand Prix venue. Sainz said: "I really enjoyed that. I just remembered the fun I have when I drive a car around a new track. Honestly, it's impressive, because I didn't expect to have so much fun. I didn't expect it to be so flowing, so wide, where you can actually lean on the car for so long, especially that open section, and I just realised how fast we were going. If we were going fast in this, imagine it in a Formula 1 car."
Carlos Sainz verdict after first lap of F1 Madring circuit
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MADRING
@madring_oficial
De MADRING al cielo.
@Carlossainz55 completó la primera vuelta al nuevo trazado del FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA.
Descubre, de mano de nuestro embajador, un circuito con mucho carácter y diseñado para emocionar al mundo.
19h ago
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Verstappen on low visibility in wet Nürburgring practice
Max Verstappen said he could barely see during a wet, foggy practice run in the dark on the Nordschleife as he prepared for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, which he will start from fourth after qualifying on Friday. Verstappen said: "The conditions were quite tricky. Especially when I did try to drive in the dark, of course. A lot of rain, so I could barely see with a little bit of fog and vapour coming off the track. Then you just can't see where there is a lot of water. So you just have to drive slowly."
Max Verstappen describes extreme Nordschleife challenge: 'I could barely see'
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Formula 1
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The first full lap of Madring! 🤩
Carlos Sainz takes the honour of driving the first laps of the new track in Spain! 🇪🇸
#F1 #SpanishGP
19h ago
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Verstappen on tough Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifying debut
Max Verstappen admitted Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifying was “super tough” after he helped Winward Racing’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 reach the final top qualifying session on his debut, with the #3 car set to start fourth on the grid. Verstappen said: "I felt comfortable in the car because we were targeting to get to the top qualifying three, which of course is not easy with the competition out there. It's super tough, a lot of fast cars around, but we just managed to sneak in."
Verstappen admits to 'super tough' Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifying
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Max Verstappen handed fresh boost after major Nurburgring 24 Hours change
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Bearman on F2 not preparing him for F1 physical demands
Ollie Bearman says Formula 2 did not prepare him for the physical demands of Formula 1 after making a last-minute Ferrari debut in place of Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Bearman said: "On my first run, my neck was gone already. So, I was not really looking forward to that race. And it hurt. Because F2, for me, was easy physically. The neck was not even a factor. Then I did an F1 race, and my neck was everything."
Ollie Bearman admits F2 did not prepare him for brutal reality of Ferrari F1 debut
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Michel on Herta adapting to Formula 2
Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel said he is confident Colton Herta will “do well” in his rookie season in the series, even though the American is still adapting after switching from IndyCar to race in F2 with Hitech. Michel said: "Of course, I hope Colton is going to set an example. I really, really hope that he's going to do well this year, and I'm very confident about it, because he's a very, very strong driver. He's a very talented driver. Now, coming from Indy to F2, is different... I'm sure it's a bit surprising, but he's got the talent to do it. I have zero doubt about that. He needs a bit of time to get used to the championship."
Bruno Michel makes Colton Herta prediction after difficult Formula 2 switch
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