F1 Today – 19/08/2022
Alonso reflects on mindset and come back
Fernando Alonso blew open the driver market on the first day of the summer break, but he says that has roots in his ability he continues to show on track. Despite being the oldest driver on the grid, the two-time champion continues to show the same abilities of speed and talent which have carried him through his twenty-year career.
One aspect that has been especially fascinating this year has been observing the attention to detail that the Alpine driver has when it comes to finding every competitive advantage he can. On the track, the way he drives is as bold and brilliance of drivers almost half his age, or the gaming generation.
His mindset was that he had every intention of passing people at those locations off the start while others thought the circuit would be too dirty there. That is exactly what happened, as he pulled off a brilliant getaway and sliced past both Lando Norris and George Russell on the bits of track he had cleaned minutes before.
Alonso confesses to taking great pleasure from these little moments being noticed, as he says it is all part of the strong competitive streak he has, in both exploiting his strengths and hoping to open up weaknesses in others. In an interview published this week done before his move to Aston Martin was announced, he said, he was “that type of guy.”
Adding, “I need to make 100% of my thing, and I need to kill whatever strengths other people have. But this I do in everything I practice, when I play anything. I used to play tennis, and when I play with someone good, I would put the ball very high. Because, like this, you stop the rhythm of them because they are used to hitting the ball very hard.”
“Playing with professionals, the ball arrives very strong for them so they are used to that kind of shot. But when you put the ball high, they make mistakes, because the ball arrives very soft. So I can play better tennis when putting the ball high.” Alonso says he automatically puts the ball high because it is his only chance to beat them, by maximizing his strengths.
Alonso is clear in his head that experience in F1 has brought with it clear advantages, which allows him to have a better overall judgement on which areas he needs to focus on. Explaining that you need to vary your approach to the weekend, as practice can sometimes be important, and gave the example of a we race.
He added, “Not every lap is the last lap. These kinds of things I used to make mistakes, early in the races that now I try to avoid. And this only comes with experience and with your own mistakes.”
The forty-one-year-old doesn’t feel there are any negatives to his age, especially after a two-year break from F1 that allowed him to recharge his batteries. He thinks he needed a break to become a better version of himself, saying watching from the outside it allowed him to understand the bigger picture and learn different philosophies and techniques.
No quick solutions to burgeoning weight
Max Verstappen thinks there is no quick solution to tackle the burgeoning weight of F1 cars, which has proven an unpopular aspect of the 2022 rules revolution. Over the last few regulation changes, largely thanks to increased safety measures the cars have gradually gotten heavier.
The new generation of cars has a minimum weight set at 798kg without fuel. Add a full fuel load of 110kg and that means cars weigh over 900kg as they line up for the start of a Grand Prix. Over the last fourteen years, that’s an increase of just over 200g compared to 2008. The increased weight is naturally unpopular with drivers, who believe the sluggish behaviours of the cars affected their performance.
When asked by Motorsport.com about the impact of the new regulations, Verstappen said felt the cars are now “extremely heavy” but added he didn’t think there was a rapid solution as most of the weight gain has been the result of additional safety measures.
Adding, “I think following has been quite a bit better, so that’s positive. But of course, the weight of the cars, they’re extremely heavy, which I think is not great, which I don’t really see a quick solution for. Overall, the following and stuff has been a bit better. It’s difficult to expect how much better it would be but for me at least you have a better chance of racing.”
“But then again, on some tracks it’s still very hard to follow but that’s also in combination with tyres overheating and stuff, so there are a few things to look at.”
Verstappen’s comments were echoed by both Lance Stroll and George Russell. Stroll hoping that weight reductions can be made so the cars can be more agile as he believes the cars have become too heavy.
Adding, “There are many things for sure that we can change and do better but off the top of my head that’s something that I think would be nice to improve; to make the cars a little bit more enjoyable and nimble to drive.”
Mercedes and GPDA director, George Russell agreed with Verstappen and Stroll but admitted the safety features behind the additional weight will make it difficult to come up with a significant reduction.
Russell added when asked which areas of the new cars could still be improved, “As Lance and Max said, lighter cars would be great, but you can’t have everything in the world. The reason we’re heavier is because of safety, so yeah, I don’t know. I really can’t pick one, because there’s too many compromises.”
Hamilton’s Commitment never wavered
Mercedes F1 CEO and team principal Toto Wolff says despite the team’s struggles earlier this season Lewis Hamilton’s commitment to Mercedes never wavered. The eight times constructors champions were stuck in no man’s land between the top two and the midfield as they struggled to get to grip with the new technical regulations, encountering severe bouncing with its W13 car.
The issue left Hamilton far from his usual competitive territory, dropping out in Q1 in Saudi Arabia and failing to score points at Imola. For the first time in his career, the seven-time champion has gone thirteen races into a season without a win. Wolff dismissed suggestions Hamilton’s commitment could have wavered or that he explored other driver options in the case the seven-time world champion decided to call it quits.
Wolff told Motorsport.com in an interview ahead of the summer break, “I’ve not been in touch with any other driver. Lewis and I, even if the season would have gone wrong, we would have at least under the principle of hope, stayed together next year.”
“And [for] a couple of months, we’re talking [if] this going to go five or ten years. So none of that is true. I haven’t been in touch actively or reactively [with anyone] about a drive with us going forward.”
Hamilton’s current two-year deal expires at the end of 2023, this season he has spoken regularly about the “valuable lesson” for Mercedes as well as the efforts being made to fight back.
Wolff said that Hamilton went through a period of “acceptance of this as the new reality” in the early part of the year when the severity of Mercedes’ struggles became clear. Saying it was not joyful but was very special following the first few races. Adding that Hamilton went through a period of “acceptance of this as the new reality” in the early part of the year when the severity of Mercedes’ struggles became clear.
Sauber’s focusing to “give the best to Alfa Romeo”
Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur says the team’s parent company Sauber’s focusing to “give the best to Alfa Romeo” through its partnership amid links to a possible takeover by Audi in the future.
The Volkswagen Group has given its initial approval for its Porsche and Audi brands to enter F1 from 2026, with a final announcement expected soon now that the engine regulations have been ratified. Sauber who run the Alfa Romeo team, has been tipped as the team most likely outfit to work with Audi. It currently has a long-term partnership with Alfa Romeo that is renewed on a yearly basis.
Alfa Romeo CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato told Motorsport.com last month that he was “not blind” to the Audi links, but was relaxed about the future of their partnership. Asked about Imparato’s comment, Vasseur says he thought Alfa Romeo was “more than happy with the current situation.”
Adding, “I am more than happy with the partnership with them, because they are not just a sponsor, but we are partners and developing projects together. On top of everything, the relationship between Alfa Romeo [and] Stellantis at one end and the team at the other end is very, very good.”
“I think also, somehow, perhaps part of the good results today is because we are all working together, and they are helping us also to find other partners. I really enjoy the partnership.”
A renewal of Sauber and Alfa Romeo’s partnership for 2023 has been finalised, according to Imparato, although the team is yet to make any formal announcement about plans.
In the past, Audi has been liked to possible takeovers at McLaren, Williams and Aston Martin, but Sauber has emerged in recent months as the most likely avenue for the German manufacture to explore. However, Vasseur downplayed the need to think too far ahead to 2026, joking that he was “struggling to speak about ’23!”
He added, “I think they need to clarify the situation on the engine. Sure, they’ll discuss with everybody in the paddock. They’ll do their job. As soon as they’ll have confirmation of their commitment on the engine, it’s probably time to discuss.”
Long-term deal gives Norris a good work/life balance
Lando Norris says his new long-term deal with McLaren has allowed him to strike a better work/life balance and relax more away from racing. Since making his debut in 2019 the Bristolian has cemented and secured his long-term future with the team, thanks to his impressive performances over the last three and a half seasons.
The British driver was handed a new long-term deal running until the end of the 2025 season at the start of the year, acting as a major show of faith from McLaren. Norris felt the long-term deal “definitely takes the pressure off” by ensuring he is “not overthinking” about his future, as well as giving “something to look forward to” as McLaren builds up its facilities at Woking.
Norris said in an interview with Motorsport.com, “It’s not that everything isn’t [good] now, but a new wind tunnel and certain other projects we have with the team which are coming along, and which will hopefully give us better performance by ’24 and ’25, I also look forward to those times.”
“We might not just go out and win, but I want to convince myself that it’ll definitely help us move in that direction. There are so many good things that we’re doing as a team that I see us doing better than some of the top teams at times. It’s just sometimes you don’t have the car that can show that, if that makes sense.”
He says he is happy with his good decision to commit to McLaren for the long term, but more importantly, he is enjoying it. Norris has always been open with his struggles with mental health early on in his career, amid self-doubt over his ability and place on the grid.
One of his off-track activities is as founder and CEO of Quadrant, his gaming and lifestyle brand. Combining his love for Gaming, Lifestyle, Content, and Apparel. He is also an ambassador for UK mental health charity Mind, after admitting to feeling depressed early in his career.
Norris said that feeling “that bit more established within Formula One definitely makes a big difference” for him to strike a better work/life balance that meant he was “happier on-track, but also away from the track with the personal life.”
He believes now he is more comfortable, he is performing very well and is delivering as well as being more comfortable on track. It has also allowed him to live a “good life,” with him being more relaxed away from the track.
Norris adds he isn’t thinking, ‘what do I have to do for next time, because I’ve done a shit job here’ or whatever, which is just a little bit more what I was like a few years ago. You’d just think, ‘why did I do badly there? Why am I not good enough in that position?’ and just constantly think about it. You don’t feel like you can relax.