F1 news LIVE: Lewis Hamilton urged to step aside and retire from Formula 1

Formula 1 legends Sir Jackie Stewart and David Coulthard have urged Lewis Hamilton to ‘step aside’ and ‘retire’ from the sport to avoid the ‘pain’ of not being able to compete as he used to behind the wheel. Hamilton has struggled to adapt to Mercedes new W13 car in 2022 only finishing on the podium twice in nine races and has repeatedly been out-driven by teammate George Russell. He sits almost 100 points behind rival Max Verstappen in the standings and the Silver Arrows are still coming to terms with their car being the third-fastest on the grid.

Stewart explained that he feels Hamilton is finding it difficult to handle the skill of his new teammate and doesn’t believe the seven-time wolrd champion can make it back to the top level of the sport saying: “He’s now struggling a little bit because he’s had a new teammate who’s been quicker than him in qualifying so far, which is gonna be difficult for him to handle. It’s a pity he wasn’t resigning at the top but I don’t think that’s gonna happen now.”

Ex-Formula driver Coulthard believes that Hamilton still has more to offer Mercedes but should focus on getting to grips with the car instead of voicing his concerns over the physical toll it’s taking on his body. “You take the pain, whether it’s through your lower back. What I would say is if any driver feels uncomfortable, if any driver feels like he’s doing himself long-term damage - step aside.”

Follow all the latest F1 news and build-up to the British Grand Prix below.

Latest F1 news

• Hamilton urged to ‘step aside’ and retire

• Verstappen keen to not ‘overdramatise’ porpoising problem

• Race control still too easy to influence, says Magnussen

Racing Lewis Hamilton took away joy of Formula 1, Valtteri Bottas admits

Thursday 23 June 2022 20:00 , Michael Jones

Valtteri Bottas has revealed he almost quit Formula One following two seasons of racing alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes after losing his enjoyment for the sport.

Bottas replaced Nico Rosberg at Mercedes following the 2016 season but admitted that he struggled to cope with the pressure of competing against Hamilton for race wins.

Hamilton was the clear lead driver at Mercedes and won the world championship in four of the five seasons in which he and Bottas were team-mates.

And the Finnish driver, who left the team to join Alfa Romeo at the end of last season, said he was at his lowest point at the end of the 2018 season, when Hamilton won the title but Bottas finished fifth in the standings and without a race win.

Racing Lewis Hamilton took away joy of Formula 1, Valtteri Bottas admits

Binotto hopes Leclerc can ‘attack’ next few races

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:47 , Michael Jones

Ferrari boss, Mattia Binotto spoke about the performance of Charles Leclerc in the Canadian Grand Prix and how the decision to take penalties for changes to his power unit was taken early in the week.

Leclerc started at the back of the grid in P19 but a battling race on Sunday sawy him fight through the pack to claim a P5 finish to limit the damage of taking on board the new equipment.

Binotto hopes the new gear on the car can allow Leclerc to “attack” over the next few races and help Ferrari claw back some of the 76-point deficit on Red Bull who have won the last six races on the bounce.

“It was something we decided very soon after Baku [to take the power unit penalty],” said Binotto. “So, it is something he has been aware of for many days, to adjust and prepare for the race weekend, he knew he would be starting from the back of the grid today on the race.

“So even his Friday, Saturday programme was focussed on the high-fuel runs to make sure he was prepared for the race itself. It is certainly a frustrating situation for a driver… The race would have required a lot of patience, which was certainly the case; you would like certainly to overtake but you cannot because there is a DRS train or because your tyres are worn.

“But finally, limiting the damage, starting from the back, finishing fifth is still a good race result and I know he’s got fresh power units for the next races certainly. We’ve got four races until the summer break – that will be important to him where he can attack, and let’s try to somehow recover some points if we can.”

Brown reveals Andretti’s attempt at F1 entry is “meeting a lot of resistance”

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:45 , Michael Jones

McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently revealed that the Andretti family’s attempts to enter Formula 1 are meeting lot of resistance but that he hopes in their bid may be accepted by the time the next set of new regulations comes into effect.

The Andretti team has made it very clear that they want to be a part of F1 as soon as possible with both Michael and Mario Andretti confident about the team’s resources and feel they can become a competitive force in F1.

The sport’s recent expansion and growth make the addition of an 11th team seem a reasonable next step, and Stefano Domenicali has already revealed that several parties are interested in joining F1.

But, with the newly implemented Concorde Agreement and entry fee (requiring new teams to pay an estimated $200 million), Domenicali has downplayed the importance of another team joining F1.

No team has entered F1 post-Concorde Agreement, there is no fixed timeline on when there will be a response to Andretti’s advances but Brown hopes the bid ‘isn’t dead’.

“I hope it’s not dead, but it certainly seems like it’s meeting a lot of resistance.” He told Sports Business Journal.

“I wouldn’t want to comment on what I think the right number is [for the entry fee] but what I would say is the value of an F1 franchise - from when the Concorde Agreement was signed to now - it’s grown rapidly.

“Ultimately, it’s up to F1 to decide what the right number to buy in is.”

Haas form a concern for Magnussen

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:34 , Michael Jones

Perhaps the biggest losers at the Canadian Grand Prix who the duo from Haas. Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher qualified P5 and P6 respectively on Saturday and hopes of a double-points finish were high for the American team.

They were quickly dashed as Magnussen was forced into an early stop due to his front wing making contact with Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes on the opening lap and he could only recover to come home 17th.

Haas’ hopes of points then rested with Schumacher but his race ended early due to a power unit issue on lap 18. The German driver, who is still chasing his first points in Formula 1, described his retirement as “unfortunate,” while believing there are still positives for his team to take forward.

“We had a PU issue which was very unfortunate,” said Schumacher. “I think we were having a good race up to that point. Our feeling in the car was great and I think that the pace was looking not too bad either. Quite upsetting but hey, we still have a few more races to go.

“In terms of pace, yesterday but also today it looked very strong. It’s a good thing, we can take it away from here and, you know, put it into play for Silverstone.”

Kevin Magnussen admitted that Haas’s form of late is a concern - they have gone five races without picking up points.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating [how the race finished], four races or something we haven’t scored points so we want to try to get in the points soon,” admitted Magnussen.

“The FIA thought we had to pit [after the collision with Hamilton] with that. You know it was nothing, this was normal. You’ve got to be able to finish the race with a little bit of scratches on your car, you can’t have it in one piece. I get it if the whole front wing is hanging by one stay or whatever, but it was nothing, so I don’t get it.”

McLaren sisters Leena and Teena Gade: ‘I don’t see myself as a woman in motorsport. I’m an engineer’

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:20 , Michael Jones

No one ever asks Lando Norris what it’s like to be a man at McLaren.

Sisters Leena and Teena Gade, on the other hand, are always ready to rattle off their respective stock answers. The British engineers boast decades of experience between them, from F1 to rally, endurance and IndyCar, yet people often seem more interested in their gender than their expertise.

Thursday marks International Women in Engineering Day but Leena, Senior Principal Race Engineer for McLaren’s Extreme E team, is frank when it comes to the incessant enquiry.

“It’s so annoying,” said the elder Gade, who in 2011 became the first female race engineer to win 24 Hours of Le Mans, with repeat success in 2012 and 2014.

Meet the Gade sisters breaking the mould as McLaren engineers

Hamilton told ‘ step aside’ by Coulthard

Thursday 23 June 2022 19:04 , Michael Jones

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has struggled with his Mercedes car this season due to the severe bouncing problems with the W13. He has suffered lower back issues and has been quite vocal in how much pain the car’s troubles are putting him through.

Ex-Formula 1 driver David Coulthard says that such issues are par for the course at the elite level and Hamilton should ‘suck up the pain or give up his seat’ with the team.

“Those that are struggling more are of course going to be more vocal than those that are getting results. Everyone got the same set of technical regulations handed to them. I’ve been in the situation where I’ve had the advantage of my team doing a better job and I’ve been on the other side where the team hasn’t done such a good job,” Coulthard said.

“You take the pain, whether it’s through your lower back. What I would say is if any driver feels uncomfortable, if any driver feels like he’s doing himself long-term damage - step aside. There’s a whole bunch of guys and girls that would very happily step into your car if you feel uncomfortable.

“I think we have to keep in perspective that sport doesn’t come with princess in the pea mattresses. If you’re a boxer, you have to accept someone’s going to punch you in the face, if you’re a footballer someone’s going to drag their studs down the back of your legs. So I think we have to keep in perspective a little bit that this is where certain teams are and there will be evolution, but for the most part, just get on with it.”

Hamilton’s struggles have left him sixth in the world championship standings and 34 points behind teammate George Russell whose first year at Mercedes has been exceptional so far. Yet Coulthard does not believe the current standings are reflective of the duo’s talents.

“In my mind’s eye and it remains to be seen as and when Mercedes deliver a championship the faster the car, the more difficult it is to drive. The further you are away from the peak of downforce then everything just isn’t running as close to the limit,” he added.

“So what tends to happen if you’re in a really fast car, the exceptional drivers get more out of it. And when you have an average car, it’s easier for everyone to get something out of it. I think George is a future world champion, is a fantastic driver and has earnt that place in the team.

Binotto ‘not surprised’ by strong Sainz performance in Canada

Thursday 23 June 2022 18:48 , Michael Jones

Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto believes Carlos Sainz is “gaining confidence” in the team’s car, after the driver took second place at the Canadian Grand Prix after engaging in a late battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Earlier in the season Sainz himself admitted having trouble adapting to the new car but the result in Montreal is his fifth podium finish of the season and was a great comeback after a DNF in Baku.

Sainz started the race from P3 on the grid - behind Verstappen and Fernando Alonso - but quickly overtook his countryman and at times was the fastest man on the track. But despite failing to reign in Verstappen in the dying laps Binotto believes that Sainz is getting “faster and faster”.

“Honestly, it was not a surprise [that Sainz was the fastest man on track],” said Binotto. “If you look at the race sim on Friday, Carlos was very strong already and we were very close to the Red Bulls.

“So, we knew we could fight; how much closer it would have been after Friday, no idea, but we know that our car is competitive. Carlos is gaining confidence with the car, he is driving faster and faster and it’s good to see that… he was certainly as fast, if not slightly faster, than Max.”

Toto Wolff sends warning to Lewis Hamilton despite Canadian Grand Prix podium

Thursday 23 June 2022 18:23 , Michael Jones

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has warned Lewis Hamilton that “one swallow doesn’t make a summer” after the seven-time world champion secured his first podium in nearly three months at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Hamilton will head into his home race at the British Grand Prix a week on Sunday with renewed rigour after he recovered from a back injury in Azerbaijan to finish third in Montreal - his best result since the opening round in Bahrain on 27 March.

Max Verstappen took the chequered flag to claim his sixth win in nine appearances and the sixth in succession for the world champion’s in-form Red Bull team.

But Hamilton, already 98 points behind Verstappen in the standings, said he was “overwhelmed” to cross the line in third - a performance which provided the British driver with hope he could yet return to the winner’s circle this season.

Toto Wolff sends warning to Lewis Hamilton despite Canadian Grand Prix podium

Lewis Hamilton ‘overwhelmed’ to finish on the podium at Canadian Grand Prix

Thursday 23 June 2022 18:10 , Michael Jones

Lewis Hamilton was left feeling “ecstatic” with his second podium of the season as he rolled back the years to take third place at the Canadian Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion has struggled with his Mercedes this season and only just made it to Montreal.

The design of this year’s cars has led to some teams suffering from bouncing – known as porpoising – at high speeds, with Mercedes among the worst.

Hamilton needed assistance to get out of his car following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix a week ago and required acupuncture and cryotherapy on his back to make it to the grid.

Lewis Hamilton ‘overwhelmed’ to finish on the podium at Canadian Grand Prix

Hamilton more hopeful after podium finish in Canada

Thursday 23 June 2022 17:55 , Michael Jones

Lewis Hamilton says his third place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix has given him hope that Mercedes can return to competitiveness this year.

The seven-time champion had not scored a podium since the first race of the season in Bahrain but his result in Montreal ended a run of difficult races.

Hamilton has repeatedly been out-driven by teammate George Russell this season but a decision to switch to soft tyres in qualifying ultimately worked against the 24-year-old this weekend giving Hamilton the edge in the race by starting four places ahead his teammate.

Russell has finished in the top five of every race this season including Canada where he came from eighth in qualifying to end just behind Hamilton in fourth. His highly impressive form this season has led to questions about Hamilton’s future in F1 but it remains to be seen who will prove the faster driver by the end of the year.

“It has given me a lot of hope there is more to come from this car, that the potential is truly there if we can get the set-up right,” Hamilton said. “We are just trying to progress as a team,

“Moving forwards, we will be a little more cautious on doing too many experiments as it really does hinder you through the weekend, especially if you only have first and second practice in the dry.

“There are lots of learnings from this weekend and improvements we can make going forwards but really great pace today. It is so nice to see. That has not always been the case with this car.”

Mercedes believe porpoising issues ‘solved’ amid Red Bull fury at FIA intervention

Thursday 23 June 2022 17:42 , Michael Jones

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes their struggles with ‘porpoising’ have been “solved” as Red Bull reacted furiously to the intervention of the FIA at the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend.

Wolff has said his team worked out a solution for the issue at the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona only to struggle with the low ride of the W13 on the bumpy street tracks in Monaco and Azerbaijan.

It led to both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell suffering from physical pain as a result of the ‘bouncing’ and, in response, triggered a technical directive from the FIA over concerns of driver safety ahead of the Montreal race.

Wolff’s Red Bull counterpart, Christian Horner, has accused Mercedes and their drivers of overplaying their safety concerns as an excuse for poor performance and said the FIA’s intervention was “overtly biased” in the team’s favour.

Mercedes believe porpoising issues ‘solved’ amid Red Bull fury at FIA intervention

Russell on porpoising issues

Thursday 23 June 2022 17:30 , Michael Jones

George Russell has said the issue of porpoising – the car bouncing heavily at speed – remains a serious concern for Mercedes despite their improved showing in Canada.

“It was bumpy, it was definitely bumpy out there,” he told Sky F1. “We weren’t porpoising, we were just bouncing around a lot down the straight and just hitting the ground. So it’ll be a good sleep tonight again for sure.”

Mercedes F1 push for FIA help on porpoising has “backfired” says Marko

Thursday 23 June 2022 17:18 , Michael Jones

Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko believes Mercedes’ calls for the FIA to intervene on porpoising in Formula 1 has “backfired”.

Mercedes’ drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have been very vocal in asking the FIA to address the extreme bouncing on safety grounds leading to a technical directive from the governing body being issued ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

The TD revealed plans to impose a vertical oscillating metric that would force teams to limit the bouncing of their cars, or risk having to raise ride height and on top of that teams are to be allowed to take extra measures to strengthen their floors – which included the addition of a second floor stay.

The FIA’s technical directive doe not strictly follow the right procedures in terms of making rule changes and caused uneasiness in the paddock over the weekend and Marko believes Mercedes’ lobbying will be to their own detriement.

The planned bouncing limit is expected to come into play later in the year, possibly in time for the British Grand Prix, and with the need to run Mercedes’ W13 close to the ground to deliver its maximum performance the team are at risk of being forced by the FIA to raise the ride height to avoid bouncing.

Marko, and the wider Red Bull team, do not see the need for the FIA to get involved and think Mercedes should be able to deal with the matter themselves. Speaking to Motorsport.com Marko said: “In German we say: ‘der Schuss ging nach hinten los’. So it basically backfired for Mercedes.

“I fully agree with Max [Verstappen], it is not correct to change something like this during the season. It can’t be the FIA who is making our set-ups. Changing the ride height means changing the set-up and the FIA can’t do that. My next point is that all of this is the result of one team having problems.

“That team should just sort out their own problems and not affect the other teams. I think there are too many parameters which are not clear yet so I think the FIA has to come up with another clarification.”

Lando Norris ‘a bit conflicted’ over F1’s plans for porpoising

Thursday 23 June 2022 17:05 , Michael Jones

Lando Norris is “conflicted” about FIA‘s plans to introduce changes to reduce or eliminate the “porpoising” problem affecting this season’s cars, but added that driver safety was paramount.

F1 introduced a radical rules overhaul this year that has seen cars generate a significant chunk of their downforce from the underside of the floor.

This has led to the “porpoising”, in which the cars bounce dramatically at high speeds, like the motion of a porpoise through water.

Concern reached new levels at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton struggled to get out of his Mercedes at the end of a punishing race.

Lando Norris ‘a bit conflicted’ over F1’s plans for porpoising

Christian Horner claims ‘element of theatre’ in fiery team meeting filmed by Netflix

Thursday 23 June 2022 16:53 , Michael Jones

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has claimed his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff brought “an element of theatre” into a meeting of F1 bosses that was reportedly filmed by Netflix for their Drive to Survive series.

It has been said that tensions at the Canadian Grand Prix spilled over when Horner, Wolff and the remainder of the team principles met with Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali to discuss the FIA’s controversial intervention on ‘porpoising’ regulations.

Wolff has accused other F1 bosses of “pitiful” and “disingenuous” behaviour in response to the FIA triggering a technical directive ahead of the Montreal race, which came following concerns over driver safety.

Horner opposed the changes and argued that Mercedes’ struggles with ‘porpoising’ and the bouncing of its W13 car at high speeds was down to its design, rather than the regulations.

Christian Horner claims ‘element of theatre’ in fiery team meeting filmed by Netflix

Rival F1 team boss behaviour “pitiful” and “disingenuous” says Wolff

Thursday 23 June 2022 16:40 , Michael Jones

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has slammed the behaviour of rival Formula 1 team bosses as “pitiful” and “disingenuous” amid the row over porpoising at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Following the FIA’s intervention to solve safety concerns expressed by a number of drivers, most vocally Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, over the ‘porpoising’ issues, Mercedes has found itself in the middle of a heated debate.

During Friday’s qualifying they ran with a second floor stay as allowed by the FIA’s pre-event technical directive but rival teams questioned whether or not the team had had advance notice of the changes to get them ready in time – something which Mercedes denied. Then it ws claimed that the stay was actually illegal as the FIA had not changed the regulations to allow it and it was removed for Saturday after Mercedes said it had not delivered any improvement.

Wolff believes that rival teams are briefing their drivers to play down safety concerns so as to not encourage the FIA to intervene even quicker and the disagreements between Mercedes and its rivals are understood to have reached a head in a meeting of team principals with Wolff expressing his anger at others for playing political games.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has slammed the behaviour of rival Formula 1 team bosses as “pitiful” and “disingenuous” amid the row over porpoising at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Following the FIA’s intervention to solve safety concerns expressed by a number of drivers, most vocally Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, over the ‘porpoising’ issues, Mercedes has found itself in the middle of a heated debate.

During Friday’s qualifying they ran with a second floor stay as allowed by the FIA’s pre-event technical directive but rival teams questioned whether or not the team had had advance notice of the changes to get them ready in time – something which Mercedes denied. Then it ws claimed that the stay was actually illegal as the FIA had not changed the regulations to allow it and it was removed for Saturday after Mercedes said it had not delivered any improvement.

Wolff believes that rival teams are briefing their drivers to play down safety concerns so as to not encourage the FIA to intervene even quicker and the disagreements between Mercedes and its rivals are understood to have reached a head in a meeting of team principals with Wolff expressing his anger at others for playing political games.

Red Bull suspend junior driver over racist language

Thursday 23 June 2022 16:26 , Michael Jones

Red Bull has suspended Formula 2 driver Juri Vips after he used racist language during a live gaming stream.

The reigning world champions have stood down the 21-year-old from team duties with an investigation surrounding the Estonian and the incident on Tuesday set to take place.

“Red Bull Racing has suspended junior driver Juri Vips from all team duties with immediate effect, pending a full investigation into the incident,” read a statement on Red Bull Racing’s official Twitter account.

Full story:

Red Bull suspend junior driver over racist language

Vips apologises on Instagram

Thursday 23 June 2022 16:16 , Michael Jones

Vips said: “I wish to unreservedly apologise for the offensive language used during a live gaming stream earlier today.

“This language is entirely unacceptable and does not portray the values and principles that I hold.

“I deeply regret my actions and this is not the example I with to set. I will co-operate with the investigation fully.”

Vips became the first Estonian driver to take part in a Formula 1 race weekend in May when he took over from Sergio Perez in the Red Bull RB18 in the first practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Red Bull’s Juri Vips under investigation over use of racist language

Thursday 23 June 2022 16:06 , Michael Jones

Formula 2 driver Juri Vips has been suspended by Red Bull after using racist language during a live gaming stream.

The 21-year-old Estonian has been stood down from all team duties pending an investigation to the incident on Tuesday.

A statement on Red Bull Racing’s official Twitter account read: “Red Bull Racing has suspended junior driver Juri Vips from all team duties with immediate effect, pending a full investigation into the incident.

“As an organisation, we condemn abuse of any kind and have a zero-tolerance policy to racist language or behaviour within our organisation.”

Vips, currently in his third F2 season, took to his Instagram account to apologise for his “unacceptable” language.

Max Verstappen revels in exciting finish to win in Canadian Grand Prix

Thursday 23 June 2022 15:56 , Michael Jones

Max Verstappen was having a ball in his Red Bull as he held off a late charge from Carlos Sainz to win the Canadian Grand Prix and extend his championship lead.

With Formula One returning to Montreal for the first time in three years, it was the Red Bull of Verstappen which took the chequered flag to move 46 points clear at the top of the standings.

Sainz was fast in the closing stages but could not find a way past Verstappen and had to settle for second place, the pair joined on the podium by Lewis Hamilton – the seven-time world champion taking third for Mercedes.

His team-mate George Russell continued his record of top-five finishes all season as he took fourth ahead of Charles Leclerc, who recovered from starting 19th to claim a decent haul of points.

Max Verstappen revels in exciting finish to win in Canadian Grand Prix

Race control still too easy to influence, says Magnussen

Thursday 23 June 2022 15:46 , Michael Jones

Kevin Magnussen says F1’s race control is still to easy to influence, an accusation which had been levelled at the FIA following the controversial finish to last season’s championship.

The sport came under great scrutiny when team bosses Christian Horner and Toto Wolff were bending the ear of race director Michael Masi in the concluding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which saw Max Verstappen overtake Lewis Hamilton on the final lap in controversial circumstances.

Masi was sacked but race control remains easy to influence, according to Magnussen, who was sent to the pits to repair damages at the Canadian Grand Prix after the driver behind him, Esteban Ocon, had complained over race radio.

“I was just talking to Ocon now and he was joking how he told the FIA that it [Magnussen’s car damage] was really bad,” Magnussen said after the race. “If you know you can influence the FIA like that, you’re going to do it, aren’t you? Which he sort of did, and fair play. But you’ve got to let us drive with that s**t, it’s nothing. I just had a bit of contact, nothing serious. Scratched my front wing a little bit and then was told to pit.”

Lewis Hamilton urged to retire by Jackie Stewart

Thursday 23 June 2022 15:36 , Michael Jones

Three-time Formula 1 world champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, had urged Lewis Hamilton to retire from the sport to avoid the ‘pain’ with not being able to compete to his previous high standards. The Scot doesn’t believe Hamilton can reach his former heights and that he would be better served stepping away from the sport.

Speaking to the Convex Conversation Podcast, Stewart said: “It’s time for him to resign.

“He’s got music, he’s got culture, he loves clothing and the rag trade would be absolutely suitable for him. I’m sure he’ll be very successful because he’s been earning a huge amount of money, rightfully so because he’s been the best of his time.”

Stewart added it is difficult for Hamilton to handle being beaten by teammate George Russell this season with the former Williams driver finishing ahead of Hamilton at all but two races in 2022. Things have been so bad for Hamilton this year that he has only picked up two podiums from the first nine races and he trails championship leader Max Verstappen by 100 points.

“He’s now struggling a little bit because he’s had a new teammate who’s been quicker than him in qualifying so far, which is gonna be difficult for him to handle.” added Stewart. “Lewis is in that group of the Ayrton Sennas and the Alain Prosts or even the Jackie Stewarts maybe.

“It’s a pity he wasn’t resigning at the top but I don’t think that’s gonna happen now. But nevertheless it’s wiser to stop than go through all the pain of not being able to do what you did before.

“He’s carried the sport very well. I would like to see him resigning now.”

Max Verstappen keen not to ‘overdramatise’ F1’s porpoising problem in subtle dig at Mercedes

Thursday 23 June 2022 15:26 , Michael Jones

Max Verstappen has said Formula One does not need to “overdramatise” the issue of porpoising following complaints from some drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, that it could pose a long-term injury risk.

The ‘bouncing’ of cars along straights has been one of the main issues this season following the overhaul of rules and regulations, with some teams suffering more from the phenomenon than others.

Mercedes have been particularly affected, with Russell warning of the potential “health consequences” of porpoising while Hamilton endured the “most painful race” of his career in Baku after suffering from severe back pain due to the bouncing.

It led to the FIA introducing a controversial technical directive in an attempt to fix the problem, but Red Bull have reacted angrily as out of all the teams on the grid they have been the least affected by porpoising due to the design of their car.

Max Verstappen keen not to ‘overdramatise’ F1’s porpoising problem in dig at Mercedes

Norris ready for Silverstone

Thursday 23 June 2022 15:16 , Michael Jones

After a difficult weekend in Canada with McLaren, Lando Norris is looking forward to returning to British shores and racing at Silverstone in a couple of week’s time.

He believes that the home fans will have a big impact on how McLaren fare in the race and is expecting to challenge for the points again.

“We have a few things in the pipeline for Silverstone and I cannot wait to get out there, in front of our home fans.” said Norris in an article for The Daily Telegraph.

“Just the drive into Silverstone is like nothing else, all that positive energy, from the marshals on the gates when you first arrive in the morning, to the fans waving union flags or wearing McLaren colours.

“You feed off the support. It makes a massive difference.”

‘We deserved more than ninth’ says Alonso

Thursday 23 June 2022 15:06 , Michael Jones

Fernando Alonso threatened a massive upset after finishing qualifying on the front row in P2 alongside Red Bull’s Max Verstappen but engines issues and a bit of misfortune with the virtual safety car cost the Alpine valuable time during Sunday’s race before a five second penalty for weaving dropped the two-time world champion down to P9 after the race.

“Yeah, we were unlucky once more with the VSC,” said Alonso. “I was just on the start-finish line when it came and I was just entering the pits when it ended so we decided to stay out, so I was a little bit unlucky there. But the biggest problem was the engine, we had an engine problem in Lap 20 or something like that.

“I was losing, like, one second a lap with the engine deployment, and from that moment we forgot about the podium, or retiring the car, we were just staying on the DRS train with the cars in front just to defend. But it was very difficult to stay with Esteban [Ocon] or Charles [Leclerc] because on the straights we were losing one second.

“I think this weekend we deserved better than ninth position,” he added, “but it’s still good for both cars to score points in the end. We ultimately lost a big opportunity to fight for a potential podium as I felt like I had the pace to do so.”

Canada GP a ‘frustrating’ race for Leclerc

Thursday 23 June 2022 14:56 , Michael Jones

Charles Leclerc was able to mitigate the damage caused by his lowly start by finishing fifth in the Canadian Grand Prix, but was left ruing a “frustrating” race.

“It was very frustrating actually,” the 24-year-old told Sky Sports F1. “The last part was nice but obviously the very first part I was stuck in a DRS train and couldn’t do anything.

“Then in the middle part of the race I found myself stuck behind Esteban [Ocon] on much newer tyres so he had very good traction and that was enough to keep me behind.

“Then we had a slow pit stop and fell behind another DRS train, but the end was quite fun. I had to be aggressive to get more points and fifth is the best we could manage.

“Overall the feeling was good and that’s a good sign. Whether it would have been enough to Red Bull I don’t know, but it has been close all season and I felt like Carlos [Sainz] was quite strong today. This shows that it would have been close.”

Lewis Hamilton hopes George Russell can take on more Mercedes ‘experiments’

Thursday 23 June 2022 14:46 , Michael Jones

Lewis Hamilton hopes to see Mercedes make fewer “experiments” with their car ahead of the British Grand Prix, with team-mate George Russell taking on more of a share over the remainder of the season.

The seven-time world champion claimed just his second podium finish of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend but was left frustrated by the Mercedes W13 car during practice.

Hamilton called the Mercedes “undrivable” and insisted their problems with ‘porpoising’ and ‘bouncing’ were “only getting worse” the more the team tinkered with the set-up of the W13.

Mercedes were eventually able to put Hamilton into position to finish third in Montreal, behind race winner Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, and the 37-year-old hopes the team have learned their lessons ahead of Silverstone.

Lewis Hamilton hopes George Russell can take on more Mercedes ‘experiments’

Peerless Max Verstappen could race away with 2022 F1 title after superb Canada victory

Thursday 23 June 2022 14:26 , Michael Jones

Once a late safety car had drawn them close together around the parkland streets of Montreal, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz were threatening to produce a thoroughey thrilling end to Sunday’s Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, as two men driving the fastest cars in the field set off on a 15-lap shootout for victory.

Sainz, the Ferrari driver who through a combination of poor fortune and fundamental errors has fallen by the wayside in this season’s title fight already, was clambering all over Verstappen’s gearbox in the final portion of the race as he hunted his first victory in the top tier of motorsport. Separated by less than a second, on fresher tyres, and with the marginally quicker car on the day, the 27-year-old Spaniard seemed destined to pass his former teammate and step onto the top step of the podium for the first time in his eight-season career.

On each tour of the circuit before the chequered flag was waved, Sainz was able to use the assistance of F1’s DRS system to draw himself in towards Verstappen’s rear wing along the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s long back straight. With the straight-line speed advantage afforded to him by DRS, making a pass just once in 15 attempts should have been possible.

Peerless Verstappen could race away with 2022 F1 title after superb Canada victory

Carlos Sainz details how to overhaul Max Verstappen

Thursday 23 June 2022 14:16 , Michael Jones

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has pinpointed a time delta of five or six-tenths of a second to Max Verstappen to be able to defeat the Formula 1 world champion.

The Spaniard was in hot pursuit of the Belgian-Dutch driver for the final 15 laps of the Canadian Grand Prix with a maiden F1 victory in sight.

But despite three DRS zones available at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the Spaniard only twice came into range and was eventually forced to settle for second.

Sainz analysed the situation and challenge ahead both for himself and teammate Charles Leclerc.

Carlos Sainz details what Ferrari must do to overhaul Max Verstappen

‘It was proper racing’ says Verstappen on battle with Sainz

Thursday 23 June 2022 14:06 , Michael Jones

Max Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix and extended his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship to 46 points after withstanding a late onslaught from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Verstappen was looking set for a relatively stress-free afternoon in Montreal, leading comfortably in the opening stages but a crash from Yuki Tsunoda brough the safety car out allowing Sainz to pit and close up behind the Red Bull. The pair then engaged in a fascinating 16-lap battle to the chequered flag with Verstappen holding onto first to win by just 0.993s.

“It was a tough race,” said the world champion, “I expected to have a little bit more pace, but we seemed to lack a little bit compared to Carlos… It was a bit more difficult than I expected.

“We did our strategy, and I think for us it worked, that was the right one to do. At that second stop, of course I had the fresher tyres and I was closing in on Carlos, but I wasn’t sure if I’d actually fully close that gap to the end of the race.

“But then the Safety Car came out and I was also not very happy with that, because then I knew of course he had fresh tyres behind me, and already with I think a little bit more pace compared to me… But the last 15, 16 laps, we were flat-out pushing to the limit, and I knew of course that I couldn’t make a mistake. But it was good racing. It’s always more enjoyable to be able to really push in a Formula 1 car instead of just saving your tyres.

“It was proper racing, proper pushing. I had my moments where I had a bit of oversteer, then I looked in the mirror and I saw Carlos having the same amount of moments! So it was really on the edge but that’s good to see.”

Haas form a concern for Magnussen

Thursday 23 June 2022 13:46 , Michael Jones

Perhaps the biggest losers at the Canadian Grand Prix who the duo from Haas. Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher qualified P5 and P6 respectively on Saturday and hopes of a double-points finish were high for the American team.

They were quickly dashed as Magnussen was forced into an early stop due to his front wing making contact with Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes on the opening lap and he could only recover to come home 17th.

Haas’ hopes of points then rested with Schumacher but his race ended early due to a power unit issue on lap 18. The German driver, who is still chasing his first points in Formula 1, described his retirement as “unfortunate,” while believing there are still positives for his team to take forward.

“We had a PU issue which was very unfortunate,” said Schumacher. “I think we were having a good race up to that point. Our feeling in the car was great and I think that the pace was looking not too bad either. Quite upsetting but hey, we still have a few more races to go.

“In terms of pace, yesterday but also today it looked very strong. It’s a good thing, we can take it away from here and, you know, put it into play for Silverstone.”

Kevin Magnussen admitted that Haas’s form of late is a concern - they have gone five races without picking up points.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating [how the race finished], four races or something we haven’t scored points so we want to try to get in the points soon,” admitted Magnussen.

“The FIA thought we had to pit [after the collision with Hamilton] with that. You know it was nothing, this was normal. You’ve got to be able to finish the race with a little bit of scratches on your car, you can’t have it in one piece. I get it if the whole front wing is hanging by one stay or whatever, but it was nothing, so I don’t get it.”

Binotto hopes Leclerc can ‘attack’ next few races

Thursday 23 June 2022 13:36 , Michael Jones

Ferrari boss, Mattia Binotto spoke about the performance of Charles Leclerc in the Canadian Grand Prix and how the decision to take penalties for changes to his power unit was taken early in the week.

Leclerc started at the back of the grid in P19 but a battling race on Sunday sawy him fight through the pack to claim a P5 finish to limit the damage of taking on board the new equipment.

Binotto hopes the new gear on the car can allow Leclerc to “attack” over the next few races and help Ferrari claw back some of the 76-point deficit on Red Bull who have won the last six races on the bounce.

“It was something we decided very soon after Baku [to take the power unit penalty],” said Binotto. “So, it is something he has been aware of for many days, to adjust and prepare for the race weekend, he knew he would be starting from the back of the grid today on the race.

“So even his Friday, Saturday programme was focussed on the high-fuel runs to make sure he was prepared for the race itself. It is certainly a frustrating situation for a driver… The race would have required a lot of patience, which was certainly the case; you would like certainly to overtake but you cannot because there is a DRS train or because your tyres are worn.

“But finally, limiting the damage, starting from the back, finishing fifth is still a good race result and I know he’s got fresh power units for the next races certainly. We’ve got four races until the summer break – that will be important to him where he can attack, and let’s try to somehow recover some points if we can.”

Constructors’ standings after Red Bull win Canadian Grand Prix

Thursday 23 June 2022 13:26 , Michael Jones

Here are the current constructors’ standings after Red Bull won their sixth successive race at the Canadian Grand Prix.

1) Red Bull - 304

2) Ferrari - 228

3) Mercedes - 188

4) McLaren - 65

5) Alpine - 61

6) Alfa Romeo - 47

7) AlphaTauri - 27

8) Aston Martin - 16

9) Haas - 15

10) Williams - 3

Drivers standings after Verstappen wins Canadian Grand Prix

Thursday 23 June 2022 13:16 , Michael Jones

Here are the current drivers’ standings after Max Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix.

1) Max Verstappen - 175

2) Sergio Perez - 129

3) Charles Leclerc - 126

4) George Russell - 111

5) Carlos Sainz - 102

6) Lewis Hamilton - 77

7) Lando Norris - 50

8) Valtteri Bottas - 44

9) Esteban Ocon - 39

10) Fernando Alonso - 22

11) Pierre Gasly - 16

12) Kevin Magnussen - 15

13) Daniel Ricciardo - 15

14) Sebastian Vettel - 13

15) Yuki Tsunoda - 11

16) Zhou Guanyu - 3

17) Alex Albon - 3

18 ) Lance Stroll - 3

19) Mick Schumacher - 0

20) Nico Hulkenberg - 0

21) Nicholas Latifi - 0

Martin Brundle advises Carlos Sainz how he can overcome ‘final hurdle’ in F1

Thursday 23 June 2022 13:06 , Michael Jones

Carlos Sainz needs “greater accuracy and consistency” if he is to take the next step and win his first Formula One race for Ferrari, according to Martin Brundle.

Sainz finished runner-up to Max Verstappen at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, the fifth time the Spanish driver had been second on the podium in his F1 career.

Sainz benefitted from a late safety car in Montreal that allowed him to push world champion Verstappen hard over the final 15 laps but he was unable to make the overtake as the first win of his F1 career eluded him.

Former driver and F1 pundit Brundle is convinced that Sainz has the ability to be a race winner and has backed the 27-year-old to win many more once he gets the first one under his belt.

Martin Brundle advises Carlos Sainz how he can overcome ‘final hurdle’ in F1

Nico Rosberg advises George Russell on life as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate

Thursday 23 June 2022 12:56 , Michael Jones

Nico Rosberg says George Russell’s “phenomenal” form will provide ultra motivation for Lewis Hamilton because the seven-time world champion “hates” losing to a team-mate.

Hamilton, 37, claimed his first podium in almost three months when he finished third at Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix – one place ahead of Russell in the other Mercedes.

But Russell, in his first season alongside Hamilton, is 34 points ahead of his more illustrious team-mate in the standings.

The result in Montreal on Sunday brought an end to a run of eight races – including Imola’s sprint round – where Hamilton has taken the chequered flag behind his compatriot.

Nico Rosberg advises George Russell on life as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate

McLaren sisters Leena and Teena Gade: ‘I don’t see myself as a woman in motorsport. I’m an engineer’

Thursday 23 June 2022 12:46 , Michael Jones

No one ever asks Lando Norris what it’s like to be a man at McLaren.

Sisters Leena and Teena Gade, on the other hand, are always ready to rattle off their respective stock answers. The British engineers boast decades of experience between them, from F1 to rally, endurance and IndyCar, yet people often seem more interested in their gender than their expertise.

Thursday marks International Women in Engineering Day but Leena, Senior Principal Race Engineer for McLaren’s Extreme E team, is frank when it comes to the incessant enquiry.

“It’s so annoying,” said the elder Gade, who in 2011 became the first female race engineer to win 24 Hours of Le Mans, with repeat success in 2012 and 2014.

Meet the Gade sisters breaking the mould as McLaren engineers

Can Max Verstappen be stopped in his bid for a second straight F1 title?

Thursday 23 June 2022 12:38 , Michael Jones

Max Verstappen raced to victory at Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix to extend his championship lead to 46 points.

With Formula One returning to Montreal for the first time in three years, it was the Red Bull of Verstappen which took the chequered flag to move 46 points clear at the top of the standings.

Carlos Sainz was fast in the closing stages following a period behind the safety car but could not find a way past Verstappen and had to settle for second place, the pair joined on the podium by Lewis Hamilton - the man who Verstappen beat to his maiden world title in 2021.

Here we look at the factors which might stand in the way of Verstappen charging to his second title in succession.

Can Max Verstappen be stopped in his bid for a second straight F1 title?

Stroll praises ‘great work’ by Aston Martin in Canadian GP

Thursday 23 June 2022 12:26 , Michael Jones

Lance Stroll said he was “super-pleased” after finishing 10th in the Canadian Grand Prix on Sundya, with the Aston Martin driver taking the final points position his home race.

Stroll started the race in 17th but Aston Martin’s strategy allowed him to complete 47 laps on the hard tyre in his first stint moving him up the field to P8 where he had to defend against the pacey Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu.

Stroll fell down the field after pitting for the medium tyre but managed to pass the Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren on Lap 63 to secure a top-10 finish and claim his first points since Miami.

A delighted Stroll praised the work done by his team, after a “challening” start to the season saying:

“We had a great strategy for this race, and I am super-pleased to have been able to score a point,

“We did a great job deciding to go long on the first set of tyres to make a one-stop race work, managing to keep a string of cars behind me. The overtake on Daniel [Ricciardo] was a nice bonus – we were on fresher tyres, so it was a pretty easy move.

“Things are certainly a lot more challenging this year, but I am pleased to have had a successful race today... It’s been incredible to race at home after such a long time away.”

Hamilton told ‘ step aside’ by Coulthard

Thursday 23 June 2022 12:16 , Michael Jones

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has struggled with his Mercedes car this season due to the severe bouncing problems with the W13. He has suffered lower back issues and has been quite vocal in how much pain the car’s troubles are putting him through.

Ex-Formula 1 driver David Coulthard says that such issues are par for the course at the elite level and Hamilton should ‘suck up the pain or give up his seat’ with the team.

“Those that are struggling more are of course going to be more vocal than those that are getting results. Everyone got the same set of technical regulations handed to them. I’ve been in the situation where I’ve had the advantage of my team doing a better job and I’ve been on the other side where the team hasn’t done such a good job,” Coulthard said.

“You take the pain, whether it’s through your lower back. What I would say is if any driver feels uncomfortable, if any driver feels like he’s doing himself long-term damage - step aside. There’s a whole bunch of guys and girls that would very happily step into your car if you feel uncomfortable.

“I think we have to keep in perspective that sport doesn’t come with princess in the pea mattresses. If you’re a boxer, you have to accept someone’s going to punch you in the face, if you’re a footballer someone’s going to drag their studs down the back of your legs. So I think we have to keep in perspective a little bit that this is where certain teams are and there will be evolution, but for the most part, just get on with it.”

Hamilton’s struggles have left him sixth in the world championship standings and 34 points behind teammate George Russell whose first year at Mercedes has been exceptional so far. Yet Coulthard does not believe the current standings are reflective of the duo’s talents.

“In my mind’s eye and it remains to be seen as and when Mercedes deliver a championship the faster the car, the more difficult it is to drive. The further you are away from the peak of downforce then everything just isn’t running as close to the limit,” he added.

“So what tends to happen if you’re in a really fast car, the exceptional drivers get more out of it. And when you have an average car, it’s easier for everyone to get something out of it. I think George is a future world champion, is a fantastic driver and has earnt that place in the team.

Binotto ‘not surprised’ by strong Sainz performance in Canada

Thursday 23 June 2022 12:06 , Michael Jones

Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto believes Carlos Sainz is “gaining confidence” in the team’s car, after the driver took second place at the Canadian Grand Prix after engaging in a late battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Earlier in the season Sainz himself admitted having trouble adapting to the new car but the result in Montreal is his fifth podium finish of the season and was a great comeback after a DNF in Baku.

Sainz started the race from P3 on the grid - behind Verstappen and Fernando Alonso - but quickly overtook his countryman and at times was the fastest man on the track. But despite failing to reign in Verstappen in the dying laps Binotto believes that Sainz is getting “faster and faster”.

“Honestly, it was not a surprise [that Sainz was the fastest man on track],” said Binotto. “If you look at the race sim on Friday, Carlos was very strong already and we were very close to the Red Bulls.

“So, we knew we could fight; how much closer it would have been after Friday, no idea, but we know that our car is competitive. Carlos is gaining confidence with the car, he is driving faster and faster and it’s good to see that… he was certainly as fast, if not slightly faster, than Max.”

Brown reveals Andretti’s attempt at F1 entry is “meeting a lot of resistance”

Thursday 23 June 2022 11:56 , Michael Jones

McLaren CEO Zak Brown recently revealed that the Andretti family’s attempts to enter Formula 1 are meeting lot of resistance but that he hopes in their bid may be accepted by the time the next set of new regulations comes into effect.

The Andretti team has made it very clear that they want to be a part of F1 as soon as possible with both Michael and Mario Andretti confident about the team’s resources and feel they can become a competitive force in F1.

The sport’s recent expansion and growth make the addition of an 11th team seem a reasonable next step, and Stefano Domenicali has already revealed that several parties are interested in joining F1.

But, with the newly implemented Concorde Agreement and entry fee (requiring new teams to pay an estimated $200 million), Domenicali has downplayed the importance of another team joining F1.

No team has entered F1 post-Concorde Agreement, there is no fixed timeline on when there will be a response to Andretti’s advances but Brown hopes the bid ‘isn’t dead’.

"I hope it’s not dead, but it certainly seems like it’s meeting a lot of resistance.” He told Sports Business Journal.

“I wouldn’t want to comment on what I think the right number is [for the entry fee] but what I would say is the value of an F1 franchise - from when the Concorde Agreement was signed to now - it’s grown rapidly.

“Ultimately, it’s up to F1 to decide what the right number to buy in is.”

Toto Wolff sends warning to Lewis Hamilton despite Canadian Grand Prix podium

Thursday 23 June 2022 11:46 , Michael Jones

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has warned Lewis Hamilton that “one swallow doesn’t make a summer” after the seven-time world champion secured his first podium in nearly three months at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Hamilton will head into his home race at the British Grand Prix a week on Sunday with renewed rigour after he recovered from a back injury in Azerbaijan to finish third in Montreal - his best result since the opening round in Bahrain on 27 March.

Max Verstappen took the chequered flag to claim his sixth win in nine appearances and the sixth in succession for the world champion’s in-form Red Bull team.

But Hamilton, already 98 points behind Verstappen in the standings, said he was “overwhelmed” to cross the line in third - a performance which provided the British driver with hope he could yet return to the winner’s circle this season.

Toto Wolff sends warning to Lewis Hamilton despite Canadian Grand Prix podium

Lewis Hamilton ‘overwhelmed’ to finish on the podium at Canadian Grand Prix

Thursday 23 June 2022 11:36 , Michael Jones

Lewis Hamilton was left feeling “ecstatic” with his second podium of the season as he rolled back the years to take third place at the Canadian Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion has struggled with his Mercedes this season and only just made it to Montreal.

The design of this year’s cars has led to some teams suffering from bouncing – known as porpoising – at high speeds, with Mercedes among the worst.

Hamilton needed assistance to get out of his car following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix a week ago and required acupuncture and cryotherapy on his back to make it to the grid.

Lewis Hamilton ‘overwhelmed’ to finish on the podium at Canadian Grand Prix

Hamilton more hopeful after podium finish in Canada

Thursday 23 June 2022 11:26 , Michael Jones

Lewis Hamilton says his third place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix has given him hope that Mercedes can return to competitiveness this year.

The seven-time champion had not scored a podium since the first race of the season in Bahrain but his result in Montreal ended a run of difficult races.

Hamilton has repeatedly been out-driven by teammate George Russell this season but a decision to switch to soft tyres in qualifying ultimately worked against the 24-year-old this weekend giving Hamilton the edge in the race by starting four places ahead his teammate.

Russell has finished in the top five of every race this season including Canada where he came from eighth in qualifying to end just behind Hamilton in fourth. His highly impressive form this season has led to questions about Hamilton’s future in F1 but it remains to be seen who will prove the faster driver by the end of the year.

“It has given me a lot of hope there is more to come from this car, that the potential is truly there if we can get the set-up right,” Hamilton said. “We are just trying to progress as a team,

“Moving forwards, we will be a little more cautious on doing too many experiments as it really does hinder you through the weekend, especially if you only have first and second practice in the dry.

“There are lots of learnings from this weekend and improvements we can make going forwards but really great pace today. It is so nice to see. That has not always been the case with this car.”

Mercedes believe porpoising issues ‘solved’ amid Red Bull fury at FIA intervention

Thursday 23 June 2022 11:16 , Michael Jones

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes their struggles with ‘porpoising’ have been “solved” as Red Bull reacted furiously to the intervention of the FIA at the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend.

Wolff has said his team worked out a solution for the issue at the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona only to struggle with the low ride of the W13 on the bumpy street tracks in Monaco and Azerbaijan.

It led to both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell suffering from physical pain as a result of the ‘bouncing’ and, in response, triggered a technical directive from the FIA over concerns of driver safety ahead of the Montreal race.

Wolff’s Red Bull counterpart, Christian Horner, has accused Mercedes and their drivers of overplaying their safety concerns as an excuse for poor performance and said the FIA’s intervention was “overtly biased” in the team’s favour.

Mercedes believe porpoising issues ‘solved’ amid Red Bull fury at FIA intervention

Russell on porpoising issues

Thursday 23 June 2022 11:06 , Michael Jones

George Russell has said the issue of porpoising – the car bouncing heavily at speed – remains a serious concern for Mercedes despite their improved showing in Canada.

“It was bumpy, it was definitely bumpy out there,” he told Sky F1. “We weren’t porpoising, we were just bouncing around a lot down the straight and just hitting the ground. So it’ll be a good sleep tonight again for sure.”

Mercedes F1 push for FIA help on porpoising has “backfired” says Marko

Thursday 23 June 2022 10:56 , Michael Jones

Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko believes Mercedes’ calls for the FIA to intervene on porpoising in Formula 1 has “backfired”.

Mercedes’ drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have been very vocal in asking the FIA to address the extreme bouncing on safety grounds leading to a technical directive from the governing body being issued ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

The TD revealed plans to impose a vertical oscillating metric that would force teams to limit the bouncing of their cars, or risk having to raise ride height and on top of that teams are to be allowed to take extra measures to strengthen their floors – which included the addition of a second floor stay.

The FIA’s technical directive doe not strictly follow the right procedures in terms of making rule changes and caused uneasiness in the paddock over the weekend and Marko believes Mercedes’ lobbying will be to their own detriement.

The planned bouncing limit is expected to come into play later in the year, possibly in time for the British Grand Prix, and with the need to run Mercedes’ W13 close to the ground to deliver its maximum performance the team are at risk of being forced by the FIA to raise the ride height to avoid bouncing.

Marko, and the wider Red Bull team, do not see the need for the FIA to get involved and think Mercedes should be able to deal with the matter themselves. Speaking to Motorsport.com Marko said: “In German we say: ‘der Schuss ging nach hinten los’. So it basically backfired for Mercedes.

“I fully agree with Max [Verstappen], it is not correct to change something like this during the season. It can’t be the FIA who is making our set-ups. Changing the ride height means changing the set-up and the FIA can’t do that. My next point is that all of this is the result of one team having problems.

“That team should just sort out their own problems and not affect the other teams. I think there are too many parameters which are not clear yet so I think the FIA has to come up with another clarification.”

Lando Norris ‘a bit conflicted’ over F1’s plans for porpoising

Thursday 23 June 2022 10:45 , Michael Jones

Lando Norris is “conflicted” about FIA‘s plans to introduce changes to reduce or eliminate the “porpoising” problem affecting this season’s cars, but added that driver safety was paramount.

F1 introduced a radical rules overhaul this year that has seen cars generate a significant chunk of their downforce from the underside of the floor.

This has led to the “porpoising”, in which the cars bounce dramatically at high speeds, like the motion of a porpoise through water.

Concern reached new levels at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton struggled to get out of his Mercedes at the end of a punishing race.

Lando Norris ‘a bit conflicted’ over F1’s plans for porpoising

Christian Horner claims ‘element of theatre’ in fiery team meeting filmed by Netflix

Thursday 23 June 2022 10:40 , Michael Jones

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has claimed his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff brought “an element of theatre” into a meeting of F1 bosses that was reportedly filmed by Netflix for their Drive to Survive series.

It has been said that tensions at the Canadian Grand Prix spilled over when Horner, Wolff and the remainder of the team principles met with Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali to discuss the FIA’s controversial intervention on ‘porpoising’ regulations.

Wolff has accused other F1 bosses of “pitiful” and “disingenuous” behaviour in response to the FIA triggering a technical directive ahead of the Montreal race, which came following concerns over driver safety.

Horner opposed the changes and argued that Mercedes’ struggles with ‘porpoising’ and the bouncing of its W13 car at high speeds was down to its design, rather than the regulations.

Christian Horner claims ‘element of theatre’ in fiery team meeting filmed by Netflix

Rival F1 team boss behaviour “pitiful” and “disingenuous” says Wolff

Thursday 23 June 2022 10:30 , Michael Jones

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has slammed the behaviour of rival Formula 1 team bosses as “pitiful” and “disingenuous” amid the row over porpoising at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Following the FIA’s intervention to solve safety concerns expressed by a number of drivers, most vocally Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, over the ‘porpoising’ issues, Mercedes has found itself in the middle of a heated debate.

During Friday’s qualifying they ran with a second floor stay as allowed by the FIA’s pre-event technical directive but rival teams questioned whether or not the team had had advance notice of the changes to get them ready in time – something which Mercedes denied. Then it ws claimed that the stay was actually illegal as the FIA had not changed the regulations to allow it and it was removed for Saturday after Mercedes said it had not delivered any improvement.

Wolff believes that rival teams are briefing their drivers to play down safety concerns so as to not encourage the FIA to intervene even quicker and the disagreements between Mercedes and its rivals are understood to have reached a head in a meeting of team principals with Wolff expressing his anger at others for playing political games.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has slammed the behaviour of rival Formula 1 team bosses as “pitiful” and “disingenuous” amid the row over porpoising at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Following the FIA’s intervention to solve safety concerns expressed by a number of drivers, most vocally Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, over the ‘porpoising’ issues, Mercedes has found itself in the middle of a heated debate.

During Friday’s qualifying they ran with a second floor stay as allowed by the FIA’s pre-event technical directive but rival teams questioned whether or not the team had had advance notice of the changes to get them ready in time – something which Mercedes denied. Then it ws claimed that the stay was actually illegal as the FIA had not changed the regulations to allow it and it was removed for Saturday after Mercedes said it had not delivered any improvement.

Wolff believes that rival teams are briefing their drivers to play down safety concerns so as to not encourage the FIA to intervene even quicker and the disagreements between Mercedes and its rivals are understood to have reached a head in a meeting of team principals with Wolff expressing his anger at others for playing political games.

Red Bull suspend junior driver over racist language

Thursday 23 June 2022 10:22 , Michael Jones

Red Bull has suspended Formula 2 driver Juri Vips after he used racist language during a live gaming stream.

The reigning world champions have stood down the 21-year-old from team duties with an investigation surrounding the Estonian and the incident on Tuesday set to take place.

“Red Bull Racing has suspended junior driver Juri Vips from all team duties with immediate effect, pending a full investigation into the incident,” read a statement on Red Bull Racing’s official Twitter account.

Full story:

Red Bull suspend junior driver over racist language

Vips apologises on Instagram

Thursday 23 June 2022 10:20 , Michael Jones

Vips said: “I wish to unreservedly apologise for the offensive language used during a live gaming stream earlier today.

“This language is entirely unacceptable and does not portray the values and principles that I hold.

“I deeply regret my actions and this is not the example I with to set. I will co-operate with the investigation fully.”

Vips became the first Estonian driver to take part in a Formula 1 race weekend in May when he took over from Sergio Perez in the Red Bull RB18 in the first practice session at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Red Bull’s Juri Vips under investigation over use of racist language

Thursday 23 June 2022 10:15 , Michael Jones

Formula 2 driver Juri Vips has been suspended by Red Bull after using racist language during a live gaming stream.

The 21-year-old Estonian has been stood down from all team duties pending an investigation to the incident on Tuesday.

A statement on Red Bull Racing’s official Twitter account read: “Red Bull Racing has suspended junior driver Juri Vips from all team duties with immediate effect, pending a full investigation into the incident.

“As an organisation, we condemn abuse of any kind and have a zero-tolerance policy to racist language or behaviour within our organisation.”

Vips, currently in his third F2 season, took to his Instagram account to apologise for his “unacceptable” language.

‘Confusing’ Mercedes ‘fancy their chances’ at British Grand Prix, Martin Brundle claims

Thursday 23 June 2022 10:06 , Michael Jones

Martin Brundle believes Mercedes “fancy their chances” at the British Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton snatched a place on the podium in Canada last weekend.

Mercedes have endured a torrid season so far with Hamilton and George Russell already out of the championship fight after struggling with their cars ‘porpoising’ issues.

Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, a despondent Hamilton described his Mercedes as “so bad” after a dire practice session while Toto Wolff has previously referred to the car as a “s***box”.

“The Mercedes team are so confusing for everyone at the moment, including themselves,” Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports column. “On Friday Lewis declared the car was undriveable, which is indeed exactly how it looked, and he strongly intimated that it was now about making the best of a bad job for the rest of the long season.”

‘Confusing’ Mercedes ‘fancy their chances’ at British GP, says Martin Brundle

Max Verstappen revels in exciting finish to win in Canadian Grand Prix

Thursday 23 June 2022 09:55 , Michael Jones

Max Verstappen was having a ball in his Red Bull as he held off a late charge from Carlos Sainz to win the Canadian Grand Prix and extend his championship lead.

With Formula One returning to Montreal for the first time in three years, it was the Red Bull of Verstappen which took the chequered flag to move 46 points clear at the top of the standings.

Sainz was fast in the closing stages but could not find a way past Verstappen and had to settle for second place, the pair joined on the podium by Lewis Hamilton – the seven-time world champion taking third for Mercedes.

His team-mate George Russell continued his record of top-five finishes all season as he took fourth ahead of Charles Leclerc, who recovered from starting 19th to claim a decent haul of points.

Max Verstappen revels in exciting finish to win in Canadian Grand Prix

Race control still too easy to influence, says Magnussen

Thursday 23 June 2022 09:45 , Michael Jones

Kevin Magnussen says F1’s race control is still to easy to influence, an accusation which had been levelled at the FIA following the controversial finish to last season’s championship.

The sport came under great scrutiny when team bosses Christian Horner and Toto Wolff were bending the ear of race director Michael Masi in the concluding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which saw Max Verstappen overtake Lewis Hamilton on the final lap in controversial circumstances.

Masi was sacked but race control remains easy to influence, according to Magnussen, who was sent to the pits to repair damages at the Canadian Grand Prix after the driver behind him, Esteban Ocon, had complained over race radio.

“I was just talking to Ocon now and he was joking how he told the FIA that it [Magnussen’s car damage] was really bad,” Magnussen said after the race. “If you know you can influence the FIA like that, you’re going to do it, aren’t you? Which he sort of did, and fair play. But you’ve got to let us drive with that s**t, it’s nothing. I just had a bit of contact, nothing serious. Scratched my front wing a little bit and then was told to pit.”

Lewis Hamilton urged to retire by Jackie Stewart

Thursday 23 June 2022 09:39 , Michael Jones

Three-time Formula 1 world champion, Sir Jackie Stewart, had urged Lewis Hamilton to retire from the sport to avoid the ‘pain’ with not being able to compete to his previous high standards. The Scot doesn’t believe Hamilton can reach his former heights and that he would be better served stepping away from the sport.

Speaking to the Convex Conversation Podcast, Stewart said: “It’s time for him to resign.

“He’s got music, he’s got culture, he loves clothing and the rag trade would be absolutely suitable for him. I’m sure he’ll be very successful because he’s been earning a huge amount of money, rightfully so because he’s been the best of his time.”

Stewart added it is difficult for Hamilton to handle being beaten by teammate George Russell this season with the former Williams driver finishing ahead of Hamilton at all but two races in 2022. Things have been so bad for Hamilton this year that he has only picked up two podiums from the first nine races and he trails championship leader Max Verstappen by 100 points.

“He’s now struggling a little bit because he’s had a new teammate who’s been quicker than him in qualifying so far, which is gonna be difficult for him to handle.” added Stewart. “Lewis is in that group of the Ayrton Sennas and the Alain Prosts or even the Jackie Stewarts maybe.

“It’s a pity he wasn’t resigning at the top but I don’t think that’s gonna happen now. But nevertheless it’s wiser to stop than go through all the pain of not being able to do what you did before.

“He’s carried the sport very well. I would like to see him resigning now.”

Max Verstappen keen not to ‘overdramatise’ F1’s porpoising problem in subtle dig at Mercedes

Thursday 23 June 2022 09:31 , Michael Jones

Max Verstappen has said Formula One does not need to “overdramatise” the issue of porpoising following complaints from some drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, that it could pose a long-term injury risk.

The ‘bouncing’ of cars along straights has been one of the main issues this season following the overhaul of rules and regulations, with some teams suffering more from the phenomenon than others.

Mercedes have been particularly affected, with Russell warning of the potential “health consequences” of porpoising while Hamilton endured the “most painful race” of his career in Baku after suffering from severe back pain due to the bouncing.

It led to the FIA introducing a controversial technical directive in an attempt to fix the problem, but Red Bull have reacted angrily as out of all the teams on the grid they have been the least affected by porpoising due to the design of their car.

Max Verstappen keen not to ‘overdramatise’ F1’s porpoising problem in dig at Mercedes