Motorsport News July 7, 2022

In his role as the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, George Russell’s opinions are worth listening to. And when the Mercedes star says that Formula 1 had a lucky escape at Silverstone last weekend, it is hard not to agree with him. The accident that befell Zhou Guanyu on the charge to the opening corner had everyone taking a sharp intake of breath, and the lack of television pictures pointed to the fact that something major had happened. The great news came an agonising while later when it was reported that the Chinese driver was OK: as was Williams’ Alex Albon, who had been caught up in a separate accident on the opening lap. It is clear that it is hard to legislate for all grand prix accidents. The energy…

Silverstone’s 142,000 spectators left the circuit late on Sunday night with memories of a thrilling race and a happy, maiden victory for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. But to use a metaphor that Bernie Ecclestone would approve of, Formula 1 dodged a bullet last weekend. Alarming photographs and videos of Zhou Guanyu ’s horrific startline accident showed how lucky the Chinese driver was to emerge unharmed. The absence of his roll hoop and the position of his Alfa Romeo beyond the tyre wall, wedged between the catch fencing, belied a miracle escape. Although his halo undoubtedly saved his life, it did make extraction awkward. Additionally, the fact the car hit the fence floor first and was ultimately stopped, thankfully meant the crowd in the grandstand escaped serious injury. But being peppered with flying gravel…

Monday First stop last week was to McLaren in Woking. Formula 1 boss Zak Brown outlined the team’s plans beyond F1 with Neom supporting the team’s foray into Formula E and the off-road Extreme E series. Someone could have mentioned this to Silverstone’s environmental protesters… Tuesday Next stop: Red Bull. Christian Horner and Adrian Newey revealed their plan to design a new hypercar, known as the RB17. Although no drawings are yet available, the team aim to get the first car on track in the next couple of years. Horner was asked the cost, to which he replied “£5 million plus VAT.” In other words, Christian, £6 million… Thursday To Silverstone, where the drivers’ press conference returned to its traditional Thursday slot. Much of the talk surrounded Nelson Piquet’s racist slur of Hamilton, which coincided…

Two maiden winners stood out from the FIA Formula 2 crowd, as Jack Doohan (Vituosi) and Logan Sargeant (Carlin) claimed honours. American Sargeant qualified fastest and stormed clear in Sunday morning’s feature race, electing to do his opening stint on soft tyres before a longer stint on hards. He maintained the advantage over rival Theo Pourchaire (ART Grand Prix) who chased him home second with Liam Lawson’s Carlin-run car third. Lawson had struggled in Saturday’s wet-but-drying race when early contact damaged his nosecone and he was forced to pit dropping him to 20th, while early leader Jehan Daruvala (Prema Racing) struggled to get his tyres to work and dropped to seventh. Through the pack came Jack Doohan’s Virtuosi Racing entry, the Australian disposing of Daruvala at Village and then repeating his move…

An outstanding drive by Isack Hadjar (Hitech Grand Prix) resulted in an FIA F3 sprint race win after three excellent round-the-outside moves at Stowe, as Arthur Leclerc outdid big brother Charles to win a lively feature race on Sunday. Hadjar started fourth as championship leader Victor Martins (ART Grand Prix) bolted from second to pass poleman Reece Ushijima (Van Amersfoort Racing) for the race lead. Kush Maini (MP Motorsport) ran third. Hadjar disposed of him at Stowe on lap three and was soon on the tail of Ushijima, passing the American-Japanese racer with his signature move at Stowe on lap eight. A safety-car period gave Hadjar the chance to catch leader Martins and he repeated his Stowe heroics to grab the lead a lap from home. Arthur Leclerc (Prema Racing) jumped polesitter…

A rain-affected qualifying session did much to decide the outcome of the Porsche Supercup’s Silverstone return, drivers only managing one dry lap. Polesitter Larry ten Voorde (Team GP Elite), though, failed to convert pole into the lead despite squeezing second-fastest qualifier Laurin Heinrich (SSR Huber Racing) up to the pitwall. Heinrich stood his ground and claimed the lead as LtV missed the apex for Abbey, Harry King (Lechner Racing) jumping him as well. Ten Voorde retook second leaving Aintree but was unable to challenge Heinrich, while King dropped back mid-race but fended off team-mate Dylan Pereira for third. Bastian Buus (Lechner Racing) dive-bombed Lorcan Hanafin (Fach Auto Tech) at the end of Vale on the last lap for fifth and Rookie honours. Carrera Cup GB race-winner Adam Smalley’s Supercup debut for CLRT netted…