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McLaren’s Alliance With Toyota Sparks F1 Speculation

At the recent Japanese Grand Prix, McLaren made waves in the motorsport world by announcing a significant development role for Ryo Hirakawa, a successful Toyota factory driver known for his 24 Hours of Le Mans triumph in 2022. This move has deepened the collaboration between McLaren and Toyota, fuelling speculation about Toyota’s potential reentry into Formula 1.

McLaren and Toyota have a longstanding relationship, primarily revolving around wind tunnel access in Cologne. While McLaren now operates its wind tunnel in Woking, they are strengthening their ties through Hirakawa’s career development.

At 29 years old, Hirakawa is not in the typical age bracket for Formula 1 prospects. However, he will have the opportunity to use McLaren’s simulator next year and even test their 2021 car—an unusual chance usually reserved for prospective F1 race drivers.

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Andretti And Cadillac Advance In Bid To Launch F1 Team

American racing icon Michael Andretti has taken a significant step forward in his ambitious endeavour to establish a Formula One team. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) confirmed on Monday that Andretti has successfully met all the required criteria to expand the premier motorsports series to 11 teams.

This FIA approval, while pivotal, does not guarantee a two-car team for Andretti. His team, Andretti Global, in partnership with Cadillac, must now demonstrate their commercial value to F1 rights holder Liberty Media and existing teams. The existing teams, though not having a vote on expanding the grid, have voiced strong opposition to expanding the 20-car grid.

This initiative marks a significant chapter in Andretti’s three-year pursuit to resurrect the revered Andretti name in Formula One. Michael’s father, Mario Andretti, famously won the F1 championship in 1978, and Michael himself participated in 13 races during the 1993 season.

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F1 Could Use V10s And Still Be ‘Green’

V10 engines were last used in the championship in 2006, just before the FIA outlawed them. Teams shifted to V8 engines from 2007 through 2013, and starting in 2014, they have been using the modern 1.6-litre V6 hybrid engines.

To comply with the FIA’s directive that all championships attain carbon neutrality by 2030, Formula 1 will employ “drop-in” 100% sustainable fuels in 2026.

The head of Red Bull Racing offered his opinions on Honda’s return, pointing out that the company had momentarily departed Formula One in 2020 as they switched their attention away from internal combustion engines.

The hybrid technology used in Formula 1 will continue to be used through the end of the decade despite persistent criticism from drivers and fans. A chance for change was offered by the revised power unit requirements for 2026, but the governing board decided to continue with a modified version of the current V6 hybrid power unit.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, two prominent Formula 1 drivers, have voiced their concerns about the increasing weight of Formula 1 cars and the apparent contradiction with the sport’s sustainability initiatives.

Leclerc expressed his dissatisfaction with heavier cars, stating that he doesn’t favor their handling characteristics. He mentioned that he had the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car from 2003, and he could feel the significant difference in weight compared to modern cars. Lighter cars tend to handle more responsively and can be more agile, which can be preferred by drivers who prioritize handling and performance.

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F1 (Round 4): Preview & Starting Positions Of 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Following a 4-week break, the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship returns for the fourth round in at the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan. This is the seventh time that Azerbaijan is having a F1 round since the first one in 2016, which was actually the European Grand Prix. The 2020 round had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This weekend’s racing will also see the first of six Sprint races for 2023, as well as mark the debut of a new standalone Sprint format, including a Sprint Shootout qualifying session. The objective of this new format is to separate the Sprint and the GP more distinctively, increasing the level of intensity across the weekend and encourage the drivers to push harder.

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Ferrari’s Leclerc To Join Mercedes?

Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes will expire at the end of 2023 and a new agreement has not yet been reached. Both Lewis and team principal Toto Wolff stated their desire to continue working together.

A prized position will become available if Hamilton decides to part ways with Mercedes after winning six world championships in a successful tenure with the Silver Arrows.

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F1 (Round 3): 2023 Rolex Australian Grand Prix Highlights & Results

With no rain likely, the Australian GP was expected to have just one stop for most teams, with tyres switched from starting mediums to hards. The first cars were expected to start coming in around lap 15 of the 58-laps of the Albert Park Street Circuit,

Max Verstappen rocketed off from his pole position, but Mercedes-AMG’S George Russell was close as Turn 1 came up and got through the turn first. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton also moved forward together and somehow, after getting ahead of the Aston Martin driver, Hamilton also slipped past Verstappen.

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F1 (Round 3): Preview & Starting Positions Of 2023 Rolex Australian Grand Prix

After two opening rounds in the Middle East, the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship is in Melbourne this weekend for the Rolex Australian Grand Prix. This event used to be the opening round for a long time but that ended in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although some teams had expressed reservations about participating as the pandemic began to look very serious, the organizers wanted to go ahead. It seemed like it was on until government authorities ordered the race to be cancelled – just 2 hours before the first practice was to be run.

In 2021, the Australian GP was again chosen as the opening round but due to the restrictions on travellers, it was moved to November, but cancelled in July. 2022 was the first year that the F1 round returned to Australia and a new contract extends the venue till 2035. The event will also be one of the first 3 rounds of each season, and will be the opening round for at least 5 seasons.

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Gabriel Leone To Play Ayrton Senna In Upcoming Netflix Series

Netflix documentaries are usually great due to the fact that it’s inspired by figures who have made a mark in this world, be it good or bad. Even their casting choices are great because these actors put in a lot of effort to adapt to the role of that person they play and at certain angles they almost look like the same person.

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F1 (Round 2): 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Highlights & Results

The second round of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship saw reigning champion Max Verstappen starting from 15^th after driveshaft failure forced him out of qualifying, and Charles Leclerc in 12^th after taking a 10-place grid drop for using more than his 2 allotted ECUs for the season,

Verstappen’s team mate in Red Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, had a poor start from pole position and was passed by a forceful Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin. However, the Stewards would give Alonso a 5-second penalty for incorrect starting location.

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F1 (Round 2): Preview & Starting Positions Of 2023 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The 2023 Formula 1 World Championship continues in the Middle East after the opening round in Bahrain with Round 2 at the seaside resort and port city on the Red Sea where the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is being held this weekend. Situated 30 kms from Jeddah, the is the third time that the city is hosting a round on its Corniche street circuit.

Like the Bahrain GP, the Saudi Arabian GP will also be run at night on the 6.174-km circuit, the second longest in the 2023 calendar (after Spa-Francorchamps). Designed by Carsten Tilke, the son of the famous F1 circuit designer, Hermann Tilke, this is the fastest street circuit in the F1 calendar at the moment. Speeds on simulators have averaged over 250 km/h around the track which has 27 turns, the most of any circuit this year.

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