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Formula 1

Although the F1 Drivers title was confirmed after Japan, the teams were still out to score the most points in the remaining 4 races. So the mood on the starting grid at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) was just as tense, especially for the Red Bull and Ferrari drivers who were separated by just a point. And for Mercedes-AMG, there was nothing to lose in pushing hard now…

As the lights went out to start the US Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz got off cleanly from his pole position but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen next to him had just as strong a take-off and was the first to reach Turn 1. Just behind, the two Mercedes-AMG cars were also closing in on the corner and George Russell locked up, coming in contact with Sainz who went into a spin.

The incident cost Russell a 5-second penalty but for Sainz, it was worse… although the damage to his car didn’t look bad, he had to retire after heading into the pits when it was found that the radiator was leaking. A big disappointment after getting to start from pole position. His team mate, Charles Leclerc was still too far back, having had a 19-place penalty on the starting grid.

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Race starts at 2 pm on Sunday in Texas/ 3 am in Malaysia (Monday)

The 2022 Formula 1 World Championship is in the western hemisphere again a third time for the first of three rounds in the Americas. The first one this weekend will be the US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, followed by Mexican GP at the end of the month, and the Brazilian GP in mid-November. The US GP has been held at COTA since 2012, except in 2020 when the race was cancelled due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides Austin, other American cities which have had Formula 1 rounds in the past have been Detroit/Michigan (1982 – 1988), Los Angeles/California (1976 – 1983), Dallas/Texas (1984), Las Vegas, Nevada (1981 and 1982), Riverside/California (1960), Sebring/Florida (1959), Watkins Glen/New York (1961 – 1980), and Indianapolis/Indiana (2000 – 2007). This year, Miami in Florida joined the list and next year will see Las Vegas having a round again. In total, there have been at least 50 rounds of F1 held in America though it is not so apparent.

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The Japanese F1 Grand Prix has always been popular with the drivers, with the great Japanese hospitality and fans giving them a warm welcome at Suzuka after missing the races for two years. Polite as ever, the Japanese fans accord every driver – especially their home hero, Yuki Tsunoda of the Scuderia Alphatauri team – the same enthusiastic cheers.

As with many Japanese GPs in past years, it rained a lot and as the cars went on their formation lap, it was still raining. So Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who could become world champion today, was glad to have received only a reprimand for the incident with McLaren’s Lando Norris during qualifying, allowing him to keep his pole position. Alongside was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who likewise would have a clear view of the track ahead as the cars headed to the first turn.

Behind, the other drivers would have to be super alert as they strained to see through the water spraying up from other cars. In some years, conditions could be really bad – as in 1976 when Niki Lauda chose to retire when he considered the risks caused by the heavy rain to be too great.

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[UPDATED]
Max Verstappen is on pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix tomorrow, after an incident with Lando Norris was investigated and the Stewards decided to give him only a reprimand rather than any penalty which would affect his qualifying position.

If the Formula 1 teams were looking forward to a more comfortable environment after hot and humid F1 round in Singapore, they have been drenched again at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan where Round 18 of the Formula 1 World Championship is being held this weekend. But at least it’s cooler (low 20s compared to Singapore’s 30s) and certainly less humid (57% in Japan, 88% in Singapore).

Like Singapore, the Japanese Grand Prix could not be run during the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So instead of being the 38th Japanese F1 GP, it is the 36th time since 1976. Other than 2007 and 2008 when the Japanese event was held at the Fuji Raceway, the Suzuka International Racing Course (owned by Honda) has been the venue since 1987.

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It’s Singapore, so rain was not unexpected and in the hours before the F1 race started, commentators were saying things like ‘buckets’ and ‘dumped with enough water to sail a small boat’. Due to the heavy rain, the scheduled 8 pm start was delayed for an hour to 9:05 pm. Even though the rain eased about 20 minutes before the start time, at least 24 mm of water had fallen on the track.

Heavy rain notwithstanding, the fans turned up in the biggest number in the 13-year history of the event, with attendance of 302,000 spectators. That was 2,000 more than the first F1 race in 2008 and according to Singapore’s Transport minister, about 50% were from overseas.

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Race starts at 8 pm Singapore/Malaysia time

After being unable to run in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Singapore F1 Grand Prix is on again this weekend as Round 17 of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship. Singapore has never had a permanent racing circuit and created one in 2008 for its first ever Formula 1 event. It was also the first ever night race in Formula 1 history, to be followed by Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and more recently, Jeddah. Next year, the Las Vegas GP will also be run at night.

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Since 2010, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team – a partnership between Malaysia’s national oil corporation and the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team – has continuously demonstrated world-class performance. In the space of nearly 13 seasons so far, the team has won 8 Constructors’ world championships and 115 Grand Prix victories – an achievement unmatched in F1.

The long-term partnership will continue into the future with the renewal of the Title and Technical Partnership between the team and PETRONAS from the 2026 season onwards. PETRONAS’ continued involvement in the team and Formula 1 from 2026 onwards will see it facing the sport’s most significant challenge yet with its ambition to race towards a more sustainable future.

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The 2023 Formula 1 World Championship will have the most number of rounds since it was inaugurated in 1950. Starting on March 5 in Bahrain, the championship will consist of 24 rounds and run until November 26 when the final round is run in Abu Dhabi.

“I am delighted that we will be able to take Formula 1’s new era of exciting racing, created by the FIA’s 2022 Regulations, to a broader fan base in 2023. In framing the 2023 F1 calendar, World Motor Sports Council Members have also been mindful of the timing of the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans [which will be run for the 100th time next year],” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

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The starting grid for this F1 race did not follow the positions of qualifying as nine drivers had penalties that demoted them to other starting spots. While Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – who clocked the fastest time in qualifying – was able to keep his pole position, Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen lost his second grid position which was taken by Mercedes-AMG’s George Russell. The Red Bull driver had to start from seventh, just ahead of Williams Racing’s Nyck de Vries who was taking the place of Alexander Albon who had appendicitis.

Leclerc got off to a great start but by the chicane, Russell had managed to position alongside the Ferrari as he had braked a bit later. However, Leclerc managed to hold his position and sped off after the near-contact.

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The Monza circuit celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and the 16th round of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship being held there this weekend will be the 72nd time it has hosted a round. When the track, also known as the ‘Temple of Speed’, opened in 1922, the first race it hosted was the second Italian Grand Prix (pre-F1).

Monza is a high-speed track; in fact, it has the highest speeds of any F1 track. Due to the long straights and large portion of lap spent in eighth gear, with the highest average cornering speed of any F1 track today. It also has the lowest downforce level of the year and requires a special rear wing, just for this event.

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