Tag: Sky

Charles Leclerc will start the Spanish GP from 19th after being knocked out of Q1 for the first time since 2019; Sergio Perez rues lack of confidence after surprise Q2 exit; watch the Spanish Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from 12.30pm on Sunday with lights out at 2pm

Charles Leclerc was left adamant that there was “something off” with his Ferrari following a shock early exit in Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying.

Leclerc will start Sunday’s race in 19th having only managed to finish in front of Williams’ Logan Sargeant at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Usually one of the most accomplished drivers on the grid over one lap, Leclerc was out of sorts in the damp conditions, with his struggles even more bizarre in light of Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz claiming second place.

The Monegasque was at a loss as to what had change from final practice earlier on Saturday, during which he was happy with the feel of the upgraded SF-23.

“I don’t have the answer for now, the only thing I can say is that the left-hand corners were undriveable, the right hand corners the feeling was very similar to this morning,” Leclerc said.

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Leclerc was left in a despondent mood after his early exit

“But there’s just something off in the left-hand corners that we need to analyse and understand, because it was very hard.

“I thought it was the tyres on the first set, but then went onto the second set and the feeling was exactly the same.

“I just had no grip at all in the left-hand corners from the rears. We’ll check the car and I will be very surprised if everything was fine.”

Leclerc, who is the only non-Red Bull driver to have taken a pole position this season, was knocked out in Q1 for the first time since the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix.

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Max Verstappen secured pole once again in his Red Bull ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and McLaren’s Lando Norris

“So many moments and even during the first red flag I nearly lost it and put it in the gravel in the left-hand corner and these were just very, very weird behaviour so we’ll have to check.

“Even this morning in those conditions, in the tricky conditions of this morning. I was feeling really good with the car. So there’s something off.”

Ferrari later confirmed that they had been unable to carry out an inspection of the car on Saturday evening due to parc ferme regulations.

The Italian team are expected to provide further updates on Sunday morning, with Leclerc potentially facing a pit-lane start if changes are made to the car.

Perez hopeful of podium despite lack of confidence

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Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Mercedes driver George Russell were both eliminated from Q2 at the Circuit de Catalunya

Almost joining Leclerc in making a Q1 exit was Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who was also shown up by his team-mate Max Verstappen’s far superior performance, with the Dutchman comfortably claiming pole.

Since appearing to ignite a world championship contest with Verstappen by winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in April, Perez’s form has significantly dropped off.

The Mexican failed to score points in Monaco last weekend after a qualifying crash that left him starting from the back of the grid, and another error cost him in Barcelona.

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Sergio Perez admits he wasn’t happy with the performance of his Red Bull after qualifying 11th at the Circuit de Catalunya

Having barely made it through to Q2, Perez was on a flying lap when he went into the gravel at Turn 5, ruining his tyres with no time left to pit for a fresh set, and leaving him 11th.

“I touched I think the wet patch and I just lost the car,” Perez said. “I managed to control it, get out of there but then the tyres were just too hot, simply too hot to do anything in the lap, unfortunately, but it is what it is.

“I was not very comfortable with the car to be honest. I had a good final practice, I think we managed to make some good progress, but all the way through qualy I was not that confident. So, I think things were looking a little bit tougher for us.”

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Red Bull team principle Christian Horner believes Sergio Perez was unsettled today which resulted in the Mexican qualifying 11th at the Circuit de Catalunya

Unlike in Monaco where overtaking is near impossible, Red Bull’s stunning pace, which has resulted in them winning each of the first six races of the season, should enable Perez to fight back through the field on Sunday.

“Hopefully we are able to recover and get into some points and hopefully get back into the podium positions,” Perez said.

“We’ve got our strong race pace, but everything is pretty close at the top so it’s going to be difficult to make some progress.”

Sky Sports F1’s live Spanish GP schedule

Sunday June 4
8.50am: F3 Feature Race
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday Spanish GP build-up
2pm: THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag Spanish GP reaction
5.45pm: Indy NXT – Detroit GP
8pm: IndyCar – Detroit GP

Will Red Bull’s winning run in F1 2023 continue at the Spanish GP? Watch all the action live on Sky Sports F1 from 12.30pm on Sunday. Get Sky Sports

Formula 1 heads to Barcelona for the Spanish GP this weekend and it could be a pivotal point in the 2023 season.

The Circuit de Catalunya is arguably the most familiar to the drivers and teams, having regularly played host to testing sessions over the years. Several teams will be running upgrades on their cars this weekend, either for the first time or certainly running them for the first time in representative conditions.

“Barcelona is the best judge of a chassis – it’s all about chassis and aero there,” Sky Sports F1‘s Martin Brundle said.

So as the development war steps up, could we see F1 2023’s true pecking order begin to emerge?

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Ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix we take a look back at some of the most dramatic moments from previous races at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

Expect Red Bull to still lead the way

Traditionally, Barcelona has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for Red Bull. The team has won there only four times – in 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2022 – and last year’s victory was given a helping hand by Charles Leclerc suffering a Ferrari engine while leading.

But Red Bull are unbeaten in 2023 so far and have yet to have another car within 20 seconds of theirs when finishing a grand prix in race conditions.

Changes to the Circuit de Catalunya also appeal to the strengths of the RB19. The slow chicane in the final sector will not feature this weekend as F1 returns to the circuit’s original final two corners, and the high-speed right handers will help the Red Bull sling shot onto the long pit-straight where its straight-line speed advantage can be maximised.

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Watch how much of a difference the removal of the final chicane on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya track will have on drivers this season as we compare Fernando Alonso’s 2006 and Charles Leclerc’s 2022 pole lap

“It’s a Red Bull weekend,” former Williams and McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya said on the latest Sky Sports F1 Podcast.

“It is 100 per cent a Red Bull track. It’s a high-speed track and the highlight of the Aston Martin is slow speed corners and they got rid of the slowest corners in the final sector.”

Sky Sports F1‘s David Croft added: “I don’t see how anybody at the moment [gets ahead of Red Bull]. It’s very fast in a straight line and very fast through high-speed corners.”

Red Bull are also reportedly set to have updates this weekend, with advisor Helmut Marko telling Austrian outlet oe24 that the team are “going to try something new in Barcelona.”

So while Red Bull are expected to remain out front, how will things shape up behind as Aston Martin, Mercedes and Ferrari duke it out in their upgraded machinery?

Mercedes look to get true read on W14’s upgrades

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Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson and Ted Kravitz were at the SkyPad to look at the upgrades that could save Mercedes’ season

The big intrigue heading to Barcelona is how Mercedes’ upgrades to their W14 will truly perform.

Initially scheduled for the cancelled Emilia Romagna GP, Mercedes debuted their new bodywork, floor and front suspension in Monaco. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished fourth and fifth in Monte Carlo, although the unique nature of the street circuit meant it was difficult to assess their true performance. As Brundle put it: “It’s like racing in a washing machine.”

However, Hamilton, Russell and team boss Toto Wolff felt there were immediately positive signs from the updated W14 and will seek to confirm its true potential this weekend.

“We were in the mix with Aston Martin and with Ferrari. On a positive note, that may be encouraging because we have never been really good here,” Mercedes boss Wolff said after the Monaco GP.

“But we really need to be careful, we have to go to Barcelona and collect more data, it’s a new baseline. I don’t expect us to be clearing Aston Martin and Ferrari there either. It is more about understanding, okay, what does this car do now, and how do we need to set it up.”

Mercedes find themselves only a point behind Aston Martin in the battle for second in the constructors’ championship despite appearing to have the fourth-fastest car on pure pace so far in 2023.

Aston Martin to close up to Red Bull or fall back?

Aston Martin have had the second-quickest car so far this season and only Max Verstappen’s brilliance and some bad luck with rain intensity cost them a pole position and possibly race win in Monaco.

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Max Verstappen steals pole position from Fernando Alonso with a stunning final sector in a thrilling final qualifying session at the Monaco Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso heads to his home race – and the venue of his most recent win in 2013 – with five podiums in six grands prix for 2023’s surprise team. Aston Martin will be introducing the second half of an upgrade that was initially due in Imola at the Spanish GP.

The question is whether these updates will offset the advances Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari have made and see them move closer to the championship leaders or be fighting to get on the podium at all.

“We have to see in a normal circuit, what is the package of Mercedes and the upgrades that Ferrari will bring apparently to Barcelona as well,” Alonso said.

“So we have to have our feet on the ground and as I said in Miami, it’s going to be a few weekends in the year that we will just be seventh and eighth and we have to accept that and some others that we will fight for podiums.

“So I will not get into Barcelona thinking that I will win, and disappoint anyone. We have to have our feet on the ground.”

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Following his brilliant start to the season at Aston Martin, look back at Fernando Alonso’s last race win at the Spanish Grand Prix back in 2013

Ferrari’s substantial upgrade to improve Sunday form?

Ferrari will be introducing a substantial upgrade to their inconsistent SF23 car, having had to delay its introduction with the Emilia Romagna GP’s cancellation.

While Leclerc has managed to fight for and claim a pole position in qualifying sessions, the Monegasque and Carlos Sainz have struggled to gain confidence in the car, and been critical of the “knife-edge” they find themselves driving on come race days.

Ferrari have already brought a new floor and diffuser to their car and this weekend’s update will include new bodywork.

“This week we will have a better view of the race pace,” team principal Fred Vasseur said. “Barcelona is more relevant and we will have a better view of the situation.

“I hope that we will do a step forward in Barcelona but it won’t be the end of the development for the car.”

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Charles Leclerc sits down with Martin Brundle to discuss the season so far for Ferrari

Will Alpine make it five-team fight for podium spots?

The mood around Alpine has transformed in the last month. At the Miami GP, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi was labelling performances “unacceptable” and “amateurish” and threatening prompt changes if the team’s form did not improve.

But Alpine’s upgrades have brought that upturn in form with the team sealing a double points finish in the USA before Esteban Ocon claimed a superb podium at the Monaco GP and Pierre Gasly got a season’s-best seventh place.

And the French outfit are bullish about getting among the fight for the final podium positions behind Red Bull.

“I fully expect to be in front of Mercedes and with Ferrari at the next race,” sporting director Alan Permane said, while also confirming another upgrade will be on the Alpine in Barcelona.

“Max is too far away, and when Checo is on his game, he will be as well.

“Fernando is going to be very difficult but I don’t see why we can’t race with Ferrari and Mercedes, which we have done here (in Monaco) and in Miami as well.

“They were quicker than us ultimately, but we were in a race with them. That is where we are aiming for.”

Esteban Ocon finished third at the Monaco GP as Alpine claimed a first podium since 2021

F1 returns to a ‘traditional’ circuit

This weekend will also be the first time since the season-opening Bahrain GP that Formula 1 has raced at what could be termed a ‘normal’ race track.

The 2023 season has been frontloaded with grands prix on street circuits – Jeddah, Melbourne, Baku, Miami and Monaco.

But now the drivers and teams have a traditional F1 weekend to look forward to; three practice sessions on a predictably evolving circuit on which to dial in their car set-ups for qualifying and race day.

The old adage is that if your car works well in Barcelona, it will work well anywhere. If that trend continues, this weekend may well give a glimpse of how the rest of the season will pan out.

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Rachel Brookes shares her most memorable moments from the Spanish Grand Prix ahead of this weekend’s race in Barcelona.

Sky Sports F1’s live Spanish GP schedule

Thursday June 1
2pm: Drivers’ Press Conference

Friday June 2
8.50am: F3 Practice
10.00am: F2 Practice
12pm: Spanish GP Practice One (session starts 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Spanish GP Practice Two (session starts 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show: Spain

Saturday June 3
9.25am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Spanish GP Practice Three (session starts 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Spanish GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Spanish GP Qualifying
6.15pm: IndyCar – Detroit GP Qualifying

Sunday June 4
8.50am: F3 Feature Race
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday Spanish GP build-up
2pm: THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag Spanish GP reaction
5.45pm: Indy NXT – Detroit GP
8pm: IndyCar – Detroit GP

Will Red Bull’s winning run in F1 2023 continue at the Spanish GP? Watch all the action live on Sky Sports F1 from June 2-4 Get Sky Sports

Charles Leclerc has defended Ferrari’s strategy decisions at the Monaco Grand Prix as rain caused havoc in the middle of the race.

Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz were among the final drivers to make the switch from dry to intermediate tyres, when rain hit the streets of Monte Carlo with 25 laps to go.

Both drivers lost any chance of the podium as a consequence as they finished in sixth end eighth.

“We have done mistakes on strategy in the past. I don’t think this was a mistake,” Leclerc told Sky Sports F1. “In those conditions, you have more probability of having a safety car, with so many cars on slicks in the rain.

“So we were waiting for a safety car by someone making a mistake. That didn’t happen and that’s it. With the benefit of hindsight, stopping before was the right decision.”

Charles Leclerc running ahead of Pierre Gasly at the Monaco GP after a race-long battle with the Alpine driver

Sainz surprised by timing of first pit stop

Sainz was left frustrated on the team radio following his first pit stop because he didn’t understand why Ferrari pitted him so early.

The Spaniard started on the hard tyres and reacted to the pit stop of Esteban Ocon, who he was battling with, by stopping on Lap 33 for the mediums.

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Carlos Sainz says he was caught by surprise at his team’s decision on his first pit stop after a frustrating Monaco GP for Ferrari

He came out behind the Alpine driver and was forced to double stack behind Leclerc later in the race when switching to the intermediates.

“The first pit stop surprised me because I was on a very quick in lap on the hard tyre, thinking I was going to extend and overcut Esteban,” said Sainz. “We boxed and were one second behind which I didn’t get.

“With the pit stop and rain coming, I thought we were going to use the hard for a bit longer. The second stop was one lap too late but that was probably my fault, trying to compensate the frustration from the first stop by trying something differently and I got it wrong.”

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Highlights of the Monaco Grand Prix at the sixth race of the season

Ferrari told Sainz to pit to stay ahead of Lewis Hamilton, but the 28-year-old said he “didn’t care” about the Mercedes driver on the team radio. Team principal Frederic Vasseur defended Ferrari’s decision to pit Sainz when they did.

“I think it was a good strategy because when we asked him to pit, it was to cover Hamilton. It was to avoid losing the position against Hamilton,” said Vasseur.

“It was the good goal because position is key on track. We would have been better off to extend if we were not at risk from Hamilton. But in this situation, I think it was the good call.

“Then we can discuss about when the rain came, it was a bet [gamble] from both sides but I have no regrets on this because we didn’t lose positions at this stage.”

Vasseur apologises for Leclerc grid penalty

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Lando Norris explains what he thought happened when Charles Leclerc appeared to block him in the tunnel in qualifying

Leclerc qualified third, but started sixth due to a three-grid place penalty for impeding Lando Norris in Q3 on Saturday.

Norris was on a flying lap and came across Leclerc in the tunnel, so had to abort his lap. The stewards deemed Leclerc at fault and Vasseur says Ferrari will learn from the mistake.

“Under the tunnel, Charles was not able to see in the mirror where was Norris, and if you tell him after the tunnel he can see where is Norris, and avoid to be on the line. Also, the line under the tunnel is not very clear,” explained Vasseur.

“But we made a mistake yesterday clearly and this cost us a lot because I think starting from P3 it could have been another race, but we have to learn from it.”

Charles Leclerc post-qualifying Monaco

The Ferrari boss added: “He’s been a bit frustrated in Monaco for a couple of years now and for sure Saturday was tough.

“It was tough first to lose the pole position for one tenth or something like this, to lose the first row for two hundredths, and then the call.

“What can I do else than apologise on behalf of the team and to understand how we can do a better job, and to improve the communication between the pit wall and Charles in this condition, but on both sides.

“I think it’s also due to the circumstances where it’s happened, into the tunnel and so on. But, we have to avoid to try to find excuses because it’s the worst way if you want to improve, we just have to correct.”

Ferrari are fourth in the constructors’ championship ahead of the Spanish GP

Do Ferrari have a fundamental strategy problem?

Twelve months ago, Ferrari were in a title fight with Red Bull but their championship challenge slowly faded away when a run of reliability issues and strategy mistakes cost them key points.

Over the winter, their head of race strategy, Inaki Rueda, was moved to a factory role and in came Ravin Jain.

Prior to the Monaco GP weekend, Leclerc told Sky Sports F1‘s Martin Brundle that Ferrari are in a better position, strategically, compared to last year.

Asked about the 2022 Monaco strategy mistake, which cost Leclerc the win, the Monegasque answered: “Of course, you learn from mistakes and as a team, we have changed quite a lot of things in terms of taking decisions.

“We are in a much better place and I’m confident this won’t happen again.”

Sky Sports F1’s live Spanish GP schedule

Thursday June 1
2pm: Drivers’ Press Conference

Friday June 2
8.50am: F3 Practice
10.00am: F2 Practice
12pm: Spanish GP Practice One (session starts 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Spanish GP Practice Two (session starts 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show: Spain

Saturday June 3
9.25am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Spanish GP Practice Three (session starts 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Spanish GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Spanish GP Qualifying
6.15pm: IndyCar – Detroit GP Qualifying

Sunday June 4
8.50am: F3 Feature Race
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday Spanish GP build-up
2pm: THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag Spanish GP reaction
5.45pm: Indy NXT – Detroit GP
8pm: IndyCar – Detroit GP

Will Red Bull’s winning run in F1 2023 continue at the Spanish GP? Watch all the action live on Sky Sports F1 from June 2-4 Get Sky Sports

Carlos Sainz fastest for Ferrari in first Monaco GP practice; Fernando Alonso second for Aston Martin as Lewis Hamilton takes third in updated Mercedes; Max Verstappen struggles to sixth as Red Bull struggle; watch Practice Two live on Sky Sports F1 from 3:45pm on Friday

Carlos Sainz topped first practice at the Monaco Grand Prix for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton taking an impressive third as Mercedes debuted major upgrades.

Fernando Alonso took second for Aston Martin, while world championship leader Max Verstappen could only manage sixth as Red Bull struggled at Formula 1’s most famous circuit.

The Dutchman’s team-mate Sergio Perez was fourth, heightening hopes for Red Bull’s rivals of ending the reigning constructors’ five-race winning streak to start the season.

Charles Leclerc, who has taken pole for Ferrari for the last two years at his home race, was fifth.

Mercedes, whose W14 hit the track for the first time with long-awaited upgrades, will be buoyed by Hamilton’s third place, but the seven-time world champion’s team-mate George Russell struggled to 15th.

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Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz explains how Mercedes have adapted their car and the potential impact of their upgrades at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix

As is always the case at the stunning and high-risk street circuit, there was drama and incident, with several drivers escaping contact with the barriers before crashes for Nico Hulkenberg and Alex Albon resulted in red flags.

The latter incident, a heavy shunt for Williams’ Albon at the opening corner Sainte Devote, saw the session come to a premature end with three minutes left on the clock when it occurred.

‘Red Bull have serious competition this weekend’

After the cancellation of last weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix due to severe flooding in northern Italy, there was even greater intrigue than usual as Formula 1 returned to Monaco.

Along with the usual glitz and glamour that Monaco brings to the calendar, there was mystery surrounding Mercedes’ upgrades, and excitement that Ferrari and Aston Martin may be able to outpace Red Bull for the first time this season.

The last element, perhaps the most crucial to ensuring that excitement remains throughout the weekend, looks to be in play, with Sainz and Alonso showing impressive early pace.

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Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris and Lance Stroll all clipped the barriers in first practice in Monaco

Ferrari have shown impressive form at Monaco in recent years, and Sainz’s 1:13.372, which was more than 0.3s clear of Alonso in second, suggests they will be a major threat for pole position on Saturday.

Alonso, who has secured four podiums in his first five races with Aston Martin, has been open about his belief that this weekend he can claim a first F1 victory in more than a decade, and will be encouraged by a solid opening 60 minutes.

After a dominant start to the season which has seen him win three races and amass a 14-point world championship lead over Perez, Verstappen cut an extremely frustrated figure as he struggled from the off and demanded early set-up changes.

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The red flag comes out after Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg clips the barrier in first practice ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix

He reported that his car felt “a little better” afterwards, but was warned over radio that he would have to “live with” the discomfort for the remainder of the session, and was visibly irritated as he failed to make a chicane.

“Red Bull will home in on where they need to be,” Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle said. “The story of FP1 is that Red Bull have got some serious competition this weekend.”

The constant danger of the Circuit de Monaco was highlighted as Hulkenberg lost control of his Haas at the Nouvelle Chicane, spinning, hitting the barrier and suffering a puncture.

The German was able to limp back to the pits but debris left on track led to a brief red flag stoppage to allow the track to be cleared.

Mercedes finally unveil W14 upgrades

All eyes had been on the Mercedes garage since the team began setting up on Thursday morning, with the Silver Arrows finally moving on from the ‘zero-sidepod’ concept they have pursued since the start of last season.

Photos of the new bodywork, which is accompanied by a new floor and front suspension, emerged on Thursday, but the car was finally revealed in full form shortly before practice began on Friday.

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Lewis Hamilton insists he’s happy at Mercedes and downplayed reports of a possible move to Ferrari

Initial assessments were made, but ultimately how the W14 performed on track is what team, drivers, and fans were waiting to see.

The results were somewhat confusing, with Hamilton settling quickly and sitting at the top of the timesheet for a period of the session before finishing third.

In contrast, Russell was uncomfortable from the start, and twice returned to the garage for significant set-up changes.

Despite the changes, he remained uncomfortable, explaining over radio that he was lacking “confidence”.

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George Russell can’t wait to see how his new revamped Mercedes will perform in Monaco with their new upgrades

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin explained to Sky Sports F1 after the session that the British duo had been running different set-ups.

“We haven’t seen major problems which is a useful start to it,” he said. “We were doing some comparisons on set-up across the cars so I think we have a good direction there – Lewis appeared to be in a happier place than George.

“One of the tricky bits with Monaco is the track evolves so much. It’s one thing having the car in a good spot in FP1, you need to keep it there in FP2, FP3 and into Qualy. That’s a lot easier said than done. It’s a good start but we’re certainly wary of the many ways you can get Monaco wrong.”