In the round-up: Lewis Hamilton performed a demonstration run for Mercedes on Fifth Avenue in New York yesterday.
In brief
Hamilton enjoys demo run in “car I wanted”
Hamilton said it was “such a dream” to be reacquainted with Mercedes’ W12, which scored the team’s most recent championship victory in 2021, on the streets of New York City. “I can’t believe that we’re here in the middle of New York City, down Fifth Avenue and I get to drive the car that I wanted,” said Hamilton.
Team principal Toto Wolff said the level of interest in the event reflected how popular F1 has become in the USA. “You can see how many people showed up without this having having been announced, because obviously you can’t shut down New York with a Formula 1 car, there would be thousands of people,” he said. “But it was a success and you can see that in the faces of the people.”
The event was held to promote Mercedes’ sponsor WhatsApp, which has changed its racing car graphic to match Mercedes’ livery and had a model car in the same style present at the demonstration run.
Miami “should be good” for Red Bull
Max Verstappen expects to have a good chance of continuing his monopoly on victories at the Miami International Circuit this weekend.“It should normally be a good race for us,” said Verstappen, who won the two previous Miami Grands Prix. “It’s normally a little bit more straightforward with the strategy, but it’s always quite a difficult track.
“I’m excited. It’s always quite a crazy weekend there, so it’s going to be quite a busy one.”
Ghiotto relieved to finish first IndyCar race
Former Formula 2 driver Luca Ghiotto declared himself pleased with his run to 21st place on his IndyCar debut last weekend, having been unable to test the car previously.
“The first race was long, I’m happy that I got to the end because this is probably the most physical car in the world and I was not sure I was going to be fit enough to do a 90-lap race,” he admitted. “So that was the first goal and I’m happy that we made it.”
“On the race itself, I think I had a little bit too many mistakes because during pit stops everything was just new to me, especially going from the reds [softer tyres] to the black tyres, all of that, basically every lap was something new. So for sure there was too many mistakes.”
“But on one side I’m happy that I had those because I know that now I actually learned more thanks to those mistakes and we’ll get to Indy more prepared.”
Mercedes’ Vesti among Formula E testers
Mercedes junior driver Frederik Vesti, who is currently racing in the European Le Mans Series, will test for Formula E team Mahindra in Berlin this month. Rivals Nissan have confirmed Caio Collet and Gabriele Mini will appear in their cars at the same test.
F1 extends Viaplay deal
Viaplay will continue to broadcast Formula 1 in the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden after agreeing a new deal with the championship. Fans in the regions will also have access to the F1 TV Pro live streaming platform.
Wildcard announced for F1 Academy Miami
F1 Academy has granted a wildcard slot at this weekend’s Miami round to American sports car driver Courtney Crone. She took part in the series’ test at Zandvoort two weeks in preparation.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Wolff knocks back speculation about Verstappen talks (Reuters)
'No, that’s one of the rumours. People make up meetings, make up what’s happening with the drivers but these things should be behind closed doors and everything that’s been out there was not really the right thing.'
'Sources in Austria claim the F1 team are tabling a whopping £128 million-a-year package to lure the three time world champion.'
Rooftop nightclub coming to Las Vegas Grand Prix pit building (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
'Fontainebleau is partnering with the Las Vegas Grand Prix to bring a nightclub experience to the rooftop of the Formula One pit building for high-end race fans.'
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it to us via the contact form.
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Social media
Notable posts from X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and more:
Five-times #IndyCar race winner Wally Dallenbach died yesterday at the age of 87, the series has announced. He came close to winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1975, retiring from the lead 12 laps before the race was stopped due to rain. He later served as CART's chief steward. pic.twitter.com/N9oRxC7lbd
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) April 30, 2024
Thoughts and prayers go out to the Dallenbach family. We will miss you Wally.🙏🏻 RIPWally
— Michael Andretti (@michaelandretti) April 30, 2024
.@NBC got 763,000 viewers for Sunday's IndyCar race @BarberMotorPark (TV only), down from 930,000 viewers last year. pic.twitter.com/ZT4ImEY1rB
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) April 30, 2024
MARIO ANDRETTI is on the Hill today talking to lawmakers about his bid to join F1.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) April 30, 2024
Let’s take a closer look at our special livery for this weekend 🔍#MiamiGP 🇺🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/4pPyfFICf0
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 30, 2024
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Is it really such a bad thing if drivers choose not to run in some practice sessions?
This urge to have every single session with cars running at pace is ridiculous. It’s practice. If they don’t need to run, they won’t. Even if they give them more tyres. If the rest of the weekend is bone dry, why would you even risk running on a wet track?
People need to understand that sometimes this happens. Is it bad? yes, but what are you gonna do? It’s like planning a picnic and waking up to a rainy day.
What are they going to do next? put umbrellas all over the track?
@Fer-no65
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Ivan!
On this day in motorsport
Arthur Zakaryan (@arthurgd3)
1st May 2024, 0:46
Damn, would have loved to be in NYC to have seen this. Last July by accident I happened to catch a glimpse of last year’s Aston F1 car in Aston’s US flagship store in NYC that they just had recently moved into from Irvine but that was opposite from where we were staying in NYC so never got a chance to go back. Shame these Hybrid V6’s don’t have the high pitched noise from the V10 and V8’s of the mid 2000s. Now that would be something to hear and see.
David BR (@david-br)
1st May 2024, 0:53
Verstappen to Mercedes does make some sense for both parties with Newey set to leave Red Bull (to retire probably, with an outside chance of switching to Ferrari in 2025 or 2026, but I’m struck by how worn out he now looks) and the engine change maybe further harming RBR. Where else would Verstappen go? For Mercedes it’s a no-brainer.
Nick T.
1st May 2024, 2:05
I know. Guy looks closer to 90 than 70. Maybe he’s had some illnesses we haven’t heard anything about.
Jeanrien (@jeanrien)
1st May 2024, 7:38
@david-br It starts to look like a lose lose situation for Sainz. The easy win for him is financial by going to Audi. On the sport side, he is hanging on Verstappen’s decision. Verstappen has the luxury to know where Newey will head and probably a bit more control on the momentum of the team he’ll join. Sainz is a bit more desperate for a contract with a top team and it feels like his future hangs in Verstappen’s decision and that Sainz has second pick.
Ajaxn
1st May 2024, 12:22
Verstappen moving to Mercedes only makes sense if Newley is also planning to move there too. I would sooner Newley moved to Ferrari then we would see some fire works.
That said, ’26 will be mainly about the power unit where Mercedes should in theory come into their own.. The Ground effect era has suited Newley, but unless there are further aero changes i cant seeing him being as impactful.
Mercedes really need a driver with the nerves to take a good car to its full potential. Is that really Russell ??
MichaelN
1st May 2024, 13:26
That’s a big questionmark, and the regulations don’t necessarily suggest that will be the case. They’re extremely prescriptive, and it’s quite probable that the engines will all be quite similar simply because of all the constraints on both their design and the strict limits on the MGU-K (both in and out).
S
1st May 2024, 3:18
CotD – What are they gonna do? Eliminate practice sessions, of course.
The less track time they have for practice, the more of it they’ll make use of.
Like it or not, F1 is entertainment. It does need to be entertaining, and that primarily involves cars being on the track going as fast as possible – preferably in competition with each other, being (supposedly) a racing series….
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
1st May 2024, 3:59
Well the problem about not running during practice sessions is that people have paid good money to see Formula One cars in action. I don’t think I lost out financially the last time I cancelled a picnic.
Ajaxn
1st May 2024, 12:26
The other problem is not being able to set up the car in this era of the runaway winners, RB. If you don’t have the extra time to set up the car, what hope has the rest got of catching them.
These sprints with only and hour’s practice have suited the RB car in ways which goes largely unrecognized.
GeeMac (@geemac)
1st May 2024, 5:51
30 years…it feels like yesterday. I will never, ever, forget that day. I was 10 years old and had been an F1 fan for 2 years already in 1994. I couldn’t comprehend my own mortality, let alone process the thought that not one but two of these superhero F1 drivers could die in a racing car. Such a tragic weekend.
Rest in peace Roland and Ayrton.
Tristan
1st May 2024, 5:59
People make up rumours and meetings, just like the Hamilton Ferrari rumours circulating last year Toto?
Nobody talks to anyone and these deals just materialise out of thin air? Is that how gullible he thinks fans are?
Jere (@jerejj)
1st May 2024, 6:19
Yes, although people indeed also make up stuff, so either way is possible here.
Jere (@jerejj)
1st May 2024, 6:18
I applaud COTD for its honesty & F1 already has more than enough rules, so introducing more & more for the sake of introducing is pointless.
30 years, but never forgotten & unfortunately, I never got to see him race actively, as I was -1 (to reference Max) when he died.
notagrumpyfan
1st May 2024, 6:38
Or sprinklers for the race ;)
I wonder if they could organise something for the wet sessions to lure the teams out onto the circuit. Maybe organise a short race, say 100km, and award some points.
All to entertain the people who are having a picnic.
SteveP
1st May 2024, 17:36
I could say you’re cynical, but then we need to form a club and when we admit all the members of the Foxtrot Oscar to “sprint” there isn’t a building big enough for members meetings.
MichaelN
1st May 2024, 10:32
That little WhatsApp car is hilarious. Fun event!
SteveP
1st May 2024, 17:34
Um, like talking to the likes of “Jewish space lasers” lady is going to make any difference at all.