In the round-up: George Russell is confident Mercedes will start the 2023 Formula 1 season in better shape than this year’s campaign.
In brief
Russell expects tough 2022 will turn into a positive
Having seen Mercedes turn around their poor start to the 2022 campaign and claimed his breakthrough victory in the penultimate round of the season, Russell expects a much more competitive season for the team next year.
“We are a step behind Red Bull and Ferrari and we’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” he told the BBC. “But we’re definitely going to be in a much stronger position from race one next year than we were this year.”
“As a team these struggles are going to set us up much nicer for the coming years so I hope I look back in 10 years’ time and say actually this 2022 season was a positive one for the journey,” he added.
Miami Grand Prix out-performed city’s Superbowl – Domenicali
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the series’ first race in Miami earlier this year out-performed the National Football League Superbowl which took place at the same venue, the Hard Rock Stadium, two years earlier.
“The first Grand Prix in Miami, this year, generated results superior to those recorded by the 2020 Superbowl organised in the same city,” he told the RCS (Rizzoli-Corriere della Sera) Academy. “For us, this is a data of enormous importance that contains many precious indications.”
The San Francisco 49ers played the Kansas City Chiefs in the event on February 2nd, 2020, before the disruption caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic that year.
Domenicali also told his audience he intends to continue adding more competitive sessions to grand prix weekends. “Free practice isn’t of much interest and allows the teams to prepare, which ends up reducing the competitive variables,” he said.
DS Penske drivers enthused by first test
Two-times Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne says DS Penske’s performance was “very good” in the pre-season test at Valencia. “Everything went very well [and] I’m happy with the car and with all the work that has been carried out with the team.”
His new team mate, reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne, described the opening test as “extremely positive” for the team. “We learned a lot of things about our new car.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Las Vegas Grand Prix fan fest to offer cheaper race experience (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
‘But Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm said a fan festival will be held on the Wynn West land, on the west side of Las Vegas Boulevard between Fashion Show Drive and Genting Boulevard, so other fans can take in the excitement.’
Nannini carries speed, global pedigree to Juncos Hollinger (IndyCar)
‘Fans here are open and allowed to really interact with the driver, it’s something unique because I was not used to that. In Europe, everything is super closed, and they don’t really allow the fans to be able to speak with the drivers. Honestly, if I were a fan, I prefer much more the American way.’
Legends and rising stars join line-up for ROC Sweden (Race of Champions)
‘2022 Formula 2 Champion Felipe Drugovich, IndyCar ace Felix Rosenqvist and World Rally star Thierry Neuville will make their Race Of Champions debut on the snow and ice of Sweden’s Pite Havsbad on January 28-29, 2023.’
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