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Verstappen bounces back with dominant win at Japanese GP - https://lnkd.in/gg5AMB2C STEPHEN WADE Associated Press SUZUKA, Japan — Max Verstappen's record-breaking dominance in Formula 1 resumed Sunday with his victory in the Japanese Grand Prix, leading almost the entire race on a sunny day in central Japan.His abrupt breakdown two weeks ago in Melbourne, Australia, looks like a blip in his total command over F1. He was out on the fourth lap when the rear brakes caught fire.Nothing like that this time.Verstappen basically led from start to finish except briefly after a pit stop. He was followed across the finish line by Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez — 12.5 seconds behind — and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari. Sainz was 20 seconds off the pace.The three-time defending F1 champion is again this season's points leader and now has won 22 of the last 26 races dating from the start of the 2023 season. Only two other drivers have won in that span — Red Bull teammate Perez and Sainz, the winner in Australia two weeks ago. People are also reading… Responding to a question, Sainz suggested that Verstappen and Red Bull are so dominant that the season might already be over after just four of 24 races."I think they are definitely going to have an advantage in the first third of the season until we bring in one or two upgrades," Sainz said. "But by that time maybe it's a bit too late with the advantage they might have in the championship."Verstappen, of course, said the season would be competitive and suggested Red Bull might struggle in street races."It's still a very long season," he said. "I don't want to think about the rest of the season too much."A red flag just seconds into the tightly packed first lap when Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo clipped each other on the second turn and crashed out halted the race.That was basically the only real drama."The critical bit was the start to stay ahead and after that the car just got better and better," Verstappen said later. "It couldn't have been any better."Both Albon and Ricciardo walked away, apparently without serious injuries. The restart was delayed 30 minutes to get the cars off the track and clear debris.Verstappen, who now has 57 career wins, pushed his season points total to 77 and is 13 clear of Perez on 64. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc follows with 59 with Sainz on 55."It's nice to win, and it's nice to win here in Japan," said Verstappen, whose car is powered by a Honda engine. "It's always an important race for us and it's great to win here in front of Honda.""Melbourne felt like a bit of a hiccup," he added. "But what we did today is what w

F1 IS SET UP FOR AN EXCITING SECOND HALF The second half of the Formula One season begins on Sunday, and for the first time in recent memory the driver and constructor champions don't look like a foregone conclusion, Jeff writes. Where it stands: Two-time defending champion Red Bull lead the way (373 points), but it's looking like a legitimate four-team race as Ferrari (302), McLaren (295) and Mercedes (221) are in shouting distance with 12 of 24 races still to come. Red Bull: Max Verstappen remains atop the driver standings with seven wins, but teammate Sergio Pérez is fading, having missed the podium in seven straight races. Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are in third and fourth, but Leclerc — like Pérez — has struggled with his form in the past month, opening the door for McLaren and Mercedes. McLaren: Lando Norris' breakout season has him sitting in second with seven podiums and his first win, while Oscar Piastri has leveled up in his second F1 campaign, failing to score points just once. Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are surging with four podiums in their last four races, including two straight wins and Hamilton's first victory in three years. Can anyone catch Max? Verstappen completely dominated F1 in 2022 and 2023, winning 34 of 44 races, but he's showing signs of mortality this year, yielding more balanced standings. To wit, twice as many drivers have won a race halfway through this season (six) than in all of last season (three). If Norris' breakout continues, he could catch the three-time defending champ.

6️⃣ Round Six: Miami 6️⃣ Two weeks ago in China, we completed our first out of six sprint races this season. This week, F1 will head to “The Sunshine State” — Florida! Hosted in Miami International Autodrome since its inception, the Miami GP will be the first of the three races in the States. The track features a mix of tight and technical sectors with plenty of walls and kerbs. So, what should we look out for this weekend? 👀 Ahead of the 2024 race, here’s a little reminder of what happened in Miami last year: 😳 Qualifying madness: Sergio Pérez qualified on the pole, with Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz rounding off the top 3. Kevin Magnussen qualified fourth in Haas’ home Grand Prix. Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas could not set a lap after a red flag caused by Charles Leclerc’s crash. 🥇 Super Max in action: Verstappen sensationally charged his way to victory after starting ninth. Pérez and Alonso rounded off the podium. Additionally, the Dutchman tied Sebastian Vettel’s record of 38 wins in a Red Bull. 😒 Magnussen expected more: Magnussen was expecting more than scoring one point after starting as high as fourth, although the Dane particularly enjoyed battling with Leclerc in the Ferrari. What’s your prediction for the Miami GP? Let us know in the comments below! 👇 p/s: Don’t forget that the Miami round is a sprint weekend. ** 🏎 Love seeing Formula One content on LinkedIn? Follow us on LinkedIn and click the bell button for the latest updates 🔔

Mexican Grand Prix: Race Summary The stage was set at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as the sun shone brightly over Mexico City for the 2024 Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz took pole after a stellar qualifying performance, with Max Verstappen close behind in second, and title chaser Lando Norris starting third. The longest run to Turn One promised an exciting start, with Charles Leclerc in fourth and Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton occupying the third row. Home hero Sergio Perez, and Oscar Piastri, starting from the back, were poised to make up significant ground. -Max Verstappen surged ahead of Sainz at Turn One, forcing Sainz to cut the corner, but the Spaniard returned the position shortly after. Norris and Leclerc held their places in third and fourth, while Hamilton overtook Russell. -A crash between Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon at Turn One triggered a Safety Car. Both drivers were unhurt, but the incident required a debris cleanup. Sergio Perez made a strong start but received a five-second penalty for lining up incorrectly on the grid. -In an aggressive move, Sainz overtook Verstappen to claim the lead on lap 9, setting the stage for an intense battle at the front. -In a high-stakes battle, Verstappen edged Norris off-track, resulting in a 10-second penalty for the championship leader. Verstappen later received another 10-second penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track. -Fernando Alonso celebrated his 400th Grand Prix weekend but was forced to retire due to car issues, ending his milestone race prematurely. -Verstappen, after serving his penalties, worked his way up to seventh, later securing sixth place but well behind the Ferraris and Mercedes. -Carlos Sainz emerged victorious, claiming his first win since Melbourne, followed by Lando Norris in second. Charles Leclerc completed the podium, clocking the race’s fastest lap to earn a bonus point. Top Six Finishers Sainz took the win, with Norris in second, Leclerc third, Hamilton fourth, Russell fifth, and Verstappen in sixth, who saw his title lead reduced to 47 points with four rounds remaining. The Mexico City Grand Prix delivered thrilling battles, penalties, and crucial shifts in the title race. Sainz’s well-deserved victory marked a high point in his season, while Verstappen faced rare setbacks. With four races left, the championship momentum remains uncertain, making the final rounds a must-watch. Image Courtesy: F1

Qatar Grand Prix Post-Race Results 🏎️🇶🇦 We’re officially back with the penultimate race of the season! Podium: 🥇 Max Verstappen 🥈 Charles Leclerc 🥉 Oscar Piastri Key pointers from the race: ◽️ Lap 1: In Turn 1, Ocon, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Albon, and Stroll collided, leading to a yellow flag and a safety car. Ocon and Colapinto had to retire early, a tough break for the young Colapinto, who’s been struggling in recent races. Hulkenberg continued but suffered damage to his wheel. ◽️ Lap 7–10: Lance Stroll received a 10-second penalty and was instructed to retire. However, he briefly rejoined the race before officially retiring by Lap 10. What was the reasoning behind that? ◽️ Lap 5–13: Intense action between the Kick Sauber and Visa RB teams unfolded. FIA penalties poured in, with Stroll and Lawson each receiving 10-second penalties. ◽️ Mercedes and Ferrari struggled with pit stops: • Lap 14: Russell’s stop took 7.0 seconds as the team battled to remove his rear-right wheel, causing him to lose his position to Piastri. • Ferrari’s stop for Sainz lasted 9.8 seconds, as wheel pressure issues added to their struggles. ◽️ Lap 32: Alex Albon lost a side mirror on track, which Bottas later ran over. Debris caused punctures for Sainz and Hamilton, significantly impacting their races. ◽️ Yellow Flag incidents: • Lando Norris received a 10-second stop/go penalty for failing to slow under the yellow flag, delaying the Constructors’ Championship decision to the final race in Abu Dhabi. • Shortly after, Hamilton received a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane, dropping him behind Norris in 14th. ◽️ Lando Norris’ recovery: After his penalty, Norris clawed his way back to finish 10th, earning 1 point along with the fastest lap bonus. Below, you’ll find my graphic designs and a link to my TikTok video recapping race highlights. Next week: The FINAL race in Abu Dhabi, marking the end of a season filled with unexpected podiums and moments. It’s a race where we’ll say goodbye to some drivers and witness final runs with teams before changes are made. The Constructors’ Championship will also be decided: 🟠 McLaren vs. 🔴 Ferrari See you next week for an emotional season finale! https://lnkd.in/d9aTYA_v #Formula1 #F1 #Motorsport

Is this the end of Sergio Perez's F1 career? 🫢 The Race reports that Red Bull looks increasingly likely to Perez when it finalises its 2025 Formula 1 driver lineups after this season's finale in Abu Dhabi this week, despite the Mexican having a contract through to the end of the 2026 season. This isn't surprising considering Perez's performance in recent races. For context, Zhou Guanyu scored four points during the Qatar Grand Prix, which is the exact number of points Perez scored in the last five races. Considering that Zhou is driving a car that's arguably the worst or second-worst overall car on the grid and Perez is driving a Red Bull — a car that netted Verstappen his fourth driver's title, this statistic is even more appalling. Here are some more numbers to show how bad his 2024 campaign has been: 👉 He hasn't grace the podium since April, hasn't won a race since April 2023 and has suffered six Q1 elimination this season. 👉 Perez's average gap to Verstappen at the end of a race this season was 24.257 seconds, the largest split between champion and teammate since 1995. At the end of 2023, the overall gap between Verstappen and Perez was 19.931 seconds. 👉 He will also finish this season in P8 in the driver's championship, the lowest position of a champion's teammate since Jos Verstappen in 1994. To be fair, Red Bull has not been completely silent on Perez's lack of performance. Throughout the season, Horner and Marko have spoken about evaluating Perez's candidacy. They booted Ricciardo to gauge if Tsunoda or Lawson would be an effective replacement over Perez. But what confuses me is why Red Bull didn't plug the plug earlier, considering they have almost an unspoken reputation for being brutal to their 2nd driver (think Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Daniil Kvyat). They also have a line of talented lineups from their pool of junior talents in the feeder series, so there were opportunites to shift the narrative and protect both championships.  By keeping Perez in 2024, they lost momentum in the fight for the constructors. Heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi, it's most likely they'll finish this season P3 in the constructor's championship — effectively reducing the amount the team and bonus the employees will receive. It's likely the fan to the flame as to why drastic action is needed to put a competent driver in that second seat, especially when the 2025 season is shaping up to be competitive come the end of the current regulation cycle. Who would you put in that second Red Bull seat for 2025? ** 🔗: https://lnkd.in/g_nDy9yB 🏎 Love seeing Formula One content on LinkedIn? Follow Race Recap on LinkedIn and click the bell button for the latest updates 🔔

1️⃣1️⃣ Round 11: Austria 1️⃣1️⃣ One race of our triple header is down and two to go! Spanish Grand Prix was another Max Verstappen masterclass as the Dutchman pulled all the stops in his strategy and fought well to defend his lead from Lando Norris. Lewis Hamilton also achieved his first podium of the season last time out. This week, F1 will head to Spielberg, Austria. The race is hosted in Red Bull Ring, a high-speed circuit with the breathtaking scenery of the Austrian Alps in the background. So, what should we look out for this weekend? 👀 Ahead of the 2024 race, here’s a little reminder of what happened in Spielberg last season: 👍 Red Bull 1-2 in sprint: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez made it a 1-2 in the sprint race before the home crowd. However, the pair almost came to blows in the early laps. 🏆 Broken milestones: Max Verstappen’s Sunday victory meant Red Bull had just scored their 10th consecutive race win and surpassed Ayrton Senna for the fifth-most win. Charles Leclerc’s podium finish gave Ferrari their 800th podium in F1. 🤔 Keep it inside the line: The race directors were busy during the race, dishing out penalties for eight drivers for track limit violations Sainz, Hamilton, Gasly, Albon, Ocon, Sargeant, de Vries, and Tsunoda were the ones on the list. Don’t forget that the upcoming Austrian round is a sprint weekend. What’s your prediction for the Austrian GP? Let us know in the comments below! 👇 ** 🏎 Love seeing Formula One content on LinkedIn? Follow us on LinkedIn and click the bell button for the latest updates 🔔

🏎️ | What word would be apt to describe Formula 1 in 2024? Roller-coaster? Manic? Mad? Unpredictable? Rejuvenating? You can think of many more. 😍 | What started off as a boring, sleepy season turned into one of the best ever seasons of F1 I've watched. I rate the 2012 F1 season very, very highly, down to Fernando Alonso driving the wheels off that Ferrari. 🟰 | I would rate 2024 just as highly as 2012, but for different reasons. Who would've thought four teams would be fighting regularly for race wins? 7️⃣ | Seven different drivers won multiple races in 2024. SEVEN? That's a Formula One record, beating the previous statistic of six in 1981. 4️⃣ | Four different teams took 1-2 finishes on separate weekends this season, an incredible feat just speaking volumes of the competitiveness in the series. 2️⃣ | No driver won more than two races in a row. This pales out in stark contrast to the 2023 F1 season, when Max Verstappen won as many as 10 in a row. It's an incredible stat that you don't see often. 2️⃣ | After zero driver changes between 2023 and 2024, the driver market has been buzzing with activity, with only two teams set to retain their 2024 line-ups into 2025. Such has been the level of change in the sport this year. 😌 | On track, we had some absolutely feel-good stories though. Lando Norris's first F1 win in Miami, Leclerc's emotional home win in Monaco, Lewis Hamilton's return to victory at Silverstone, Oscar Piastri taking his maiden F1 win in Hungary. 😮 | The second half saw Charles Leclerc manage his tyres brilliantly to win at Monza, Carlos Sainz's final Ferrari win (for now) at Mexico, Verstappen coming from 17th to win in Brazil, ahead of the Alpine duo, Russell's Las Vegas win, and then the finale in Abu Dhabi..... wow, what a season! 🔴 | There's also the hot prospects of Hamilton donning Ferrari red next year, after more than a decade at Mercedes, his successor in the form of 18 year old protege Kimi Antonelli, Carlos Sainz moving to Williams, Nico Hulkenberg moving to KICK Sauber after two successful Haas seasons, and many more. 😮 | The class of rookies in 2025 will be brimming, with Antonelli, Ollie Bearman, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan all set for their first full campaigns in motorsport. And yet, one seat is yet to be confirmed. 🏠 | It was during a class in university when Holly Wise, my professor, asked me to describe the moment when I absolutely felt at home this year. It made for a beautiful moment of reflection, about the 2024 F1 season. 📺 | For two hours on 24 Sundays in 2024, I could sit in front of my TV, tune out everything else and just focus on the Grand Prix ahead. It was even better sitting in front of the TV not knowing who would win. A stark contrast to 2023. ✍ | That makes for a compelling story. I also reviewed the season for LastWordOnSports.com, linked below: https://lnkd.in/gGffmDUv

A Long Overdue Post Regarding the 2024 Formula One Season Key Events in the 2024 Formula 1 Calendar 1. DRIVER AND TEAM MILESTONES - Max Verstappen: Dominated early in the season, winning 5 of the opening 7 races, but experienced a podium drought from the Spanish Grand Prix until his remarkable win at the Brazilian GP, starting from P17 (17th position on the starting grid). - Charles Leclerc: Broke the "Monaco jinx," becoming the first Monegasque driver to win his home race since Louis Chiron in 1931. - Carlos Sainz Jr.: Won the Australian Grand Prix in a Ferrari 1-2 finish, breaking Red Bull's winning streak. His Ferrari career ended on a high note with a dominant victory at the Mexican GP. - Lando Norris: Secured his maiden Formula 1 win, becoming a championship contender as McLaren returned to dominance for the first time in a decade. - Lewis Hamilton: Claimed his first win in two years at the British GP and followed up with a victory in Belgium. - George Russell: Took his second career win at the Austrian GP, after his 2022 Sao Paulo victory. - Oscar Piastri: Achieved his first and second career wins at the Hungarian and Azerbaijan GPs, showcasing immense promise. 2. DRIVER TRANSFERS AND TEAM UPDATES - Adrian Newey: Red Bull's renowned Chief Technical Officer left to join Aston Martin for a rumored £30 million per year. - Franco Colapinto: Replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams Racing. - Oliver Bearman: Substituted for Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari, Saudi Arabia GP) and Kevin Magnussen (Haas, Azerbaijan and Sao Paulo GPs); set to join Haas as a full-time driver in 2025. - Liam Lawson: Took over from Daniel Ricciardo at the RB Cash App Constructors Team as of September 26, 2024. - Valtteri Bottas: Leaving the Sauber-operated team after 2024, expected to rejoin Mercedes as a reserve driver in 2025. - Zhou Guanyu: Exiting Stake F1 alongside Bottas; the team signed rookie Gabriel Bortoleto to partner Nico Hülkenberg. 3. MEMORABLE TEAM MOMENTS - Alpine Drama: The Monaco GP crash between Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly caused major internal conflicts ("French Civil War"), but the team reconciled with a double podium at the Brazilian GP (P2 and P3). - Ferrari 2025 Line-Up: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton confirmed as teammates for next season, marking a significant shift for the Scuderia. 4. HISTORIC RACES AND WINS - Australian GP: Ferrari claimed a 1-2 finish, with Carlos Sainz Jr. grabbing a deserved win over teammate Charles Leclerc . - Saudi Arabian GP: Oliver Bearman made his Ferrari debut as a stand-in. - Monaco GP: Charles Leclerc ended decades of heartbreak for local fans . - Brazilian GP: Max Verstappen returned to form, winning from P17 on the grid. - British GP: Lewis Hamilton thrilled home fans with a long-awaited victory . - Mexican GP: Carlos Sainz Jr.'s farewell to Ferrari featured a dominant win. #formula1 #recap #seasonreview

LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING Podium: 🥇 George Russell 🥈 Carlos Sainz 🥉 Pierre Gasly The race that could shape the World Championship battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Q1 Eliminations: 16. Sergio Pérez 17. Fernando Alonso 18. Alex Albon 19. Valtteri Bottas 20. Lance Stroll Sadly, Sergio Pérez didn’t make it out of Q1, securing 16th—a disappointing but unsurprising result based on his recent performances for Red Bull. Q2 Eliminations: 11. Esteban Ocon 12. Kevin Magnussen 13. Guanyu Zhou 14. Franco Colapinto 15. Liam Lawson Q2 ended dramatically when Franco Colapinto collided with the wall, prompting a yellow flag and an early conclusion to the session. Similar issues occurred in São Paulo, but we hope the Williams driver bounces back for tomorrow’s race. Q3 Results: Q3 brought surprises, with Pierre Gasly securing a podium position—a notable achievement for Alpine. Given their momentum from São Paulo, Alpine seems to be improving steadily. Unexpected podium appearances from Ferrari, Mercedes, and Alpine are setting the stage for an exciting race. Meanwhile, Lando Norris couldn’t outqualify Max Verstappen, with Verstappen starting 5th and Norris 6th. Below is my graphic design for the qualifying session.