Formula 1 Racing

RaceFans Round-up: Sixth ‘the first step to recovery’

Max Verstappen, Red Bull, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, 2024

In the round-up: Max Verstappen avoided a penalty after being investigated for an infringement in the pit lane which occured due to a misunderstanding over the rules.

In brief

Verstappen cleared over pit lane error

Verstappen was investigated for potentially breaking the rule which governs how cars join the fast lane of the pits as they prepare to join the track during a session.

Red Bull told the stewards “they assumed car one [Verstappen] had crossed the solid white line separating the fast lane from the working lane when it was released from the garage and therefore followed the procedure outlined in article 34.8 to leave the pit lane in the order the cars arrived there.”

However the stewards pointed out the team was mistaken. “This assumption was inaccurate as no wheel of Car 1 had crossed the solid white line separating the fast lane from the working lane.”

Nonetheless the stewards were satisfied that Verstappen joined the fast lane of the pits as required and without impeding other cars, so took no action against him. He will start today’s race from second on the grid.

Sixth ‘the first step to recovery’ – Alonso

Fernando Alonso hopes that a top six start today is the sign of better times ahead for Aston Martin

“It’s been a good weekend so far for us – a good Friday – and then today, a little bit more competitive than the last two events,” Alonso told the official F1 channel.

“I think we are understanding for sure a lot of things with the car. This is hopefully the first step in our recovery plan.”

Although he has “a much better starting position than the last two events,” Alonso said the team must remain sharp in what could be a rain-affected race. “If it does rain, if you stop one lap too late or one lap too soon for the wrong tyres, that means your race is over. So we have to keep very, very focused tomorrow.”

Ferrari’s Taponen wins in FREC

Ferrari Academy Driver Tuukka Taponen secured his maiden victory in the Formula Regional European Championship in the first of two races this weekend at Zandvoort.

Former Ferrari junior James Wharton spun out of the lead in wet conditions under pressure from Taponen. Rafael Camara then challenged his fellow Ferrari junior but Taponen held on to win.

Camara leads the series with 111 points, over twice that of Taponen in second. Taponen won the Formula Regional Middle East Championship held earlier this year.

Chadwick secures first Indy Nxt pole

Williams junior…

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