Mercedes blocked a proposal to have reverse-grid qualifying races in Formula One because they felt it was a gimmick that could affect the championship outcome, team boss Toto Wolff said on Wednesday. The idea was put forward as a way of making back-to-back races at the same circuit less predictable and more entertaining. Austria’s Red Bull Ring and Britain’s Silverstone circuit are each due to hold two races in July
Lewis Hamilton has been praised over his outspoken stance on racism by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. The Formula One world champion caused controversy by challenging his fellow drivers over their silence following the killing of George Floyd and the civil unrest which followed in the USA. But Wolff said Hamilton did the right thing as the only black driver on the grid. “Lewis is a supporter of minorities. I learned
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has backed Lewis Hamilton for speaking out on racism and diversity following the civil unrest in the United States. Hamilton said on Tuesday that he was “completely overcome with rage” at events following George Floyd’s death. Wolff said: “Lewis is a supporter of minorities. I learned a lot from him. “He asked me once: ‘Have you ever had the active thought that you are
There’s blood on the streets, tear gas in the air and Lewis Hamilton in the headlines. Black Lives Matter but why should the 35-year-old Formula One six-time world champion’s views concern anyone? Hamilton’s detractors – and he has many – are likely to roll their eyes at his contribution to the despair and uproar over George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minnesota policeman last week. The Mercedes driver’s
F1 chief says sport’s return will not be full of ‘gimmicks’ after Mercedes blamed for blocking radical ‘reverse grid race’ plan but promises fans will still see new ideas F1 see disrupted 2020 season as perfect time to experiment with ideas But CEO Chase Carey cautious not to introduce gimmicks and protect traditions Reverse grid race idea for qualifying failed to win required unanimous backing Here’s how to help people impacted
Formula One has announced that Austria will kick off the 2020 season next month with eight races planned in 10 weeks – including back-to-back showdowns at Silverstone. F1 bosses have been desperate to salvage a season which has been ravaged by the coronavirus crisis, and a bumper schedule in Europe has now been ratified. There were doubts over a British Grand Prix taking place this summer after the Government last
A proposal to introduce reverse-grid races when Formula 1 returns next month is unlikely to be accepted due to opposition from Mercedes — with Red Bull boss Christian Horner telling Sky Sports that Silver Arrows chief Toto Wolff believes it “would interfere with Lewis Hamilton’s championship campaign”. There has been a fresh push for an experimental sprint race — where the leader of the championship would start at the back
Silverstone is set to stage two Formula One races later this summer with the British government expected to provide participants with an exemption from quarantine rules. Britain will introduce a 14-day self-isolation period for travellers arriving in the country from June 8, a policy designed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Austria set to open F1 season with two races in July F1 to continue ‘gloves-off’ racing approach Medical
Williams has announced it is considering selling the Formula 1 team after a dip in the company’s financial results. The Williams Grand Prix Holdings group reported an adjusted loss of £13m (A$23.9m) for the year ending 2019, against profits of £12.9m in 2018, and new investment will now be sought. Offering a minority or majority stake will be considered, but so too will an outright buy-out. Watch condensed replays of
The rain held off long enough Thursday for NASCAR to complete the second midweek race of its revised 2020 Cup Series schedule, the Alsco Uniforms 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Even then, there was a 74-minute red flag for lightning near the track. The good news for NASCAR was that the bad weather moved away quickly and the race was scheduled for 311 miles (500 kilometers), so it finished shortly after
