In the round-up: Cem Bolukbasi has withdrawn from this week’s Formula 2 test, indicating he is still suffering pain from his crash in Jeddah three weeks ago.
In brief
Bolukbasi pulls out of F2 test with torso pain
Bolukbasi did not run on the second day of Formula 2 testing at the Circuit de Catalunya after suffering a crash on day one. He said in a social media post that he had returned to Istanbul in order to undergo medical examinations regarding torso pain which could be related to a heavy collision he had with the barriers in Jeddah.“I had to stop the testing sessions yesterday in Barcelona because of a sudden pain in my torso which seems like a side effect from my crash in Jeddah,” said Bolukbasi. “I’ve arrived back to Istanbul for physical checks, I will continue with Imola preparations after detailed examinations.”
Following his crash in Jeddah, Bolukbasi was diagnosed with concussion and excluded from competing in the rest of the race weekend.
Nissany fastest on second day of Formula 2 test
Roy Nissany set the quickest time around Barcelona on the second day of F2’s in-season testing. The DAMS driver put in a 1’28.812 lap during the morning session, despite the session being disrupted by four red flags.
The afternoon session was less interrupted, however, there was intermittent rain that prevented drivers from setting faster lap times than in the morning, Marcus Armstrong putting in the best afternoon time with a 1’29.752.
Formula 2 and 3 following “very strong” FIA guidance on Russian athletes
Formula 3 is the only FIA series which currently has a Russian driver competing in it, with Alexander Smolyar having signed the FIA’s driver agreement and entering under a non-national flag, as an ‘authorised neutral driver.’ However he is expected to face difficulties competing in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, where the regional automobile club has banned Russians from participating.
“I don’t think there’s much to anticipate at the moment of what will happen in the future,” Michel continued. “Of course, we don’t go to Sochi this year, that’s a simple answer, and then we see for the future, but we’re just following the rules.”
Huge points swings in Formula E not to do with old qualifying format – Evans
Double Rome EPrix winner Mitch Evans doesn’t believe Formula E’s much-criticised previous qualifying format was solely to blame with the significant swings in performance seen last year. The Jaguar driver suspects the up-and-down nature of the 2020-2021 championship was also due to the varying nature of the tracks visited by the series, as well as the group qualifying format.
“Last year we had a huge influence with quali from that but also the track layouts really changed it,” he said. “Our car has got a certain philosophy, our design, our powertrain is designed in a certain way to suit the circuits and these are the DNA of Formula E tracks, [like] Rome. ”
Last year Formula E held two double-header rounds at permanent circuits, Valencia and Puebla. “We just don’t really suit those circuits as well,” Evans admitted. “It’s easy to blame the group stuff, but look at this year up until this race – everyone’s had a fair chance in qualifying in front and we just haven’t. We’ve just not really had the pace.
“So that’s not down to group stuff or the old qualifying format, it’s just pure pace. I’m obviously hoping this is not a one-off and I’m hoping Monaco should be similar to last year. But again, you just never know in this championship, but it’s obviously the other circuits that maybe don’t traditionally suit our car, that’s when we have to really put the hard work in because that’s where you could potentially make the difference in the championship.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
朝ブローしたエンジンを載せ替えて、午後走り出して6ラップでスペアも壊れました。
テストで良かった。
チームのみんなには感謝です。 pic.twitter.com/0O4haL7OL4— MARiNO SATO | 佐藤万璃音 (@SATO_MARiNO) April 13, 2022
@josefnewgarden is a real pro, & I explained to him that the question I asked was not the question he heard. I asked "When will you know that Herta has checked out?" Sez Josef: "Oh, that is a different question." His answer ended my Q story on a great note. His win made it better
— Martin Henderson (@henderson949) April 10, 2022
Exciting news for @MaxEsterson, who has been chosen to become a Red Bull athlete ahead of his GB3 debut!#DouglasMotorsport pic.twitter.com/bKguukHbMN
— Douglas Motorsport (@DouglasMSport) April 13, 2022
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Andrews hints at extended Australian Grand Prix deal (The Age)
"We’ll have further announcements to make about the grand prix and other events in due course. Today is not a day for me to be announcing that. I could announce the extension. But that’s probably (for) a different day."
Sydney hopes to steal F1 grand prix (The Australian - subscription required)
"Members of the NSW government continued hatching their latest plot to steal the event for Sydney."
IndyCar rich in drama as Indianapolis 500 looms (Miami Herald)
"There will be 33 cars in the field, Penske insisted, although 33 entrants have yet to be announced."
Alex Jacques on commentating on some of motorsport's most terrifying accidents (Ellie Does F1)
'All you want is good news and there is no good news in that moment, so you want the person on the microphone to guide you through as best they can,' Alex says. 'That’s what informs the way I usually respond to a big incident like that.'
Lewis Hamilton Sat On A Stool In Malaysia & Someone Just Bought It For RM2,888 (SAYS)
The 'rare item' was listed by a Preferred Shopee seller, Lima Bintang Auto Parts. Based on their profile, the seller has a rating of 4.9 stars and has been on the platform for three years.
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 in via the contact form.
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Comment of the day
After the president of the Automobile Club de Monaco assured French media that the Monaco Grand Prix’s future was not in doubt, Greg doubts such a historic race could ever be dropped:
I live in the UK now, but grew up in Canada, and only started watching F1 because my father was a fan (there was no Drive to Survive back then). As a young kid, Monaco grabbed me instantly. So exotic, so glamorous! I know now, watching as an adult, that there isn’t much passing, but I still love the spectacle of it. Fast cars shooting by yachts in the harbour in the Med sun. I loved going there in 2009 to see the GP. Given the prices, really a once in a lifetime experience.
Growing up in the seventies and eighties, I think back in North America, other than Montreal (or Mosport for at times) and wherever the US was at the time, most people could only name another place F1 raced – Monaco. Maybe times have changed, but I wouldn’t be surprised if things had changed too much (with maybe the addition of Mexico).
I do wonder, at a time when F1 is becoming more popular in the US, would Liberty really drop F1’s most famous and well known track?
@gregwtravels
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Cmcgato!
On this day in motorsport
- 20 years ago today Michael Andretti scored his final CART IndyCar race victory in the Long Beach Grand Prix, having started 15th, holding off pole-winner Jimmy Vasser by less than half a second
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
14th April 2022, 1:03
I have to agree with COTD. The incredible driving ability needed just to nail one lap let alone an entire Grand Prix still impresses me. I don’t really care if passing happens or not, I still find the Monaco Grand Prix enthralling. I’m sure I’m not alone in learning of Monaco’s existence as a 10 year old purely because Formula One raced there.
Surely F1 would be insane to contemplate moving the GP from Melbourne to Sydney after the success of last weekend. Stranger things have happened though I suppose…
frood19 (@frood19)
14th April 2022, 7:02
The problem with Monaco races recently is that everyone is driving so far off the limit that there is far less of a challenge keeping the car out of the barriers for 80 laps. It never seems like anyone is going to make a mistake (even the crash prone guys like Stroll, latifi et al seem to make it to the end).
I blame the tyres.
Mooa42
14th April 2022, 1:14
RE COTD I agree, Monaco is synonymous with F1. Monaco is fine with no overtaking, it is the anticipation that someone might hit the wall and the chance of that changing the outcome of the race that makes it exciting, and passing is still possible, just really really hard. 100% concentration needed. Like a game of chess.
You don’t hear Soccer fans asking for wider goals so there is more scoring, a nill all draw keeps the adrenaline pumping from the anticipation that your team could win or lose at any stage.
People needing overtaking to feel like a race is worth watching is akin to Nascar audiences only going to see destructive crashes to make the race exciting, with no care for who wins or loses.
I love Monaco, my favorite race of the year and one I hope to get to one day.
mmertens (@mmertens)
14th April 2022, 5:16
Fully agree, and what’s best is the history, reaching for almost 1 century of legends racing there, it’s incredible. From pre F1 era going thru every period in F1 adds something truly special. From every corner there are different stories that could be told. Races won or lost by luck, bravery, stamina, consistency, or true greatness. Miracle wins of underdogs, to last corner on last lap defeats, Monaco had it all. A race where true talent will always shine brighter. Even 2 cars have already sunk on the sea there. There’s no other race like Monaco. Monaco is F1.
S
14th April 2022, 7:37
It’s not just about overtaking, it’s about the possibility of overtaking or having something unexpected happen. Neither of which are particularly evident at Monaco – least of all in modern F1.
Part of the appeal of NASCAR IS the risk and possibility of incidents. That’s a huge part of its identity. Nobody wants injuries, but the action is a massive attraction.
I don’t care who wins in any racing series. It’s not about results – it’s about what happens throughout the event that leads to the results. That’s the only meaningful reason to watch, IMO. If the results were the only important thing, I’d just read about it instead of wasting hours watching it.
Monaco provides so little worth watching – there’s so much predictability and so little ability to alter things during the race. Qualifying is a far bigger deal than the actual race, and contributes more to the race results than the race itself does, anyway.
That isn’t right.
If Monaco must remain on the calendar, I’d personally rather see it as a special knockout-style time-trial event.
Might as well at least exploit it’s primary sporting strength, as the normal racing is basically non-existent.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th April 2022, 7:38
I’m sure Melbourne will continue beyond 2025 rather than Sydney ‘stealing’ the AusGP from them.
888 Malaysian Ringgit is 192.43 euros.
I’m surprised anyone would be willing to buy a mere chair for such a high sum.
No chair suddenly becomes special because a given individual has sat on that. #PeopleAreWeird
COTD is interesting & makes a valid point. If Monaco ever were to get axed, this wouldn’t happen easily.
Qeki (@qeki)
14th April 2022, 8:23
@jerejj Price was 2888 malesian ringgits so it must be somewhere between 2500-3500 euros
I saw Hamilton once on a race track. I should consider selling that vision?
Qeki (@qeki)
14th April 2022, 11:11
*250-350
Jere (@jerejj)
14th April 2022, 12:40
@qeki 2,888, of course. I didn’t notice the comma somehow, so I thought 2 refers to something else.
I’ve also seen him on a race track (& a podium), so I should consider selling these visions & images for a hefty price – additionally, my autographed-signed driver cards & a book.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
14th April 2022, 8:26
Oh dear, poor Cem. I hope it’s not internal bleeding. Get him the best doctors and make sure he’s fully healthy before he participates. Really sad, hope he gets better soon.
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
14th April 2022, 9:07
I find it really weird that F2 / F3 is bending over backwards to make a fuss about Russian drivers, given that they have only 1.
And given that already the use of the Russian flag and anthem has been banned for the past 2 years in international sport, yet ironically this didn’t apply to F2 and F3 for some bizarre reason.
RandomMallard
14th April 2022, 13:12
@eurobrun I believe the reason the flag ban previously didn’t apply to F2 and F3 is because they are not World Championships, so do not come under the “major international sporting events” the WADA ban covered. It’s the same reason Russia was still allowed to co-host and participate in Euro 2020, because it is a UEFA competition rather than a FIFA competition, so is (well, was until February) not covered by the ban.