Formula 1

The Ferrari driver says it will be difficult to return to Spa 12 months after his friend Anthoine Hubert died in a horrifying accident during Formula 1 support race. The 22-year-old BWT Arden team driver was killed during the feature Formula 2 race at Spa-Francorchamps after a high speed crash which overshadowed last year’s Belgian grand prix. “The Spa-Francorchamps circuit has a very special place in my heart” “While it is here that I took my first win it is also where we lost our friend Anthoine last year. It will be difficult to return to this track and he will be in our thoughts all weekend” said Charles in a Ferrari preview to this year’s race. Pierre Gasly was also affected by the passing on of Hubert who was his friend and fellow countryman. They had lived together as they pursued their motorsport careers. “However this year returning to Belgium will also be a sad moment because it is just one year ago that Anthoine lost his life after that terrible accident in F2 race at Spa-Francorchamps.” the AlphaTauri driver said. “I had known him since I was seven years old in karting and we were in the same school together organised by the French Motorsport Federation, from when I was 13 to 19, we shared an apartment for 6 years.” “I think everyone on the paddock will take time to think of him.” The frenchman also added Spa is his favourite track and racing through all those high speed corners is a great thrill. “I really enjoy driving it and have had great races there in the past.”

Renault racing team have announced their decision to withdraw an appeal against Racing point for copying Mercedes’ rear brake duct system on their RP20 car which were deemed illegal stating that “concrete progress in safeguarding originality in the sport” as their reason behind standing down. Race stewards docked Racing point 15 points and a further 400,000 euros fine for breaching sporting regulations since the season opener in Austria, however they were allowed to keep the offending parts on the car. Renault had joined Ferrari in protesting the stewards’ decision seeking stricter punishment against racing point. Ferrari is the only team chasing the matter after Mclaren and Williams overturned their own similar announcements but on the tuesday before Belgian grand prix, Renault announced they had requested to withdraw that appeal saying that “the controversy of the start of the season should be put behind us” “Renault confirms that it has requested to withdraw the appeals lodged against the stewards’ decisions in relation to BWT Racing Point F1 Team’s brake ducts,” “Beyond the decisions, the matters at issue were vital to the integrity of Formula One, both during the current season and in the future. However, intensive and constructive work between the FIA, Renault and all Formula 1 stakeholders has led to concrete progress in safeguarding the originality in the sport by way of amendments to the Sporting and Technical Regulations planned for the 2021 racing season, confirming the requirements to qualify as a Constructor. “Reaching this strategic objective, in the context of the new Concorde Agreement, was our priority. Ferrari are still in pursue of the appeal with Racing point lodging their own appeal against the same after Racing Point’s CEO and Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer having been unhappy about the severity of the punishment, and telling the media that Racing point “need to clear our name”.

Former Formula 1 world champion and Mclaren driver Jenson Button declared he was extremely shocked by Daniel Ricciardo’s move from Redbull to Renault. Ricciardo has been struggling to find success at Renault having over a season and a half without a podium finish at the french racing team. Jensen said he would have loved to have seen him in Redbull the last couple of years pushing Max Verstappen and it would have been a great battle to see. He also added that he was impressed at Ricciardo in Renault than what he ever did in Redbull because he (Ricciardo) was over his teammate (then Hulkenberg) in his first year. Now having seen what Hulkenberg can do in Racing point shows his strength and for Ricciardo to do the same would be very impressive. While Renault has been struggling during Ricciardo’s time there, Mclaren has made tremendous improvement having finished ninth in the 2017 season, went to fourth last season and the same they currently occupy in the constructor’s championship after six races and one podium. They will be hoping for greater success in 2021 with Ricciardo’s arrival coinciding with a return to mercedes engines. Jensen who is a former Mclaren driver said that this was a ‘make or break’ opportunity for Ricciardo adding that he was a young driver who has got to start moving towards a team that can give him race wins and possibly a championship.