In the round-up: Fernando Alonso said Formula 1’s new Las Vegas circuit will be much quicker than many expected when the layout was revealed.
In brief
Las Vegas will be “super fast” – Alonso
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Alonso said the Las Vegas street track, which will host its first F1 race next year, is a much faster layout than he had expected.
“It’s going to be super fast,” he said in a video released by Alpine. “I thought it was much slower.”
The 6.1-kilometre configuration revealed by F1 last month features 14 turns, but many of those corners are likely to be taken at high speed. The longest stretch, The Strip, gives drivers nearly two continuous kilometres where the throttle can remain open and cars should reach their highest speeds.
“I’m surprised about the speed that you will get on those,” Alonso added. He compared his initial expectation to the tight, twisty character of Baku, but said the Las Vegas layout feels more like a sequence of straights than a street circuit filled with corners.
Alonso’s team mate Esteban Ocon expects teams to run a low downforce package at the track – “Monza or less wing level” – and suggested F1’s estimated 342 kph top speed could be conservative in race conditions.
“They predict 342, but that’s alone,” Ocon observed, adding that with tow and DRS effects drivers might see speeds of “360, 370” kph during the race. Such numbers would rank among the highest top speeds recorded at any circuit.
- 342 kph along the Strip: First look at F1’s new Las Vegas street circuit
Penske sees room for more ovals on IndyCar calendar
IndyCar owner Roger Penske reiterated his belief that the series could expand the number of oval events on future calendars. This season features 17 races, of which five are on ovals, and Penske said adding the right oval events would strengthen IndyCar’s identity compared with other forms of motorsport.
“If we can get the right event in the right location, I would lean more towards adding ovals than I would road courses or street courses, because that’s the differentiation for us from any other form of racing,” Penske told Racer. He added that he wants to preserve a mix of street courses, road courses and ovals as the series grows.
Drugovich quickest on final F2 test day
Formula 2 championship leader Felipe Drugovich topped the timesheets on the third and final day of F2 testing in Barcelona. Driving for MP Motorsport, Drugovich posted the quickest lap of the session with a 1:27.529 during the warmest part of the morning.
Carlin’s Liam Lawson was second fastest, while Jack Doohan set the third-best time for Virtuosi. The next two F2 rounds will take place at Imola next weekend, supporting the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on the Formula 1 schedule.
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Busy day @alfaromeoorlen 👨🏼🚀#VB77 #F1 #SimWorld pic.twitter.com/LSieAGi2dY
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) April 14, 2022
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcUmyRlN0FH/
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
FIA sport and mobility member clubs join forces to support Ukraine (FIA)
“In reaction to the humanitarian and refugee crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several FIA Member organisations in both Sport and Mobility – especially in Region I, Europe – have mobilised to provide support and assistance to the Ukrainian people in these difficult times.”
Online system overwhelmed as first tranche of tickets sell out quickly (Today Online)
“The first wave of tickets to this year’s Formula One Singapore Grand Prix sold out in six hours on Wednesday, but not without upsetting several fans who had problems with the event’s online ticketing system.”
Weeks before Miami Grand Prix, judge hears last-ditch case to block Formula One race (Miami Herald)
“The residents’ lawsuit says noise levels from the Formula One races will ’cause severe disruption and physical harm to Miami Gardens residents,’ citing an engineering firm’s estimate that the event will generate noise up to 97 decibels at homes within a 2.5-mile radius of the stadium — ‘similar to the sound levels produced by a chainsaw’.”
The Olympic champion who turned his back on the Russian regime – and why few in sport will follow (BBC)
“Sportspeople in Russia are like a tool. A tool of propaganda. I am sorry to admit that Russian sportspeople can’t influence the situation. And a lot of them do not even understand what is happening.”
Moto GP 22 Deep Dive (Milestone via YouTube)
“Don’t miss the exclusive Moto GP 22 Deep Dive Livestream Event and discover the best Moto GP 22 features together with the host Gavin Emmet, our developers and creators.”
The Role of a No.1 Mechanic in F1 Explained (Aston Martin)
“On a weekend when our heroes in the garage took centre stage, we shadowed Scott Taggart, No. 1 Mechanic on car No.18, to bring you the inside story.”
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 a near-miss under the Safety Car at the Australian Grand Prix involving Pierre Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda and Mick Schumacher, @g-funk suggests the FIA consider an RPM limiter to reduce the risk of accidents during safety car periods.
Maybe an RPM limiter similar to the pit lane speed limiter during safety car periods needs to be investigated? It would be faster than the pit lane speed limiter and would scale down as the pack bunches up and cars catch the safety car. But I think at this point it is clear that the drivers will always want to go much faster than has been deemed safe by race control and need to held back by external limits to keep everyone, including themselves, safe.
@g-funk
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Davidnotcoulthard and Dave W!
On this day in motorsport
- 10 years ago today Nico Rosberg scored his first grand prix win, in China