In this round-up: Fernando Alonso says the Halo on this year’s Formula 1 cars should not be up for debate because of its role as a crucial safety device.
Links
Your daily digest of F1 news, views, features and more from numerous sites across the web:
Alonso optimistic for 2018 (Sky)
“It’s a safety device. As long as safety’s involved I think there should not be any debate on that because it’s a priority. I think to work on the aesthetics for the following year will be important as well to make the fans also happy and to make the cars attractive. But so far I think it’s a device that protects the head of the drivers so it’s very welcome.”
Renault admits launch pictures were not the real 2018 car (Motorsport)
“To be extremely clear, the car that we showed in digital was really a presentation for the livery.”
Daniel Ricciardo drives the Red Bull RB14 at Silverstone (Red Bull via YouTube)
1981 March 811: Formula Vice (Petrolicious via YouTube)
Spitting in the face of tradition (Racer)
“IndyCar has enough challenges trying to break out of NASCAR’s shadow and become relevant again with the American public, so why would you want to share this sacred stage with anyone else?”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Here it is, as promised… First full run for the R.S.18! #RS18 #RSspirit pic.twitter.com/dl3LEyqePA
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) February 24, 2018
Great privilege & absolute pleasure to unveil the car in front of colleagues @McLarenF1 during the MTC launch #ThankYou #MCL33 #BeBrave pic.twitter.com/yZYIsbqviw
— Hyo Won Kim | 김효원 (@f1hwk) February 24, 2018
Well, the season is officially underway as we’ve completed the first day of setting up the IT kit in Barcelona (OK, I realise F1 fans will consider the first day of car running as the start – but for us in IT – this is a big day!!)
— Graeme Hackland 💙 (@graemehackland) February 24, 2018
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Should F1 prioritise making the sport more accessible to fans over focusing solely on the quality of the on-track contest?
If F1 isn’t ‘free to air’, most fans will leave.
As a 30-plus year F1 fan, it is already trying my patience missing half the grands prix and with no free-to-air source in the UK from next year, audiences will be minimal. I for one will probably reduce my interest to checking the papers the next day, if that.
I can’t see many major sponsors paying top dollar for such a rapidly declining audience, already down from eight million to less than 400,000 in the UK in the last 10 years. Formula E might get more interesting, more sponsors and more audience, if it remains free to air.
Mark (@Inkpen99)
From the forum
- @F1trip has a question about attending this year’s German Grand Prix
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On this day in F1
- Tony Brooks was born today in 1932. His autobiography “Poetry in Motion” is recommended reading.