McLaren Says FIA Was Told Lawson Was Ordered to Help Verstappen in Miami

Comment of the day

Is the shortest, tightest track on the Formula 1 calendar the right fit for its new rules?

Watching practice today is the most I’ve enjoyed watching F1 all year because it’s the first time we’re seeing all the positive changes made for this year without any of the negatives.

The smaller, lighter and more nimble cars really look alive around this track and yes there have been other times this year where those aspects have been apparent but it’s always been overshadowed by the negative aspects of the power units.

But today I’ve seen no super-clipping, no lift-and-coast, no cars running out of battery before braking zones and so by far this has been the most normal laps we’ve seen F1 cars able to do this year and I’m really enjoying it.
@Stefmeister

Social media and links

Bids for a stake in Formula 1’s Alpine reignite dual team duel (Financial Times)

The article notes a letter from McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown that referenced an incident in Miami where Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson was told to move aside for Max Verstappen. Lawson said the move was a mistake rather than collusion.

• Lawson was right: Racing Bulls should not have ordered him to let Verstappen past

Audi wants turbos to stay in F1 amid engine debate (BBC)

Audi’s position is clear: they favour turbocharged engines because of their efficiency advantages.

Qualifying: Camara bounces back in style to take pole in Monte Carlo (Formula 2)

Invicta Racing’s driver set a 1’20.923 to claim pole for the Feature Race, with Nikola Tsolov leading Group B on 1’21.053 and securing a front-row start.

Qualifying: Nael flies to Monte Carlo pole ahead of Badoer (Formula 3)

Theophile Nael took pole for Monte Carlo with a 1’24.471 in Group B. Brando Badoer topped Group A but fell just over a tenth short of Nael’s best lap.

Racing driver cleared of raping Michael Schumacher’s nurse at cocktail party in F1 legend’s Swiss mansion (The Sun)

The report says the accused was acquitted after the Swiss court found insufficient evidence to convict. The defendant had denied the allegations, maintaining the encounter was consensual.

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Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to Paradoxos, Jenny O’G and Saurabh!

On this day in motorsport

• Five years ago today Sergio Perez won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after a tyre failure removed team mate Max Verstappen from the lead and Lewis Hamilton went off during a late restart
• 103 years ago today Ivor Bueb was born. He won the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours with Mike Hawthorn. In 1958 he raced a Connaught run by Bernie Ecclestone in the British Grand Prix; he died in 1959.