In the round-up: Drivers who make mistakes at turn one will face tougher consequences this weekend.
In brief
Turn one barrier changed for Canadian GP
Formula 1 drivers will lose more time if they run wide at the first corner of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this year after the barrier was moved and extended. The concrete wall now sits further into the run-off, so drivers who use that area will find it harder to rejoin the track at the exit of turn two than they could previously.
Other alterations at the Canadian Grand Prix venue include an enlarged run-off at turn three, removal of several orange kerbs from turns three and seven, and a narrowed pit lane entrance reduced to 4.5 metres.
Alfa Romeo warned Zhou about groundhogs
Alfa Romeo warned Zhou Guanyu about local wildlife before his first race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve last year. The team stressed the risk that small animals on the apron can cause damage and end a race despite a conservative points position.
“That was the first thing I think the team mentioned to me last year,” Zhou said. “It could be a very boring race but you’re inside the points and you hit one of these and you’re out, new front wing. So I’ll have to keep an eye on that.”
Fittipaldi to join tyre test
Pietro Fittipaldi will drive Haas’ VF-23 in the tyre test at Silverstone on July 12. Regular drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen will share the car the day before.
“There aren’t many reserve drivers who have the experience Pietro has, so his feedback on the VF-23 will prove invaluable to us,” said team principal Guenther Steiner. “Pietro has always had an impressive work ethic and his passion to learn and support the team in its objectives has been key in his continuation with us.”
F1 23 arrives today
F1 23, the latest edition of the official Formula 1 game, goes on sale today. Our in-depth review covers the return of the ‘Braking Point’ story mode, the new ‘F1 World’ feature and other major additions.
- ‘F1 23’ reviewed: Do new additions and return of story mode make it a must-buy?
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Links
Motor racing stories and features of interest:
Rosenqvist on the rise with new engineer and old buddy Lawrence (Racer)
Rosenqvist praised the rapport he has developed with his engineer, saying their simulator work and technical discussions helped the engineer understand what he wants from the car in precise detail.
How Renault’s Alpine got a value boost from Formula One (Automotive News Europe)
Alpine’s leadership underlined how motorsport exposure supports visibility and long-term ambitions for sales growth and model line-up expansion.
I pine for six wheels and rear fans (The Times – subscription required)
The piece reflects nostalgically on radical innovations that once appeared on the grid and laments how such experiments are unlikely in the current era.
Making Indy 500 history about pressure, pride for Team Penske pit crew ace Caitlyn Brown (NBC)
The story highlights the intense moments and precision required from a high-performing pit crew during race stops.
Heavy traffic expected in Montreal for grand prix weekend (Montreal Gazette)
Up to 120,000 people per day are expected at the race site, making it one of the city’s busiest weekends of the year.
Secrecy, Cigars and a Venetian Wedding: How the PGA Tour Made a Deal with Saudi Arabia (The New York Times)
The article describes high-level meetings and events connected to major sports negotiations, including notable social gatherings.
Sim to Circuit (Mercedes via YouTube)
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 to us via the contact form.
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
A productive day behind the wheel! 👊
Yesterday AMF1 Team Reserve and Development Driver @felipedrugovich took to the track in Austria, clocking up the laps as he continues his Driver Development Programme.
Ready for more, Felipe? Day Two coming right up. pic.twitter.com/yo9tfyzgLP
— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) June 15, 2023
Today, marking 30 years since the 1976 world champion James Hunt’s life was tragically cut short, a life-size bronze statue is unveiled at McLaren MTC Woking. An acutely focused 12 month project to recreate Hunt exactly as his passionate fans will remember him. pic.twitter.com/yvc79L5OJ4
— Paul Oz (@PaulOz) June 15, 2023
I have many great memories from racing in the championship, including my win at the British GP in 2021, which will stay with me forever. Thank you to Catherine and everyone behind W Series for the memories ❤️ #wseries #motorsport #inspire pic.twitter.com/aU8VyVNWte
— Alice Powell (@alicepowell) June 15, 2023
W Series enters administration. Regardless as to whether you agreed with it or not, W Series was groundbreaking. It may have come to an end, but it has done exactly what it was intended to do – inspire thousands of young girls across the globe. Thank you to everyone @ W ❤️ pic.twitter.com/CCpu84AB8X
— Abbie Eaton (@AbbieEaton44) June 15, 2023
| @alex_albon admitted he resorted to a “dodgy live stream” to watch the #LeMans24… #F1 #WEC pic.twitter.com/lfw8Uh2ZG6
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) June 15, 2023
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
Oscar Piastri has an image problem, says RatSack:
I will say that Australian commercial media coverage of F1 drivers here is always unfavourable; when any Aussie driver does poorly there are always headlines of “weekend off to a nightmare start” or “out of his depth”. When a driver does well we hear nothing unless they win.
He also hasn’t done much to win over Australian motorsport fans; the running joke is that Bottas is the most Australian driver on the grid given his recent appearance at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival and his casual public persona. I’m not aware of anything Piastri has done to raise his profile with Aussie fans yet.
Then there is his personality: there’s nothing to latch onto — no Ricciardo-style jokester or Webber’s bluntness. Piastri seems like a focused professional racing driver, which I respect but which doesn’t always make him instantly likeable.
I will say that DTS did Piastri no favours; they made him look like he ruthlessly betrayed the Alpine team. The truth is he was looking for another seat as Alpine planned to run Alonso and Ocon, and then Alpine reacted badly when they realised their mistake.
I’m hoping as Piastri becomes more established in the sport he will also become more likeable.
RatSack
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Plushpile and Jennikate Wallace!
On this day in motorsport
- 45 years ago today Mario Andretti put his Lotus on pole position for the Swedish Grand Prix