Review of the fourth round of the 2023 F1 season at the Baku City Circuit in the the centre of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan; for Saturday's Sprint Race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Overall the race itself was good race to watch. Just like Friday Qualifying, Charles Leclerc took the Sprint shootout pole for Saturday's sprint race ahead of Sergio Pérez and Current Formula 1 Champion Max Verstappen. At the start of the Sprint Race, Leclerc took the advantage at the start. Until at the end of lap seven, Sergio Pérez took the lead and stayed there till the end; to win the Sprint Race, giving Sergio Pérez the eight points.
While, Charles Leclerc finished in second place in the Ferrari, Leclerc was four and half seconds behind Pérez at the end.
Meanwhile, Current Formula 1 Champion Max Verstappen finished in third place in the other Red Bull to complete the podium, Verstappen was five seconds behind Pérez at the end of the seventeen lap race.
With the weekend format change to adopted for those Grands Prix which include the additional sprint race. The format consisted of a single practice session on Friday, followed by the qualifying session which determined the grid for the Sunday's Grand Prix. On Saturday, a new qualifying session called "sprint shootout", in place of the former second practice session, was run, determining the grid for the sprint. The traditional Grand Prix took place on Sunday. This is gonna be a quick qualifying report to set the table for Sunday's race.
For the first time this season a Red Bull driver will not start on pole for Sunday's race, as Charles Leclerc will start on pole in his Ferrari.
Current Formula 1 Champion Max Verstappen will start on the front row in his Red Bull, Verstappen was two tenths of a second behind Leclerc at the end.
Meanwhile, Sergio Pérez will start third on the grid in his Red Bull, Pérez was three tenths of a second behind Leclerc at the end.
This Sunday coming up (30/4/23) and Monday (1/5/23) it will be 29 years that Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna has past away from us, from the accidents at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 were Ratzenberger crashed his Simtek at Villenunve in Qualifying and Senna crashed his Williams at Tumbrello in the race itself. Both would have been 63 this year if there still around today. So for this post remembering both Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger.
The sport has change since their deaths, with the safety of both cars and tracks to improve safety year after year. So never forget Ayrton and Roland, both are still missed throughout the world of motor-racing in general.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit in the the centre of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
So Predictions for the race, and for the win I predict Max Verstappen for the race win in the Red Bull, Sergio Pérez second in the other Red Bull, and third place for George Russell in the Mercedes. Don't forget Sir Lewis Hamilton, the Ferrari drivers, the Aston Martin drivers, and the Alpine drivers as-well for a podium place.
Review of Round One of the 2023 British Touring Car Championship season was at Donington Park's National Circuit, in Leicestershire.
In the first race, NAPA Racing UK driver Dan Cammish took the race in his Ford Focus ST. Second was Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver Jake Hill in his BMW 330e M Sport, he was two seconds behind Cammish in the end. While third place was Bristol Street Motors with Excelr8 driver and current BTCC Champion Tom Ingram in his Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance, he was two and half seconds behind behind Cammish in the end.
Meanwhile, Independents class was won by CarStore Power Maxed Racing driver Andrew Watson in his Vauxhall Astra and also took Jack Sears Trophy (for drivers yet to record an overall podium finish or won outright the Jack Sears Trophy championship) win, he finished in fourth place and was under three seconds behind Cammish in the end.
Meanwhile in the second race, Bristol Street Motors with Excelr8 driver Tom Chilton took the race win in his Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance. Second was Team BMW driver Adam Morgan in his BMW 330e M Sport, he was seven seconds behind Chilton in the end. While third place was NAPA Racing UK driver Sam Osborne in his Ford Focus ST and also took Jack Sears Trophy win, he was nineteen seconds behind behind Chilton in the end.
Meanwhile, Independents class was won by CarStore Power Maxed Racing driver Mikey Doble in his Vauxhall Astra, he finished in fifth place and was thirty-five seconds behind Chilton in the end.
Finally in the third race, NAPA Racing UK driver Dan Cammish took the race in his Ford Focus ST. Second was Bristol Street Motors with Excelr8 driver and current BTCC Champion Tom Ingram in his Hyundai i30 Fastback N Performance, he was three seconds behind Cammish in the end. While third place was NAPA Racing UK driver Sam Osborne in his Ford Focus ST, he was four seconds behind behind Cammish in the end.
Meanwhile, Independents class was won byAutobrite Direct with Millers Oils driver Bobby Thompson in his Cupra León, he finished in sixth place and was twelve and half seconds behind Cammish in the end.
While, Jack Sears Trophy was won by CarStore Power Maxed Racing driver Andrew Watson in his Vauxhall Astra, he finished in twelfth place and was eighteen seconds behind Cammish in the end.
Next stop Brands Hatch for Round Two of the 2023 British Touring Car Championship season in two weeks time.
Recap of the last round of WRC from last weekends Round 4 of Croatia Rally.
Last weekend was round four of the 2022 World Rally Championship at the Croatia Rally (20th–23rd April), that was won by Elfyn Evans in his works Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
While, Ott Tänak finished second in his works Ford Puma Rally1, Tänak was only twenty-seven seconds behind Evans at the end of the rally. Meanwhile, Esapekka Lappi finished third in his works Hyundai i20 N Rally1, Lappi was aminutes behind Evans at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Manufacturer entries competing in cars built to Rally2 specifications), that was won by PH Sport driver Yohan Rossel in his Citroën C3 Rally2. Yohan Rossel finished in eighth place overall, he was ten minutes behind Evans at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Open to privately-entered cars; Rally3 spec cars), that was won by Eamonn Kelly in his own backed Ford Fiesta Rally3 also took the Junior-WRC class win. Eamonn Kelly finished in twentieth place overall, he was twenty-nine minutes behind Tänak at the end of the rally.
Next stop, Round Five of the 2023 WRC season for Rally de Portugal in three weeks time.
Review of Round Six of the 2022-23 Formula E season held at a temporary circuit at Tempelhof airport, Berlin, Germany. The track was built for the race next to the terminal building of the closed airport for two races.
On Saturday's race, that was won by Jaguar TCS Racing driver Mitch Evans in his Spark-Jaguar. Second was Jaguar TCS Racing driver Sam Bird in his Spark-Jaguar, he was two seconds behind Evans in the end. Meanwhile, third was Maserati MSG Racing driver Maximilian Günther in his Spark-Maserati, he was three seconds behind Evans in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
On Sunday's race, that was won by Envision Racing driver Nick Cassidy in his Spark-Jaguar. Second was Avalanche Andretti Formula E driver Jake Dennis in his Spark-Porsche, he was four tenths of a second behind Cassidy in the end. Meanwhile, third was France DS Penske driver Jean-Éric Vergne in his Spark-DS, he was twelve tenths of a second behind Cassidy in the end.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Next stop, Round Seven of the 2022-23 Formula E World Championship season at Circuit de Monaco, Monaco for the Monaco ePrix in two weeks time.
Review of Round Two of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship at Algarve International Circuit on the outskits of Portimão, Portugal.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing team won the race overall and the Hypercar class too of Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa in their Toyota GR010 Hybrid; Toyota 3.5 L Turbo V6. While, second place was the Ferrari – AF Corse, with the team of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen in their Ferrari 499P, Ferrari 3.0 L Turbo V6; they were a lap behind the leaders at the end of the race. Meanwhile, third place was the Porsche Penske Motorsport, with the team of Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor in their Porsche 963, Porsche 9RD 4.6 L Turbo V8; they were a lap behind the leaders at the end of the race.
In LMP2 class (all cars using the Gibson 4.2 L V8 engine), United Autosports team of Giedo van der Garde, Oliver Jarvis and Josh Pierson in their Oreca 07 won LMP2 class. They finish in tenth place overall and they were seven laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
While in GTE Am class, was won by Corvette Racing team of Nicky Catsburg, Ben Keating and Nicolás Varrone in their Chevrolet Corvette C8.R. They finish in twenty-first place overall and they were sixteen laps behind the leaders at the end of the race.
Highlights of the 8 Hours of Portimão below, enjoy.
Next Stop 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in two weeks time for Round Three of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Review of the third round of the 2023 MotoGP season at Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas in USA.
In the MotoGP sprint race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Ducati Lenovo Team rider and Current MotoGP Champion Francesco Bagnaia on his works Ducati Desmosedici GP23.
Second was LCR Honda Castrol rider Álex Rins on his Honda RC213V, he was two and half seconds behind Bagnaia at the end. While, third was Prima Pramac Racing rider Jorge Martín on his Ducati Desmosedici GP22, he was four and half seconds behind Bagnaia at the end.
In the MotoGP main race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by LCR Honda Castrol rider Álex Rins on his Honda RC213V.
Second was Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider Luca Marini on his Ducati Desmosedici GP22P, he was three and half seconds behind Rins at the end. While, third was Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo on his works Yamaha YZR-M1, he was five seconds behind Rins at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-three four-stroke class), that race was won by Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Pedro Acosta on the Kalex. Second was Elf Marc VDS Racing Team rider Tony Arbolino on the Kalax, he was two tenths of a second behind Acosta at the end of the race. While, third was Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team rider Bo Bendsneyder on the Kalax, he was six seconds behind Acosta at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Angeluss MTA Team rider Iván Ortolá on the KTM. Second was Leopard Racing rider Jaume Masià on the Honda, he was half a second behind Ortolá at the end of the race. While, third was CFMoto Racing Prüstel GP rider Xavier Artigas on the CFMoto, he was six tenths of a second behind Ortolá at the end of the race.
It was confirmed on Thursday lunch-time (13/4/2023) Craig Breen died at age 33 after an accident during a pre-event test, ahead of the 2023 Croatia Rally for Hyundai. The front-left of his car collided with a pole on a road between Stari Golubovec and Lobor at 12:40 pm local time, fatally injuring him. Breen's co-driver James Fulton was uninjured. Condolences goes out to the family and friends of Craig Breen.
Breen strated rallying in the WRC in 2009, with his big opportunity came in 2016 when Citroën sign him for three seasons with best finish of second at Rally Sweden in 2018.
For 2019, Breen moved to Hyundai for three seasons, with best result of three second place finishes.
Breen moved to M-Sport in 2022, with best result of second at Rally Italia Sardegna and finishing seventh in the drivers' standings.
For 2023, Breen return to Hyundai, his only this year was Rally Sweden finishing second once again currently sits sixth in the drivers' standings. Set to rally in Croatia for next week until his death.
Review of the second round of the 2023 MotoGP season at Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo, Santiago del Estero in North Argentina.
In the MotoGP sprint race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Brad Binder on his works KTM RC16.
Second was Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider Marco Bezzecchi on his Ducati Desmosedici GP22, he was a tenth of a second behind Binder at the end. While, third was Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider Luca Marini on his Ducati Desmosedici GP22, he was nine tenths of a second behind Binder at the end.
In the MotoGP main race (V-twin, V4, or Inline-four 1000cc four stroke class), that was won by Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider Marco Bezzecchi on his Ducati Desmosedici GP22.
Second was Pramac Racing rider Johann Zarco on his Ducati Desmosedici GP22, he was four seconds behind Bezzecchi at the end. While, third was Gresini Racing MotoGP rider Álex Márquez on his Ducati Desmosedici GP22, he was four and half seconds behind Bezzecchi at the end.
In the Moto2 race (Inline-three four-stroke class), that race was won by Elf Marc VDS Racing Team rider Tony Arbolino on the Kalax. Second was Speed Up Racing rider Alonso López on the Boscoscuro, he was seven tenths of a second behind Arbolino at the end of the race. While, third was GasGas Aspar Team rider Jake Dixon on the Kalax, he was two seconds behind Arbolino at the end of the race.
While in the Moto3 race (single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke class), that race was won by Leopard Racing rider Tatsuki Suzuki on the Honda. Second was MT Helmets – MSi rider Diogo Moreira on the KTM, he was four and half seconds behind Suzuki at the end of the race. While, third was CIP Green Power rider Andrea Migno on the KTM, he was five seconds behind Suzuki at the end of the race.
2023 Australian Grand Prix of the third round of the F1 season at Albert Park on the outskirts of Melbourne.
Overall, the race itself was a good race to watch from start to finish. Current Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen was on pole for Sunday's race ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Russell took the lead at the start ahead of Hamilton and Verstappen. Until lap 7, Alexander Albon lost control of his car and crashed heavily at turn seven, causing the safety car to be called out; Russell changed his tyres for fresh hard compounds, allowing his teammate Lewis Hamilton to inherit the lead. The race was red-flagged to allow marshals to clean up the debris left by Albon's car and gravel that had been strewn on track. As Russell just changed their tyres in the safety car period, this meant they lost out, as rivals were able to change their tyres during the stoppage.
Hamilton kept his lead at the second restart, but would soon lose the lead into turn 9 as Verstappen overtook him with DRS on lap 12. The race was red-flagged once again on lap 55 after Kevin Magnussen's right-rear wheel made contact with the wall at turn two, damaging his rear suspension and causing the tyre to detach.
The race was restarted again with Verstappen keeping his lead. As the cars reached turn 1 comes chaos, Carlos Sainz, Jr. pushed Fernando Alonso into a spin, the Alpines of Gasly and Esteban Ocon ended their races in the wall after a heavy collision, and Nyck de Vries and Logan Sargeant found themselves in the gravel and out of the race; Stroll, despite also running into the gravel, managed to recover his car and continue the race. The race was red-flagged for a third time.
The race resumed via rolling start at the end of lap 58, which coincided with the checkered flag being shown at the finish line; Max Verstappen win this seasons Australian Grand Prix for Max Verstappen second race win of the season.
While, Sir Lewis Hamilton finished in second place in the Mercedes, Hamilton was two tenths of a second behind Verstappen at the end.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso finished in third place in the Aston Martin to complete the podium, Alonso was eight tenths of a second behind Verstappen at the end of the fifty-eight lap race.
Highlights of the race below, enjoy.
Rate the Teams and Drivers
Red Bull Racing - 9
Max Verstappen - 10 (pole, race win)
Sergio Pérez - 9 (finished fifth, fastest lap)
Ferrari - 6
Charles Leclerc - 5 (DNF, Collision with Stroll)
Carlos Sainz Jr. - 7 (finished twelfth)
Mercedes - 8
Lewis Hamilton - 9 (finished second)
George Russell - 8 (DNF, Engine)
Alpine - 7
Esteban Ocon - 5 (finished fourteenth/DNF, two laps down/Collision with Gasly)
Pierre Gasly - 9 (finished thirteenth/DNF, two laps down/Collision with Ocon)
McLaren - 7
Lando Norris - 7 (finished sixth)
Oscar Piastri - 7 (finished eighth)
