It was confirmed yesterday (26/8/22), Gresini Racing MotoGP rider Enea Bastianini will switch over to the Ducati Lenovo Team for next season for next season alongside Francesco Bagnaia at the team replacing Jack Miller.
Bastianini currently sits sixth in the standings with a three wins at Qatar, Austin and Le Mans early in the season.
It was confirmed on the same day (26/8/22), Pramac MotoGP will retain both Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin for the 2023 MotoGP season.
Zarco currently sits fourth place in the MotoGP standings, with a best finish of two second places.
While Martin currently sits ninth place in the MotoGP standings, with a best finish of two second places.
It was confirmed yesterday on the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix (26/8/22), Alfa Romeo is to leave Formula 1 at the end of 2023, which means it will end its partnership with Sauber after the end of next season, returning the Sauber name in Formula 1 for 2024 season.
The Italian manufacturer joined forces with Sauber in 2018 as a title sponsor, before the partnership was extended the following year in a deal that saw the team renamed to Alfa Romeo.
On Friday, Audi announced that it would enter the sport in 2026 as a Power Unit supplier.
Although it has not yet been confirmed, it is widely expected that it will acquire a majority share in Sauber (around 75% before 2026).
In a statement released hours after Audi’s confirmation, Alfa Romeo declared that it would part ways with Sauber by the end of the 2023 campaign.
Overall, no surprises there too, its been heavily rumoured for a while now that Audi will buy 75% of Sauber before 2026, so why have a Fiat brand sponsoring an 75% VW own team, makes no scene. Unless Alfa buys the team outright, I don't see that happening.
Bye Bye Alfa Romeo once again.
It was confirmed on the eve of the Belgian Grand Prix (26/8/22), Audi will enter the sport as a Power Unit supplier from the 2026 Formula 1 season.
It marks the first time that Audi (or VW) has ventured into F1.
The Power Unit will be completely constructed in-house at the Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany.
New engine regulations will come into play for 2026 which includes sustainably fuels and no ERS-H forthcoming, which was believed to be the final step for the Volkswagen Group to proceed with its push into F1.
As well as Audi, it is expected that the VW group will enter the 2026 campaign with sister brand Porsche, who is set to enter an agreement to power both Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri.
It is expected that it will enter a partnership with Sauber buying 75% of the team before 2026, who currently runs under the Alfa Romeo name.
Overall, no surprises here, its been heavily rumoured that the German manufacturer has been in talks to join the grid for many years (since 2014), however its interest never fully materialised into a solid entry until now.
A new era for Audi.
It was confirmed on Wednesday (24/8/22), Daniel Ricciardo will leave McLaren at the end of the season, not completing his three deal he signed in 2020.
His stint at the team was marred by underwhelming performances, and he was often outpaced by team-mate Lando Norris, despite winning last seasons Italian Grand Prix.
Ricciardo currently sits twelfth in the drivers standings, with best finish of sixth at his home Grand Prix at Melbourne back in April.
Oscar Piastri is set to replace Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren for 2023.
Overall, not the biggest surprise due to Ricciardo under-performing for the last two last two seasons and expressly this season with team-mate Lando Norris out performing him massively. It has cost McLaren at lot of money to terminate his contract early.
So what's next for Ricciardo? a return to Alpine and could happen if they can't retain Piastri for 2023, perhaps. Could Williams or Haas could be options.
Another option could take a year off in 2023 and return to Formula 1 in 2024 as Ricciardo is currently 33 and he will be 34 in 2024 still young enough to challange championships. Drivers have won championships after taking time away from Formula 1 the likes of Niki Lauda (1984 with McLaren after two seasons off) and Alain Prost (1993 with Williams after a season off) to name a few.
Whatever the outcome for 2023, interesting times ahead for Daniel Ricciardo and for Formula 1.
Its been seven years today that Justin Wilson has past away from us, Wilson suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident at the Pocono Raceway at the penultimate round of the Indy Car Series championship, which caused his death the following day. Wilson was struck in the head by large debris from the crash from another driver car.
Today it should be celebrating life and never ever forget Justin Wilson.
Predictions for this weekends Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, Spa.
So Predictions for the race, for the win I predict Max Verstappen for the race win in the Red Bull, Charles Leclerc second in the Ferrari, and third place for Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. Don't forget Sergio Pérez, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Jr., Valtteri Bottas, the McLaren drivers, and the Alpine drivers as-well for a podium place.
Recap of the last round of WRC from last weekends Round Nine of Ypres Rally Belgium.
Last weekends was the ninth round of the World Rally Championship at Ypres Rally Belgium (18th-21st August) that was won by that was won by Ott Tänak in his works Hyundai i20 N Rally1.
While, Elfyn Evans finished second in his works Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Evans was five seconds behind Tänak at the end of the rally. Meanwhile, Esapekka Lappi finished third in his works Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Lappi was a minute and a half behind Tänak at the end of the rally.
Meanwhile in WRC-2 class (Manufacturer entries competing in cars built to Group R5 specifications), that was won by Hyundai Motorsport N driver Stéphane Lefebvre in his own backed Citroën C3 Rally2. Stéphane Lefebvre finished in sixth place overall, he was ten minutes behind Neuville at the end of the rally.
While in WRC-3 class (Open to privately-entered cars; Rally3 spec cars), that was won by Jan Černý in his own backed Ford Fiesta Rally3. Jan Černý finished in thirty-fourth place overall, he was eighteen minutes behind Tänak at the end of the rally.
Next stop, Round Ten of the 2022 WRC season for Acropolis Rally, Greece in three weeks time.
