Car FYI

Photo Credit: Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. untitled Despite the best efforts of the 20 Formula 1 drivers and teams, the ultimate winner of this weekend racing at Belgium’s Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps was the weather. Complicating Saturday’s qualifying for the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix by soaking the fast Eau Rouge section of the popular race track, rain continued into Sunday greatly hindering what was supposed to have been a 44-lap event. Instead of pole sitter Max Verstappen leading the field with his #33 Red Bull Racing RB16B race car, the vehicle at the front during the limited laps around the course was the safety car. In fact, the lap count at the end of the Belgium Grand Prix would be a series record for the shortest grand prix ever to be run by Formula 1. Conditions ahead of the start Belgian Grand Prix instantly signalled how miserable the weather competitors, track workers and race fans would have to endure as Formula 1 attempted ...

Photo Credit: Charles Coates/LAT Images/Pirelli untitled After well-deserved one-week break following three consecutive weekends of racing, the drivers and teams of Formula 1 arrive at the storied Silverstone Circuit for the British Grand Prix. A short commute for many teams who operate home bases close to the track, Silverstone’s combination of high speeds and high g-force corners strain race cars and tires. Last season’s grand prix on the circuit famously ended with winner Lewis Hamilton limping his Mercedes-AMG machine to the chequered flag on just three intact tires. Rule changes meant to reduce downforce of Formula 1 cars introduced for 2021 as well as revised construction used for Pirelli rear tires should prevent similar incident as last year occurring in this latest British Grand Prix. Providing a new wrinkle to the British Grand Prix was Formula 1's first-ever sprint qualifying session. The familiar three-stage time trial was held on Friday with Merc...