RaceFans Round-up: Sprint races mustn’t be “manipulated or artificial”

What they say

Ricciardo said he was initially concerned to hear about Formula 1’s plans to introduce sprint races, but was reassured to hear they won’t involve reverse grids:

At first I was a little apprehensive, but I do feel better at the thought of that certainly [rather] than a reverse grid. Ultimately if the best guys and the best teams are still coming out on top and it’s kind of not manipulated or artificial, so to speak, then I’m less scared of it.

Competition is obviously what I love most. I would love to do more races and less practice or whatever. So in saying that, it does go towards what I want.

But I think the biggest thing is I want an F1 win to still feel as big as what it should be. I don’t ever want an F1 win to feel diluted or just somewhat lower than what it should. So as long as if they do bring in another race on the weekend, as long as it [still] kind of carries the same value, then I guess I’m certainly more open-minded towards that.

That sound again… 😍 pic.twitter.com/iE5E4OytzA

— Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) February 15, 2021

•February 15, 2021• 533 days after Spa, I have gotten back, for the first time, behind the wheel of a formula car. It’s hard to describe with words what this means to me. All I can say is thank you to all of you who have supported me up to this point ❤️ AH was with me today pic.twitter.com/Uh1QRiJAe5

— Juan Manuel Correa (@JMCorrea__) February 15, 2021

They may have both left their previous team but @DanielRicciardo hasn’t forgotten about last year’s tattoo bet with @Cyroul.

“It hasn’t happened yet, but it will.”#F1 pic.twitter.com/8oGhpZzMpI

— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) February 15, 2021

Daniel Ricciardo 2021 helmet.

Design by @O_Conifer, paintwork by JMD. pic.twitter.com/11tBDPXS6R

— Jens Munser Designs (@JMD_helmets) February 15, 2021

Uralkali had issued a press statement in December, stating that they intended to pursue an appeal after Justice Miles found that the Administrators undertook a fair and proper sales process and ruled in their favour.

— Thomas Maher (@thomasmaheronf1) February 15, 2021

Links

More motor racing links of interest:

Jost Capito: Reglement zu kompliziert, Kosten zu hoch (SpeedWeek – German)

The new Williams CEO says Formula 1 needs to bring back independent engine constructors.

Honda F1 power unit technology from 2022 (AlphaTauri)

Franz Tost: “I would like to thank the FIA and Formula 1 Management, together with all the teams, for having unanimously agreed on the engine freeze from the start of next year, which has enabled this agreement to be reached. We believe this is the best solution for the future of both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri, until the next generation engines are introduced in 2025.”

Billy McGinty appointed Sky’s Director of Formula 1 (Motorsport Broadcasting)

“A mainstay at Sky for many years, McGinty previously worked as a producer on Sky’s F1 coverage in their earlier seasons.”

The inside scout: Calan Williams (F3)

“I met (Ricciardo) in 2019, we sat down and had a chat together for a bit and that was incredible. He had some great advice, mostly about the way that he approaches things, some things which switched his mindset at points in his career and things like that.”

The story behind Daruvala’s helmet (F2)

“My religion is Zoroastrianism and on the back of the helmet I have our symbol, which is an eagle called an Faravahar. My mum likes me to have this on there for good luck, because he is my guardian and he looks after me.”

AT02 Fire Up (AlphaTauri via YouTube)

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On this day in F1

• 25 years ago today Ferrari ran its new F310, the team’s first car to be raced by Michael Schumacher, at Fiorano, but a major gearbox fault halted running