Vasseur: Hard tyre stint ruined Leclerc’s Mexico F1 race

Leclerc had a solid first stint on the medium tyre despite missing a front wing endplate after a first-corner clash with Sergio Perez.He pitted for hards just a couple of laps before Kevin Magnussen’s crash brought out the red flag.During the break Ferrari replaced his damaged front wing but rather than switch to medium tyres for the restarted second half of the race, as some rivals did, the …Keep reading
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Alonso: Aston is “not fighting for anything” in final F1 races

Alonso was third in the World Championship as recently as last month’s Italian GP, but after a run of frustrating weekends, he now lies fifth, with Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and George Russell all reeling him in.Aston Martin meanwhile has fallen to fifth place in the constructors’ championship but is under no threat from behind after being bettered by McLaren.Alonso had another …Keep reading
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Overheating brakes triggered heavy Magnussen crash in F1 Mexico GP

The Dane was pitched off the road on lap 32 by a suspected left rear track rod failure when the car was under load in the fast right-hander at Turn 8.Magnussen climbed out of the car unaided, but damage to the barriers led to a red flag. He was taken to the medical centre, but he was passed fit and soon returned to the paddock.Brake temperatures are always on the limit in Mexico, and in …Keep reading
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WEC: titles to be decided in Bahrain’s season finale

WEC: titles to be decided in Bahrain’s season finale

Sport news

Thirty-six cars will tackle the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain International Circuit which has been a round of the FIA WEC since its inception back in 2012. The circuit contains long straights, tight corners, elevation changes and ample overtaking opportunities. It is also well-known for its high tyre degradation where nearly 48% of the lap is travelled with a fully-open throttle.

Three titles will be decided in the Middle East including the Hypercar Drivers’ as well as LMP2 Teams’ and Drivers’ championships. With just 15 points separating the leading #8 Toyota Gazoo Racing crew and the sister #7 GR010 Hybrid and a total of 39 points available, the quest for 2023 WEC Hypercar drivers’ glory is all to play for.

Ferrari AF Corse’s James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi and Alessandro Pier Guidi, driving the #51 Ferrari 499P, are also still in the running for the drivers’ title. Although they are 31 points behind the #8 Toyota, they maintain their chances should Toyota falter. Currently at 97 points, even the crew of the sister #50 Ferrari still has a mathematical chance of taking the title. Among manufacturers, Toyota secured its fifth consecutive top class title last time out at Fuji, during the penultimate round held on its home soil.

The Japanese manufacturer holds an excellent track record in Bahrain, having won the previous six editions. However, a total of five different brands have secured podiums this season, including the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac and Peugeot so the competition should be as strong as ever.

Porsche Penske equalled its best performance of the season during the last race at Fuji when Kévin Estre, André Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor gave Toyota some tough opposition at their home race, leading almost two-thirds of the race and eventually finishing third. Porsche will be battling with Cadillac in Bahrain for third place in the manufacturers’ standings, as the two marques are separated by just five points going into the season finale.

Peugeot TotalEnergies will return to Bahrain for the second time with its pair 9X8s. Nico Müeller, who missed the last race in Fuji due to an injury, returns to the team’s line-up for the final race of the year as the French manufacturer sits fifth in the standings, just 18 points behind Cadillac.

Bahrain will mark the final race for the LMP2 and LMGTE Am categories, which have both been a mainstay in the WEC since its inception back in 2012.

In LMP2, Team WRT are in touching distance of the 2023 Teams’ and Drivers’ Championship trophies after the Belgian team has amassed a healthy lead of 33 points over second-placed Inter Europol Competition. The vice-champion position, however, is wide open with just one point separating second and third-placed Inter Europol Competition and United Autosports.

Meanwhile in LMGTE Am, Corvette Racing’s Ben Keating, Nicholas Varrone and Nicky Catsburg secured the title back in July at Monza, but a win in Bahrain would see the trio set a new points record in GTE Am, beating Aston Martin’s existing record of 198 points. The #33 Corvette currently sits on 164 points, so only a win would break the record.

Behind the 2023 champions, there are six crews with cars from four different manufacturers (Corvette, Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin) battling it out for the vice-champion position. Currently second in the classification with, 79 points, is the Iron Dames crew of Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting, while only 20 points cover third place from P7, with the #54 AF Corse crew followed by the #77 Dempsey-Proton, #25 ORT by TF, the #86 GR Racing and the #83 Richard Mille AF Corse crew.

The on-track action is set to kick off on Thursday, with Qualifying taking place on Friday afternoon. The flag for the 8-hour race will be waved at 14:00 on Saturday, while Sunday will be reserved for the traditional end-of-season WEC Rookie Test.

2023 FIA WEC 8 Hours of Bahrain schedule

Thursday 2 November
FP1: 12:15 – 13:45
FP2: 17:30 – 19:00

Friday 3 November
FP3: 12:00 – 13:00
Qualifying: 16:15 – 17:20

Saturday 4 November
Race: 14:00 – 22:00

World Endurance Championship

WEC8 Hours of BahrainWECSEASON 2023SportCircuit1SportWorld Endurance ChampionshipCircuitWECSEASON 2023WEC8 Hours of Bahrain00Monday, October 30, 2023 – 12:30pmMonday, October 30, 2023 – 12:30pm

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Autosport Podcast: F1 Mexico Grand Prix review

But did the race unfold in his favour to ease his path to a record 16th win of the year, aided by Sergio Perez’s Turn 1 zealousness and McLaren’s Lando Norris starting so far down the order?While Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc gave gallant chase it appeared that, once again, nobody could catch Verstappen.To analyse all the action from Sunday’s Mexico Grand Prix, Martyn Lee is joined by …Keep reading
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