Formula 1 returned to action in Monaco and Autoweek rounds up some of the off-track talking points through the course of the weekend.
Totally Rude, Folks
One unusual element of Monaco’s grand prix is crashed cars being craned high up into the air before being safely placed outside the track. And with cars being lifted up it creates an opportune moment for photographers to quickly snap images of the rarely-seen but aerodynamically crucial floor layouts of various Formula 1 cars, an element which is regularly masked from sight.
Lewis Hamilton crashed in practice, with Sergio Perez then shunting in qualifying, meaning the world got a good view of the underside of both the updated Mercedes W14 and Red Bull’s dominant RB19.
“It’s very rude to look up people’s skirts really,” joked Red Bull boss Christian Horner. “Pictures or floors get taken in around the paddock. Each team will be employing spy photographers to get pictures of the cars when they’re in parts and pieces, that’s common practice.”
Yuki Tsunoda’s adopted residence in Imola, Italy was in path of the recent flooding that canceled a Grand Prix.
Tsunoda Recounts Imola Floods in New Hometown
AlphaTauri is based in Faenza, one of the towns worst affected by the floods that prompted the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to be canceled, and it is where Yuki Tsunoda resides. Tsunoda was pictured assisting AlphaTauri team members with the clean-up operation and recounted the devastation.
“I would say consistently for three days and most of the town where I live in Faenza was just completely flooded,” he said. “Just mud everywhere, covered by mud. I was just staying safe in the night when the rain was coming but I was also worried because consistently the electricity got shut down in my house as well.
“I never expected the things like that, that horrible things will actually happen in front of me. But suddenly it happened in front of me, just this completely different feeling to what I was watching TV, just so scared. You know, just consistently having to worry about, like, the ground floor. Luckily, I have the second floor so I was staying on the second floor all the time. Helicopters were also flying around and I could tell that, you know, they were already starting to help the people from the houses.”
AlphaTauri carried a message of support for Emilia Romagna on the AT04’s halo, while both Formula 1 and Ferrari have donated to the recovery fund. Food and water that was present at Imola for paddock personnel and for hospitality purposes was donated to a local food bank. The race trophies are among items that are up for auction – with the proceeds to go towards the region’s recovery.
Fans can help give the Williams F1 car a makeover.
Fans to Choose Williams Livery
Formula 1 fans will be able to choose the Gulf-inspired livery that Williams will run at three Grands Prix this year.
As part of its alliance with Gulf the team has created four liveries that fans will vote on before the winning design is revealed on July 12. The special scheme with the most votes will be sported on the FW45 for grands prix in Singapore, Japan and Qatar. Gulf previously collaborated with McLaren to create a one-off scheme for the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix.
“Gulf’s iconic colors have created stunning liveries throughout motorsport history, and this year is set to be no different,” said Gulf CEO Mike Jones. “This project is all about giving fans control and placing them at the centre of our partnership with Williams Racing. We feel strongly that each theme and livery will go down extremely well and look forward to seeing which one the fans choose.”
Qatar will host Formula 1 at least through 2032.
Qatar Venue Nears Renovation
Organizers of Formula 1’s Qatar Grand Prix were on hand in Monaco to talk through progress ahead of the event’s return. Qatar stepped in late in 2021 to replace the Covid-canceled round in Australia and it signed a 10-year deal for 2023-32.
The Lusail International Circuit complex has been heavily renovated in order to accommodate Formula 1’s return, with a rebuilt paddock, renovated fan area, and improved access roads. Increased hospitality areas means that the facility now has the capacity for 52,000 spectators.
The layout of the circuit has not been amended since 2021 as Formula 1 drivers reveled in its high-speed nature, while organizers were also wary of not making alterations that could negatively impact MotoGP, which it has held since 2004.
Formula 1 will return to Qatar on the weekend of October 6-8. The championship has now established a firm and regular presence in the region, with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi all holding events; Saudi Arabia is set to open the 2024 season while Abu Dhabi has been the long-term venue for the finale.
Comedian Chris Rock, right, has a word with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolf in Monaco.
No Surprise: Monaco VIP’s Rock It
Miami attracted a roster of VIPs, and Las Vegas is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, but Monaco remains high on the list for celeb spotting.
Brazilian soccer star Neymar was in attendance with Red Bull, fresh from Paris Saint Germain clinching yet another soccer title, while actors Orlando Bloom, James Marsden and Tom Holland were pursued by throngs of onlookers, and the last-named had the honor of waving the checkered flag.
Comedian Chris Rock, cricket legend Chris Gayle and pop superstar Kylie Minogue. FIFA president Gianni Infantino was present with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The FIA also captured the attention at the weekend as, after the cancelation of Imola, Monaco marked the first appearance in 2023 of the team motorhomes. The FIA had upsized over the winter with a new motorhome, the design and appearance of which was a near carbon-copy of the motorhome introduced by Formula 1 in the last couple of years. Such preening did not go unnoticed given the at-best cordial relationship currently in place between the governing body and the commercial rights holders.
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