Archive June 24, 2025

Austrian Grand Prix

Dates: 27-29 June Race start time: 14:00 BST on Sunday

Formula 1 returns to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend following George Russell’s victory in Canada.

After their collision in Montreal ended the Briton, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris now lead by 22 points in the drivers’ championship.

How are the teams and drivers reacting to all of this while the FIA’s saga, and especially President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, is still in the news for all the wrong reasons? – Gareth

There is widespread dismay and discomfort within Formula 1 teams and drivers about the way the FIA is being run. However, they are not interested in making that too openly known.

The drivers occasionally express their disapproval of a particular topic, such as the swearing ban, especially George Russell in his capacity as the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director.

But the team bosses, while usually willing to discuss their unease privately, very rarely say anything publicly. They simply don’t want to take any chances when the FIA is able to make their lives difficult, should it choose to do so, despite their concerns or objections.

Ayao Komatsu, the head coach of the Haas team, made an exception before the season when he said, “Don’t write it in a headline, Ayao says FIA is in a mess,” but that’s what everyone else thinks. That’s what everybody experiences. I’m at a loss for words. Is it not very good, then? Seriously”.

Why does Ferrari face such harsh criticism from the Italian media? Surely this puts more pressure on the team. – Martin

Ferrari’s status in Italy is unique compared to that of other domestic teams.

They are regarded as a national team and as such the population feels invested in them and their performance. People believe they have a right to voice their opinions on how they are doing because they care.

It is a component of what makes Ferrari unique, and why it is the most competitive team in the world.

It comes with the territory and anyone who thinks it doesn’t is deluding themselves. Additionally, it is important to point out that the media is not responsible for supporting an F1 team. It is required to publish a report and conduct a rigorous and objective examination of it.

This question presumably arises from the remarks Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur made in Canada following reports in two leading newspapers in Italy on the eve of the race weekend that his position was in question.

Vasseur expressed regret by saying, “I don’t know the target. I don’t understand the goal, and this is where I don’t understand the purpose. Perhaps it’s for them the only way to exist. Perhaps this is the cause more than anything. But the team is actually being seriously harmed.

” It’s not like this that we’ll be able to win a championship. At least not with a journalist of this caliber nearby.

Vasseur’s anger is understandable, I suppose. Although he said his main concern was not himself, because he knew the scrutiny that came with the job, but the other staff members whose names periodically appear in the paper, either directly or indirectly, by individuals from other teams being linked with Ferrari.

The problem is that these reports were published in Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera, two of the most renowned Italian sports publications. also on the same day.

I’m told they were not coordinated, and that would be highly unlikely anyway, given they are rival publications.

Ferrari entered the year believing and saying they could compete for the title after coming close to winning the constructors’ championship last year. And so far, they have fallen far short of that.

Which of the current F1 drivers is likely to lose their seats in the upcoming year? – John

The two Red Bull teams are the obvious starting points. If Yuki Tsunoda’s performance doesn’t significantly improve, he’s almost certainly going to be dropped by Red Bull.

The expectation is that Isack Hadjar will replace him alongside Max Verstappen, assuming the Dutchman stays where he is, following the Frenchman’s impressive start to his career at Racing Bulls.

Briton Arvid Lindblad, who is third in the championship and is competing for the first time this year, has a good chance of becoming a member of Racing Bulls. Liam Lawson’s ability to maintain his seat there is a mystery.

The drivers at McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, Aston Martin, Haas and Sauber/Audi are all tied in for next year.

Mercedes and Alpine are left with that.

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s seats at Mercedes are likely to stay that way. Although if Verstappen was to become available, that could obviously lead to a change there.

Pierre Gasly is under contract at Alpine, but there are still many open seats.

Mercedes showed a significant upturn in performance at the Canadian Grand Prix, with George Russell securing the win. Do you think this anomaly stems from a particular circuit, or do you think it represents a real change in their standing in the market, especially given recent aerodynamic improvements? Edele

All Mercedes ‘ rivals expected the team to be competitive in Canada – because they were last year, and because the circuit characteristics suit their car.

Mercedes’ issue has been caused by tire overheating. Tires have typically crossed a threshold due to long corners, abrasive track surfaces, and hot temperatures. Canada had only one of those.

After the race, team principal Toto Wolff said, “I thought it was when I was wearing a pullover that there had some sort of correlation with our performances because that means it’s cold.” And we’ve been dominant even at 50C today.

“We’ve had some things changing on the car, we have a new rear suspension. I’m really pleased how the team handled these issues, both with the trackside team and back at the factory, with the car. However, I suppose you should examine the track layout.

” Montreal was always good to us, it lacks the typical high-speed corners where we suffer more in the heat. Number one is one, and number two is a lot of smooth asphalt, which is less abrasive and therefore less harmful to our car, which has overheated and rear tire degradation.

The new rear suspension aims to improve anti-lift, thereby enhancing aerodynamic stability, maintaining consistent rear downforce, and increasing rear grip.

Extreme amounts of rear anti-lift and front anti-dive are one of the key success elements of this year’s McLaren. Mercedes wants the same outcome, therefore.

What do you think about how the continent is faring as a grand prix? – Nick

F1 is still keen to have a grand prix in Africa, to make it a truly global world championship. However, it’s becoming challenging to locate the ideal location.

The FIA has accepted final design proposals to upgrade the circuit to Grade One status, the highest international standard required for hosting Formula 1, according to Kyalami in South Africa, according to a statement released last week.

It added:” Selected works will be actioned pending the successful outcome of South Africa’s place on the Formula 1 calendar and Kyalami being selected as the preferred hosting venue. “

In other words, it only performs the necessary work if it is awarded a contract to host F1. And that is far from the truth.

There is a rival bid in South Africa, for a street race in Cape Town. No one is able to provide the necessary funding.

Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame hosted the FIA prizegiving in Kigali in December last year, and its country popped up as a potential host country. But although a new F1-standard track is being built by the new airport there, the chances of the race happening have receded.

Wimbledon 2025

Location: All England Club, 3 to 16 July

It is simple to forget that Jack Draper is still a novice at Wimbledon.

British No. 1 Draper has only won two of his five matches and never moved beyond the second round in a major-drawn tournament. He has only made three major-drawn appearances.

The left-handed Englishman will, after a stunning rise, become the fourth seed when the grass-court Grand Slam begins on Monday.

In a year, Draper has advanced to the semi-finals of the US Open, the prestigious Indian Wells title, and two more ATP Tour finals.

Former British number one Greg Rusedski told BBC Sport, “I’d say he’s fourth favorite to win the Wimbledon title, behind Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic.”

Draper has a clear sense of his potential from a young age, and he is now realizing it after his early struggles with his fitness.

Due to a shoulder issue, Draper had to withdraw from Wimbledon two years ago because of his complaints about being the “guy who is always injured.”

That resulted in a concerted effort to develop his endurance and strength.

Before Draper reshaped his team with Matt Little and Shane Annun, both of whom had long-held Andy Murray associates, Draper began by playing the fitness trainer Steve Kotze and physio Will Herbert in those same roles.

At the Australian Open in January, he won three brutal five sets, which demonstrated how different he had become from his competition. His physical outstability has continued for the past six months as he battles to outlast his opponents.

After making it to last week’s semi-finals, Draper joked that his body used to be prone to breakage. He had previously “looked like a bit of a Ferrari, but I was a bit of a Toyota.”

Draper can have more confidence in using his key weapons, which are well-suited to the grass, without worrying about his body breaking down.

Draper is being taught how to play aggressively in the right situations by LTA coach James Trotman, a fellow Briton who has gone through the coaching process.

That includes playing his groundstrokes from the baseline and dropping his spring forwards to the net at higher risk.

Leon Smith, the Davis Cup captain of the United Kingdom, said, “He’s much more aware of what his strengths are. That’s the biggest change this year.”

If you have a chance to get the first strike in, you don’t want to be adding points.

He is “not afraid to step in and be brave,” he says, even in the most dramatic situations.

According to the ATP statistics, Draper has excelled this season by being able to take risks when under pressure.

Draper can start strong with his powerful and varied serve.

It is effective when he makes his first serve. His first-serve percentage is only the 43rd best on the ATP Tour this year, but he is 14th in terms of behind-serve points.

His Queen’s semi-final exit was caused by a slight dip in his serve, a sign that a dip like that could result in high-quality matches with respectable margins.

Annabel Croft, the former British women’s number one, said, “He has every kind of serve you can imagine.”

On a grass court, it gives him a huge advantage because he can get quicker, freer points.

Draper has been working to increase its firepower on the grass by adding more of it.

The queen’s raping winners, who both entered from the baseline and took long shots, were encouraging signs.

You have to stay low and stay down when that ball is coming in quickly, especially on grass courts, Draper said.

Draper will be the subject of even more scrutiny at Wimbledon now that he is the British number one.

Since Andy Murray, the 2017 defending champion and world number one, Andy Murray, no home player has been given a seed as high at the All England Club.

Although Draper has had nerve issues in the past, he is a confident young man who thrives on the big stage and isn’t afraid to rile up the audience.

It will be interesting to see how Draper handles the increased attention of a wider British audience.

Rusedski, who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 1997, said that it’s simple to deal with expectation when playing well.

Pressure becomes difficult when you’re not playing well, according to the saying. You make too many attempts, which never succeed.