🎲 Perez's High-Stakes Gamble

Hey there, speedster! 👋

A revved-up welcome to the new motorheads joining our newsletter grid this week. Verstappen keeps breaking records by bagging his 16th win this season, and that’s not all, so let's dive straight into the latest F1 action.

🌶️ Risky Business in Mexico: Perez gambled on his home ground, but it seems the dice didn't roll in his favor this time. We'll take you through what went down.

🦡 Honey Badger Hustle: The Honey Badger is back! Scoring some much-needed points for AlphaTauri, we'll take you through his stellar performance and what it means for the team.

🏎️ FIA's Inspection Insights: Following the events at the United States GP, the FIA has explained why they don't inspect every car. We've got the inside scoop on their decision and reasoning.

🏁 Mexico GP Highlights

🏆 Max Verstappen sets new record with 16th grand prix win in 2023 season.

😲 Charles Leclerc misses the win from the pole position again.

💥Sergio Perez crashes early, disappointing local fans.

🥈 Lewis Hamilton secures second place.

🥉 Charles Leclerc finishes third.

🔄 Intense race strategies, with tire management as a key factor.

🚀 Norris impressively climbs from 17th to 5th.

⬆️ Ricciardo finishes P7, pushing AlphaTauri two places up in Constructor Standings & climbs 5 places in WDC

🟥 Magnussen F1 crash causes Mexico GP red flag

📊 Deeper Dive into the Race

1️⃣ First half: Most top drivers used medium tires. Norris chose softs but had to pit early. Leclerc managed tires better than most.

2️⃣ Second half: Norris showcased impressive performance. Verstappen had tire wear issues. Ferrari struggled with hard tires.

3️⃣ Fuel Saving: Mercedes achieved over 7% saving. Ferrari's pattern was similar to Red Bull's.

🏁 Race Pace

🔵Verstappen was leading the pack as the fastest

🟢Hamilton was just 0.44 seconds behind, and he was a whole 0.55 seconds per lap faster than Russell

🔴Leclerc trails by 0.56 seconds ( with damaged wing!)

🔴Sainz was 0.72 seconds behind

🟠Norris was close, lagging by 0.75 seconds.

➡️Team rankings, based on their quickest driver:

1. Red Bull

2. Mercedes

3. Ferrari

4. McLaren

5. AlphaTauri

😩 Perez's Bold Move Backfires

Perez tried to challenge the old racing saying: "You can't win a race into Turn 1, but you can definitely lose it." Even though Max Verstappen has often taken the lead at Turn 1 and kept it, the real magic happens afterward. Turn 1 is just an early milestone.

With his fans cheering him on, Sergio Perez hoped to prove that saying wrong. He started strong and had to stick to the outer lane for the first turn. If he nailed that, he'd have a good position for the next turn, possibly leading the race.

But things didn't go as planned. Verstappen kept the inside, forcing Charles Leclerc to stay in the middle. Perez tried to shift but didn't see that Leclerc was trapped. Their tires touched, and just like that, Perez's race was over.

Sure, it was a gamble. But based on past races in Mexico, it wasn't the smartest move. Now, people are wondering about Perez's future with Red Bull. - Read more

💪 Ricciardo's Impressive Return

Daniel Ricciardo is back in the spotlight after an impressive run at the Mexican Grand Prix. Red Bull had nothing but praise for him, with team boss Christian Horner saying it felt like the good old days with Daniel.

Ricciardo's performance isn't just a one-time thing. He's showing he could be the perfect complement to Max Verstappen for Red Bull. Even though there's talk about Perez's 2024 contract, Daniel's recent form is hard to ignore.

A while back, Ricciardo had a setback, breaking his hand post-F1 summer break. But in Mexico, he seemed to be back in form, reminding fans of his pre-McLaren days.

AlphaTauri’s chief race engineer, Jonathan Eddolls, mentioned how Ricciardo's driving style affects tire temperatures and car behavior.

While McLaren had its strengths, AlphaTauri offers consistency. Ricciardo feels more at home with this car, pushing it to its limits. In Mexico, he was in full control, looking confident and aggressive.

Though he had tough competition from Tsunoda and others, Ricciardo held his own. His race strategy was on point, and if not for a red flag, he might've secured a fifth-place finish. - Read more

🔍 FIA Explains Why They Don’t Check Every Car

After the United States GP, cars driven by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc failed the post-race inspection. The problem? Their car planks were too thin.

Despite rumors of other cars possibly failing the same check, only these four got inspected. Mercedes' Toto Wolff thinks the FIA just doesn’t have the manpower to inspect all 20 cars after every race.

Why It Matters:

Safety & Fairness: The thickness of the car planks can influence race safety and fairness.

Team Impact: Disqualifications due to non-compliance affect team standings and the championship race.

What We're Hearing:

🧪 Typically, the FIA picks two cars for post-race checks. But in Austin, they went with four.

🔍 The reason? After the initial two cars had issues, the FIA wanted to determine if it was a track-wide problem or just isolated to those cars.

🟢Aston's Season Hits Rough Patch

Aston Martin's Formula 1 season is facing challenges. Despite a strong start to the 2023 season, the team has experienced setbacks in recent races. Both Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso have encountered issues ranging from mechanical troubles to racing incidents. This has affected the team's standing in the championship, with Alonso slipping to fifth place.

Go Deeper:
The team's recent struggles don't stem from a lack of effort or knowledge. They've been experimenting with various updates and strategies to optimize performance.

While outsiders might think the team is lost, Krack insists they make informed decisions. The complexity of the cars and changing track conditions make consistent performance challenging.

Remember, this team made a significant leap from last year, and maintaining that momentum against giants like Ferrari and Mercedes is tough.

Owner Lawrence Stroll's investments show promise, but everyone, including Stroll, is eager for better results. The team's current challenges contrast with their early-season success, but they're committed to turning things around. - Read more

Ever wondered what it feels like to be right in the thick of a Formula 1 race, not just as a spectator but as a part of the experience? F1 Experiences is your answer.

What Are F1 Experiences?

Essentially, F1 Experiences are exclusive packages offered to you, providing unparalleled behind-the-scenes access to the thrilling world of Formula 1 racing. This isn't just about watching the race; it's about living it.

The F1 Experience Pass

Now, let's dive into the heart of the matter - the F1 Experience Pass. Think of it as your golden ticket to the world of F1. With this pass, you don't just get a seat in the stands; you get so much more.

We're talking about guided track tours, pit lane walks, and even a chance to meet some drivers and the teams.

Some packages even allow fans to drive around the circuit in a track car or get a close-up view of the garages. And let's not forget the exclusive access to the Paddock Club, where you can rub shoulders with the who's who of the F1 world.

Cost of F1 Experience Pass

Alright, now let's address the big question on your mind: How much does all this excitement cost?

The cost of the F1 Experience Pass can vary based on the track, the type of package you're interested in, and the exclusivity of the experience you're seeking.

Basic packages that offer pit lane walks and grandstand seats might be relatively more affordable. However, the more exclusive packages, which could include things like driving experiences or VIP Paddock Club access, will come with a heftier price tag. But many fans would argue that it's worth every penny.

The cost of an F1 Experience in the Las Vegas GP for example is between $1.000 and can go up to $22.800.

Some other examples of F1 experience price tags:

• Abu Dhabi GP - up to $14.000

• Brazil - $1.500 to $8.000

• Italian GP - $999 to $2.500

• Singapore GP - $1.500 to $12.800

Tracks With The Best F1 Experiences

From city park races to intense street circuits, find out which tracks are must-visits for the best F1 experience.

1. City Park Circuits

• Why they're great: Picturesque settings in city parks, decent facilities, shade, and easy city access.

• Rankings:

    1. Albert Park (Australia): Top facilities accessible by free trams.

  2. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Canada): Island circuit near Montréal with vibrant F1 parties.

  3. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico): Known for its unrivaled fan atmosphere and Day of the Dead festivities.

2. City Street Circuits

• Why they're great: Right in the heart of cities with great atmosphere but may have limited viewing spots.

• Rankings:

  1. Marina Bay (Singapore): Iconic night race with a lively race weekend.

  2. Baku City (Azerbaijan): Blends ancient and modern architecture.

  3. Las Vegas Street: Awaiting its debut. Will it live up to the hype?

3. Purpose-built Circuits near Cities

• Why they're great: Designed for spectator views and often near major cities.

• Rankings:

  1. Yas Marina (Abu Dhabi): Expensive but offers exceptional views and events.

  2. Circuit of The Americas (USA): Great views and vibrant Austin nightlife.

  3. Circuit Zandvoort (Netherlands): Historic with fantastic organization.

4. Rural Purpose-built Circuits

• Why they're great: Historic and atmospheric, set in picturesque rural landscapes.

• Rankings:

  1. Red Bull Ring (Austria): Scenic with exciting races.

  2. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium): Long and challenging with majestic surroundings.

  3. Silverstone (UK): Popular with good views and events.

🛡️ Felipe Massa was caught off guard by the FIA president's remarks about the 2008 F1 championship dispute. - Read more

💶 Fernando Alonso got a €100 fine for breaking an FIA rule at the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix. - Read more

💣The Abu Dhabi GP might be canceled because of the war in Gaza. - Read more

🗣️ Ocon explains why he sent that odd radio message to Haas during the Mexico GP. - Read more

🤜 F1 responds to a fan fight during the Mexican GP. - Read more

🔊 Max Verstappen and Red Bull just announced a new “multi-year partnership.” - Read more

💼 The FIA President stands firm against teams opposing the Andretti bid, saying it's "good for business." - Read more

👀 Alpine gives us a sneak peek into Mick Schumacher's first test drive 🏎️ as he gears up for a possible 2024 WEC spot. - Read more

🗨️ Everyone's been eager for updates on Michael Schumacher's health since his skiing accident in 2013. His lawyer, Felix Damm, has shared reasons for keeping most details under wraps. - Read more

🇧🇷 Scheduled 3-5 November

Autódromo José Carlos Pace - São Paulo, Brazil

1️⃣ Circuit length: 4.309km
2️⃣ Number of laps: 71
3️⃣ Lap record: 1:10.540 Valtteri Bottas (2018)
4️⃣ Corners & DRS: 15 corners with 2 DRS zones

History

• The circuit land was initially bought in 1926 for housing but became a racing circuit after the 1929 stock market crash.

• The circuit's name, "between the lakes," is due to its location between two artificial lakes, Guarapiranga and Billings.

• Formula One began racing on the circuit in 1972. The first championship race was in 1973, won by Emerson Fittipaldi.

• The last Formula One race on the original track was in 1980. This was due to safety concerns, including a bumpy track surface and inadequate barriers.

• Formula One returned in 1990 after significant modifications and has remained ever since. There's also a kart circuit named after Ayrton Senna.

• Dramatic races at the circuit include Felipe Massa's near-miss for the championship in 2008 and significant wins by Mark Webber, Jenson Button, and Sebastian Vettel in subsequent years.

Characteristics

• Interlagos is one of the few non-oval circuits that go in an anti-clockwise direction.

• The track underwent major changes in 1990, shortening it and losing several fast curves.

• The circuit's hilly terrain makes driving challenging and demands more from car engines.

• Interlagos is known for its inclines, bumpy surface, and physical demand on drivers due to its anti-clockwise direction.