Toto Wolff optimistic as Mercedes target improvement at Austrian Grand Prix
Toto Wolff believes Mercedes’ car should perform better this weekend in Austria than two weeks ago in Canada. The Silver Arrows switched their car philosophy a month ago, bringing in a host of upgrades for the Monaco Grand Prix. The true impact of the revamped car has been seen in the last two races – in Barcelona and Montreal – with improved performance, recording back-to-back podiums including a double podium in Spain. Yet both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell remain short of pace to challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen out in front. The Dutchman has a 69-point lead to team-mate Sergio Perez in the Driver Standings, while Red Bull are 154 points clear of Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship. "There were plenty of positives to take from the last race in Canada," Mercedes boss Wolff said, ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. "Although we didn’t get both cars to the chequered flag, a podium was a solid result and we saw encouraging signs from our updated package. "It’s a short lap in Spielberg and looks straightforward on paper; several long straights broken up by a range of slow, medium-speed and fast corners. But it’s a challenging one to put together and get right. "We will aim to build on the momentum we have generated over the past two races and continue our positive trajectory with the car. "It’s a venue where the W14 should perform better than in Canada, but we won’t take anything for granted. As always, we will be working hard to maximise our performance and deliver strong results." This weekend’s action at the Red Bull Ring sees the second sprint race of the season, with qualifying for the grand prix taking place on Friday before ‘sprint day’ on Saturday. Read More F1 team bid confirmed for 2026 season after major investment
2023-06-29 17:53
ECB’s De Cos Says September Interest Rate Decision ‘Open’
European Central Bank Governing Council member Pablo Hernandez de Cos said it’s too early to predict the path
2023-06-29 17:24
Inside the Rafa Nadal Academy, a tennis talent hotbed
The soft thud of bouncing balls and coaches' orders echo over the courts at the Rafa Nadal Academy, the tennis "factory" the Spanish superstar dreamed into reality, his great legacy to...
2023-06-29 16:16
What is a sprint race in F1 and how does new qualifying shootout work?
F1 sprint is set for its biggest ever season this year with six sprint races on the calendar for 2023 - doubling the amount from 2022 and 2021. The 100km Saturday dash, first introduced at the British Grand Prix in 2021, has proven popular with teams and fans alike and will be present at more than a quarter of Grand Prix weekends during the 23-race season. Why F1’s sprint shake-up could be the beginning of the end for Max Verstappen There was an unanimous agreement to increase the number of sprint events amongst F1 teams at a meeting of the F1 commission meeting last year, following discussions with the FIA and a vote amongst the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC). As it was last year, the F1 sprint is a 100km race with no mandatory pit stops and drivers racing flat-out to the chequered flag. As it was in the 2022 season, the top eight drivers score points, with the driver who finishes P1 receiving eight points. How does the sprint race work? The F1 Commission and the FIA have approved new sprint weekend format changes which will see an extra qualifying session added to the schedule. The new order of play sees a new ‘sprint shootout’ take place on Saturday morning instead of a second practice session, with traditional qualifying on Friday now setting the grid for Sunday’s grand prix. It means there will be just one practice session over the course of the weekend, while Saturday is designated ‘sprint day’. The result of the Saturday sprint – a 100km dash, roughly a third of the distance of the grand prix – will not impact the grid for Sunday, as opposed to the past two years. Points will be awarded to the top-eight, as was the case in 2022. But now, that Friday qualifying session will take on added weight as it will set the grid for Sunday’s grand prix, regardless of what happens in Saturday’s sprint race. On Saturday, instead of what was seen as a generally pointless second practice session on Saturday, a new ‘sprint shootout’ will take place to form the starting grid for the sprint race later in the day. It will follow the same Q1-Q2-Q3 format but the session times will be shorter than traditional qualifying: Q1 will be 12 minutes, Q2 will be 10 minutes and Q3 will be eight minutes. NEW SPRINT WEEKEND FORMAT Friday: Free Practice 1; qualifying (for Sunday’s Grand Prix) Saturday: Sprint qualifying; sprint race (Top-eight receive points, finish order will have no impact on Grand Prix grid) Sunday: Grand Prix How many points are on offer? P1 - Eight points P2 - Seven points P3 - Six points P4 - Five points P5 - four points P6 - three points P7 - two points P8 - one point Where will the sprint races take place this season? There will be six sprint races this season, including at three of the final six Grand Prix weekends. ROUND 4 - AZERBAIJAN Baku City Circuit - 28-30 April Sprint shootout pole: Charles Leclerc Sprint race winner: Sergio Perez ROUND 10 - AUSTRIA Red Bull Ring, Spielberg - 30 June-2 July ROUND 13 - BELGIUM Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - 28-30 July ROUND 18 - QATAR Lusail International Circuit, Lusail - 6-8 October ROUND 19 - UNITED STATES Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 20-22 October ROUND 21 - BRAZIL Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 3-5 November Read More F1 race schedule: What time is the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday? Why have Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney invested in Alpine F1 team? F1’s sprint shake-up could be the beginning of the end for Max Verstappen ‘Happy’ Lewis Hamilton still hungry for record eighth world title – Damon Hill F1 2023 calendar: All 23 Grand Prix this year Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to invest in F1 team
2023-06-29 15:29
How did Ryan Mallett really die? Confusion over whether ex-NFL star's death was caused by riptides
Ryan Mallett was on a vacation with his girlfriend Madison Carter when he drowned offshore of Gulf Shore Drive in Destin, Florida
2023-06-29 13:50
Tovar hits 3-run double to spark the Rockies past the Dodgers, 9-8
Ezequiel Tovar hit a three-run double in a five-run sixth inning to rally the Colorado Rockies over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-8 on Wednesday night
2023-06-29 13:23
Zavala homers twice, drives in 4 runs as the White Sox beat the Angels 11-5
Seby Zavala had his second two-homer game of the season and drove in four runs to help the Chicago White Sox break out of an offensive slump with an 11-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night
2023-06-29 12:58
Gary Bettman urges fans to boo him, honors David Poile to kick off NHL draft
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman brought one of the league’s most beloved general managers with him to the stage to kick off the draft
2023-06-29 12:55
New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán throws 24th perfect game in MLB history
New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán has thrown the 24th perfect game in Major League Baseball history.
2023-06-29 12:52
Ferreira hat-trick as USA hit six, Jamaica crush Trinidad
Jesus Ferreira struck a hat trick as the United States crushed St. Kitts and Nevis 6-0 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Wednesday while Group A rivals Jamaica beat Trinidad and...
2023-06-29 12:50
Domingo Germán tosses fourth perfect game in Yankees history: Best memes, tweets
Domingo Germán had an out-of-body experience against the lowly A's, throwing a perfect game on Wednesday night, the fourth in Yankees history.If you throw a perfect game in Oakland and (almost) no one is there to see it, did it actually happen? New York Yankees starter Domingo Germ&a...
2023-06-29 12:29
Underrated Yankees player has joined Yogi Berra in history books thanks to German no-hitter
Domingo German will get put in the history books, but Kyle Higashioka joins Yankees lore.Pitchers get all the credit, but catchers deserve some love, too. That is especially true for the most historic thing a battery can pull off: A no-hitter.Domingo German did that and then some on Wednesda...
2023-06-29 12:26
