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Motorsports writer, photographer and sometimes podcaster on Hit The Apex Podcast. Catch me on Twitter @Doctor46th and @HitTheApexMedia.
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As the Australian sporting landscape feels the impact of COVID-19’s second coming, the situation with the Supercars championship continues to be a fluid one ahead of the next round in the country’s Top End.
Formula One is never devoid of controversy and regardless how much we wax lyrical about the spirit of game and competition, there is always going to be pushing of boundaries.
Valtteri Bottas will start from pole position ahead of title leader Lewis Hamilton in tonight’s Formula One 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. Follow The Roar for live race updates and a blog of the race at 11:10pm (AEST).
With only a week’s break, Formula One roars back into action at the home of British motorsport as a Silverstone double-header starts another hat trick of races in the 2020 world championship. Join The Roar for a live blog and race updates from 11:10pm (AEST).
Three months have passed since the announcement that Ferrari would be parting ways with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. With the racing finally begun for 2020, his future is still very much up for discussion.
Who knew the Supercars championship would be back at Sydney Motorsport Park this soon?
The Formula One world championship rolls on to its third round in as many weeks, crossing the border from Austria for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Join us at 11:10pm (AEST) on The Roar for live blog coverage.
After such an enthralling first chapter of the 2020 Formula One world championship, the Red Bull Ring again offers its stunning views for the Grand Prix of Steiermark. Join us at 11:00pm (AEST) on The Roar for live blog coverage.
Images in sport have captured such powerful moments since the dawn of the camera, whether of victory or defeat, celebration or anguish. A single shot can harbour so many emotions that carry great significance.
There is no better way to say it – Formula One is back and as strange as it is to have the 2020 season starting in Austria instead of Australia, it’s so good to see actual cars on track. Tune in to The Roar for a live blog of the event from 11:10pm (AEST).
The cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix and the subsequent postponement of the 2020 Formula One world championship still carries a sense of disbelief, given how quickly things unravelled in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, while on the ground at Albert Park on Friday the 13th.
After 106 days since the suspension of the season in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Supercars championship finally roared back into action at Sydney Motorsport Park for the Sydney SuperSprint.
Yes, the time has come when we can safely say that it is race week!
A return to racing is imminent, as Formula One announced the opening eight races of their revised 2020 championship, commencing with back-to-back events in Austria from July 3.
As well as providing spectacular racing for the past 70 years, Formula One has also been at the pinnacle of innovation for global motorsport and the wider automotive industry.
Since his departure from McLaren at the end of the 2018 Formula One season, Fernando Alonso is a name that is thrown into the hat during every silly season since.
It’s fascinating how athletes and their narratives are intertwined with one and another, with the movements of one often having an impact on the other.
Despite not having raced so far in 2020, former world champion Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari have announced they will be parting ways at the conclusion of the season after six years in partnership.
Regarded as one of the best in the Great Race’s history spanning decades, the 2014 Bathurst 1000 was a race that could represent everything that is good and bad about Australia’s endurance spectacle.
Formula One has announced that it hopes to commence its 2020 world championship on July 5 at the Austrian Grand Prix, after the COVID-19 global pandemic had suspended the season before a wheel was even turned.
Yeah Simoc and given the fact that Mercedes have been open about how they legally passed on that information in the form of the CAD data to Racing Point, it is all above board. At the end of the day it is just sour grapes amongst the others and surely it can be sorted out amongst themselves hey?
The 'Pink Mercedes': Clever engineering or a blatant cheat?
It would work quite well Moose, to equalise the field. Though the argument always has been that F1 shouldn’t ever go down the route to become a one-make formula. Copying Mercedes’ car as well for Ferrari would still not fix that donkey of an engine they’ve currently got. 😂
The 'Pink Mercedes': Clever engineering or a blatant cheat?
Cheers Ben. Yeah it took quite a bit of digesting myself before I was able to understand it to the point I could then offer my own insight. Definitely feel a bit of sympathy there for this team that has always punched above its weight and can understand the emotion behind Stroll snr’s response.
The 'Pink Mercedes': Clever engineering or a blatant cheat?
Pretty much Racing Point didn’t actually do anything wrong while they were developing the car and the fact that they even had exchanges with the FIA to confirm the RP20’s legality just backs up what a shambles this situation is.
The 'Pink Mercedes': Clever engineering or a blatant cheat?
Having a right ol’ giggle at those analogies. 😂
Fighting in Ferrari: Binotto vs Arrivabene
It might make up for the lack of NZ round which was scheduled for February 2021, though as a Victorian and with everything that’s going on here – I get the feeling we might not see Sandown in September. Nothing official on that of course, though it’s just a gut feeling.
Supercars Sydney SuperSprint talking points
Yeah, might not be the same at Winton but we’ll wait and see. Hopefully we get a similar result in the racing there come July.
Supercars talking points from the Sydney SuperSprint
We’ll hopefully see a few more teams get into the mix to steal a win here and there through the season. So many strong names out there!
Supercars talking points from the Sydney SuperSprint
Glad you enjoyed the overall product over the weekend mate!
Race 7’s battle between Scott and Shane was almost the perfect script for Supercars to return. Two rivals and two champions, racing for both Ford and Holden. No better way to sell the sport to anyone new tuning in.
Another key win for the tyre rules as well was the fact that it was an organic variable and there was no gimmick to it. Though ultimately I think it’ll depend on the characteristics of the circuits as to whether it’ll be the same story as Sydney. Winton I believe has had it’s track resurfaced in the not too distant past, so may not see the same deg levels as SMP.
So Super2 and Super3 weren’t previously combined (Super3 only came under Supercars’ umbrella last year, having been run under the V8 Touring Car National Series until then), but now will race under a class system on a combined grid. There’ll also be Porsche Carrera Cup and the Toyota 86 Series at Winton.
Looking forward to seeing you tune for the next round as well!
Supercars talking points from the Sydney SuperSprint
Good to see you are onboard with the Supercars and will wake up this weekend to the sound of those thundering V8s! We should see some great racing at Eastern Creek and hopefully some surprises too.
As for the calendar discussion, The Bend could have slotted in for the dates as suggested, but given the current state border restrictions and the logistics involved – I think the current space between events will have to suffice. That doesn’t change how it’s not an ideal situation for the Shahins and their impressive new circuit, but that is the reality unfortunately.
It's race week! Supercars return
Yeah, even if if it’s under the pretense of business – it still is possible to do the GT3 race in all its pomp, with the Radio Le Mans crew also onsite. If anything, it is the quarantine period that will be interesting to see how it is applied. Remember that a lot of the drivers that do the 12 Hour, also race the Daytona 24 Hour which is traditionally the week before. Another factor to consider, though as you say there is still 7 months till then.
It's race week! Supercars return
Unknown at this stage. Hopefully Supercars can put something on that weekend at Bathurst if the GT3 enduro doesn’t take place. Pending crowd restrictions being further lifted, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to do a Supercars Test day with some kind of Goodwood style festival that they’ve talked about in the past?
It's race week! Supercars return
No Micko, the new lights were never going to be ready in time for this weekend’s races, so they’ll be done during the day. 3:30pm AEST Saturday and then 12:15pm and 2:35pm AEST for both Sunday races.
It's race week! Supercars return
Yeah I agree Scott, Greeny is very lucky that there are other coaches that are facing the heat at the moment. And also the fact they’ve had a top eight side in the last two years.
That loss to the Sharks had me spewing, regardless of the fact that Taumalolo and Hess were out for the game. The spark that we saw last week against the Titans with Robson out of dummy half and Drinkwater connecting with Holmes, wasn’t there this time and if they’re going to be serious about keeping a place in the top eight – they’re going to have to deliver week in, week out.
You’ve got to expect no less than two wins from their next two games against the Warriors and the Tigers. Then after that if they pass that, then the clash with Newcastle will be the next test given that they’ve had a pretty cruisy draw thus far.
Eight talking points from NRL Round 4
Exactly, there is hardly going to be any significant changes in the pecking order next year and if anything, the teams who don’t make inroads now – are going to be worse off in 2021.
Adapt and survive: Ensuring Formula One's future
Luckily I ensured it was a brick fence 😛
Though I’d really love to see McLaren be the team to be the challenger come 2022.
Adapt and survive: Ensuring Formula One's future
Tough one Dexter, especially as in 2021 now we’ll just have the same cars as this year and with very limited developments allowed. Once the regs change for 2022, it could be anyone’s chance and yes the Red Bulls and Ferraris will be up there. McLaren and Aston Martin (Racing Point until 2021) will have the Mercedes power-unit which is still the benchmark, but with a cap on how much time and money is spent on aero development – they’d definitely have the chance to be up there.
Renault too, now that they’ve committed to staying. Though I feel as if there is a bigger problem amongst their management ranks and there is definitely a need for a culture change there to be able to catch up. Just look at how a complete overhaul at McLaren in recent years has put them back on the right path.
Adapt and survive: Ensuring Formula One's future
I think it still can be the pinnacle. Everyone just has to evolve their approach to it, given the current climate. Even right now, the true performance of an F1 car is limited by let’s say the tyres – but still the machine is the pinnacle. Operating within a cost cap I see is no different.
For sure, the racing will benefit and while it won’t be an instantaneous result – the gradual build will be worth it and I am sure we’ll be able to see midfield teams able to fight for podiums and the odd win. Hard not to look forward to!
Adapt and survive: Ensuring Formula One's future
That’s why the performance budget cap will be a good thing when it is introduced. Any of those manufacturers questioning their involvement in the sport, should be enticed about spending less money and for Renault especially – having an equal opportunity to compete with Mercedes. You can put a cap on spending, but can’t cap innovation. The best minds will always find an edge and as you say, some new concepts is what Renault need. Vettel and Mercedes would be indeed fun.
Fernando Alonso shouldn't return to F1 unless he can win
All the cards were in his favour to win Le Mans, without any other hybrid LMP competition as in previous years, though I guess winning is winning and in the history books his name is there as the victor. At least the Indy 500 is not going to be one that’ll be much harder, as we’ve already seen from his two attempts.
As for Renault, it all depends on if they stay in F1 for the mid to long-term anyway. Ocon is French, so they already have a French driver. But yeah an all-French line-up with Gasly onboard would be something too.
Fernando Alonso shouldn't return to F1 unless he can win
McLaren are a full-time team now, though have committed to two young drivers in Oliver Askew and Patricio O’Ward. Zak Brown has said that they’ll have a third entry for the Indy 500, which seems the only place for Alonso on that grid. He fished around for a top seat elsewhere, but Andretti can’t have him due to Honda and Penske along with Ganassi already have loaded rosters.
Fernando Alonso shouldn't return to F1 unless he can win
If it was for a team that was winning, then I’d like to see him come back on a one-year deal to see what he achieves. Kind of like Prost in 1993 (even though he had a two-year deal). Seeing Alonso win would be great, but if we had to go on that two, three-year journey where a rebuild is required – then it’s likely he’ll crack it again. Hulkenberg would be great to have back for Renault given his loyalty, or even look at promoting one of their Academy drivers.
Fernando Alonso shouldn't return to F1 unless he can win
You’re right Micko, Sainz is a less fussier driver (so that’s what we believe) than Ricciardo.
Both moves when you think about it actually make a lot of sense and have a lot to offer. It was just that romantic thought of having an Aussie in a Ferrari that was clouding our judgement before. It might have worked in the end.
Sainz and Ricciardo's paths cross again in 2021 driver shuffle
A new approach should go beyond the drivers and look at how they execute from a team perspective. Strategic errors, developmental wrong turns and dead ends – these are the areas Ferrari need to take a new approach on. Maybe new drivers will give them that fresh air to adopt these measures.
As with Renault too. Look at McLaren, who cleared house and completely changed their management structure and it is now paying dividends. Renault are going nowhere also, if they continue to blame anyone but their own management for poor decisions.
Sainz and Ricciardo's paths cross again in 2021 driver shuffle
Hopefully whatever the FIA do to reduce the grey areas in regards to this will prevent a case like this occurring again. That being said, F1 wouldn’t be F1 without controversy and something else will pop up in the future which’ll have us all up in arms again. The 2022 regulations once they’re introduced will be interesting to see how they close off loopholes and prevent teams exploiting the regulations as the rulemakers have proposed they’ll do.
The 'Pink Mercedes': Clever engineering or a blatant cheat?