RaceFans Round-up: FIA sporting director Nielsen resigns

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FIA sporting director Nielsen resigns – stories

Steve Nielsen, who was appointed as sporting director for the FIA in January of this yr, has reportedly resigned from his function inside the governing physique.

The BBC reports that Nielsen, who was employed by the FIA after serving as as System 1’s sporting director for 5 years, stepped down after being sad with the FIA not exhibiting a willingness to make the modifications he felt have been essential to its race management operations.

Nielsen’s hiring was one among many actions taken by the governing physique to handle criticisms of its operations following the controversial conclusion of the 2021 System 1 season. Niels Wittich, who was one among two race administrators appointed to switch Michael Masi as F1 race director for 2022, accomplished a full season as the only race director in 2023.

Wolff desires to see “many extra” titles

Regardless of profitable eight constructors’ championship titles and 7 drivers’ championships for Mercedes since becoming a member of the group in 2013, group principal Toto Wolff says he desires to see “many extra” titles for the group sooner or later.

“We’ve a board in our manufacturing unit which reveals all of the constructors’ world champions since 1958 – you could have the logos, the badges for every of the years – and the desk goes till 2050,” Wolff stated. “There may be 27 open, empty locations. And I wish to look again in 20 years and see these many extra Mercedes stars.

“Whenever you’re retrospective – and hate retrospective views – however once we look again in 10 or 20 years and we contemplate that peak decade it was – second-first-first-first-first-first-first-first-first-third-second – while you have a look at it from that perspective, you form of say ‘that was okay’.”

Tsunoda reveals “greatest mistake”

Yuki Tsunoda says his conflict with Oscar Piastri on the Mexican Grand Prix was his “greatest mistake” of the 2023 season.

Tsunoda was working eighth when he collided with the McLaren driver at flip two on lap 48, dropping him eight locations earlier than he recovered to complete twelfth. He admitted that he had “a few regrets” through the season however “particularly Mexico.”

“Nevertheless it’s motorsports,” he continued. “Clearly the training what I did there was positively my greatest mistake for the entire season and I’ve to be taught from it. However, additionally, I attempted it. I used to be P8 – if I completed P8, it nonetheless was not sufficient to be a P7 anyway. So I attempted it a minimum of. And I don’t have a lot regrets.”

Hyperlinks

Motor racing hyperlinks of curiosity:

F1 Quiz: Can you remember what happened in the 2023 season? (BBC)

‘The 2023 F1 season is over however it will not be lengthy till we’re again in Bahrain for the beginning of the 2024 marketing campaign. Now could be your probability to check your information on what occurred this yr.’

THE PALMERS: Jolyon Palmer picks his stand-out performers, best moment and biggest surprise from the 2023 season (F1)

‘By way of greatest race, Las Vegas had all of it. Drama at the beginning, drama on the remaining nook, loads of gutsy overtakes and incidents alongside the way in which, and we didn’t even know Max would win till the final handful of laps.’

Valtteri Bottas wants to qualify for 2024 Gravel World Championships (Velo)

‘He’s no stranger to setting lofty objectives, and extra importantly, following by means of on them. You don’t get to the highest of one of the aggressive sports activities on the planet the place there are solely 20 obtainable spots by being unhealthy at aim setting. Along with the whopping 25 F1 races subsequent season, he now has the weekend of October 5-6 circled on his calendar for the UCI Gravel World Championships in Halle-Leuven, Belgium.’

INSIGHT: Testing the F2 2024 car to its limits (F2)

”The take a look at in Bahrain was all about ensuring the automobile was compliant with all our expectations when it comes to efficiency, behaviours, simply ticking all of the bins within the growth programme. We did almost 5000km, ending simply 7km wanting that determine, which is a disgrace, however to have the ability to obtain that throughout a number of totally different periods round Magny-Cours, Jerez and Bahrain is sweet.”

The second-tier champions Pourchaire emulated with a one-win season (Formula Scout)

‘It was loopy sufficient that Servia gained the 1999 Indy Nxt title with out ever standing on the highest step of the rostrum, however the reality his title rival and Dorricott Racing team-mate Casey Mears didn’t both makes this an enormous statistical anomaly. There have been two drivers who took two wins every, however ended up third and seventh within the standings, whereas Servia’s title cost was constructed on 5 second locations and Mears break up his 4 podium outcomes into two seconds and two thirds. Two drivers exterior of the highest 10 within the standings gained races, and for each their victory contributed to round a 3rd of their complete factors.’

Franz Tost farewell message (AlphaTauri via YouTube)

‘2023 is ending, and our Group Principal, Franz Tost, will go away the group on the finish of the 12 months. It has been 18 years with highs and lows, success, onerous work, and plenty of new drivers launched to the game. Franz has reworked the corporate from just a little group to a major construction with over 400 workers. Danke Franz!’

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Completely happy birthday for immediately to Andrew, Richpea, Wasif1, Willian Ceolin and Alex Tunnicliffe, pleased birthday for the twenty fifth to Louise.1987 and Urvaksh, pleased birthday for the twenty sixth to Michael S and pleased birthday for the twenty seventh to to Scott Joslin, Super_Swede_96, Dean Mckinnon and Diceman!

• twenty fourth: Born immediately in 1941: Howden Ganley, who raced for BRM, Frank Williams and March within the seventies. His profession was reduce brief when he was injured in a crash whereas driving for his remaining group, Maki, on the Nurburgring, following suspension failure.
• twenty fifth: Born immediately in 1943: Wilson Fittipaldi, who raced in F1 for 3 years earlier than handing his Copersucar drive to youthful brother Emerson
• twenty sixth: Born today in 1958: Adrian Newey
• twenty seventh: 5-times System 1 race starter Andre Pilette died on this present day in 1993. His greatest outcome was fifth place within the 1954 Belgian Grand Prix, driving a Gordini

The round-up will return on December twenty eighth.