Haas Appeal Rejected

Sprint to the finish with FIA’s cash boost and reverse grid debates, plus get the inside track on all you need to know about the Las Vegas circuit

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Hey there, speed enthusiast! 👋

Buckle up as we bring you the latest buzz from the world of Formula 1.

🚀 More Sprints, More Cash: The FIA is fueling its bank balance with a surge in sprint races. Curious about the figures? We’ve got the scoop on just how much they’re raking in.

🔄 Reverse Grid Rumblings: Speaking of sprint races, there’s chatter in the pit lane about a possible reverse grid next season. Could this be the shake-up Formula 1 needs?

🏁 Haas’ Austin Angst: Haas F1 Team’s appeal over a track limits breach in the US Grand Prix has hit a red light with the FIA. We’re breaking down the details and implications.

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In today’s email:

1. Pit Stop Talks – Dive into detailed reports that will take you right into the heart of the F1 paddock
2. In-depth education- Breaking Down the Las Vegas Grand Prix Track
3. Fast Lane News – Your fast-track F1 update: Dynamic, insightful, and essential for staying in the racing loop.
4. The Las Vegas GP – One week to go!
   Lights out, and away we go!

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Pit Stop Talks

🛑 FIA Rejects Haas’ US GP Appeal

Haas’ appeal on track limit penalties during the US Grand Prix has been rejected by the FIA. The team’s attempt to highlight inconsistencies in track limit enforcement at Turn 6 fell flat as no new significant evidence was provided.

What’s next:

• The rejection of Haas’ appeal raises questions about the consistency of track limit enforcement in F1.
• Haas presented on-board footage as evidence, which the FIA did not consider new or significant.
• The case highlighted the need for better monitoring of track limits, with the FIA calling for solutions to avoid similar issues.

Go deeper:

The FIA’s decision underscores the stringent requirements for overturning race decisions, with a high threshold for what constitutes new and relevant evidence. Haas’ failure to meet this bar, despite on-board footage, reflects the challenges teams face in contesting regulatory decisions. The FIA’s acknowledgment of the need for better track monitoring suggests potential changes to improve race oversight, ensuring fair play across the board. – Read more

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🔄 F1 Considers Reverse Races

F1 is planning more changes to the Sprint format next year, and Perez suggested reversing the grid to spice things up.

I would propose a reverse grid or something like that, to make it more interesting for the fans because I don’t think it’s working, what we want to achieve. I think it will mix up things. It would create more opportunities, a lot more overtaking. If we want to keep this format, give it a go on something quite different.

Sergio Perez

This would be a big change – flipping the top drivers to the back and giving everyone a new challenge. It’s a bit like what they do in Formula 2 and Formula 3, where they switch up the top drivers in qualifying.

How It Would Work:

⏱️ Implement two practice sessions on Friday

🏆 Saturday’s qualifying sets the Grand Prix grid

🔄 For the sprint race, reverse the order of the top 10 from qualifying

👀 This approach prevents teams from intentionally slowing down to gain an advantage

What We’re Hearing

Would this make races more exciting? Probably. Faster cars would have to work their way up from the back, which could lead to more overtaking and action. But it’s not just about more racing; it’s about better racing. Different tracks will play out differently with this format, and it could mix things up, especially for the teams that don’t usually lead the pack.

Right now, it’s all just an idea. But if F1 wants to keep fans on the edge of their seats, this could be a bold move. – Read more

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🧙 F1’s Global Broadcast Magic Unveiled

Formula 1’s Media and Technology Center, located in Southeast London, is the heart of Formula 1’s broadcasting magic. We’re talking about the world’s largest intercontinental remote production system.

How It Works at the Racetrack

📍 Each race has an Event Technical Center

📹 This center collects footage and data from around the circuit

💾 Over 500 terabytes of data are transmitted back to London

🌍 From there, the live international feeds are produced and distributed worldwide

⏱️ There’s only a 1.5-second delay from track to broadcaster

Broadcasting Details

🎙️ Each broadcaster adds their own commentary in their language

🕒 With 5 minutes to race start, all broadcasters sync up using the intro sequence

🎬 Formula 1 provides a ‘video link’ for the entire race – minus the commentary

Inside the Media and Technology Center

📺 Over 120 live camera feeds are managed

🖥️ Onscreen graphics, telemetry, and driver radios are created

🚗 Over 90 onboard cameras and 170 audio sources are mastered

🎞️ 117 engineers, 68 operation technicians, and 50 editors, work together

Focus Areas in the Center

1. TV Gallery:

🖼️ Almost everything is displayed on 415 monitors
🎬 The director, producers, and operators oversee the race here

2. Audio Mastering:

🔊 Focuses on perfecting the race’s sound experience

3. Driver Radios:

📻 In charge of capturing all communications from the drivers
💬 Prepares the graphics you see on screen with selected driver audios

4. Onboard Camera Department:

🎥 Handles the dynamic onboard footage from the cars

In the past, most of the production was done on-site at the races. But things changed during COVID-19. Many sports broadcasters had to rethink their approach.

Now, Formula 1 sends about 130 employees to the track for on-site production but also has a team of 140 working remotely from London.

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⚫ Brazil GP Exposes Mercedes’ Technical Flaws

Mercedes’ recent performance at the Brazilian GP has raised alarms. After showing promise in Austin and Mexico, their performance took a nosedive in Brazil, marking their worst race of the season. This downturn has left many asking whether this is just a temporary setback or a sign of ongoing issues.

Technical Troubles for Mercedes

👉 Tire Troubles: The team struggled with tire wear, pretty obious in Lewis Hamilton’s drop to seventh place in the sprint race.

👉 Aerodynamic Challenges: The Mercedes W14’s larger rear wing, meant to improve aerodynamics, hasn’t resolved issues with drag and speed.

The Raised Floor Dilemma

A key suspect in Mercedes’ performance issues is the raised floor of their car. Minor adjustments in the car’s ride height can significantly affect its performance, especially regarding downforce and aerodynamics. This could be a critical factor in Mercedes’ recent struggles.

Diverse Strategies Amongst Engine-Sharing Teams

It’s fascinating to observe how teams sharing the same engine, like Mercedes and Aston Martin, employ different strategies and achieve varying results. With winter approaching, all teams are entering a crucial phase of performance development, setting the stage for an exciting upcoming season. – Read more

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🤑 FIA Cashes In On Sprint Expansion

Let’s explain how the FIA is making more money from F1 Sprints. As of this year, the number of F1 Sprint rounds has increased from three to six.

Why It Matters

• The more points teams score, the more they must pay in entry fees for the next season.
• More Sprint rounds mean more points and more money for the FIA

Go Deeper:

Last year, the top eight finishers in each Sprint round got points. This change alone meant the FIA earned an extra €663,675 in entry fees from the teams for 2023.

But that’s not all. Drivers have to pay for their Super Licences each year, and this fee goes up based on the points they scored the previous year. For example, Max Verstappen’s outstanding performance means he’s looking at over €1 million for his Super Licence next year! And with the extra points awarded last year, the FIA made an additional €226,800 from these licence fees.

With the increased Sprint rounds last year, the FIA made around €890,720 in extra fees for the 2023 season. Looking ahead, the 2024 entry fees have been set, with a 6.5% increase.

The additional Sprints and points this year will likely bring in an extra $1.5 million for the FIA, just from the teams. Add in the Super Licence fees from the drivers, and we’re talking almost $2 million in total. – Read more

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🔮 Horner Responds to Hamilton’s Predictions

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time F1 champion, recently said that Red Bull’s dominance in Formula 1 will likely continue for a few more years. This season, Red Bull has been outstanding, winning almost every race and securing both drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Despite efforts from their rivals, no one has consistently beaten them, suggesting their lead might last.

However, Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull Racing, doesn’t entirely agree with Hamilton.

I think that we’ve got a great car, we’ve got a great basis. We need to keep evolving it, but of course, the returns are going to diminish because you’re hitting the top of the curve.

Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal

He mentioned that although the data from their wind tunnel tests for their 2024 car looks promising, it’s hard to predict future success based solely on these numbers.

Despite winning the championship, the Red Bull team remains highly motivated and focused on maintaining their competitive edge. – Read more

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Breaking Down the Las Vegas Grand Prix Track

The world of Formula 1 racing is set for some new action with the highly anticipated debut of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

This event marks a significant milestone in F1 racing, bringing the sport to the heart of the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas.

History Of Racing In Las Vegas