In the round-up: Formula 1 and its teams are reportedly becoming increasing unhappy with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem following a number of controversies
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In brief
“Widespread disgust” in F1 at Ben Sulayem controversies – reports
Formula 1 and its teams are reportedly becoming increasing unhappy with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem following a number of controversies.
Ben Sulayem has clashed with the sport and its owners Liberty Media over the last year over plans to expand the current F1 grid beyond its current ten teams. Yesterday, the FIA formally launched its application process to add two teams for 2025 at the earliest.
However, Ben Sulayem has courted controversy over comments that reports F1 was recently valued at $20billion were overinflated, while a sexist comment made on his now-defunct website 20 years ago resurfaced last week.
The BBC reports that figures within the sport are becoming increasingly disgruntled by the FIA president. “There has been widespread disgust,” the BBC quoted a senior source as saying, with one anonymous team principal stating that “everyone thinks he’s got to go. That is definitely the general view.”
Red Bull launch search for female esports talent
Red Bull are set to launch an initiative to find talented simracers who are female to join their official esports racing team.
The search, in partnership with new sponsors Rokt, aims to recruit talent into various roles within their esports activities.
“We’re thrilled to add Rokt as a team partner and we very much look forward to working together to bring a more diverse workforce into the sport and into the sim racing world,” said team principal Christian Horner.
“Rokt is committed to fostering diversity and empowering women both within its own organisation and in society at large and we’re proud to work together to launch a virtual program to recruit female esports drivers as one initiative under our new partnership.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
“Michael Mann’s “Ferrari,” starring Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz and Todd Haynes’ “May December,” starring Oscar winners Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, are among the new titles added to the Sky Cinema 2023 original films slate.”
“There were two men during 2022 that featured predominantly during Sky’s pre-session output: Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Out of all the content last season that Motorsport Broadcasting attributed to a given driver, Leclerc featured in 13.7% of it.”
“Discovering and nurturing future Formula One stars is the raison d’etre of the Ferrari Driver Academy. Plucked from around the world, this year its young racers brought home a European title, podia finishes, and plenty of promise for the future.”
FIA Girls on Track makes its mark in Saudi Arabia (FIA)
“In Diriyah, 120 girls aged 12-18 had a unique opportunity to be immersed in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The participants took part in engaging and educational activities aimed at providing an overview of possible careers in motor sport, both on and off the track.”
Monolite Racing agrees terms with Maschio for 2023 FRECA season (FREC)
“Coming from kart racing, the 16-year-old Italian made the jump to single-seaters in 2022, entering the Italian Formula 4 Championship. Throughout the course of the season, Maschio showcased outstanding growth, which he carried into the final race of the Formula X Pro Series a Monza, where he secured a brilliant win. Maschio also entered selected events of the Italian Prototype Championship, performing well among the most experienced competitors.”
Hands-on with Gran Turismo 7’s free PS VR2 update, out February 22 (PlayStation)
“While Gran Turismo Sport offered a tantalizing taste of the GT experience using the original PlayStation VR, letting users don the headset for a limited slice of the game, Gran Turismo 7 supports PS VR2 with no such compromises. The cars, tracks, races, and license tests are all here (with the exception of split-screen support), and playing the game again with the new headset and DualSense controller is nothing short of revelatory—even as someone who logged more than 200 hours on the track throughout 2022. Here are four reasons to be excited about buckling up for GT7 in PlayStation VR2.”
The Off-Season: What Happens at an F1 Factory in January? (Mercedes via YouTube)
“Shining a spotlight on the hard work in the factories over the off-season. For some departments, January is the busiest time of year. Find out what’s been going on in the factory over the past few weeks.”
The Top Class of Endurance Explained 2023: LMDH, LMH and GTP (Brundle: Behind the wheel via YouTube)
“A full explanation of the new top class of endurance racing in the USA and Europe.”
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