Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen have both been in the headlines this week (Image: Getty)
EuroSportplux brings you up to date with the latest news ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka this weekend.
The second part of a highly anticipated double-header in the season commences this weekend, as the drivers prepare to take on the iconic Suzuka circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Among the numerous talking points ahead of Sunday’s race is the form of Red Bull. Max Verstappen headed into the Singapore Grand Prix having broken the record for the most consecutive race wins after snatching his tenth straight victory at Monza.
However, things didn’t go to plan for the Dutchman in Singapore. Verstappen couldn’t make it through to Q3 and was noted for three separate incidents, two of which were blocking violations that infuriated some of the other drivers in the field.
The man who knocked Verstappen out of Q2 was AlphaTauri stand-in Liam Lawson, who has also been in the news this weekend as he returns to race in Japan, where he is currently battling for the Super Formula title. The young New Zealander’s future remains up in the air with a decision about Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo imminent.
in 7 hours13:53 Harry Smith
Albon to race in Daytona 24 Hours
Motorsport journalist Marshall Pruett has claimed that Alex Albon is the active F1 driver who will compete in the Daytona 24 Hours race next season.
Team owner Wayne Taylor and driver Filipe Albuquerque had previously teased that an F1 driver would be competing for them alongside their already-named driver line-up.
The Rolex 24 Hours is one of the most prestigious events in endurance racing with Albon set to race in the GTP class for Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti Autosport.
Pruett made the claim on The Week in Sports Cars podcast with the Thai-British driver primed to make the trip across the pond after the F1 season is complete.
in 6 hours13:27 Harry Smith
Brown speaks out on 11th team issue
Zak Brown has claimed that he is in favour of an 11th team joining the F1 grid, as long as the team adds value to the spectacle.
The legendary motorsport name of Andretti is the strongest contender with the American team looking to expand their open-wheel portfolio with an F1 team.
Addressing the issue ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Brown said: “If someone’s prepared to pay the right franchise fee, it’s a quality racing team. I don’t see it as diluting, I see it as additive.”
in 6 hours12:51 Harry Smith
Tsunoda makes team-mate verdict
Yuki Tsunoda has discussed the merits of his two most recent AlphaTauri as the time comes for the team to make a decision about their futures.
“I think, AlphaTauri itself – we know it’s a junior team,” Tsunoda said. “So, at the same time, there’s a bit more risk to think about the results in general so it depends on what they’re thinking.
“If they want more results, Daniel is probably more easier, he has more experience so maybe he can extract those results maybe, but also Liam. I don’t know, I’m scared to say!”
in 6 hours12:32 Harry Smith
Verstappen hits back at ‘fake fans’
Max Verstappen has claimed that the supporters who call his and Red Bull’s dominance boring are ‘not real fans’.
Speaking out after losing his winning streak in Singapore, Verstappen said: “For me, we got beaten in a very clear way.
“I don’t think about what is good for Formula One and I don’t think it was necessarily bad for Formula One because we were just better than everyone else.
“If people cannot appreciate that then you are not a real fan. If people did a better job than us then they deserved to win. They shouldn’t win because people say it is boring that we are winning.”
Read more about this story here…
in 5 hours11:40 Harry Smith
Chadwick opens up on F1 hopes
Jamie Chadwick has given her opinion on the prospects of seeing a female F1 driver, claiming that the sport is still way off.
The British driver, who has been racing in the IndyNXT series, told Sky Sports: “Already, we are seeing more and more, but at the moment we are lacking that feeder series through and up to F1 for women.
“We are getting closer, but we are way off. The likes of the F1 Academy will make a big difference. It’s still on my mind. I always want to compete at the top level of my sport.
“I want to be there on merit and for the right reasons. It relies on me having success in Indy NXT and from there seeing it very much short-term. The long-term goal is going to the top, but it’s about taking it step by step.”
in 4 hours11:03 Harry Smith
Hamilton and Ocon’s on-track excursion
Lewis Hamilton and Esteban Ocon took to the track for some early Suzuka action on Thursday, driving their remote control cars around the pit lane.
Speaking about their experience, Hamilton said: “So Esteban and I had planned a while ago that while we are here we would get our remote control cars together and have a bit of a race in the pit lane.
“For me, it was very reminiscent of when I was a kid on Blue Peter and it was really cool. We all share more in common than we probably think other than the fact we are pure rare. It’s very rare we all get to do things like that. It was fun.”
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in 3 hours10:31 Harry Smith
Alonso: Suzuka is my favourite track
Fernando Alonso has claimed that Suzuka is his favourite circuit on the F1 calendar as the driers prepare for the Japanese Grand Prix.
Talking ahead of this weekend’s action, Alonso said: “It’s my favourite circuit of the calendar, favourite fans. It’s a special race.
“We want to deliver something special and I think everyone in Aston Martin is ready for the challenge.”
Things can’t get much worse for Aston Martin this weekend after the team endured a miserable weekend in Singapore with Lance Stroll missing the race after a huge qualifying shunt and Alonso finishing comfortably out of the points.
