RaceFans Round-up: Verstappen crosses the line sometimes

In the round-up: Max Verstappen strays over the limit at times with his defensive moves, says Charles Leclerc.

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In brief

Verstappen crosses the line sometimes – Leclerc

Leclerc, who is 79 points off championship leader Verstappen with 146 available over the remaining races, said his long-time rival “has always been on the limit of regulations” and sometimes oversteps them.

“That’s what makes racing Max so exciting,” he said. “That’s also why I really like having those fights with him, is that you know that he will never let any room to you and it will be always at the limits of the regulations.”

“With Max it’s always at the limits of the regulations, sometimes it goes a little bit over,” he added. “But that’s what makes Formula 1 exciting, those fights.”

Alonso misses media day due to illness

Aston Martin says Fernando Alonso is intending to participate in today’s second practice session despite missing Thursday’s media obligations due to illness.

The two-times champion was scheduled to miss today’s opening practice session as Felipe Drugovich will drive his car. Aston Martin said he plans to return to his car in second practice.

Alonso will participate in his 400th grand prix weekend in Mexico, the first driver ever to reach such a milestone.

Rossi, Pourchaire and Vesti among hypercar rookies for test

Several familiar names have been confirmed to be participating in the post-season WEC rookie test following next week’s season finale in Bahrain.

Multiple Moto GP world champion Valentino Rossi, who races in a BMW M4 for WRT in the GT3 class of the championship, will drive BMW’s hypercar in the test day following the Eight Hours of Bahrain race next weekend. Reigning F2 champion Theo Pourchaire will get to run in Peugeot’s 9X8, while former Mercedes junior Frederik Vesti will drive Cadillac’s hypercar.

Arthur Leclerc will be offered the opportunity to run in Ferrari’s Le Mans winning 499P, while Alpine junior Victor Martins will drive his team’s A424 hypercar also.

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Links

Son, nine, of Lewis Hamilton rival begins following in the footsteps of famous F1 dad (The Sun)

‘Kimi Raikkonen’s son is beginning to follow in the footsteps of his dad after tasting success on track. Robin Raikkonen is set to compete in his first international kart racing competition. He qualified for the race by winning the Swiss National Championship this year.’

Gaming the system? Verstappen incident shows overtake rules need urgent overhaul (The Guardian)

‘It is understood discussions on the subject are continuing at the FIA and it will surely come up at the drivers’ briefing in Mexico, where those questions will be raised but perhaps Martin Brundle’s judgment, from a former driver with more than a decade racing in F1 and a career since analysing and commentating, is the one most ominous in its assessment.’

Heart surgery to stage success in six months: Kovalainen’s story (DirtFish)

”It’s been pretty incredible how the recovery has been. I mean, better than I was ever hoping for when we went for the operation. We knew that it can take a long time or it can take a shorter time, but it has all gone really well, I think. I just have to remind myself every now and then, because it could be a totally different story. And I’m just grateful that I’m still rallying at this level and feeling well. It’s amazing what medical science can do.”

Driven by Respect: the FIA sets new standards in Safeguarding (FIA)

Mohammed Ben Sulayem: ”Everyone involved in the world of motorsport deserves the right to feel safe, and as the governing body we have a duty of care to protect this right. This new policy is yet another step forward in our commitment to our competitors and colleagues and I would like to thank all those involved in this crucial task.”

Double the FPS in old sims with a simple app! (Red Bull via YouTube)

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