RaceFans Round-up: Losail gravel will prevent “mess”

In the round-up: New gravel traps around the Losail circuit should help avoid the track limits problems of last year’s race, believes Lance Stroll

In brief

Losail gravel will prevent “mess” – Stroll

After 51 lap times were deleted in last year’s Qatar Grand Prix, Stroll believes that new gravel traps installed at several corner exits around the Losail circuit will help to avoid similar problems this weekend.

“I saw there’s some gravel traps now,” the Aston Martin driver told the official F1 channel. “It’s better than dealing with the pain of track limits in 18 corners or whatever the corner numbers are here.

“I think last year was a bit of a mess in the race, I remember. So hopefully it’s a better solution.”

Losail’s DRS zone shortened

The sole DRS zone at the Losail circuit has been reduced by 100 metres compared to last year’s Qatar Grand Prix.

The track features just a single DRS zone along its 5.4km lap length, with the activation point moved further up the pit straight by exactly 100 metres compared to 2023.

The detection zone for DRS remains the same as last year’s event, which was moved closer to the exit of the penultimate corner of turn 15 compared to the circuit’s inaugural grand prix in 2021.

Pourchaire handed Peugeot reserve role

Theo Pourchaire has been named as test and development driver for Peugeot’s hypercar project in the World Endurance Championship.

The 2023 Formula 2 champion will run in private tests in the 9X8 and will be called upon to replace any of the team’s race drivers if unavailable. He previously participated in the rookie test in Bahrain after the recent season finale for the team.

“The Peugeot 9X8 is a very powerful car, unlike anything I’ve driven before,” Pourchaire said. “Endurance cars are highly advanced and cutting-edge in terms of technology, making them similar to Formula 1 cars. Being a test driver is a fantastic opportunity, and I’m grateful to Peugeot for offering me this chance.”

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Links

FIA running out of people to do jobs, says sacked steward (BBC)

Tim Mayer: ”I know how hard both of those jobs are. I like Rui (Marques) a lot, but it will put him under incredible pressure. There aren’t a lot of ‘platinum-level’ FIA race directors, which is the FIA’s highest level certification. I’m one of them. It’s a lot of work and, if you are doing the job right, you wake up every day with an ulcer thinking of all the various things you need to be thinking about. They’re not doing themselves any favours. They are literally running out of people to do those jobs.”

Hamilton pays tribute to Mary McGee after female motorsport pioneer’s death at 87 (Independent)

”I’m deeply saddened to hear that Mary McGee, the first woman to road race motorcycles in the United States and the first person to solo the Baja 500 has passed on. My condolences to her family and everyone who she’s inspired. Her legacy will live on as a trailblazer in the world of motorsports and beyond.”

Pulling ‘super excited’ to be on brink of sealing title at Losail (Sky)

”Singapore was one that I wanted to do well at because it’s an incredible track and not many people can say they have won around that track. Having a great weekend there puts me in a great position to not be nervous in the final two rounds. I can focus on enjoying myself, which is when I drive at my best and keep doing what I keep doing. Hopefully, fingers crossed, we can finish on the top step.”

Időkakapszulát helyeztek el a leendő főépület alapjában (Hungaroring via YouTube)

The administrators of the Hungaroring have buried a time capsule at the track while it undergoes extensive renovations, featuring several keepsakes from the almost 40-year history of the race.

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