RaceFans Round-up:

In brief

Verstappen ‘prefers not to think’ about Hungarian GP

Verstappen said the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he finished fifth after colliding with Lewis Hamilton, was the most stressful race of the year. “I think Hungary was quite eventful, let’s say like that,” he told Red Bull’s official channel. “I prefer not to actually think about that weekend again.”

He arrived in Hungary 84 points ahead of championship rival Lando Norris at the halfway point in the season, but enduring a frustrating race in which he slipped down the order while McLaren scored an emphatic one-two.

In contrast he said the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he tangled with Oscar Piastri at the first corner, was his least stressful weekend.

“There was nothing to fight for really anymore,” he explained. “The championship was done for driver and constructors for us. So I think that’s why it was less stressful because it doesn’t really matter what the outcome is. It has no influence in the championship.”

Moto GP team claims Hamilton interest

Pit Beirer, motorsport director of Moto GP team KTM, says Hamilton has shown genuine interest in moving into the series as a team owner.

“We have had very interesting discussions with his management,” Beirer told Speedweek. “It’s no secret that Lewis Hamilton is interested in Moto GP and is thinking about having his own team. There are concrete discussions here too.”

Vandals target Senna statue at Imola

Objects around the statue of Ayrton Senna at Imola have been vandalised twice over the Christmas period according to local reports.

Fans regularly leave items including flags around the statue. Il Resto del Carlino reported two acts of vandalism occured on December 24th and 25th in which some flags caught fire.

Senna died following a crash at the circuit while he was leading the San Marino Grand Prix 30 years ago.

Links

‘We have taken big actions without being shy’ (BBC)

‘In 10 years’ time what we want people to say is: ‘Not only is sustainability in action possible, but part of the definition of what good looks like, and if F1 can do it and show how it’s done, everyone can do it.”

How Lawson looked set for F1 (Auto Action)

‘We were able to assist with the financial burdens Liam faced on his rise through motorsport and to reach a point where Liam is now in a championship winning Formula 1 team.’

title (Racer)

‘The Cosworth Mk 3 model, which is an optional unit for teams to purchase, has been chosen by eight of IndyCar’s 11 full-time teams and presents drivers with a wider frame — a larger diameter — to generate more force and leverage in the move from 284mm to 310mm.’

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Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to our readers whose birthdays fell since the last round-up:

• 24th: Andrew, Richpea, Wasif1, Willian Ceolin and Alex Tunnicliffe
• 25th: Louise.1987 and Urvaksh
• 26th: Michael S
• 27th: Scott Joslin, Super_Swede_96, Dean Mckinnon and Diceman
• 28th: Lazzar
• 29th: Jsc, John Graham and Dynamite Clock
• 30th: Journeyer, Naz3012, Rick and Liam Stroud

On this day in motorsport

• 24th: Born today in 1949: One-time F1 race starter Warwick Brown
• 25th: Born today in 1987: Ma Qing Hua, the first Chinese driver to participate in a grand prix weekend, though he never started an F1 race
• 26th: Born today in 1958: Adrian Newey
• 27th: Born today in 1985: Jerome d’Ambrosio
• 28th: Born on this day in 1909: David Murray, who started the very first world championship race at Silverstone in 1950 in a Maserati 4CLT. He retired with technical problems, as he did in his three other world championship race starts.
• 29th: Born on this day in 1969: Future Toyota F1 driver, three-time Le Mans winner and Formula E team principal Allan McNish
• 30th: Born today in 1956: Francois Hesnault, the last driver to start a race as a third entrant for a team, driving a year-old Renault at the 1985 German Grand Prix, having been dropped by Brabham earlier in the year