The @pex: a newsletter by F1 Spoiler Alert
Curating the most important updates from around the circuit every week
In The @pex, a weekly newsletter on all things Formula 1, we share the most important developments in the sport. F1SA-hosts Marjolijn and Johan share their vision on the things that happened and share their must reads with you.
Wouldn’t it be fun to start recording a short podcast after each race?"
It just took that short sentence, uttered by the both of us almost at the exact same time, to get started with our podcast F1 Spoiler Alert at the start of the 2017 season. Combining our shared passion for Formula 1 (and the fair share of planning gymnastics), here we are. The current tally? 95 regular shows, 11 bonus episodes, a growing Twitter-account, a very active fanbase on Telegram and almost 4500 regular listeners to our Dutch podcast.
But it most come as no suprise to any fan of F1 that the sport has made a tremendous leap in popularity over the past year or two. A quick glance at the immense amount of content that’s being created around F1 also makes it clear that it can be a real challenge to focus on the events and developments in the paddock that really matter.
With it’s weekly ‘updates’, our podcast tries to be just that filter. We discuss the latest news, quotes made by drivers and teambosses, developments in and outside the garages and preview upcoming races. But as with writing: to record is to choose.
Wouldn’t it be good to create an extra layer to our podcast with a newsletter?
That sentence popped up for the first time somewhere around the start of this so far very exceptional season.
And here we are.
Enjoy reading and don’t forget to subscribe.
Cheers,
Johan
📑The Debrief
So what’s the story with those rear braking ducts of Racing Point and the loud protests in the paddock?
By now you probably heard of the case of the rear braking ducts of Racing Point, or #BrakingNews as we like to call it on our show. Since the initial judgement by the FIA and the intent to appeal by Renault, a lot has happened and then again, maybe it did not. After gaining support in their appeal by McLaren, Williams and Ferrari, the first two decided not to move forward and so we are left with Renault (who suggests to take away all points amassed by Racing Point so far) and Ferrari (that called RP’s work equal to ‘copying a test’).
But something bigger seems at hand, since not only the four aforementioned teams have shared their opinion on the matter. The Race has an excellent write-up on what the different teams hope to gain from the legal row.
Toto Wolff is reconsidering his role as team principal at Mercedes
During the pressers on friday, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff announced he is yet to come to a descision when it comes to his own role in F1 for the next years. Wolff reassured that he is still in very positive talks with the German manufacturer, but also hinted that he could stay on but in a different role.
“I really have enjoyed many years in F1 in that role, and the discussions that we are having are very good” said Wolff. “[..]"On the other side, it takes a toll, and this plays into my under consideration.”
FIA wants to ban the Party Mode, but how do the drivers feel about that?
Huge (we mean yuuuge) surprise this week: the FIA announced it’s intent to ban the Party Mode on all engines after this weekends race in Spain. Using a technical directive, the FIA wants enforce that teams only use one mapping for the entire weekend.
This effectively kills the Party Mode (myth or not, Toto), but also takes away a significant parameter when it comes to race strategies. How did the drivers respond to the news?
Former Ferrari-team principal Montezemolo is in shock over current status of Vettel-Ferrari relationship
Luca di Montezemolo, former Ferrari team principal, is following the events at his old team with a decent amount of sorrow in his eyes. In an interview with RTL (German), the Italian specifically mentioned his concerns on the way the manufacturer is handling it’s relationship with Sebastian Vettel.
He also discusses the amount of responsiblity and pressure on the shoulders of the current team principal, Mattia Binotto.
The Race spoke to Max Verstappen on his surprising new talent on display: humor
Talking to The Race at a sponsor event, the Dutch driver opens up why he started to use a new way of putting things in perspective and taking away some tention: by being funny.
Does Red Bull have what it takes to take the fight to Mercedes this weekend?
The 70th Anniversary GP proved what we have been seeing during this season so far (bar the opening GP in Austria): Max Verstappen is the only driver capable of staying close the Mercedes cars and, when opportunity arises, to battle them for a step-up on the podium.
For this weekend, the pace of the Red Bull looks good enough to charge again. Although the gap was significant in the qualification runs during the friday practice sessions, the long run simulation showed a much brighter picture.
🎧 F1SA #95: The End of Party Mode
For our Dutch readers: in the latest episode of our podcast we discuss the tension in the paddock, the relationship between Ferrari and Vettel and we preview the weekend in Barcelona.
Go check it out in your favorite podcast app or click the button below!