being a topic of debate,<\/a> especially as Piastri\u2019s championship lead dwindled.<\/p>\nSpeaking on the F1\u2019s own Beyond the Grid podcast, when reflecting on his struggles at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Piastri suggested he was finding it hard to move past what happened at Monza as well. <\/p>\n
“The blame is not all on Oscar!” | 00:36<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately (it\u2019s) a combination of quite a few things,\u201d Piastri said on the podcast. \u201cObviously, the race before that was Monza, which I didn\u2019t feel was a particularly great weekend from my own performance and there was obviously what happened with the pitstops.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut then also in Baku itself, Friday was tough, things weren\u2019t working, I was overdriving, I wasn\u2019t very happy with how I was driving and ultimately probably trying to make up for that a little bit on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there was kind of some things in the lead-up, let\u2019s say, that were maybe not the most helpful and then things that happened on the weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had an engine problem in FP1 that kind of unsettled things a bit, and then I was driving not that well. We were on C6 tyres that weekend, which are notoriously tricky to handle. There were just a lot of little things that eventually kind of added up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Piastri, who now trails Norris by 24 points ahead of next week\u2019s race in Las Vegas, went on to say Baku was the \u201cperfect storm of quite a few things\u201d, calling it \u201cthe worst weekend I\u2019ve ever had in racing\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no beating around the bush, that was the worst weekend I\u2019ve ever had in racing, but probably the most useful in some ways,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, when you can start to look at things like that, normally that helps you out quite a lot.<\/p>\n
\u201c(If) you look at some of the names that have had some pretty shocking weekends, or almost unbelievable weekends or races or moments in their career where things have gone wrong; it happens to anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not one person in racing that doesn\u2019t have some kind of disastrous story of how a weekend went wrong for them. Looking at it from that perspective does help a lot, but you still need to learn the things you need to learn from weekends like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Piastri finishes 5th after crash chaos | 03:20<\/p>\n
WOLFF SET TO SELL MERCEDES SHARES IN MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR VALUATION<\/p>\n
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is in talks to sell a minority share of his stake in the championship-winning Formula 1 team.<\/p>\n
The UK Financial Times reports the prospective buyer is George Kurtz, founder of cybersecurity company Crowdstrike, which already sponsors the Mercedes team.<\/p>\n
Wolff is a one-third owner of the UK-based squad in an equal-share agreement with former majority owner Mercedes and chemicals company Ineos.<\/p>\n
According to Sportico, the deal would value the team at US$6 billion (A$9.15 billion), by far the largest valuation for a Formula 1 team in history.<\/p>\n
Reports elsewhere suggest Kurtz would take a 5 per cent share in the team, diluting Wolff\u2019s ownership to 28 per cent.<\/p>\n
If the valuation is correct, the 5 per cent share will trade hands for approximately US$300 million ($A458 million).<\/p>\n
Wolff bought his original 30 per cent share for a reported US$165 million (A$251.7 million) in 2013.<\/p>\n
The same 30 per cent share of the team would be worth US$1.8 billion (A$2.75 billion) today, according to this valuation, representing an increase in value of almost 1100 per cent.<\/p>\n
Mercedes told Autosport in a statement that it \u201cwill be making no comment on this. The governance of the team will remain unchanged, and all three partners (Mercedes-Benz, Toto and Ineos) are fully committed to the ongoing success of Mercedes-Benz in Formula 1\u201d.<\/p>\n
At US$6 billion, Mercedes would have by far the largest valuation of any team in Formula 1 history.<\/p>\n
The value would eclipse reigning double constructors champion McLaren, which was valued at around US$5 billion (A$7.63 billion) earlier this year when the team bought back approximately 30 per cent of its shares from minority investors in September.<\/p>\n
Ferrari\u2019s Formula 1 team has been given a similar valuation, though its market capitalisation as a publicly listed company on the New York Stock Exchange is US$74.7 billion (A$114 billion).<\/p>\n
AUDI SET TITLE TARGET AHEAD OF 2026 LAUNCH<\/p>\n
The Audi Formula 1 team has set itself a five-year target to win its first world title after launching a concept livery in Germany on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Audi has purchased long-time independent team Sauber ahead of next year\u2019s sweeping rule changes, when the Swiss squad will race under the Audi name and with Audi-built power units.<\/p>\n
The program has been beset by rumours of delays and underdelivery, and there have been several rounds of managerial bloodletting in the years since the brand announced it would enter the sport in 2022.<\/p>\n
But aspirations remain high for the team, with Audi CEO Gernot D\u00f6llner proclaiming that he expected to be a championship contender from 2030.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next two years we will be challengers,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to improve from where we are today and have ambitions also for 2026 and 2027. These years are the challenger years.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom 2028 on, we want to become real competitors and then from 2030 on fight for the championship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Setting concrete date-based targets is risky business in Formula 1. Though Audi isn\u2019t a brand-new entry, it\u2019s starting from a low base with Sauber, which is ninth in this year\u2019s 10-team championship and which has required significant investment in its facilities to bring them up to grade after years of financial austerity.<\/p>\n
Renault famously set itself a five-year plan to return to competitiveness after re-entering the sport in 2016. That then became a new 100-race plan \u2014 essentially the same thing \u2014 when it became clear it was going to miss its original target.<\/p>\n
Those 100 races expired this year, with Alpine anchored to the bottom of the constructors championship.<\/p>\n
Audi chief technical officer and chief operations officer Mattia Binotto, the former Ferrari team principal, said the ambitious plan was achievable because Audi would be building both chassis and power unit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to become successful and a winning team in the future, yes, it may add complexity, but it\u2019s a requirement,\u201d he said. \u201cHaving the full control on both the chassis and the power unit gives you a competitive advantage, a technical advantage.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause for Audi it\u2019s not only about participating, but about winning, it was a given, I would say. So we accept the complexity because we have a clear ambition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sauber is 20 points behind Racing Bulls in the battle for sixth in the constructors championship but is only 10 points behind Aston Martin in seventh.<\/p>\n
The 62 points scored so far this year is already its largest tally since 2012.<\/p>\n
GRILL\u2019D \u2018APOLOGISES\u2019 FOR PIASTRI BURGER CURSE<\/p>\n
Australian burger chain Grill\u2019d has responded to social media commentary suggesting its burgers are cursed following Oscar Piastri\u2019s severe dip in form as the championship heads towards its conclusion.<\/p>\n
Grill\u2019d inked a personal sponsorship deal with Piastri earlier this year, and in September, after the Australian finished third at the Italian Grand Prix, the chain launched a promotion promising a free second burger every time the then title leader took home a podium trophy.<\/p>\n
Piastri, however, hasn\u2019t finished on the podium since, and earlier this week the business watered down the criteria, offering the bonus burger whenever Piastri took the chequered flag.<\/p>\n
It led to some humorously claiming that Grill\u2019d was responsible for the Melburnian\u2019s score slump<\/p>\n
Now the burger chain has responded, posting a tongue-in-cheek apology for creating \u201ca burger so delicious it could change the course of F1 history\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen the tweets, the TikToks, the memes,\u201d the company said in a statement. \u201cAnd yes, we\u2019ve heard the whispers. Apparently, our OP81 Burger is \u2018cursed\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d like to apologise. To those who believe in the \u2018curse\u2019. <\/p>\n
\u201cSure, we can take a joke about a curse, but we\u2019ll never bet against a guy like Oscar Piastri.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, Oscar\u2019s our homegrown Aussie hero and we\u2019ll always be in his corner.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, tomorrow, and forever \u2014 we\u2019ve got your back, Oscar. <\/p>\n
\u201cFast, fearless, and representing the best of Australia, we couldn\u2019t be prouder of him and to have his name on one of our burgers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grill\u2019d has also mocked up a merchandise line bearing the phrases \u201cSorry not sorry\u201d, \u201cCertified cursed\u201d, and \u201cApologies to the motorsport gods\u201d.<\/p>\n
F1 TEAM SORRY AFTER STAFF MEMBER APPEARS TO ENCOURAGE LANDO BOOING<\/p>\n
Racing Bulls released a statement apologising after a video surfaced on social media appearing to show a team member giving a thumbs down as Lando Norris collected his winner\u2019s trophy at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Norris was booed by spectators at last weekend\u2019s race and the Racing Bulls employee appeared to be encouraging the behaviour, with a fellow worker pictured trying to put their arm down and stop them. <\/p>\n
In a statement, Racing Bulls said it was \u201caware\u201d of the video and stressed \u201cit doesn\u2019t reflect our team\u2019s values or the spirit of VCARB\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe matter has been handled internally,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe in celebrating great racing and showing respect to every driver, team, and fan both on and off the track.\u201d<\/p>\n
The crowd\u2019s behaviour was later condemned<\/a>, although Norris himself didn\u2019t seem too fussed by it. <\/p>\n\u201cIt\u2019s one weekend at a time. I\u2019m happy, I\u2019m focused on myself,\u201d Norris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI keep my head down, I ignore all of this, keep to myself. It\u2019s working at the minute, so I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Australian Oscar Piastri has opened up on \u201cthe worst weekend I\u2019ve ever had in racing\u201d and how McLaren\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":281268,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[441],"tags":[4587,2840,18614,128043,128051,128039,128034,49,48,40345,128045,128057,3025,128033,40599,128032,5175,128052,128037,128060,128030,3456,578,128028,128031,128049,576,577,30554,10816,128025,5220,128056,77406,4996,591,1483,128026,128063,39008,128044,1881,128058,128035,128065,128054,7647,128061,128048,1671,5185,128064,18600,128040,108190,5233,128055,128059,41834,109912,1942,128050,128029,18588,82,128027,128047,128062,11754,128036,108193,128042,128038,181,128053,5181,128046,128041],"class_list":["post-281267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-formula-1","tag-america","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-australian-burger-chain","tag-bonus-burger","tag-burger-chain","tag-burger-curse","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-championship-contender","tag-championship-heads","tag-championship-rival","tag-charles-leclerc","tag-chief-operations-officer","tag-clive-rose","tag-consecutive-points","tag-constructors-championship","tag-crash-chaosmotorsport","tag-crushing-end","tag-disastrous-story","tag-engine-problem","tag-europe","tag-f1","tag-fair-decision","tag-faulty-wheel-gun","tag-fellow-worker","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-george-kurtz","tag-germany","tag-gernot-dollner","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-gone-downhill","tag-horror-show","tag-italy","tag-lando-norris","tag-las-vegas","tag-long-time-independent-team","tag-majority-owner","tag-market-capitalisation","tag-mattia-binotto","tag-mercedes","tag-mercedes-benz-ag","tag-mercedes-shares","tag-merchandise-line","tag-multimillion-dollar-windfall","tag-nevada","tag-new-york-stock-exchange-inc","tag-nightmare-experience","tag-north-america","tag-northern-america","tag-obvious-turning-point","tag-oceania","tag-opening-lap","tag-pit-stop","tag-pit-talk","tag-points-scored","tag-power-unit","tag-qualifying-session","tag-slow-pit-stop","tag-social-media","tag-social-media-appearing","tag-social-media-commentary","tag-southern-europe","tag-sports","tag-sweeping-rule-changes","tag-team-member","tag-team-orders-admission","tag-team-principal","tag-title-challenge","tag-title-leader","tag-uk-financial-times","tag-unbelievable-weekends","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unsettled-things","tag-western-europe","tag-worst-weekend","tag-worst-weekend-everoscar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=281267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/281268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=281267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=281267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=281267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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