MOTORSPORTS

Photo Credit; Getty Images

Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali on Wednesday called on drivers, including the outspoken Max Verstappen, to “be respectful” of the sport but said changes to this year’s new power unit regulations needed to be made.

The Dutch four-time world champion has been the most vocal of the drivers criticising the new regulations concerning the hybrid engines, whose electric power management has posed problems for the drivers in the opening three races of the season.

Photo Credit; Getty Images

Renault-owned Alpine condemned on Thursday online abuse of their Argentine Formula 1 driver ⁠Franco Colapinto for an incident in Japan as well as death threats directed at the team’s former racer Esteban Ocon in China. They also dismissed suspicions from some fans of ‘sabotage’ and that Colapinto was not being given equal equipment to teammate Pierre Gasly.

Colapinto was caught up in Oliver Bearman’s 308kph crash at Suzuka last Sunday, with the Haas driver swerving to avoid the Argentine’s much slower car and hitting the barriers with a force of 50G.

Photo Credit; Getty Images

Formula 1’s top technical minds will get together on Thursday for the first of a ⁠series of meetings to discuss the sport’s new engine rules and what tweaks need to be made after three races.

Insiders expect energy management, the need to ‘lift and coast’ and ‘super clipping’ to dominate the initial agenda in London.

There is unlikely to be much immediate news from what will be an extended discussion over the next few weeks before any decisions, including likely software changes to the energy equation, are taken.

The new power units, split roughly 50-50 between electric and combustion power, have brought fresh challenges. Drivers are having to tactically ease off the throttle early and coast into high-speed corners that would normally be a big test of bravery so the combustion engine can recharge the battery.

‘Super-clipping’ is when energy is ⁠automatically diverted from the engine to the battery, with the effect of slowing a car on the straight even if the driver wants to be on full throttle.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Max Verstappen’s long-time Formula 1 race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is to leave Red Bull and join McLaren ⁠in a supporting role to team principal Andrea Stella.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Oscar Piastri knows as well as anyone on the Formula 1 grid how quickly dominance can dissipate and is approaching his unexpected ⁠early-season furlough with some confidence that McLaren can challenge Mercedes when the racing resumes.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

A rejuvenated Lewis Hamilton said Thursday that he was more committed to Formula 1 “than ever” aged 41 and believes he trains harder than any other driver.