Post

Remembering Ayrton Senna: The hero behind the driver

Immagine
  Abstract On the thirtieth anniversary of his tragic loss, this article aims to show what made Ayrton different from the other drivers. His sportsmanship and values were well known in the sport, but one episode set him apart from any other driver and it is linked to the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix and to one name: Erik Comas. The Prologue Nestled in the Ardennes Forest, Spa-Francorchamps is revered as one of the most challenging circuits in Formula 1. Its fast, sweeping corners and unpredictable weather conditions present a formidable challenge to even the most experienced drivers. With a rich history dating back to the early 20th century, Spa-Francorchamps has witnessed triumph and tragedy, shaping the history of the sport over the decades. In Friday's practice, which was crucial at the time as there was also a pre-qualifying session and not every driver would be able to start the race, everyone wanted to push their car as fast as possible to find the perfect balance and get

Why the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix Could be a High-Stakes gamble for Formula 1

Immagine
  Abstract The addition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix to F1's 2023 calendar is a sign of the new approach Liberty Media is bringing to the sport, but even if fans love the idea, will it really be a good choice for Formula One? Or will it just be a high-stakes gamble? The 2023 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix After an absence of 41 years, the Las Vegas Grand Prix is back on the Formula One calendar. Since the announcement in March 2022 and the confirmation at the start of the season, everyone has been looking forward to seeing the most advanced pieces of motorsport racing through the streets of one of the most iconic cities in the United States. Both fans and shareholders love this return that will match glamour and racing in a sort of Monaco’s vibe. The last Grand Prix held in Las Vegas, dated in 1982, saw the first win of Michele Alboreto and the crowning of Keke Rosberg as a world champion but it was also marked by many critical points relating to the structure of the circuit (concret

The man behind the driver and the Ayrton Senna Institute

Immagine
Abstract This article aims to highlight the hidden side of one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time: Ayrton Senna, his relationship with his home country and how he was really ahead of time with his idea of making a positive impact and in wich way he is still helping people with less opportunities. *Artwork by Carol Abreu Ayrton Senna and his quest for equality. “Wealthy men can't live in an island that is encircled by poverty. We all breathe the same air. We must give a chance to everyone, at least a basic chance.” This sentence, without any framework, could be pronounced by a president, a UN member or any kind of authority, but those are the words of one of the most talented racing drivers ever existed: Ayrton Senna. The track and his records speak for himself but there is much more behind the suit of a racing driver that was as talented as inspiring. In these years a lot of athletes are fighting for social, ethical and environmental battles, just like Sebastian Vet

Felipe Massa and the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship: Why a judicial action is necessary and in which way

Immagine
Abstract This article aims to explain from a legal-regulatory point of view why, in order to protect the credibility of motorsport, it is necessary to clarify what happened in 2008 and on what are the legal points on which such action can be based. The 2008 World Championship and the new circumstances which have arisen. The 2008’s Formula One World Championship has always been considered as one of the most exciting and controversial for several reasons: its epilogue at the last Grand Prix, the victory of Lewis Hamilton by only one point to the Brazilian Felipe Massa, but especially for the occurrence of one of the biggest scandals in the history of motorsport: The Crashgate, which involved the F1 Renault team and which had a substantial impact on the final results of that year. Talking about the Crashgate alone, would require much more than an article and for this reason we refer to all the official documents about this matter. The relevant point to extract from this fact is th

F1 2023 regulations change: new rules, same problems?

Immagine
  Abstract Starting from an analysis of the new set of rules amended for the 2023 Formula One season, this article will try to find if these new prescriptions will be able to solve some of the problems related to the previous season or if they will suffer of the same weaknesses. The new rules for 2023 Due to the big regulations change provided for the 2022 season, there were some areas that needed to be addressed in order to solve some issues related to the last championship. In addition to this, Liberty Media is always trying to find new ways to improve entertainment. This background led to a series of regulatory variations for the upcoming Formula 1 season. Starting from the technical changes, one of the most important modification is related to car’s height. This year, the minimum height for the car’s floor needs to be at least 15 mm above the ground. This measure was necessary to avoid the phenomena called “porpoising”, which caused a lot of instability issues for most of the

The Red Bull budget cap breach in F1: From regulations to necessary changes.

Immagine
  Abstract Starting from an analysis of the F1 Financial Regulations and the recent regulatory breach done by F1 Red Bull team, this article has the aim to understand why the current system is not able to be really effective in formula one's financial monitoring and how it could be improved.                                                  Photo by José Pablo Domínguez on Unsplash The Budget cap and the F1 Financial Regulations The Budget cap is one of the most relevant additions to the new set of regulation created to establish a new era in Fomula One history.  The budget cap and its procedures were introduced by FIA’s Financial Regulations from the 2021 F1 season. The aim of the Financial Regulations is to improve the financial sustainability of Formula One teams, meanwhile ensuring the long-term viability of the Championship and mitigating the gap in performance between competitors. This intricate regulation establishes a new board called “ Cost Cap Administration ” [1] ,