In the round-up: Andretti still intend to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026 despite opposition from its commercial rights holder earlier this year.
In brief
Andretti still aiming to enter in 2026
Mario Andretti says his son’s team was not deterred by Formula One Management’s announcement they had not approved their application earlier this year.
“We have never stopped working from the very beginning,” he told Sports Illustrated. “We already have a car and wind tunnel and so forth. Right now the objective is to be on a grid in 2026.”
“We’re continuously working on it every day, regardless of what was represented to the press so far,” he added. “I think that we have a valid approach to it
“The FIA has put us through the ringer, if you will, for us to be able to check all the boxes and we have one more blessing that we need from the FOM but we’re having a key meeting coming up and hopefully we have some positive results from that.”
Magnussen gets Haas upgrades for China – reports
Kevin Magnussen will benefit from Haas’ first significant upgrades of the 2024 season, while Nico Hulkenberg will have to wait until a following round, according to reports.
Auto Moto und Sport report that Haas intend to bring two sets up upgrades to next weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, but will stick to a single car in case damage forces the team to change parts under parc ferme and be sent to the back of the grid.
Haas currently sit seventh in the constructors’ championship on four points after back-to-back top tens in Jeddah and Melbourne.
Vergne quickest in Formula E practice
DS Penske drivers Jean-Eric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne set the pace in the opening practice session for the Misano EPrix.
Vergne was quickest by just under two tenths ahead of team mate Vandoorne around the slightly modified Italian circuit, with Nick Cassidy third-fastest for Jaguar.
In the rookie session held earlier in the day, Taylor Barnard was quickest for McLaren ahead of DS Penske’s Robert Shwartzman and Zane Maloney third for Andretti.
Rasmussen storms to simracing championship lead
Frederik Rasmussen controversially took back-to-back victories in the final segment of event two of the F1 Simracing championship to take a healthy lead in the championship.
The Red Bull driver won a rain affected first race at Zandvoort by a car length from Bari Broumand, despite making contact with the Ferrari driver while passing for the lead. Pole-winner Nicholas Longuet was also hit with a glitch that kept him on intermediate tyres while the track was drying.
Rasmussen also passed Broumand on the final lap to win race seven and grasp a lead of 41 points in the championship over Broumand with Mercedes’ Jarno Opmeer in third. Ronhaar finished down in 19th, meaning he falls to fourth.
The season will end with the final five races spread over three nights over the 7th, 8th and 9th of May.
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On this day in motorsport
- Born on this day in 1931: Future Formula 1 race-winner Dan Gurney
