RaceFans Round-up:

In brief

F1 snub “hurts” – Pourchaire

Pourchaire won the F2 title last year having made his debut in the series two years earlier at the age of 17. However he failed to gain a place in F1 this year.

“It’s tough because I won F2 which is the last step before F1,” he told Speed Street. “Everybody is looking at the Formula 2 drivers in the F1 paddock, which ones are going to drive in F1 for the next few years. But I felt like I was considered, but not that much, and that hurts quite a lot.”

He made one start in Super Formula at the beginning of the year, then made six appearances with McLaren’s IndyCar team as a substitute. He remains hopeful of getting a chance to race in F1.

“I think the door is not closed yet, but you know, it’s Formula 1, you never know what can happen in the Formula 1 world. You see crazy things happening. So I still believe I probably deserve a chance, at least a chance just to show myself.”

He said he doesn’t regard IndyCar “as a plan B” and has had some discussions about returning next year. “I’ve been in talks with some other teams, mainly looking forward to next season. Because if I don’t have an opportunity in Formula 1, IndyCar is really something I want to do.”

Canapino’s exit partly down to performance – Juncos

Ricardo Juncos said the team’s decision to replace Agustin Canapino was partly due to his performance in his second year as an IndyCar driver. Canapino lay 23rd in the standings after missing the Road America round amid the fall-out over his reaction to an online row between his supporters and Pourchaire.

“It’s a little bit of everything, is not just one thing alone,” said Juncos when asked to explain the team’s change of driver. “We analysed all the situation with the group, Agustin included. We made the best decision for everyone. It’s not just one thing.”

Canapino, a multiple champion in Argentina’s touring car series, arrived in IndyCar with minimal open-wheel experience.

“We chose him out of open-wheel, it was a big challenge, a crazy move in a way. I think when you see what he did last year, it was really, really good. Surprised a lot of people.

“On the inside, knowing the situation in our country, in Argentina where he came from, it’s tough. We took the risk again based on his performance for this year.

“I think he did an excellent job considering the situation, not just on the sporting side, meaning that he never race in an open-wheel, now here he is in IndyCar. But also coming from a totally different country, culture, language, everything else that he need to adapt. I think he did an outstanding job.

“Obviously the results on this year were not the results we were hoping for. But I’m always going to be thankful for the opportunity and the big chances that he took.”

Canadian GP promoter steps down

Francois Dumontier has stepped down as president and CEO of Octane Racing Group, which promotes the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, an event he has worked on for 30 years. Dumontier became president and CEO of the race in 2009.

He will remain as a strategic advisor and continue to serve on the FIA’s Circuit Sport Committee and Single-Seater Committee. Jean-Philippe Paradis will take charge of Octane Racing Group

Links

Despite F1 out-clause in Ganassi deal, Palou calls rumours of move to Sauber ‘fake’ (IndyStar)

‘Zero, zero. I know you cannot take it (as truth), but I have not. I’m not going to say much, but I’m not trying to go. I tried. I got a small taste, and it was fun, and I learned, but it didn’t happen, so I’m good.’

Hadjar’s engineers: ‘He is talented, professional and mentally strong’ (Formula Scout)

‘It’s a track where you need to build up your pace progressively through free practice and qualifying, but he couldn’t run in (free practice) due to an issue. Going straight to quali and doing a top 10 less than three tenths (of a second) from pole with such a tight field was very impressive from his side.’

Vowles on his own racing career, trying out Williams’s iconic F1 cars and who would win a series for team bosses (F1)

‘As you can probably imagine, Toto and myself have had a few opportunities on the track together, and it’s been so much fun. On one occasion in Austin Lewis (Hamilton) was there as well, and I can’t release the footage to you, but all you hear is him laughing inside the car.’

F1 24 patch notes (v1.8) (EA)

‘Given the AI drivers a good talking to, so they will no longer celebrate a victory too early and potentially lose the race.’

F1’s Jessica Hawkins sees motorsports milestones ahead for women, LGBTQ+ inclusivity (The New York Times)

”The unsung heroes are the ones that put the work in all those years ago to allow women to even be able to play football,’ says Hawkins, who played soccer for Reading growing up. ‘I feel like that’s where we are now with motorsport. And in a few years or however long it takes, it is going to erupt like women’s football has.”

London ‘not safe’ any more (The Telegraph)

‘(Mercedes F1 team co-owner Jim Ratcliffe) praised Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, saying he believed he would ‘do a very sensible job’, but doubled down on criticism of Labour’s ban on North Sea oil and gas exploration.’

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