Edd Straw

Formula 1

Red Bull duo refused to let their first 2023 flashpoint ignite

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s Austrian Grand Prix sprint near-misses and particularly the radio traffic about them suggested Red Bull faced its first big spat of the 2023 Formula 1 season. But the bigger story became the drivers’ efforts to ensure that wasn’t the case

Formula 1

Did Verstappen flashpoint hinder Hamilton’s sprint qualifying?

An on-track flashpoint with Max Verstappen contributed to Lewis Hamilton’s elimination in the first part of sprint shootout qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix, with the pair holding each other up on consecutive laps

Formula 1

Bob Fernley obituary: F1 underdog leader with an unusual story

Bob Fernley, who has died aged 70, led Force India to some great Formula 1 underdog achievements and was a passionate champion of independent teams. And his route to F1 began at Stockport railway station

Formula 1

F1 set for first track test of wet-weather wheel arches

Formula 1’s prototype wheel arches to be fitted to cars in wet conditions are to be tested on track for the first time after the British GP

Formula 1

Norris-only McLaren upgrade for Austrian GP breaks cover

Only Lando Norris will use the “milestone” McLaren F1 upgrade – which has broken cover on Thursday – at the Austrian GP

Formula 1

What Bridgestone’s F1 past tells us about bid to depose Pirelli

Should Bridgestone be successful in its bid to become Formula 1’s spec tyre supplier from 2025, its history in grand prix racing shows it will not only have the capabilities to do so effectively but also reveals how it will likely approach it

Formula 1

Mercedes’ F1 recovery: Where it’s gained, what it still needs

It’s now three races since Mercedes’ upgraded Formula 1 car arrived. Edd Straw assesses the results since then, where the car has been better, what comes next and what will have to wait for 2024

Formula 1

Which F1 rivals are ‘missing out’ on Wolff-lauded Schumacher?

Toto Wolff believes rival F1 teams would do very well to snap up “burned” Mick Schumacher in 2024. But which could/should be in the hunt?

Formula 1

Who’s won and lost from F1’s latest aero restrictions shuffle

Formula 1’s aerodynamic testing allowances have been redistributed ahead of the second half of the 2023 season. Edd Straw explains the biggest winners and losers from the reshuffle

Formula 1

Albon’s ‘control the pack’ junior trait is enabling heroics

The Canadian Grand Prix was the latest in a growing list of races where Alex Albon has hauled a Williams into the points on an offset strategy. It was assisted by the FW45’s straighline speed – but Albon too brings his own tricks to the table

Formula 1

Misleading problem lured Aston into needless Alonso orders

Fernando Alonso’s battle to stay ahead of Lewis Hamilton for second in the Canadian Grand Prix was made harder by the Aston Martin Formula 1 team thinking it had a fuel system problem that turned out to be fictitious

Formula 1

Edd Straw’s 2023 Canadian Grand Prix F1 driver rankings

The 2023 Canadian Grand Prix had an illustrious podium of three Formula 1 world champions, but were they actually the top performers in Montreal?

Formula 1

‘Dangerous’ Canadian GP barrier revised after driver backlash

The FIA has shortened the barrier in the run-off area between Turns 1 and 2 ahead of today’s Canadian GP in response to driver criticism

Formula 1

Stroll shows why father’s ambitious Aston target must wait

Aston Martin Formula 1 team co-owner Lawrence Stroll’s ambition to “hopefully get two cars on the podium” at his home grand prix in Canada this weekend wasn’t an outlandish goal considering the AMR23’s pace this year. But after qualifying it seems like the longest of long shots

Formula 1

What penalised Hulkenberg’s actual Canadian GP aim must be

Losing his front row start to a penalty is a blow to Nico Hulkenberg’s chance of finally getting a Formula 1 podium in the Canadian Grand Prix. But that was never a realistic mission for the Haas driver in Montreal even when he was starting second

Formula 1

Perez can’t follow Horner’s advice and it’s costing him

Sergio Perez’s Q2 exit in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix added to an abysmal run of qualifyings for the Red Bull driver – and it suggests he’s far from being able to follow the advice of his Red Bull boss

Formula 1

Sainz gets grid drop for incident Gasly felt was ban-worthy

Ferrari Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz will be demoted three places on the Canadian Grand Prix grid for impeding Pierre Gasly during Montreal qualifying

Formula 1

‘Adapt your driving’ – Pirelli rejects Russell’s 2024 warning

With decision time looming for Formula 1’s intended 2024 tyre-warmer ban, Pirelli has responded to George Russell’s latest safety criticism by arguing drivers just need to accept out-laps will be harder without blankets and change their driving

Formula 1

What Williams expects from major package and why only one is ready

Williams has brought a major upgrade package to Formula 1’s Canadian GP – here’s what it expects from it and why only Alexander Albon is running it

Formula 1

‘Nothing to be satisfied about’ – An F1 rookie’s blunt appraisal

“I have to be better” – Williams rookie Logan Sargeant’s assessment of his first few Formula 1 races is pretty stark. But how’s he really getting on? Here’s Edd Straw’s view

Formula 1

F1 2023’s first driver market rumours victim on his struggles

Nyck de Vries knew his Formula 2 and Formula E titles and brilliant Formula 1 debut at Monza last year wouldn’t count for much once he got a full-time AlphaTauri seat for 2023 – and so it’s proved. He explains exactly what’s been toughest for him about F1 so far in an exclusive interview with Edd St

Formula 1

Russell urges against 2024 F1 tyre warmer ban after latest test

George Russell urges Formula 1 to drop its planned 2024 tyre warmer ban, saying after latest Pirelli test that the blanketless tyres won’t be ready to race in cold conditions, will endanger mechanics, definitely cause crashes and are not a sensible expense

Formula 1

Aston Martin’s past progress is new Mercedes’ real benchmark

Mercedes’ major in-season shift in concept is reminiscent of what Aston Martin did last year. And if Mercedes can match Aston’s rate, it’s properly back in business

Formula 1

How Vettel reached his towering best in F1 with Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel’s brilliance was era-defining during his title-winning years. His upcoming reunion with one of the Red Bull F1 cars he was so dominant with should be a reminder of that

Formula 1

What Williams’s nadir really says about its 2023 F1 form

Williams had its least competitive weekend of 2023 so far last time out – but it doesn’t have to be a sign it’s slipping backwards after a promising season start, as Edd Straw explains

Formula 1

The ‘bigger question’ F1 rivals copying Red Bull’s floor face

Rival Formula 1 teams are no doubt already trying to put what they learned from a look at Red Bull’s floor in Monaco into practice in their own designs. But they face several hurdles, as Edd Straw explains

Formula 1

FIA got a Steiner apology. Now it must follow his logic

Guenther Steiner may have had to apologise for the way he expressed his criticisms of Formula 1’s stewarding systems, but the fundamental point he made is correct

Formula 1

Why Ferrari has made F1 design changes it had denied needing

Ferrari appeared to have faith in its SF-23 concept – until a sudden big change debuted in Barcelona. Here’s the team’s view on the “new avenue opened”

Formula 1

F1 believes wildfires won’t threaten Canadian Grand Prix

Formula 1 believes the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix is not at risk of being called off despite the wildfires raging in the country and creating air quality and visibility problems

Formula 1

This week’s low-key F1 test had big 2024 implications

Pirelli’s latest in-season Formula 1 test at Barcelona was one of the final chances for F1’s tyre supplier to prove it is right to go ahead with the planned 2024 tyre blanket ban

Formula 1

Why McLaren’s Spanish GP qualifying pace was a lie

Lando Norris’s third place in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying suggested a dramatic step forward from McLaren, but the race proved that, in his words, “we’re slow”. Why was the performance difference so dramatic?

Formula 1

Edd Straw’s 2023 Spanish Grand Prix F1 driver rankings

One driver completely dominated the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix weekend but did he do enough to top Edd Straw’s driver rankings?

Formula 1

Perez’s latest stumble stems from trying to emulate Verstappen

After failing to reach Q3 in a Spanish Grand Prix qualifying session his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen dominated, Sergio Perez hinted that he’s been experimenting with his driving style this weekend. Edd Straw suspects trying to ‘be more Max’ is the root of Perez’s Barcelona woe

Formula 1

‘Room to improve my volume’ – Tsunoda’s amusing qualifying regret

AlphaTauri Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda admits his quest to improve how he handles himself in the car continues, after being startled by news of a laptime deletion in Spanish Grand Prix qualifying

Formula 1

Alonso: Front row was on even with ‘completely destroyed’ floor

Fernando Alonso made his first significant error of a so-far brilliant 2023 Formula 1 season on home turf at the Spanish Grand Prix. He said he only had himself to blame for ninth on the grid after ‘destroying’ his Aston Martin’s floor, but also thinks he could’ve put the damaged car on the front ro

Formula 1

The Ferrari-style design Red Bull admits inspired its upgrade

Red Bull happily admitted it took “inspiration” from a rival team – probably Ferrari – for part of its Barcelona upgrade. But what was the update and how does it work?

Formula 1

Steiner’s impassioned rant on F1’s ‘laymen’ stewarding

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner is desperate for Formula 1 to turn to full-time, officially employed stewards, in the aftermath of a penalty given to Nico Hulkenberg in the Monaco Grand Prix

Formula 1

Hamilton wouldn’t want F1 to lose ‘classic’ Barcelona for Madrid

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton admits he would not want to see “classic” Spanish Grand Prix venue Barcelona make way for the mooted street circuit in Spain’s capital city Madrid

Formula 1

McLaren’s uncertain recovery faces huge Spanish GP test

McLaren still wants to have the fourth quickest car by season’s end despite its sluggish start to the season – but is that really realistic? The team’s performance in Barcelona will certainly be a key indicator of that

Formula 1

‘Define the path’ – What’s at stake for Mercedes in Barcelona

The performance and behaviour of the upgraded Mercedes Formula 1 car at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix will “define the path ahead for us”, according to trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin