Formula One in negotiations with TV bosses about producing new show after Drive To Survive success.. but there’s a twist
FORMULA ONE are in negotiations with TV executives about producing a drama series called “One”.
The plot is about a family-owned team competing against the bigger teams, coping with financial constraints and strong egos.
It comes off the back of Netflix’s hit show, Drive to Survive, and a Hollywood movie that’s in production featuring Brad Pitt.
IT was somewhat fitting that Ferrari’s current F1 driver, Charles Leclerc, witnessed the Italian team winning the Le Mans 24 hour race last Sunday.
Not only Leclerc but current boss of the F1 team Fred Vasseur was at the Circuit de la Sarthe along with – and somewhat more importantly – Ferrari chairman John Elkann.
For it will hammer home the message to Maranello that they have been under-perfoming for YEARS in F1.
Understandably, Elkann toasted their success in the 24 hour race as Brit James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Antonio Giovinazzi won the premier series for Ferrari. Their first Le Mans win since 1965.
It was an impressive achievement given that it was Ferrari’s debut in the hypercar class, beating the vastly-experienced Toyota team.
Plus the car was only unveiled in October. And at a fraction of the cost of their F1 operation.
If he wasn’t already, Elkann must now be wondering what has been going wrong with his F1 team to be so remarkably consistent at failing to deliver success.
Somewhat incredibly for their resources and experience, it is nearly 12 months since Ferrari last won an F1 race.
Leclerc’s victory in the Austrian GP on July 10th was the last time a Ferrari driver won an F1 race.
And do I need to mention it is 15 years since their last F1 constructors’ championship title?
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In recent years, Elkann has seen the team recruit two good drivers in Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
He’s replaced Mattia Binotto with Vasseur but still the Italian team look as fragile, indecisive and inept as ever.
If ever there was a time for the Scuderia to step up, now is the time, for while their success at Le Mans was all very good, it has also served to highlight their F1 failings.
A victory in Canada would be a welcome boost to Ferrari. And also F1, but the reality is, we are braced for a Max Verstappen victory in what would be Red Bull Racing’s 100th victory in 355 F1 starts.
To put that figure into context, since Red Bull achieved their first F1 win at the 2009 Chinese GP, Ferrari have won just 33 times, which is simply not good enough.
RED BULL’s Christian Horner was at 10 Downing Street last week to speak about diversity and inclusion and F1’s role in economic growth.
The UK is home to seven of the 10 F1 teams.
IF there were any lingering doubts about Francesco Bagnaia’s credentials as a MotoGP champion, then surely they were banished on Sunday with his commanding performance in the Italian GP.
The Ducati rider won both the Sprint and the MotoGP race to open up a 21-point advantage at the top of the championship. He’s now had three poles and three wins in this year’s six races.
F1 chiefs have announced a £30 million investment package to boost the sport’s appeal across the world in the form of their “arcade” hospitality venues.
The series opened their first F1 Arcade in London last year, which can be hired for guests to try F1 simulators while enjoying high-end food and drink.
F1 wants to roll-out the concept to 30 locations by the end of 2027, with discussions on-going with franchise partners around the world, including the UK, USA, Europe, the Middle East and Australia, amongst other territories.
The first US site in Boston is scheduled to open in 2024.
TROUBLED FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has enlisted the help of South African motorsport journalist, Dieter Rencken to act as ‘motorsport adviser’.
While the move is yet to be confirmed by F1’s governing body, it has raised eyebrows in the paddock.
ANOTHER radio meltdown for British Formula E racer Dan Ticktum has come to light after he ran out of battery power in the Jakarta e-Prix and finished 11th.
He fumed: “No other driver on this grid can do that, I tell you that now! F******let down by it! Boring! F*** sake…Don’t talk to me, nobody talk to me, I don’t f******* want to hear it! Leave me alone!
“Roberto, have my taxi ready within fifteen minutes. I’m getting out of here.”
Sadly Ticktum’s temper resulted in his F1 hopes being cut short. I now wonder how much more his NIO Formula E team will put up with it.
SINGAPORE GP bosses say they are making their F1 race greener – which is good news.
The original F1 night race is run under power-hungry spotlights that will now be powered by 1,396 solar panels.
The GP chiefs are also installing new led-lights with the old versions being “given new life through recycled art”.
McLAREN have released details of an impressive list of cars they will be taking to the Goodwood Festival Of Speed next month.
Fans will get the chance to see Mika Häkkinen drive his 1999 championship-winning MP4/14A, Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 title-winning MP4/23A-05 and Emerson Fittipaldi drive his 1974 M23-05, amongst others.