F1 LIVE: Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen eye pole in qualifying at Saudi Arabian GP

The brand new Components 1 season is right here – and meaning F1 Fantasy is again!

The sport will see thousands and thousands of motor sport followers decide their fantasy number of drivers for an imaginary $100m funds.

F1 Fantasy started 5 years in the past and it has grown quickly in recognition, consistent with F1’s rise in recognition. The 2023 season will reward these gamers who’re in a position to spot the early developments as the brand new season takes form.

See under for all the principles and high ideas:

Unique interview by Kieran Jackson

There’s a scene 5 minutes into Jackie Stewart’s enthralling new biopic which presents, in very stark actuality, essentially the most traumatic of experiences for any pupil of a young age in class. Requested to face up in entrance of the category and browse a passage from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, Stewart merely couldn’t. Illustrated with an animated ebook dissolving right into a random hotchpotch of upside-down letters, this second encapsulates the Scot’s largest concern as he rose to worldwide stardom. Not a crash on observe. Not even the burden of fame. Merely his lack of ability to learn and write.

Close to sufficient 70 years on, he nonetheless battles those self same illiterate demons. “I nonetheless can’t learn and write accurately,” he says. Forty-three instances he stood on the rostrum in Components 1 – on 27 events on the high of the tree. But each time, zoom in nearer, and also you see a person improvising.

“I nonetheless don’t know the nationwide anthem,” he reveals. “Or the lord’s prayer. I’m an excessive dyslexic as are an entire load of different individuals. I left college at 15 with no training however I used to be good with my fingers and an excellent mechanic. With out that, I wouldn’t have began driving with Barry Filer however it was there that the magic journey began. However it was truly simply such an escape as a result of for the primary time in my life I used to be actually good at one thing. In school, I used to be such a failure.”

Stewart, now 83, wrestling along with his dyslexia is amongst numerous riveting matters encountered in Stewart, airing on Sky Documentaries from Friday. A 93-minute screening tells the story of one in every of Components One’s hottest drivers, honing in on a profession and life which was about an entire lot greater than the Grand Prix victories and three World Championships. Fascinatingly, regardless of being produced by his son Mark, the person himself had no affect on the manufacturing, as unseen clips from the archives emerge in what he – with conviction which shouldn’t be mistaken for conceitedness – describes as “one of the best motor racing movie ever.”

This can be a very nice transfer from Components 1…

Horner, the boss at Purple Bull, is the game’s longest serving crew principal having been in cost of the present world champions since 2005.

The 49-year-old govt is overseeing Purple Bull’s present domination of the game, having gained each world championships at a canter final 12 months and claiming a one-two end on the 2023 season-opener on Sunday with Max Verstappen, the double world champion, triumphant in Bahrain.

However Ecclestone – who induced controversy final 12 months after stating he would “take a bullet” for Russian president Vladimir Putin – insists Horner ought to purpose for the game’s high job subsequent.

“In the event you needed to decide anybody at present, I’d say he [Horner] could be nearly as good as there may be,” 92-year-old Ecclestone mentioned.

Having produced a automotive comparable in design to 2022’s troubled challenger – with a singular “zero-pod” strategy – Toto Wolff admitted that he’s set to ditch this breed of automotive after seeing the roughly second-a-lap deficit to Purple Bull in Sunday’s grand prix.

“It appears to me that Mercedes went the fallacious approach in 2022 and refuse to show round,” Brundle mentioned in his Sky Sports activities column.

“Even Lewis and Toto had been brazenly expressing their disappointment at sure factors of the weekend, and usually they solely sing the praises of the groups at Brackley and Brixworth. It should be tense on the crew proper now, the standard is there, it simply wants course and oxygen to calm heads.”

Sky Sports activities have added former McLaren and Aston Martin technique chief Bernie Collins to their Components 1 punditry line-up for the 2023 season.

Collins, who was a efficiency engineer at McLaren and head of race technique at Aston Martin, will first function on Sky within the paddock on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend.

Sky say she’s going to function at different races all year long, in addition to at Sky Studios, and is the primary addition to the Sky F1 crew since Johnny Herbert and Paul di Resta left within the low season.

“I’m actually excited to start this new chapter with the Sky Sports activities F1 crew and wish to thank them for the chance,” Collins mentioned in a Sky press launch. “After a few years on the pit wall I’m eager to embrace this new position inside F1 from a viewer’s perspective and improve their expertise of racing.”

Collins’ position will “assist clarify and demystify all issues crew technique and engineering for Sky Sports activities F1 viewers outdated and new.”

Wow! So spectacular from Purple Bull as soon as once more!

Max Verstappen quickest in each single observe session this weekend – and he’s six-tenths up on team-mate Sergio Perez in second with a 1:28:485.

Aston Martin are their closest opponents although, with Fernando Alonso third and Lance Stroll in fourth.

5-10: Hamilton, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Gasly, Sainz

Hamilton – in fifth – a second down on Verstappen!

It’s the Max Verstappen present as soon as once more – he’s practically five-tenths faster than team-mate Sergio Perez in second!

Lance Stroll is third for Aston Martin whereas Lewis Hamilton is fourth; nine-tenths behind the main Purple Bull.

Verstappen compelled to apologise to Lando Norris, by the way in which, for blocking the McLaren on a sizzling lap. Not the primary problem with visitors this weekend… may very well be problematic come Q1!

As for the Ferraris? Each Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz but to set a time on softs for some motive or one other…

Regular order resumed. Sergio Perez goes quickest on softs with a 1:29:417, whereas Max Verstappen is a tenth down… however on a HARD tyre! Completely speedy from the Dutchman!

It’s an Alpine three-four, with Pierre Gasly in third and Esteban Ocon fourth.

5-10: Russell, Albon, Hamilton, Norris, Leclerc, Sainz

Qualifying simulation laps coming proper up although!

It’s a Mercedes one-two early on, with George Russell quickest on softs with 1:30:476, with Lewis Hamilon 0.016 seconds down.

Third is the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, whereas Max Verstappen is fourth however on HARD tyres – solely 0.248 seconds down on Russell!

6-10: Ocon, Magnussen, Bottas, Zhou, Hulkenberg