Tag Archives: Formula 1

News

2024 Aston Martin F1 Safety Car

After the 2023 Formula 1 season ended, many felt that the Aston Martin F1 Vantage as a safety car was too slow and not the right car for the job. Now the British manufacturer has premiered an improved and more powerful version that will be used as a safety car for the new Formula 1 season.

The car is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 665 hp (496 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. It accelerates from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph). That’s 30 percent more power than last year’s model, powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 528 hp (388 kW) and 505 lb-ft (685 Nm) of torque.

The car has a new front splitter and redesigned chassis aerodynamics, a new rear wing, and redesigned signaling lights. The interior is equipped with Recaro Pole Position seats, Lime Essence details, the FIA system on the central console that allows the driver to track lap times, position all cars, and also see what the rear camera records.

The car will make its debut at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which will take place from March 7-9, 2024.

Source: Aston Martin

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2024 Aston Martin F1 Safety Car
Auctions

2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04 sold for $18.815.000 USD

The 2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04 was sold for $18.815.000 USD at an auction in Las Vegas last weekend. With this car, Lewis Hamilton achieved his first victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2013.

The F1 W04 was the last Mercedes F1 car to be powered by a naturally aspirated 2.4 liter V8 engine with 750 + 80 hp (559 + 60 kW) @ 18,000 rpm, which was later replaced by a Mercedes-Benz V6 engine. The engine is paired with an Xtrac 7-speed semi-automatic transmission.

The car has chassis number 4, the same one in which Hamilton took pole position and then won the Hungarian Grand Prix during a season dominated by Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull Racing. It was the second team in his Formula 1 career, and before moving to Mercedes, Hamilton was part of the McLaren team for six full seasons.

Although the estimated value of the car was $10,000,000 – $15,000,000 USD, it managed to fetch a higher price, becoming the most expensive modern F1 car in history. It even fetched a higher price than Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2003, which was $14.8 million.

Lewis Hamilton achieved 103 victories and 7 championship titles in his career, as many as the legend of this sport, Michael Schumacher, making him one of the most successful drivers in the history of Formula 1.

Source: RM Sotheby’s

Gallery:

2013 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04 sold for $18.815.000 USD
News

Cadillac will make F1 engines

A month ago, the FIA approved the Andretti F1 team’s application to enter the Formula 1 championship from 2026, and now Cadillac has announced that it is currently developing an engine that will, from 2028, power this team’s cars.

The Andretti F1 team is now in commercial talks with Formula 1 management. According to the Concorde Agreement, the team is expected to pay at least $200 million in “anti-dilution” fees, which will be distributed to existing teams as a way of compensating for future money prizes. For now, there is no information about the new engine.

“We are very excited that the new Andretti Cadillac F1 Team will be powered by a General Motors engine. Thanks to our long expertise in engineering and racing, we strongly believe that we will develop a successful power unit and position Andretti Cadillac as a true team. We will race with the best at the highest level with passion and integrity that will help take the sport to the next level for fans around the world,” said GM President Mark Reuss.

This is not the first time that Cadillac engines will power a race car. In this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship, Dadillac’s IMSA GTP racing car was powered by a naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter V8 engine, and the car reached the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the championship title.

Source: Cadillac