Hi there! Welcome to Track Limits, a weekly F1 newsletter where we break down the major headlines and dive into the questions, trends, and topics that spark our collective curiosity. Nothing is off-topic and a little fun is always part of the mix!
Good evening!! After a short hiatus here we are again, still in time to discuss Monaco’s magic!! As much as we like to complain that races in Monte Carlo have become a snooze fest, something special happened last Sunday. We didn’t see any amazing overtakes, intricate strategies, or exciting wheel-to-wheel battles. Yet many of us watched over two hours of “televised traffic” and enthusiastically jumped to our feet when the checkered flag was waved.
While I love racing and the tech, the business, the politics, and the shenanigans surrounding Formula One. It’s these moments when storytelling surpasses it all, that true magic happens and why millions of people have loved F1 for seven decades.
Unlike any other race, the Monaco Grand Prix is a key function on Europe’s high society’s annual social calendar. Nicely nestled between the Cannes Film Festival and the French Open, the race in Monte-Carlo is a mandatory pitstop for anyone hoping to be the talk of the town! This year was no exception, and everyone from aristocrats to tech-bros strolled on the grid and sipped champagne on a yacht!
Drivers usually participate in this whole hoopla, but this year we only had the Alpine drivers attend the Cannes Festival with their significant others. Everyone looked amazing except for Gasly, I’m sorry it’s true! The Frenchman wore a Dior suit with some questionable tailoring. I don’t know what went wrong there but for a man who isn’t the tallest, that pant fit was borderline evil! The only thing that saved him was the pair of beautiful flower-shaped diamond brooches he wore.
Sadly, and despite racket sports being very popular in the paddock, no driver was seen at the French Open this year. We did, however, have Verstappen attend a fancy show-jumping event in Saint Tropez - didn’t know he liked horses! Ricciardo went to a UFC fight and a couple of drivers attended the EUFA Champions League final in London. Weirdly, none of the Spanish drivers was there, even though Real Madrid was playing!
Norris attended the EUFA final with PlayStation in a global brand ambassador capacity, which meant that amongst other things he participated in a friendly football match - The PlayStation Cup - and filmed several fun clips for social media. In one of them, he is asked to assemble a 5 player team made out of F1 drivers. Judging by how difficult it was to answer, I can only conclude that most drivers fall on the Leclerc side of the “athleticism spectrum”, rather than on Sainz and Bottas’ side!
Speaking of Bottas, at this point I don’t know if he is a Formula One driver with a cycling hobby or the other way around! Once again he decided to take advantage of the break to compete in yet another cycling race - The 2024 Unbound Gravel - oh and he did some axe throwing as well! Have we ever had a driver so dedicated to another sport while competing in F1?!
We do have a lot of drivers dedicated to a gag! Over the years it has become normal to see drivers leave cheeky comments on social media posts or engage in fun banter during press conferences. But Piastri has raised the bar! For those who didn’t notice, Piastri was labeled Piastri-Leclerc on the F1 broadcasting graphics during free practice. Referencing an exchange between the Australian driver and Leclerc, where the Monagasque tells Piastri he will adopt him to make Monaco his home race. The bit went on for the whole weekend, with teams, the press, and family members fueling the shenanigan!
Another interesting story that weekend was the soft launch of a new WAG. For several months now, rumors have been circulating that Norris is dating a Portuguese model called Margarida Corceiro. Paparazzi-style pictures of the two have been posted on fan accounts but nothing that would constitute an official confirmation. Well, it seems that changed! Several F1 photographers shared pictures of Norris and Corceiro in the paddock and at several events - which is as official as we are going to get! Honestly, I’m not surprised that drivers have been so hush-hush about their personal lives. After all the craziness we have seen the last two years can we blame them? Just as a side note, is it me or are Portuguese models having a moment in the F1 paddock?!
Ohh!! I almost forgot. Steiner launched a podcast series with the American duo behind the Red Flags Pod. I just listened to the first two episodes and it’s actually really insightful! Don't know why, but I think I like Steiner better now that he isn’t a team principal!
Senna Tributes
In the build-up to Imola Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel led a tribute to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger. Both drivers passed away 30 years ago at the circuit and Formula One decided to honor them. Teams added a Senna logo to their liveries, Vettel drove Senna’s 1993 McLaren MP4/8 before the race and hosted a track run with the F1, F2, and F3 drivers donning t-shirts with the icon yellow helmet design and wristbands with the Austrian flag.
Tributes continued at the Monaco Grand Prix, with McLaren ditching their normal papaya livery for a yellow, green, and blue one in honor of Senna’s six victories in Monte Carlo.
WHY IT MATTERS:
Ayrton Senna is one of the most iconic figures in motorsport. Known for his fearless driving, 41 race wins, three World Championships, an epic rivalry with Alain Prost, and his movie-star looks. He is truly one of the first global stars in F1 history. A status that has passed the test of time, making him a pop culture icon not just in Brazil but worldwide.
Despite this, some have contested the hero-like status he has been given, citing problematic personal stories or the fact that he has been surpassed in on-track performance. It’s the reason some fans and even journalists have called the recent tributes to Ayrton Senna performative and opportunistic, as it often boosts media coverage and sales figures.
Undoubtedly, there is some truth to it. However, for many drivers and others within Formula One, Senna’s legacy extends far beyond his skills on track or his ability to draw people to the sport.
In the early days of F1, drivers faced serious risks with fatal accidents being quite common. This began to change when the GPDA, drivers like Sir Jackie Stewart, and concerned medical personnel like Sid Watkins - Formula 1’s first full-time doctor - started to advocate for the introduction of safety measures. By the early 1990s, racing fatalities had become less frequent, but motorsport was still far from safe.
Only when Senna passed away did an intense sport-wide focus on safety research emerge. This has led to numerous safety advancements over the past three decades, which have significantly reduced the risk of fatal accidents. As a result, Senna’s legacy includes a lasting contribution to driver safety, from which current drivers benefit tremendously. Perez's ability to step out of his car unscathed after the accident in turn 2 is a testament to that.
However, for many, it’s Senna's off-track efforts that truly set him apart from other drivers. Long before it became common for athletes to engage in humanitarian efforts, Senna felt compelled to use his privileged position to help others. He did so by establishing the Ayrton Senna Foundation, which has provided millions of underprivileged children in his native Brazil with access to education and social programs over the past 30 years.
In many ways, he laid the groundwork for drivers aspiring to be more than just athletes and demonstrated the significant impact they can have. Something both Vettel and Hamilton, for example, have spoken about when expressing their admiration for Senna.
So what is driving this frustration with the Senna tributes? Clearly, he has made vast contributions to Formula One to merit an industry-wide recognition. But so have several others. As such, the problem isn’t - as far as I can tell - that he shouldn’t be honored but rather that he is the only one.
Which really begs the question of why. For the first time ever, the sport has a young and curious fanbase eager to delve into F1's seven decades of history and uncover its untold stories and heroes. Surely, this presents a prime opportunity to build and pass down a narrative that extends beyond the prominent personalities who drove the cars. So why not seize this opportunity?!
A Reckless Driving Problem?
One of the highlights of the Monaco Grand Prix was the opening lap chaos. Luckily, no one was harmed, but the incidents did bring the issue of reckless driving to the forefront once again.
In recent races, multiple drivers have faced steward reprimands for illegal and dangerous maneuvers. Magnussen, for example, is at risk of receiving a race ban due to the number of penalty points he has accumulated. There are also rumors circulating that Alpine is considering implementing measures to keep its drivers in line. But is there a reason for the apparent increase in reckless driving?
THE REASONING:
If we look at the regulations not much has changed to merit a spike in dangerous maneuvers. Sure, the time penalty for illegal overtaking is a perverse incentive seeing that it creates more “bad behavior” and not less of it. But with it being a new penalty option for stewards, it fails to explain why dangerous driving is a serious concern in some seasons but not in others.
Is that even an accurate statement? Do some seasons really have a higher incidence of collisions and dangerous maneuvers? Without official data on the matter - at least not available to the general public - news articles serve as reference points. And a quick search online for relevant keywords suggests that our “feeling” is quite accurate. We could even go so far as to say there may be a pattern.
During seasons where drivers are pursuing high-stake short-term goals - such as winning a championship, securing a seat, or outperforming a personal rival - they appear to have a greater aversion to losing and a decreased ability to exert self-control. Hence, why we notice more reckless behavior. This was the case in 2021, 2024 and if we go further back you can find it in 2016 and 2017 as well.
It by no means takes away the fact that drivers have a responsibility to manage their behavior in a way that allows them to pursue their self-interests within the bounds of fair play and team objectives. The problem some drivers are having is that they exceed this limit more frequently than just occasionally!
As with any sport, in addition to the formal rules and regulations, there is a social etiquette between competitors. Breaking the regulations earns a driver penalties. Repeatedly breaking the “code” will earn him a reputation. And as much as it’s a problem for the driver, it often spills over to the team they are driving for.
It can create collaboration reluctance, tarnish a team’s reputation with partners, make it harder to get sponsors, and negatively impact the overall team culture. As such, despite the short-term advantages of engaging in unsportsmanlike behavior, it can seriously hinder a driver’s ability to have a long career and a team’s effectiveness throughout the season.
So why haven’t teams tried to proactively manage this issue from their end? Especially when they decide to hire drivers with “challenging histories” and when circumstances are aligned to nudge drivers into these behaviors, it would be a no-brainer to do so! Measures such as implementing clear disciplinary procedures, engaging in transparent dialogue, and having a strong ethical culture can have a significant impact on the incidence of reckless behavior.
Wouldn't that be beneficial for everyone in the long term? It for sure would look better than scolding your drivers on live TV…just saying!
Bland Grand Prixs!
Ever since the United States started to host multiple races fans have been complaining about the Americanization of Formula One. We witnessed it during the Miami Grand Prix and with the recent influx of advertising for the Las Vegas race the discourse surrounding it hasn’t dialed down.
However, after watching the first couple of races of the European stretch of the season, are American Grand Prixs really the problem?!
ZOOMING OUT:
Formula One likes to brag about the fact that it races on five continents and prides itself on being a global sport. However, if you watch the broadcast on a typical Grand Prix weekend you wouldn’t know that. Sure, the calendar indicates we are in Montréal or Barcelona, but aside from that and presenters mentioning the circuit location, do we really know which country is hosting the event? No!
Except for street races, the Mexico Grand Prix, and the races in the U.S., audiences aren’t exposed to any form of host-specific cultural identity. We could argue that the ones we get aren’t always the most accurate representation of the local community, but it’s something. Every other race on the calendar lacks any distinctive character.
These differences between events haven't gone unnoticed. Fans and pundits alike have criticized the American promoters for "turning the weekends into a spectacle” and being tacky. Honestly, I have rolled my eyes on multiple occasions at these displays myself! However, no one seems to be questioning why other events aren't doing the same.
Ever since Liberty Media purchased the sport’s commercial rights, it has been reshaping Formula One into a form of sports entertainment - where the spectacle is just as important to the experience as the actual on-track competition. American promoters have jumped on board and have tried out a variety of things. But despite it being an inherently American concept, it’s no longer exclusive to American sports. Just look at the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Euro, and the Olympics. Clearly, most countries are capable of creating a theatrical extravaganza if they want to!
But is there a business case for Formula 1 to encourage races to be more distinct off-track? One of the main reasons for hosting an international sporting event is that it attracts millions of viewers worldwide, providing a country with unparalleled exposure. This however requires viewers to see more than just asphalt and a helicopter shot of the surrounding rural area! A buzzing metropolis with recognizable landmarks will fix that, but solely relying on street races isn’t sustainable or desirable.
As such, if Formula 1 wants to continue to position itself as a destination event and tap into the sports tourism industry - valued at $683,17 billion in 2023 and projected to grow by 17.5% until 2030 - it needs to have events that appeal beyond the on-track action. More importantly, audiences at home need to see it!
Curiously, the absence of this "national postcard" at races has actually been cited as one of the reasons why several governments have been unwilling to allocate taxpayers' money to subsidize the cost of hosting a Grand Prix.
So, why aren't race promoters incorporating local inspirations into the event's imagery or infusing the weekend with more personality? Why haven’t Formula 1 and media rights holders tried to contextualize the Grand Prix beyond the championship narrative? The answer is probably complex and more than likely includes issues such as the franchise business model Formula 1 operates in and the additional financial resources needed to coordinate a calendar-wide effort like that.
However, the growing number of motorsport creators and teams developing content centered around lifestyle and culture, infused with a "local flair," suggests it’s not only a business opportunity but actually a fan-driven desire to move away from F1’s bland and insular experience.
This week’s recommended content!!
🗞 READ
The first Monaco GP winner who died a WWII resistance fighter | Inside The Awkward Tension Between The Miami GP and F1 Content Creators | Charles, Jules and the invisible string | What Goes on Inside Formula 1's Race Control Room | What's Significant About a Cryptic Ferrari/Leclerc Change | The fast and the curious: inside the rise of Formula 1 fandom | Andretti's Major Coup Highlights a Glaring F1 Contradiction | The Fashion Start-Up Giving Race Tires a Second Life
🎧 LISTEN
The Drivers Guess Their F1 24 Ratings! | Team Torque: Monaco GP w/James Vowles! | Lewis Hamilton Goes Full Send While Eating Spicy Wings | F1 Driver Charles Leclerc Unveils The Real Behind The Scenes of Formula 1 Racing | Living the legacy, with Claire Williams | Guenther Steiner Talks Improving Monaco, Chaos at Alpine, Red Bull Decline?
Photo Credit: Alpine, Daniel Ricciardo