The Consistency Dilemma, Love is Love, and The Festival of Speed!!
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 morning!! Despite desperately needing a break, this week off didn’t feel relaxing at all! Maybe it was the horrible sugar-like crash after ending the triple header on such a high note, or perhaps it was the fact that we were left to our own devices with no exciting news or fun shenanigans. Who knows!
It really makes you wonder how people unwind and have fun without race cars on track!!!
While some of us have been wondering why July has brought with it cold and rainy days, Leclerc was strolling around with a floppy sun hat without a care in the world. If that doesn’t tell you summer has started, I don’t know what will!!
A quintessential part of the British summer experience - besides the rain - is Wimbledon! This is exactly why several drivers made sure to attend the prestigious tennis tournament while in the area! Gasly and his girlfriend Kika were guests of Ralph Lauren, which meant they were decked out in stylish neutrals oozing preppiness! Russell made sure the Frenchman didn’t outshine him on home turf, which he accomplished by wearing a beautiful striped Brunello Cucinelli blue jacket and letting his 90s Hugh Grant hairstyle work its magic!!!
Sadly, neither of them attended the finals. Russell opted to go to Berlin and join Norris for the final game of the Euros. While Gasly returned to Milan - his home base - to join thousand of fans on the Eras Tour experience!
He was accompanied by fellow Swiftie Leclerc and each of their respective partner. Throughout the evening, the quartet was spotted dancing, singing, and engaging in what appeared to be very lively gossip - their facial expressions are golden! - with the Monegasque driver ending the evening graciously thanking fans for the numerous friendship bracelets he received.
Speaking of Leclerc, we were treated to some adorable footage of a doggy playdate at Silverstone. I know, who would have imagined this would be a topic of discussion a year ago!! The gist of the meeting is that Roscoe appeared unimpressed by everything and everyone, while puppy Leo couldn't contain his excitement and just ran around like a crazy! I wonder if this mirrors their owner’s level of excitement. They say dogs and their owners often resemble each other in looks and behavior, right?!
Oh, and it seems another puppy will be joining these playdates, as Gasly announced he has adopted a toy poodle puppy which he named Simba!!
Not as cute as puppies but still fun, was the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed! This year’s theme was “Horseless to Hybrid” which showcased the evolution of motorsport from steam-powered vehicles to modern hybrids. The festival featured a plethora of iconic cars driven by both former champions and current F1 superstars! Mercedes celebrated 130 years in motorsport. John Watson led a tribute to his former teammate Niki Lauda. Motorcycle Grand Prix racing marked 75 years with legendary bikes and champions and Red Bull celebrated 20 years in Formula One and unveiled the RB17 Hypercar.
The hypercar, designed by Adrian Newey and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, features a two-seater carbon fiber monocoque chassis and a mid-mounted V10 engine capable of over 1,200 HP and top speeds exceeding 350 kph. Which means, that in addition to looking like a mean a*s car, it’s able to do F1-equivalent lap times! Only 50 units will be produced, each tailored to customer's specifications. Do we think any of the drivers will buy one?!
Another special car finding a new home is Ocon’s race-winning Alpine! Several drivers have spoken about the importance of owning their career-defining cars, but for some reason, I can't quite picture Verstappen filling his personal garage with F1 cars at the end of his career. I could be mistaken, but he doesn't seem like the type!!
He does rank highly on my list of drivers who likely have some wild stories to tell of all these years on the road! However, it was Bottas who truly made me laugh out loud this week with his response to one of the prompts on Formula 1’s latest edition of "Never Have I Ever” - arguably the best F1 content. During the interview, Bottas recounted that several years ago, on the Sunday night of the Macau Grand Prix, he had fallen asleep on a bench in a public park and woke up with only one shoe! I'm sorry, what?!! I have so many questions and I absolutely need a detailed version of this story!!
The Consistency Dilemma
Controversies surrounding stewards’ decisions are common occurrences, especially when there are wheel-to-wheel battles and close calls on track.
After Verstappen and Norris collided during the Austrian Grand Prix, the issue of consistency in stewards decisions came into question once again. Some drivers argued that racing inherently involves grey areas, and it's impractical to create rules that cover every possible scenario. While others expressed their dislike of excessive policing, arguing that it diminishes drivers' opportunities to take calculated risks and overly punishes them for honest mistakes.
Over the years, various solutions have been suggested, ranging from utilizing AI to establishing a permanent stewarding panel. So why has the FIA not been able to fix the problem?
THE REASONING:
Motorsport is dynamic, which means that as much as the FIA would like to predict behaviors and prepare for every possible scenario, it simply can’t. Rules and regulations are set up to create the boundaries within which athletes and teams can operate, but how they choose to do so is varied and unpredictable.
This variability presents a challenge for stewards when it comes to enforcing said rules and regulations, which is a big reason why inconsistencies arise in their decisions. No situation is truly the same, and a certain level of human judgment - which, by definition, is subjective - has to be applied to determine the appropriate course of action.
To assist stewards in ensuring fair ruling, the FIA has implemented a series of tools and systems. They include standardized training, regular workshops, and mentorship programs to help keep professionals up to date on best practices and maintain high standards of officiating. Clear and detailed guidelines and protocols to provide a framework for ruling. Along with technology like VAR to assist in decision-making and a feedback and review system to evaluate and improve decisions.
Although these measures have improved stewards’ calls over the years, they haven't completely eliminated the problem. Which is a challenge faced by nearly every single sport. Just a couple of weeks ago during the Euros, several referee calls were criticized by fans and highlighted as examples of inconsistent rulings.
This likely means that while we can introduce all the technology we want and continually improve rules and procedures - which, by the way, is a good thing - the issue is probably less about how to make calls more consistent and more about how much accuracy and consistency do we want.
How important are context and nuance? How impactful is consistency on an athlete’s performance and fans’ enjoyment? Do we want consistency everywhere or just in some areas? Do grey areas enhance the sport's intrigue and excitement or hinder it?
These are just a few of the many questions that will likely shape this conversation in the near future. Ultimately, they reflect the fundamental issue we will have to ask ourselves: how human do we want sports to be?
Love is Love
Over the weekend Ralf Schumacher, six-time Grand Prix winner and younger brother of Michael Schumacher, took to social media to share with the wider public that he is in a same-sex relationship.
WHY IT MATTERS:
Although a person’s gender and sexual orientation ideally shouldn’t matter. It very much influences an individual’s experience and expression, especially in spaces where conforming to predefined notions of certain roles is crucial for gaining access and achieving success.
While a handful of racers and motorsport professionals have openly shared their queer identities with the world it has by no means been the norm. Historically, motorsport has subscribed to conservative social beliefs and consequentially to the traditional masculine ethos. This means, that there have been very specific expectations on the behaviors, interests, and even appearances men should have.
Despite most Western societies gradually encompassing a broader spectrum of beliefs regarding gender and sexuality, sports - and motorsport in particular - have been lagging in this regard. With over 700 Grand Prix drivers only three have openly identified as being members of the LGBTQ+ community. This isn’t just a statistical anomaly but a profoundly sad one due to what it reveals.
Luckily, more and more drivers and other motorsport professionals have been using their platforms to speak out on the prejudice the community still faces and the fact that F1 continues to race in places where LGBTQ+ rights don’t enjoy legal protection.
Recent examples include Vettel wearing a pair of Converse hi-tops adorned with a rainbow and a "Same Love" t-shirt during the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, in response to the county passing a law banning the portrayal or promotion of homosexuality to minors under 18. Hamilton has also made statements by wearing a helmet featuring a rainbow with the phrase "Love is love" during Pride Month consistently for several years. Additionally, various teams have joined in the celebration and partnered with organizations such as Racing Pride.
While these high-profile allies and the sport’s commitment to fostering a more diverse and inclusive environment are crucial and effective in raising awareness, it's important to recognize that fans - especially young ones - have been the ones actively working on creating a fandom that increasingly embodies the values of inclusion, equity, and respect.
They have been the ones driving public conversations, highlighting the need to cultivate compassion and curiosity for each other, holding organizations and each other accountable, and above all, ensuring everyone has a place in the community
It’s not perfect, not even close. However, the willingness of a former driver, who remains active in the sport and carries one of the most famous last names in F1, to openly share more of his authentic self with the public can only be seen as a promising sign.
It suggests that, despite the considerable work still needed, Formula One may have made more positive changes than many of us initially believed!
This week’s recommended content!!
🗞 READ
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Sustainability Report | F3's Floersch and F1 Academy's Chambers take part in F2 and F3 tests to improve accessibility for the future | Toyota’s Surprise Potential Haas F1 Alliance Explained | Why Red Bull Can’t Afford Failure with Ford-backed F1 Engine Plan | Audi Joins Forces With BP for F1 2026 Project | Dior Names Lewis Hamilton Brand Ambassador and Guest Designer of a New Lifestyle Collection
🎧 LISTEN
Inside The Spanish GP by Carlos Sainz | We asked Alex Albon what F1 fans REALLY want to know | Red Flag Pod: Partying with Verstappen, advice for Norris and Ping Pong Rivalries with Tsunoda | F1 Beyond the Grid: Paul Monaghan and Red Bull’s race for more records | Fan Behavior: F1 Drivers’ Beige Flags | Sky Sports F1 Podcast: Why Mercedes could win 3 in a row in Hungary
Photo Credit: Lewis Hamilton, Vladymir Rys