F1Weekly Podcast # 1144
Play Podcast: 04-20-26f1weekly1144.mp3
ON TODAYS PROGRAM…
DOMENICALI NOW LISTENING TO MAX!
RED BULL LOOSING TALENT FASTER THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK!
WILL MIAMI BRING MORE GRID CHANGES…
TALK OF NEW ENGINE PROPOSALS COULD TAKE US BACK TO V8’S FAIRLY QUICKLY! AND…
FERNANDO SAYS…I AM A PATIENT MAN!!
TOYOTA BEATS FERRARI AT THE 6 HOURS OF IMOLA!
Race car driver Juha Miettinen (66) has passed away following the severe crash on the Nordschleife. The race understandably did not continue.
Deepest condolences to his family and friends.
THIS WEEK’S NASIR HAMEED CORNER WE HAVE: JEAN ERIC VERGNE, ESTEBAN GUTIERREZ!
F1 Academy Champion Doriane Pin Breaks New Ground with Maiden F1 Test
Doriane Pin has taken the latest, and one of the most significant, steps in her career by completing her maiden F1 test yesterday (Friday April 17) at Silverstone. The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Development Driver drove the world-championship winning W12 from the 2021 season and impressed with her pace, feedback, and technical understanding.
The 22-year-old completed 76 laps of the 2.639 km Silverstone National Circuit for a total of 200 km of running on the day.
Driving an F1 car for the first time today was unreal.
“Driving an F1 car for the first time today was unreal. I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity and to be surrounded by this incredible team. It was a unique opportunity and I made sure to enjoy my day to the fullest, along with doing the best job I could. Whilst being a female driver doesn’t define me, it was great to show what we can do. It was an extremely emotional day and I’m also thankful I was able to share this experience with my family.
“The W12 is obviously really different from the other cars I’ve been able to drive. Everything is different, bigger and more powerful. I am glad I was able to build confidence lap after lap and show what I was capable of.”
Her preparation and professionalism has impressed the whole team and she should be really proud of what she has achieved.
In preparation for the test, the affectionally named ‘Pocket Rocket’ spent extensive time in the team’s simulator, integrating closely with engineers and refining her understanding of the necessary procedures to drive the W12.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director, commented: “It’s been great to have Doriane complete a day of testing with the W12 today. It marks another major step on what is proving to be a very exciting and promising career and also makes her the first ever female driver of a Mercedes F1 car.
“Her preparation and professionalism has impressed the whole team and she should be really proud of what she has achieved. Whatever series you come from, it is always a massive step when getting into an F1 car but she looked at home from the very first laps and was able to enjoy driving the car on the limit.”
Today, it is even more unique as Doriane is the first ever woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car.
Gwen Lagrue, Driver Development Advisor, said: “It is always really special for a young driver to drive an F1 car for the very first time. Today, it is even more unique as Doriane is the first ever woman to drive a Mercedes F1 car.
“We are very proud to show to the next generation of female drivers that driving an F1 car is achievable. I am sure we will see a woman driving in F1 in the coming years and as a team, we would be incredibly proud if we were to achieve that goal with someone in our team. Doriane can certainly act as an inspiration for those following in her wheel tracks as she continues her career and role as Development Driver with our team.”
Doriane becomes the latest female talent to get behind-the-wheel of a modern F1 car, highlighting the value of series such as F1 Academy, in which Doriane became last year’s champion. The test also underlines the team’s continued commitment to nurturing talent and opening pathways, while showcasing the progress being made in creating meaningful opportunities for women at the highest level of motorsport.
Doriane’s assured performance on such a significant stage further highlights the impact of the team’s long-term investment in her growth. She will now continue in her Development Driver duties, which include simulator development, additional activities at the factory and trackside, attendance at several Grands Prix and her support and mentorship to the team’s 2026 F1 Academy driver, Payton Westcott.
Quick Pit Work, Pace Help Palou Run Away to Win at Long Beach!
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Sunday, April 19, 2026) – Alex Palou got the break he needed and fast work from his Chip Ganassi Racing pit crew, and then he ran away with a victory Sunday in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Palou earned his third victory in five races this season, the 22nd victory of his career and his first win at prestigious Long Beach in the No. 10 OpenAI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, beating the No. 60 SiriusXM/Acura Honda of NTT P1 Award winner Felix Rosenqvist to the finish by 3.9663 seconds. Palou also took the series lead by 17 points over Kyle Kirkwood as he aims for his fifth series championship and series record-tying fourth in a row.
“It’s huge,” Palou said. “Super proud of everybody’s job but especially this crew. Incredible to finally win here at Long Beach.”
Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon rounded out the podium with his best result of the season in the No. 9 PNC Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, as CGR produced two of the top three finishers.
Kirkwood finished fourth in the No. 27 JM Bullion / Gold.com Honda of Andretti Global, with Pato O’Ward placing fifth in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Pole sitter Rosenqvist controlled the race from the green flag. He led the first 31 laps, with Palou climbing from his third starting spot to second by passing O’Ward on Lap 2. Rosenqvist and Palou pitted for the first time in tandem at the end of Lap 31, with the MSR crew helping Rosenqvist win the race out of the pits after both drivers started their second fuel stint with their mandatory second set of Firestone alternate tires.
Rosenqvist had built a three-second lead over Palou, who admitted he struggled a bit on the softer Firestone alternate tire. But Palou got the break he needed on Lap 57 when a large piece of debris was spotted on track, triggering the only caution period of the 90-lap race.
The entire field pitted on Lap 59, led by Rosenqvist and Palou as a showdown loomed between the MSR and CGR crews. Rosenqvist and Palou each took four primary Firestone tires and fuel on their last stop, but Palou escaped his pit box ahead of Rosenqvist to take the lead for the first time. CGR serviced Palou’s car in 7.3 seconds on the final stop, while MSR needed 8.4 seconds for Rosenqvist’s stop.
Palou rocketed away from the field on the restart on Lap 61. It was checkout time, as he never trailed from that point.
“The OpenAI car was super, super fast, but it was that yellow, that pit stop with all the pressure that these boys were able to do it and execute it perfectly,” Palou said. “From there, it was just managing the tires. We didn’t know how the primaries were going to be.”
The primary tire suited Palou just fine. The Spaniard expanded his lead to 2.4 seconds on Lap 68, with the gap mushrooming to 5.5 seconds with 12 laps remaining. Palou played it safe during the final two trips around the 11-turn, 1.968-mile temporary street circuit, but Rosenqvist never got close. Still, the Swede, who led a race-high 51 laps, earned his first podium finish since placing second in June 2025 at Road America.
“A little bit of a bittersweet race,” Rosenqvist said. “I lost a little bit on the stop. Alex is obviously going to be 10 out of 10 almost every stop, so I don’t think it was necessarily that our one was slow, but they probably had a great one, as well. That’s how it goes.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to celebrate this one. P2, plus the points and podium – that’s where I want to be.”
ORACLE RED BULL RACING STRENGTHENS TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Oracle Red Bull Racing is pleased to announce a series of organisational changes within its technical department, aimed at reinforcing its focus on performance and innovation.
Effective immediately Ben Waterhouse assumes an expanded leadership role as Chief Performance and Design Engineer, with overarching responsibility across Design and Vehicle Performance, reporting directly to Technical Director Pierre Wache. Ben joined the Red Bull family from BMW-Sauber in 2014, first as Deputy Technical Director at Scuderia Toro Rosso, and since 2017 as Head of Performance Engineering at Oracle Red Bull Racing.
This evolution strengthens integration between these areas and will accelerate the development of competitive, high-performing solutions.
From 1 July, Andrea Landi will join as Head of Performance, reporting to Ben Waterhouse. Andrea brings extensive Formula 1 experience from his previous roles as Deputy Head of Vehicle Performance at Ferrari and Deputy Technical Director at VCARB. His expertise will further strengthen the Team’s performance capabilities.
These changes support the Team’s long-term technical ambitions and reflect its continued focus on developing internal talent while attracting leading expertise from across the sport.
ROK Cup USA Announces ROK Fest West at Sonoma Raceway with ROK SuperFinal
April 20, 2026 – ROK Cup USA is set to bring another marquee event to the West Coast with ROK Fest West, taking place July 10-12, 2026, at Sonoma Raceway. Designed as a can’t-miss summer karting festival that will award tickets to Italy and the ROK SuperFinal, the event will combine top-tier racing, unique feature competitions, family-friendly activities, and an extensive prize package valued at more than $50,000.
ROK Fest West will welcome drivers from across the country to compete in a wide range of categories, including ROK Micro, ROK Mini, ROK VLR Junior, ROK VLR Senior, ROK VLR Masters, KZ/ROK Shifter, ROK Shifter Limited, ROK SV Senior, and ROK SV Junior. The ROK SV Senior and ROK SV Junior classes will be confirmed, provided each reaches a minimum of ten entries by June 10.
The event format will begin on Friday with open practice across six rounds, giving competitors ample track time to prepare for the weekend ahead. Racing action on Saturday and Sunday will feature one event run across two days using the Heat, SuperHeat, and Final format.
Adding to the excitement of the weekend, Saturday will also include a special VLR Senior $500 winner-take-all Australian Pursuit Race. The race will feature a Le Mans-style start, with the lineup set by qualifying and an inversion draw, and competitors required to race on used LeVanto tires. In true pursuit-race fashion, at least one driver will be black-flagged off each lap, creating a high-energy showdown unlike anything else on the schedule.
ROK Cup USA will look to help competitors keep the cost down for ROK Fest West as ROK Micro, ROK Mini, ROK Shifter Limited, and ROK VLR Masters will race on one set of tires for the weekend in qualifying and race sessions. KZ, ROK VLR Junior, ROK VLR Senior, and ROK SV Junior and Senior will each use two sets of tires. Entry pricing is set at $630 for Micro and Mini, $650 for VLR Masters and Shifter Limited, and $900 for VLR Junior, VLR Senior, and KZ. The SV Senior and SV Junior packages, which include a three-day engine rental, are priced at $1,600, or $1,400 for drivers also entered in another class.
Off the track, ROK Fest West will deliver a festival-type atmosphere with activities planned throughout the weekend. Friday night will feature a water balloon and Super Soaker fight, while Saturday night will host the always entertaining Mechanic’s Challenge, where teams of three mechanics will compete in a tire and axle change contest, with entries required to be fully race-ready and legal to win. Food, beverages, and additional fun will round out the Saturday evening festivities, with more activities to be announced.
The prize package for ROK Fest West already exceeds $50,000 in prizes and tickets, making it one of the most rewarding ROK Cup events on the 2026 calendar. Each pole winner will receive a set of Levanto tires, while there will also be a $500 bonus awarded to any driver who wins both VLR Senior and SV Senior.
Class winners will receive a choice of premium awards. In Mini, VLR Junior, VLR Senior, SV Junior, and SV Senior, winners may choose between a ROK Superfinal Italy ticket, a full ROK Vegas ticket and/or RIO Hotel reservation if they already hold a ROK Vegas ticket, or three ROK Sonoma entries with consumables included. In ROK Micro, the winner may choose a chassis, a full ROK Vegas ticket, or three ROK Sonoma entries with consumables. In ROK Shifter Limited, the winner may choose a full ROK Vegas ticket and/or RIO Hotel reservation if already qualified, or three ROK Sonoma entries with consumables.
Second-place finishers will receive either a full ROK Vegas ticket or three ROK Sonoma entries with consumables, while the ROK Superfinal Italy option may roll to second if the class winner selects another prize. Drivers finishing third and fourth will earn either a half-ticket for ROK Vegas, one paid ROK Sonoma 2026 entry with consumables, or one full round of the 2027 Florida Winter Tour. Fifth and sixth place finishers will receive $500 off a ROK Vegas, Florida Winter Tour, or ROK Sonoma entry, while those finishing seventh through tenth will earn one free set of Levanto tires, redeemable at ROK Vegas, the Florida Winter Tour, or ROK Sonoma.
To cap off the weekend, ROK Cup USA will host a special Sunday post-podium raffle for finishers from 11th place to last in each class. Drivers must be present after podium ceremonies to be eligible, with raffle prizes including six sets of Levanto tires, three $100 Visa or gas gift cards, and more.
More event details, including track configurations and additional evening activities, will be released by ROK Cup USA in the coming weeks.
The Long Beach IMSA GTP Wait Is Over for Acura
Van der Zande’s Street Course Prowess Continues with Yelloly in No. 93 ARX-06
LONG BEACH, Calif. – It was a long time coming, but Acura and Honda Racing Corporation USA (HRC US) claimed their first overall victory on the streets of Long Beach during the modern era of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – and more importantly, for the first time since Acura became the title sponsor of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2019.
Nick Yelloly sped to the Motul Pole Award on Friday, then teamed with Renger van der Zande Saturday to guide the No. 93 Acura Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Acura ARX-06 to the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) first-place trophy in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. They largely controlled the 100-minute sprint race to end several years of frustration for Acura and HRC, which both have headquarters in Southern California.
The Acura marque triumphed at Long Beach in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class in 2008 under American Le Mans Series sanction and swept the LMP1 and LMP2 classes in 2009. But until Saturday, Acura had not taken overall victory at the legendary 1.968-mile, 11-turn track in IMSA’s Daytona Prototype international (2017-22) and GTP (2023-present) top classes.
It was reminiscent of the wait Honda endured from 1998 to 2003 in IndyCar racing as it tried to no avail to win in front of home fans on Japanese soil at Twin Ring Motegi. When Dan Wheldon finally broke through in 2004, it triggered a joyful celebration that longtime HRC and Acura associates still talk about.
With the No. 93 Acura carrying a new 76 Gas Station livery, van der Zande crossed the finish line 0.818 seconds ahead of the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R shared this weekend by Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti, in his Long Beach debut filling in for Earl Bamber.
The Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963s took third and fourth places, with the No. 6 car of Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor just ahead of the No. 7 team car of Felipe Nasr and Julien Andlauer that won the first two WeatherTech Championship races of the 2026 season.
Acura’s status as the title sponsor for the Grand Prix of Long Beach, and the “home race” win for van der Zande and Yelloly produced another outpouring of gratitude and excitement from the many Honda and Acura associates who attended the race.
“That’s the main topic from the day,” said van der Zande, who has now earned 21 race wins in top-level IMSA sports car competition, including six of the last 10 street races in the WeatherTech Championship. “Winning the Acura Grand Prix for Acura as an Acura driver, that makes it very, very special.
“We were brought into this program, almost to win this one. There’s a lot of effort around Los Angeles to promote the Grand Prix, and this is home ground for Acura, so it’s fantastic to take the win we just did.”
Chuck Schifsky, National Motorsport Manager for Honda and Acura, was over the moon.
“A spectacular win for Acura!” he exclaimed. “Not only is it on our home ground, near HRC’s US headquarters in Santa Clarita, but the HRC group is responsible for the trackside engineering on the No. 93 car. It’s a huge win for that group.
“We haven’t won since 2008 (and 2009) at Long Beach and haven’t won here in IMSA’s modern prototype era, so it’s great to be able to finally present ourselves with the trophy from the Acura Grand Prix.”
Yelloly led from the start, but lost the top spot to Aitken when he was balked by a Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class competitor just 13 laps in. While some competitors made pit stops for driver changes as little as 10 minutes into the race, the No. 93 ran longest, with Yelloly handing over to van der Zande after 38 minutes.
Almost simultaneously, the third of the five full-course cautions that punctuated the race fell, and van der Zande emerged in the lead when racing resumed with 47 minutes remaining. From there, he was able to hold off Vesti despite concerns about conserving his rear tires. On the pit wall, Yelloly remained confident.
“It was a nail-biting finish, but I knew the guy behind the wheel could do the job, so I wasn’t too worried,” Yelloly said.
The No. 31 Cadillac has started the season with three consecutive podiums after closing out 2025 with a pair of victories.
“We had a really good day,” said Aitken. “There’s a few key things you need to do on a street track like this – you need to have a good start, don’t make mistakes, and I think the No. 31 team ticked all those boxes. It was a really good run so I can’t complain too much, but definitely hungry for that win this year.”
Nasr, Andlauer, and the No. 7 Porsche continue to lead the GTP standings, with an interesting twist: their closest competitor early in the 2026 season is Laurin Heinrich.
Heinrich is the No. 7 car’s third driver for Motul Petit Le Mans after winning at the first two IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds, the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Heading into Long Beach, he was announced with an extended program in the No. 5 JDC-Miller MotorSports Porsche 963, running the remaining sprint races and the Michelin Endurance Cup race at Road America.
Heinrich and Tijmen van der Helm finished sixth at Long Beach, for the JDC-Miller team’s best result since the 2025 Rolex 24, which was also a sixth-place run. This puts Heinrich 35 points behind Andlauer and Nasr. Aitken is a further three points back, followed by the No. 6 Porsche duo.
The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship remains in California for its next race, the Monterey SportsCar Championship, May 1-3 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
