Edd Straw

Formula 1

The best underdog F1 qualifying laps in Monaco

Monaco puts the fate of qualifying back in Formula 1 drivers’ hands. Edd Straw looks back at some of the great underdog performances

Formula 1

‘A joke, unfair, a fortune to fix’ – Alfa’s flexi-wing anger

The introduction of more stringent F1 flexible bodywork tests will cost Alfa Romeo “a fortune”, says incensed team boss Frederic Vasseur

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How F1’s cost cap forced Mercedes out of 18-inch tyre test

There is a cost cap exemption for Pirelli F1 tyre testing – so why did Mercedes end up having to bail out of a planned Paul Ricard test?

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Five Monaco GP underachievers with curses to break

Some of the biggest names in the 2021 Formula 1 field have abysmal Monaco Grand Prix records – even though they’ve been fast there. Edd Straw looks at the reasons for those anomalies, and the chances of them being rectified this weekend

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The 2022 F1 driver market risk worth taking

Bottom of the list recently for exiled F1 drivers, Williams’ on and off-track progress may make it a driver market key player in the near future

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Why Monaco may punish a sudden 2021 struggler’s weak points

AlphaTauri’s 2021 took a sudden turn for the worse in Portugal and Spain, and Monaco doesn’t look like ideal ground for a resurgence

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McLaren’s 2021 weakness it needs to solve for Monaco

McLaren has been outqualified by Ferrari on every F1 weekend so far in 2021. Edd Straw believes it needs to stop putting itself on the back foot at the start of races, never more so than at the Monaco Grand Prix

Formula 1

The ‘underestimated’ and unlucky F1 driver fighting to continue

How Antonio Giovinazzi is regarded is difficult to judge given opinions differ, but you can make a strong case for him being the most unlucky driver in Formula 1 in 2021 given his lack of reward after a good start to the season

Formula 1

‘Unbelievable’ fan reaction prompted McLaren Gulf F1 livery

Fan reaction to last year’s announcement of McLaren’s strategic partnership with Gulf led to the idea to run a special one-off Formula 1 livery at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix

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McLaren to race iconic Gulf livery in Monaco GP

McLaren will run a special one-off Gulf Formula 1 livery on both cars during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend

Formula 1

Is Alonso right to say Alpine is now F1’s ‘fifth team’?

The Race analyses Fernando Alonso’s claim that Alpine is currently the fifth best team in Formula 1 behind Ferrari and McLaren

Formula 1

The impact of F1’s practice cut is bigger than it seems

F1’s 2021 Friday practice reduction seems trivial – but it’s actually making a difference, and presents an area for teams to ‘exploit’

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Why Williams was ‘the best it’s ever felt’ in Spanish GP

There was a spell in the Spanish Grand Prix when George Russell and Williams looked like they might finally score points together. It didn’t come off, but the fact the car was “joyous to drive” was significant

Formula 1

F1’s 2022 18-inch tyre test project starts pivotal next phase

The next step in preparations for Formula 1’s 2022 move to 18-inch wheels begins this week. Here’s what will be going on at Barcelona with Alex Albon, Daniil Kvyat and Robert Kubica

Formula 1

Edd Straw’s 2021 Spanish GP driver ratings + reader debate

Two perfect 10-out-of-10 scores headline Edd Straw’s judgement on the Formula 1 field’s 2021 Spanish Grand Prix drives, while some strugglers’ seasons get worse. Have your say in a live debate with Edd in the comments section at 5pm UK time on Monday

Formula 1

How Giovinazzi got a puncture before tyre was even fitted

A potentially good Spanish Grand Prix for Antonio Giovinazzi went awry when Alfa Romeo realised one of his new tyres was flat as it prepared to fit it during an early pitstop. Here’s the story behind that bizarre problem

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Is Alpine’s progress real or ‘too good to be true’?

For the second grand prix weekend in a row, Alpine is looking strong. Is it ready to take on McLaren and Ferrari in the battle to lead the chase of the top two?

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How big a deal is Hamilton’s 100 F1 poles milestone?

More evidence that Lewis Hamilton’s the greatest Formula 1 driver of all-time? Or just a statistical reward for many years in the best car? Edd Straw puts Hamilton’s 100th F1 pole in context

Formula 1

Vettel praises Aston upgrades after ‘best Friday’ of 2021

Sebastian Vettel described the opening day of practice for the Spanish Grand Prix as “probably our best Friday” having run the Aston Martin Formula 1 team’s latest upgrades for the first time

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‘Give Bottas a break’ urges Hamilton amid Russell swap rumour

Lewis Hamilton has mounted a strong defence of his Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate Valtteri Bottas following fresh rumours about his future

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Why Alonso faces a tough Spanish GP homecoming

Alpine’s F1 form may have improved, but Fernando Alonso’s home grand prix at Barcelona may be “compromised” if he doesn’t improve in one key area

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Ocon: Back to his best or flattered by Alonso?

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon has looked resurgent in 2021, but how much of that is down to an F1-rusty Fernando Alonso? Edd Straw investigates

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Red Bull’s ‘brutal’ track limits complaints don’t hold water

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner criticised the “brutal” track limits penalties that have hit Max Verstappen’s season, but while F1’s policing of track limits continues to be problematic, there can be no complaints about the trio of punishments he cited

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Edd Straw’s 2021 Portugal F1 driver ratings + reader debate

The Portuguese GP offered a mix of surprising and disappointing performances for Edd Straw to get stuck into in his Formula 1 driver ratings. Debate his scores with him live at 5pm UK time on Monday

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Will Russell achieve instant atonement with points in Portugal?

The Portuguese Grand Prix is set to give George Russell an immediate chance to atone for his misjudgement at Imola two weeks ago. Edd Straw investigates the likelihood

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Verstappen: Not a single lap enjoyable at diminished Algarve

Max Verstappen hasn’t enjoyed a “single lap” this F1 weekend at an Algarve circuit he believes is diminished by the low-grip track surface

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Hearing set as Alfa requests review of Raikkonen penalty

Alfa Romeo has successfully lobbied for a review of the 30-second penalty that was issued to Kimi Raikkonen’s at Imola

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Why Red Bull will have a unique F1 engine advantage

Red Bull’s creation of an engine facility at its Milton Keynes base in the United Kingdom, first to run continuation Honda power units then what are currently planned to be in-house engines beyond that, might appear forced by circumstances. But it gives Red Bull a unique advantage over every other t

Formula 1

AlphaTauri puzzled why it’s ‘far too slow’ at Algarve

Team principal Franz Tost has admitted AlphaTauri is struggling for pace at the Portuguese circuit and the team will make significant changes before qualifying

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Alonso’s latest percentage claim and what it means for Alpine

Fernando Alonso’s outlined the areas where he’s not yet back at the “101%” he feels he needs to be in Formula 1. But will Alonso being on form actually make that much difference to Alpine?

Formula 1

Why Red Bull, Mercedes take a frustrating approach to rivalry

“I prefer to remain quite silent” – Max Verstappen is trying to keep a low profile amid his first proper Formula 1 title fight. And it’s much more of a psychological tactic than a PR one

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Why AlphaTauri looks like F1’s best-behaved car in 2021

You may have heard that AlphaTauri looks like the most driver-friendly F1 car of the 2021 crop. But what exactly does that entail?

Formula 1

Tsunoda needs to start showing better judgment

Great pace, missed opportunities, mistakes and a lot of self-berating. That’s the story of Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 rookie season so far. He’s not overdriving, says Edd Straw, but there’s an area where he now needs to show he’s learning from his errors

Formula 1

The key battleground in Sainz’s mission to take on Leclerc

Carlos Sainz Jr has made a decent start to Ferrari Formula 1 life. But to avoid sliding into a support role, he has to figure out how to match qualifying ace Charles Leclerc’s explosive one-lap pace

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Kubica’s win a landmark in his battle back from the dark days

Robert Kubica’s return to the top step of the podium in sportscar racing is an achievement that shouldn’t be underestimated. Edd Straw explores the magnitude of Kubica’s heroic recovery story and the unhappy F1 comeback that nearly tarnished it

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F1 mustn’t slide into an artificial entertainment trap

An element of Netflix’s Drive to Survive series – and Formula 1’s apparent acceptance of it – is still bothering Edd Straw. How much distortion of reality for entertainment should F1 allow?

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The F1 wars that threatened a Super League-style breakaway

After football’s European Super League coup failed in a matter of days, Edd Straw looks at Formula 1’s breakaway attempts through history, most with similar success to the football counterpart

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‘Flying’ Norris lands the early blows in Ricciardo duel

Lando Norris is yet to face a full-strength Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren, but he’s capitalised perfectly on his initial advantage

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‘Brutal’ Imola race shows how far off Perez really is

Sergio Perez was among the stars of F1 qualifying at Imola but a sloppy race left him outside the points. He’s admitted that the “brutal” Imola race showed just “how far” off he is being comfortable in the Red Bull

Formula 1

Alonso’s ‘300% better’ declaration isn’t just hyperbole

Fernando Alonso’s declaration that he felt “300%” more confident in the Alpine Formula 1 car by the end of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix sounds like mischievous Alonso hyperbole, but it also reveals a truth about what it’s taking for him to get back up to speed in F1