Breaking news
Formula 1 Russian GP
Only Stroll will have Racing Point upgrades in Russian GP
Lance Stroll will get exclusive use of Racing Point's latest upgrade in Sochi, after the team ran out of time to get a second version ready for Sergio Perez.
Jonathan Noble
Published: Sep 24, 2020, 9:44 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Silverstone-based outfit had hoped to run both its car with the latest updates for this weekend's Russian Grand Prix, but that plan suffered a setback when Stroll badly damaged his car in a crash at Mugello a fortnight ago.
The incident, which was caused by a puncture after a tyre was cut, meant the team lost all the new parts that it had run there – so had to start from scratch again.
With the factory only able to produce enough parts for one car this weekend, the team has again given them to the driver who is ahead in the drivers' championship standings, which is Stroll.
With a fortnight after this weekend until the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, the team is confident that it can get both its car running the upgrades for then.
The latest upgrade is a significant one and includes shrink-wrapped sidepods, new floor, new front, new engine cover and new brake ducts.
Speaking at the Tuscan Grand Prix, team principal Otmar Szafnauer reckoned that the improvement were worth several tenths of a second per lap.
"It is hard to know [exactly]," said Szafnauer about the lap time difference. "However our upgrade was meant to be a couple or three tenths, and that is exactly what the performance difference was [between the two cars]."
Racing Point is currently locked in the fight for third place in the constructors' championship after a season where it has worked hard to better understand its new concept of car.
With its form in qualifying and the race having fluctuated, the team now believes it is better to focus more on how to perfect its setup for Sundays rather than worrying about single lap form.
"Traditionally, we've always set up for race day and I think this year, with the car that we have, we're also looking more towards qualifying form," said Szafnauer earlier this week.?
"But we've now regrouped a bit and reviewed our recent race weekend and decided that we will start focusing more on race day - as we did in Monza and Mugello.
"If you lean towards having a better race car than qualifier, you tend to get the payback on Sunday."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Whitmarsh appointed to Hamilton Commission board
Next article F1 drivers warned over backing up and track limits at Sochi
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1 Dec 31, 2024
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Dec 28, 2024
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Lance Stroll
Honda struggling to explain Lance Stroll’s 13th DNF of the season
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 d
Honda struggling to explain Lance Stroll’s 13th DNF of the season
"Unacceptable downshifts" – Max Verstappen explains what's behind a recurring F1 radio complaint
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
7 d
"Unacceptable downshifts" – Max Verstappen explains what's behind a recurring F1 radio complaint
More from
Racing Point
Stroll: 2020 results answered own questions over F1 capability
Formula 1
Formula 1 Jan 8, 2021
Stroll: 2020 results answered own questions over F1 capability
Aston Martin set for February F1 livery and car launch
Formula 1
Formula 1 Jan 4, 2021
Aston Martin set for February F1 livery and car launch
Stroll "surviving" on engine miles as P3 battle heats up
Formula 1
Formula 1
Abu Dhabi GP
Dec 13, 2020
Stroll "surviving" on engine miles as P3 battle heats up
Latest news
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 3 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 h
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
4 h
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe