Motorsport Debrief: Honda goes on the offensive after McLaren split
Here is today's news blast to get you up-to-date on what's been making the motorsport headlines over the past 24 hours.
Honda logo and nose detail of a McLaren MCL32
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Hi, this is Motorsport.com’s Global Editor-in-Chief Charles Bradley and I hope you’re feeling fine and dandy. Let’s take a high-speed look around the F1 world – starting with a strange, culinary-related attack from Honda on McLaren, which some might suggest is a little bit rich...
McLaren finds adapting to change hard, says Honda
McLaren is a systematic company that finds it hard to adapt to change, according to Honda chief Masashi Yamamoto, following its F1 relationship break-up.
Yamamoto suggested that its new F1 partner, Toro Rosso, will be more accommodating of change: “Working with McLaren, I’ve realised that they are a very big company which is very systematic. It’s obviously very strong because of that but at the same time they can find it hard to adapt to change.
“Compare that to Toro Rosso, it is a company that is growing. It is very important for us to work in partnership together, heading towards the same goal. So for us we are very much looking forward to being able to work closer.
“Take this for an example: If we compare both teams with different cuisines, let’s say McLaren is a very sophisticated French cuisine, that’s the way it is. Then Toro Rosso is more like a countryside, homemade delicious stew where you can add new ingredients. We’re excited to do that.”
Hamilton: Verstappen was in Vettel's blind spot
Lewis Hamilton has suggested Sebastian Vettel probably couldn't see Max Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen in the moments before they collided at the start of the Singapore Grand Prix.
When asked for his views on the start, Hamilton said: "Often – when you look at my last start at Monza – when you pull away, you can't actually see the guy who's in second place.
"They're generally in your blind spot if they get as good a start as you, and it's difficult to know where they are. So your immediate thought is to cover your ground, get to the inside and cover and turn them down, so I assume that's what he [Vettel] did.”
F1 moves closer to introducing 360-degree broadcasts
Formula 1 has moved a stepped closer to introducing live 360-degree footage from race weekends, following successful tests that took place at the Singapore GP.
F1's technology partner Tata trialled two live 360º video cameras at the Marina Bay circuit to see if there was scope for them to be introduced as part of the regular television feed in the future.
One of the new cameras was placed in the paddock, while another was put next to the track at the famous Anderson Bridge.
Tata wanted to trial the cameras and check on its data transfer capabilities because live 360-degree feeds have proved a big challenge for sports to introduce due to a lengthy delay before the images can be processed.
Mercedes feels sympathy for "awful" Ferrari situation
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he felt sympathy for the nightmare scenario Ferrari faced in Singapore with both its cars out on the opening lap.
Ferrari's double retirement left the door open for Hamilton to seize a win that has helped him open up a 28-point lead in the drivers' championship with six races to go.
"In the morning we were talking about damage limitation, and we go away from Singapore with a one and three – so from our perspective it's a great result," said Wolff. "Once that happens you can kind of feel for Ferrari. I've been in the situation of losing both cars, and you can relate how awful that feels for them.
"But I guess we're not here to make prisoners. From that moment on it was clear we were in the lead with Lewis. It was about delivering the best possible race."
Essential viewing…
Motorsport Report weekend wrap: Singapore GP, WEC & NASCAR
That’s it for today’s Motorsport Debrief, we’ll be back again tomorrow.
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