Up to Speed: What we read this week
A selection of stories from the world of motorsports that caught our eye
💺 All You Ever Wanted To Know About the Formula 1 Driver Seat
From Formula One Forever
dives into the surprisingly complex science behind a Formula 1 driver's seat, explaining how ergonomics and the perfect seating position can be incredibly important in a championship fight.💥 One irregular day of F1. That's all I ask for.
From
Has Formula 1 become too reliable for its own good?
argues that the most exciting moment of the title race - Lando Norris's engine failure- highlights a core problem with the sport: the near-elimination of mechanical failures. In the past teams had to choose between building a fragile rocket ship or a slower but more reliable car. Both had a chance at the championship. Today, F1's pursuit of perfection may have accidentally crushed the unpredictability that once made it so compelling.🍾 How Formula One’s Premium Hospitality Evolved from Standard to Stratospheric
From The Athletic
Life’s certainties: Death, taxes and Formula One selling something. Liberty Media is moving beyond the one-size-fits-all hospitality model to create a new, ultra-exclusive playground for the super-rich. F1 is betting big that its wealthiest fans will pay exponentially more for unique access, turning corporate hospitality into a laboratory for ultra-premium experimentation.
From Driving in Circles, Really Fast
Ever wondered what the "Formula" in Formula 1 actually stands for?
takes a historical journey from the wild, unregulated early days of racing, to the meticulously defined and safety-focused sport we know today, highlighting how the evolution of this "formula" has shaped everything from car design to on-track competition.🔀 Bayer: Verstappen trying Racing Bulls car is "like me flying to the moon..."
From
Could Max Verstappen actually drive a Racing Bulls car? The possibilities are tantalizing and the roadblocks significant. After rookie Isack Hadjar's stunning podium, the idea of the world champion testing the sister team's car gained momentum, but Racing Bulls' CEO Peter Bayer, firmly dismisses the notion for a number of different reasons.
💡 About “RACING PLAYBOOK”
We are two brothers, who spend a lot of time reading rather complicated sports research - but we often find that these insights are hard for the casual fan to access and enjoy. So, we decided to create Racing Playbook, a place where we can combine our love for motorsports with our expertise in data-driven storytelling.
With race data becoming increasingly accessible and extensive, we perform academic-level research to uncover fascinating narratives about Formula 1, and present them in a way that will be understood and enjoyed by everyone - from the die-hard fans to the casual viewer.
Thank you for introducing these pages! They look great.
Thanks for the shoutout!