NOTE: This is an updated article with the latest fuel projections

Both petrol and diesel are forecast to see massive decreases at the pumps early next month.

Below, the latest projections as received by The South African website from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), effective Wednesday, 28 August.

If the market conditions were to remain consistent for the remainder of the month – an unlikely scenario with the rand/dollar exchange rate ever fluctuating and the oil price changing – a decrease of 86 cents is expected for petrol 93 octane motorists and a decrease of 94 cents for 95 users.

Meanwhile, diesel motorists would see something between a 76 and 103 cents per litre decrease.

Finally, illuminating paraffin is expected to decrease by 101 cents.

FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:

1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices

2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products

Oil price

At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $77.75 a barrel.

Exchange rate

At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R17.75/$.

The final overall price changes for both petrol and diesel will be confirmed in the weeks ahead with the new prices coming into effect at midnight on Tuesday, 3 September.

Go easy on the accelerator until then, Mzansi.

The current AUGUST 2024 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):

However, team boss James Vowles ultimately opted for Williams’ own junior rookie, Argentine Franco Colapinto. “Axing Sargeant mid-season is not a decision we’ve taken lightly. But we believe this gives Williams the best chance to compete for points over the remainder of the season. We brought a large upgrade to the car and need to maximise every points-scoring opportunity in a remarkably tight midfield battle,” explained Vowles.

AXING SARGEANT MID-SEASON

He admits it must be ‘incredibly tough’ for Sargeant, but added the team will support him to continue his racing career in the future. Williams’ Alex Albon reacted on social media saying: “I know first-hand how brutal this sport can be and it’s tough to see Logan leave the team mid-season. You gave it your all, brother, and it’s been a pleasure being teammates with you. I know whatever you do next, you’ll be awesome.”

Vowles’ former boss Toto Wolff admits another option for Williams was the Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli. But it would not have been wise to disturb his progression and put him in a Williams F1 car. It is also believed that Liam Lawson was Vowles’ next top pick after axing Sargeant. However, locked in a fierce mid-field battle with the Red Bull sister team, they chose not release the Kiwi to one its competitors.

ARGENTINA BACK ON THE GRID

Argentinean Franco Colapinto (21) will vacate the race seat after Abu Dhabi to make way for Carlos Sainz, signed for 2025. The Ferrari driver will join Williams at a notably ambitious moment for the Grove-based team. Williams unveiled its first major car upgrade of 2024 last weekend, which Sargeant summarily flung into a Zandvoort barrier during free practice.  

Worse still for the team, Albon’s upgraded car was excluded from qualifying when the new floor was found to be too wide and therefore illegal. Sainz told Spanish news at Zandvoort that this was somewhat alarming: “I will find out what happened. I will ask and I find out for sure.” – with GMM

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE AMERICAN DRIVER BEING CUT MID-SEASON?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com. You can also send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Don’t forget to follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest social media updates.

WOMEN AT FORD SOUTH AFRICA

*Video: Ford South Africa on YouTube

‘TANNIE FORD’

Trudy Pitout began working at Ford South Africa in the East Vaal service department in 1982. Her determined attitude and passion for helping people quickly saw her move to the sales department at the age of 17. In 2021, she was named a finalist in the Women Motoring of the Year Awards and has received numerous other awards. Trudy is affectionately known as ‘Tannie Ford’, a nickname she wears with pride.

WORKING A MEGA FACTORY

Motubatse Elize Pete began her journey with Ford South Africa in 2022 as a Production Process Coach, before becoming a Scheduling Analyst in 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Technology in Mechatronic Engineering and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management. But let’s not forget to mention her Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration. A deep love for robotics, cars and engineering shaped her unique study path.

Elize wanted to do something that was challenging, multi-disciplinary and provided the ‘mega-factory’ experience she craved. Her advice for other women is to expose themselves to everything in the industry and position yourself to succeed. Trust your instincts, do not let fear deter you, do it even if you’re afraid, be confident and live in the moment.

MASTER ENGINEER

Yuliia Varchuk is a Programs and Engineering manager at Ford South Africa, after starting her journey with Ford Russia in 2004. At seven years old the Iron Curtain fell, and she saw her first foreign movie, with a woman in jeans driving a red Ford pickup truck. This image of freedom and self expression inspired Yuliia. At 15 years old her dream was to design a car, or have the skill to build or restore one.

There were few higher education opportunities in Saint Petersburg, and even fewer that focused on the automotive sphere. So, she started working as close to engines as she could get, as an apprentice foreman in aircraft-production. Fast forward 26 years and Yuliia works for Ford South Africa, drives a Ranger, and can rebuild any vehicle she chooses. A strong advocate for women to pursue careers in the science, technology and engineering, Varchuk admits that her blood is blue, and she continues to inspire women to bring new talent to previously male-dominated fields.

FIRST WOMAN IN THE WORKSHOP

Nicolien de Beer proves that despite her youth, she’s not easily intimidated. She currently works for Ford South Africa at Motus Rhodesfield in Kempton Park. During her matric year, the dealership was scouting for learners focusing on physics and math. Nicolien applied and is now a Diagnostic Technician. At the time she was one of the first women in the workshop but as a valued member of the team she receives the help and support from all her colleagues to learn and grow.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK IN THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com. You can also send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Don’t forget to follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest social media updates.

Colapinto, a 21-year-old Argentinian, will team up with Alex Albon for the first time at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

Terrible weekend at Zandvoort

A member of the Williams driver academy Colapinto moves up to motorsport’s fast lane after impressing in F2 this year, with a win at Imola.

His big chance came after Sargeant suffered a terrible weekend at Zandvoort, crashing his heavily upgraded car in third practice for the Dutch Grand Prix on Saturday.

Sargeant gained his sole point for Williams at the US Grand Prix last year, becoming the first American to score in F1 since Mario Andretti three decades before.

A starter of 36 races, he will remain part of the team’s set-up.

Williams boss James Vowles acknowledged it was a tough blow for Sargeant.

“To replace a driver mid-season is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we believe this gives Williams the best chance to compete for points over the remainder of the season,” he said.

“We have just brought a large upgrade to the car and need to maximise every points-scoring opportunity in a remarkably tight midfield battle.”

Logan Sargeant’s successor, the first F1 driver from Argentina in 23 years, has already had a taste of F1 life, taking part in first practice at Silverstone before the summer break.

Worthy of Williams’ confidence

Vowles commented: “Franco is getting a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate what he is capable of across the final nine rounds of the season.

“I know that Franco has great speed and huge potential, and we look forward to seeing what he can do in Formula 1.”

Colapinto is itching to show he is worthy of Williams’ confidence.

“Coming into F1 mid-season will be an enormous learning curve, but I am up for the challenge, and I’m fully focused on working as hard as I can with Alex and the team to make it a success.”

Vowles concluded: “Logan remains a talented driver and we will support him to continue his racing career for the future.”

In 2025, Albon will be racing alongside Carlos Sainz, the Spaniard who is joining the team as Lewis Hamilton takes the Spaniard’s seat at Ferrari.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

As the season continues at a hundred miles per hour, the next battle will take place at the famed Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit on Sunday, 1 September.

The lights will go out at 15:00 (SA time).

As a reminder, the 2023 Italian Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez.

Carlos Sainz in his Ferrari took third place.

ITALIAN GRAND PRIX TIMES

All times SA

Friday, 30 August

Practice 1: 13:30 – 14:30

Practice 2: 17:00 – 18:00

Saturday, 31 August

Practice 3: 12:30 – 13:30

Qualifying: 16:00 – 17:00

Sunday, 1 September

Main race: 15:00

Standings after the Dutch Grand Prix

Drivers

Constructors

NOTE: This is an updated article with the latest fuel projections

Both petrol and diesel are forecast to see massive decreases at the pumps early next month.

Below, the latest projections as received by The South African website from the Central Energy Fund (CEF), effective Monday, 26 August.

If the market conditions were to remain consistent for the remainder of the month – an unlikely scenario with the rand/dollar exchange rate ever fluctuating and the oil price changing – a decrease of 83 cents is expected for petrol 93 octane motorists and a decrease of 90 cents for 95 users.

Meanwhile, diesel motorists would see something between a 72 and 98 cents per litre decrease.

Finally, illuminating paraffin is expected to decrease by 98 cents.

FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:

1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices

2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products

Oil price

At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $81.44 a barrel.

Exchange rate

At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R17.73/$.

The final overall price changes for both petrol and diesel will be confirmed in the weeks ahead with the new prices coming into effect at midnight on Tuesday, 3 September.

Go easy on the accelerator until then, Mzansi.

The current AUGUST 2024 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):

The British driver claimed his second career chequered flag after winning in Miami in May, closing Verstappen’s lead over him in the world championship to 70 points, with the Dutchman coming second.

Despite raucous encouragement from a packed Zandvoort circuit, Verstappen could not extract enough from his Red Bull to compete with a recently upgraded McLaren that is beginning to look like the car to beat in Formula One.

Standings after the Dutch Grand Prix

Drivers

Constructors

The British driver registered the fastest lap in 1:09.673, ahead of Verstappen’s Red Bull who clocked 1:10.029 in windy and damp conditions at the Zandvoort circuit on the Dutch coast.

Major disappointment

The qualifying battle came down to the wire, as Verstappen sent his orange army of Dutch fans into raptures by claiming the fastest time with less than a minute left.

But Norris stormed back just seconds later to nick the fourth pole position of his career and break the home fans’ hearts.

Norris’s McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri will start in third place ahead of George Russell from Mercedes in fourth and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull in fifth.

But there was major disappointment for Russell’s team-mate, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who was eliminated after the second round of qualifying, as was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Hamilton’s day then went from bad to worse as he was hit with a three-place grid penalty for impeding Perez in the first qualifying session, dropping him to 14th on the grid.

And Williams endured a troubled on Saturday at the seaside too.

First Logan Sargeant smashed his car in third practice, then team-mate Alex Albon, who had secured eighth place in qualifying, had his time disqualified, relegating him to the rear of Sunday’s grid.

The London-based Thai’s Williams was found to be in breach of the technical regulations with an issue to the floor of his heavily updated car.

The lights will go out at 15:00 (SA time).

As a reminder, the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

Pierre Gasly in his Alpine took third place.

GRID FOR THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX:

Front row

Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren)

Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

2nd row

Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)

George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)

3rd row

Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)

Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)

4th row

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)

Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)

5th row

Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine)

Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)

6th row

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/RB)

Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas)

7th row

Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) *

8th row

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/RB)

Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine)

9th row

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber)

Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber)

10th row

Alex Albon (THA/Williams) **, Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams)

* Lewis Hamilton was given a three-place penalty for impeding Sergio Perez

** Alex Albon qualified in eighth but his time was disqualified due to his car being found to be in breach of the technical regulations

Standings ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix

Drivers

Constructors

It proved to be an eventful qualifying session for the race at Zandvoort

Lando Norris takes pole

McLaren driver Norris, who had been very self-critical leading into the break and spoke of the need to “reset,” produced a time of 1m 09.673s in the crucial Q3 phase to beat Red Bull opponent Max Verstappen by more than three-and-a-half tenths.

“An amazing day. It’s nice to be back and start with a pole. It was a nice lap, honestly,” said Norris.

“The qualifying was always pretty smooth and I put in some good laps, especially the one at the end, which is always the most important. A great job by the team and I’m happy with today.”

Mav Verstappen laments lack of pace

Max Verstappen dampened excpectations of a home win, as he felt his Red Bull was off the pace.

The front row placing still delighted Verstappen.

“I couldn’t quite fight for pole today against but we are doing everything we can to make the car as competitive as possible,” Verstappen said.

“I was happy to be on the front row, it is not quite as close as we would have liked but we will see what happens tomorrow.

“We are looking to optimise the balance of the car, especially as it is very windy on the track, but we will see how the car runs tomorrow and analyse the limited long runs we got yesterday. In the past we have been very strong in the race, which is a positive. It will also depend on the tyre degradation; we will need to see how much it will rain overnight and see how everything goes tomorrow. On pure pace, it will be difficult to beat the McLarens but anything can happen in Formula One so we will see. I will try my best tomorrow in front of my home crowd and we will see where we are.”

Lewis Hamilton penalised

Lewis Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the Dutch Grand Prix after the stewards determined that he had ‘unnecessarily impeded’ Sergio Perez’s Red Bull in Q1 of Saturday’s qualifying session.

Perez was forced to lift when he approached Hamilton’s slow-moving Mercedes in the early parts of the session, eliciting a heated outburst from the Mexican over the radio. He later claimed that the event had hampered his session because he had to use an extra set of tires thereafter.

At 17:00 local time, both drivers and their respective team representatives were summoned to meet the stewards regarding the situation, and it was determined that Hamilton had violated Article 37.5 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.

As a result, Hamilton will start P15 in the following race, down from P12 for the Dutch Grand Prix.

Alex Albon disqualified for Dutch Grand Prix qualifying

Williams driver Alex Albon has been disqualified from Saturday’s qualifying session at Zandvoort for violating technical requirements.

Albon qualified seventh for the Dutch Grand Prix, but will now start from the back of the grid due to a problem with the floor of his significantly modified vehicle.

The stewards’ conclusion read: “The floor body of Car 23 was found to lie outside the regulatory volume mentioned in Article 3.5.1 a) of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations.

“The team did not dispute the calibration of the FIA measuring system and the measurement of the car, but stated that their own measurements have produced different results.

“The Stewards determine that the result of the measurement conducted with the FIA system in Parc Ferme is the relevant one and the due process prescribed by the regulations has been followed. Therefore the standard penalty for such an infringement is applied.”

Dutch Grand Prix Qualifying results

Who will win the Dutch Grand Prix?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news. 

But no matter, because the Blue Oval’s newest family SUV is reason enough to be in Hermanus all on its own. First off, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so your automotive equivalent of handsome might be different to mine. But I believe the R721 000 Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium must be one of the best-looking new SUVs on sale in South Africa currently.

FORD TERRITORY 1.8T TITANIUM

It’s commanding presence comes courtesy of a wide grille, sharply detailed LED lights, muscly yet trim styling lines and 19-inch alloys which fill the wheel arches convincingly. I must admit, however, that I’m less convinced by the rear valance which, to my eye, gives the backend a generic look. But try telling that to the passers-by who’ll need a chiro appointment if they spend any more time swivelling their heads at the Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium. Not only does it look like an expensive vehicle but, crucially, it feels it down to the ground, too.

So, why are we in Hermanus at sparrow’s fart exactly? The plan, before the Cape doctor turned all Rage Against the Machine, was to follow a whale trail of sorts. Trace the coastline from Hermanus around the gorgeous Walker Bay on the R317 to Struisbaai and, finally, Cape Agulhas. And if we saw some whales, all the better. Instead, we’re pivoting in-land, away from the howling gale, to seek out some up-hill, down-dale topography. No hardship, I’m sure, in the comfort of a climate-controlled, semi-autonomous Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium.

BIG AND SMART

Inside the bank-vault-quiet cabin there’s little more than a cultured murmur from the 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine. 138 kW and 318 Nm of torque means its performance is sprightly – a tested zero to 100 km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds. But the drivetrain is not the main event here. A hat must be doffed to the interior packaging of the Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium. It’s spot-on in today’s family-SUV age – minimalist, tech-laden and still unerringly practical. Twin 12.3-inch high-definition digital screens mesh seamlessly with the horizontal lines to emphasise the cabin’s width and openness.

It’s no trick that the Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium feels a large vehicle. Inside and out, and compared to the others in this segment, it genuinely is a big vehicle. And yet it’s innovative in its practicality, thanks to 20 different storage spaces of varying shapes and sizes, plus absolutely cavernous rear legroom. The boot offers 448 litres of storage space, expanded to a massive 1 422 litres with the 60/40 split rear seats folded flat. That’s more than enough to satisfy the active lifestylers with their bicycles, surfboards, etc …

SEEKING OUT NEW TERRITORIES

We forego the effortlessness of a straightforward drive and immediately decide to detour up a nearby tarmac/gravel route known as Rotary Way. It skirts around the edge of the Hermanus and gives unparalleled views atop it. After countless winter storms, the road is scarred and washed away in sections, with its width shrinking every few hundred metres. As we go along, little twisters of sand and gravel whip-up in our wake. Soon I spot a vantage point high atop the town that looks too perfect to ignore.

While by no means a mud-and-guts off-roader, the Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium takes advantage of its ample clearances and easily sidesteps several stony outcrops exposed by the extreme weather. The steeper dirt sections en route have been chewed up by others with lesser traction. Of the four selectable drive modes on offer in the Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium – Normal, Eco, Sport and Mountain – the latter tweaks the driveline to ensure our excursion is less drama-filled than anyone could’ve imagined.

FAST AND LOOSE

With photography in the bag, it’s back down Rotary Way, engaging Hill-Descent Control to re-join our favorite flawless piece of tarmac, Shaw’s Pass to Caledon. The winding bitumen and on-camber sweepers allows the Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium to carry itself with drama approaching that of a low-slung saloon. That’s the multi-link rear suspension and excellent Goodyear tyres doing their bit. Well-oiled steering and a competent chassis are enough to egg the driver on. So much so that average fuel economy, settled safely in the 7.0 l/100 km range, all of sudden jumps to 9.0 l/100 km.

The turbocharged 1.8-litre EcoBoost engine is responsive enough under foot, however, a way to manually override the dual-clutch transmission is a level of driver control we’d like to see added in future. Nevertheless, beyond the sporting bit and a few detours for Canola and vineyard vistas, its back on the N2 highway to Cape Town. Semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control does a fair job of keeping pace with the cars around us. And back in the less-stressed realm of Eco mode, the Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium once again settles down … as does the fuel consumption back to 8.0 l/100 km.

THE VERDICT

Not knowing what to really expect from the new Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium allowed us to approach the review in an unbiased fashion. And we came away thoroughly impressed by Ford’s newest family SUV. Most especially by the thoroughly premium execution in top-spec guise. Handsomely styled, spacious, cleverly practical and jam-packed with the latest technology, the Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium boasts a lot of ticks in the win column. It’s an important volume seller for the Blue Oval, which is destined to corner its fair share of the family SUV market.

THE FIGURES

• 2024 Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium 1.8T EcoBoost
• Engine: 1.8-litre turbo petrol
• Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
• Power: 138 kW
• Torque: 318 Nm
• 0-100 km/h: 8.50 seconds
• Tyres: Goodyear Efficient Grip 235/55 R19
• Fuel consumption: 8.0 l/100 km (tested) / 7.0 l/100 km (claimed/combined)
• Price: R721 000 (with the 6yr/90 000 km service plan)

If you enjoyed this car review, click HERE for more from The South African.

South Africa hasn’t hosted a Formula One grand prix since 1993, an incredible 29 years ago this season, but the Kyalami circuit in Johannesburg is seen to be a perfect fit for a long-awaited F1 return to Mzansi.

Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly endorsed such a move, just this week the seven-times world champion explained that South Africa – and interestingly also Rwanda – were very much in the picture to be added to the F1 calendar.

“The time’s 100% right. We can’t be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa,” said the outgoing Mercedes driver.

“I think having a Grand Prix there will really be able to highlight just how great the place is and bring in tourism and all sorts of things. Why are we not on that continent?

“There is at least one track that’s ready. In the short term, we should just get on that track and have that part of the calendar, and then work on building out something really cool.

“Rwanda is one of my favourite places I’ve been to actually. I’ve been doing a lot of work in the background on it,” he added.

“I’ve spoken to people in Rwanda, I’ve spoken to people in South Africa. That’s a longer project, Rwanda, but it’s amazing that they’re so keen to get a part of it.”

Watch below as Hamilton previously called for South Africa to be added to the F1 calendar:

History on the side of South Africa

The 1993 South African Grand Prix was held at Kyalami on 14 March 1993. It was the 33rd South African Grand Prix – and remains the most recent to have been staged on the African continent.

It was the first race of the 1993 F1 season and was contested over 72 laps.

The race was won from pole position by French legend Alain Prost driving a Williams-Renault.

Prost’s great rival, Brazilian Ayrton Senna, finished second in a McLaren-Ford, with Great Britain’s Mark Blundell in a Ligier-Renault rounding out the podium.

Incredibly, of the 26 starters, only five finished the race, although seven were classified.

Runner-up Senna was the only driver that winner Prost did not lap – surely an all-time Formula One record!

As the season continues at a hundred miles per hour, the next battle between the world’s finest drivers will take place on Sunday, 25 August.

The lights will go out at 15:00 (SA time).

As a reminder, the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

Pierre Gasly in his Alpine took third place.

DUTCH GRAND PRIX TIMES

All times SA

Friday, 23 August

Practice 1: 12:30 – 13:30

Practice 2: 16:00 – 17:00

Saturday, 24 August

Practice 3: 11:30 – 12:30

Qualifying: 15:00 – 16:00

Sunday, 25 August

Main race: 15:00

Updated standings

Drivers

Constructors

The 21-year-old has been promoted from reserve team driver and will partner Frenchman Pierre Gasly for the 2025 season.

Alpine eighth out of 10 teams in 2024

“Pierre and Jack give the team a balance of youth and experience in its driver line-up geared towards building a successful future,” said the team in a statement.

Alpine sit a lowly eight out of 10 teams in the constructors’ championship, with Gasly scoring just six points this term thanks to two ninth spots and two tenths.

Gasly’s team-mate Esteban Ocon, who will join the Haas team next year, has only scored five points in a “frustrating” season which he said had not seen “enough improvement in certain areas.”

He claimed both his and Alpine’s sole win so far at the rain-hit Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021.

Ocon, who made his F1 debut in 2016, announced he was splitting with Alpine in June, a week after a collision with Gasly in Monaco for which he was blamed.

Alpine have also had a change at the top, with 36-year-old Englishman Oliver Oakes taking over as team principal for the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.

Oakes replaced Frenchman Bruno Famin, who was initially placed in charge on a temporary basis following the departure of previous team boss Otmar Szafnauer and lasted a year.

Gasly had tried to lure Carlos Sainz to the team after the Spaniard’s departure from Ferrari was announced earlier this season.

However, Sainz opted to join Williams instead.

‘Great kid’

Nevertheless Gasly speaking on Thursday before the appointment was officially announced, dished out praise for Jack Doohan, who will be the third Australian driver on the grid alongside Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo.

“He’s a great kid. I think he’s fast from watching what he’s been doing in Formula 2 the previous years,” Gasly told reporters.

“He knows the team and yeah he’s a great guy so I think he’s a good option,” he added.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

As the season continues at a hundred miles per hour, the next battle will take place at the Zandvoort circuit on Sunday, 25 August.

The lights will go out at 15:00 (SA time).

As a reminder, the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ahead of Fernando Alonso in an Aston Martin.

Pierre Gasly in his Alpine took third place.

DUTCH GRAND PRIX TIMES

All times SA

Friday, 23 August

Practice 1: 12:30 – 13:30

Practice 2: 16:00 – 17:00

Saturday, 24 August

Practice 3: 11:30 – 12:30

Qualifying: 15:00 – 16:00

Sunday, 25 August

Main race: 15:00

Updated standings

Drivers

Constructors

Excitement has been building among South African F1 enthusiasts, as discussions to bring the sport back to the country have seemed promising.

Recently, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, pledged to do everything in his might to bring F1 back to South Africa. It’s been 31 years since the last race on the African continent, back in 1993 at Kyalami in Gauteng.

“I have set up meetings with relevant people already, my term will be a failure if I don’t bring one of the biggest sporting tourist events to South Africa which is F1 … our first meeting is end of August in Monaco,” McKenzie announced in a Twitter (X) post last month.

Rwanda in pole position?

However, it appears that South Africa is not the only African country in discussions with the motoring powers that be.

Recent developments suggest that F1 Chief Exec Stefano Domenicali is in advanced negotiations with Rwanda to host a race. Representatives from the Rwanda Development Board reportedly attended this year’s Monaco Grand Prix to meet with the FIA.

“[Rwanda] are serious,” Domenicali told Autosport. “They have presented a good plan and actually we have a meeting with them at the end of September. It will be on a permanent track.”

The East African country has shown an increasing interest in motorsport, and will also be hosting the 2024 FIA Annual General Assembly and Prize-Giving Ceremony in Kigali.

Formula One has successfully reached its expansion goals in the United States, securing three races in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas.

The focus is now shifting to other regions around the globe to address disparities. Africa is still the only major continent without a race.

“We want to bring F1 back to Africa, but it’s crucial that we secure the right investment and develop a solid strategic plan,” Domenicali noted.

“We need to have the right moment, and we need to make sure that also in that country, in that region, in that continent, there is the right welcoming, because, of course, they have other priorities.”

What’s counting against SA

McKenzie may have his hands full trying to bring F1 back to South Africa, in light of reports suggesting that F1 won’t return due to the country’s close ties with Russia.

This is not a good look for SA on the global stage, while there is also the issue of funding to get Kyalami upgraded to the safety standards required to host a FIA-sanctioned F1 race.

Either way, the sport finds itself in a favourable position, with numerous countries eager to host a Formula One event.

“I don’t foresee significant changes in the short term, but in the coming months, we need to discuss what 2026, 2027, and 2028 will look like,” Domenicali added.

“We have different options, but we are in a good place.”

Who deserves it more, South Africa or Rwanda?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.

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Nevertheless, car modifications in South Africa are being policed harder than ever before. Like the strict Western Cape bylaws that make even removing your licence plate (often done for aesthetic and/or performance reasons) an instant impound offence.

CAR MODIFICATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

However, did you know that the following car modifications in South Africa – if deemed to make your ride unroadworthy – could lead to impoundment and even arrest? TopAuto reports that the National Road Traffic Act isn’t particularly descriptive on the illegality of modifications. However, for this very reason, there’s a lot of interpretation left to the police officer who pulls you over.

As mentioned, the Western Cape has gone excessively hard after car modifications in South Africa. And if in the eyes of the authorities your vehicle is in an unroadworthy state it will be taken off the road. To rectify this, you will have to make the necessary changes to bring it back to standard and perform another roadworthy test to be legal on the road again.

WHAT MODIFICATIONS ARE AUTHORITIES AFTER?

• Excessive speed enhancements like a large turbocharger upgrade and/or nitrous oxide kit.
• Excessive lowering of suspension to the point where it affects the handling of the vehicle.
• Larger wheels and lift kits that might affect the steering and general control of the vehicle.
• Number plate deletion or custom number plates that are vulgar/harmful and not of an approved SABS standard.
• Installing an upgraded engine and not relicensing your vehicle to reflect a new engine number.  
• Installing an excessively loud sound system that might cause a noise nuisance.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY RUN-INS WITH THE COPS OVER THESE?

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Binder has a multi-year deal to ride for Red Bull KTM in the elite series.

How rich is Brad Binder?

Brad Binder has an estimated net worth of R90 million as of 2024.

He has inked sponsorship deals with Arai Helmets, Pole Position Travel, Rural Liquid Fertilisers, Ixon Leathers and Alpinestars in the past.

In 2023 he inked an extension on his Red Bull KTM contract until the end of 2026.

“A massive thank you to KTM and the management for trusting in me and for letting me be involved in this incredible program for a few more years,” Brad Binder said.

“We are coming very close to what we want to achieve on the track but I cannot say enough good things about the team and my crew. 2015 and those first KTM races feel like a long time ago! But also time passes quickly and we’ve made some special memories. I know there is a lot more to come and cannot wait to build those stories. Thanks again.”

Who is MotoGP star Brad Binder?

Brad Binder is already one of the best and most successful Grand Prix racers from South Africa. 2024 will be his thirteenth season in the world championship and his fifth in the MotoGP category.

The journey started back in 2012 and by 2016 Brad had won the Moto3 title in what was his second term with the Red Bull KTM Ajo setup.

Brad notched 7 wins and nearly 20 podiums for Aki Ajo’s team before moving to Moto2 in 2017 with the same crew where he grasped another 8 victories and 15 top three appearances and came very close to another crown.

The successful collaboration with KTM thus far means that 2024 will be his tenth year in Red Bull KTM orange colors. Binder will always hold a special place in KTM racing history thanks to his triumph at the 2020 Grand Prix of Czech Republic in his MotoGP rookie season that marked the inaugural ‘P1’ for the KTM RC16 in the premier class.

He classified 11th that year and then worked his way to 6th in 2021 (including a thrilling home success at the Red Bull Ring in Austria) and 6th again in 2022 before rising to 4th for 2023 where he lifted his MotoGP podium tally to 10 trophies and 2 wins in the new Sprint concept.

Do you watch MotoGP?

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CAR INSURANCE PREMIUM IN SOUTH AFRICA

According to Ismail Canfield from insurance specialist Ctrl, there are seven things considered to make up a car insurance premium in South Africa, reports TopAuto. And thanks to the evolution of AI technology and automated systems, the weighting of these factors can be finely calculated to determine risk:

• Type of car (colour and configuration).
• Your car’s power-to-weight ratio.
• Driver age.
• Claims history.
• Driving history (how long have you been driving).
• Where you live and drive (theft risk, quality of roads).
• Your credit score.

POWER-TO-WEIGHT RATIO

Interesting to us is the type of car and its power-to-weight ratio. However, when you think about it for a second, it makes sense when trying to determine risk. “Every insurer has slightly unique rules and sophistication for determining risk. Traditional elements like the colour of your car still factor into it. However, a newer methodology factors the driver’s age, car make and model, and even power-to-weight ratio,” explains Canfield.

According to Naked, the power-to-weight ratio reflects how the vehicle will most likely perform on the road which, in turn, affects its risk profile. Generally speaking, the higher the performance potential, the higher the car insurance premium in South Africa. Not just because the car can accelerate more quickly, but also because of the driver profile of such an owner. Perhaps a younger driver that’s likely to create dangerous scenarios on the roads because of the extra performance.

HOW TO LOWER YOUR PREMIUM

Therefore, it goes without saying that the car insurance premium in South Africa for a funky coloured hot hatch, driven by a man in his 20s, will be higher than that of white, low-powered station wagon driven by a housewife in her 40s. So, if a cheap car insurance premium in South Africa is what you’re after, keep that in mind when buying your next car. Alternatively, get the high-performance car you’ve always dreamed of and be prepared to shell out a little extra each month on insurance.

GOT ANY FEEDBACK ON YOUR CAR INSURANCE PROVIDER?

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Accordingly, a group of US congressmen and senate members said they would challenge Formula 1 and Liberty Media’s decision to lock the American racing entity out of the sport in the short-term. At this time the senators admitted their, “concerns with the apparent anti-competitive actions that could prevent two great American companies (Cadillac and Andretti F1) from producing cars and competing at the highest level of motorsport in F1.”

US GOVERNMENT PROBE OVER ANDRETTI F1 REJECTION

With Formula 1 enjoying a brief summer hiatus before next weekend’s race in The Netherlands, the US government probe over Andretti F1 appears to have gathered momentum. In an earnings call last week, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei confirmed: “That there is a Department of Justice investigation over Andretti F1 now underway.”

“We intend to fully cooperate with that investigation, including any related requests for information,” Maffei is quoted as saying by the New York Times. Maffei reaffirmed that Liberty Media still believes its decision to reject the Andretti F1-Cadillac bid did not violate any applicable US anti-trust laws. And he says he does not hold the view that more teams on the grid would necessarily be wrong for Formula 1.

“There is a methodology for expansion that requires approval of both the teams, the FIA and F1 itself. And both groups have to find that all the relevant criteria met. We’re certainly open to new entrants making applications and potentially being approved if those requirements are met,” concluded Maffei. – with GMM

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ANOTHER AMERICAN TEAM ON THE GRID?

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• Age: Even if it’s not driving a lot, a car sitting is still losing value.
• Mileage. The more kilometres you add to your car’s overall mileage, the quicker its value drops.
• Transactional costs: If you buy a car at retail price and sell it at trade or wholesale price, the dealer’s margin reduces the value you ultimately receive.
• Maintenance: If you look after your car mechanically and cosmetically, you can stave off some of the effects of depreciation on your vehicle.

VEHICLE DEPRECIATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

According to Mark Ridgway, Chief Technical Officer at GetWorth: “We’ve invested heavily to gather vast amounts of data to build pricing algorithms that give us the most accurate view of the used car market. Vehicle brand, model, mileage and even the post-COVID-19 bubble all affect the data.” However, when it comes to vehicle depreciation in South Africa, Ridgway explains there are some clearly defined trends.

New cars depreciate much faster than used cars. In fact, the moment you drive a brand-new car off the dealer floor you’ve lost around 10%. After one year, around 15% to 20%. And after 5 years approximately 30% to 40%. And this is before you factor in a transactional cost loss of roughly 10%.

WHAT OTHER FACTORS AFFECT RESIDUAL VALUE?

“Ultimately, you can’t stop vehicle depreciation in South Africa, but you can make careful upfront choices to help slow it down,” explains Ridgway:

• Affordable entry-level models tend to hold their value better.
• Luxury and high-performance cars generally depreciate faster.
• Cars with better fuel economy hold their value longer.
• In-demand models do depreciate slower.
• Reliable brands with a good reputation depreciate less.

PAY THE RIGHT PRICE

So, let’s say you’ve taken all of the above into account, how do you know you’re paying a reasonable price for a car? Look at the prices of the one-year-olds in the market, to get an idea how much value that model might lose. From there, always hunt for the lowest mileage car in the best possible condition.

If you pay an above market price, you won’t ever recover the difference. And remember, once you’ve purchased a car, keep the mileage down and maintain it well, both mechanically and cosmetically. This is the best way to stave off vehicle depreciation in South Africa.  

HAVE YOU GOT ANY USED-CAR BUYING TIPS?

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Back in the day, grey import cars in South Africa represented a range of exotic performance cars. These hailed mostly from the Japan Domestic Market (think JDMs like the Nissan Skyline GT-R, Mazda RX-7 and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo) and people actively brought them into the country because there was no authorised distributor. Nowadays, grey imports are much less glamorous. Drive through Ceres in the Western Cape, for example, and you’ll see so many Lesotho-plated Honda Jazzes you’ll lose count after a while.

GREY IMPORTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Sadly, the grey import cars in South Africa every is raving about are not stunning JDMS like the one pictured above, but rather everyday commodity cars peddled by dubious dealers, reports TopAuto. As a result, if you’re in the market for a cheap second-hand car and you come across a deal that sounds too good to be true, it might be because it’s a grey import. Therefore, here’s a quick checklist on how to spot one in South Africa:

• If it’s too good to be true. Suspiciously low prices well below the market average usually give away grey import cars in South Africa.
• Uncommon models. Cars imported and sold in the rest of Africa differ slightly. One such example is a Mazda2 being called a Demio in other markets. Be cautious of uncommon looking and sounding models, even if they seem familiar.
• Microdot verification. All cars sold in South Africa come with microdot certificate. Ask for verification to confirm it’s not one of the grey import cars in South Africa.
• Check Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and registration papers. Ensure these all match up and no documentation looks like it’s been tampered with.

WHAT’S SO RISKY ABOUT GREY IMPORTS?

As mentioned earlier, it’s not strictly illegal to own any grey import cars in South Africa. However, there are numerous dangers. Especially if an unsuspecting person purchased it without full knowledge of its import status:

• Being in possession of a grey import could see you receive a hefty fine.
• The car could be impounded.
• In extreme scenarios, you may be criminally charged.
• If you’re involved in an accident with another road user, you will face liability issues.
• You could face jail time for knowingly driving an illegal car on South African roads.
• No insurance company will cover you against theft or accident damage.

THEY’RE COSTING THE COUNTRY BILLIONS

Recently, NAAMSA estimated there were as many as 1-million grey imports on the roads in Mzansi. Used cars cannot be imported into the country for sale. However, they are allowed to be brought in for export to a neighbouring country. And this is the policy that’s being exploited by nefarious traders.

Similarly, countries adjacent to South Africa, like Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho, often simply drive vehicles across the border. They say they’re visiting for holiday or business purposes and just leave the vehicles behind. It’s anticipated that grey import cars in South Africa cost authorities billions a year in lost licencing fees.

WOULD YOU BUY A CHEAP GREY IMPORT?

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You must remember that the story over South Africa’s new licence plates has been playing out longer than Muvhango and Scandal soap opera. For more than a decade, the Department of Transport has been unable to get its house in order and actually implement South Africa’s new and safer licence plates.

SOUTH AFRICA’S NEW LICENCE PLATES

Furthermore, Gauteng was supposed to be the first province to implement the upgraded plates in 2024, before the rest of the country would prompltly follow. It has since been announced by Gauteng Premier Lesufi that prototypes of the new number plates will first be stress-tested on its government fleet, pushing the rollout date out to 2025.

The decade-old proposed plates show the same alphanumeric combination as the current identifiers – AB 12 CD GP. TopAuto reported that these are not expected to change until combinations are exhausted somewhere around 2038. Crucially, however, the tweaked design incorporates an all-important QR code. This piece of tech will, allegedly, be able to stop the cloning and counterfeiting of licence plates by criminals.

NATIONAL TRAFFIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

A big reason for South Africa’s new licence plates is QR code integration with the National Traffic Information System (NATIS). The system has cost government billions in development and hopes to be able to keep tabs on all registered road users at all times through the new high-tech plates. As reported by The South African earlier this year, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said every Gauteng resident who renews their vehicle licence would be obliged to get the new licence plate, too.

This was met with derision by Gauteng residents, who believe South Africa’s new licence plates are simply another money-making scheme. And they’ll have no practical impact on cloning or criminal behavior. New plates currently cost R200 to purchase. However, the new Gauteng number plates are anticipated to cost nearly double that at R360.

NECESSARY OR ANOTHER MONEY-MAKING SCHEME?

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The price changes will come into effect from midnight on Tuesday, 6 August.

Go easy on the accelerator until then!

FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:

1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices

2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products

Oil price

At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $76.76 a barrel.

Exchange rate

At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R18.52/$.

The new AUGUST 2024 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):

What does a fuel price decrease mean for you?

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You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest petrol and diesel price news.

The price changes will come into effect from midnight on Tuesday, 6 August.

FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:

1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices

2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products

Oil price

At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $76.05 a barrel.

Exchange rate

At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R18.50/$.

The new AUGUST 2024 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):

According to TimesLive, the province has prototyped a new licence plate recognition system to go with the new 2024 Gauteng licence plates. Now that the recognition hard- and software is in place, the Gauteng government’s vehicle fleet will be piloting the new plates first, confirmed Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela.

2024 GAUTENG LICENCE PLATES

According to reports back in 2023, it was understood the Gauteng licence plates with anti-cloning tech would then be rolled out across the country soon after. Diale-Tlabela explained that the pilot project is expected to last six months, taking us to February 2025. However, it’s not just 2024 Gauteng licence plates that will be stress-tested. The project encompasses a new cloud-based portal, too. With integration of fleet management vehicle data to the National Traffic Information System. The pilot will check for comprehensive system functionality before further rollout.

As previously reported by The South African, an overhaul of the provincial vehicle licensing regime was set kickoff on 1 April 2024. This takes the form of a non-tamper-proof licence plate featuring a one-of-a-kind QR code. Premier Panyaza Lesufi believes such a move will help preventing hijackings, theft and crimes committed with stolen vehicles. More than 80% of major crimes in Gauteng are committed with stolen/hijacked vehicles or cars using falsified number plates.

GOVERNMENT TRIAL RUN

Upon the satisfactory completion of the trial run, the provincial department will roll out the new vehicle plates to the province. The only catch appears to be motorists will have to reregister their cars for the privilege, reports TopAuto. Current plate pricing in Gauteng of R160 is expected to increase to R320 for the new high-tech plate. “Wide-ranging consultations with all stakeholders are underway to ensure the rollout is implemented in a just and fair manner. Also, to ensure seamless implementation, manufacturers and retailers involved in the number plate value chain are required to register with the Department to comply with existing regulations,” said Diale-Tlabela.

Thus far, the province has said the 2024 Gauteng licence plates mean it can account for every vehicle registered. The new alphanumeric combination has not been revealed. However, it’s believe the current format (AA 11 AA GP) will not need to change because the combinations will last until 2038.

ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT NEW LICENCE PLATES?  

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NOTE: This is an updated article with the latest fuel projections

Both petrol and diesel are forecast to see decreases at the pumps early next month.

As reported by The South African website, there was welcome news earlier this month following a price decrease for both petrol and diesel.

Below, the latest projections as received by The South African website from the CEF, effective Thursday, 1 August.

If the market conditions were to remain consistent for the remainder of the month – an unlikely scenario with the rand/dollar exchange rate ever fluctuating and the oil price changing – a decrease of 10 cents is expected for petrol 93 octane motorists and a decrease of 15 cents for 95 users.

Meanwhile, diesel motorists would see something between a 16 cents per litre and an 27 cents per litre decrease.

Finally, illuminating paraffin is expected to decrease by 22 cents.

FUEL PRICE IN SOUTH AFRICA IMPACTED BY TWO MAIN FACTORS:

1. The international price of petroleum products, driven mainly by oil prices

2. The rand/dollar exchange rate used in the purchase of these products

Oil price

At the time of publishing the brent crude oil price is $77.37 a barrel.

Exchange rate

At the time of publishing the rand/dollar exchange rate is R18.15/$.

The final overall price changes for both petrol and diesel will be confirmed in the weeks ahead with the new prices coming into effect at midnight on Tuesday, 6 August.

Go easy on the accelerator until then, Mzansi.

The current JULY 2024 petrol and diesel prices (Inland and Coastal):

You see, the whole reason for our gathering at an exclusive racetrack in the Cape Winelands is to, in effect, wave goodbye to Jaguar’s supercharged V8. Because, like so many carmakers, Jaguar recently announced it was stopping ICE production in favour of an electric vehicle (EV) only lineup. Now, what does this mean in reality? Well, from 2025 onwards, you won’t be able to buy a new ICE car from Jaguar. And, of course, the British marque is working on a new range of exciting EVs to fill that void. However, if you own an ICE Jag you don’t need to worry. Because the firm’s extensive service network remains fully operational to care for your beloved long into the future.  

WAVE GOODBYE TO JAGUAR’S SUPERCHARGED V8

As we alight at the racetrack and are met with a range of Jaguar’s supercharged V8 F-Type Coupe and F-Pace SUV models, it feels a profoundly bittersweet moment. Another great sports car manufacture ditches ICE for EV. You can debate for ages if it’s the right decision, but so is the nature of forward progress that some things must simply come to end. Nothing lasts forever and, yes, it’s more fuel to the fire for those nostalgic types amongst us who only think in terms of ‘the good old days’. But, speaking pragmatically and considering the timing, Jaguar have absolutely nailed the switch!

Firstly, this year marks 75 years of Jaguar sports cars. Next, F-Type production will end exactly 50 years after its iconic forebear – the magnificent E-Type – also ended production. Look, it’s never easy to see one of your heroes retire. But better that they step away gracefully from the world stage on their terms, rather than suffer a slow decline into obscurity. And what a way to call it quits; with a couple of heart-pounding hot laps around a beautifully maintained racetrack.

SPECIAL EDITIONS AND FUTURE CLASSICS

Greeting us at the apron of the track is the very exclusive Jaguar F-Type ZP Edition. There are only 2 of the 150-unit worldwide production earmarked for Africa, and both are here on display. It gets the full-fat 423 kW and 700 Nm under the bonnet and the name recalls Jag’s race-winning Project ZP E-Types campaigned in international sports-car racing. The last of the breed, the ZP Edition is almost certainly going to become a future classic in years to come.

Next up is the really rather cool Jaguar F-Pace SVR 575 Edition 1988. What exactly is a 1988 Edition you might wonder? Well, back in ’88, Jag won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the XJR8, and that’s where the purple paintwork and gold rims come from. It also wears more aggressive front and rear bumpers that really look the part. However, mechanically, Jaguar’s supercharged V8 is unchanged. 575 refers to horsepower, which is 423 kW in local speak, and that ensures a zero to 100 km/h sprint in just 4.0 seconds flat. The F-Type P450 R75 Coupes also feature Jaguar’s supercharged V8, but with a de-powered 331 kW and 580 Nm of torque. Zero to 100 km/h is dispatched in 4.6 seconds and its performance is safely exploitable on a track.

GOING OUT ON A HIGH

The intoxicating recipe of Jaguar’s supercharged V8 will truly be missed when it’s gone: Garrulous sound teamed with ruthless, linear power delivery. Against the backdrop of the Winelands mountains, the F-Type Coupe’s classically correct long bonnet and stubby rear end seems even more arresting than usual. One of the maddest cars I have ever driven was the original Jaguar F-Type V8 Roadster.

Nothing prepared you for the almost obnoxiously load exhaust noise, and its insane crackles and bangs on the overrun. Over the years, however, Jaguar’s supercharged V8 has mellowed into a more refined unit. Likewise, the Coupe was reinforced to be stiffer and more rigid. This makes it just perfect for on-track performance. And all remaining models have gained all-wheel drive so you can exploit every inch of performance on offer. And the tyre-slaying, rear-wheel drifting shenanigans of yore are a thing of the past.

FULL-THROTTLE EVENT

It’s a very chilly winter’s morning in the Cape Winelands and, needless to say, I’m weary of overdriving these late-model performance cars on a relatively unfamiliar racetrack. Nevertheless, as the infield section unfurls, the unrelenting shunt from Jaguar’s supercharged V8 barrels us down the long straight at a tremendous rate of knots. And to an awe-inspiring soundtrack as ever. The genius of Jaguar’s supercharged V8 is that, even with a mountain of torque at your disposal, it still wants you to chase the game all the way to the redline to exploit maximum power.

Trust me, going full throttle in Jaguar’s supercharged V8 is a genuine event. And the sharp throttle response means it’s a venture not to be undertaken on impulse alone. We continue the lap and skip along up the hill, through a series of quick corners that can almost be straight-lined. However, you need to wait for the car to settle through each direction change before squeezing the throttle and slacking off any lateral force through the steering. And before you know it, you’re into the cool-down zone and the last hurrah is over.

THE VERDICT

Following a series of hot laps in both the F-Type and F-Pace ICE models, there’s an opportunity to end proceedings in the award-winning I-Pace EV. We know this car well, the talisman that broke new ground for EV acceptance around the world. It completes the Winelands course quickly and silently. Although a little dulled by the weight, in many ways, EVs are still brilliantly effective on a track.

Moreover, the instant throttle response from the electric drivetrain, super precise torque vectoring and balanced chassis can all be easily exploited with a bit of familiarisation. As JLR begins to reimagine itself as a new sustainable premium brand of the future, it’s on-going strategic involvement in Formula E racing with the I-Type makes all the sense in the world. Having won the teams’ championship in 2024, now is as good a time as any for Jaguar to capitalise on its mastery and elevate electric mobility yet again.

WILL YOU MISS JAGUAR’S VISCERAL V8?

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Alas, such is the Pavlovian way when we analyse most Chinese vehicles, we must compare styling to offerings from Europe, America and Japan. We want to see what’s been copied from other manufacturers rather than celebrate what’s distinctive. But the 2024 Omoda C5 GT covers itself in glory as far as sheer audacity and uniqueness goes. This crossover looks like nothing else on the road and is lathered with plenty of tasteful touches. As a result, it is a highly appealing car that garners plenty of attention wherever it goes.

2024 OMODA C5 GT 1.6 TDGI

Underpinned by a lightweight modular platform, the 2024 Omoda C5 GT tips the scales at just 1 500 kg. Its 2 630 mm wheelbase is comparable with everything else in class and translates into a spacious cabin for all passengers. Luggage capacity of 378 litres turns into a decently cavernous 1 075 litres of utility space with the rear seats stowed. Furthermore, taking in the C5 GT’s slick interior layout, it’s easy to detect a European influence in its execution. You’d be forgiven for detecting a soupcon of elements from other premium vehicles. Specifically, the tiered facia and twin digital instrument clusters. Material quality is, by and large, impressive with plenty of stitched leather, padded trim sections and gloss-black plastic. The sports seats of the 2024 Omoda C5 GT are particularly impressive – good looking and comfortable.

Given that the 2024 Omoda C5 GT is the range-topping model, its digital instrument display is flanked by a crisp 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. And while there’s a wealth of configurability, the operating system is not as intuitive as those of the rivals this car tries to emulate. Some settings live within sub-menus of menus that aren’t as easily accessible as they could be. Likewise, the lane-assistance display in the instrument binnacle will override the trip computer if and when it detects another car ahead. Thus necessitating you to swat it aside with a stab on the thumbwheel to return the aforementioned trip data. Fortunately, the system is quick, and its climate control uses haptic shortcut keys on the facia, which lends itself to ease of use on the move.

ON THE WAY UP

Speaking of on the move, the 2024 Omoda C5 GT is an eager performer. Power is provided by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine that develops a hearty 145 kW and 290 Nm of torque. Coupled with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, it completes the zero to 100 km/h sprint in a hot-hatch-bothering 7.65 seconds. The drivetrain does feel somewhat laggy at takeoff from low revs though. Invariably, right up until you give it more throttle and one of the front wheels spins up, before the traction control must intervene. A subtle recalibration of the low-down throttle response wouldn’t go amiss to smooth out any occasional sluggishness.

In the past, Chinese-derived powerplants have come in for criticism for being too thirsty. But we’re happy to report that the 2024 Omoda C5 GT’s turbo unit manages to sidestep this. It’s certainly quick but it also returned an entirely reasonable 8.2 l/100 km during the course of our test, even if that’s not as low as the claimed 6.8 l/100 km. Handling-wise, the C5 GT does little wrong. The steering is on the light side, with a soft suspension setup that does well to iron out road-surface imperfections.

THE VERDICT

So, is it a pass mark for the 2024 Omoda C5 GT? Well, in a market such as ours – where a reputation for Quality, Dependability and Reliability (QDR) is paramount to buyers – the Chinese are countering with generous standard specification and a competitive asking price. However, given the quality of the C5 GT’s execution, at a mere R589 000, it genuinely offers superb value for money. The 2024 Omoda C5 GT is evidence that the company can deliver a healthy degree of substance to go with its head-turning styling. Yes, some of the tech interfaces are a little fiddly and the drivetrain needs finessing, but the broad strokes of what makes a good car are all here, and there’s no denying the fantastic value proposition it represents.

THE FIGURES

• 2024 Omoda C5 GT 1.6 TGDI
• Engine: 1.6-litre turbo petrol
• Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
• Power: 145 kW
• Torque: 290 Nm
• 0-100 km/h: 7.65 seconds
• Top speed: unknown
• Tyres: Apollo 215/55 R18
• Consumption: 8.2 l/100 km (tested) / 6.8 l/100 km (claimed/combined)
• Price: R589 000

If you enjoyed this car review, click HERE for more from The South African.

The 29-year-old Spaniard will leave Ferrari at the end of the 2024 campaign after seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was announced as his replacement at the Italian giants earlier this year.

Sainz has won three F1 races so far in his career, the most recent at the Australian Grand Prix in March.

Having previously driven for Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren, Sainz had been linked with several teams for the 2025 season including Alpine, Sauber and Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz will replace Logan Sargeant

But on Monday it was confirmed he had agreed an initial two-year deal at Williams, with an option to extend.

“I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards,” Sainz said in a team statement.

“It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and that it has taken me some time to announce my decision.”

He added: “However, I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport.

“The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity.”

Carlos Sainz will replace Logan Sargeant at Williams, where he will partner Alex Albon.

Struggled in recent seasons

Founded in 1977 by the late Frank Williams, the team have won nine F1 Constructors’ Championships and seven drivers’ titles, with Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve all crowned world champion while at Williams.

But Williams have struggled in recent seasons and last took a podium finish in 2021, while their last race victory came via Pastor Maldonado’s shock win back at the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.

“Carlos joining Williams is a strong statement of intent from both parties,” said Williams team principal James Vowles.

“Carlos has demonstrated time and again that he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, with race-winning pedigree, and this underlines the upwards trajectory we are on.”

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

The 26-year-old British driver won the race but was later disqualified after his Mercedes was found to be underweight following the conclusion of the Grand Prix. Hamilton, who finished second, was promoted to first place after his teammate was disqualified.

Russell had taken victory following a one-stop strategy, which saw him nurse his hard tyres to the chequered flag. The two-time F1 winner also had to hold off Hamilton in the dying stages to win the race however his celebration was short-lived. A Technical Delegate’s Report released after the race stated that, while the car had initially been found to be compliant with the minimum weight of 798kg, 2.8 litres of fuel were then removed.

Hamilton wins his 105 race, Russell disqualified

“The car was not fully drained according to the draining procedure submitted by the team in their legality documents as TR Article 6.5.2 is fulfilled,” the report read.

Afrer the Belgian GP, Hamilton said he was disappointed that the team lost out on a 1-2 finish.

“It is of course disappointing for the team to lose the 1-2 but there are lots of positives to take away”

 “The car was feeling good, and we had much better pace than we expected. There were several cars that seemed similar in terms of performance but once we had got ahead, we were able to maintain that position.”

Hamilton was unhappy initially after Mercedes kept Russell out for a one-stop.

“We committed to the two-stop strategy and covered those directly behind us,” he said.

“George was able to make the one-stop work and, although I got close to him in the final few laps, I was unable to get past in the dirty air.”

“I feel for George, and you don’t want to win a race through a disqualification, but we have been back in the fight for victories in the past few races.”

Russell’s punishment sees Hamilton promoted to P1, Oscar Piastri takes P2 and Charles Leclerc moves up to P3.

Leclerc will start Sunday’s race from pole position as he did in 2023 with Sergio Perez alongside him in the second Red Bull, the Mexican having ended a nightmare run of qualifying failures amid reports that his future with the team is at risk.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth for Mercedes and will share the second row of the grid with McLaren’s Lando Norris, who qualified fifth ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri and George Russell in the second Mercedes.

Carlos Sainz was eighth in the second Ferrari in front of compatriot and two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Esteban Ocon of Alpine and Alex Albon of Williams – who will be 10th on the grid ahead of Verstappen.

The race will start at 15:00 (SA time).

As a reminder, the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez in second place.

Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari took third place.

GRID FOR THE BELGIAN GRAND PRIX:

Front row

Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)

Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)

2nd row

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)

Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren)

3rd row

Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)

George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)

4th row

Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)

5th row

Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine)

Alex Albon (THA/Williams)

6th row

Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine)

7th row

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/RB)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber)

8th row

Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)

Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas)

9th row

Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)

Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams)

10th row

Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber)

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/RB)

The Volkswagen-backed German automaker became a 100% owner of the Swiss Sauber team earlier this year. It has also rearranged its massive GT3 racing programme and shutdown an exciting Le Mans Prototype project in lieu of racing in F1. However, its official 2026 emergence as a works team has been struck by rumours of an internal Audi F1 power struggle.

AUDI F1 POWER STRUGGLE

Sauber Chief Executive and Chairman Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffman, respectively, have been ousted by Audi CEO Gernot Dollner. “It’s a very big deal; changing major personnel even before the start of the on-track programme is very interesting,” says Ralf Schumacher. 

Some think Audi made the decision because of in-fighting between the Seidl and Hoffman. And Sauber has languished and stagnated at the very bottom of the 2024 standings … not even a scoring a single point in 2024 so far.

BUDGET ISSUES

However, Schumacher believes the Audi F1 power struggle had Seidl operating with one hand behind his back. “The Audi project was actually on the brink of collapse because there was a small calculation error amounting to 1 billion Euros. The team had to be refinanced because no money was coming in. That’s why the decision was made to keep pay-driver Zhou Guanyu on to get money,” speculated Schumacher.

“As a result, nothing could really happen. They couldn’t hire any people and couldn’t offer any prospects. So, they just let the whole thing run as it was before. With all the sympathy I have for the team, a lot of things have to change at Sauber. And Seidl was fighting with blunt weapons,” Schumacher said.

BINOTTO HIRE

However, the good news is that the project has at least managed to gain an experienced man in former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto as a result of the in-fighting. “They just have to be aware that in Formula 1, constant personnel changes is not a good thing. It’s not a big car corporation – it’s a Formula 1 team. Binotto is certainly someone who can do a good job, but it’s also a huge task for him,” said Schumacher.

Another silver lining amid the Audi F1 power struggle is that Binotto gets along very well with the driver they’ve been trying to hire all year, Carlos Sainz Jr. But then again, so did Seidl, from his days racing with Sainz at McLaren. “Maybe the Sainz camp demanded certain personnel be hired and fired within Audi? The two know each other from Ferrari days and really enjoyed working together,” concluded Schumacher. – with GMM

DO YOU THINK AUDI F1 CAN GET IT TOGETHER IN TIME?

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As the season continues at a hundred miles per hour, the next battle will take place at the Spar-Francorchamps circuit on Sunday, 28 July.

The lights will go out at 15:00 (SA time).

As a reminder, the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez in second place.

Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari took third place.

BELGIAN GRAND PRIX TIMES

All times SA

Friday, 26 July

Practice 1: 13:30 – 14:30

Practice 2: 17:00 – 18:00

Saturday, 27 July

Practice 3: 12:30 – 13:30

Qualifying: 16:00 – 17:00

Sunday, 28 July

Main race: 15:00

Updated standings

Drivers

Constructors

The leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) said in a tweet that he has initiated discussions with key stakeholders, emphasising that his tenure would be a “failure” if he doesn’t succeed in bringing the sport back to Mzansi after what is already a 31-year absence.

Plenty of speculation

In response to a tweet by @martinaude, McKenzie revealed that the first meeting is scheduled for the end of August this year in Monaco.

@martinaude wrote: “@GaytonMcK as sports minister, can we try and get the the @F1 to finally come back to South Africa??”

To which Gayton McKenzie replied: “I have set up meetings with relevant people already, my term will be a failure if I don’t bring one of the biggest sporting tourist events to South Africa which is F1. Our first meeting is end of August in Monaco.”

There have been plenty of speculation in recent years regarding Formula One returning to South Africa – without anything transpiring.

South Africa is not on the 2024 Formula One calendar, nor will it feature on next season’s.

The last race at Kyalami was in March 1993

The 1993 South African Grand Prix was held at Kyalami on 14 March 1993.

It was the 33rd South African Grand Prix – and remains the most recent to have been staged on the African continent.

The race was the first of the 1993 F1 season and was contested over 72 laps and was won from pole position by French legend Alain Prost driving a Williams-Renault.

The Patriotic Alliance has stated that they are planning discussions with key stakeholders. He emphasised that his tenure as sports minister would be incomplete without bringing one of the world’s premier sporting events to South Africa.

Gayton McKenzie disclosed that the first meeting is scheduled for the end of August when Formula 1 returns after the summer break.

McKenzie to bring Formula One to South Africa in the next few years?

“I have set up meetings with relevant people already; my term will be a failure if I don’t bring one of the biggest sporting tourist events to South Africa, which is F1. Our first meeting is end of August in Monaco,” he said in a tweet.

In recent years, it was speculated that F1 might return to the Kyalami racetrack replacing Spa, Belgium. According to reports, plans to have Formula 1 back to SA were cancelled due to the South African government’s diplomatic relations with Russia.

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton said his dream was to race in South Africa before he retires.

 “I’m working in the background to get South Africa on the race [calendar].

“That’s like such a dream for me; I’ve got to stay until they get that race,” he said.

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told Sky Sports said there was a possibility to bring a race to Africa and not just South Africa.

“We need to make sure when we do something new, that it has to be with the right partners and be stable fundamentals to stay longer.

“The only thing that I can say that after the first contact with Kyalami is that there are other places in Africa that are interested on Formula One.

“That’s a very clear target: Africa will come back and hopefully very soon on our calendar.”

The South African Grand Prix at Kyalami was once a regular event on the Formula 1 calendar but has not hosted a race since 1993.

Interestingly, reflectors and chevrons are proven to increase average speeds on roads. As does smooth, new tarmac, as does well sign-posted sections warning motorists of conditions ahead. The absolute perfect example of what these studies talk about is the newly refurbished Bainskloof Pass outside Wellington. Bainskloof Pass was originally opened to the public in 1853. It cost £50 000 to build some 170-years ago. An unthinkable cost back then, equivalent to R133 million in today’s money. Now, the pass has been refurbished yet again by the Western Cape Government at a cost R317 million.

ROAD SAFETY

Thomas Bains’ original Magna opus to road building was blown out of sheer rock-face with tons of dynamite. And reputedly took the lives of tens of Prisoners of War (POWs) who built it – it’s no wonder it has a reputation of being intimidating. However, 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line or not, the vast majority of motorists don’t even consider it a viable thoroughfare over the mountains anymore. And, when you think about it, how safe is a road that’s reputation is so intimidating that you won’t even drive it? That’s the very definition of ‘safe’. You can’t crash off the side of Bainskloof Pass if you decided to take the Huguenot Tunnel instead.

This recent upgrade, however, means you might once again consider using it. And, if you do, you’ll be going faster on it than ever before because it’s absolutely wonderful. Very fast at the base on the Wellington side through the forest, with all its shiny, smooth bitumen. Big, new concrete crash structures halfway up the pass as you clear the tree line will massage your ego, egg you on to go that little bit faster. And by the time you reach the lookout point and start your descent you’ll be blown away by the work that’s gone into this feat of civil engineering. On the down run towards Ceres, however, you will encounter the infamous ‘Bain’s tombstones’, as they’re known. These used to be the only thing separating a motorist from the precipitous valley below. Instantly, I guarantee you’ll slow your pace down. You so, easier is faster, difficult is safer. That’s the strange dichotomy of road safety in action.

2024 KIA SELTOS GT-LINE

In practice, the new Kia Seltos GT-Line is the best possible proponent of this point. And don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying the refreshingly sprightly 1.5-litre T-GDI is fast and easy, and therefore unsafe. Nope. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m saying that by the same rationale, its fresh turn of speed only adds to an already stellar list of active and passive safety features. Sure, there’s the obvious stuff like six airbags, traction control and ABS brakes with EBD.

However, the active, semi-autonomous driver aids available on this relatively middling family crossover are incredible for the money. We’re talking about adaptive cruise control to pace you with the car ahead. Active steering to keep you in your lane at all times. And blindspot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, so you’re as aware of what’s happening behind you as you are in front. Best of all, these systems are calibrated brilliantly. They work just as well as they might in a million-Rand-plus premium car.

QUICK STICKS

Then we get to the 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line and its surprising turn of speed. The 1.5-litre T-GDI-equipped crossover gets from A to B quick enough that it doesn’t just massage your ego. Flick the drive mode rotor in the centre console into Sport and you’re all of a sudden in a world of sharp steering and darting throttle response. Zero to 100 km/h comes up in 8.9 seconds – which officially classifies it as quick. Anything faster than a 9.0-second sprint to 100 km/h earns that right.

While throttle and transmission response can be a tad jerky at town speeds, in Sport, acceleration is at least immediate and effective. This latest engine from the Korean firm powered by fossil fuels only makes an impressive 118 kW and 253 Nm of torque. Also, it must have a big fuel tank because it claims a cruising range of 800 km even as my average fuel consumption settled on 8.0 l/100 km for the trip (not the 6.2 l/100 km as claimed). I have no doubt if you leave it in Eco mode you could pull overall consumption closer to claimed. But it’s such a hoot to drive.

THE VERDICT

As the 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line ticks itself cool at the summit of Bainskloof Pass, overlooking the picturesque town of Wellington and beyond, I return to my musings on road safety. In 1949, Du Toit’s Kloof Pass near Paarl became the new preferred route to connect the Western Cape to the interior. And again, in 1988, the Huguenot Tunnel surpassed even that. As a result, Bainskloof may seem like a relic left in the wake of modernity’s inscrutable progress.

But it’s so much more than that. It’s a road that doesn’t wrap you in kid gloves, hide you away from the action and tell you everything’s going to be okay. Much like the 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line, it has all the latest safety gubbins, but it keeps you involved in the process. Your mind is clear and you’re not distracted by anything else. That makes it safer than all the chevrons, cat’s eyes and smooth tarmac in the world. I highly recommend taking a drive out to Wellington the next time you can to experience this wonderfully engineering piece of road.

THE FIGURES

• 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.5 T-GDI
• Engine: 1.5-litre turbo petrol
• Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
• Power: 118 kW
• Torque: 253 Nm
• 0-100 km/h: 8.9 seconds
• Top speed: 195 km/h
• Tyres: JK Tyre 215/55 R18
• Consumption: 8.0 l/100 km (tested) / 6.2 l/100 km (claimed/combined)
• Price: R626 995

If you enjoyed this car review, click HERE for more from The South African.

“This has to end. I’m sorry. He should really be put out of his misery. Red Bull has access to so many drivers. How long can they continue to subject themselves to this and lose championship points?” said former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher on Sky Germany. 

RED BULL COULD AXE PEREZ

It’s an enormous blow for the 34-year-old Mexican who already knew how important the Hungary-Belgium double-header was. The summer break is allegedly the trigger point for all the performance clauses in his contract. “He had a very strong Friday, said Red Bull’s Dr. Helmut Marko. “Unfortunately, he then had his big accident in qualifying. We stick to what we decided earlier. We will assess him here and in the race in Belgium next week. Then we will discuss together what will happen during the summer break.”

Even team boss Christian Horner, who has defiantly defended Perez, appears to have run out of patience. “I’ve shown myself to be very patient, but this was really the last thing he and the team needed. Checo was going much too fast for the conditions. As a driver, he has better information than we do about how heavy the rain is. He can see the drops on his visor. We will debrief within the team and not through the press, but it is quite obvious that we cannot run on one leg,” said Horner.

TWO-YEAR CONTRACT CAN BE BROKEN

Perez was re-signed for 2025 and 2026 recently, not only for his harmonious relationship with Max Verstappen but also with millions in Mexican sponsorship behind him. “In the end, it’s all about performance. That’s true in every sport, but especially in Formula 1. I don’t want to go into details about contracts. There will be a meeting after Spa to discuss the whole problem … because it is a problem. Luckily Max is strong enough to be able to fight alone, but in terms of strategy it would have helped to have a second car at the front,” added Marko.

Should Red Bull axe Perez in the second half of the season, the contender in pole position for the seat is reserve driver Liam Lawson. Another possible replacement is that of Daniel Ricciardo or Yuki Tsunoda, with Lawson slotting in at RB instead. When asked if RB’s driver lineup will still be the same after the summer break, team CEO Peter Bayer answered: “It’s not set in stone. We’ll sit down with Dr. Helmut Marko during the summer break and discuss everything.” – with GMM

SHOULD RED BULL AXE PEREZ?

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The drivers’ championship leader and three-time world champion crashed into Hamilton on lap 63 of the 70-lap race.

Verstappen, 26, then remonstrated on team radio and was told not to “be childish” by his race engineer.

The Dutch driver was summoned to the stewards office to explain his part in the accident, but no further action was taken by the officials.

Verstappen had ranted in a series of radio messages, many including profanities, about his car, strategy and the accident that most observers promptly said was his fault.

When Verstappen blamed Hamilton for the collision, by moving in his ‘braking zone’, his normally mild-mannered engineer Gianpiero Lambiase replied angrily.

“I am not even going to get into a radio fight with the other teams, Max,” he said.

“We’ll let the stewards do their thing. It’s childish on the radio, childish.”

Verstappen defended his behaviour.

“I don’t know why people think that you can’t be vocal on a radio,” he said.

“This is a sport and if some people don’t like that – then stay home,” he added.

‘Racing incident’

This came after a series of notable incidents involving Verstappen, all of which suggested he and Red Bull are struggling with the pressure as McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari close down their performance and points advantage.

Oscar Piastri won the race ahead of McLaren team-mate Lando Norris with Hamilton finishing third, leaving Verstappen and Red Bull without a win in three races and with three wins in their last eight.

Verstappen, who was briefly airborne after crashing into Hamilton as he attempted to launch his car down the inside at Turn One, was in defiant mood.

“I went for a move that was fully on, but when I was in the middle of the braking zone and already committed, he keeps warping right,” he said.

“If I hadn’t turned while braking straight, I would have made contact with him.”

Max Verstappen’s lead cut

Told of Verstappen’s explanation after the race, Hamilton smiled.

“Ultimately, I think he was much quicker. I moved a little to defend and I left enough space on the inside and he locked up and then obviously couldn’t turn.

“So he came under a different trajectory and he clipped my wheel.

“I saw him coming from a long way back and he was able to brake a lot later than me, but he sent it up the inside.

“I stayed still and he clipped the wheel and went over so I think a racing incident,” he added.

Verstappen’s advantage was trimmed to 76 by Norris.

His Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez finished seventh after starting from 16th on the grid 24 hours after team boss Christian Horner had lambasted him for his fourth Q1 exit in seven qualifying sessions, adding “you can’t win a race on one leg”.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

Red Bull’s three-time champion Max Verstappen had to settle for third and the second row in the tense wet-dry qualifying

The 24-year-old Briton, who is 84 points behind Verstappen in this year’s title race, clocked a best lap in one minute and 15.227 seconds to outpace the Australian by 0.022 seconds.

Verstappen was three-hundredths of a second adrift in third ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who leaves the team at the end of the year, and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, who will replace him.

Charles Leclerc, in the second Ferrari was sixth ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso and his Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll and the RBs of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda, who had survived a high-speed crash earlier in Q3.

The race will start at 15:00 (SA time).

As a reminder, the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with Lando Norris in his McLaren in second place.

Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull took third place.

GRID FOR THE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX:

Front row

Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren)

Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)

2nd row

Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)

3rd row

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)

Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)

4th row

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)

Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)

5th row

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/RB)

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/RB)

6th row

Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber)

7th row

Alex Albon (THA/Williams)

Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams)

8th row

Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)

Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)

9th row

George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)

Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber)

10th row

Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine)

Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine)

As the season heads into its second half, the next battle will take place at the Hungaroring in Hungary on Sunday, 21 July.

The lights will go out at 15:00 (SA time).

As a reminder, the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with Lando Norris in his McLaren in second place.

Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull took third place.

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX TIMES

All times SA

Friday, 19 July

Practice 1: 13:30 – 14:30

Practice 2: 17:00 – 18:00

Saturday, 20 July

Practice 3: 12:30 – 13:30

Qualifying: 16:00 – 17:00

Sunday, 21 July

Main race: 15:00

Updated standings

Drivers

Constructors

“The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything,” he wrote below an Instagram photograph of himself and another man with their arms around each other watching a sunset over the ocean.

According to Reuters, the only other known male gay driver in the history of Formula One was the late Briton Mike Beuttler who raced from 1971 to 1973 and died in 1988.

Ralf Schumacher, 49, won six grands prix in an 11 year career that ended in 2007. He competed in 180 races and secured 27 podium finishes.

He currently spends a large part of the year living in Cape Town.

Ralf Schumacher was married for 14 years

In October 2001 he married Cora-Caroline Brinkmann, a former model, in a private ceremony at their home in Hallwang, Austria.

Later the same year the couple’s son, David, who is now a racing driver currently competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters with Mercedes-AMG team Winward, was born.

The couple divorced in 2015.

Commenting on his father’s Instagram post, 22-year-old David said: “I am very happy that you have finally found someone with whom you really feel that you feel very comfortable and secure, no matter if [it is] a man or a woman, I am 100% behind you dad and wish you all the best and congratulations.”

According to Sky News, Carmen Geiss, a German TV personality, businesswomen and friend of Schumacher, named his partner as Etienne and published a photograph of the couple on her own Instagram account.

“Today he confessed his homosexuality,” she said of Ralf Schumacher.

“This step was an act of liberation and self-acceptance for him. It was a courageous decision that has matured in him for a long time and one he is now full of pride and confidence.

“His outing is not only a personal triumph but a sign that he is finally able to live and love his true identity without fear or shame.”

Team Principal and CEO, Christian Horner, Group Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey and Red Bull Advanced Technologies Technical Director, Rob Gray launched the finished product at last.

Red Bull Hypercar and evolution for racing team

Designed by Adrian Newey and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the RB17 builds on the 20 years of innovation in Formula One that has resulted in Oracle Red Bull Racing winning six Constructors’ titles. The RB17 features a two-seater carbon fibre monocoque chassis. It has a semi-stressed mid-mounted naturally aspirated V10 engine that is red-lined at 15,000 rpm.

A carbon fibre gearbox transfers power to the rear wheels. Weighing under 900 kg and with more than 1,200 HP, the RB17 delivers F1-equivalent lap times and top speeds in excess of 350 kph, while remaining easy to own and operate.

From developing the initial concept through to the delivery of the finished RB17 to customers, Red Bull Advanced Technologies is responsible for the entire process of designing and building the Hypercar, of which there are only 50 that will be sold.

A range of track events will give owners the opportunity to experience some of the world’s greatest circuits.

One-of-a-kind driver development and tailoring of the car to suit individual driver’s needs is part of the unique experience. Each RB17 will be bespoke, with customers able to specify everything from the exterior paint colour to interior materials and a whole host of smaller details.

What they said

Christian Horner, Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO said: “We are excited to reveal the RB17 at Goodwood Festival of Speed, a project that is one of the most authentic and exciting that Red Bull Advanced Technologies has embarked upon to date.

He also said: “With 20 years of legacy in the world of F1 to draw from, and as a performance centred organisation, it only made sense for us to design our own Hypercar from the ground up. Combining technical innovation, achievement and emotional appeal, the RB17 is a landmark car.

“I’m very proud of the Team and am delighted to see it make its world debut.

“We expect the RB17 to be a future classic.”

Adrian Newey, Group Chief Technical Officer also commented: “I had been mulling around the idea to take on the challenge to design our very own Hypercar, from concept to delivery, for many years and it has been a magnificent project and journey. For it to finally be the day we pull the covers off and see the birth of the RB17, is truly remarkable.

“The RB17 Hypercar embraces everything we stand for: undeniable power, speed and beauty.

“It is very adaptable in its abilities, and we made sure to design it as a two seater so that the thrill of driving at F1 speeds can be enjoyed with a friend or partner.”

Rob Gray, Red Bull Advanced Technologies Technical Director said: “The RB17 is an amazing project that we are privileged to work on, and has allowed Red Bull Advanced Technologies to showcase our engineering, design, and technical capabilities and solutions. We cannot wait to see the finished cars being enjoyed to the full on a racetrack by racing and automotive enthusaists alike.”

Are you a Red Bull fan?

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Even Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko had to admit after the chequered flag that Hamilton fully deserved to win after a three-year drought. “You could see his strength in terms of tyre management compared to Lando. And that shows how much experience and speed he still has.”

NORRIS IS NOT READY

As for third-placed Norris (24), he could not hide his disgust immediately after the Silverstone race. He pointed his finger at McLaren for “not doing quite the job we should have” with key strategic choices. But when asked if he was personally ready to consistently beat the likes of Hamilton and Verstappen, Norris admitted: “I don’t know, I’m not making the right decisions. I blame myself for not making the right decisions. I hate ending in this position and forever having excuses for not doing a good enough job,” said the Briton.

Former F1 driver Christijan Albers believes Norris is not ready to take the fight to the likes of Max and Lewis consistently. He says the decisive involvement in key strategic choices by Verstappen and Hamilton on Sunday was the ‘key difference’ in the result. “They just decide. Norris is a mega-talent that’s beyond dispute. But he just doesn’t have the same level of thinking and feeling as Lewis and Max at this stage. He’s definitely not at that level yet. He makes a lot of mistakes, and he wasn’t consistent,” concluded Albers.

IMMATURITY

Another ex-F1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, thinks McLaren’s return to top-team status after a fallow period is demonstrating its immaturity. “It’s a question of mutual assistance between driver and team. The driver and the team have to exchange information. But it didn’t happen well on Sunday. And it shows that Norris is not ready for such a fight yet,” said the ex-F1 driver. “He is also still very young. We saw how angry he was with himself, with the bad decisions he and his engineer made. And yes, those moments are part of the growth process towards being a success,” concluded Schumacher. – with GMM

IS NORRIS READY TO FIGHT FOR A TITLE?

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Hamilton was seen crying on his father’s shoulder after winning at Silverstone on Sunday afternoon. This was the 39-year-old’s first win since 2021. Although the British driver had won 103 Formula One races before Sunday’s race, he was never seen emotional after all his wins up until Sunday’s win.

Lewis Hamilton took the lead for the second time in the race in the latter stages. A slow pitstop from McLaren allowed the seven-time F1 champion to take the lead with 12 laps remaining. Anthony Hamilton, who has been his son’s manager for many years, told the media after the race that Lewis had everything under control.

“He was never going to give that up,” Anthony Hamilton told Sky Sports.

“You just had to watch the times. It was a tenth here, a tenth there… It didn’t matter what was happening. Lewis was in full control.”

Lewis Hamilton finally wins a race

“There was absolutely no way, with that current tyre and the tyres that he had underneath him, that he was going to allow that win to slip for the British public. And that’s what drove him on,” he said.

Lewis Hamilton qualified second behind his teammate George Russell but many felt he had the best chance to end his winless streak.

“At the end of the day, Lewis was second yesterday and he was disappointed in himself, he could have done better after qualifying. “He goes home, refocuses and comes back; we know that he has calculated everything.”

Hamilton holds Max Verstappen to win his first race in two years

Having won Sunday’s race, Lewis Hamilton became the first F1 driver to win a race after 300 starts.

Now a smooth, wide Class-3 Tarmac road, many won’t even remember the perilous Class-4 gravel route it used to be just a few years ago … so convincing is the transformation. Not only does Shaw’s Pass offer a shorter, just-as-efficient alternative to the bustling R43 to Hermanus, but it has unlocked massive economic potential for local farmers and tourism. It’s the perfect weekend journey in the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium. A crossover which, in many ways, takes over the mantle in South Africa of the compact Fiesta. But offers upgraded practicality for discerning modern-day buyers.

FORD PUMA 1.0 TITANIUM

From the well-appointed cabin of the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium, the R559 900 asking price seems worth every penny in today’s money. Especially as I deftly navigate a series of inviting switchbacks at the crest of Shaw’s Pass and dip down into the Hemel and Aarde Valley, we’ve travelled so long to reach. This relatively new road is a piece of civil engineering like no other. Apparently, due to the Overberg’s notoriously high rainfall, construction was delayed some 118 days, with only 4.3 km of the total 16 km completed. In the end, construction lasted some 55 months and cost the Cape Overstrand Municipality the princely sum of R240 million.

The road is a worthy match for our Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium (the higher spec is called an ST Line-Vignale). Because I’ve already learned a few crucial things about this inched-up crossover. Its build quality and Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) reduction are second to none in this sector. An 8-inch central touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital driver cluster are pin-sharp and easy to decipher. There is precious little wind bluster or road noise in the cabin on coarse bitumen. And, thanks to selectable drive modes – Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Trail are your lot – it is more adaptable and engaging than any car of this ilk.

HEAVENLY HEMEL AND AARDE VALLEY

Part of the reason for our weekend adventure to the Hemel and Aarde Valley in the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium is to explore the area’s highlights. The first port of call is Creation Wines at the foot of the Babylon Toren Mountains. It’s too early for a wine-tasting and tapas-style lunch, but they do serve breakfast and can even pair wine with it if you must. Another must-visit in the valley is Ataraxia Wines. Gorgeously positioned high up on the mountainside, there’s a one-of-a-kind chapel-like tasting room that, yes, is available for weddings too. And, if your thirst for the fine wines of the region is still not slaked, pull into the famil- run Newton Johnson estate and Bouchard Finlayson on the Hermanus Side of the R320. The latter is one of the most celebrated boutique wine estates in the country, with its unique terroir that benefits from a cooling ocean breeze, bringing extra zest to the grapes.

SMOOTH OPERATOR

However, as designated driver, of course, I’m solely occupied with the punchy 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and buttery-smooth seven-speed automatic gearbox. By the time the ribbon-like Shaw’s Pass straightens and flattens near Hermanus, I’ve found a specific rhythm with the car … It’s safe to say we’ve ‘clicked’. The Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium’s motive force is 92 kW and 170 Nm, with an anvil-flat torque peak between 1 400-4 500 r/min. In this sector, its pace, refinement and economy are all you’ll ever need. Claimed/combined consumption is 5.3 l/100 km, however, in the real world you can expect closer to 6.3 l/100 km, which is still a mighty fine figure. Its zero to 100 km/h sprint comes up in a reliable 9.5 seconds, which comfortably qualifies it as non-ponderous. That fate befalls cars that are 10 seconds and over.

We so enjoyed the drivability of the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium that we turned around and made another pass of, well, the pass. Although it doesn’t look it, the Puma’s ground clearance is 164 mm and the wheels are pushed far out to the corners, so there are few scenarios that will catch the chassis out. At the top of the pass again, the silence is almost deafening. There’s a 30-hectare reserve on the slopes of Shaw’s Mountain to preserve the area’s endangered fynbos. And the widened road has opened up the valley into the most beautiful vista imaginable. It’s the type of view that leaves you wondering: “How have I not seen this so vividly before?” Ultimately, that’s how we view the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium, too. A crossover with a fresh perspective on life.

THE VERDICT

Don’t forget that Ford Motor Company created a World Rally Championship (WRC) programme around the Puma. Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday vibes. That, all of a sudden, explains why the Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium feels the way it does. Small, nimble, perky and agile. It’s not just another mass-produced commodity car like so many out there. Active safety systems and semi-autonomous driver aids on this (effectively) entry-level Titanium-spec model are the sort usually reserved for top-of-the-range offerings. Automatic lights, wipers, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, active-lane keeping assistance and active steering. It’s absolutely brilliant for the money.

THE FIGURES

• Ford Puma 1.0 Titanium
• Engine: 1.0-litre turbo petrol
• Transmission: 7-spd dual-clutch auto
• Power: 92 kW
• Torque: 170 Nm
• 0-100 km/h: 9.5 seconds
• Top speed: 200 km/h
• Tyres: Goodyear 215/55 R17
• Consumption: 6.3 l/100 km (tested) / 5.3 l/100 km (claimed/combined)
• Price: R559 900

Some leaving, some expanding

South Africa’s automotive industry is one of the country’s largest economic sectors, contributing 4.3% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to Business Tech.

Several global car manufacturers have expanded their business in South Africa over the past few years.

BMW announced that it will exclusively manufacture the next-generation BMW X3 at its Rosslyn plant in Pretoria.

Others have invested significantly in their local manufacturing operations, e.g. Ford invested R15.8 billion. Toyota invested R6.1 billion to expand the production of its Hilux and Fortuner models at its plant in Durban.

Beijing Automobile International Corporation invested R11 billion in a vehicle manufacturing plant.

Which cars are SA’s top sellers?

Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan, and Ford sell the most cars in South Africa.

According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) June 2024 vehicle sales report Toyota sold 9 743 cars in the country and Volkswagen sold 5 514.

The most popular vehicle in South Africa is the Toyota Hilux, followed by the Ford Ranger and the Toyota Corolla Cross.

Why did some car brands leave the country?

The South African economy and automotive industry are possible explanations for several prominent brands deciding to withdraw from the country.

Firstly, many South Africans have strong loyalty towards certain brands. It is therefore challenging for an international brand to break into the market.

Secondly, the country’s poor economic growth and challenging business environment also played a role.

Car brands like Saab and Cadillac, which target middle-class and rich clients, could not compete with Toyota, BMW, and Ford in South Africa.

These two international car brands left South Africa in 2010, followed by many others over the last ten years.

Car brands that left SA

Daihatsu – 2015

This Japanese brand produced affordable small-format cars for high-density urban environments. Daihatsu’s announcement that it would leave South Africa came at the same time as it was leaving other right-hand-drive markets.

Chevrolet – 2017

Chevrolet said it was forced to withdraw from South Africa due to a lack of return on investment.  

Dodge and Chrysler – 2017

Parent company Fiat Chrysler announced in 2017 that it would discontinue sales of its Chrysler and Dodge brands in South Africa. Similar to Daihatsu, the fact that South Africa is a right-hand-drive market, informed the decision.

Datsun – 2022

Datsun re-entered South Africa in 2014, introducing an affordable hatchback car to the local market. However, in 2022, the company announced that it would withdraw from South Africa and India. Nissan, the parent company said at the time that the decision was based on an overall strategy of the business.

Binder hopes KTM Red Bull can take their lessons from the race and use them going forward.

Brad Binder takes his lessons

The ninth ‘stage’ of the season saw Red Bull trying to conquer the unique layout as Brad Binder endured 30 fast laps to classify 9th while teammate Jack Miller grabbed three points for 13th position.

Chilly winds then hot summer conditions and finally overcast and cool asphalt: the Sachsenring threw plenty of challenging circumstances at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and the rest of the MotoGP field across the three days of the ninth round of the current campaign. For the 30-lap Grand Prix on Sunday, Brad Binder and Jack Miller both tackled the 3.6km layout of never-ending corners, optimistic of preserving premium tire life and bettering their 8th and 11th scored in the sunny Saturday Sprint.

Brad Binder cannot cash in on fast start

Binder made a better start but Miller was also sharp into the tight and technical first corner. Brad found himself circulating with Pedro Acosta and made his way up to the top seven but almost fell on the last lap into Turn 11, ran off track briefly and lost two spots, coming home 9th. Jack was limited by the possibilities of his rubber and made it to the flag in 13th.

MotoGP will pause for a three weekend break and then return to speed with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone during the first weekend of August, where KTM will commemorate the championship’s 75th anniversary with a special vintage livery.

“We made some big changes for today’s race and everything was a bit easier to handle,” said Binder.

“It was better. The bike stopped a bit better but we clearly need to find more because the guys in front were in a league of their own. We got some valuable information to find a bit more speed and to keep the pace all the way through the race. On the last lap I lost the front down Turn 11 and lost two positions. Not ideal. I know what I am capable of and where we can be. We will keep fighting as hard as we can every session.”

The boss

Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “This weekend was quite unexpected. We thought we’d be in the leading group and it wasn’t to be. At least today we provided the best version of the bike to the riders that we’ve had this weekend, so perhaps we were too conservative on Friday. Today was pretty good but it was not enough. We lost too much time but looking ahead we have homework to do and we’ll be testing with Pol [Espargaro] next week. We want to be ready for Silverstone.”

The 39-year-old claimed a long-awaited – and record-breaking ninth British Grand Prix victory in a thrilling race at Silverstone. Before Sunday’s race, Hamilton’s last race win was back in Saudi Arabia back in 2021.

Having started second behind his teammate George Russell, the seven-time F1 champion made a good start by keeping Max Verstappen and Lando Norris behind. With rain dropping in the 17th lap, Lewis Hamilton made a move on his teammate to take the lead. His lead was short-lived however as Norris passed both him and Russell.

The Mercedes driver sat for most part of the race behind the McLarens but a quick thinking by Mercedes allowed Hamilton to come in for softs after the rain cleared. McLaren reacted to a call a lap too late and ultimately lost P1 to the seven-time champions.

Lewis Hamilton wins his first race in nearly three years

Hamilton managed to hold off Verstappen in the final laps to claim his record ninth British GP victory.

“This is my last race here at the British Grand Prix with this team [before moving to Ferrari], so I wanted to win this so much for them, because I love them, I appreciate them so much, all the hard work they’ve been putting in all over these years,” said the Mercedes driver

The seven-time world champion opened up further on the journey between his 103rd and 104th wins.

“It’s so tough, I think for anyone,” Lewis Hamilton commented. “I think the important thing is just how you continue to get up, and you’ve got to continue to dig deep even when you feel like you’re at the bottom of the barrel,” said Lewis Hamilton.

“There’s definitely been days between 2021 and here where I didn’t feel like I was good enough, or whether I was going to get back to where I am today, but the important thing is I had great people around me, continuing to support me.

“My team, every time I turn up and see them putting in the effort, that really encouraged me to the same thing.

“Otherwise, my fans, when I see them around the world, they have been so supportive.”

Lewis Hamilton’s win saw him become the first F1 driver to win a race after passing 300 plus race starts.

The two Britons were given a wild ovation by the crowd who saw a third Briton Lando Norris of McLaren take third to deliver the first one-two-three by British drivers at their home race.

It was the first British triple top in qualifying at any race since the 1968 South African Grand Prix.

Russell grabbed pole in one minute and 25.819 seconds to beat seven-time champion Hamilton by 0.171 seconds in the final minute as the track improved, the trio leaving series leader and three-time champion Max Verstappen to qualify fourth in his slightly damaged Red Bull.

Oscar Piastri was fifth in the second McLaren ahead of Nico Hulkenberg of Haas, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, Alex Albon of Williams and two-time champion Fernando Alonso in the second Aston Martin.

The race will start at 16:00 (SA time).

GRID FOR THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX:

Front row

George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)

2nd row

Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren)

Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

3rd row

Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)

Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas)

4th row

Carlos Sainz  (ESP/Ferrari)

Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin)

5th row

Alex Albon (THA/Williams)

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)

6th row

Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)

Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams)

7th row

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/RB)

Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber)

8th row

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/RB)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber)

9th row

Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)

Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine)

10th row

Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull)

Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine)

The race, which represents the halfway mark in the season, will take place at Silverstone in England on Sunday, 7 July.

The lights will go out at 16:00 (SA time).

As a reminder, the 2023 British Grand Prix was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with Lando Norris in his McLaren in second place.

Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes took third place.

BRITISH GRAND PRIX TIMES

All times SA

Sunday, 7 July

Main race: 16:00

Standings ahead of the race

Drivers

Constructors