MOTORSPORT - The African Mirror

May

05

2025

Monaco streets favour Sebastien Buemi for his third Monaco E-Prix win

MOTORSPORT

IN a dramatic and rain-soaked second Monaco E-Prix of the weekend, Envision Racing’s Sebastien Buemi ended a six-year winless drought with a measured, tactical drive from eighth on the grid. The Swiss driver’s victory – his third at the iconic circuit – came after mastering the tricky conditions and perfectly timing his Attack Mode, cementing his status as the most successful driver in Formula E history with 14 FE career wins, which surpassed his previous tied record of 13 wins with Lola Abt driver Lucas Di Grassi. Sebastien Buemi celebrates a long awaited win in the streets of the Principality. Picture: Supplied/FIA…

May

03

2025

By Mpho Rantao

Nissan’s Rowland wins first half of Monaco E-Prix

SPORT, MOTORSPORT

MCLAREN'S Oliver Rowland bounced back from his qualifying mishap, where he hit a barrier, to win the first Monaco E-Prix race, extending his lead in the championship standings in the double-header weekend. Despite starting second, Rowland managed to fend off Mahindra’s Nyck de Vries and both Andretti drivers to secure the win. His breakthrough came on lap 13, where he overtook McLaren rookie Taylor Barnard at the chicane on Monaco’s iconic streets. The tactical masterclass handed him his third win in six races this season, earning a sigh of relief from Nissan team principal Tommaso Volpe. De Vries’ second-place finish…

Apr

12

2025

By Mpho Rantao

The Sublime Symphony of Speed: Wehrlein’s Miami Masterpiece

MOTORSPORT

UNDER the scorching Florida sun, where the ocean breeze met the electric roar of Formula E, Pascal Wehrlein carved his name into history with a victory as dramatic as it was decisive. The 2025 Miami E-Prix was a high-voltage ballet of strategy, nerve, and raw speed - and when the dust settled, it was the Porsche maestro who stood tallest, his triumph a testament to precision under fire. From the moment the lights went out, the race was a chess match at 200 km/h. Norman Nato, the Nissan polesitter, bolted into an early lead, but the Porsche duo of Wehrlein…

Jan

23

2025

By The African Mirror

The Red Dawn: Hamilton’s Ferrari Awakening

MOTORSPORT

IN the misty dawn at Fiorano, history whispered through the fog. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, approached the gleaming red SF-23 – his first Ferrari. The timing sheets would show 30 laps across three runs, but numbers couldn't capture the weight of this moment. "When I started the car up and drove through that garage door, I had the biggest smile on my face," Hamilton told TheRace.com, his eyes bright with an enthusiasm that belied his two decades in Formula 1. "It reminded me of the very first time I tested a Formula 1 car." Stepping into a new…

Jan

20

2025

By Mpho Rantao

Saudi’s Yazeed al Rajhi claims historic win at the 2025 Dakar Rally

MOTORSPORT

IN a rally race that was filled with shocking exits and sensational wins, Overdrive Racing’s Yazeed al Rajhi took the major crown as the winner of the Dakar Rally in his home country of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, alongside co-driver Timo Gottschalk. The Dakar Rally is an annual, gruelling off-road endurance race that takes place in 12 stages over several days, covering thousands of kilometres across challenging terrains such as deserts, mountains, and rocky paths. It moved to Saudi Arabia from South America, which hosted the race after its namesake city in Sudan. Saudi's Al Rahji, 43, took the…

Dec

13

2024

By Mpho Rantao

F1 2024 in a nutshell: what a season!

MOTORSPORT

Formula One (F1) concluded its 2024 season in dramatic fashion, with a plethora of events and historical moments that thrilled the F1 fanbase and paddock alike at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit. While the United Arab Emirates racing circuit was not the stage for Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who officially secured the title after Las Vegas, it was a crowning moment for the British-based giants, McLaren. They were crowned the 2024 World Constructors Champions for the first time since 1998. The outpaced and full-steam performance on the circuit by McLaren driver Lando Norris secured…

Jul

08

2024

By The African Mirror

Tears of joy after Hamilton’s first win since 2021 and his last at Silverstone in a Mercedes

MOTORSPORT

LEWIS Hamilton's emotional triumph at the British Grand Prix marked a historic and poignant moment in Formula One. The seven-time world champion ended a 945-day winless streak with a record-breaking ninth victory at Silverstone, in what will be his final home race with Mercedes. Reuters reports that Hamilton was overcome with emotion after crossing the finish line, shedding tears of joy as he celebrated his 104th career win. The British driver's voice faltered as he choked back tears while thanking his team and the 164,000 fans in attendance. "I'm still crying," Hamilton told former champion Jenson Button during the post-race…

Jul

03

2024

By Mpho Rantao

FE: Da Costa’s Portland double win sets up final showdown

MOTORSPORT

Antonio Felix da Costa’s third win in the United States has ignited the drivers’ championship battle, setting the stage for a thrilling finale in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The Portuguese driver secured his victory with his team, TAG Heuer Porsche, following two consecutive wins in previous rounds. Da Costa's skill and Porsche’s strategies were pivotal over the weekend, placing him in strong contention for the drivers’ championship against the current leader, Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy, fellow Jaguar driver Mitch Evans, and Porsche teammate Pascal Wehrlein. Da Costa started the race well, beating polesitter Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Penske) on…

Jul

01

2024

By The African Mirror

Norris says he will lose respect for Verstappen without apology

MOTORSPORT

MCLAREN'S Lando Norris said he would lose respect for Max Verstappen if the Red Bull driver did not apologise for a collision that wrecked their Austrian Grand Prix. The pair are friends off-track but fierce rivals on Formula One race weekends and that boiled over at Spielberg's Red Bull Ring as they fought for the lead. Stewards ruled triple world champion Verstappen was predominantly at fault for causing the collision and handed him a 10-second penalty, which had no impact on his result, as well as two penalty points. Verstappen, who dropped from first to fifth but now leads Norris…

Jun

18

2024

By Mpho Rantao

FE: Season 11 calendar revealed, and Liberty Global acquires stakes

MOTORSPORT

The calendar for season 11 (2024/25) of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has been announced and features significant omissions and returns for the all-electric racing series. Eleven locations have been selected to host the all-electric racing series, with a few returning cities that were featured in earlier seasons and one yet-to-be-confirmed date. https://twitter.com/fiaformulae/status/1800510801016418709?s=61&t=Gl9YGLQ3J41O_wBN--QHVg The calendar was released by Formula E (FE) following approval from motorsport governing body FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) during FE’s month-long break before the penultimate rounds of the season. The calendar clearly indicates that Italy will no longer be a racing location, following the Misano double…