Double Dutch in Zandvoort

The Model F1 World Championship traveled to Zandvoort for the first MF1 Dutch Grand Prix. Hoping to rebound from their recent struggles, Manor entered the race with cautious optimism.

Daniel Ricciardo qualified 2nd while Carmen Jordá started 5th. Ricciardo wasted no time in attempting to get past the Ferrari of Nico Rosberg, battling for the lead as early as lap 3. However, Rosberg held his position. It wouldn’t be until lap 43 that Ricciardo made his move, capitalizing on Rosberg giving him enough space to make the overtake. By lap 50, Ricciardo had built a 10-second lead and held on for Manor’s first win since Monaco. Jordá was able to pass Nico Hülkenberg for the final spot on the podium, also the first double podium for Manor since Monaco.

Team Principal Macus16 acknowledged the battle with Ferrari. “Ferrari and ourselves are pretty evenly matched,” he stated. “We simply took the better weekend this weekend.”

The full race results can be viewed here.

Next week, the MF1 World Championship returns to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix.

Re. MFIA Controversy

Manor Motorsport Weekly does not like getting involved in politics surrounding the MFIA leadership, but would like to announce our support for President Ubuntuz.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, MF1AutosportMagazine published the following article regarding Ubuntuz’s supposed errors in running the series. In response, Haas TP MistmanX wrote an open letter in support of the MFIA President.

“When Ubuntuz was declared as the new MFIA President, I was apprehensive at first. [Former MFIA President] wwesmudge’s role was a huge one to fill, and it was telling that so few people signed up as potential candidates; most of us knew what a massive commitment the position would prove to be,” the letter stated. “Yet, despite, like many of us, having commitments outside of MF1, Ubuntuz stepped up to the position, and I am incredibly thankful that he did.”

MistmanX went on to praise Ubuntuz’s management of the merger between current Manor ally Red Bull and Williams and the upgraded credits system – when noting the lack of “perfect balance” of the system due to Manor’s domination, Macus quipped, “We’ve been showing pace all last year with a bunch of 5ths, why’s it hard to believe we’d keep getting better?”

It’s safe to say Haas won’t be invited to any Manor post-race parties for a while.