Williams esports apologises for driver conduct

Williams esports apologises for driver conduct

In the round-up: Williams’ esports team has apologised after an investigation into controversial incidents during the Daytona 24 Hours iRacing event.

In brief

Williams esports team apologises after ‘unacceptable conduct’ in iRacing event

Williams’ esports team has apologised after an investigation which determined some of the team breached its conduct standards in last week’s Daytona 24 Hours iRacing round.

Williams Esports cars took overall victory in the top split of the endurance simracing event last weekend and third place in the GT class. However, the team was heavily criticised for the manner in which they secured pole position for the race, running on the apron instead of the banking in violation of iRacing rules.

The team was also accused of using unsporting tactics with its second GT car which fell many laps behind in the race. The drivers appeared to ignore blue flags and delay rival cars at times which observers claim was done to assist their team mates. Williams have apologised to their competitors following their investigations.

“We find that the actions of some members of the Williams Esports team breached our standard for acceptable team conduct,” they said in a statement. “We apologise wholeheartedly for that, both to our fellow competitors and to the wider esports community.”

“Williams Esports, as a key player in the industry, is continuously committed to working with game developers and tournament organisers to ensure consistent enforcement of clear regulations and consequences for breaches. Accountability, integrity and regulation are key to the continued growth and sustainability of simracing, and of the wider esports industry and we are committed to driving that forward.”

Mercedes named among FTX creditors

Mercedes AMG F1 W13 rear wing, Miami International Circuit, 2022
Mercedes ran FTX logos before it collapsed

The Mercedes Formula 1 team is named among the thousands of creditors of collapsed crypto exchange FTX, which also includes several of the world’s most famous companies. Mercedes removed FTX’s logos from its cars at the Brazilian Grand Prix – where the team scored its only victory of 2022 – as the exchange plunged into bankruptcy.

The full list of FTX’s creditors runs to more than 100 pages. Other companies owed money by FTX include Meta – the owner of Facebook and Instagram – Apple and Netflix. The top 50 creditors are owed over $3 billion (£2.4bn) between them, according to reports.

Vettel holds “huge admiration” for rally drivers ahead of ROC

Retired four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel praised rally drivers’ “incredible skill” ahead of his appearance in the Race of Champions event in Sweden this weekend.

Vettel reached the final of the Champion of Champions event in 2022, also held in the Swedish snow, to multiple World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb. Vettel says he lacks in skill compared to the experienced rally racers in the field.

“I have a huge admiration for rally drivers,” Vettel said. “I think it’s an incredible skill.

“Obviously, this is a tiny glimpse of what it might feel to do a rally, but it feels like I arrive with a screwdriver and a hammer, like two tools, whereas they arrive to turn one with the whole toolbox set – whatever might happen, they have the right fitting tool! I think it’s a great sport. There is the racing element and the skill, but it’s very different in many ways.”

Garcia joins FIA F3 with Jenzer for 2023

Alejandro Garcia will compete in this year’s FIA F3 championship after becoming the first of the Jenzer Motorsport’s drivers to be announced for 2023.

The 19-year-old raced in the Euroformula Open championship in 2022, finishing in seventh place in the drivers’ standings. He also took part in the 2022 post-season test in Jerez with the team completing 174 laps across the three days

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