Alonso backs Sainz to reach F1 despite Toro Rosso snub - MotorSportsTalk

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has backed fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr. to reach Formula 1 despite being rejected by Toro Rosso for a race seat in 2015.

The Spanish youngster currently leads the Formula Renault 3.5 championship – one of F1’s feeder series – and looks set to win the title, following in the footsteps of Kevin Magnussen.

He was expected to replace Jean-Eric Vergne at Toro Rosso in 2015, being the most senior and established Red Bull junior driver, but was snubbed in favor of 16-year-old Max Verstappen. The Dutchman will become the youngest ever F1 driver when he makes his debut next March.

Speaking in Belgium ahead of this weekend’s race, Alonso admitted that he was surprised not to see Sainz get the nod, but is confident that his compatriot will reach F1.

“Obviously I was thinking and many people thought that he would be with Toro Rosso next year,” Alonso explained. “He will arrive in Formula 1 sooner or later. He has the talent, he has the mentality, he has the right approach.

“He is 19 – now that seems old. 19 years old, leading the World Series, winning in all the championships that he’s raced before. He will arrive.”

Verstappen’s rapid promotion has certainly ruffled some feathers in Formula 1, sparking a debate over whether or not he is too young to race. For Alonso, putting in a driver at such a young age has both its pros and cons.

“There is a lot of experience that you get with the years, the championships on your shoulders,” Alonso said. “Sometimes arriving in too early is a good thing, sometimes arriving too early is a bad thing, because you don’t have the experience sometimes to cope with some of the demands that Formula 1 has.

“Red Bull has what it wants because everybody today asks about Verstappen, which is good coverage in the media.”

Would Alonso have been ready at 17? “Probably I was not ready,” he admitted.

Follow @LukeSmithF1

The NTT IndyCar Series will head to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend for its first oval race of the season and a preview of its biggest race.

After Sunday’s PPG 375 at Texas, the next oval on the schedule is May 28 with the 107th running of the Indy 500. Chip Ganassi Racing dominated last year’s 500-miler at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after placing all four of its Dallara-Hondas in the top 10 at Texas.

The Dallara-Chevrolets of Team Penske also will be heavy favorites at Texas. Josef Newgarden passed teammate Scott McLaughlin on the final lap for the victory last year as Penske took three of the top four (with defending series champion Will Power in fourth).

Texas marks the first of five oval races for IndyCar, which also will visit Iowa Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. There are 28 drivers entered for the 36th IndyCar race at Texas, the series’ most at the track since 30 in June 2011.

Scott Dixon has a series-high five victories at Texas, mostly recently in May 2021. Helio Castroneves (four wins), Newgarden (two) and Power (two) also are multiple winners at Texas.

Here are the details and IndyCar start times for the PPG 375 race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway (all times are ET):

INDYCAR PPG 375 TEXAS START TIMES

TV: Sunday, noon ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock, the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com. Leigh Diffey is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe (whose first career IndyCar victory came at St. Petersburg 10 years ago).

Marty Snider and Dave Burns are the pit reporters. Telemundo Deportes on Universo will provide a Spanish-language telecast. Click here for the full NBC Sports schedule for IndyCar in 2023.

Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for both practices and qualifying and Indy NXT races. (Click here for information on how to sign up for Peacock.)

COMMAND TO START ENGINES: 12:10 p.m. ET

GREEN FLAG: 12:15 p.m. ET

POSTRACE SHOW ON PEACOCK: After the race’s conclusion, an exclusive postrace show will air on Peacock with driver interviews, postrace analysis and the podium presentation. To watch the extended postrace show, click over to the special stream on Peacock after the race ends.

Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for practices and qualifying.

INDYCAR RADIO NETWORK: The IndyCar and Indy Lights races and all practices and qualifying sessions will air live on network affiliates, SiriusXM 160, racecontrol.indycar.com and the IndyCar app.

PRACTICE: Saturday sessions at 9 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. (Peacock Premium), 1:45 p.m.

PRACTICE RESULTS: Session I l Session II

QUALIFYING: Saturday, 12:15 p.m. (Peacock Premium)

STARTING LINEUP: Click here for the grid at Texas

RACE DISTANCE: The race is 250 laps (375 miles) on a 1.5-mile oval in Fort Worth, Texas

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Eleven primary sets to be used during practice, qualifying and the race. An extra set will be available to cars in the high-line practice session.

FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com, it’s expected to be 67 degrees with a 71% chance of rain at the green flag.

ENTRY LIST: Click here for the 28 cars entered