2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Eddie Jordan Correctly Called Lewis Hamilton's Bombshell Ferrari Move.
“I think he would like to win his eighth title but I have a passion in that I think he should go to Ferrari...but that’s just me talking nonsense.” Eddie Jordan.
Feb 01, 2024 12:48 PM
By Eoin Harrington
Balls.ie

Speaking to talkSPORT in April 2023, former F1 team boss Jordan said that he felt that "every great champion" should enjoy a spell with F1's most iconic team, and called on Hamilton to make the switch to avoid his career going "stale." “The reason why is I don’t want him to become stale, and I think when he was at McLaren he did well but he moved quickly to Mercedes.”

“I was one of the people with Niki Lauda who helped that happen, and then there was a refreshed, rejuvenated Lewis Hamilton. We know what he’s done since then, however, I think it’s time he moved on.”

“I think if there’s an opportunity to go somewhere he should go to Ferrari because every great champion should at least have a spell at Ferrari. It just oozes with style and grandeur.”

“That’s just me talking nonsense.” Eddie Jordan’;

https://www.balls.ie/motorsport/eddi...ferrari-586308


Mercedes held internal meeting today to tell staff about Lewis Hamilton exit
Lewis Hamilton is set to confirm a move to Ferrari for 2025 F1 season
01 Feb 2024
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net

Mercedes held an internal meeting at 2pm on Thursday to tell staff that Lewis Hamilton is set to confirm a move to Ferrari. Wolff joined the staff meeting remotely, Sky Sports' Rachel Brookes reported. She reported while at Mercedes’ Brackley HQ: “We can confirm that Hamilton is going to Ferrari for the 2025 season.”

“Staff at the Brackley base have been told that’s what is happening. The meeting lasted about 10 minutes or so. We saw the staff arriving and, within 10 to 14 minutes, they were leaving again.”

‘Internal meeting’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104395...-hamilton-exit


Mercedes staff briefed over impending Hamilton departure
01 February 3:58PM
Author Rory Mitchell
RacingNews365

Mercedes staff have allegedly been briefed over Lewis Hamilton's impending departure to Ferrari, according to Sky Sports. Rumours have been rife in the last few hours over whether Hamilton will make the jump to Ferrari in 2025, with an announcement expected imminently on the outcome of talks between the pair.

Hamilton reportedly arrived at the factory today to brief the team alongside Team Principal Toto Wolff about the news of his departure. The 39-year-old has been with Mercedes since 2013 and won six of his seven world titles for the outfit.

‘Mercedes staff briefed’;

https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-s...lton-departure


Tell-tale sign Lewis Hamilton's shock Ferrari deal was hiding in plain sight with Peroni advert giving major hint at shock Formula One switch
Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari was hiding in plain sight
A promotion from Peroni seemingly hinted at the move
Published: 14:33, 1 February 2024
By Ollie Lewis For Daily Mail Australia
Mail Online

Lewis Hamilton's bombshell switch to Ferrari was hiding in plain sight, with an advert released by the Formula One team's new sponsor giving away a key detail at the move that has shocked the sport.

As part of their promotion of the new partnership, Peroni released a graphic with a number of Ferrari items alongside its legendary bottle of alcohol-free beer. And hiding in plain sight was a miniature red racing car, with the number 44 plastered on the front. Forty four, of course, is Hamilton's racing number.

‘Hiding in plain sight’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rmula-One.html


No, Ferrari's new sponsor didn't 'leak' Hamilton arrival
01 February 3:16PM
Author Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Everyone loves an easter egg hidden away in plain sight, right? Peroni has joined the Scuderia, and in a marketing poster, an old Ferrari F1 car with the number #44 can be seen.

#44 is of course Hamilton's race number, and the discovery led some to believe that Peroni had dropped a massive hint about Hamilton's impending arrival.

Whilst it would be a fun story, the actual truth is that the car featured is Maurice Trintignant's 1955 Monaco GP-winning Ferrari 625, which carried the #44. But there's no such thing as a coincidence...

‘Easter egg hidden away in plain sight’;

https://racingnews365.com/no-ferrari...milton-arrival


Did Ferrari’s new F1 sponsor Peroni drop Lewis Hamilton clue two days ago?
F1 fans have been sent into a frenzy after Ferrari's new F1 sponsor appeared to hint at the Lewis Hamilton signing a couple of days ago.
01 Feb 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

A graphic emerged on social media with a variety of Ferrari merchandise appearing on it. Most notably, there was a Ferrari car with the number 44 on it.

With the news yet to be officially confirmed by Mercedes or Ferrari, social media was sent into a frenzy when the aforementioned graphic got more attention.

‘Sent into a frenzy’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104396...e-two-days-ago


Winners and losers from Hamilton's Mercedes-to-Ferrari switch
Feb 1, 2024
The Race

Lewis Hamilton's impending move to Ferrari is without doubt the most astounding Formula 1 driver market news of the 21st century - and a change that has huge implications not just for all parties involved but the wider F1 driver market too.

Winners: Ferrari, George Russell, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, F1, Fred Vasseur, Audi.

Losers: Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, Mercedes the team, Mercedes the brand.

‘Most astounding Formula 1 driver market news of the 21st century’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/l...inners-losers/


Martin Brundle explains what George Russell is thinking about Lewis Hamilton transfer
15:16, Thu, Feb 1, 2024
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

Martin Brundle believes that George Russell will be relishing the news that Lewis Hamilton is reportedly heading to rivals Ferrari for the 2025 season and that the 25-year-old is extremely well-placed to fill the seven-time world champion’s shoes as the team leader at Mercedes.

Speaking to Sky Sports News about what Russell’s view of Hamilton’s departure would be, Brundle said: “I think he’ll be thinking ‘that’s good, I am top man here, unquestionably now’. George is ready to pick up the mantle at Mercedes-Benz, there is no doubt about it at all. And he’s measured himself against, statistically and arguably, the greatest Formula One driver of all time.”

“That’s an argument we can have all afternoon and bring in all sorts of people back to [Juan Manuel] Fangio and [Stirling] Moss. But George has measured himself against Lewis and looked incredibly strong, very equal. If Mercedes have got a Championship-winning car this year, who would win? Would it be George or Lewis? I think it would be really close, so that’s the level that George is at now.”

‘Relishing the news’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...Lewis-Hamilton

[Fortitude]

Lewis Hamilton move causes Ferrari stock price to skyrocket by $7 billion.
New York Stock Exchange reveals huge Ferrari finances amid Lewis Hamilton swoop. Ferrari’s stock price has increased by a value of $7 billion due to Lewis Hamilton’s move.
01 Feb 2024
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net

The Formula 1 was rocked on Thursday by unexpected news that Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025. It is the most seismic driver switch since Hamilton swapped McLaren for Mercedes in 2013. Ferrari stock increased in value by 7% pre-market, after hours of talk about Hamilton, sports-business expert Joe Pompliano reported. He added: “The Mercedes F1 team received about 25% of all TV time during its championship-winning seasons, and its valuation increased from $400 million to $2.7 billion.”

Karun Chandhok, ex-F1 driver and Sky Sports broadcaster, earlier wrote: “The power of the Lewis Hamilton brand… “Ferrari’s share price has jumped 6% today - on a market cap of 66 billion, his news is worth $4 billion!” But the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday revealed the numbers had grown even further.

‘Ferrari stock price to skyrocket by $7 billion’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104396...cket-7-billion


Ferrari confirm sensational Lewis Hamilton deal, uniting Formula 1’s most successful team and driver
1st February 2024, 7:06 pm
Connor Andrews
talkSPORT

Mercedes confirmed Hamilton’s departure in a statement which read: “Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton will part ways at the end of the 2024 season. “Lewis has activated a release option in the contract announced last year.”

Commenting on the departure, Hamilton said: “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together. “Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.”

The Stevenage-born star won a race in each of his first 15 seasons in F1, but hasn’t been on the top step of the podium since 2021. Much of that is down to Mercedes fumbling the 2022 aerodynamic rule changes, with Hamilton publicly complaining about their development path on multiple occasions.

‘Sensational Lewis Hamilton deal’;

https://talksport.com/sport/1733583/


How Lewis Hamilton’s sensational move from Mercedes to Ferrari played out
01 February 2024
Lawrence Barretto
F1 Correspondent & Presenter
Formula One - Official Site

Last spring, sources say Lewis Hamilton received a call. It was Ferrari chairman John Elkann. This wasn’t completely out of the blue. Ferrari had come calling before – and Hamilton knew Elkann well. They had become friends following several meetings. When winter came and Ferrari came calling again, Hamilton gave it the respect he always did and analysed the pros and cons. This time he was more interested – and the chats were more formal. They got serious quickly.

Ferrari laid out their short to medium-term plan to Hamilton. They believe they are on the right path with development. They believe 2026 – when new regulations are introduced – can be the turning point and set them in motion to end their title-less run. They believe their new 2026 power unit, which will run 100% sustainable fuel, can be the class-leader – and they have form in this area.

Hamilton absorbed the information and a decision was made. In his mind, now was the time to take that leap of faith and race for the team all F1 drivers ultimately want to drive for. He signed on the dotted line, with everything finalised early this week, and he subsequently informed Mercedes of his decision to leave on Wednesday. The dye had been cast.

‘Everything finalised early this week’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...BCezKBGZ7.html


Hamilton's given Mercedes a devastating vote of no confidence
Feb 1, 2024
by Edd Straw
The Race

Lewis Hamilton signing for Ferrari for 2025 without even having driven the Mercedes W15 in the real world or seen how the Formula 1 season starts in terms of performance is a devastating vote of no confidence in his current team.

Losing Hamilton to what would be a well-earned retirement is one thing, but to do so to a major rival that’s in broadly the same position as you in competitive terms is another. The inescapable conclusion is that what Hamilton has seen and experienced at Mercedes since committing to his current contract - perhaps both in terms of the continued erratic form in the closing stages of the season and preparations for 2024 - has given rise to some serious doubts. Perhaps something even more concrete than doubts.

We can’t rule out Hamilton having had a change of heart about this, but it seems more likely that he simply doesn’t believe Mercedes can give him the car he needs. If so, the worst that happens by moving to Ferrari is that he moves from one underachieving team to another - but with the bonus of living the Ferrari dream.

‘Devastating vote of no confidence’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/l...xit-gut-punch/


Lewis Hamilton blindsided Toto Wolff with Ferrari move 24 hours before story broke
1 February 2024 • 11:54pm
Tom Cary
Senior Sports Correspondent
The Telegraph

Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari for 2025 came as a complete shock to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff when the seven-time world champion broke the news at the Austrian’s home on Wednesday morning. Telegraph Sport understands Hamilton blindsided Wolff at a pre-arranged meeting at the latter’s Oxford home before Thursday’s official announcement sent Formula One into meltdown. It meant the Brackley outfit had to scramble to get their ducks in a row, calling a meeting of the team’s staff at 2pm when Wolff informed them of the driver’s intention to leave.

Wolff was understood to be completely taken by surprise when Hamilton told him on Wednesday that he intended to exercise it. The Austrian, who owns a third of Mercedes F1, only recently signed a new three-year contract extension himself, breaking the news in an interview with Telegraph Sport in which he said he was confident that Hamilton could win that eighth world title at Brackley.

‘Toto Wolff blindsided’;

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-...025-f1-latest/


Will Hamilton’s second change of F1 teams prove as inspired as his first?
Formula 1
Posted on 1st February 2024, 19:09
Written by Keith Collantine

Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari at the end of this year will be only the second time in a 19-year career that he has made a change. By the standards of most drivers, he’s been remarkably faithful to his teams. Looking back beyond Hamilton’s 11-year stint at Mercedes, past all those wins and championships, it’s easy to forget how big a gamble he appeared to be taking when he committed to them in September 2012. Seldom in F1 history has scepticism over a driver’s choice of team been so comprehensively dispelled by the reality of the move. As the trophies piled up around him at Mercedes, Hamilton has delighted in occasionally reminding everyone how many people told his he’d made a mistake by joining them.

Now, 12 years on, there are parallels between the two moves. The most significant is that, once again, Hamilton has made his move a year ahead of a complete overhaul in the technical regulations – not just chassis but power unit as well. That gives him time to bed into a new environment and be prepared to seize on whatever opportunities arise in 2026.

It’s hard to imagine any change of team would result in the kind of unprecedented success Hamilton has enjoyed in his Mercedes career. But a single title, avenging his lost crown of 2021, delivered for the passionate tifosi, would rank as a unique achievement in a career already replete with success. It’s not hard to see why, when presented with the opportunity, Hamilton took another brave and exciting decision which has stunned the F1 world.

‘Made his move a year ahead of a complete overhaul in the technical regulations’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/02/01/...-as-his-first/

[Fortitude]

Italy celebrates F1 'world coup' as Ferrari captures Hamilton.
“A bolt of lightning you don’t expect. A rare flower that seemed like it would never bloom again. The parable of Ferrari, the most prestigious and successful team in the three-quarters of a century of history of F1, and that of the baronet Lewis Hamilton, the driver with a cabinet full of trophies like no other, will truly intersect.” Il Messaggero.
February 2nd 2024
Author: Chris Medland
Motor Sport Magazine

Being a sport-specific publication, you’d expect La Gazzetta dello Sport to carry Hamilton prominently and that’s exactly the treatment he gets as Colpo Rosso (red coup) dominates its front page, with an image of Hamilton mocked up in Ferrari overalls and flags of the prancing horse waving in the background.

It’s that same feeling that drives Corriere della Sera – one of the earliest publications to first report that Hamilton was on the verge of making the move – to make the seven-time world champion the central picture on its front page and describe the switch as “A world coup” for Ferrari.

Corriere della Sera also states that Hamilton’s arrival is not the only significant development at Ferrari, describing it as “just the beginning of a revolution that started from the relationship with the boss [Fred] Vasseur” and adding that loyal technicians are also on their way.

'World coup';

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#


Lewis Hamilton 'will earn £85million per year at Ferrari' - almost DOUBLING what he earns at Mercedes - and 'was convinced by technical guarantees' that the Scuderia can help him win an eighth championship
Lewis Hamilton will reportedly earn £85million each year when he joins Ferrari
The Scuderia were willing to offer him £40m in May but couldn't land him
Assurances about the car's competitiveness are also a persuasive factor for him
Published: 16:44, 2 February 2024
By Luke Power For Mailonline
Mail Online

His financial package, swelled by salary, sponsors, image rights, bonuses and more, will reach £85m according to Italian website formu1a.uno. That is not far off double his £50m compensation at Mercedes.

According to formu1a.uno's report, Hamilton was swung not only by the money involved but by assurances of the car's competitiveness. That included technical guarantees, for example around the car's new engine, which is being designed at Maranello to it the track from the 2026 season.

Another factor which was reportedly persuasive for Hamilton is the presence of his former mentor Frederic Vasseur at Ferrari. The Ferrari team boss has a special bond with Hamilton, so it will come as no surprise that the Briton is keen to work with the Frenchman again. Hamilton won Formula Three and GP2 (now Formula Two) championships with Vasseur's ART team in 2005 and 2006 before making a spectacular Formula One debut with McLaren in 2007.

‘£85 Million per year’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...mpionship.html


Will Pete ‘Bono’ Bonnington and others follow Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari in 2025?
02 Feb 2024 1:07 PM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

In what is perhaps the biggest driver move in the history of Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton will cut ties with the Mercedes team with whom he’s won six of his seven titles, in order to join Ferrari from 2025.

Throughout the entirety of his Mercedes tenure, Hamilton has been ably supported by race engineer Pete Bonnington – the engineer becoming almost as famous as Hamilton as ‘Bono’ and his instruction ‘OK Lewis, it’s Hammertime’ would strike fear into the hearts of rivals.

Addressing the media, including PlanetF1.com, on Friday morning after the announcement of Hamilton at Ferrari, Wolff said discussions with Bonnington about his future will be held in due course. “I think this is a discussion that everyone needs to have in the months to come,” he said. “As much as I’ve spoken with Bono already, when I told him, he said ‘Is it April the first?’”

‘Bono’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/pete-b...-2025-question


Wolff admits Hamilton bombshell took him by surprise
13:11, 2nd February 2024.
The Straits Times

LONDON - Mercedes Formula One team boss Toto Wolff admitted on Friday that Lewis Hamilton's bombshell switch to Ferrari from 2025 had come as a shock when the seven times world champion dropped the news over breakfast.

"Formula One and my previous life have made me resilient to surprises. I've been confronted so many times in my life with black swans but it was a surprise," the Austrian told reporters in a video call on Friday.

"The surprise was that I've heard the rumours a couple of days earlier but wanted to wait for the breakfast we had planned and that was Wednesday morning. This was when he broke the news."

‘Bombshell took him by surprise’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...im-by-surprise


Lewis Hamilton "rolling the dice" as Toto Wolff admits being blind sided by Ferrari move
Toto Wolff has spoken out in a Mercedes press conference organised the morning after Lewis Hamilton announced he would be leaving to join F1 rivals Ferrari in 2025
2nd February 2024, 13:01
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

"What happened is we got together for coffee at my place in Oxford [on Wednesday] and he said to me that he has decided to race for Ferrari in 2025. That was basically it. We had a good hour of conversation and this is where we are."

Wolff was quizzed on what might have changed for the Briton to U-turn on his future in the way that he has, but he could not answer. He replied: "I cannot tell you [what has changed]. I can only tell you that we were very aligned when we went into the Christmas period.”

"You need to ask Lewis why he changed his mind. How he framed it to me was perfectly understandable, that he needed a new challenge and that he was looking for a different environment and that it was maybe the last possibility to do something else.”

"Rolling the dice";

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...cedes-32030978


George Russell sends Lewis Hamilton 13-word message after Mercedes announcement
Fri 2 February 2024 12:30
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

George Russell has now sent Lewis Hamilton a 13-word message after Mercedes and Ferrari announced the seven-time F1 champion is moving teams for the 2025 season. Now, 2024 will mark Hamilton’s final year racing for Mercedes ahead of joining Ferrari come the winter.

Russell has also now reacted to the news of Hamilton’s departure, noting that it has been ‘special’ to share the Mercedes garage and expressing his desire for a strong year. “It’s been special racing alongside you,” Russell told Hamilton in a message posted on his X account. “Let’s make this season one to remember.”

Hamilton beat Russell 15-7 in their Grand Prix results head-to-head battle at Mercedes over 2023. The 103-time Grand Prix winner also edged his one-time race-winning teammate with six podiums over two. Russell beat Hamilton 4-2 in Sprints and they tied 11-all in qualifying.

‘Hamilton’s final year racing for Mercedes’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/geo...-announcement/

[Fortitude]

Mark Hughes' theory for why Mercedes lost Hamilton.
It’s now clear that Ferrari was able to offer Hamilton a longer-term commitment than Mercedes, which agreed a two-year deal with the second year as an option (a 1 + 1).
Feb 2, 2024
by Mark Hughes
The Race

Let’s just suppose that when Wolff and Hamilton were discussing their contract that Wolff had revealed that the long-term plan was to place Antonelli at Williams for a year or two and then if all went well to bring him into the main team?

As a way of future-proofing. Hamilton’s 1+1 would dovetail in with this nicely. We don’t know if Wolff did discuss this scenario, of course. But he and Hamilton are close, have achieved so much together, that it would be quite in character for such an open discussion to have taken place between them.

Let’s then imagine what Hamilton’s thought processes may have been if he had indeed received that information from his boss and friend. It would have been totally logical if he had pondered: ‘I may as well leave after year one, as that’s my final chance of the Ferrari gig – and there may not be anything for me here in ’26.’ So in nudging Hamilton towards retirement, might Wolff have instead nudged him early into leaving for one of Mercedes' key rivals?

‘Theory for why Mercedes lost Hamilton’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...errari-theory/


An inspired decision or risky move? Our writers give their take on Hamilton's shock Ferrari switch
02 February 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Chris Medland, Special Contributor: Like everyone in the F1 world, this is a move that caught me completely by surprise. The way Hamilton had previously spoken about his future with Mercedes – even beyond racing in F1 – had just led me to believe it’s where he’d end his career. I’ll admit first whispers didn’t even have me taking it totally seriously at first…

Mark Hughes, Special Contributor: I think this move illustrates just how brilliantly ruthless the F1 mentality can be and how that injects a volatility which is part of F1 DNA. In a way it's a 'Hollywood' move, the bringing together of the two highest-profile entities in F1 with all the commercial implications that carries.

David Tremayne, Hall of Fame F1 Journalist: I’m one of the last people to mention the words ‘career suicide’ to Lewis Hamilton when he thinks of changing teams, as he is all too happy to remind those of us who suggested a switch from McLaren to Mercedes for 2013 was, at the very least, perhaps unwise…

‘James Hinchcliffe, IndyCar Race Winner and Analyst, Mike Seymour, Staff Writer’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...k689FqpiK.html


What we learned from Wolff's debrief on Hamilton's Ferrari move.
The Race was present to get Wolff’s reaction, establish key details like the timeline that played out, ask what Hamilton’s rationale was, and find out what Mercedes does next.
Feb 2, 2024
by Scott Mitchell-Malm,
Valentin Khorounzhiy
The Race

TIMING A 'SURPRISE': “We got together for a coffee in my place in Oxford, and [ahead of] basically him returning to the factory, and he said to me he had decided to race for Ferrari in 2025,” said Wolff. “That was basically it. Then we had a good hour of conversation.”
HAMILTON NEEDED A CHANGE: Wolff hinted at a couple of firm reasons: the length of the contract on offer from Ferrari, for one, and the fact Hamilton simply needed a change.

WOLFF STOIC – MOSTLY: There were inevitably a couple of glimpses of how he really felt underneath - and he even said that "in the future we will discuss whether this could have been done in a different way".
MERCEDES DIDN'T WANT MORE THAN TWO YEARS: To reiterate, Mercedes had announced Hamilton as being retained on a 'two-year deal'. The quote marks there are because a two-year deal is for two years, and this one... is, in the end, not.

‘Wolff’s reaction’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/t...at-we-learned/


Four big reasons why Lewis Hamilton ditched Mercedes for Ferrari
01 Feb 2024 12:40 PM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari has ended the most successful driver/team partnership in F1 history, so why would he do it?
Has Lewis Hamilton lost faith in Mercedes? Hamilton is currently without a win in Formula 1 since the tail-end of that tumultuous 2021 season, with Mercedes having fallen off the boil at the start of the new ground-effect regulations.

Is it one last roll of the dice for Lewis Hamilton? At the end of the day, Hamilton is much, much closer to the end of his career than the start, having just turned 39. By 2026, Hamilton will have turned 41. While Fernando Alonso has proven age doesn’t necessarily mean anything anymore, history goes against Hamilton here.

A chance to team up again with Fred Vasseur: A move to Ferrari means partnering up with Fred Vasseur again, a boss with whom Hamilton has enjoyed great success in the past.
The allure of the Scuderia, and doing what Ayrton Senna couldn’t: Regardless of their competitive prowess in any given year, Ferrari continues to have a hold over drivers. As the only team to have been on the F1 grid since the very first year of the championship, nearly all the greatest drivers have come through their doors.

‘Four big reasons’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/why-le...-from-mercedes


How Exactly Is This Whole Lewis Hamilton And Ferrari Thing Going To Work?
17:51 Fri, 02 Feb 2024
By Kathryn Xu
Defector

All roads lead to Maranello. That's a suitably ominous statement to contextualize the rest of the news, which is that Lewis Hamilton, after exercising a release option in his contract, will be leaving Mercedes after the 2024 season to join Ferrari on a multi-year deal. As tampering is famously a North American invention, Hamilton continues the cycle of drivers signing with Ferrari before their previous contract fully expired—and Carlos Sainz Jr. will exit the team at the end of the 2024 season, similar to how Sebastian Vettel left in 2020.

The timing is just precise enough that it's easy to crack jokes about how Hamilton saw Mercedes' 2024 car and sprinted away as fast as he possibly could. It's also the most logical explanation for a decision that was genuinely unimaginable back in 2020, when Hamilton and Mercedes seemed inseparable: Two years of wasted development on the zero-pod concept were simply two years too many, especially with a strict spending cap. Mercedes managed to eke out a second-place finish in the constructor championship over Ferrari last year (three points!), but they got there out of consistency and not pace.

After 11 seasons with Mercedes Hamilton is hungry for an eighth championship. He's also 39 years old, and if the upcoming 2026 engine regulation changes will make picking a team a gamble, he may as well get himself one year at a non-Mercedes team before then, especially one who reportedly poached an engineer he trusted. And why not reunite with Fred Vasseur, who ran the ART Grand Prix team that Hamilton won GP2 with, way back in 2006?

‘How Exactly Is This Thing Going To Work?’

https://defector.com/how-exactly-is-...-going-to-work


Details of Lewis Hamilton's contract with Ferrari emerge online including 'special clause'
Published 15:34, 02 February 2024 GMT
Ryan Smart
SPORTbible

French outlet Sportune report that the deal with Ferrari is worth $80 million per year, with $20 million of that sum given in bonuses 'for the benefit of' Hamilton's foundation, which would put him in line with what Red Bull's Max Verstappen is earning. Italian outlet Formu1a.uno add that Hamilton's overall earnings will be made up from a combination of salary, sponsors, image rights, bonuses and more. They claim that the total figure will be around $100 million per year.

The same outlet claims that Hamilton was given technical guarantees as a clause during contract negotiations which convinced him to sign, mainly surrounding the engine that Ferrari are developing to meet the new technical regulations in 2026. Forbes reported in November that Hamilton had earned a salary of $55 million (around £43.4 million) at Mercedes in 2023, but with no bonus listed.

‘Details of contract with Ferrari emerge’;

https://www.sportbible.com/f1/lewis-...91663-20240202

[Fortitude]

Formula One's invitation for in-person meeting with Andretti Cadillac went to a spam email folder.
Formula One's invitation to Andretti Cadillac for an in-person meeting about its application to join the motorsports series was sent via email and landed in a spam folder…
Published: 17:44, 2 February 2024
By Associated Press
Mail Online

The invitation was news to the Andretti camp. Its IT team later discovered the request in a search of the email system; the email was not from F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, but a staff member of the series.

"We were not aware that the offer of a meeting had been extended and would not decline a meeting with Formula One Management. An in-person meeting to discuss commercial matters would be and remains of paramount importance to Andretti Cadillac," the team said. "We welcome the opportunity to meet with Formula One Management and have written to them confirming our interest." Andretti Cadillac.

‘Spam folder’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap...il-folder.html


F1's in-person meeting invite with Andretti Cadillac went to spam email folder
Published Feb 02, 2024 at 12:39 PM ET
TSN

Formula One's invitation to Andretti Cadillac for an in-person meeting about its application to join the motorsports series was sent via email and landed in a spam folder, which is why Michael Andretti and General Motors representatives never answered the request. The junk email revelation came Friday as Andretti Global sought to clarify two points in the sharply critical document F1 released earlier this week in rejecting the Andretti Cadillac application.

F1 said it had contacted the Andretti camp on Dec. 12 “extending an invitation to an in-person meeting at our offices in order for the applicant to present its application, but the applicant did not take us up on this offer.”

The invitation was news to the Andretti camp. Its IT team later discovered the request in a search of the email system; the email was not from F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, but a staff member of the series.

‘Spam email folder’;

https://www.tsn.ca/auto-racing/formu...lder-1.2070948


F1's invitation for in-person meeting with Andretti Cadillac went to a spam email folder
Feb 2nd 2024 at 2:45PM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Autoblog

Formula One's invitation to Andretti Cadillac for an in-person meeting about its application to join the motorsports series was sent via email and landed in a spam folder, which is why Michael Andretti and General Motors representatives never answered the request.

The junk email revelation came Friday as Andretti Global sought to clarify two points in the sharply critical document F1 released earlier this week in rejecting the Andretti Cadillac application.

‘Spam email folder’;

https://www.autoblog.com/2024/02/02/...Vv9PJ_1Eq_2-j2


F1 meeting invite landed in Andretti Cadillac's spam email folder
Michael Andretti and General Motors representatives say they were unaware of the request until Formula One claimed its invitation had been ignored.
21:20 Fri, 02 Feb 2024
By AP via Scripps News
Scripps News

Formula One's invitation to Andretti Cadillac for an in-person meeting about its application to join the motorsports series was sent via email and landed in a spam folder, which is why Michael Andretti and General Motors representatives never answered the request. The junk email revelation came Friday as Andretti Global sought to clarify two points in the sharply critical document F1 released earlier this week in rejecting the Andretti Cadillac application.

F1 said it had contacted the Andretti camp on Dec. 12 "extending an invitation to an in-person meeting at our offices in order for the applicant to present its application, but the applicant did not take us up on this offer."

The invitation was news to the Andretti camp. Its IT team later discovered the request in a search of the email system; the email was not from F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, but a staff member of the series.

‘Junk email revelation’;

https://scrippsnews.com/stories/f1-m...-email-folder/


Guenther Steiner defends F1 over rejection of "too ambitious" Andretti-Cadillac plan
Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner was one of the first big names in the F1 world to give his reaction to news that Andretti-Cadillac's bid to create a new team had been rejected
21:34 Wed, 31 Jan 2024.
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

Guenther Steiner thinks Andretti-Cadillac were undone by a Formula 1 plan that was "too ambitious". Speaking to ESPN, Steiner agreed that the new team was unlikely to have any success if it joined the grid as early as planned. "I think they looked at it and thought it was too ambitious," said the former Haas team principal.

"I don't have all the information. Maybe they looked at it and they said, 'We want them but we want to make sure they are successful when they come' - to protect them from themselves.”

"I think F1 is protecting all the teams, everyone involved in the sport, they didn't close the door completely. They said '28 is a new day, a new year, it's quite a few years away, it's not tomorrow but the door is open. Show us you can get prepared and be competitive by then and I think we'd welcome them."

‘Make sure they are successful when they come - to protect them from themselves’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...einer-32015604

[typhoon]

This is a joke. If such high-profile personnel wants to get in touch, they would have Domenicali's mobile literally in 5 minutes. lol

[Fortitude]

Haas F1 Team Unveils All-New VF-24 Race Car for 2024 Formula 1 Season, Better Call Gene.
The American outfit will be looking to improve on their performance from last year, when they finished dead last in the Constructors standings with just 12 points (4 points shy of Alfa Romeo).
Published: 2 Feb 2024, 15:01 UTC
Sergiu Tudose
autoevolution

Right off the bat, we can tell you this isn’t the real car, but rather an official rendering. We won’t see the real thing until it hits the track for a shakedown at Silverstone on February 11.

Anyway, design-wise, we can’t tell much from the nose. It looks similar to last year’s front section, which means we’ll probably see the final design come February 11. What’s clearly new though is the shape of the sidepod inlets. A little reminiscent of what Ferrari did last year.

‘Better Call Gene’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/h...ne-228659.html


Launch renders reveal design secrets of new Haas F1 car
08:46 Sat, 03 Feb 2024.
AUTHORMatt Somerfield
Motorsport.com

The team is looking to build on the development trajectory that it pursued during 2023 and the most obvious alteration is the design of the sidepods. This is a continuation of the development made by Haas at the United States Grand Prix last season.

A large blister on the surface of the floor on the VF-24 confirms it has now taken that approach, which has allowed designers to not only expand the size of the undercut but also refine the position and shape of the inlet.

Notably, this now echoes the Red Bull RB19’s design, with an elongated lower lip used to define the airflow’s passage either into or around the sidepod inlet.

‘Design secrets of new Haas F1 car’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/l...-car/10571898/


Haas's striking launch pessimism shows there's no quick fix
Feb 3, 2024
by Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race

A brand new car – even one with a familiar look – is the first real kick-off for what Haas hopes will be a more successful era under new leadership, but Formula 1’s bottom team could find things get harder before they improve.

Honesty is great – Komatsu’s predecessor Guenther Steiner was famed for it – and there is no sense in Haas blowing smoke about its prospects if it truly expects to be in for a difficult start. But it is still worrying, given Haas finished last in the championship and had such clear car issues to overcome.

Komatsu says plainly that the launch-spec Haas is “not going to be quick enough in Bahrain” and his hopes are so low that he reckons Haas will probably be the worst team at the start of the season: “Out of the gates in Bahrain we’re going to be towards the back of the grid, if not last.”

‘There's no quick fix’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/h...nch-pessimism/


New Haas boss criticises key Guenther Steiner decision as F1 minnows face massive issue
Haas became the first F1 team to launch their 2024 car livery on Friday - but it came with a warning from new boss Ayao Komatsu not to expect to see it anywhere near the front of the grid
15:34 Fri, 02 Feb 2024.
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

New Haas chief Ayao Komatsu admitted he expects his team to start the new Formula 1 season dead last. "Out of the gates in Bahrain, I still think we're going to be towards the back of the grid, if not last," was his glum prediction. "Since I've become team principal, I've spent a lot of time talking to managers - both in the UK and Italy - and they're excited because it's an opportunity to improve and there are areas of improvement everywhere.”

"The reason our launch-spec car is not going to be quick enough in Bahrain is not because of the quality of the people we have here, but it's because we started late and then we stopped for two months to do the Austin upgrade. It really diverted resources, so we lost time there.”

"But the team is finding good gains in the wind tunnel, so that's positive and in terms of characteristics, it's going in the right direction. The focus is to have a good test program for Bahrain so that we come away from the test having quality data for the team to analyse and understand which direction to develop the car.”

"Out of the gates in Bahrain… … back of the grid, if not last";

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...einer-32032224


Needless Guenther Steiner ‘barriers’ removed in major Haas staff shake-up
03 Feb 2024 2:30 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

New Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has outlined behind-the-scenes changes that are taking shape in the post-Guenther Steiner era. Having taken stock of where the team is over his first few weeks in the top job, Komatsu believes the first year in their new form is a chance to build upwards. He also sees this restructuring as a chance to improve efficiency from what came before.

“Obviously it’s been busy, but it’s been really positive,” he said when asked about his opening weeks as team principal. Everyone I speak to sees this as an opportunity to improve. I think many people were feeling the same thing – not knowing where this team was going, how it’s going to improve.”

‘Haas staff shake-up’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-f...einer-barriers


Haas VF24: A New Chapter for the F1 Team?
18:42 Fri, 02 Feb 2024
Motorsport.com

Bryn Lucas talks to Alex Kalinauckas and Jake Boxall-Legge to discuss Haas' 2024 hopes, what Hulkenburg and Magnussen need to do this year, whether Haas replacing Guenther with Komatsu will help the team, and whether Andretti really should consider buying F1's current American team out.

COMMENTS: BOlafson
New chapter, same old book: off the shelf parts and copies of last years innovation by others. Destination: tenth again.

‘Haas' 2024 hopes discussed’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/video/...1-team/646080/


Haas expecting to start the 2024 season among tail-enders
February 3, 2024 at 2:13 AM
The Straits Times

LONDON - Haas expect to start the Formula One season among the tail-enders, new boss Ayao Komatsu said on Friday as the U.S.-owned team became the first to present their 2024 challenger.

Komatsu said the immediate aim was to come away from testing in Bahrain with quality data to provide updates during the season. He added that while the Austin update delayed the new car's development, it provided more confidence in what was being presented now.

"We're all realistic that our launch car in Bahrain will not necessarily turn heads, but our concentration and focus is to work with the VF-24, understand the car and then define the correct pathway to upgrade the car," he explained.

‘Start among tail-enders’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...ng-tail-enders


Haas name new Technical Director and performance chief after winter reshuffle
02 February 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Fresh from presenting the livery for their new F1 challenger, Haas have announced a series of changes to key design and engineering positions as they gear up for the 2024 season.

With the VF-24 colour scheme being revealed to the world on Friday afternoon, Haas also shared the news that Andrea De Zordo is taking on the primary technical position after several seasons serving as Chief Designer below Resta.

‘Winter reshuffle’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...pk0pA4FH6.html


Here is the new Haas
Posted on February 2, 2024 by Joe Saward
Joe Saward's Grand Prix Blog

LT says: Does it move forward?
Joe Saward says: No it only goes backwards…
Brent says: and yet the asset value climbs.
Joe Saward says: Yes.

Ash says: R Daltrey: “Meet the new Haas!”
P Townshend: [krang, kerrang]
R Daltrey: “Same as the old Haas!”
Etc., etc.

Silverstone Man says: Will look great in everyone’s rearview mirror.
Joe Saward says: You should change your name to Brackley man…

‘P Townshend: [krang, kerrang]’;

https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2024...-the-new-haas/

[Fortitude]

Toto Wolff fuels speculation of a former world champion replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes... with the star refusing to rule out a return to the sport last year.
A multi-time Formula One world champion could be set for a shock return to the sport, fans have speculated.
Published: 14:53, 4 February 2024
By Lewis Browning For Mailonline
Mail Online

Words from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff this week have fuelled speculation that a Formula One legend could be set for a shock return and step into the seat vacated by Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel retired from the sport at the end of the 2022 season, putting an end to a 15-year career that saw him win four world championships and 53 wins.

Wolf revealed he is in regular dialogue with Vettel, leading to fans suggesting the 36-year-old could be the one to replace Hamilton, but the man himself played down speculation. 'I think he made the decision to not race anymore,' Wolff told AMUS. 'We are talking on a regular basis. We've also talked yesterday, but it wasn't about driving for us in the future.'

‘Toto Wolff fuels speculation’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-champion.html


Wolff won’t rule out signing Alonso or Verstappen for 2025
With Lewis Hamilton heading to Ferrari for the 2025, Mercedes finds themselves with big shoes to fill
February 3, 2024
By Jasmine Hughes
Total Motorsport

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has not ruled out signing anyone to replace Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 Formula 1 season, including Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen.

“48 hours ago, I wouldn’t have thought that Lewis would tell me that he would be driving for Ferrari next year,” Wolff told the media. “That’s why I wouldn’t rule anything out in Formula 1.”

“I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues to make the right decisions about who will be in the cockpit next year,” continued Wolff. “Maybe this is the chance to do something bold.”

“Chance to do something bold”;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...rstappen-2025/


Red Bull 'agree deal' for Sergio Perez's replacement as Toto Wolff loses Mercedes option
Red Bull driver Sergio Perez will be out of contract at the end of the 2024 season.
11:03, Sat, Feb 3, 2024
By Fraser Watson
Daily and Sunday Express

F1 pundit Peter Windsor has claimed that Albon, who drove for Christian Horner’s team in 2019 and 2020 before being demoted to the role of test driver, will make a surprise return to partner Max Verstappen: “As I understand it, Albon has been offered a 3-year contract by Red Bull to start in 2025,” he said on his YouTube channel.

“So I think you are going to see him alongside Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. I can't imagine he is going to say no to it. As I understand it's not a 100% but 90% correct."

As for Perez, the news is now likely to make him a candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, with the seven-time world champion joining Ferrari at the end of the year. That’s despite finishing second behind teammate Verstappen last season, and helping Horner and co to a second successive constructors’ title.

‘Perez, a candidate to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ilton-Mercedes


Why Lewis Hamilton replacement is ‘not an easy situation’ for Toto Wolff
04 Feb 2024 10:30 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

With Andrea Kimi Antonelli not yet ready for F1, finding a new team-mate for George Russell after Lewis Hamilton announced he’s off to Ferrari won’t be “an easy situation” for Mercedes. Hamilton shocked the motor racing world on Thursday when it was confirmed he’d be leaving Mercedes at the end of this season to head to rival team Ferrari.

Having only informed his team boss Toto Wolff about his decision some 36 hours before the official confirmation, Mercedes have been left reeling as they contemplate what comes next, and, more importantly, who comes next as Hamilton’s replacement. From reserve driver Mick Schumacher to former Mercedes junior Esteban Ocon, just about every driver’s name is on the list of potential candidates although it is thought Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso are leading the running.

The big question, though, is whether either would consider a one-year contract for 2025 as Mercedes have protégé Antonelli already pencilled in as Russell’s future team-mate. Sky Italia’s Roberto Chinchero believes Mercedes, if they want a star driver alongside Russell for 2025, would be best served putting a two-year deal on the table.

‘Not an easy situation for Toto Wolff’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...ation-mercedes


What Wolff's 'pragmatism' tells us about Mercedes post-Hamilton
04 February 7:00AM
Author Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

It is the morning of Wednesday 31st January and you are Toto Wolff. Later this morning, you have your traditional pre-season catch-up breakfast with Lewis Hamilton pencilled in as the work continues at Brackley to prepare for the launch of the 2024 challenger - the W15 on February 14th - and then getting everything shipped off to Bahrain for testing and the first race. Lewis has just had a seat fit in the new machine and on Friday, he is set for some time in the simulator to test if tangible progress has been made with the third attempt at a ground-effects car.

He arrives at your Oxford home and as the talks begin, Hamilton drops the news that he has decided to activate the break clause in his contract and wants to leave the team at the end of the 2024 season and join Ferrari for 2025. Immediately after the news was delivered by Hamilton, Wolff explained how he went into 'what is best for Mercedes mode' and began game-planning what was to come once the news went public. "When he first told me, my next thought was pragmatic," Wolff told media including RacingNews365.

"[I thought]: 'What does it mean? When are we communicating this? What are the pressure points? How are we managing the season going forward, and what are we going to do in terms of driver line-up?” As American author Erin Morgenstern wrote in The Night Circus: "All empires fall eventually; it is the way of things." But it is also important to note that Mercedes is bigger than Lewis Hamilton, the driver. Granted, he is the most famous driver on the planet, but sentimentality for past glories only gets you so far - take Ayrton Senna trying to leave McLaren in the 1990s for Williams or Ferrari forcing Michael Schumacher out in 2006 to make way for Kimi Raikkonen.

'Pragmatism';

https://racingnews365.com/wolff-uncl...-hamilton-ally

[Fortitude]

Spam Folder May Have Sunk Michael Andretti’s Formula One Bid.
The Associated Press reported on February 2 that the IT department at Andretti’s offices discovered the email after searching through its computer files.
Feb 2, 2024,08:23pm EST
Bruce Martin Contributor
Forbes

F1 had said it sent an email to the Andretti group on December 12, “extending an invitation to an in-person meeting at our offices in order for the applicant to present its application, but the applicant did not take us up on this offer.”

Such a revelation was a complete surprise to Andretti, and when its IT team scoured its email system, it discovered that the email came from an F1 staffer and not F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. Because the email address was unfamiliar to Andretti’s IT system, it was rejected and put in a “Spam” folder.

Whether FOM would have approved Andretti if the group had attended the meeting in December is uncertain, but the optics of not communicating were taken as an insult by F1 officials, who did not realize the email never made it to Andretti or General Motors officials.

‘Email address was unfamiliar to Andretti’s IT system’;

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucema...rmula-one-bid/


Why Andretti doesn’t accept F1’s rejection arguments
UPDATEDFEB 4, 2024, 5:05 PM
AUTHOR: Adam Cooper
Motorsport.com

One revelation in the F1 statement was the claim that “we subsequently wrote to the applicant on 12 December, 2023 extending an invitation to an in-person meeting at our offices in order for the applicant to present its application, but the applicant did not take us up on this offer". While not saying that Andretti had declined, the implication appeared to be that Andretti was reluctant to engage with F1, before the team’s Friday response made it clear that it didn’t know about the invitation.

“We were not aware that the offer of a meeting had been extended and would not decline a meeting with Formula One Management,” it said. “An in-person meeting to discuss commercial matters would be and remains of paramount importance to Andretti Cadillac. We welcome the opportunity to meet with Formula One Management and have written to them confirming our interest.” It emerged that the email, which came from an F1 employee rather than Domenicali, had been found in a spam folder. It sounds ridiculous, but such things can happen to any of us.

And if the sender doesn’t phone or follow up, how could you possibly know that such an important message was ever sent? As a result of the IT mishap, F1 issued its rejection statement without conducting any face-to-face enquiries with or hearing a presentation from Andretti, relying instead on the info given to the FIA and some supplementary questions submitted in October.

‘Andretti doesn’t accept F1’s rejection’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/w...sion/10572307/


Andretti hits back at F1 rejection with DEFIANT response
Saturday 3 February 2024 21:59
Tyler Rowlinson
GPFans

Andretti Cadillac have responded defiantly to news that their bid to enter F1 for the 2025 and 2026 season has been rejected. In an official statement, Andretti hit back at the decision and thanked fans for their support as their work continues behind the scenes.

It said: “Andretti Cadillac has reviewed the information Formula One Management Limited has shared and strongly disagree with its contents. Andretti and Cadillac are two successful global motorsports organisations committed to placing a genuine American works team in F1, competing alongside the world’s best.”

“We are proud of the significant progress we have already made on developing a highly competitive car and power unit with an experienced team behind it, and our work continues at pace. Andretti Cadillac would also like to acknowledge and thank the fans who have expressed their support.”

‘DEFIANT response’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...iant-response/


Andretti’s spam folder might have intervened with its F1 bid
New information about Andretti’s failed Formula 1 bid has come to light, as disagreements between Andretti Formula Racing and F1 continue.
February 4, 2024
By Jasmine Hughes
Total Motorsport

In the full statement outlining the reason behind F1’s decision to reject Andretti’s bid, F1 stated that it had extended an invitation to an in-person meeting to Andretti in December 2023. It added, “the applicant did not take us up on this offer”. Staff at Andretti’s Indianapolis-based office have since found the invitation to this meeting. The email – sent by F1 back in December – had gone straight to Andretti’s spam folder.

Andretti, in a press release issued in response to F1’s decision, emphasised that it had been unaware of any invitation extended by the sport. “We were not aware that the offer of a meeting had been extended and would not decline a meeting with Formula One Management,” they said. “An in-person meeting to discuss commercial matters would be and remains of paramount importance to Andretti Cadillac.”

‘Andretti’s spam folder’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ntervened-bid/


F1’s Invitation to Meet Andretti Cadillac Was Lost in Spam
Formula One Management thought Andretti Cadillac blew them off.
PUBLISHED Feb 4, 2024 10:25 AM EST
By Nico DeMattia
The Drive

Formula 1 ruffled the feathers of most American motorsport fans earlier this week when it denied Andretti Cadillac's application to join the sport. According to F1, one of the reasons why Andretti was rejected was because he and his team failed to respond to an invitation to meet in person with Formula One Marketing, which they took as Andretti blowing them off. However, according to AP News, Andretti's tech department said the invitation email was never received because it went to the company's spam folder.

Andretti's team went scouring for the invitation email after F1's rejection document was revealed. The team discovered that the email was sent to spam because of who it came from. Rather than being sent from F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, the email was sent from a member of his staff.

Now that Andretti Cadillac claims that F1's invitation was sent to spam and still wants to meet in person, does F1 reopen the application and meet with the American team?

‘Lost in Spam’;

https://www.thedrive.com/news/f1s-in...s-lost-in-spam

[Fortitude]

Williams and Stake F1 kick off launch season with differing goals ahead.
Williams and Stake will today become the first teams to unveil their car ahead of the 2024 season.
05 Feb 2024 7:30 AM
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

While both Haas and McLaren have already shown off their liveries, Williams and the newly-branded Stake F1 will kick start launch season proper today as both lift the covers off their 2024 runner.

Williams have chance to take another step forward as James Vowles’ project continues. The mood around the Grove camp feels a lot different than it did this time last year. This time last season, Vowles had not been long in the job after a surprise departure from Jost Capito off the back of a P10 finish in the 2022 championship.

Enter Stake. The Australian cryptocurrency has increased their sponsorship of the team for 2024, naming it the catchy Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and wheeling out rapper Drake to promote it. The partnership started in 2023 with Stake reportedly paying close to AU$140 million (£72 million) to get their name on the car but the figure will most likely have risen for exclusive naming rights.

‘Kick off launch season’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/wi...-launch-season


What F1 car launches take place this week?
05 February 9:15AM
Author RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Four uncoverings take place this week across a number of locations as the first race in Bahrain draws nearer, so here RacingNews365 brings you all the information you need to enjoy each reveal.

Williams - February 5
Williams will hold a special launch event in New York City later today [February 5] to unveil the FW46.
Stake Sauber - February 5
The launch will almost certainly be one of the more stylish as well, with London's Guildhall hosting the event. The launch will be available to watch on Kick from 19:00 GMT [14:00 EST] tonight [February 5].

Alpine - February 7
The French manufacturer will launch the F1 car alongside it's World Endurance Championship Hypercar project, which will surely be a fascinating occasion.
Visa Cash App RB - February 8
F1 returns to Las Vegas for the launch of the Visa Cash App RB team.

‘F1 car launches’;

https://racingnews365.com/what-f1-ca...lace-this-week


The design trends to look for as 2024 F1 cars are revealed
Feb 5, 2024
by Edd Straw
The Race

UNDERFLOOR HEIGHT: The powerful ground effect venturi tunnels in the underfloor are the primary downforce generator of an F1 car.
SIDEPODS: Given we’ll have to wait for a serendipitous car recovery to get a clear look at the floors, the sidepods are the next best thing in terms of something to spot as soon as 2024 cars are revealed.

CHASSIS SHAPE: Red Bull had a more V-shaped chassis than the rest last year. There’s every chance more will go in this direction.
COCKPIT POSITION: Lewis Hamilton’s complaints about the cockpit positioning early in the season grabbed the headlines. He felt he was sat too far forward…

PUSHROD vs PULLROD SUSPENSION: Whether cars have pushrod or pullrod suspension configurations is one of the most obvious design decisions to spot when you first see a new F1 car.
PLATFORM CONTROL: As the interaction of the aerodynamic and mechanical characteristics is crucial in getting the best out of the current ground effect F1 cars, platform control is therefore essential. And Red Bull has shown great mastery of this.

‘UNEXPECTED INNOVATION: F1’s regulations may be highly prescriptive, with expectations of even greater convergence of car designs this year. But that doesn’t mean someone won’t spring a surprise’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f...nds-to-expect/


Williams Racing strikes VAST Data deal
5 Feb 2024
By Matthew Ord
Insider Media

Pat Fry, chief technical officer at Williams Racing, said: "It is fantastic to welcome VAST Data as an official partner, enhancing our data-driven approach to performance as we strengthen on and off track.”

"At Williams Racing, we are always striving for excellence and seeking innovative solutions to gain a competitive edge in a sport with extremely fine margins.”

"F1 teams generate enormous amounts of data every day, so we're privileged to partner with VAST Data whose expertise in managing and processing large datasets will play a crucial role in optimising our performance."

‘Pat Fry: Seeking innovative solutions’;

https://www.insidermedia.com/news/so...vast-data-deal


Maloney Confirmed as Stake F1 Team Reserve Driver
15:51 Wed, 31 Jan 2024.
InsideF2

Former Red Bull Junior, Zane Maloney, has been announced as part of the Sauber Academy ahead of the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season starting in March. As part of his duties, he will become Reserve Driver for Stake F1 Team (formally Alfa Romeo) sharing his responsibilities with F2 2023 champion, Théo Pourchaire.

Maloney progressed into F2 following a stellar season in F3 where he challenged Victor Martins for the title. His fight went to the final race of 2022 in Monza, which was cut short due to a red flag, swinging the championship favours to Martins.

‘Stake F1 Team Reserve Driver’;

https://www.insidef2.com/maloney-con...eserve-driver/