-
Aston Martin ups the ante, offers Newey £100 million deal!
Aston Martin F1 has reportedly tabled a staggering £100 million offer for Adrian Newey’s highly coveted services, a hefty sum, spread over four years, that dwarfs what Ferrari has proposed.
23rd July 2024
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Until recently, Ferrari appeared to hold the upper hand against its rivals, with Newey allegedly open to fulfilling a super consultant role with the Italian outfit that would not require a permanent presence at Maranello.
However, according to a recent report from Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport, Newey’s financial demands and a request to bring 20 Red Bull engineers with him, have led to Ferrari taking a step back from the talks.
Cue Aston Martin and executive chairman Lawrence Stroll who, after giving Newey an introductory royal tour last month of his team’s state-of-the-art new headquarters and factory at Silverstone, has apparently upped the ante.
‘£100 million deal!’;
https://f1i.com/news/514789-aston-ma...lion-deal.html
Adrian Newey ‘€100 million’ offer on table as new ‘favourite’ for signature emerges – report
23 Jul 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
A report from Germany has claimed that Aston Martin have tabled a significant offer to Adrian Newey to sign for the team from next season, worth up to €100million. German publication F1-Insider has reported that Aston Martin are the current ‘favourites’ to land Newey’s signature, claiming team owner Lawrence Stroll is willing to pay the sport’s most successful designer up to €100m (£84m) over four years to potentially usurp what Ferrari are offering the current Red Bull chief technology officer.
Newey, who recently drove Niki Lauda’s title-winning Ferrari 312 up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, is having his next move overseen by his friend and manager, former team owner Eddie Jordan, who quipped in an interview with F1-Insider:
“My name is Newey, Adrian Newey!” – Though the report stresses that quote should be taken as humour and not interpreted as an indication of Newey’s potential next move, with that line being a play on the famous catchphrase from the James Bond films in which ‘007’ drives Aston Martins.
“My name is Newey, Adrian Newey!”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian...r-aston-martin
More team order drama emerges after Lance Stroll denies Fernando Alonso points
22 Jul 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
In a radio exchange missed by the TV broadcast, Stroll’s race engineer Andrew Vizard requested several times that Stroll allow Alonso through into P10 before the chequered flag. “Now. You need to switch back before the line, Fernando is four seconds behind you, there’s no pressure behind,” came the first request. That was met by silence.
“Lance, I suggest you drop back, let Fernando pass. He’s four seconds back,” Vizard urged again. Still, Stroll had no reply to offer. “Okay, that’s the flag. That is the flag.” With that final message from Vizard, Stroll’s window to let Alonso through had gone and he claimed the final point on offer in Hungary.
‘More team order dram’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lance-...ry-team-orders
“I would have passed Fernando”: Stroll ignored team’s order to let Alonso by
22nd July 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
An overlooked team orders row in the Hungarian Grand Prix played out very different to the one which decided the outcome of the race. Alonso’s race engineer Chris Cronin gave him warning of the team’s plan. “Fernando we’ve got one more lap to close up on Tsunoda,” he said with eight laps to go. “But if not we might give… we’re going to give Lance a chance.”
“We will swap back,” Cronin added after they changed places. “If he doesn’t get him, we will swap back.” Stroll was given similar messages at the same time “Fernando will give you DRS, we’ll go past him into turn one and then we need to get Tsunoda,” his race engineer Andrew Vizard told him.
“Everything to get Tsunoda now, otherwise we will swap back at the end of the race,” he added. However from the outset Stroll indicated his dissatisfaction with the instruction. “I would have passed Fernando, but okay,” he replied.
‘Stroll ignored team’s order’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/07/22/...let-alonso-by/
Stroll defied Aston team order to claim final point in Hungary
22/07/2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Stroll had secured the tenth-place finish and the final championship point for himself, leaving Alonso empty-handed. Oddly, neither driver commented on the team order snub after the race, perhaps to keep any discord out of the public eye.
Alonso, however, expressed his frustration with the overall strategy. “I think the strategy was not the right one today,” he said. “Obviously, now after the race, easy to say.” Alonso pointed to the early pit stop on lap 7 and the long stint on medium and hard tyres as the root cause of his shortfall in the race.
“I think we stopped on Lap 7 and then from that point, 63 laps with one medium, one hard, was a little bit optimistic,” he explained. “So, not a great pace and the strategy didn’t help.”
‘Keeping any discord out of the public eye’;
https://f1i.com/news/514782-stroll-d...n-hungary.html
Furious Fernando Alonso throws his jacket on the ground at the Hungarian Grand Prix - as Aston Martin driver insists an 'unwritten rule' was broken in qualifying
21 July 2024
Adrian Bishop
MailOnline
Footage has emerged of an infuriated Fernando Alonso throwing his jacket to the ground during a heated discussion with race officials at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Alonso was in the process of completing a flying lap during the closing stages of Q3 when a horror crash involving Yuki Tsunoda saw the red flags brought out.
The controversial decision caused several drivers, including the 42-year-old, to be unable to complete their final lap ahead of Sunday's race. Following the incident Alonso expressed his disdain for the decision, and a clip shared on social media showed the Spaniard remonstrating with an official after the fact. Speaking following the incident Alonso vented his frustration with officials, insisting the FIA made 'gross mistakes' during qualifying.
'The truth is that the FIA sometimes gets it right and sometimes they make gross mistakes,' Alonso told DAZN. 'Today they had made one. It's surprising to me because when there's an accident there, they usually wait until the cars have finished their laps. That's an unwritten rule, at least. I had improved by one and a half tenths by the last corner when the red flag came out.'
‘Throws his jacket on the ground’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ualifying.html
-
‘Poor start and bad first lap’ put Hulkenberg ‘on the back foot’.
Nico Hulkenberg was unable to score points in Hungary, finishing in P13 for Haas.
21 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘On the back foot’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/po...02968115266959
Magnussen 'rolled the dice' with strategy in P15 finish at the Hungaroring
21 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Kevin Magnussen says he "rolled the dice" with strategy, but accepts Haas "didn't have the pace" to fight for points after P15 finish in the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix.
'Rolled the dice';
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/ma...04268391440079
Hungarian Grand Prix: Race Recap
July 21, 2024
Haas F1 Team - Official Site
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team finished with Nico Hulkenberg 13th, and Kevin Magnussen 15th, at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Round 13 of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, held Sunday at the Hungaroring.
Nico Hulkenberg: “It was a poor start and a pretty bad first lap that caught us out and put us on the back foot, and when you don’t have track position – which it’s all about around here – it’s very difficult. When you’re running behind in dirty air, you have to try something and push your luck, and an early stop was the answer to that.”
Kevin Magnussen: “We rolled the dice a little bit with the soft tire start, which a couple of others did, and I gained a lot of positions on the first lap. I got overcut by a few cars and ultimately, we didn’t have the pace today to fight for points. I feel we could’ve done better in qualifying, but looking at the pace today I don’t think we were in the running for points anyway.”
‘Race Recap’;
https://www.haasf1team.com/news/hung...x-race-recap-6
Hungarian GP sparks team radio anger, Magnussen out at Haas and more
A McLaren 1-2 in Hungary leads to an intra-team battle over team radio. Haas dominates the headlines this week with news on Kevin Magnussen's future and developments in their feud with a former sponsor.
July 21, 2024
Wesley Branton
Racing Clothesline No Dirty Laundry, Just Motorsport News!
With Oliver Bearman joining the team in 2025, many have speculated who will race alongside the rookie in the other Haas seat. We now know who won’t be. Haas has announced that they will not renew Kevin Magnussen’s contract, which expires at the end of the season. With the 2025 grid quickly taking shape, it’s unclear what opportunities, if any, are available for the Dane in Formula One. Magnussen replaced Esteban Gutierrez on the team in 2017, having previously competed in single-season stints with McLaren and Renault.
The dispute between Haas and their former sponsor Uralkali continues, with the Russian company now claiming the American team has missed a payment deadline. The dispute revolves around the termination of Uralkali’s sponsorship deal for 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier that year. Although a Swiss arbitration court ruled that Haas hadn’t breached the contract, they did agree that the team should refund most of the $13 million that had been paid as part of the sponsorship deal.
Additionally, the team must give Uralkali a 2021 car, as part of the original sponsorship agreement. A statement from Uralkali claims that Haas has been ignoring communications from the company and that they have missed the court-issued deadline for payment of the owed funds and car.
‘No Dirty Laundry, Just Motorsport News!’;
https://racingclothesline.com/formul...haas-and-more/
Matt Bishop: 'Magnussen should say goodbye to F1 and enjoy victory elsewhere'
July 23rd 2024
Matt Bishop
Motor Sport Magazine
I know Kevin very well, having first met him in 2010 when, as a cocky 17-year-old, he was enrolled in the McLaren Driver Development Programme when I was the team’s communications director. So it was that I was not surprised by his Haas team’s press statement on Thursday, announcing that he would not be a part of its 2025 driver line-up.
Even so, I was sad to read it, and I was touched by his plucky reaction when inevitably he was quizzed about it by the F1 media in the Hungaroring paddock: “Would I have liked to continue here [at Haas]? I think, you know, had I continued, it would have been cool to see, you know, the fruits of the momentum that’s been built here recently.”
“That would’ve been interesting, but I think there’s also other interesting projects out there, and there’s still seats available in F1. So, right now, I think the best thing is just to focus on doing good races and being in contention for the seats available, and things will fall into place eventually.”
‘Enjoy victory elsewhere';
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
Magnussen hopes to remain in F1 – all remaining seats ‘interesting’
Thu, 18 Jul 2024
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Kevin Magnussen admits it would have been ‘cool’ to continue with Haas in 2025 given the team’s improvements, but the Dane hopes he’ll be in contention for one of several remaining seats in F1.
Regardless of what his F1 future may hold, Magnussen has no intention of hanging up his helmet anytime soon. Well, I don’t see myself putting an end to racing, you know, anytime soon,” he said “So, I think, you know, I’m in Formula 1.”
“Of course, Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, but I’ve always been of the opinion that racing outside of Formula 1 is also awesome. So, I think while you have a chance to be here, you need to do that. I’ve had a few chances, actually, but you don’t get a chance every day to race in Formula 1. So, you know, it’s natural that everyone tries to stay here.”
‘No intention of hanging up his helmet’;
https://f1i.com/news/514112-magnusse...teresting.html
Why Gene Haas has delayed announcing Esteban Ocon as the team’s second driver for 2025
21 July 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
There are a handful of seats left to be confirmed for the 2025 Formula 1 season but one announcement appears to be close. Haas are one of the surprise packages on the grid this year after finishing bottom of the Constructors’ Championship last campaign.
Gene Haas is currently delaying an announcement on Esteban Ocon’s future for one key reason. It could have something to do with Haas being the smallest team on the grid and the budget constraints that puts on them in negotiations.
Gene Haas delaying announcement of Esteban Ocon as 2025 F1 driver. The report from AMuS suggests that Ocon is a ‘sure successor’ to Magnussen at Haas but that his signature is still missing from the final contract. That’s because Gene Haas is attempting to try and reduce Ocon’s salary by delaying reaching a final agreement. However, they go on to say that it’s unlikely that this tactic is going to ‘achieve its goal’.
‘Budget constraints’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/why...iver-for-2025/
Belgian Grand Prix: Race Preview
July 23, 2024
Haas F1 Team - Official Site
The final event ahead of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship’s summer recess takes MoneyGram Haas F1 Team to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, venue for the Belgian Grand Prix, Round 14 of the 2024 season.
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal: “I’m looking forward to going back to Spa, it’s a pretty challenging circuit both in terms of car and driver. The circuit requires a pretty efficient car due to the long straights in sectors one and three and balancing that with the flowing sequence in sector two will be the challenge.”
“Spa always provides interesting racing with plenty of overtaking opportunities and the famous weather in Spa-Francorchamps can always add to the excitement. I’m looking forward to finishing the final race before the shutdown on a high!”
‘Race Preview’;
https://www.haasf1team.com/news/belg...x-race-preview
-
Albon explains feisty radio message during Hungarian GP.
Alex Albon was heard berating his Williams race engineer over the radio, and explained afterwards why he was so frustrated.
21 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Feisty radio’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/al...03842844821584
‘That start haunts me’ says Sargeant after run to P17 in Hungary
21 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Logan Sargeant started 14th in Budapest but slipped to 17th at the flag and said he was left with an “uphill battle” after a poor start.
‘That start haunts me’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/th...03172524812461
Hungarian GP: Disappointing race for Williams Racing
July 22 2024
Williams Racing
WilliamsF1 Supporters
Sven Smeets Sporting Director: "With the cover of clouds disappearing slowly before the race start and the high track temperatures appearing again, we knew it was going to be crucial to find free air and stop at the right moments.”
Logan Sargeant: "Today was okay. I was disappointed with my start and, around here, it’s an uphill battle from there. From a pace perspective, it was a good day and overall, apart from my start, I’m happy with my weekend. The car felt better here than last year, which is a positive, but it was a difficult race.”
Alex Albon: "We need to understand what happened today. I think we missed it a little with the strategy; if we didn’t come out behind Fernando on the first stop, we would’ve been fine but as he was playing the team game and helping to back us up to help Lance, it impacted our race.”
‘Disappointing race’;
https://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st206204.htm
James Vowles gives his verdict on Logan Sargeant’s Hungarian GP ahead of mid-season seat swap decision
22 July 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
For the 11th time in 13 race weekends, Williams Racing came away from a Grand Prix event without a point. Alex Albon’s 9th-place finishes in Monaco and Silverstone have provided all four points for Williams in 2024.
James Vowles gives verdict on Logan Sargeant’s display at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Speaking ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, via RacingNews365, Vowles said:
“What we’ve said to Logan is it’s a meritocracy. You have to make sure you earn your place in the sport continuously. That’s been the same message that has been for 18 months really for him. And we are open-minded to things.”
‘His verdict’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jam...swap-decision/
The deflated Sargeant defiance amid more mid-season Williams F1 seat threat
Amid speculation over his future, Sargeant struck a conflicting figure as Hungarian GP weekend began. But there was a strong message in his words to the media
Jul 19, 2024
Alex Kalinauckas
Motorsport.com
Considering his current form and whether the final two races before the summer break were important to securing his position in Hungary, Sargeant replied: "It is what it is. I feel like I've been driving well throughout the year. I'm biding my time to really get the opportunity. I think I've been driving well and I'm happy with what I've been doing. So I'll just try and keep that up."
Then the group interview in the Williams motorhome took a turn. Sargeant's demeanour didn't change, but his message certainly did. There was a revelatory, no-holds-barred bite in the meaning, even though that wasn't matched in his tone. "No, not really," was his answer on whether Williams had provided any feedback on his improved result at Silverstone, where Albon had finished ninth.
"Was this different to last year?", Motorsport.com asked wondering if a change of tact had occurred given the obvious advantages of instilling confidence in last year's rookie. No, [in] Formula 1, you're expected to perform at a certain level," Sargeant replied. "You don't get a pat on the back every time you do a good job from within the team. No, nothing. Nothing majorly different."
‘Strong message in his words to the media’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/t...reat/10636054/
-
‘At the moment we need a miracle to happen to get into the top 10’ – Bottas.
Valtteri Bottas finished the Hungarian Grand Prix down in 16th place, as Kick Sauber’s wait for their first point of the season continues.
21 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘We need a miracle to happen’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/at...02702941900407
Ex-Ferrari F1 chief to run Audi's team
23 Jul 2024
Joel Feder
Motor Authority
Audi has ended the guessing game of who might be in charge of its upcoming Formula 1 program. On Tuesday, Audi announced it recruited Mattia Binotto to its F1 project. Binotto will be both the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) within the leadership team of the new Sauber Motorsport AG team that will race as Audi.
Binotto resigned as team principal at Ferrari's F1 team in 2022. Binotto had been with the Italian automaker for 28 years, originally starting in 1995 as a powertrain engineer. The executive ultimately became the head of the Italian automaker's F1 team and motorsports department in 2019. The Binotto announcement also came with an Audi F1 management restructure that will see both Oliver Hoffman and Andreas Seidl leave the project entirely.
Gernot Döllner, who was named the CEO of Audi in 2023 and serves as chairman of the board, will now serve as chairman of the board for Sauber Motorsport AG. Audi has already signed its first driver. In April, Audi announced Nico Hülkenberg will drive for the Audi F1 team when it enters the grid in 2026.
‘Audi has ended the guessing game’;
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...un-audi-s-team
Mattia Binotto takes over a leadership position for Audi in Formula 1
13:24 Tue, 23 Jul 2024
Audi - Official Site
Preparations for entering the highest class of motorsports are going full speed ahead at Audi. As part of the complete takeover of all shares in Sauber Holding AG and the associated realignment of the control structure, the management of the future Audi factory team is now being renewed. On August 1, the former F1 team head Mattia Binotto is joining the Audi F1 project and will take on its leadership in Hinwil.
“I am delighted that we have been able to recruit Mattia Binotto for our ambitious Formula 1 project,“ says Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG. “With his extensive experience of more than 25 years in Formula 1, he will undoubtedly be able to make a decisive contribution for Audi.”
Following his university degree in mechanical engineering at EPFL in Switzerland, the Italian immediately joined the F1 test team of Ferrari in 1995. He subsequently had various positions, from chief engineer to manager of the engine department and technical director. In 2019 he was additionally appointed as team head of Scuderia Ferrari.
‘Mattia Binotto takes over’;
https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/...ormula-1-16116
Mattia Binotto makes F1 return with Audi
13:45 Tue, 23 Jul 2024
Last Word On Sports
Audi announce Binotto appointment: Binotto’s time at Ferrari is considered a very difficult period for the team, especially during the height of Ferrari’s battle against Red Bull in 2022. However, the 54-year-old’s leadership at Maranello represents only a small portion of his F1 career.
Binotto can be credited with an integral role in Ferrari’s dominant era in the early 2000s, helping to mastermind the power units that powered the Scuderia. Two decades later, he is entrusted with a key leadership position at Audi. Previously, Binotto has been linked with a potential Alpine move.
However, the French outfit’s likely switch to Mercedes engines would make them a customer team for 2026. Taking this path almost certainly reduced their appeal. No such process is taking place at Audi, however, with the Hinwil-based team looking to Binotto’s expertise in this critical period. He will officially take on his new role on August 1st.
‘F1 return with Audi’;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...urn-with-audi/
ANALYSIS: Why Audi have turned to former Ferrari man Binotto to lead their F1 charge
16:16 Tue, 23 Jul 2024
Lawrence Barretto
F1 Correspondent & Presenter
Formula One - Official Site
Just four months after expanding their commitment to Formula 1 by completing a full takeover of Swiss operation Sauber, Audi have moved to make sweeping changes to the senior leadership team ahead of their arrival in the sport in 2026. In comes Mattia Binotto, who has been out of F1 since leaving Ferrari at the end of 2022, and out goes CEO Andreas Seidl and Chairman of the Board of Directors Oliver Hoffmann.
It’s a remarkable turn of events given Seidl only joined the project at the start of 2023 after a long chase from the German manufacturer that resulted in him parting ways with McLaren. However, after 18 months in the job – and only four months after he was officially given the Audi F1 Team CEO title – Audi have decided he isn’t the right person to lead the project.
Seidl has tried to stay out of the limelight since taking the job, instead preferring to work behind the scenes at the factory to create a plan to build up and restructure the operation while letting Alessandro Alunni Bravi be the face of the team at race weekends. However, it is believed Audi did not feel that Seidl was doing a good enough job, quickly enough and thus decided to part ways.
‘ANALYSIS’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...pHjoNHW2j0rrQM
Valtteri Bottas admits to uncertainty about F1 future
July 21, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports
Valtteri Bottas is generally seen as someone with the necessary experience and accomplishments to stay in F1 next season. The Finn is understood to be on the radar of several teams heading into the summer break. Despite this, Bottas admits there is some nervousness about his future.
The waiting game continues. Unfortunately for Bottas, negotiations seem to have stagnated – as he told the media in Hungary: “Maybe waiting for Carlos [to sign a contract], but maybe not. I mean, it’s at some point, I don’t think everyone is going to probably wait for him. But I’m still waiting for something… If I’m honest, I was hoping that things would be sorted before this weekend.”
“But we still have to wait for a bit. I don’t have a clear answer. Obviously, I’m getting to the point that, hopefully [something is confirmed], sooner than later. As everyone knows, if things drag on to the August break or after the August break, it can start to become quite nerve-racking.”
‘The waiting game continues’;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...out-f1-future/
-
Gasly calls for Alpine ‘to do a lot better’ following consecutive DNFs.
The British GP saw Gasly suffer from a gearbox malfunction whilst his race in Hungary was cut short due to a hydraulics issue.
July 23, 2024
Oliver Brindle
FormulaNerds
Alpine driver Pierre Gasly called out his team after his retirement from the British and Hungarian Grand Prix. The Frenchman claimed the French manufacturer need “to be more focused”. Gasly has admitted that there have been “too many issues” for Alpine following his two race retirements
Gasly started the Hungarian Grand Prix at the back with his teammate in front of him in 19th. However, Alpine decided to start him from the pitlane, which played into his hands as he got ahead of Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas in the opening phase. Shortly after this positive start, Gasly’s race came to an abrupt end, with the Frenchman claiming there were “too many problems” within the team. As reported by F1, Gasly said:
“It’s too many issues, too many problems,” said Gasly. “It’s a massive shame because we started from the pit lane, we [were] actually in front of Fernando [Alonso] at that stage of the race, our strategy worked perfectly with what others decided to do. I think we put ourselves in contention for one or two points, and… today it’s hydraulics, yesterday was the strategy, last week I didn’t race at Silverstone because of the gearbox.”
“More focus needed”;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ga.../?nowprocket=1
Ocon deflated after 'disappointing weekend' in Hungary
21 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Alpine's Esteban Ocon reacts to a "disappointing weekend" at the Hungaroring for the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, as he finished down in P18.
‘Deflated’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/oc...01431750105490
‘We don’t give ourselves chances’ – Frustrated Gasly admits Alpine suffering ‘too many issues’ after Hungary DNF
22 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Pierre Gasly has called on Alpine to “stop allowing missed opportunities” after recording his second non-finish in a row, having been forced to retire from the Hungarian Grand Prix owing to a suspected hydraulics issue.
It was a tough weekend for the Enstone-based squad, with Gasly and team mate Esteban Ocon qualifying on the back row after a strategic error from the team resulted in them not putting a final lap in during Q1. Gasly then started the race from the pit lane due to set-up and power unit element changes being made to his A524 ahead of the Grand Prix.
“It’s too many issues, too many problems,” said Gasly. “It’s a massive shame because we started from the pit lane, we [were] actually in front of Fernando [Alonso] at that stage of the race, our strategy worked perfectly with what others decided to do. I think we put ourselves in contention for one or two points, and… today it’s hydraulics, yesterday was the strategy, last week I didn’t race at Silverstone because of the gearbox.”
‘Don’t give ourselves chances’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...MFlNT9ioDAez2e
‘It’s a massive shame’ – Gasly downbeat after DNF in Budapest
21 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Pierre Gasly cut a disconsolate figure after he was forced to retire his Alpine from the Hungarian Grand Prix with a hydraulics issue on Lap 33.
‘Downbeat’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/it...02048911525259
Report: Alpine close to ditching Renault engine as deal to use £3bn F1 team’s power units ‘within reach’
22 July 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
The future of Alpine’s F1 engine partnership has been thrown in the air amid reports that it could be set to ditch Renault power units in favour of another manufacturer on the grid. Alpine is a division of Renault and has been a works entity since the team based in Enstone was taken over by the French carmaker in 2016.
Alpine could pair up with Mercedes in engine partnership. According to the report, despite holding talks with Red Bull Powertrains an agreement between £3 billion team (via Forbes) Mercedes and Alpine is “within reach” and could be announced imminently. The report states that it was one of the first jobs pulled off by Flavio Briatore, who rejoined the Enstone outfit after being fired in 2009 in the wake of the Crash-gate scandal.
Team Enstone has previously raced with Mercedes engines. The team last raced with Mercedes power units in 2015 when it was known as ‘Lotus F1’ and owned majority by financial advisory and investment firm Genii Capital. If Alpine does opt to switch to Mercedes, it would be the most logical option considering their winning pedigree while any power unit produced between Red Bull and Ford has yet to hit the track.
‘Renault power units ditched?' ;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/alp...-within-reach/
Alpine-Mercedes tie-up set to include suspension/gearbox and could start in 2025
Alpine and Mercedes could kickstart their partnership before the new rules come into play in 2026
Tue, 23 Jul 2024
Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
Neither Mercedes nor Alpine have commented on the matter, but recently Mercedes boss Toto Wolff made clear that he was open to a customer engine deal. "That’s a complicated situation because we like the thought of replacing Aston Martin with another team, because of the sheer learning you're doing," Wolff said ahead of the British Grand Prix.
"I think we're set up as an organisation that the more power units, the better it is in terms of accelerating some of the developments or the reliability. It didn't go beyond the point of exchanging opinions or having exploratory discussions.”
"Alpine [need to] take a decision, do they want to continue with their Formula 1 engine programme or not? And only when they have taken that strategic decision, we would dive into our agreements. But we're open-minded, and that's what we have told them."
“Replacing Aston Martin with another team”;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/a...2025/10637833/
‘I saw’: Flavio Briatore spotted chatting to rival F1 team principal amid Alpine power unit talk
23 July 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
The Hungarian Grand Prix simply couldn’t have gone any worse for the Alpine F1 team. Esteban Ocon was well off the pace at the previous race in Silverstone but at least he took the start with Pierre Gasly forced to retire the car after the formation lap.
Speaking on the Pit Pass Podcast, journalist Julianne Cerasoli was talking about what new special advisor Flavio Briatore was doing behind the scenes in Hungary. Alongside team principal Bruno Famin, the pair were spotted talking to Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
Alpine are considering abandoning their Renault power units from 2026 and becoming a customer team. Red Bull will be building their own engines by then making the prospect of the two teams working together very intriguing.
‘I saw’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fla...wer-unit-talk/
Renault launches study on future of Viry engine facility amid F1 project review
Renault personnel have been informed of a potential change of direction for its F1 engine factory
23 Jul 2024
Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
Renault has launched an evaluation study to decide on the future focus for its Viry-Chatillon engine facility, amid a growing likelihood that it will end its Formula 1 power unit project. There is believed to be a clear desire to push senior engineers and other staff at the French facility on to areas of new technology that will futureproof the Renault organisation.
This could include development of hydrogen power alongside further battery technology work. The changes will ensure that those staff currently working on the F1 project will still have a future at the company even if it no longer produces engines for grand prix racing.
‘Evaluation study’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...view/10637920/
Renault launch F1 project investigation with Mercedes at heart of new vision
24 Jul 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Renault have reportedly launched a study into the possible future of its Viry-Chatillon engine base, as the possibility of moving to Mercedes customer power in Formula 1 appears to be gathering pace.
While no deal has yet been signed, it is reported that the outline for a deal in principle is believed to be in place, which could not only also see Alpine use the Mercedes gearbox and suspension, as is the case with current engine customers Aston Martin, but potentially see the partnership start as soon as the 2025 season, should a deal be finalised early enough.
As for the future of the current engine facility in Viry-Chatillon, Renault senior management have reportedly informed Alpine about a potential change of direction if its F1 involvement were to change course – though no final decision has yet been taken, but it is believed the facility would remain crucial to the company and its sporting and automotive endeavours in future.
‘New vision’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/renaul...-of-new-vision
-
Five Belgian GP questions: Red Bull on the rocks? Will the real Alpine team please stand up?
The established order of F1 has certainly had a shake up of late with McLaren now the fastest car but can Red Bull bounce back in Belgium?
24 Jul 2024
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com
Regardless of how it came to be, McLaren’s one-two in Budapest was their biggest statement of intent yet. 2021 was the last time they scored the same result but while Daniel Ricciardo’s Monza heroics were impressive, it came with the big asterisk that Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton crashed out of the race together.
But in Budapest there was no fortune, no safety car, no title-contender crash. The race was won on pure pace and it is clear McLaren have the quickest car on the grid right now. With that in mind, there is every expectation that they arrive at the final race before the summer break as the favourites.
‘Can McLaren stay on top? Will Red Bull recover? How will the teams adapt to a new track surface? What kind of shape will teams go into the summer break in? Which Alpine will turn up?’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/fi...uctuating-form
F1 race preview: will new Spa surface mean fastest Belgian GP ever?
July 24th 2024
Cambridge Kisby
Motor Sport Magazine
For the first time in three consecutive seasons, Red Bull‘s performance is looking less than supreme. After a dominant 1-2 finish at the Hungaroring, McLaren is now the team to beat. Victory at the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix for the Woking outfit would be even more significant, showing that the race for the championship is well and truly on.
It’s the third year in a row that Verstappen has incurred a grid penalty at Spa, but repeating his dominant wins from 2022, when he started 14th on the grid, and 2023, when he lined up sixth at the start, won’t be straightforward given the form of McLaren and Mercedes, who have claimed victory in the past three races.
With over 100m in elevation changes and a mix of high- and medium-speed corners, the historic Belgian GP venue offers a different challenge to the relatively slow turns of the Budapest track. The track has been resurfaced for 2024, increasing the levels of overall grip and likely resulting in lap times up to 3sec quicker.
‘Fastest Belgian GP ever?’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
Formula One statistics for the Belgian Grand Prix
Jul 24, 2024
The Straits Times
Formula One statistics for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, round 14 of the 24-race championship and last before the August break:
Lap distance: 7.004km. Total distance: 308.052km (44 laps)
2023 pole position: Charles Leclerc (Monaco), Ferrari, one minute 46.988 seconds*
2023 race winner: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull Race lap record: 1:46.286, Valtteri Bottas (Finland, Mercedes 2018)
Start time: 1300GMT (1500 local)
*Verstappen qualified fastest but dropped five places due to a gearbox change.
This year's will be the 69th Belgian Grand Prix and 57th at Spa. Eleven of the last 22 have been won from pole position. Spa is the longest lap in F1 and one of the fastest, with an average speed of around 230kph. Cars can hit 315kph at Blanchimont. Four current drivers have won at Spa: Lewis Hamilton (2010, 2015, 2017, 2020), Daniel Ricciardo (2014), Leclerc (2019), Verstappen (2021, 2022, 2023). Michael Schumacher won a record six times at Spa, including from 16th on the grid in a wet 1995 race.
‘Belgian Grand Prix statistics’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...ian-grand-prix
Max Verstappen 'will serve huge 10-place grid penalty at the Belgian GP' in boost to Lando Norris' world title hopes... while Dutchman is told must stop 'staying up gaming until 3am before races'
• The Red Bull star has been reportedly been warned by the team over his gaming
• Max Verstappen stayed up late playing online the night before the Hungary GP
• Verstappen is also set to be handed a 10-place grid penalty at the Belgian GP
24 July 2024
Ryan Walker
MailOnline
Max Verstappen will be handed a 10-place grid penalty at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix after Red Bull decided to take the punishment ahead of fitting a new internal combustion engine, according to reports. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old has also been told he can't stay up playing on his video game simulator into the early hours the night before a race, as was the case in Budapest. Verstappen was up until 3am on Sunday morning playing Sim racing, a popular racing simulation game and endured a nightmare afternoon at the Hungaroring.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull's senior adviser, revealed that discussions have been held with the star telling him he can no longer take part in late-night gaming sessions. 'Max Verstappen was rather thin-skinned this weekend, and of course it didn't take long for criticism to arise — no wonder, since he spends half the night playing sim racing,' he said in his column for Speedweek.
'I have to say that in Imola he didn't go to bed until three in the morning after a sim-racing session — and then won the grand prix. Max has a different sleep pattern, and he had his seven hours of sleep. His late-night sim appearance on the Hungary weekend only came about because a driver in his team had dropped out. Nevertheless we agreed that he would no longer run simulations so late in the future.'
‘Must stop staying up gaming until 3am before races';
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...d-penalty.html
Max previews Belgian GP: 'Deliver the best result possible'
24 July 2024
Niels Hendrix
Verstappen.nl
After an eventful race at the Hungaroring, Max Verstappen is now looking forward to the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The Dutch Oracle Red Bull Racing driver says: “Spa has always been my favourite track, with its fast corners and lots of opportunities for overtaking. The fans are also great and we receive a lot of support there.”
“Hungary was a tricky race and a weekend to forget and move forward from”, Max adds. “We have been working as a team to optimise our performance and get the best out of the car that we possibly can. Of course, the weather makes things a bit more unpredictable, but we will see what the race brings.”
“The team have been working very hard and, being the last race before the summer break, we are looking forward to having a well-deserved rest and want to come back stronger. For this weekend, we will try and deliver the best result possible.”
For those wanting to join the Orange Army in the Ardennes, there are still a few tickets available for the Max Verstappen Grandstand at Pouhon at https://www.verstappen.com/tickets/belgian-gp
‘Join the Orange Army in the Ardennes’;
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5545/
Belgian GP weekend set to be unsettled by wet weather
Spa-Francorchamps hosts the latest round of the F1 world championship this weekend - and it very well could be a wet one!
24 July 2024
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
According to our friends at Weeronline.nl, Friday practice could be impacted by wet weather. Showers from the west will move over the circuit with regular precipitation expected. Temperatures could rise to 20°C when it is not raining, and sit a few degrees lower when the rain is present.
Moving into qualifying day, Saturday may also see long-lasting rainfall, although the exact period of how long it will fall for is uncertain. Sunshine will not be present for much of the day, with a maximum of 18°C expected and very little wind.
Conditions will change somewhat when for the final day of the race weekend, with Sunday hosting the main event. The Belgian Grand Prix is forecast to be held in drier conditions following the persistent rain throughout the remainder of the weekend. While local showers are still a possibility, the chance of a saturated race track during the race is small with temperatures of 20 or 21°C expected.
‘Unsettled by wet weather’;
https://racingnews365.com/belgian-gp...by-wet-weather
Start time for the 2024 F1 Belgian GP - Time schedule
From Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28, the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix will take place. Check here for all the start times at Spa-Francorchamps.
25 July 2024
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365
The 2024 F1 Belgian GP starts on Sunday, July 28st, at 2:00 PM BST, the start time we are accustomed to from the European schedule. About an hour and a half later, we will know who has won. Who will take the victory this year?
The schedule of the Belgian GP is automatically adjusted to your time zone.
Timetable Belgian GP
Session
Date Time
Free practice 1 Friday 26 July 13:30 - 14:30
Free practice 2 Friday 26 July 17:00 - 18:00
Free practice 3 Saturday 27 July 12:30 - 13:30
Qualification Saturday 27 July 16:00 - 17:00
Race Sunday 28 July 15:00 - 17:00
‘Schedule of the Belgian GP’;
https://racingnews365.com/start-time...-time-schedule
What time is the Belgian Grand Prix? F1 race and qualifying schedule
Jul 23, 2024
The Race
‘Spa-Francorchamps, home of the Belgian Grand Prix, is a firm favourite among Formula 1 drivers and fans’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/w...ying-schedule/
-
NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix.
Current form: The pecking order has seen some intriguing changes play out as the season has progressed, and McLaren's continued ascent looked to be confirmed last time out in Hungary.
Jul 25, 2024
Formula One - Official Site
For the final race weekend before the summmer break, Formula 1 heads to Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix. Going into the event, Need to Know is your all-in-one guide with stats, trivia, insight and much more. You can also see how fans have voted using our F1 Play predictor game.
FAN VIEW: Max Verstappen might have won the last three Belgian Grands Prix, but – having not claimed a victory during the past few rounds of the 2024 season – he is not favourite to win a fourth in a row, according to F1 Play gamers.
Only around 14% believe the Red Bull driver will take top spot on Sunday, with the favoured choice being McLaren's Lando Norris, with just shy of a quarter of early entrants backing the Brit. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton is second favourite (21%), then Charles Leclerc (20%) and Oscar Piastri (19%).
‘Important facts, stats and trivia’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Ibd4A15c1MyaVV
Belgium Grand Prix: F1 Rollercoaster in the Ardennes Forrest
Jul 25, 2024
Aaron Teasdale
World In Sport
Round 14 of the Formula 1 calendar becomes the final race of July before the summer break. This time we travel southwest, through Austria, into Germany, into the iconic municipality of Stavelot, Belgium. From there the journey ventures north to the village of Francorchamps. Where Formula 1 arrives to host the star-studded Belgium Grand Prix at the Circuit De Spa Francochamps. The emergence of the Circuit De Spa Francorchamps dates back to 1920. Jules de Their owner of the Liège newspaper, La Meuse had the ambition to revive the La Meuse Cup.
The ambition led to the combination of three roads connecting the towns of Spa-Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot. A foundation that would begin building the ever-growing emergence of the circuit located in the Ardennes forest. The Belgian Grand Prix, a cornerstone of the Formula 1 World Championship since its inaugural season in 1950. And has a rich history marked by dramatic changes and technological advancements.
Even before Formula 1 made its presence in the Ardennes forest. Its primary venue, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, has undergone significant transformations over the decades. Adapting to the evolving demands of the sport while retaining its character as one of the most challenging and revered circuits in racing.
‘F1 Rollercoaster’;
https://worldinsport.com/belgium-gra.../?nowprocket=1
Late-night gamer Max Verstappen eyes redemption at Belgian Grand Prix
Jul 25, 2024
The Straits Times
A week after ranting on the team radio in Budapest, Max Verstappen heads to the Belgian Grand Prix having been warned to take “nothing for granted” and advised by Red Bull to give up late-night simulation racing. The Formula One championship leader and three-time world champion departed Hungary in a petulant mood after finishing fifth, swearing on radio and in post-race interviews, having gone to bed at 3am before the race.
It was his and Red Bull’s third consecutive race without a win and he will need to deliver a more composed performance on his preferred circuit on July 28 to avoid extending his winless run to four for the first time since 2020. Another defeat and his commanding supremacy of the past – he won 19 of 22 races last season – will be forgotten. “Hungary was a tricky race and a weekend to forget and move forward from,” said the Dutchman, who has seven wins from 13 grands prix in 2024.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has warned that the threat from McLaren, after their one-two finish, and both Mercedes and Ferrari, could wreck their season if they cannot respond this weekend. “In the drivers’ championship, Max has a good lead – but that can diminish very quickly, so nothing can be taken for granted,” he said. The team’s influential adviser Helmut Marko added: “We agreed that Max would no longer run simulations so late in the future.”
‘Late-night gamer Max Verstappen eyes redemption’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...ian-grand-prix
Mercedes downplay Belgian GP chances despite 'encouraging' path
Mercedes is targeting a sixth consecutive podium in this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
25 July 2024
Nick Golding
RacingNews365
Toto Wolff has conceded that Mercedes do not have a car capable of fighting for victory on a regular basis ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. The Mercedes boss is pleased with the team's trajectory as it enters an important weekend in Spa-Francorchamps. "We head into the final race before the summer break on a run of five consecutive podium finishes," said Wolff.
"We are therefore looking to continue that momentum and finish the first half of the season strongly. The pack at the front is close and we will have to be at our best to do so though. "Whilst we are lacking a little bit of pace compared to some of our competitors, we continue to bring performance to the car. We are on a positive trajectory and that is encouraging.
"It is not yet enough to fight for victories consistently each and every weekend, but has enabled us to be in contention for the top-three more regularly. Spa is a very different challenge to Budapest. With cooler temperatures and a much more high-speed layout, it will be interesting to see how the W15 performs compared to our rivals."
‘Targeting a sixth consecutive podium’;
https://racingnews365.com/wolff-down...couraging-path
Alpine F1 set for restructure with new team principal
Alpine look set to appoint another new team principal, with Bruno Famin expected to leave the role shortly.
25 July 2024
Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Since Flavio Briatore was appointed as advisor to Luca de Meo, Renault's CEO, it is clear that a different wind is blowing at Alpine. Briatore clearly wants to change things at the French team and he wants to do so by making rigorous decisions. For example, at Alpine, Briatore is about to say goodbye to the Renault engine and replace it with a Mercedes power unit by 2026.
In addition to the likely change in engine supplier, the team is now also about to replace Famin. Alpine is holding talks with several candidates. It is expected that Alpine will announce who will be Famin's successor as early as the short term. Once again, Briatore is showing that Alpine wants to do things differently.
Under the leadership of the flamboyant Italian, they want to move on quickly. Other notable decisions in the coming weeks and months are also not out of the question.
‘Restructure’;
https://racingnews365.com/alpine-f1-...team-principal
F1's summer break: why racing shuts down for a month mid-season
July 24th 2024
Cambridge Kisby
Motor Sport Magazine
When and what is the F1 summer break? F1’s official summer break in 2024 starts the day after the Belgian Grand Prix on Monday July 29 and lasts until Friday August 23 — which marks the start of the Dutch GP race weekend. This gives teams and drivers four weeks to take a break from the almost constant on-track action and refresh before tackling the remaining 11 races of the season.
During the four-week summer break, there is also a ‘summer shutdown’ — an FIA mandated period in which F1 teams cannot work on car design, develop or produce parts or even plan or hold official meetings for 14 consecutive days. The usage of the wind tunnel is also banned under F1’s sporting regulations, as is the machining of any parts. Should any team participate in any of these activities, they can be penalised at the discretion of the FIA, racing’s governing body.
It’s up to each team when the 14-day period starts and ends, but the majority choose to have it somewhere in the middle two-weeks — allowing its employees to debrief and develop after the Belgian GP before coming back a week before the Dutch GP to complete their regular race build-up. Each team must notify the FIA on the start and end dates of their summer shutdowns.
‘F1's summer break’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
-
F1 - 2024 Belgian Grand Prix - Thursday Press Conference Transcript.
DRIVERS – Lance STROLL (Aston Martin), Kevin MAGNUSSEN (Haas), Carlos SAINZ (Ferrari), Daniel RICCIARDO (RB), Valtteri BOTTAS (Kick Sauber).
25.07.24
FIA (Press Release)
Q: Valtteri, can we start with you, please? And the news that Andreas Seidel has been replaced by Mattia Bonotto in the team. What's your reaction, first of all? Valtteri BOTTAS: Yeah, quite sudden news. I believe everything happened pretty quickly, but obviously those high-level decisions, we as drivers and many of the team members don't know really what's going on behind the scenes. But yeah, quite unexpected, but obviously welcoming Mattia to the team. And at the same time, I want to thank Mr Seidl and Mr Hoffman for their contribution to the team.
Q: In Hungary, it looked like the team had got its Barcelona upgrades working. Was that circuit specific or do you feel you'd actually made a step forward with setup and genuine car performance? Daniel RICCIARDO: I mean, the circuit helped us, because I think we were pretty strong already from Friday. And we hit the ground running, and we didn't really have to chase it. It just came, and that was that. So some circuits certainly help. But it's still so unpredictable. Did we know we would be really strong in Budapest? Not necessarily, but yeah, I think we've a bit more time now, we've understood everything and we, yeah, you just, I guess it helps getting to the weekend with a better understanding of the package and then knowing, okay, we pretty much know the window of what this car likes, the set-up.
Q: Carlos, let's come to you now. The last time you and Kevin were in a press conference together, Kevin said you were the cork in the bottle. of the driver market. And I did want to start by asking for your thoughts on the news that Mattia Binotto is going to Sauber Audi. You've worked with him before at Ferrari. Does that complicate your decision further? Carlos SAINZ: So predictable, Thomas. I think, first of all, I'm not up to date with everything that is going on at every team but of course I think the arrival of Mattia to any team is positive, mainly because he has the experience of what it takes to build a team that is a top team nowadays, like it is at Ferrari. And he has that experience from Ferrari that he can bring into Audi. And I'm sure it's a great asset for them. And that's why they hired him. And yeah, of course, I wish him all the best there.
‘Lance STROLL (Aston Martin), Kevin MAGNUSSEN (Haas)’;
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-2024-bel...nce-transcript
‘Genuine chance’: Piastri says McLaren can beat Red Bull to teams title after historic result
July 26th, 2024 8:53 am
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)
Oscar Piastri says McLaren is a “genuine chance” of beating Red Bull Racing to the constructors championship after leading a dominant one-two finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
McLaren has recovered strongly from its slow start to the season. After having had a driver stand on the podium just once in the first four rounds of the year — Lando Norris in Australia after Max Verstappen retired — it’s had at least one car feature in the top three at every grand prix since.
The culmination of that sharp upwards trajectory was a comprehensive performance in Hungary, where it locked out the front row for the first time in almost 12 years and recorded just its second one-two finish of the last decade.
‘Genuine chance’;
https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...712e9fe246570f
Norris was 'silly' to delay Piastri pass at Hungarian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) (AFP) – Lando Norris said on Thursday he was "silly" for not moving over earlier to allow McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to pass him during last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix and added it "was a stupid thing to do."
25/07/2024
France 24
Speaking to reporters before this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, the 24-year-old Briton added he felt remorseful that his behaviour had overshadowed Piastri's maiden victory and the team's merited one-two finish. "I was a bit silly and didn't think of letting him go earlier," Norris said.
He added he was 'not too proud' of his protracted team orders conversation with his race engineer Will Joseph that resulted in the team finally giving Norris an instruction to 'do it now' after several earlier prompts to do so 'at your convenience'.
"Could it have been handled slightly differently from both a team side and from a personal side? Yes, absolutely," admitted Norris, whose recent form has seen him emerge as the main challenger to defending champion Max Verstappen for the drivers' title.
‘Norris was 'silly' to delay Piastri pass’;
https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...ian-grand-prix
Max ahead of Spa: 'We learn and move on'
25 July 2024
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl
The Hungaroring saw an updated RB20 line up on the grid. “Reflecting back, I think we could’ve done things different, also in terms of set-up. We’re still looking into some stuff, so hopefully we learn more. Maybe we’ve not made the most of the upgrade. Hopefully we have a smoother weekend here in Belgium”, explained the Dutchman who also noted that not all parts of the update will feature in Spa. “Some parts are circuit specific.”
An added challenge awaits the Dutchman as he will likely incur a ten place grid penalty due to having to add another power unit to the champion’s parts pool. “Of course, I knew at some point it had to happen”, said Max, referring to an engine failure at the Canadian Grand Prix.
“Of course we’ll see on Sunday if Spa is a good track to take the penalty hit. Some tracks are better than others. You don’t want to serve a penalty on a street track, so it’ll most likely be here.”
'We learn and move on';
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5547/
Sergio Perez '100% sure' Belgian Grand Prix won’t be final F1 race for Red Bull
Sergio Perez is sure this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix won't be his final outing for Red Bull in F1.
25 Jul 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Sergio Perez is adamant his F1 future with Red Bull is secure amid speculation this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix could be his final outing for the team. Speaking in Belgium on Thursday, where Crash.net are in the paddock, Perez was asked if he is “100% sure” that this weekend’s race won’t be his last one for Red Bull. He replied: “Yes correct.”
Perez was then pressed on why he’s so sure about being with the team beyond this weekend given the amount of speculation about his future. “I know what’s in my contract. I know the team trusts in me. I know where the main focus which is on delivering on track,” he explained. Perez shrugged off suggestions that he was frustrated by the comments Marko makes in the media, conceding that’s just how Red Bull operates.
“It’s how this team operates,” he concluded. “How it is. I am fine with it. I focus on the team. I focus within the team to get the maximum out of the team, out of the car. The rest, like I say, it’s pure speculation. I am not worried about it. I know where I stand. That’s not my concern. My only concern I have is to get my season back on track. The rest I am pretty chilled about.”
'100% sure';
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105264...-race-red-bull
Leclerc: We 'paid the price' for inconclusive upgrades
18:52 Thu, 25 Jul 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Charles Leclerc admits Ferrari "paid the price" for their inconclusive upgrades ahead of the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix.
'Paid the price';
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/le...72372647897916
Charles Leclerc warns Ferrari won’t be the “favourites anywhere” in F1 2024
“So no, I don’t think that on paper we are favourites anywhere.”
24 Jul 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
Charles Leclerc has offered a dim view on Ferrari’s chances of adding to their last F1 victory in Monaco during the remainder of the year. Leclerc is doubtful Ferrari will be the team to beat at any of the forthcoming rounds.
“Not really. I mean, now if we stay like this with our car, I don’t think so,” he said in Hungary, where Crash.net were present in the paddock. “Monaco is a very, very specific track, which we were very strong, but that doesn’t mean that we’ll be fast anywhere else during the season. So no, I don’t think that on paper we are favourites anywhere.” Leclerc believes progress is being made with the floor area but expects the issue to continue to plague them at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
“The understanding [with the floor] is there, it’s going in the right direction for sure,” Leclerc added. “The thing with the kind of issue we are facing is that it’s either on or off, and it’s very difficult to see the improvement. Maybe you have it for less time, and what I’m speaking of is mostly the bouncing, but it’s not like you improve the intensity of it, so whenever you have it, you have it.”
‘Dim view on Ferrari’s chances’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105261...ywhere-f1-2024
-
Verstappen half a second clear in Belgian GP FP1.
He got his weekend underway in the strongest possible fashion as he topped the timesheets with a lap of 1:43.372s to finish 0.531s clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
26 July 2024
Phillip Horton
Motorsport Week
Williams’ Alex Albon was an eye-catching third-best, ahead of Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who complained of a poor rear end and bouncing from the W15 respectively. Charles Leclerc was the lead Ferrari driver in sixth position, nine-tenths behind Verstappen, ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Verstappen’s nearest challenger in the championship, Lando Norris, was eighth-fastest, as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10. Pierre Gasly fronted Alpine’s charge in the newly liveried A524 as team-mate Esteban Ocon was sidelined by a suspected water leak.
Fernando Alonso was 12th for Aston Martin while Daniel Ricciardo finished as the lead RB driver in 13th spot, via an early spin exiting the La Source hairpin. Valtteri Bottas was 14th for Sauber, ahead of Williams’ Logan Sargeant and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, who has taken a fresh power unit and will start from the rear of the grid.
‘Half a second clear’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...elgian-gp-fp1/
Belgian GP: Free Practice 1 Results
Full results from Free Practice 1 from the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
26 July 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Full results from Free Practice 1 from the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Pos Num Driver Team Laps Best Diff
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 23 1:43.372
2 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 23 1:43.903 0.531
3 23 Alex Albon Williams 20 1:44.099 0.727
4 63 George Russell Mercedes 22 1:44.225 0.853
5 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 20 1:44.279 0.907
6 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 24 1:44.306 0.934
7 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 21 1:44.329 0.957
8 4 Lando Norris McLaren 23 1:44.415 1.043
9 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 23 1:44.574 1.202
10 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 20 1:44.699 1.327
‘Full results from Free Practice 1’;
https://speedcafe.com/belgian-gp-fre...ice-1-results/
Verstappen blows away his F1 rivals but grid penalty confirmed
A crushing warning from Max Verstappen for the rest of this weekend. Will he be able to repeat his 2022 feat on Sunday?
26 July 2024
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Max Verstappen delivered an imperious performance in first practice for the Belgian Grand Prix to leave his F1 rivals trailing. Fresh from the controversy of his radio ranting during the Hungarian GP and a late-race collision with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton that led to a fifth-place finish, after the opening 60 minutes of running at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Verstappen was head-and-shoulders clear of the field.
In an RB20 reverting to the bodywork package seen in the British GP, Verstappen finished 0.531s ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, the Australian fresh from scoring his maiden F1 victory at the Hungaroring. Verstappen posted a time of 1:43.372s on Pirelli's soft tyres, however, he will go into Sunday's race carrying a 10-place penalty as it was confirmed during FP1 that a new internal combustion engine has been introduced into the pool, the first beyond the permitted four allocated for the season.
‘Blows away his F1 rivals’;
https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...alty-confirmed
FP1: Verstappen kicks off his Belgian Grand Prix weekend in dominant fashion
26 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Championship runaway leader Max Verstappen set the benchmark in the opening practice for the Belgian Grand Prix with Williams racer Alexander Albon also impressing with the thrid-quickest lap. F1Technical's Balazs Szabo reports on the Free Practice 1. Following a difficult Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen returned to action in full force as he dominated the opening practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Dutch driver initially set the pace on Pirelli's hard tyres before he switching on to the softs to set the benchmark of the sixty-minute session with a 1m43.372s. His closest rival was McLaren's Oscar Piastri, but even he was over half a second down. Williams racer Alexander Albon took a surprising third in FP1, suggesting that his FW46 might benefit from its aero efficiency at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
‘Kicks off in dominant fashion’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25107
The laps that suggest an ominous Belgian GP warning will come true
Jul 26, 2024
Ben Anderson
The Race
Spa is probably the peak circuit for reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull in this ground effect era, so Fernando Alonso was cautioning against over-excitement that the tide has definitively turned against Red Bull amid the recent rise of McLaren and Mercedes.
“This track will be interesting because it has been dominated by Red Bull in the past, quite easily,” Alonso said on Thursday. “So if Red Bull does 1-2 here maybe we have a different opinion of all these different winners - maybe there is not as much competition as we think.”
The early signs are ominous. Verstappen was fastest in FP1 by more than half a second from Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, as Red Bull reverted Verstappen’s RB20 to its pre-Hungary engine cover and cooling configuration.
‘Ominous Belgian GP warning’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/p...-practice-one/
Radio silence as Verstappen goes fastest in practice
26 July 2024
Staff Writers AAP
The West Australian
Max Verstappen has bounced back from his radio row to finish quickest in first practice at the Belgian Grand Prix. Verstappen's conduct is in the spotlight at Formula One's concluding round before the summer break following a string of X-rated outbursts at last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
But the Dutch driver, who insisted on Thursday he has no plans to adapt his radio approach, hit the top of the time charts on Friday, with a half-second advantage over McLaren's Oscar Piastri. Alex Albon finished an impressive third for Williams ahead of Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Lando Norris was eighth.
‘Radio silence’;
https://thewest.com.au/sport/motorsp...ice-c-15490806
McLaren wary of making 'big mistake' with Verstappen penalty
Max Verstappen will take a grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend after being fitted with his fifth internal combustion engine of the season.
26 July 2024
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has outlined it would be a “big mistake” to think Max Verstappen can't win the Belgian Grand Prix despite his grid penalty. Speaking to Sky F1, Brown sees Verstappen as a threat for victory despite his low-starting position.
“It is a tricky track of how much downforce do you want versus straight-line speed, Max in the second sector there was pretty, pretty awesome,” Brown said. “You've got to assume he's on for pole, which means P11 [on the starting grid]. You can pass around here, I think he went from 20th to ninth in two or three laps not long ago.”
“It would be a big mistake to think he can't go from P11 to P1, but we've got to take advantage of every opportunity we can.”
‘Wary of making big mistake';
https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-wa...tappen-penalty
-
McLaren depose Max Verstappen in Belgian GP FP2 led by Lando Norris.
McLaren and Max Verstappen lead the way in Belgian FP2 but how much does it matter ahead of rainy qualifying?
26 July 2024
Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport
McLaren repeated their Hungarian heroics in the second free practice session at the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix, as Lando Norris topped FP2 for papaya team as Max Verstappen faded from setting the pace in earlier in the day. A largely uneventful session didn’t feature the promised rainfall, and McLaren took full advantage with Norris leading the pack by two-tenths and every non-papaya driver except Verstappen by over half a second at Spa.
Verstappen was two-thousandths behind Oscar Piastri having led the Australian by 0.531 seconds in an FP1 session that appears increasingly to have featured a McLaren team keeping their cards close to their chest. Unusually for practice, only six teams featured in the Belgian GP FP2 top 10 with Ferrari locking out the top five, but well off the pace of McLaren or Verstappen and lead Mercedes of George Russell over a second behind Norris in sixth.
‘McLaren repeated their Hungarian heroics’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/lan...elgian-gp-fp2/
Belgian GP: Free Practice 2 Results
Full results from Free Practice 2 from the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
27 July 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Full results from Free Practice 2 from the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Pos Num Driver Team Laps Best Diff
1 4 Lando Norris McLaren 19 1:42.260
2 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 22 1:42.475 0.215
3 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 25 1:42.477 0.217
4 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 22 1:42.837 0.577
5 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 24 1:43.098 0.838
6 63 George Russell Mercedes 23 1:43.290 1.030
7 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine 22 1:43.401 1.141
8 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas 21 1:43.485 1.225
9 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 23 1:43.504 1.244
10 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 24 1:43.519 1.259
‘Full results from Free Practice 2’;
https://speedcafe.com/belgian-gp-fre...ice-2-results/
McLarens spoil Verstappen's dominant start to Belgian GP weekend
Jul 26, 2024
by Jack Cozens
The Race
If Max Verstappen's standout time in first practice at the Belgian Grand Prix warned of a return to his Formula 1 dominance, McLaren's drivers did their best to dispel thoughts of such a comfortable run for Red Bull with a 1-2 in FP2.
And while the headline times were only half of the story, the long runs were also encouraging for McLaren compared to a Verstappen-Red Bull combination that has won this race from compromised grid positions in each of the past two years.
Long-run simulations
Piastri: 1m48.798s; 1m48.873s; 1m49.345s; 1m48.868s; 1m49.245s (medium)
Verstappen: 1m48.316s; 1m48.801s; 1m48.796s; 1m48.924s; 1m49.356s (medium)
Sainz: 1m48.962s; 1m49.690s; 1m49.012s; 1m49.987s; 1m49.523s (medium)
Perez: 1m49.025s; 1m49.028s; 1m49.146s; 1m50.040s; 1m49.750s (medium)
Leclerc: 1m49.525s; 1m50.319s; 1m49.748s; 1m49.858s; 1m50.633s (soft)
Russell: 1m50.395s; 1m50.235s; 1m50.626s; 1m50.096s; 1m49.906s (medium)
Hamilton: 1m49.143s; 1m49.394s; 1m49.684s; 1m49.845s; 1m50.035s (soft)
Ocon: 1m49.100s; 1m49.329s; 1m49.576s; 1m50.027s; 1m50.384s (medium)
Norris: 1m47.971s; 1m48.834s; 1m50.365s; 1m49.991s; 1m49.316s (soft)
‘The long runs’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...ian-gp-friday/
FP2: Norris tops the second practice times ahead of Piastri and Verstappen in Belgium
Jul 26, 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Lando Norris showed impressive pace to top the times in second practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, 0.2s quicker than McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri with championship leader Max Verstappen third. As forecasted rain failed to strike, with the teams making the most of a dry Spa-Francorchamps track to crack on with preparations for qualifying and the race.
Verstappen, who has a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race after fitting a fifth internal combustion engine, continued his superb pace from FP1 with the leading time on the mediums in the early running. But when attention turned to qualifying simulations on the soft Pirelli tyres, it was the McLarens that came to the fore.
‘Impressive pace’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...U6lOUckO8wBBSX
Lando Norris heads McLaren 1-2 in second Belgian GP practice
Lando Norris topped second practice ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.
26 Jul 2024
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net
Lando Norris led McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in second practice at the F1 Belgian Grand Prix. His quickest time on the soft tyres was a 1m42.260s and was 0.215s faster than Hungarian Grand Prix winner Piastri, while Max Verstappen was just a further 0.002s adrift.
The Red Bull driver dominated opening practice at Spa-Francorchamps but will drop 10 places for Sunday’s grand prix after taking a new engine which has exceeded his allocated number of power units for the season.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were fifth and sixth, with the Ferrari drivers well off the pace of the benchmark time set by Norris. George Russell was sixth but a full second adrift in his Mercedes.
‘McLaren 1-2’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105271...an-gp-practice
Belgian GP: Norris and Piastri in charge of Spa second practice
26/07/2024 at 17:11
Andrew Lewin
F1i.com
McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were best in show in second practice for the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday afternoon at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Max Verstappen was third quickest for Red Bull but faces a Sunday grid drop for taking a new engine, opening a window of opportunity for Ferrari duO Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to step up after finsihing P4 and P5 today.
It was a mixed session for Mercedes' George Russell and Lewis Hamilton and also for Sergio Perez in ninth, but Esteban Ocon was back in the fray and seventh fastest after missing FP1 due to a water leak on the Alpine.
‘Norris and Piastri in charge’;
https://f1i.com/news/515076-belgian-...-practice.html
F1 – Norris and Piastri give McLaren one-two in second practice for Belgian Grand Prix
26.07.24
FIA (Press Release)
Lando Norris beat team-mate Oscar Piastri by two tenths of a second to give McLaren a 1-2 in second practice for the 2024 FIA Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third place, just 0.002 behind the second McLaren. At the start of the second hour of practice, Verstappen quickly moved to the top of the timesheet, using the C3 Medium tyres to work his way to an early benchmark of 1:43.339. Norris, meanwhile, was in second place, on Soft tyres and two tenths off Verstappen on Softs tyres.
As the first quarter of the session elapsed the field headed back to the pits to prepare for qualifying simulations, which were kicked off by Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver duly took top spot from Verstappen with a time of 1:43.098, before Piastri moved well ahead of the Spaniard with a lap of 1:42.475. Verstappen then emerged on the C4 Soft rubber but despite again looking quick, the championship leader couldn’t dislodge Piastri from P1 and the Red Bull driver slotted into second, just 0.002s behind the Australian.
‘McLaren one-two in second practice’;
https://www.fia.com/news/f1-norris-a...ian-grand-prix
-
Norris ‘not feeling super comfortable’ despite leading McLaren one-two in Belgian GP practice.
Lando Norris has admitted that he was far from comfortable aboard his McLaren during the first day of practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, despite the Briton topping the timesheets over team mate Oscar Piastri.
18:56 Fri, 26 Jul 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Norris built on a P8 finish in the opening FP1 session to lead the way during FP2, clocking a best time of 1m 42.260s around the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit and winding up 0.215s clear of Piastri, and a further 0.002s up on Red Bull rival Max Verstappen.
Asked to reflect on his first day of running when he hopped out of the car, Norris initially commented: “Good. Still tough, still close. Red Bull are very quick at the minute. It’s tricky… I’ve just not felt very comfortable today with the car. I hope I just wake up tomorrow and feel a bit more comfortable with it!”
“But we’ll try and improve a few things and see again. I know it looked good on the timesheets, but I’ve not felt super comfortable in just going out and doing it, so hopefully I can just get in a bit more of a rhythm and feel a bit better out there.”
‘Not feeling super comfortable’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...zvG9laK9NbwBFS
Belgian GP race simulations: McLaren inter-team fight expected, Mercedes praying for a miracle
McLaren look set for another dominant weekend at the 2024 Belgian GP
26 July 2024
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could be set for another F1 showdown at the 2024 Belgian GP as race simulations show them comfortably faster than Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, with serious concerns for Mercedes. It was a clean Friday through Free Practice 1 and 2 on July 26, leaving the drivers with the perfect chance to run through their programs and it’s in the long-run simulations where the McLaren look impervious to their rivals.
Medium Long Runs
Oscar Piastri average: 1:49.200 (eight laps). Fastest: 1:47.798.
Max Verstappen average: 1:49.533 (eight laps). Fastest: 1:48.316.
Carlos Sainz average: 1:49.829 (nine laps). Fastest: 1:48.962.
Sergio Perez average: 1:50.247 (12 laps). Fastest: 1:49.025.
George Russell average: 1:50.667 (11 laps). Fastest: 1:49.726.
Soft Long Runs
Lando Norris average: 1:49.295 (five laps). Fastest: 1:47.971.
Charles Leclerc average: 1:50.795 (eight laps). Fastest: 1:49.525.
Lewis Hamilton average: 1:50.797 (nine laps). Fastest: 1:49.143.
Big concerns for Mercedes in Belgian GP simulations: As you might have sussed from the lap times above, Mercedes do not look particularly quick in 2024 Belgian GP race simulations in a bitterly disappointing start to the weekend where they’ve introduced new upgrades including revised floor edges, a diffuser and circuit-specific front-wings. However, based on the fastest laps of each driver, they do not seem to be playing with the same toys at their disposal. Mercedes also saved the hard tyres and didn’t touch them at all, so could they be preparing solely for the long run?
‘Belgian GP race simulations’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/bel...for-a-miracle/
Mercedes drivers unhappy with the W15's performance at Spa
27 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Following a series of strong results in recent rounds, Mercedes appear to have lack pace to the field-leading McLaren and Red Bull at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Russell commented: "It is always nice to be here at Spa-Francorchamps and getting to drive a car in anger around this incredible circuit. The resurfaced tarmac has also made it extra fast this year. We’ve got some work to do overnight to find some lap time.
"The McLarens and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen looked to be a step ahead of us today. We need to dig through the data and put in the work in the simulator at Brackley to hopefully unearth some gains and get closer to them. I’m sure we can do that. Tomorrow will definitely be a very different day if we are able to do so. The forecast is also for rain tomorrow so that will add another factor into the mix. We have often had good Fridays and the others have caught up come Saturday, so hopefully it will be us doing that this weekend."
His team-mate Lewis Hamilton looked strong on Pirelli's medium tyres, but he was unable to extract everything from the soft rubber during his qualifying simulation. "Today wasn’t our best day as the car wasn’t feeling particularly strong. FP1 wasn’t great and we worked on some changes for FP2. That initially improved the balance and it felt good, but once we put the Soft tyre on we struggled more. It was definitely an improvement overall, but others took a step forward to too. We’ve got some time to find overnight, and we will be aiming to do so.”
‘Unhappy with the W15's performance’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25114
Lewis Hamilton casts alarming ‘completely different’ Mercedes W15 verdict after ‘pretty bad day’
26 Jul 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
And Hamilton told the Formula 1 website after FP2 that it was a “pretty bad day”, revealing a “completely different” feeling with the W15 compared to recent successful outings. “It was a pretty bad day,” Hamilton admitted. “I don’t really know what to say. Obviously it has been feeling great in the past couple of races. That just felt completely different today.”
“So we worked on it. The first session was, not great. But then in the second session we made some changes and it started off great, and then, when I got to the soft tyre I just couldn’t improve and there was a bunch of balance issues we had throughout the lap. But it was better in this session. But, everyone else went even better. So to be 1.2 seconds behind is not great.”
‘Alarming ‘completely different’ Mercedes W15 verdict’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-...-different-spa
Belgian GP data reveals promising numbers for McLaren and Max Verstappen’s comeback
26 Jul 2024
Pablo Hidalgo
PlanetF1.com
Friday’s Free Practice sessions at the Formula 1 2024 Belgian Grand Prix has left us with several clues and many doubts ahead of Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race at Spa-Francorchamps. McLaren has struck the first blow, but Red Bull hasn’t been left behind. With a 10-place grid penalty, Max Verstappen will have to qualify well to make a comeback on Sunday — but the possibility of a win isn’t out of the question.
McLaren are the favourites for the race if dry conditions hold. The papaya team has so far been very solid on both single-lap pace and long-run race pace. Verstappen’s aforementioned penalty should give his rival outfit a great chance of another 1-2 on Sunday. And although we don’t know the fuel load and engine map used by each driver, we can see certain trends in the laps of Verstappen and Norris.
The Red Bull driver was quickest in the high and medium speed corners, while Norris dominated in the low speed corners. The second sector, where top speed and engine is less important, is McLaren’s territory. If we analyse the performance of the drivers in two key Spa corners such as Pouhon (Turn 10) and Blanchimont (Turn 17), we can again see this trend where Red Bull outperforms McLaren in the fast corners.
‘Promising numbers’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/be...appen-comeback
Verstappen ‘open-minded’ on F1 Belgian GP despite grid drop
27 Jul 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Max Verstappen is remaining “open-minded” regarding his chances in Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix, despite conceding his grid drop has complicated his prospects. Verstappen will incur a 10-place grid drop, meaning that the highest he can start the 44-lap encounter will be 11th should he manage to seize pole position.
“I knew of course that it is coming,” Verstappen addressed prior to the weekend’s action commencing. “It’s not a surprise to me.” Verstappen has accepted grid penalties at Spa in the previous two seasons, but surged through from 14th in 2022 to win and then replicated that from sixth last term.
“We’ll find out on Sunday how good that is going to be, right?” Verstappen quipped. “Some tracks naturally are a bit better than others. Of course on a street circuit, you wouldn’t want to have an engine penalty.” Asked whether he considered eighth place the maximum in the race, he stated: “I hope a little bit more, but let’s see. I don’t know, it’s difficult to predict at the moment.”
“Open-minded”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...ite-grid-drop/
-
What happened in final Belgian GP F1 practice.
A wet final Formula 1 practice of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend was headed by reigning champion Max Verstappen, with Lance Stroll's crash the main event of the 60-minute session.
Jul 27, 2024
by Valentin Khorounzhiy
The Race
With the track already wet to begin practice and rain picking up in the early minutes, Stroll was caught out coming through Eau Rouge, trying to correct a massive snap and heading into the run-off at speed.
His Aston Martin spun there and eventually met the outside barrier with its left front, snapping the suspension but seemingly leaving the rest of the AMR24 unscathed as Stroll parked it at the start of the Kemmel straight.
That crash, coming just past the 11-minute mark, brought out the red flag.
‘Wet final Formula 1 practice’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/b...-stroll-crash/
Belgian GP: Free Practice 3 Results
27 July 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Full results from Free Practice 3 from the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Pos Num Driver Team Laps Best Diff
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 4 2:01.565
2 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 4 2:02.998 1.433
3 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 5 2:03.175 1.610
4 4 Lando Norris McLaren 4 2:03.372 1.807
5 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine 7 2:05.250 3.685
6 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 4 2:06.033 4.468
7 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 4 2:06.037 4.472
8 77 Valtteri Bottas Sauber 7 2:06.492 4.927
9 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 3 2:06.751 5.186
10 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 3 2:07.103 5.538
‘Full results from Free Practice 3’;
https://speedcafe.com/belgian-gp-fre...ice-3-results/
2024 Belgian GP FP3: Red flag at Spa after Stroll spins and hits the wall at Raidillon
27 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
With rain falling at Spa in final practice, Lance Stroll spun at the top of the hill of the Raidillon corner after Eau Rouge and hit the wall on the left hand side, damaging the his Aston Martin to trigger a red flag.
‘Spins and hits the wall at Raidillon’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/20...30235309590613
Heavy rain concern in Belgian GP weather update
The drivers are set for a wet Free Practice 3 and qualifying ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
27 July 2024
Nick Golding & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Free Practice 3 and qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix are set to be conducted in very wet conditions, with rain having started to fall ahead of the final practice session. A challenging day awaits the drivers with rain clouds having suddenly formed over Spa-Francorchamps in the closing stages of a Porsche support race.
The F3 sprint race was conducted in a mix of dry and damp conditions, before rain suddenly fell in the closing laps for the Porsches. According to the FIA, there is a 100% chance of moderate rain showers for FP3, with this forecast having worsened in the last hour. Earlier this morning, only a 60% chance of light rain was forecast.
There is a concerning 80% chance of very heavy showers ahead of and during qualifying, which could result in a mixed-up grid and potential delays to the session.
‘Heavy rain concern’;
https://racingnews365.com/heavy-rain...weather-update
Verstappen heads washed out final practice at F1 Belgian GP
27 July 2024
Motorsport Week
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen harboured more than a one-second gap over his nearest rival during a washed-out third practice session at Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix. A substantial deluge prior to the session soaked the track and meant that Intermediates were in use across the entire field as the drivers ventured out onto the circuit.
Despite enduring a wide moment at Turn 8 as he navigated a treacherous track, Verstappen headed the initial times with a 2:01.565s, 1,433s faster than Oscar Piastri. The showers had increased and over 10 minutes in proceedings were brought to a sudden halt as Lance Stroll lost control going up Eau Rouge and span into the wall.
‘More than a one-second gap’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...f1-belgian-gp/
-
Max Verstappen fastest but Charles Leclerc takes Belgian GP pole on penalties in sodden qualifying.
Max Verstappen misses out on Belgian GP pole for the third successive year despite beating Charles Leclerc in qualifying.
27 July 2024
Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport
Charles Leclerc profited from Max Verstappen‘s engine penalty to secure pole position in 2024 Belgian Gand Prix qualifying, as a soaking qualifying failed to provide a major shake-up of the grid.
Verstappen was in a class of his own in the country of his birth, more than half a second ahead of Leclerc and the rest of his rivals, but will start eleventh between Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly with an engine change costing him pole position in Spa for the third year running.
On those two previous occasions he’s advanced through the field to take victory, and he believes a three-peat is possible despite admitting Red Bull ‘haven’t been making it easy on ourselves’ in recent grand prix.
‘Max Verstappen fastest’;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/max...et-qualifying/
Belgian GP: Qualifying Results
Full results from Qualifying from the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
28 July 2024
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com
Full results from Qualifying from the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Pos Num Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Diff
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1:54.938 1:53.837 1:53.159
2 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:55.349 1:54.193 1:53.754 0.595
3 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 1:55.139 1:54.470 1:53.765 0.606
4 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:55.692 1:54.037 1:53.835 0.676
5 4 Lando Norris McLaren 1:55.582 1:54.358 1:53.981 0.822
6 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:54.835 1:54.136 1:54.027 0.868
7 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:55.353 1:54.095 1:54.184 1.025
8 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:55.169 1:54.112 1:54.477 1.318
9 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:55.489 1:54.258 1:54.765 1.606
10 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine 1:55.417 1:54.460 1:54.810 1.651
‘Full results from Qualifying’;
https://speedcafe.com/belgian-gp-qualifying-results/
F1 starting grid: What is the grid order for the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix?
27 Jul 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Max Verstappen dominated Belgian Grand Prix qualifying, but it is Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on pole at Spa.
2024 Belgian Grand Prix grid
1. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
2. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
4. Lando Norris, McLaren
5. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
6. George Russell, Mercedes
7. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
8. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
9. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
10. Alex Albon, Williams
‘F1 starting grid’
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-sta...ian-grand-prix
Verstappen dominates damp Spa qualifying, Leclerc on pole
2024 Belgian GP qualifying report
27th July 2024
Will Wood
RaceFans.net
Max Verstappen set the quickest time in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix but Charles Leclerc will start from pole position. For the second year in a row at Spa, Verstappen set the fastest time in Q3 but will drop positions on the grid because of a penalty. Instead, Leclerc will take pole with Sergio Perez starting alongside him on the front row in second place, just as they did in 2023.
‘Verstappen dominates’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/07/27/...clerc-on-pole/
Verstappen eyeing 'luck' to overcome Belgian GP threat
Max Verstappen will start the Belgian Grand Prix from 11th on the starting grid after taking a penalty at the race.
27 July 2024
Fergal Walsh
RacingNews365
As he seeks to take his first race win since the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen hinted he is expecting a challenging race starting in the midfield. “We are not making it easy on ourselves, and especially, of course, in the battle that we're in,” Verstappen.
“I know that today was a great day, but it's in the wet. We need to be quick in the dry tomorrow. It's going to be a tough battle. We'll try to do the best we can. Hopefully, we can battle with the Ferraris and Mercedes' ahead. If we have a bit of luck, maybe we can challenge the McLarens.”
‘11th on the starting grid’;
https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...gian-gp-threat
Charles Leclerc starts from pole at Belgian GP as Max Verstappen quickest in qualifying
Jul 27, 2024
Laurence Edmondson
ESPN.co.uk
Leclerc said after qualifying: "Exactly the same [result as last year] -- it's good, I definitely did not expect that this weekend with the tricky conditions. We could do something about our expectations, so it's a good day for the team and we need to focus on tomorrow and see what we can happen when the rain is gone.
"Without this rain, probably P5 was the position we were fighting for with Mercedes especially but obviously with the rain it helped us a little bit. I'm not going to complain, I'm really happy with my lap in Q3 and it's good to be back on the front part of the grid." Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez will start from second on the grid, ahead of Lewis Hamilton in third and the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in fourth and fifth.
Perez said afterwards: "I think P2 is probably the best position we can wish for in Spa, it was the same with Charles last year, so I will try again tomorrow to do the same and it's a long race ahead of us -- it looks like it's going to be dry. Every weekend is a new opportunity to do better and tomorrow is a new opportunity is a new day to go for that win."
“A good day for the team and we need to focus on tomorrow”;
https://www.espn.co.uk/f1/report?id=600041146
Belgian GP: Max Verstappen quickest but Charles Leclerc takes pole, hope for Perez
27 Jul 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Max Verstappen reasserted his authority over the chasing pack as the Red Bull driver set the fastest time in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Pix by 0.595s. He, however, won’t start on pole position due to an engine penalty with Charles Leclerc elevated to P1 ahead of Sergio Perez. A lucky escape for Sergio Perez in Q2: Hamilton put in a late charge to go second behind Verstappen, Russell third. As for Perez, he snuck through in 10th place by 0.003s. Out went Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas and Stroll.
With more rain forecast for Q3: Hamilton laid down the opening marker, a 1:54.0, with Piastri second ahead of Russell and Norris. But their times were blitzed by Red Bull as Perez, on used tyres, went P1 before Verstappen went even faster – a 1:53.159! Putting in a second run, Leclerc overhauled Perez to go second but was still 0.595 down on Verstappen who did not improve his time. Perez, down in the middle sector, pitted instead of completing his flying lap.
‘Max Verstappen reasserted his authority’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/belgia...lifying-report
Max Verstappen singles out Red Bull mechanics after breaking Belgian Grand Prix curfew
Red Bull breached Belgian Grand Prix curfew rules before Max Verstappen took to the track.
Jul 27, 2024
Jack McEachen
Daily and Sunday Express
Max Verstappen thanked his Red Bull mechanics for going the extra mile after they breached the Belgian Grand Prix's curfew on Friday evening, before the Dutchman went fastest during qualifying the following day.
"Well done everyone and thank you to the mechanics for working so late, last lap, great job, thank you very much," Verstappen said over his team radio after breezing through qualifying, though he had pole position taken away from him due to a 10-place grid penalty.
‘Max Verstappen thanked his Red Bull mechanics’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...gian-GP-curfew
-
Leclerc vs Perez, and Verstappen’s charge from P11 – What To Watch For in the Belgian Grand Prix.
From four different teams in the top four places to Max Verstappen fighting back through the field from a grid penalty; and from plenty of overtaking opportunities to a weather forecast…
27 Jul 2024
Chris Medland
Special Contributor
Formula One - Official Site
From four different teams in the top four places to Max Verstappen fighting back through the field from a grid penalty; and from plenty of overtaking opportunities to a weather forecast you can never be certain of, here are five key aspects to monitor during Sunday’s race at Spa-Francorchamps…
1. Leclerc vs Perez off the front row: Given recent form and the way qualifying was panning out for a spell, to have a front row of Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez was somewhat of a surprise. Leclerc will start from pole for the first time since Monaco, while Perez was last in the top two in China.
‘What To Watch For’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...7CyQebJc8TUJym
Leclerc taken aback by pole position as he expected Ferrari to fight for third row
28 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Leclerc commented: “It’s good. I mean I definitely did not expect that this weekend. Obviously with the tricky conditions we could do something above our expectations – it’s a good day for the team. Now we need to focus on tomorrow and see what will happen whenever the rain is gone.”
He continued: “I think without this rain probably P5 was the position we were fighting for with the Mercedes especially. Obviously with the rain it helped us a little bit, but I’m not going to complain. I’m really happy… I’m very happy with the lap in Q3 and it’s good to be back on the front part of the grid, but now we’ve got to finalise that tomorrow.”
”It’s not the easiest first place to keep on the first lap here, but honestly I will see,” he said. “Every start is different and once I’ll be in the car tomorrow through Eau Rouge I’ll decide what’s the best thing I can do, but obviously I’ll try to keep that first place.”
‘Taken aback’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25132
Leclerc ‘definitely did not expect’ Spa qualifying result after going second quickest and inheriting P1
27 Jul 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Charles Leclerc was in high spirits after qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, with the Ferrari driver pulling a lap out of the bag to initially claim second on the grid – which becomes pole position due to Max Verstappen’s engine penalty. “I’m really happy… I’m very happy with the lap in Q3 and it’s good to be back on the front part of the grid, but now we’ve got to finalise that tomorrow.”
Leclerc’s first challenge on Sunday will be trying to keep hold of P1 on the opening lap, with Spa offering cars behind an opportunity to slipstream on the run to Eau Rouge and pull off an overtake along the Kemmel Straight.
‘Definitely did not expect’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...7irOVglYcjUH9F
Charles: “Continue with the work we started in Hungary”
27 Jul 2024
Ferrari - Official Site
Charles Leclerc firmly believes that Scuderia Ferrari HP is back on track after a few races that didn’t live up to expectations. “I think the race in Budapest confirmed that we are back on the right road. We know there’s still a lot of work to do but we have a clear idea what is needed. As soon as we get some updates I believe we will be able to fight for the win, but for the moment we have to focus on ourselves and maximise the potential of the package we have now.”
‘Back on track’;
https://www.ferrari.com/en-GB/formul...-media-leclerc
HEAD-TO-HEAD: See where Leclerc had the edge over Perez in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix
27 Jul 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Watch to see how Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Sergio Perez compared in qualifying at the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix. Leclerc will inherit pole after a penalty for Max Verstappen, while Perez was third quickest but will start second.
‘HEAD-TO-HEAD’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/he...55060130273693
Sergio Perez drops potential major clue on Red Bull future with rare front-row start secured
27 Jul 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Asked by media including PlanetF1.com how satisfied he is with that qualifying performance, considering all the noise regarding his Red Bull future, Perez replied: “From my point of view, it doesn’t change anything. “I’ve always said it’s not where we are now, it’s how you ride the waves and where we finish in Abu Dhabi.”
“I mean, there are a lot of drivers that haven’t been able to maximize their performance lately, but obviously, there’s continuity on my side, it has been quite a bit higher. It doesn’t change anything from my point of view. I think tomorrow is a new day, a new opportunity. It will have been the same if I was knocked out in Q2, you know, tomorrow’s a new opportunity to do better and it’s the way I see it. It’s tomorrow what really counts.”
“And if I don’t have a good race tomorrow, I will try to have a good one in Zandvoort. But it’s how it is, this is a sport and sometimes it goes your way, sometimes you have to fight and nothing goes in your direction. But I think it’s just the nature of this. And it’s still a long way to go in the season. So yeah, just head down. And I think like I’ve said before, the team, myself, are focusing on what we’ve got to do. At the end of the day, it’s getting the most points we possibly can. And the rest, couldn’t care less to be honest.”
‘Tomorrow is a new day, a new opportunity’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...bull-zandvoort
Piastri expects Perez to fight hard “for his own sake”
Oscar Piastri expects Sergio Perez to defend hard following his best qualifying result since China.
28 July 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe
“Obviously we're in a fight with Red Bull in the constructors', and Max is leading the world championship in the drivers' standings,” Piastri observed. “So of course I expect Checo [Perez] to put up a fight, I think even for his own sake. It's not been the easiest run for him and I think of course, more than anyone, he probably wants a really good result for himself. So I think he'll fight hard for it, but I don't think any harder than he would if it was another situation.”
Lewis Hamilton will join Norris on the second row, with the Brit confident McLaren has the pace to clear the trio of cars he starts behind. “I wouldn't say a concern,” Norris said of the potential for Perez to prove a roadblock. For our race against Max, we have to get past all of them.”
“I know Checo potentially will have a bit more of a defensive mindset than the others, but Charles is still fighting off pole and for a win, so he's going to be fighting hard for it – he's not just going to let things go easily. Same with Hamilton. He's always going to be aggressive and defensive when he needs to be.”
‘Sergio Perez to fight hard’;
https://speedcafe.com/piastri-expect...-his-own-sake/
Perez impresses in qualifying, but knows race day is what counts
27 Jul 2024
The Straits Times
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - Red Bull's Sergio Perez put in an impressive drive in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday, where he will start on the front row, but he knows it is all about what happens on race day that is important for a driver who needs to score points.
"From my point of view, it doesn't change anything. You know, I've always said it's not where we are now, it's how you ride the waves and where we finish in Abu Dhabi," Perez said. "I think tomorrow is a new day, a new opportunity. It would have been the same if I was knocked out in Q2. Tomorrow is a new opportunity to do better. And the way I see it, it's tomorrow that really counts."
With three-time world champion and current leader Verstappen starting 11th on the grid, Red Bull will be looking to Perez to make a good start on Sunday, and perhaps claim his first win of the season. We'll see, you know, it's a very long race ahead of us. I think tomorrow degradation will be quite tricky, and graining with this new tarmac," Perez said. "I think there are a lot of unknowns still, but I've got a good feeling for tomorrow, so we'll see."
‘Race day is what counts’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...is-what-counts
-
George Russell beats Lewis Hamilton to win Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.
Charles Leclerc started on pole but eventually finished fourth behind Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri in second and third respectively.
28 July 2024
• Mercedes star George Russell won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa on Sunday
• Russell's one-stop strategy worked a treat as he won from sixth on the grid
• Lewis Hamilton had to settle for second place behind his Mercedes team-mate
Henry Clark
MailOnline
Fortune favours the bold and for George Russell, the bravest of calls delivered the very sweetest of rewards. With 12 laps to go, the question came from Mercedes to Russell. Having stopped on lap 10, would Russell risk it all by switching to a one-stop strategy, just as all his rivals dived back into the pits for a second time? The answer came loud and clear. Russell chose to stick, rather than twist.
His team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, looked set to be the beneficiary of that call. On fresher tyres, he looked to be holding all of the aces. But as the laps counted down, Russell stood firm all the way to the chequered flag to cap a brilliant drive having started sixth.
‘One-stop strategy worked brilliantly’;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-Hamilton.html
Belgian GP: Race Results
29 July 2024
Speedcafe
Full results from the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
Pos Num Driver Team Laps/Diff
1 63 George Russell Mercedes 44
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 0.526
3 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1.173
4 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 8.549
5 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 9.226
6 4 Lando Norris McLaren 9.85
7 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 19.795
8 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 43.195
9 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 49.963
10 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine 52.552
‘Full results’;
https://speedcafe.com/belgian-gp-race-results/
Russell storms to stunning Belgian GP victory in Mercedes one-two
George Russell banked a second victory of the season in the Belgian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri completed the podium.
28 July 2024
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
One-stopping George Russell resisted a late charge from Mercedes F1 team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages to win the Belgian Grand Prix for his second victory of the season. In a 44-lap race that featured high-levels of tyre degradation, Russell opted for the contra-strategy of a single pit-stop compared to the two-stops of the rest of the leading gaggle.
Hamilton, who had taken the lead from Charles Leclerc on lap 3 after dispatching Sergio Perez on the opening lap, was able to catch Russell, but the younger Briton held firm to earn a second grand prix victory of the year and third overall. Hamilton completed the first Mercedes one-two since Sao Paulo 2022 ahead of Oscar Piastri in the McLaren who passed pole-sitter Leclerc late on for the final podium spot.
Max Verstappen could only take fifth from 11th on the grid for Red Bull, being engaged in a battle with title rival Lando Norris for the majority of the race, with Sergio Perez seventh ahead of Carlos Sainz, who started off-strategy on the hard tyres. The points positions were rounded out by Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon
‘Mercedes one-two’;
https://racingnews365.com/russell-st...rcedes-one-two
Russell resists charging Hamilton to win enthralling Belgian Grand Prix
28th July 2024
Will Wood
RaceFans
Mercedes secured their third victory in four rounds as well as their first one-two of the season after Hamilton caught his one-stopping team mate in the closing laps but could not get by. Hamilton finished second, while Oscar Piastri claimed the final podium position in third. Max Verstappen rose from 11th on the grid to finish fifth.
At the start of the race, Leclerc converted pole position into the lead into La Source, but Lewis Hamilton managed to get by Sergio Perez to take second place. Lando Norris ran wide at the exit of La Source and lost multiple places. Hamilton stuck with Leclerc in the opening laps and managed to get a run on the Ferrari along the Kemmel Straight at the start of lap three, driving around his future team mate to take the lead into Les Combes. The Mercedes escaped to over two seconds ahead of Leclerc out front, while Perez dropped further away from Leclerc in third.
Verstappen was the first of the top cars to pit at the end of lap ten, switching from mediums to hards. Leader Hamilton pitted on the next lap, rejoining ahead of Perez and Oscar Piastri, who had also stopped. Leclerc rejoined behind Hamilton to retain his net second place, while Piastri used DRS along the Kemmel Straight to pass Perez for what was ultimately third. Carlos Sainz Jnr and Norris were the last of the leaders to pit, with Norris eventually boxing for hard tyres at the end of lap 15.
‘Russell resists charging Hamilton’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/07/28/...an-grand-prix/
George Russell holds off Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes 1-2 in emphatic Belgian GP victory
Mercedes executed their strategy to perfection to bring home maximum points for the team at Spa.
Jul 28, 2024
Joe Krishnan
Daily and Sunday Express
Mercedes celebrated an emphatic 1-2 at the Belgian Grand Prix after George Russell held off Lewis Hamilton to secure his second victory of the season ahead of. The Silver Arrows executed their pit stop strategy to perfection to allow Hamilton to protect his lead, but Russell on 34-lap-old tyres held off a charging Hamilton to clinch the win ahead of Oscar Piastri in third. Pole-sitter Charles Leclerc could only finish down in fourth.
The same top three from last year lined up on the grid again for 2024, with championship leader Max Verstappen starting down in 11th due to his 10-place grid penalty fitting a new engine. The Dutchman finished fifth ahead of Lando Norris in sixth. Hamilton got off the line quicker than Perez and held his nerve despite the Red Bull star's attempts to move over to cover him off. The seven-time world champion defended fiercely against the Mexican up to Radillon to keep P2, while Norris behind him dropped three places after dipping his McLaren into the gravel.
Hamilton managed to stay within DRS range of Leclerc and with a good exit out of Eau Rouge and Radillon, the Mercedes star had the pace to get the move done way before the end of the Kemmel Straight on Lap 3. Verstappen was P8 by the end of Lap 2 after getting past Albon, Alonso and Ocon. But his progress was halted as the Dutchman found Norris in his way once again.
‘Mercedes 1-2 in emphatic Belgian GP victory’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...des-Belgian-GP
-
George Russell disqualified after winning Belgian Grand Prix.
George Russell has been disqualified from Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix in a shock turn of events after his sensational victory - with Lewis Hamilton therefore claiming the win.
Sun, 28 July 2024
Kieran Jackson
Yahoo.com
n an initial post-race check, Russell’s Mercedes car was found to be 1.5 kg under the weight permitted in the regulations following the obligatory drainage of fuel. The matter was referred to the FIA stewards, who confirmed that Russell has been disqualified from the race classification.
Russell’s disqualification means team-mate Hamilton, who finished second, claims his 105th F1 win. Hamilton’s car was found to be over the permitted weight. Oscar Piastri therefore finishes second, with Charles Leclerc in third.
The FIA said in a statement: “During the hearing the team representative confirmed that the measurement is correct and that all required procedures were performed correctly. The team also acknowledged that there were no mitigating circumstances and that it was a genuine error by the team.”
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/george-rus...162026751.html
UPDATED: Belgian GP Race Result
Updated race results for the Belgian Grand Prix following the exclusion of George Russell.
29 July 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Updated race results for the Belgian Grand Prix following the exclusion of George Russell.
Pos Num Driver Team Laps/Diff
1 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 44 laps
2 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 0.647
3 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 8.023
4 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 8.700
5 4 Lando Norris McLaren 9.324
6 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 19.269
7 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 42.669
8 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 49.437
9 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine 52.026
10 3 Daniel Ricciardo RB 54.400
‘Belgian GP Race Result’;
https://speedcafe.com/updated-belgian-gp-race-result/
Mercedes release statement following Russell's Spa disqualification
The team has issued a statement following George Russell's disqualification from the Belgian Grand Prix.
28 July 2024
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
Mercedes Wolff statement in full
"We have to take our disqualification on the chin. We have clearly made a mistake and need to ensure we learn from it. We will go away, evaluate what happened and understand what went wrong. To lose a 1-2 is frustrating and we can only apologise to George who drove such a strong race.”
"Lewis is of course promoted to P1; he was the fastest guy on the two-stop and is a deserving winner. Despite the disqualification, there are many positives we can take from this weekend. We had a car that was the benchmark in today's race across two different strategies. Only a few months ago, that would have been inconceivable.”
"We head into the summer break having won three of the past four races. We will look to come back after the shutdown rejuvenated and with the aim ofmaintaining our positive trajectory."
‘Statement following George Russell's disqualification’;
https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-r...squalification
Toto Wolff responds as George Russell disqualified from Belgian Grand Prix
28 Jul 2024
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
With no mitigating circumstances to present, Mercedes admitted an error had been made by the team, and Russell’s disqualification thus moves Lewis Hamilton up to first place for his second win in three race weekends. “Look, you know, we have to take it on the chin if the stewards decide against us,” he (Toto Wolff) said just before the disqualification news broke.
“It is what it is, a mistake has happened or could have happened and a 1-2 would have been a great result going into the summer break, it couldn’t go any better. The positives, the very positive, that we can take from this race is that we had two cars that were the benchmark in this race with two different strategies. Who would have said that a few months ago? And that is that is really good to see.”
“I think it’s the one-stop that you expect lots of rubber, maybe more, but there’s no excuse. If the stewards team deems it to be a breach of regulations, then it is what it is. We have to learn from that and, as a team, you know there are more positives to take. Obviously, for George, that’s a massive blow – a driver and all his childhood dreams to win these races and then it’s being probably taken away, but he’s gonna win many more.”
‘Toto Wolff responds’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...ian-grand-prix
George Russell breaks silence on Belgian GP disqualification handing win to Lewis Hamilton
George Russell's Belgian Grand Prix win was snatched away from him two hours after crossing the finish line.
Jul 28, 2024
Charlie Gordon
Breaking his silence on being disqualified, Russell wrote on X: "Heartbreaking.
"We came in 1.5kg underweight and have been disqualified from the race. We left it all on the track today and I take pride in crossing the line first. There will be more to come."
"Heartbreaking”;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...lewis-hamilton
-
How George Russell (Almost) Stole The Belgian Grand Prix.
Soon after the race ended, technical delegate Jo Bauer referred Russell's car to the stewards for being underweight by 1.5 kilograms—a violation of the technical rules which would be a slam-dunk disqualification. There was a wait as Mercedes plead their case, and the car was re-weighed, but in the end, there's only so much pleading can do.
20:30 Sun, 28 Jul 2024
Kathryn Xu
Defector
When Lewis Hamilton talked down the Mercedes car on Saturday, it wasn't sandbagging. "I think [the Red Bull] is the fastest here this weekend, or at least tied with McLaren," Hamilton said. Considering Mercedes's disaster of a Friday and the end qualifying result—a Red Bull, a Ferrari, another Red Bull, Hamilton's Mercedes, and then two McLarens—it was a simple statement of fact.
Hamilton didn't race like it. He started P3 on the grid after Max Verstappen took a 10-place grid penalty for his engine, and rocketed off the line. It took a couple of corners for the overtake on Sergio Pérez to stick; a couple of laps for Hamilton to catch up to Leclerc, pass, and pull out of DRS range. Despite running back a Sebastian Vettel radio classic about how "something is moving down around my legs," it became Hamilton's race to lose as soon as he was in the clear air. All of the allegedly faster cars were trapped in DRS trains a few places back. The championship leaders were squabbling down at seventh. Mercedes made the perfect reactive pit stop calls every single time to avoid losing track position, which as the DRS trains and general lack of overtaking proved, were critical. Hamilton pit to cover off Verstappen, and then pit to cover off Leclerc. After he came out in front in the second pit stop, it was sealed. All he had to do was make it to the end. And then he lost to ... who? George Russell? His teammate George Russell?
Russell was written off for virtually the entire race. He started P6 on the grid, behind Hamilton—who he had been regularly beating in single-lap qualifying pace—and the two McLarens, and gained a place after an unfortunately typical poor start from Lando Norris. But for most of the race, he was in no man's land, also known as the DRS train. He made his first pit stop on lap 10, along with Max Verstappen. As the other drivers pit ahead of him, he crawled up the places, from outside of the points up to P4. After Piastri made the final pit stop on lap 31, Russell found himself in P1, a little over seven seconds ahead of his teammate, Hamilton, with 13 long laps to go.
‘(Almost) Stole The Belgian Grand Prix’;
https://defector.com/how-george-russ...ian-grand-prix
How Mercedes' 'inexcusable' DQ cost Russell F1 win in Spa
28 Jul 2024
Laurence Edmondson
ESPN.com
In a sport where every last detail is accounted for, double checked and checked once more, it's rare for a car to be found underweight after the chequered flag. It's not unusual for teams to design a car to be as light as possible, but ballast is used to ensure it tips the scales at (or over) 798kg come what may after a race.
Mercedes will spend the coming days fully investigating the reason for the oversight, but initially it seemed linked to the remarkable one-stop strategy Russell used to take the victory. When Russell suggested the idea of a one-stop over the team radio, Mercedes' strategy modelling said both the planned two-stop strategy and the eventual one-stop would leave the car fifth at the finish.
By making a single set of hard compound tyres last 34 laps, Russell's Mercedes vaulted from fifth place to the lead as his rivals made a second pit stop. The strategy was a gamble, not least because most teams believed a two-stop would be the fastest way to the flag ahead of the race.
‘Inexcusable';
https://www.espn.com/racing/f1/story...ell-f1-win-spa
Mercedes to launch investigation into Russell disqualification
Trackside engineering chief Andrew Shovlin has committed to an investigation after the Spa shocker.
29 July 2024
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
Mercedes has committed to launching an investigation into the root causes of George Russell's disqualification from the Belgian Grand Prix. Mercedes believe that the one-stop strategy, increase tyre wear, lack of a safety car to save fuel and the absence of a traditional in-lap to pick-up rubber combined to put Russell 1.5kg under the 798kg minimum weight limit, but trackside engineering chief Andrew Shovlin has promised an investigation.
"It's really tough for George to have been disqualified from the win after such an impressive drive," Shovlin explained. "He did a brilliant job to hang onto the tyres and defend to the finish. We don't yet understand why the car was underweight following the race but will investigate thoroughly to find the explanation.”
"We expect that the loss of rubber from the one-stop was a contributing factor, and we'll work to understand how it happened. We won't be making any excuses though. It is clearly not good enough and we need to make sure it doesn't happen again."
‘Investigation’;
https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-t...squalification
Mark Hughes: What made Russell a doomed outlier in Belgian GP
Jul 28, 2024
by Mark Hughes
The Race
F1's Belgian Grand Prix wasn’t ever going to be a one-stop race. But George Russell, who was probably set to finish around fifth in the normal two-stop running of his race had a feeling. It came to him after the second pitstops of Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri had left him in an out-of-sequence lead.
“It was weird,” he reported. “Suddenly the tyres and the car felt so good. I got into this groove. Once I was in the lead, no backmarkers or other cars in front, it kind of felt like you were driving in the simulator. I was watching the gap to Lewis and the rate he was catching me and I just thought there’s no reason why we can’t stay out and try to make it work.”
‘Had a feeling’;
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/g...p-mark-hughes/
Expert explains reason that 'could have contributed' to George Russell's Belgian Grand Prix disqualification
28 Jul 2024
Jack Kenmare
SPORTbible
Russell’s one-stop strategy could have led to his disqualification, according to Sky Sports’ Craig Slater, who engaged in conversation with Mercedes after the race. “The reasons? I’ve had some guidance from within the Mercedes team about why they were underweight. It was to do Russell’s single-stop strategy," Slater said.
“The teams know exactly how much weight they will shed when tyres wear down. Russell would have been expected to make two stops today. It was his own idea, in conjunction with his pit wall, that later switched it to a single stop.”
“It was the extra tyre wear that they’ve lost, perhaps several hundred grams per tyre, with the fact that they didn’t make a second stop and put on a fresh set, which has brought them in underweight. Combined with, the team think, changing the car set-up pretty radically between Friday (when they abandoned some of the upgraded parts and reverted to earlier parts for qualifying and the race).”
‘Expert explains reason’;
https://www.sportbible.com/f1/george...74242-20240728
Disqualified George Russell joins very exclusive club after deleted Belgian GP win
Only a handful of Formula 1 drivers have ever been disqualified from a race after winning it. And the lucky omen is every single one of those drivers had either already won a World Championship or would go on to do so in a later year.
28 Jul 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
The story of the 1976 British Grand Prix is a wild one. A massive first-corner crash involving James Hunt brought out the red flag. Hunt took a shortcut back to the pits and, in effect, failed to complete a full lap. Because he hadn’t been on the track at the time the race was red flagged, officials initially determined that he wouldn’t be allowed to take the restart — but an incensed British crowd effectively forced the stewards into letting him start again. After two months of deliberations, Hunt was disqualified, and his win was handed to title rival Niki Lauda.
While Piquet’s Brabham teammate Riccardo Patrese had to retire from the race due to heat exhaustion, Piquet managed to muscle his car across the line in first position. He passed out on the podium celebrating his win — and then he was disqualified. See, both Piquet and Keke Rosberg were found to be underweight due to a “ballast water tank.” That tank’s alleged purpose was to cool the brakes, but teams often refilled the empty tank after the race to meet minimum weight and therefore pass post-race scrutineering.
Alain Prost: 1985 San Marino Grand Prix: Reason for DSQ: Car under minimum weight limit
Ayrton Senna: 1989 Japanese Grand Prix: Reason for DSQ: Rejoining the track illegally via push start from marshals
Michael Schumacher: 1994 Belgian Grand Prix: Reason for DSQ: Illegal skid block wear
‘Very exclusive club’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/f1...after-race-win
-
‘Really am gutted’: Lewis Hamilton sends message to George Russell after being disqualified from the Belgian GP.
Upon discovering that he had won the race, Hamilton sent Russell a message and said: “Great drive today @georgerussell63, really am gutted for you and the team losing the win and also our 1-2 which the team deserved. Let’s keep pushing, work towards another 1-2 in the second half.”
29 July 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Elation turned to frustration very quickly in the Mercedes garage after the final Formula 1 race before the summer break. George Russell nailed a one-stop strategy that nobody thought was possible at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Team principal Toto Wolff will be frustrated that the team have thrown away 18 points at Spa, but encouraged with the direction Mercedes have gone in since the Canadian Grand Prix.
“Work towards another 1-2 in the second half”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/lew...he-belgian-gp/
Hamilton left with 'mixed feelings' over Belgian GP win as Russell reacts to ‘heartbreaking’ disqualification
29 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have both reacted after Mercedes' jubilant 1-2 in Belgium soon turned to despair, when initial winner George Russell was disqualified from the race for a technical breach. Toto Wolff had initially said he wished there could be two winners after the race, such was Hamilton’s pace throughout a gripping Grand Prix, but it was only a highly unexpected strategy call from Russell to try and make a one-stop work that initially denied Hamilton – and while he was pleased to add another win to his tally, the circumstances preceding it rather took the gloss off.
As for Russell, most in the paddock agreed this had been his best F1 victory to date, earned completely on merit after being the only front runner brave enough to try and make the one-stop strategy work. But it wasn’t to be, with his car coming in underweight when the post-race checks were carried out.
“It is heartbreaking to be disqualified from today’s race,” Russell said. “It had been an unbelievable Grand Prix for us to make the one-stop strategy work. In what turned out to be my final stint, the tyres just kept getting better and better. I was nursing them in the early stages and, as we went further, I became more and more convinced we could get to the end on them. It was a risk worth taking and it looked like it had paid off.”
'Mixed feelings';
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...q3I75xxBx0ZKN0
Hamilton left with ‘mixed feelings’ after inheriting Spa win
29/07/2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Champagne was sprayed effusively on the podium by Russell and Hamilton, who flanked Mercedes’ lead strategist Joey McMillan as the group rejoiced in the team’s resounding 1-2 finish, unsuspecting of what would follow.
The mood soured a while later when Russell’s disqualification was confirmed after his Mercedes car was found to be 1.5kg under Formula 1’s 798kg minimum weight, a technical breach that handed the win to Hamilton.
In the post-race press conference, before Russell’s disqualification was announced, Hamilton said that he was surprised to find himself racing at the front. “On Friday it was pretty disastrous for both of us and we were really struggling with balance,” he said.
‘Mixed feelings’;
https://f1i.com/news/515551-hamilton...g-spa-win.html
"I don't want to win a race through a disqualification", says Hamilton
29 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Although Mercedes started off the season as the fourth quickest team behind Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari, it has slowly crawled its way back to the sharp end of the field, having won three of the last four races. Hamilton labelled his car as "incredibly competitive" after his string of impressive race performances.
"I feel for George, and you don’t want to win a race through a disqualification, but we have been back in the fight for victories in the past few races.”
"It is incredibly competitive now, so we will need to work hard to battle for wins more consistently. Nevertheless, we can go into the summer break with momentum and positivity," commented the seven-time world champion.
‘Feel for George’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25151
Lewis Hamilton's Post-Race Interview After Belgian GP
29 Jul 2024
Thomas Henigan
Give Me Sport
Lewis Hamilton did not seem too pleased with his team’s strategy right after the Belgian Grand Prix on the 28th of July. The Brit initially finished second in the race, but has since been awarded first place after his teammate George Russell was disqualified when his car was found to be underweight. The seven-time champion now being awarded victory in Belgium won’t take away from the fact that right after the race he was unhappy with Mercedes’ strategy for him.
In an interview after the race where the seven-time world champion had, at the time, finished in second place, the British driver appeared to be quite critical of those advising him during the contest. “You have to put faith in the people you work with. I put my faith in my strategists, I should be able to lean on them fully.” He also said that he felt that his tyres were fine, but Mercedes still pulled him in for a second tyre change.
Russell, on the other hand, was only pulled in once throughout the race for a tyre change. To that, Hamilton added: “Did I know that I was at risk of getting one-stopped by my teammate? They didn’t tell me that.” These strong words from Hamilton perhaps imply that he feels the different strategies used on him and his teammate Russell favoured the latter of the two drivers, with Russell being the one who came out victorious initially.
‘Post-Race Interview’;
https://www.givemesport.com/lewis-ha...er-belgian-gp/
Mercedes engineer accused of sending 'unnecessary' message to Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton was noticeably frustrated by Mercedes' strategy during the Belgian Grand Prix that saw him clinch P2 before George Russell's disqualification.
Jul 29, 2024
Fasika Zelealem
Daily and Sunday Express
Lewis Hamilton being told to give enough space when racing George Russell in the Belgian Grand Prix was an "unnecessary" message to give the seven-time champion, according to ex-F1 chief Peter Windsor. The Brit initially finished second in Sunday's race with his Mercedes team-mate claiming his second win of the season.
"I thought it was quite interesting [with] two or three laps to go, and they [Mercedes] said 'just give each other a lot of space' to Lewis, I think they should have been giving that message to George actually," Windsor said on his YouTube channel.
"They gave it to Lewis and I wonder if that changed things a little bit, that's unnecessary to say that to Lewis Hamilton I think because he's not the sort of driver that ever really does anything incredibly stupid, particularly with a team-mate. At that stage of the race, I don't think Lewis had to be told that and maybe that affected his aggression a little".
'Unnecessary’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...Lewis-Hamilton
‘Take it on the chin’: Mercedes have no excuses for George Russell heartbreak
Sun, 28 Jul 2024
giles richards
Yahoo! Sport
The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, admitted his team had no excuse for the error that cost George Russell the win at the Belgian Grand Prix, which the Austrian described as a “massive blow” for his driver.
“There is no excuse,” said Wolff. “We have to take it on the chin. We have clearly made a mistake and need to ensure we learn from it. For George that is a massive blow as a driver, all those childhood dreams of winning these races and then it’s been taken away.”
‘No excuses’;
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/chi...190306712.html
Pirelli expert shares three ‘factors’ that contributed to George Russell’s disqualification at Spa
29 July 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Pirelli director of motorsport, Mario Isola, has offered three potential factors that might have led to Russell’s car being under the limit in a press release. Looking at the factors after the race, Isola has offered a theory as to why Russell might have been under the weight limit.
“For a preliminary explanation, at least in terms of tyre behaviour, there are some factors that stand out. First of all, the track temperature was around 10 degrees higher than during FP2 and that probably contributed to very limited graining on the hard, which on the other hand was very significant on the mediums on a long stint,” said Isola.
“Furthermore, we can assume that the teams worked hard on defining car set-up to find the best compromise between a wet qualifying and a dry race and to try and protect the front axle, which was most prone to graining. A third element to consider is that many drivers made a point of looking after their tyres very carefully, especially in the quickest corners.”
‘Three factors’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/pir...cation-at-spa/
-
Piastri smiling after ‘exciting race’ that ‘went down to the wire’.
Oscar Piastri finished third at Spa but was then promoted to P2 after winner George Russell was disqualified when his Mercedes was found to be underweight.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Piastri smiling’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/pi...43201661069483
Piastri backs up win with second place at Spa
Australia’s Oscar Piastri has come second at the 2024 Belgian Formula One Grand Prix after his maiden win last weekend in Hungary to rise to fourth in the world championship points.
29 July 2024
Damion Smy
Drive
The Melburnian McLaren driver actually crossed the finish line in third place, having been catching the two Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton with only 1.173 seconds between all three cars – the closest finish without a Safety Car intervention since 2016. Piastri was promoted to second in the results, however, when Russell was disqualified for having an underweight car in post-race inspections, a decision the Mercedes team may appeal.
Having outpaced his team-mate Lando Norris in two of the three practice sessions at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, Piastri qualified a disappointing sixth behind Norris, but started fifth as Max Verstappen – who’d qualified fastest – was demoted ten positions for taking a new engine, relegating the Dutch world champion to 11th.
The Melburnian jumped Norris off the start and challenged Hamilton and Sergio Perez, passing Perez before settling into third behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who was passed for the lead by Hamilton. Piastri showed race-winning pace, but an error in his final pit-stop – where he locked up his front brakes to overshoot his pit bay – cost him around 2.0 seconds of track time.
‘Piastri backs up win’;
https://www.drive.com.au/news/piastr...-place-at-spa/
Second in Belgium, Piastri confident as F1 takes break
29 July 2024
Staff WritersAAP
The West Australian
Oscar Piastri is heading into Formula One's summer break confident his McLaren team are making inroads after another podium finish. The 23-year-old Australian was promoted to second after finishing third behind Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Russell was disqualified hours after the race for having an underweight car, with Hamilton handed the win - a record-extending 105th of his career. Piastri gave his reaction to his post-race promotion on social media: "Well that was unexpected but we'll take it," he posted on X. Piastri said he felt hopeful of catching Russell and Hamilton as he progressed after starting from fifth on the grid in Sunday's race before finishing 1.173s behind.
"Honestly yes, I thought I could (get them)," said Piastri. "Clean air was such a big difference today - once I got a little bit of clean air in the middle stint I picked up a lot of pace." Asked what he was lacking to prevent a win, Piastri said: "I think just not quite enough speed, it took me a couple of laps to get past Charles and I really overheated the tyres doing that."
‘Piastri confident’;
https://thewest.com.au/sport/motorsp...eak-c-15513566
Piastri rues starting position costing him Belgium F1 win shot
29 Jul 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Oscar Piastri is convinced that starting further down the order relative to McLaren’s true pace denied him a better chance at winning the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.
“I’ve been pretty happy on the whole,” Piastri expressed. “I think it was a really well-executed race. I think the one-stop was a possibility and I think probably there’s a lot of people out there kicking themselves, they didn’t consider it more.”
“But no, I think we executed a great race. Had a quick car and ultimately just didn’t put it in the right position in qualifying yesterday. So I think given where we started, very happy. But yeah, ultimately I think there was a bit more potential this weekend.”
‘Piastri rues starting position’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...m-f1-win-shot/
Stella: Piastri pitstop mishap cost chance of Spa victory
29 Jul 2024
Phillip van Osten
Motorsport.com
Piastri crossed the checkered flag just 0.647s behind Russell, a gap that puts into context his pitstop error according to Stella. "Like Oscar said immediately in the in-lap on the radio, 'apologies for the pitstop', because I think he realises that that could have been a bit costly," said Stella.
"Potentially, he would have just queued behind Hamilton, but he could have also been in condition to attack. So I think this 1.5-2s loss at the pitstop ultimately proved to be relatively costly. Even because then you would have been behind Leclerc earlier with fresher tyres, which means you could have finalised the overtaking more easily. So a bit of a cascade.”
"We do have to work with drivers in terms of like...even in the hot moments, just don't overcook it at the pitstop position because it can be very costly. I think he had something similar in Silverstone as well."
'Apologies for the pitstop';
https://f1i.com/news/515613-stella-p...a-victory.html
Stella: Piastri Belgian GP pitstop error "costly" in F1 victory charge
29 Jul 2024
Ewan Gale Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com
A mistake at the last pitstop cost Piastri time which could have seen him mount a challenge for another Formula 1 victory
Having finished on the tail of the seven-time champion, who was runner-up on the road to team-mate George Russell before the latter was disqualified for an underweight Mercedes, Stella believes the pitstop error proved pivotal.
When put to him that this was one of his best races since joining the grid, Piastri alluded to his overshoot, by joking: "I'm not sure my front jack man agrees, but no, I think it was a really strong race. To try and get past Charles was not easy and I think if I didn't manage to do it on that lap, I probably would have been stuck there for a long time.”
"So that was a pretty pivotal moment of the race. I think just the pace was very strong. I felt very, very good this weekend. Even on Friday, the pace looked really strong. Just kicking myself a little bit that I didn't get qualifying right. But it was a very strong weekend and probably one of my better races."
‘Pitstop error’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...arge/10640207/
Spa podium further proof of Piastri progress
Second place in the Belgian Grand Prix demonstrates the progress Oscar Piastri has made in F1.
30 July 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe
The 23-year-old won his first grand prix in Hungary after commanding the race, and proved the lead McLaren driver in Belgium too. Prior to that, he was on par with team-mate Lando Norris at the British Grand Prix before a poor strategy call from the team cost him dearly, but even then he was rapid in the final laps.
“The last few weeks have been very strong from my side,” Piastri observed. “Honestly, the whole season's been pretty good. A couple of weekends in the middle of the year were a bit tricky; Japan and China mainly were pretty tough and obviously Barcelona.”
“I feel like all the other races have been quite strong, just we've had a lot of things that haven't been going our way in some ways, whether it's interesting track limit penalties or crashes or mistakes, there's always kind of been just things.”
‘Further proof’;
https://speedcafe.com/spa-podium-fur...stri-progress/
-
Leclerc reckons Ferrari finish the first half of the season with the ‘fourth fastest car’.
Charles Leclerc started the Belgian Grand Prix on pole, but ended up P4 at the flag, in the last race before the F1 summer break.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Fourth fastest car’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/le...37278915717531
‘Wishing you the best’: Ferrari star Charles Leclerc sends message to Carlos Sainz after confirming Williams move
Tue 30 July 2024 08:00
Updated Tue 30 July 2024 08:43
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
After months of waiting, Carlos Sainz finally decided his next destination on the Formula 1 grid for 2025. Carlos Sainz knew before this season even started that he would be leaving Ferrari after four years with the Italian giants. Sainz eventually chose Williams and will be joining Alex Albon at the beginning of next year as Logan Sargeant’s replacement.
Charles Leclerc sends message to Carlos Sainz after he confirms he’s joining Williams. Posting on social media when the news broke, Leclerc said: “Wishing you the best for your new adventure next year Chili. Still got half a season together to have some more special moments as teammates.”
Sainz replied to his teammate and said: “10 more races together, let’s make the most of them!” New teammate Albon also sent Sainz a message on Instagram and said: “Welcome to the team,”, while Sainz also joked about the fact that both drivers have missed races due to surgery, calling them the “Appendix-less team.”
‘Wishing you the best’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...williams-move/
Leclerc delivers blunt Ferrari assessment despite Spa podium
Charles Leclerc stepped up to third place following George Russell's disqualification from the Belgian Grand Prix.
29 July 2024
Jake Nichol & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
The Monegasque is 100 points behind championship-leader Max Verstappen heading into the summer break as Leclerc delivered a blunt assessment of Ferrari's race. "It is very simple, what happened is that we're just not fast enough," Leclerc told media including RacingNews365 before the news of Russell's disqualification came through.
"I felt like we were the fourth-fastest car behind McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes, and on a normal race track, it is very difficult to keep them behind. We did a good job to keep Max and Lando behind, but fourth was the best we could hope for.”
"If it was Red Bull in front, then I think it would have been a positive weekend, but it was a Mercedes who we thought we were on a par with - and they had an edge on us. So I don't consider this result very positive. I thought fourth was the best possible result today, but what makes me not so happy is that we have two Mercedes and one McLaren in front, so it is worse than expected."
‘Blunt Ferrari assessment despite Spa podium’;
https://racingnews365.com/leclerc-of...ing-spa-podium
‘Question marks’: Bernie Collins left questioning ‘two things’ Ferrari did to Carlos Sainz during Belgian GP
29 July 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Ferrari was left disappointed after Charles Leclerc failed to convert his pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix into a race win. Leclerc was passed by Lewis Hamilton in the opening stages of the race, then later on George Russell ran a one-stop strategy and leapfrogged him in the pits, before a fast Oscar Piastri overtook him for the final podium spot in the closing stages of the race.
Bernie Collins thinks Ferrari will ‘question’ two things after Belgian GP. “What Ferrari is going to question going forward is, Carlos Sainz was our race leader at one point because he hadn’t stopped near the end. He started on the hard tyre, he extended that stint and that was good information for Charles Leclerc to say the hard tyre is good. But at that point, Sainz was calling on the radio to say ‘Are you sure we are not on a one-stop?’ He could have extended that hard tyre even further,” said Collins.
“There would have been two things come out of that: Could he have made the one-stop work and where would he have finished? Probably just behind Russell but a lot closer in the fight. They pitted Sainz just before Hamilton and Leclerc got to the back of them. Then if they extended, they could have closed the gap to Hamilton and Leclerc slightly and the slow pit stop might not have made a big difference. So a few question marks for them in terms of how it panned out.”
‘Question marks’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ber...ng-belgian-gp/
Leclerc frustrated by surprise Mercedes speed as Ferrari lacks “raw pace”
JULY 29, 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog
He acknowledged that he expected that McLaren and Red Bull would be more competitive than Ferrari, but not Mercedes. “If it was a Red Bull in front then I think it would have been a positive weekend,” he said. “But now it was a Mercedes, which we thought we were on a par with, and they had the edge on us. I don’t consider this result a very positive one.”
He added: “I think fourth was what I thought would be the best result possible today, with two McLarens in front, and one Red Bull. But again, that’s what makes me not so happy about today, is that we have two Mercedes and one McLaren in front, and the Mercedes, we thought that we were on a par with them. So yeah, worse than expected.” Like others Leclerc expected McLaren to be the team to beat in Sunday’s race.
“I personally thought that McLaren had huge advantage of pace for this weekend, which I saw a little bit less today,” he said. “They were still the fastest, probably with Red Bull and Mercedes today, but I thought McLaren had the edge. It’s good to see that everybody’s so close, but unfortunately, we are still the fourth fastest team, and the top three keeps changing, but we are consistently behind them, on a par with Mercedes. We just need more pace.”
‘Ferrari lacks “Raw pace” ’;
https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/07/29/...acks-raw-pace/
Leclerc explains Ferrari’s choice to avoid F1 Belgian GP one-stop
JULY 29, 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Charles Leclerc has explained how track position and no Hard tyre practice data led to Ferrari’s choice to not gamble on a one-stop in Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix. Leclerc believes that it would have represented too much risk in his position at the time to abandon the conventional strategic choice to pursue an even greater result.
“It’s very difficult to know at that point, because when you have so many cars, we were in a position where we were second on track,” Leclerc, who inherited third, said. “Which when you are getting undercut by one car, two cars, three cars, four cars, it starts to be quite tricky and you take a lot of risks.”
“So it was just better to align ourselves to the other strategy. We didn’t know even what was the Hard like, because we hadn’t run it before the race. So all of this, I don’t think it’s fair to say that we did a mistake at that point, and I understood the point of view of the team.”
‘Ferrari’s choice to not gamble’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...n-gp-one-stop/
Ferrari ‘pushing like hell’ to solve season-threatening issue after summer break
The Scuderia have fallen away from the top-three teams in performance after its new floor update was applied in Barcelona
July 30, 2024
Nathan Hartley
FormulaNerds
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur emphasises his team is “pushing like hell” to find a permanent solution to its high-speed bouncing issue. The Maranello team was on an upwards trajectory, leading to Charles Leclerc winning his home race in Monaco. However, since the Monegasque’s maiden home victory, the team’s form has gone downhill ever since.
The issue started at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Scuderia brought a new floor to Barcelona. The new floor led to bouncing problems at high-speed corners. The issue was that much of a concern, the team opted to revert back to its old-spec at the British Grand Prix. However, the team opted to try and modify the new floor after the race in Silverstone.
Ferrari were hoping to ‘save their season’ with the modifications made to the new floor at the Hungarian Grand Prix. However, the Hungaroring wasn’t a great test as there isn’t many high-speed corners. Vasseur says the team is “pushing like hell” to find a solution after Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix – where the issue came back on lighter fuel loads.
‘To find a permanent solution to its high-speed bouncing issue’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/fe.../?nowprocket=1
-
Verstappen 'happy' with Belgian Grand Prix after pipping Norris.
"All in all, it was quite a positive day for me, considering we started 11th," said Verstappen. "We finished in front of Lando who is my main rival for the championship.”
28 Jul 2024
Yahoo! Sport
Three-time world champion and series leader Max Verstappen made light of failing to win for a fourth consecutive race and declared himself "happy" at finishing fourth for Red Bull in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.
"I think we did everything right with the strategy today and I had a good clean start. I was in the DRS (drag resistance system) train and it was difficult to pass, but I think strategy-wise we did everything we could to the limit. It was tough to make it with two mediums and a hard tyre but we did a good job and maximised our result. It wasn't realistic to start 11th and then fly to the front so I am overall happy with our performance," he added.
The next race on the calendar is the Dutch Grand Prix on August 25, after Formula One's mid-season interval. We are looking forward to the summer break and having a bit of time to relax," he added. "But at the same time, we're committed to being faster and better and trying to find solutions as we go into the rest of the season. We had a great start to the season, but our last few races have been a bit more difficult," he added.
“In front of Lando”;
https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/ver...181445169.html
Report: What Max Verstappen did that could have helped Sergio Perez keep his Red Bull seat
30 July 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Red Bull Racing entered the summer break after the Belgian Grand Prix knowing all eyes were on the future of their driver line-up. Max Verstappen doesn’t appear to be going anywhere despite interest from Mercedes and his long-term deal isn’t under any threat. However, Sergio Perez was in a much more precarious position after the race at Spa.
Max Verstappen may have played a part in saving Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat. Christian Horner, Helmut Marko and other senior Red Bull personnel were tasked with deciding whether Perez was the best driver to help them secure both titles this season. Their lead in the Constructors’ Championship is slowly slipping away with McLaren and Mercedes now regularly outperforming them during race weekends.
The report from AMuS suggests that Perez ‘may have been helped’ by the fact that Verstappen publicly supported him after the race in Belgium. Speaking after the race, via GPBlog, Verstappen said: “I think our main concern is the car. That’s what we should focus on mainly. I think if you look at Checo’s weekend, it was very positive. Of course, in the race, it just shows that we have difficulties with the tyres. I think still, the tyre life. That should be our main priority.”
“I think if you look at Checo’s weekend, it was very positive”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/wha...red-bull-seat/
‘We have work to do’ – Verstappen acknowledges dominant days are 'behind' Red Bull despite 'positive' Belgian GP
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Max Verstappen has conceded Red Bull's days of dominance are "behind" them as he was unable to challenge for Belgian Grand Prix victory after starting P11 due to his grid penalty.
Instead, the Red Bull man came home fifth but crucially finished ahead of championship rival Lando Norris – with those two both inheriting a further place post-race following George Russell’s disqualification. That meant Verstappen’s championship lead actually increased, with the Dutchman now 80 points ahead of Norris as F1 enters its traditional mid-season break.
But while Verstappen was pleased with some parts of his day, he sounded slightly more melancholic as he rued days gone by, when recovering from lowly grid slots was an easier prospect. “The race itself was not too bad, it was just very difficult to pass,” Verstappen said afterwards.
“Work to do”;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...aHaHgD8BcpYSLu
Verstappen: Race pace win-worthy at Spa with higher start
28/07/2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Despite the strong performance, Verstappen admitted that traffic and tyre management had weighed on his progress. “We were just not faster than the cars around us, and then you just get stuck in that DRS train,” he said. “As a team, we maximised the performance today. Naturally, if you start P1 with the pace that we had, I think you're fighting for the win, regardless.”
“But starting P11, I knew that it was always going to be a damage-limitation race. “Of course, looking at the championship it was still a positive day – I extended my lead, where it could have also easily been calculating losses. So, from that side of course, it's a positive day.”
Verstappen suggested that a different tyre allocation could have yielded a better result, with Red Bull opting for two sets of mediums and one set of hards compared to the rival strategies. “I think today an [extra] hard tyre would have helped,” he said.
“Damage-limitation race”;
https://f1i.com/news/515404-verstapp...her-start.html
Horner after Belgian Grand Prix: 'Tough race today'
28 July 2024
Coen Versteeg
Verstappen.nl
Oracle Red Bull Racing had a mixed Belgian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen drove from an 11th starting spot to P5 and teammate Sergio Perez finished eighth. After the race, George Russell was disqualified, causing both to move up to fourth and seventh in the final standings.
"It was a tough race today. We finished 7 seconds behind the leader and over all we struggled. There were some positives though, Max has extended his lead over Lando and Checo brought home fastest lap. But it was a really tight race today. We didn’t have a big offset of pace today over the others. We have a lot to reflect on as we go into the summer break.”
“We continue to lead in both the Constructors and Drivers Championships but convergence within the field means the gap is ever closing. We will regroup on Monday, as we always do before a break and look at how we can come back fighting for the second half of the season."
'Tough race today';
https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5554/
Successful damage limitation for Verstappen in Belgium
29 Jul 2024
Toby Lock
The Dutchman took a grid penalty but managed to extend his championship lead. Max Verstappen salvaged a fourth place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday after taking a grid penalty at Spa-Francorchamps.
The world championship leader extended his lead over Lando Norris heading into the summer shut-down to 78 points after finishing ahead of the McLaren man, with the pair promoted one position each post race after George Russell’s disqualification.
With varying strategies, Verstappen would emerge in the battle on the road for fourth place, allowed past by team-mate Sergio Perez to attack Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc while fending off Norris’ fast-catching McLaren. Unable to pass the Ferrari though, Verstappen finished fifth on the road, but an unweight winner Russell would be disqualified, promoting the Red Bull man.
‘Unable to pass the Ferrari’;
https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/sport...elgium-4720078
Verstappen: Red Bull F1 had pace to win in Spa without grid drop
29 Jul 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Verstappen denied that he could have executed the one-stop race that Russell managed, but he admitted that Red Bull was compromised without two new Hard sets. “I think also naturally, we were on two Mediums and a Hard. I think today a Hard tyre would have helped,” he acknowledged.
“Of course, George won the race on a one-stop. But I don’t think we had the tyre wear or tyre life to do that anyway. So, yeah, also there are a few things to analyse.”
“But as a team today, we did a good job. We definitely did the right thing with the strategy to try and be a bit aggressive initially. To try and get ahead of a few and made my race a little bit better. But then too many cars where we got stuck with.”
“Hard tyre would have helped”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...out-grid-drop/
F1 team boss drops Max Verstappen to Mercedes hint after Carlos Sainz decision
Max Verstappen is being targeted by Mercedes as the ideal replacement for Lewis Hamilton at the end of the 2024 F1 season.
Jul 31, 2024
Charlie Malam
Daily and Sunday Express
Speaking at the Belgian Grand Prix where he went on to finish P4, Verstappen explained: "For sure, I said this already with the team, we are working and focusing also on next year to try and be competitive again. "I've got a long contract with the team, I'm very happy where I'm at and, like I said before, we are focusing already on next year with things that we can implement on the car. I guess that should say enough of where I'm driving next year."
Williams team principal James Vowles has suggested Max Verstappen is still a target for his old team Mercedes despite the Dutchman publicly committing himself to Red Bull. And Vowles has now said: "Mercedes have more info than I do. It's more than likely that they are very confident in the direction they will be travelling in. Whether that will be Max or Kimi, I'm unsure - but they're not fools."
‘Targeted by Mercedes’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...s-Carlos-Sainz
-
Norris: Running wide at Turn 1 ‘ruined my chances’.
Lando Norris ran wide at the very first corner of the race in Belgium and eventually came home in P6 for McLaren.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘ruined my chances’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/no...35554708614810
Report: Martin Brundle noticed that 21-podium F1 star was unhappy ‘all weekend’ at Belgian GP
30 July 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Martin Brundle says Lando Norris was out-of-sorts at Belgian GP. Speaking before the race, Verstappen was adamant that Lando Norris could still win the title. But if he was to overturn what was a 76-point gap heading into the race, this seemed like a must-win. McLaren prioritised their race-day set-up, which limited Norris and Piastri to fourth and fifth on the grid. But the Briton lost ground at turn one when he ran wide and dipped a wheel in the gravel.
That put him on the back foot for the remainder of the race, and he was only able to salvage fifth. He somehow managed to lose ground to Verstappen despite the latter’s demotion. Writing in his column for Sky Sports F1, former driver Martin Brundle shared his observations on Norris. He noticed that the 24-year-old was ‘unhappy’ throughout the weekend.
Brundle suspects that this may have stemmed from the events of the Hungarian GP a week prior. Norris had to move aside and give his teammate a victory McLaren felt he had earned. “Lando Norris appeared a little unhappy about something all weekend despite solid performances, and I wondered if the events of Budapest the weekend before were still playing on his mind,” Brundle wrote.
‘Lando Norris was out-of-sorts’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mar...at-belgian-gp/
Norris left frustrated by run of “stupid stuff and mistakes”
JULY 29, 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog
Lando Norris says he’s looking forward to a reset in the Formula 1 summer break after “stupid stuff and mistakes” have hurt his title bid in recent races. The McLaren driver started fourth in Belgium but ran wide at the exit of the first corner, and thus he was only seventh at the end of the lap.
“I misjudged it, honestly,” he said when asked by this writer about his start. “I just didn’t want to get taken out in Turn One, so I’ve left the gap and just misjudged the exit a little bit. I lost four or five positions. Just impossible to overtake, the overtaking sucked today, and I think there were very few overtakes actually done on track, most of it was just in the pit stops.”
“There were some overtakes, but only when you had like a 10-lap tyre advantage. So otherwise a bit of a tough race with the overtaking. And I felt like we were quick, The car was quick. Just don’t feel like we maximised what we could have done.”
‘Frustrated’;
https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/07/29/...-and-mistakes/
Norris says he hasn’t earned number one status – and he’s right
31st July 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
It’s no wonder McLaren have locked down Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for the long-term. They have served the team extremely well over the last year and a half while their car has gone from Q1 exits to race wins. Now the question is whether they can make the transition from race winners to champions.
The ever-improving Piastri has increasingly given Norris headaches. He was breathing down his team mate’s neck as the rain fell at Silverstone, then made the tactical error which may have cost him victory. Next time out at the Hungaroring the team had to intervene to tell Norris to give Piastri his lead back – which became his breakthrough triumph.
McLaren had to deal with this kind of thing last year as well. Piastri made way for his team mate more than once, then in Qatar the pair were ordered to hold position while the rookie driver was ahead, a decision Norris queried. “We ask drivers to challenge us,” said team principal Andrea Stella afterwards. They certainly got their wish in Hungary, where Norris’ race engineer Will Joseph spent 20 laps cajoling him into giving up victory.
‘Number one status’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/07/31/...and-hes-right/
Is Lando Norris Wasting Too Many Opportunities?
July 31, 2024
Erika Di Guido
Last Word On Sports
Too many mistakes, too many chances lost. After the win in Florida, McLaren was always close to Red Bull. Both in Qualifying and during the races, Norris was always close to Max Verstappen. He quickly became one of the favourites for wins. Yet, despite having the chances, he didn’t turn those opportunities into a trophy.
Self-critical: After the Belgian Grand Prix, Lando talked with the media about his last few races: “I lost many points during the last three or four races because of stupid mistakes, bad starts and things like today in the first corners. I don’t know why it happened. It’s not even hard. While trying to stay out of troubles, to be sure to have a gap, I pushed myself out of the track.” – Lando Norris to Sky Sport.
He also said that the rhythm was good and that the team was doing an incredible job. He took responsibility for his results and his mistakes. The hope is to continue the positive streak of good races for McLaren after the break: “I should have been more aggressive. In the last two or three races I didn’t start in the way I should have and I’ve lost many points. I hope to come back stronger [after the summer break].” – Lando Norris to Sky Sport.
‘Wasting Too Many Opportunities’;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...opportunities/
Should McLaren back Norris or Piastri? Our F1 writers have their say
Following the Hungarian Grand Prix team order controversy as Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris fought over a race win, McLaren needs to decide whether to back one of its drivers in the Formula 1 title battle, and which one. Here is what our writers would do.
30 Jul 2024
Motorsport.com staff writers
Motorsport.com
Norris should follow Piastri's example and be easier on himself - Jake Boxall-Legge
McLaren must follow through on its brave equal driver culture - Filip Cleeren
Norris already knows where Piastri is operating differently – Alex Kalinauckas
McLaren's near-impossible task: keeping both drivers happy - Ben Hunt
‘Team order controversy’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...-say/10640334/
McLaren to work with Norris to resolve opening lap struggles
30 Jul 2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
McLaren’s Lando Norris is facing a growing issue with his race starts, as his opening lap in last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix demonstrated, prompting the team to work with the Briton to address the problem. “First of all, these kinds of situations, they’re always very, very marginal,” Stella said after last Sunday’s race in Spa, quoted by Motorsport Week.
“I think Lando got a little distracted from what was happening on the inside and ran out of track. It’s marginal things, it just requires little adjustments here and there. Certainly, we work with Lando like we work with Oscar to try and see all the opportunities in which we can improve individually, but also collaborate better to either be more prepared or to use better of our abilities and talents.”
“So, I think it doesn’t necessarily change our attitude, but definitely gives us some elements to analyse as to how some of these missed opportunities manifest themselves. For Lando, for instance, it looks like there’s statistically some opportunities that tend to happen in the early stages of the race.”
“It’s marginal things”;
https://f1i.com/news/515639-mclaren-...struggles.html
-
Sainz: 'We didn't maximise anything' despite 'good pace' in Belgium.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was left dissapointed, admitting "we didn't maximise anything" in P7 finish at Spa-Francorchamps.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Didn't maximise’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/sa...38962006044037
Sainz frustrated as Ferrari strategy “risks” at Spa don’t pay off
JULY 29, 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog
Carlos Sainz said that Ferrari didn’t get his strategy right in the Belgian GP and that the timing of his first pit stop was not ideal for either a one or two-stop option. Sainz was the only driver at the front of the field to start on the hard tyres, and he rose from seventh on the grid to the lead as others pitted.
“I feel like we took some risks at the start, starting on the hard,” he said. “We even won a position [from Norris]. So I was very optimistic and positive about this strategy. We managed to extend it quite a bit to lap 20, with hindsight, not long enough, because probably one-stop seemed like a good possibility today. And yeah, probably the main thing is that we didn’t do a one, but we also didn’t do an optimal two, because we boxed too late for the two, or too early for the one.”
“It’s easy to say now in hindsight, but I felt like the race was promising a lot more. After 20 laps, I was like, we might have a shot at the podium. And then suddenly I finished P7 nine seconds behind the P6, so clearly, there’s something that we will have to look at. At the same time I think our direct competitors today were quicker, so I don’t think it would have changed much.”
‘Sainz frustrated’;
https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/07/29/...-dont-pay-off/
Breaking: Williams confirm signing of Sainz in a multi-year deal
Carlos Sainz lost his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton for 2025 but James Vowles has been keen to sign the Spaniard
July 29, 2024
Abby Bathurst
FormulaNerds
Carlos Sainz is currently a driver of the Scuderia Ferrari F1 team. However, with the announcement of Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes and joining Ferrari for 2025, Sainz was left without a seat. But today, the future of the Spaniard’s Formula 1 career has been confirmed.
Williams F1 team have announced the signing of Sainz in a multi-year deal that will extend beyond 2025. The British team resigned Alex Albon earlier this season and now with the signing of Sainz, their driver line-up is complete. In their statement, Williams stated that Sainz will be joining them for the 2025 season on a two-year agreement. But the Spanish driver has the option to extend. Whilst at Williams, Sainz will still race under number 55.
With the confirmation of Sainz, Vowles expressed what this means for Williams. The Team Principal said: “Carlos joining Williams is a strong statement of intent from both parties. Carlos has demonstrated time and again that he is one of the most talented drivers on the grid, with race-winning pedigree, and this underlines the upwards trajectory we are on.”
‘Williams confirm signing of Sainz’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/br.../?nowprocket=1
Carlos Sainz confirms new team after being forced out of Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton
Carlos Sainz has put an end to speculation and picked his new team for the 2025 season.
Jul 29, 2024
Jack McEachen
Daily and Sunday Express
“I am very happy to announce that I will be joining Williams Racing from 2025 onwards," said Sainz. "It is no secret that this year’s driver market has been exceptionally complex for various reasons and that it has taken me some time to announce my decision. However, I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport.”
“The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity. I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and, starting on January 1, I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.”
‘Pen to paper’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-Williams-2025
Carlos Sainz explains key reasons behind HUGE multi-year Williams deal
29 Jul 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
The writing has been on the wall for some time, but today, it’s confirmed: Carlos Sainz Jr. will join Williams for the 2025 and 2026 Formula 1 seasons — with an option to continue beyond that point. But why? Why opt for a Williams as opposed to, say, an Audi or an Alpine? Well, Sainz addresses that, too, and it has a lot to do with the robust legacy of the team and his belief in its potential for the future.
“I am fully confident that Williams is the right place for me to continue my F1 journey and I am extremely proud of joining such a historic and successful team, where many of my childhood heroes drove in the past and made their mark on our sport,” Sainz elaborated.
“The ultimate goal of bringing Williams back to where it belongs, at the front of the grid, is a challenge that I embrace with excitement and positivity. I am convinced that this team has all the right ingredients to make history again and starting on January 1 I will give my absolute best to drive Williams forward alongside every single member of the team.”
‘Key reasons’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos...-williams-deal
EXCLUSIVE: Late nights, secret meetings and colossal contracts – James Vowles on how he signed Sainz
29 July 2024
Lawrence Barretto
F1 Correspondent & Presenter
Formula One - Official Site
It’s been a heck of a chase – but after eight months or so, Williams Team Principal James Vowles finally got the driver he really wanted when he signed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz alongside Alex Albon on a multi-year deal. As Vowles sat in his office each week and mapped out the various driver market iterations and where Williams might sit within them (“it’s just a massive game of chess!”), there was one driver who kept coming out on top of his list – Carlos Sainz. He was, in Vowles’s mind, the best driver for the job.
Williams are in the midst of a rebuild, spearheaded by ex-Mercedes man Vowles who is bidding to turn a team that has fallen on harder times and lingers in the bottom half of the pack back into the behemoth that once crushed their rivals to dominate the championship. Having re-signed one exciting talent in Alex Albon, Vowles identified Sainz very early on as a potential candidate for the project. Having never really interacted with the Sainzes, he lined up a first meeting at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“The first time I spent time with his family was in Abu Dhabi,” Vowles tells me exclusively, just moments after the announcement. “We had to run them around the back so they could come upstairs and come to my office to chat [without being seen]. That was the first time I chatted to all of them, and it was the first time I got to know them.
‘Late nights, secret meetings and colossal contracts’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...OsMCIRT6GdRlLA
Damon Hill gives his verdict on Carlos Sainz joining Williams in 2025
30 July 2024
Ben Evans
Damon Hill reacts to Carlos Sainz signing for Williams. Commenting on Sainz’s move to Williams, Hill said on social media: “Williams will have a very potent driver combo for 2025.” It’s hard to disagree with the 1996 F1 World Champion with Albon and Sainz the envy of the current midfield teams.
‘Very potent driver combo’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/dam...liams-in-2025/
Vowles surprised Red Bull and Mercedes did not chase Sainz
Jul 31, 2024
The Straits Times
Williams boss James Vowles said he was surprised top Formula One teams Red Bull and Mercedes had not signed Carlos Sainz before he sealed a deal that started with a discussion in Abu Dhabi last November. "I rate him as one of the top four drivers if not, at times, the number two driver on the grid. Why wouldn’t you want that in your stable," Vowles told reporters on a video call on Tuesday.
"Look at every team he has been in. They have improved significantly. And I get why, after spending the last nine months talking to him at least weekly if not daily. What I’ve realised with him is that he is a performance machine. He absolutely will do everything it takes within his power to not transform just himself, but the team around him as well at the same time."
Vowles said it had been a rollercoaster journey, with secret meetings in hotel rooms around the world. "From the beginning I gave him, warts and all, here's what's going to happen," he said. "We are going to go backwards, here's why, here's what we are investing in, here's what's coming, here's why I'm excited by this project. And it's your choice."
“One of the top four drivers if not, at times, the number two driver on the grid”;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...ot-chase-sainz
-
Perez explains what went wrong in ‘really bad race’ in Belgium.
Sergio Perez started the Belgian Grand Prix on the front row but slipped to P8 at the flag.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘What went wrong’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/pe...36465189288473
Bigger culprit than Sergio Perez found by Ralf Schumacher for Red Bull’s troubles
29 Jul 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Amidst speculative reports Adrian Newey was not happy with Red Bull’s development path, Ralf Schumacher has declared his “successor” Pierre Waché as not been “able to close” the gap.
“It started at the beginning of the season,” former F1 driver turned Sky pundit Schumacher said of Red Bull’s form. “One of the most important men left the team and I believe that the successor has not been able to close this gap yet.”
“He has to prove it when you look at the car. A few things have changed, the car is harder to drive. Both drivers are finding it harder, including Max Verstappen. “Red Bull have to come up with something. The wings are not that big at the moment.”
‘Red Bull’s troubles’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ralf-s...r-to-close-gap
‘Knife edge’: Red Bull chief confirms Sergio Perez ‘theory’ about why he’s ‘struggling a lot more’ this season
31 July 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Red Bull engineers confirm Sergio Perez ‘theory’: Verstappen is known for having a very specific driving style that favours a car that is more ‘pointy’ on corner entry compared to others. It is one of the strengths of the RB20 and indeed Red Bull’s cars in the last few seasons. Like every other car on the grid, the RB20 has an operating window whereby the drivers are comfortable to push to extract the maximum lap time.
According to Vording, there is a theory as to why Perez is struggling much more compared to Verstappen. “I talked about this theory with some people within Red Bull, and they basically support it. Even technical director Pierre Wache, he said this is pretty much correct. But the theory is that if the car is pretty comfortable to drive, then it’s relatively easy for Checo to be within an acceptable distance of Max,” said Vording.
“When the car gets more tricky, Max is the one who can deal with it, especially in the stable rear end of the car. Checo is struggling a lot more. You have to drive it on the knife edge, then crashes occur more often.”
‘Sergio Perez ‘theory’ confirmed’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/red...e-this-season/
Perez refuses to 'waste energy' on speculation as Red Bull D-Day looms
The Red Bull driver finished in seventh place at the Belgian Grand Prix from a front-row start.
29 July 2024
Pepijn van der Hulst & Jake Nichol
RacingNews365
Reflecting, Perez remained defiant as speculation swirls on his future. "I've said it before, I had a good qualifying and it doesn't change anything," Perez told media including RacingNews365, before shutting down further questions around his future.
"We have too much going on in the team, and a lot of things that we have to focus on, and we cannot waste any energy with all this speculation, so this is the last time I will speak about the future [in this media session]. The break comes at a good time for the team and for myself, and there is plenty of stuff that we need to go through."
‘Perez refuses to waste energy';
https://racingnews365.com/d-day-for-...ions-on-future
Perez will remain Verstappen’s team mate, Horner tells Red Bull staff
29th July 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has moved to end speculation over Sergio Perez’s future by telling the team’s staff he will continue to drive for them after the summer break. Horner gave the strongest indication yet Perez will remain in place until the end of the season when speaking to staff at Red Bull’s base today.
“Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver despite recent speculation and we look forward to seeing him perform at tracks he has previously excelled at after the summer break,” Horner told the team, a spokesperson confirmed to RaceFans.
Perez dismissed suggestions his place at the team was in danger after yesterday’s race. “I’ve said everything I have to regarding my future,” he told Viaplay. “I think now the main focus of the team is on getting ourselves sorted and I have nothing further to add. I’ve said everything I have to.” Verstappen gave his backing to Perez following yesterday’s race. The pair have been team mates since 2021.
‘Perez will remain Verstappen’s team mate’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/07/29/...ls-team-staff/
Huge twist in Sergio Perez saga as Liberty Media involvement rumours arise
31 Jul 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Formula 1 owners Liberty Media reportedly asked Red Bull to ‘reconsider’ swapping Sergio Perez out of the team, having come under pressure for his drive. The Mexico City Grand Prix has yet to take place this season, the event taking place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez from 25-27 October, where Perez enjoys an enormous home support.
And a report from German publication F1-Insider has claimed that, alongside words from Helmut Marko suggesting a potential shuffling of the cards within the Red Bull teams for 2025, Liberty Media also looked to keep the status quo for now, given the huge implications for the Mexican’s home race later this season.
The report said: ‘What was leaked behind the scenes: Formula 1 rights holder Liberty Media asked Red Bull to reconsider Perez’s dismissal. Without the popular hero Perez, they feared an extreme drop in revenue at the Mexican GP on 27 October.’
‘Rumours’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio...lvement-rumour
How £69bn tycoon Carlos Slim helped Sergio Perez keep Red Bull seat
31 July 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Sergio Perez relied on some outside assistance to keep hold of his Red Bull seat beyond the summer break. Inadvertently or otherwise, teammate Max Verstappen lent him a helping hand. Cutting ties with Perez would also cost them a significant sum. In addition to paying off the 34-year-old, they would lose an array of associated sponsorship deals.
The former Sauber driver is one of the most prominent athletes in Latin America. Liberty Media urged Red Bull to keep Perez to avoid a significant drop in revenue at the Mexico City Grand Prix later this year. A six-time GP winner, Perez is the most successful driver in his country’s history. He’s competed in 271 races, which puts him in the all-time top 10.
Carlos Slim influenced Red Bull decision to keep Sergio Perez. According to Bild, Carlos Slim also lent Perez a helping hand. The Mexican tycoon is one of the richest people on the planet. Red Bull bosses including Christian Horner and Helmut Marko met on Monday to discuss their driver line-up. But Slim also ‘exerted his influence’ from afar. The 84-year-old offered financial backing to Perez at the start of his F1 career. And ‘there are voices saying’ he was involved in the decision to retain him.
‘Carlos Slim £69bn tycoon’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/how...red-bull-seat/
Perez gets reprieve: Red Bull opts for stability over change
29 Jul 2024
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Sergio Perez will head into F1’s summer break with a sigh of relief. After weeks of speculation surrounding his future at Red Bull, the team has decided to retain the Mexican driver for the remainder of the 2024 season.
While details of the discussion remain under wraps, sources indicate that Horner addressed the team at their Milton Keynes headquarters, assuring them that Perez would be back in the car when the season resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix on August 23.
‘Stability over change’;
https://f1i.com/news/515617-perez-ge...er-change.html
Report: What Liberty Media told Red Bull before making decision on Sergio Perez’s F1 future
31 July 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
What Liberty Media said to Red Bull before making Sergio Perez decision. A report from F1 Insider has now shared more details about how Red Bull came to their decision. One intriguing point is that they believe Liberty Media – who owns the Formula One Group responsible for the promotion of the sport – sent a message to Red Bull before Monday’s meeting. It highlights the importance of Sergio Perez to the grid as both a driver and a marketing tool.
It’s believed that Liberty Media asked Red Bull to reconsider dismissing Perez despite his poor results over recent months. They ‘feared a huge drop’ in commercial revenue at the Mexico City Grand Prix where Perez is understandably the poster boy of the event.
While it’s very unlikely that played any part in Red Bull’s final decision, it’s interesting that Liberty Media are taking such an interest in the make up of the grid. They may not have been too pleased to learn on Monday that their only American driver – Sargeant – has lost his place in the paddock for 2025.
‘Report’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/wha...ezs-f1-future/
-
Alonso 'happy with the result' despite lack of race pace in Belgium.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was left "happy with the result" after finished ninth in Spa-Francorchamps – and admitted the top four teams are out of reach at the moment for the Silverstone squad.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
'Happy with the result';
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/al...40926024517005
Alonso uses “a little bit of luck” to make unplanned one-stop work for Aston
JULY 29, 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog
Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin’s call to stop him only once in the Belgian GP was not planned – and it needed “a little bit of luck” to work. Alonso was one of only five drivers to stop only once, along with original race winner George Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, Kevin Magnussen and his own team mate Lance Stroll.
Alonso used the unexpected strategy to finish ninth on the road, which became eighth when Russell was disqualified for a weight infringement. “We had the plans, as always, Plan B, Plan C, whatever,” said Alonso. “So we covered the one-stop and the three-stops. We were P12, and we were just waiting for a safety car, maybe to play in our hands.”
“And then 11 laps in the end, we started considering, ‘Okay, safety car is not coming, but maybe we go to the end?’ So it was just being very flexible, and lap-by-lap, judging the conditions, and at the end, it was the right call. But let’s say it was not planned just to go for one-stop.”
“A little bit of luck”;
https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/07/29/...ork-for-aston/
Alonso hails points in Belgium as ‘a bit of a win’ as Aston Martin aim to ‘come back stronger’ in second half of the season
31 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Fernando Alonso was left satisfied with his P9 result – which later became P8 following George Russell’s post-race disqualification – in the Belgian Grand Prix, with the Spaniard crediting the team’s strategy call as helping to make it happen.
After starting from eighth place on the grid, Alonso extended his first stint on the medium tyre before pitting for the hard compound in his only pit stop of the race. This worked out well for the two-time world champion and he was pleased to claim points, despite the squad still being some way back from the leading four teams.
‘A bit of a win’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...OSzsnouwjecR61
Alonso praises Aston Martin's pace in Belgium
30 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Alonso was pleased for taking some points in the last round before the summer break, but he has urges his team to find improvement for the second half of the season. "I am pleased with eighth position today and four points after a hard-fought race. We had a few different strategies planned for today.”
“We extended the first stint on the Mediums and then on the Hard tyres we managed the pace quite well and had decent tyre degradation. We thought there might be a chance of a Safety Car and when there wasn't we thought why not extend and remain on a one-stop strategy.”
“This decision paid off and we managed to score some points. I am looking forward to a short break now and some time to recharge. We will continue fighting and we have some more work to do to improve for the second half of the season."
‘Pleased for taking some points’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25159
Disappointed Alonso sees ‘a lot of work’ ahead for Aston
31 Jul 2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Fernando Alonso has candidly admitted to being "a little bit disappointed" with Aston Martin's performance in the first half of the 2024 Formula 1 season. A stark contrast to the team's frontrunning status in the first part of 2023, Aston Martin has found itself on the back foot this year, well behind its former direct rivals.
"A little bit disappointed," the 43-year-old F1 veteran replied when asked to take stock of the first half of his 2024 campaign. We cannot hide the fact that we are fighting today with Williams, AlphaTauri [RB] and Alpine, and last year, we were looking to the top four teams.”
“Now they are out of reach, and we are just defending from the guys behind. Even at the beginning of the year. In qualifying especially, we were always top five, top six, in the mix," Alonso added. "So definitely a lot of work to do for us in [the] summer break and the second part of the year. We will not give up, but we need to work."
‘A lot of work ahead’;
https://f1i.com/news/515685-disappoi...for-aston.html
Untelevised Max Verstappen ‘wave’ moment with Fernando Alonso unearthed
31 Jul 2024
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Untelevised footage has emerged of Max Verstappen waving at Fernando Alonso as he completed a pass on the Aston Martin driver during the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. Onboard footage from Verstappen’s car has revealed the moment he gave a cheeky wave to two-time title winner Alonso in the early stages of his recovery at Spa.
Having been informed by his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, that he would have the use of DRS on Alonso on the exit of La Source, Verstappen followed Alonso’s slipstream through the legendary Eau Rouge corner before drawing his car alongside the Aston Martin man on the Kemmel straight.
As he completed the pass on Alonso’s right, Verstappen turns his head slightly to the left and waves at his fellow World Champion before continuing with the next stage of his recovery drive. The gesture was interpreted by some as a taunt but Verstappen and Alonso are actually known to have a respectful relationship, with the latter often praising the Red Bull man’s achievements over recent years.
‘Max Verstappen waving at Fernando Alonso’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/untele...onso-unearthed
‘It is undeniable’: Fernando Alonso is ‘a little disappointed’ with what he has seen at Aston Martin
1 August 2024
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Fernando Alonso has conceded that he is ‘a little disappointed’ with what the two-time Formula 1 world drivers’ champion has seen at his Aston Martin team so far in 2024. The 43-year-old enjoyed a fantastic first season in Silverstone in 2023 after Alonso switched Alpine for Aston Martin. He burst out of the gates to get six podium finishes in the first eight rounds. Alonso also added a third P2 and a fifth P3 finish to his tally in the remaining rounds.
If 2023 was a ‘dream’, Fernando Alonso will want to wake up in 2024. Sealing three P2 and five P3 finishes in his first year in Silverstone saw Alonso describe 2023 as a ‘dream season’ with Aston Martin. But their momentum started to slip as the campaign progressed as Aston Martin failed to keep up with their rival teams in the development race.
Those struggles carried over the winter break, too, with Alonso’s average finishing position through the first 14 Grand Prix this year just 9.7. Stroll has also secured an average finish of 11.1 through the 13 races he has finished. Alonso has seen the chequered flag in each race.
‘A little disappointed’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...-aston-martin/
Dejected Alonso sees it slipping away: 'Things changed a little bit'
1 Aug 2024
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com
Seven different drivers have already won at least one Grand Prix in 2024. One man is missing from the list of names: Fernando Alonso. Where it seemed last season that the Spaniard finally had a real chance of breaking Max Verstappen's dominance to take that coveted victory number 33, Aston Martin now lags behind Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren in terms of development. It could have been so nice for Alonso, but where Verstappen was so close at first, the Dutchman is now so far away.
Alonso shrugged: "That is the way it is," the Spaniard, who is now 43, told the likes of GPblog. "I think last year we were the best of the rest but Red Bull was, I mean, unbeatable. They never had a bad pit stop, they never had a crash, they never had a bad qualifying, they never had any problem. And then we just were third or second all the time."
"All the pictures of my podiums last year, I have Checo and Max with me or first second or first and third, and I was in the middle. Things changed a little bit and we were not there to take the opportunity. We said many times last year, we need to keep up. We need to be always hunting them, and when they have any crack, we are there to take the opportunity. When they started to have any kind of problem, we were not there anymore. So it's a bit up to us that we were not able to keep up with that pace," Alonso said.
‘Slipping away’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29314...-of-sight.html
-
Ocon pleased with points, but reckons he ‘should have been at least 8th or 9th’.
Esteban ocon finished P10 for Alpine in Belgium, but says the result could have been even better with a tweaked strategy.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Could have been even better’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/oc...36491388014892
Ocon praises Alpine's tyre management after scoring points in Belgium
30 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Ocon commented: “I’m pleased to have scored a point for the team this afternoon after some hard fights on track. We had good pace throughout, enough straight-line speed to overtake down the Kemmel Straight and in the end, it was enough for the top ten.
"There are positives, of course, like our general race pace and tyre management. I do think we could have finished maybe a position higher up had we executed things slightly differently, but that is up for us to review and improve.”
"We made a good decision in focusing on race preparation and setting up the car suitably for that. I am staying in Spa for a few days for the Pirelli tyre test before the summer break."
‘Alpine's tyre management’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25163
Ocon underlines 'no brainer' factors in Haas switch
Esteban Ocon has said the decision to join Haas next season was "very straightforward" and a "no brainer" given its recent uptick in performance.
30 July 2024
Samuel Coop & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Esteban Ocon has explained that his decision to switch to Haas for the 2025 F1 season was a "no brainer" given its upturn in performance this year. The American outfit's new team principal, Ayao Komatsu, worked with Ocon in the past, as his race engineer during the one-time grand prix winner's first F1 test with Lotus in 2014.
"Well, it does confirm what Ayao [Komatsu] is putting in place, basically," Ocon told media including RacingNews365 when asked how crucial Komatsu and Haas' recent improvements were to his signing. "When you say something, but then you have the facts on track [to back it up], it's just very clear and very straightforward.”
"So, to me, it was a no brainer to take that decision. I'm very happy with my choice and very happy with how we are going to move forward. I'm very happy with my choice - I'm not going to speak about names or which teams," he replied. "There was many discussions with many different teams, you know, since '23 [2023]. But now it's official, and I can say one name and that will now remain."
'No brainer';
https://racingnews365.com/ocon-under...in-haas-switch
Haas defends decision to sign controversial Ocon
Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu has defended his decision to sign the talented but controversial Esteban Ocon for 2025.
JULY 31, 2024
GrandPrix.com
I think Esteban has proven what he can do, Komatsu said at Spa-Francorchamps last weekend. "He's scored a lot of points and won a race. He's achieved a lot already. Again, his battle with Fernando Alonso was pretty impressive. And he's only 27 - he's still got a lot to offer. I think he's got an incredible determination and work ethic.”
Many in the paddock see the Frenchman as a driver with a poor reputation for playing the team game. “It had to be taken into account”, Komatsu admitted. “So I can't say I didn't notice.”
“So personally I am not worried”, he insisted. "If I was worried, I would not have chosen this pairing. Because it is my responsibility to make sure that the two drivers are working in the best interests of our team. I have no doubt that Esteban and Ollie will do that.”
‘Defended his decision to sign the talented but controversial Esteban Ocon’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/haas-...sial-ocon.html
Ocon can't wait to partner up with this future British world champion
31 July 2024
Editor: Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com
Talking to GPblog among others, Ocon explained that he met Bearman back at the Hungaroring, where the young Briton drove a Haas car during the first free practice session. "I spoke to him actually in Budapest, that's probably the first time that we met. Ollie is a very young, exciting prospect in Formula 1, many people are saying that he is going to be a future world champion and I can't wait to be teaming up with him," the one-time Grand Prix winner praised Bearman.
"As I said he is going to be bringing also fresh blood into the team, new ideas, I am also going to try and add to the team and I am sure our collaboration is going to be great to lead this team forward and hopefully going where we want to go," Ocon explained how the partnership can be successful.
Ocon himself also believes Bearman does not necessarily need advice from him, and added that it will possibly go the other way around instead. "I don't think Ollie needs my help on anything. He probably has more experience with the team than I will have next year. He's been driving a lot in FP1s, in testing as well. I'm probably going to have to ask him a lot more things than I will have to give him tips. There's not going to be any of that, I think. We're just going to be very open about the whole situation, trying to get the team to the right technical way very early on. That's going to start for sure quite quickly," the Frenchman explained.
‘Can't wait to partner up’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29194...-with-him.html
'It was time to change': Bruno Famin shares the moment he knew it was ‘time to change’ Esteban Ocon at Alpine
1 August 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Bruno Famin says Monaco GP was tipping point for Esteban Ocon at Alpine. There have been occasional flashpoints in the Alpine partnership, most notably the collision at the 2023 Australian GP that took both cars out of the race. In Monaco this year, Ocon hit Gasly with a risky lunge at Portier on the first lap.
Ocon couldn’t continue after his A524 was dramatically launched, while Gasly needed significant repairs. A red-flag period allowed the mechanics to mend Gasly’s car and he eventually scored points, but Alpine were still furious. Bruno Famin warned Ocon there would be consequences, with talk of a remarkable one-race suspension.
“It was the visible part of the iceberg in Monaco but it was the evidence that it was time to change for both parties,” Famin said. “We need [a good] dynamic in the team. We need to change instability. You cannot be so stable like that and you need to bring new ways, new ideas. A new driver would bring new things and having a different environment will enable him [Ocon] to improve certain things. I’m 100% sure it will be good for everybody.”
‘The moment he knew it was time to change’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/bru...con-at-alpine/
Alpine ‘didn’t want Esteban Ocon around’ as alarming F1 2025 replacement claim made
02 Aug 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
In the aftermath of Ocon’s Alpine exit confirmation, Sky F1 lead commentator David Croft suggested there was an “air of tension” between driver and team, that extending to Ocon and team-mate Pierre Gasly, with then team boss Bruno Famin left enraged after the duo collided in Monaco.
And Steiner believes that Alpine ultimately decided enough is enough with their Ocon alliance. “I think it turned into such a headache that they said, ‘it’s better a painful end than never-ending pain’,” said Steiner on The Red Flags Podcast.
“‘We’ll deal with the consequences of him leaving, but we don’t want him around’. I think it ended up like this. It’s just too much. And when you’re in a team and you have got always the same problem that you cannot fix it after years, it’s like, ‘we need to do something different here’, otherwise you just kick the can down the road. It will come back.”
‘Didn’t want Esteban Ocon around’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/guenth...al-replacement
Ocon divulges talks with Haas over F1 move began in mid-2023
1 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Esteban Ocon has disclosed that conversations regarding a move to the Haas Formula 1 began back in mid-2023 as he decided to leave Alpine once his deal expired.
“There’s been obviously a lot of conversation going around the paddock. That is quite clear,” Ocon acknowledged. “This conversation started quite a long time ago. Already mid-season of 23. That’s really when things started.”
“But Ayao really convinced me with his words. He’s a person that has a lot of experience in Formula 1. I’ve been working on my first steps into Formula 1 as well. When I was testing for the first time 10 years ago. I even know him from a lot longer than that.”
‘Ocon divulges talks’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...n-in-mid-2023/
-
Ricciardo inherits point after surprising RB strategy.
Daniel Ricciardo inherited a point in the Belgian Grand Prix after starting the race 13th.
29 July 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe
The Australian was 11th at the end of 44 laps around the Spa-Francorchamps circuit having run inside the points paying positions in the closing laps. He was passed by Esteban Ocon on Lap 39 as the Alpine driver nabbed 10th, but was promoted back into the top 10 following George Russell's post-race penalty.
Ricciardo started the grand prix on the soft compound tyres, the only car on the red-walled rubber and one of only three not on the mediums. “I was very surprised to be the only one,” he admitted. “It obviously stopped us from maybe attempting a one stop, but I was able to stay with the guys on medium in the first stint.”
“For the two stop, it probably didn't change too much in the end. I felt like every time we pitted, I think we were able to undercut a car and get a bit of track position, and hold it. We started 13th, we got a couple positions up, so I think we did have a good race.”
‘Ricciardo inherits point’;
https://speedcafe.com/ricciardo-inhe...g-rb-strategy/
Ricciardo feels "content and fulfilled" after Spa F1 race
30 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Ricciardo later was promoted to P10 following the disqualification for race-winner George Russell, meaning he did leave Belgium with a point after all. “Today was very similar to yesterday; I’m quite pleased as I feel like we had a really strong two-stop race, but unfortunately so did some others and I think they had a bit more pace than us, so it wasn’t good enough to get rewarded.”
"Esteban (Ocon) was generally a bit quicker and also had fresher tyres, so I’m disappointed with our final result, as we tried our best to keep the tenth place in the last few laps.”
"It was a positive weekend and I’m leaving Spa content and fulfilled, which pleases me entering the summer break. Looking ahead after the break, I’m excited to get back to Zandvoort and we’ll keep the momentum going from the last few races.”
"Content and fulfilled";
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25166
Ricciardo lucks into P10 point at Spa but after ‘good race’
30 Jul 2024
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Taking a bold strategic approach, Ricciardo was the sole driver to start the race on the soft compound tyre, but it was a gamble that ultimately paid off. “It obviously stopped us from maybe attempting a one stop, but I was able to stay with the guys on medium in the first stint,” explained Ricciardo.
“For the two stop, it probably didn't change too much in the end. I felt like every time we pitted, I think we were able to undercut a car and get a bit of track position and hold it. We started 13th, we got a couple positions up, so I think we did have a good race.”
“I enjoy the crazy, fun chaos of the Red Bull family and the way they go about their business. It's all I've ever known – chaos in this team feels comfortable, where chaos in another team was quite unsettling. I just feel like I've been here before and I'm okay with it.”
‘Taking a bold strategic approach’;
https://f1i.com/news/515624-ricciard...good-race.html
Daniel Ricciardo safe at RB for 2024
Daniel Ricciardo will not be ousted from RB with reports his role with the squad is safe for the remainder of the season.
30 July 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe
Red Bull will take an unchanged driver line-up into the second half of the year with no changes at either Red Bull Racing or RB. Yesterday, it was revealed Sergio Perez will remain alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. It's now reported that Ricciardo will also remain in place at RB until at least the end of the season.
Following a mixed opening to the year, Ricciardo has found form of late, delivering 10th in the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend. “I think he's done alright,” Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner said on Sunday of Ricciardo's performance. I haven't looked at the race plot, I only saw the end result that he was 11th.”
‘Safe at RB for 2024’;
https://speedcafe.com/daniel-ricciar...t-rb-for-2024/
Ricciardo stays put, survives mid-season Red Bull shakeup
30 Jul 2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
After a tumultuous first half of the season and doubts about his F1 future, Daniel Ricciardo will return to the fray at the end of August and remain with Visa Cash App RB through the remainder of the 2024 F1 season.
With signs of improvement, the team sees no immediate need for change. Red Bull has consistently emphasized their commitment to Ricciardo's success, acknowledging his early-season struggles but pledging to help him adapt to the car.
‘Return to the fray at the end of August’;
https://f1i.com/news/515655-ricciard...l-shakeup.html
Ricciardo 'just' completes his 2024 contract at Visa Cash App RB
30 July 2024
Corwin Kunst
GPblog.com
Daniel Ricciardo will drive for Visa Cash App RB until the end of the season, the Faenza-based team confirmed to GPblog. The Australian scored half as many points as Yuki Tsunoda in the first 14 Grands Prix of the season, but they see no reason to put Liam Lawson in the car now.
Only in three races (excluding a fourth place finish at the Miami Sprint Race) did Ricciardo score points in the first half of the season. Entering the summer break, the driver from Perth has 11 points behind his name. Teammate Tsundoa finished in the top-ten in seven races (and a P8 in the Miami sprint race).
Liam Lawson might have secretly hoped for a chance to drive the VCARB-01 at Zandvoort. However, the Red Bull junior who creditably filled in for Ricciardo at five GPs last year will have to be patient. Possibly, an opportunity at Visa Cash App RB does await him at the start of 2025.
‘Ricciardo 'just' completes his 2024 contract’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29295...sh-app-rb.html
Ricciardo pinpoints RB’s biggest weakness with 2024 F1 car
1 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Daniel Ricciardo has pinpointed high-speed cornering as the main weakness upon which RB can improve with its 2024 Formula 1 car going into the remaining rounds. Ricciardo’s uptick in results continued at Spa-Francorchamps as he headed RB’s charge to cross the line in 11th and inherit a point once George Russell was excluded.
The Australian, who started down in 13th, managed to claw through the pack as RB elected to trigger an undercut on the cars ahead at the respective pit stop phases. However, Fernando Alonso’s reversion to a one-stop and Esteban Ocon’s late overtake down the Kemmel Straight demoted Ricciardo to outside the top 10 on the road.
‘RB’s biggest weakness’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...h-2024-f1-car/
-
Stroll calls on Aston Martin to ‘find more pace in the car’ after P12 finish at Spa.
Lance Stroll ran a one-stop strategy for the Belgian Grand Prix, but wasn’t able to make it into the points.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘One-stop strategy’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/st...35433682079594
UNDERCUT | Mike Krack: "We're on the right path"
11:26 Fri, 02 Aug 2024
Aston Martin F1 - Official Site
"If I'm honest with myself, and I think we should all be honest with ourselves: we expected more. We knew we had a bit of a gap to the cars in front, and how difficult it is to close that gap. We haven't managed it yet, and until we do, we cannot be happy."
Team Principal Mike Krack refrained from sugar-coating his thoughts as he opened up about the team's first half of the 2024 F1 season, but would you expect anything less in the latest instalment of UNDERCUT, our raw, unfiltered, interview series that asks the questions you really want the answers to?
In the first part of the 2023 F1 season, Mike was cautious. Silverware was rolling in, the team was enjoying front-row starts and contesting victories, however "it's very nice – but it isn’t an accurate picture" was a constant message. Mid-season, when the usual suspects figured out their early-season wobbles, silverware became harder to come by. There were still occasional, stunning, successes, but fifth-quickest team was where we levelled-off… and where we are now.
"We're on the right path";
https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/...the-right-path
Adrian Newey to Aston Martin? Team boss teases ‘big-name’ signing as rumours swirl
02 Aug 2024
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
With speculation that he’s set to sign for Aston Martin, the prospect of an Adrian Newey arrival has been addressed by team boss Mike Krack. Addressing the possibility in a summer shutdown column for the Aston Martin website, team boss Mike Krack was asked directly whether any further “big-name signings” can be expected, with Newey name-dropped.
“We’re still in a period of growth – but I think we have to be open-minded and dynamic, in terms of personnel as well as car development,” Krack said, with Newey put to him as a free agent. This isn’t a sport that rewards consolidation.”
“Obviously, that has to be constructed around a stable core. You need to have routines and you need to have trust and establishing that trust can take a long time – but you should never sit back and say ‘We are fine’. There’s always a need to be looking at what you can do better, what you can change. Doesn’t necessarily mean you make that change – but you have to keep asking the question.”
‘Rumours swirl’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/aston-...ummer-shutdown
The seven-step guide to keeping an F1 race team fit and healthy
17:21 Fri, 02 Aug 2024
Aston Martin F1 - Official Site
14 Grands Prix down, 10 to go. As the 2024 Formula One season takes a brief pause for the summer break, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team Doctor, Rahul Chotai, reveals what it takes to keep our mechanics and the rest of our travelling race team in top condition throughout F1's longest-ever season.
"My work will never have a direct impact on the car, but it will help the team perform to the best of their ability." More than 100 Aston Martin Aramco team members travel to each Grand Prix, and Team Doctor Rahul Chotai is the person charged with keeping them in peak physical and mental condition.
From illness and injury prevention to training our race team to ensure they're at their sharpest 'Doc', as he is affectionately known, oversees it all. An A&E doctor by trade, with a Masters degree in Sports Medicine, Rahul began work with team during the global pandemic in 2020, getting the call-up as Formula One returned to action in Austria that year.
‘Seven-step guide’;
https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/...it-and-healthy
Fernando Alonso warns Aston Martin ‘cannot hide’ after alarming F1 2024 pace drop
3 Aug 2024
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Fernando Alonso has admitted to feeling disappointed with how he’s now looking over his shoulder at Aston Martin’s pursuers rather than chasing the lead pack in F1 2024.
“We cannot hide the fact that we are fighting today with Williams, AlphaTauri [sic], and Alpine while, last year, we were looking maybe to the top four teams. Now they are out of reach and we are just defending from the guys behind.”
“Even at the beginning of the year – in qualifying, especially – we were always top five, top six in the mix. So there’s definitely a lot of work to do for us in summer break and the second part of the year. We will not give up, but we need to work.”
‘Cannot hide’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...4-f1-pace-drop
-
‘Disappointed’ Albon says Williams have been ‘on the back foot from the very beginning’ of 2024.
Alex Albon finished 13th at Spa, and reflected on the team’s first half of the year ahead of the summer break.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Disappointed’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/di...40963727085173
Belgian GP: Another difficult race for Williams Racing
July 29 2024
By Williams Racing
WilliamsF1 Supporters
In what was another difficult race for the Williams Racing Team the 2024 Belgian GP would see Alex Albon finish in 13th and Logan Sargeant 18th. But both drivers would move up one place to be listed as finishing in 12th and 17th after another drivers disqualification. Both Alex and Logan would start the race on the medium and would suffer as they continued to use the medium tyre for their second stint changing to the hard for the run to the finish.
Overall as has been the case this season the fundamental problem is the lack of pace from the FW46. Such was the case in Belgium where both Alex and Logan simply did not have the pace to compete against quicker rivals.
Alex Albon: "I had a good start today but ultimately; we just didn’t have the pace. I think we executed the race as well as we could but at the end of the day, you need pace to get points and we just didn’t have it.”
Sven Smeets Sporting Director: "It was a difficult and disappointing afternoon. We started the race well with Alex gaining two places in the start and a good first stint on the Medium following Fernando. We decided to cover off some of the early stoppers and fitted the Medium again. Unfortunately, we struggled a bit in that second stint…”
‘Another difficult race’;
https://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st206232.htm
Albon shocked by lack of upgrades so far in 2024
30 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Albon noted: "I had a good start today but ultimately; we just didn’t have the pace. I think we executed the race as well as we could but at the end of the day, you need pace to get points and we just didn’t have it.”
"It would’ve been better if we had two sets of Hard tyres for the race but unfortunately, we didn’t, so I’m not sure if that would’ve changed things.”
"We haven’t had any upgrades all year, so I think we’re just falling behind the pack too much, which makes things difficult. We’ve got some coming after the summer break, so hopefully, we can return more competitive."
‘Lack of upgrades’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25170
Williams ‘paying the price all season for lack of upgrades’ – Albon
31st July 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Albon described his season so far as “disappointing”, saying Williams’ lack of upgrades explains why they are only ninth in the championship. “We’ve been on the back foot from the very beginning,” he told the official F1 channel. “We were late with our car and we’ve been paying the price the whole season so far. That’s about it.”
“We haven’t had many, if any, upgrades this season so far, so we’ve been on the back foot. Hopefully we’re pushing hard at the factory. Everyone’s working really hard. Of course, there’s a bit of a break right now, but time will tell. If we can get our first proper upgrade on the car at the beginning when we come back I think we can fight for points a bit more regularly.”
‘Paying the price all season’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/07/31/...nd-up-31-07-7/
What Alex Albon said to Carlos Sainz after Williams move was confirmed
30 July 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Alex Albon welcomes Carlos Sainz to Williams. After Williams announced the arrival of Sainz on Monday, he joked to Albon that Vowles had formed an ‘appendix-less team’. Both drivers have missed races after undergoing appendectomies.
Sainz, of course, was sidelined for this year’s Saudi Arabian GP, with Oliver Bearman stepping in at Ferrari. And Williams had to turn to Nyck de Vries when Albon was ruled out of the 2022 Italian GP.
Welcome to the team @Carlossainz55 !��
— Alex Albon (@alex_albon) July 29, 2024
James Vowles addresses ‘Mercedes clause’ in Carlos Sainz contract: Some have speculated that Sainz’s stint at Williams could be brief. They suspect there’s a ‘Red Bull and Mercedes clause’ in his deal that allows him to move if they make him an offer. Williams and Mercedes share a particularly close relationship. They previously ‘loaned’ George Russell for three years, while Vowles worked at Brackley as head of strategy. But the team principal has denied that Sainz’s deal includes such an exit clause…
“Welcome to the team”;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/wha...was-confirmed/
‘Be realistic’: Alex Albon issues ‘realistic’ Williams warning Carlos Sainz will not want to hear
31 July 2024
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Alex Albon has now issued a warning about Williams that Carlos Sainz will not want to hear after agreeing to his multi-year contract to join the Formula 1 team from Ferrari. Albon admitting that Williams are unlikely to become front-runners when Formula 1 enters the new regulations in 2026 will be among the last things that Sainz wanted to hear having signed his multi-year contract. It is hardly a huge vote of confidence in the project he joins.
Alex Albon admits Williams must ‘be realistic’ with F1’s 2026 regulation changes. Albon also renewed his contract with Williams in May to stay in Grove through, at least, the 2027 F1 season. The 28-year-old is committed to helping Williams return to the front of the grid and shaping how they deal with Formula 1’s huge set of regulation changes come 2026.
F1 will introduce new chassis and engine regulations in its biggest shake-up since 2014 and the start of the V6 turbo-hybrid power unit era. Engines will become a 50/50 split between combustion and electrical power, while running sustainable fuels and removing the MGU-H.
‘Be realistic’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/ale...-want-to-hear/
'Albon will continue': Why Alex Albon will ‘continue to lead’ Williams despite Carlos Sainz signing
1 August 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Why Alex Albon will be the team leader at Williams. Sainz has enjoyed parity while having Charles Leclerc as his teammate at Ferrari, largely because of how close the pair are on performance. Collins believes there will be a key factor that determines why Albon is still going to be the team leader at the Grove-based outfit in the early stages of their partnership.
“Initially, Albon will continue to lead, whether that’s on paper, he’s the leader or not. He will continue to lead because he’s already settled in that environment, he knows what’s going on around him, he knows how the procedures work, the meetings, the feedback, all these other things. So, and I think given what we’ve seen of James, I don’t think there necessarily will be a number one driver.”
“It’ll be whoever’s scoring the most points will get the most opportunity, whoever’s on track will get the most opportunity. That’s maybe the way to have it going forward. And hopefully, both of them will push each other forward.”
‘Continue to lead’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/why...sainz-signing/
Albon pins hopes on upgrades for second half of season with Williams ‘digging deep’ to improve
01 August 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Alex Albon is hopeful that Williams will be in position to unleash their first “proper upgrade” of 2024 shortly after the season resumes, explaining that the team have been on the “back foot” with their package so far.
Williams have scored just four points across the 14 races held to this point, which compares to the 21 amassed by the same stage last season – a return that leaves them ninth out of 10 teams in the constructors’ standings.
“We’re digging deep, I think we’ve got some good things in the future. At the same time, we’ve got some areas we need to work on. We’ll use this break to look and really focus on the development not just for this year but especially for next year.”
‘Albon pins hopes on upgrades’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...421GMaiG9fYxR7
Albon banking on ‘first proper upgrade’ to improve Williams form
09:27 Fri, 02 Aug 2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Alex Albon admits Williams has been on the back foot this season with its current package, but says a turnaround could be on the horizon when the team introduces its first proper upgrade in the back half of 2024.
The Grove-based outfit has struggled to match last year’s points tally, currently sitting ninth in the constructors’ championship with just four points.
Despite his best efforts, Albon has been unable to consistently challenge for a top-ten finish, having only put a pair of P7 results on the board – in Monaco and at Silverstone – across 14 races, a situation he attributes to a lack of car performance.
‘First proper upgrade’;
https://f1i.com/news/515792-albon-ba...iams-form.html
-
‘Very not happy’ Gasly reveals engine issue hampered his race.
Pierre Gasly finished 14th at Spa and explained after the race he’d been managing an engine issue and a steering problem on his Alpine.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Very not happy’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/ve...37934708786267
Gasly “lost seven tenths down the straights every lap” with another car problem
29th July 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Gasly, who retired from the two races before the Belgian Grand Prix with technical problems, said he was “very not happy” after suffering more trouble with his car during yesterday’s race. “We have engine problem the whole afternoon,” said Gasly, who finished 13th. “I’m losing seven tenths down the straights every lap [with an] engine temperature issue.”
That was only the beginning of Gasly’s problems, he explained. “The steering isn’t straight the whole race. We missed the right strategy. We just do too many mistakes. The last three weekends have been absolutely frustrating. We just are not on top of what we should be, basically. I know the guys can do a lot better than that.”
‘Another car problem’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/07/29/...nd-up-29-07-7/
Gasly unhappy with ‘too many mistakes’ in Belgium as he urges Alpine to regroup after ‘frustrating’ run of weekends
30 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Pierre Gasly was left unhappy after finishing the Belgian Grand Prix in 13th place amid a number of issues with his car and strategy, marking the latest in a run of challenging weekends for the Frenchman.
“Very not happy, very not happy,” said Gasly. “We had an engine problem the whole afternoon, losing seven tenths down the straights every lap, engine temperature issue, steering isn’t straight the whole race, we missed the right strategy... We just do too many mistakes.”
“The last three weekends have been absolutely frustrating. We are not on top of what we should be, basically, and I know the guys can do a lot better than that. It’s been a tough start of the year, then we scored roughly 10 points as a team.”
‘Too many mistakes’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...POfgSXe6OLSs0v
Gasly hits out at Alpine following three ‘frustrating’ weekends
Pierre Gasly's disastrous run of results continued in Spa where the Frenchman finished P13 after suffering a DNF and DNS at the two previous Grand Prix weekends
July 31, 2024
Rhiannon Temporal
FormulaNerds
With a lack of running and knowledge of the new tarmac, many drivers up and down the grid suffered during last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. One driver, however, who would have been hoping for a better race day was Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman suffered a DNF in Hungary and didn’t even start at Silverstone. His bad luck only continued in Spa.
The many changing parts at Alpine: While Gasly, who recently signed a contract extension, is a sure thing, there have been many moving parts at the French team. Matt Harman (Technical Director), Dirk de Beer (Head of Aerodynamics), Otmar Szafnauer (Team Principal), Alan Permane (Sporting Director), Pat Fry (CTO), and Laurent Rossi (Alpine CEO) have all left their positions in the last year. All these individuals held key roles in the team, many of whom had also been with Alpine for many years.
Additionally, Esteban Ocon will move to Haas next season. Valtteri Bottas, Mick Schumacher, and Jack Doohan appear to be the front runners to replace him. Notably, Alpine’s reserve driver Doohan has had an intense testing schedule this season after stepping away from Formula 2. The Aussie was out on track as recently as yesterday. When will the dust finally settle at Alpine? And can they get back to winning ways?
‘Three ‘frustrating’ weekends’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ga.../?nowprocket=1
Gasly blasts Alpine after F1 Belgian GP: ‘I want us to do better’
10:51 Thu, 01 Aug 2024
Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly blasted his team after a disappointing Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix that was littered with technical trouble, saying “I want us to do better.” The Frenchman has endured a tough run of form at late, dominated by technical issues.
At Silverstone, Gasly failed to make the start with gearbox problems, in Hungary, he failed to finish and last Sunday at Spa-Francorchamps he was plagued by engine trouble and more throughout the 44-lap Belgian GP.
Gasly was less than impressed with the tools given to him as he found himself crossing the line in 14th place, which was bumped up to 13th thanks to George Russell’s disqualification.
‘I want us to do better’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...-to-do-better/
Pierre Gasly critical of Alpine: “Not good enough”
August 2, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports
Speaking after a frustrating Belgian GP, Pierre Gasly was candid about the need for improvement: “These are things we must review, as I know we can do a lot better as a team.”
“In recent weeks we have not been good enough and we must do better when we return to racing after the summer break. It’s been a tough first part of the season for us.”
“But I’m pleased with some of the things we are bringing to the car. We must keep finding further improvements to the car and come back hungrier to do better.”
“Not good enough”;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...t-good-enough/
Gasly addresses Famin’s impending departure as Alpine F1 boss
28 Jul 2024
Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week
Pierre Gasly addressed the news that Bruno Famin is set to step down as Alpine Formula 1 Team Principal at the end of August, praising the team boss for his clear communication throughout their working relationship.
“Yeah, I mean, to me it’s been always, you know very clear, honest and transparent in our way of working together,” Gasly said of Famin in response to the news.
“It was appreciated for the time that we’ve had together. So I just want to thank him. Obviously he’s still going to remain in the Alpine family through a different role and I wish him the best with this new project.”
“I just want to thank him”;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...lpine-f1-boss/
Gasly pays tribute to ‘honest and transparent’ Famin
10:51 Thu, 01 Aug 2024
Phillip van Osten
Motorsport Week
Pierre Gasly paid tribute to outgoing Alpine team principal Bruno Famin, acknowledging the Frenchman's contribution to the Enstone outfit during a period of significant turmoil and upheaval.
“Well, first of all, I want to thank Bruno,” the Alpine charger said last weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, following the announcement of Famin relinquishing his rome of team principal.
“It’s been a really good relationship with him for the time that I’ve spent in the team with him. He’s very honest, very transparent. He’s still going to remain in the Alpine family, through a different role obviously, [but] I just want to thank him for his work and wish him all the best for the future.”
‘Honest and transparent’;
https://f1i.com/news/515710-gasly-pa...ent-famin.html
‘Had a good time’: Pierre Gasly thinks Alpine F1 team have just lost a ‘really good’ person
2 August 2024
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer
Pierre Gasly feels Alpine have just lost a ‘really good’ person after the Formula 1 team decided to make a key change during the summer break after a poor start this season.
Famin spent just one year in charge of Alpine after replacing Otmar Szafnauer ahead of the 2023 Dutch GP. Now, he will return to the Frenchman’s role as the vice president of Alpine Motorsports. But Gasly thinks the Alpine F1 team have lost a ‘really good’ person in Famin.
‘Lost a ‘really good’ person’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/pie...y-good-person/
-
Magnussen sums up ‘worst race we’ve had in a while’ at Spa.
Kevin Magnussen was 15th at the flag in Belgium and said afterwards Haas “just weren’t fast enough”.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Worst race we’ve had in a while’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/ma...36531438297276
Belgian Grand Prix: Race Recap
July 28, 2024
Haas F1 Team - Official Site
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team finished with Kevin Magnussen 15th, and Nico Hulkenberg 19th, at the Belgian Grand Prix, Round 14 of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, held Sunday at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
Magnussen prolonged his first stint until lap 18 before coming in for a set of hard tires and battled in the midfield while nursing his set of tires as one of the only drivers to manage a one-stop strategy, eventually classifying in 15th position.
Kevin Magnussen: “I think we had a decent race, we just didn’t have the pace to fight further up today. We took what we could and did a one-stop, which was fine. I can’t say we did anything wrong, we just weren’t fast enough. We thought this track was going to be good for us, but we’ve been surprised many times, and this is the worst race we’ve had in a while. I’m looking forward to the summer break – everyone is – and then looking forward to some races where we’ll score some more points.”
‘Race Recap’;
https://www.haasf1team.com/news/belg...x-race-recap-6
Magnussen admits qualifying tactics didn’t work out after double Q1 exit for Haas
Kevin Magnussen qualified down in P17 for the Belgian Grand Prix.
27 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Qualifying tactics didn’t work’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/ma...44063786092320
Belgian Grand Prix: Qualifying Recap
July 27, 2024
Haas F1 Team - Official Site
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen qualified 16th and 17th respectively for the Belgian Grand Prix, Round 14 of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Wet weather impacted Saturday’s track activities at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. A rain-affected final practice was effectively a washout – with Hulkenberg able to bank just a handful of laps in his VF-24 on Pirelli Cinturato Green intermediate tires, and Magnussen only emerging to take the practice start.
Kevin Magnussen: “I don’t think we were too far from the optimum we could do. I went out for two timed laps in the second run and the track was getting so much better that it would’ve been better to do one timed lap with new tires with the track being the best. We didn’t look as competitive in these conditions compared to the dry conditions yesterday. Our plan was for a wet session but there was almost a dry line at the end, so that didn’t work for our plan, but the performance wasn’t there.”
‘Qualifying Recap’;
https://www.haasf1team.com/news/belg...ifying-recap-5
Magnussen reflects on ‘worst race we’ve had in a while’ in Belgium as Hulkenberg urges Haas to ‘forget this weekend’
1 August 2024
Formula One - Official Site
It was a tough day for Haas at the Belgian Grand Prix, with Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg both finishing the event well outside of the points in what Magnussen described as “the worst race we’ve had in a while”.
Reflecting on his afternoon at Spa-Francorchamps, Magnussen admitted that the team had simply lacked pace rather than making any errors. “I think we had a decent race,” the 31-year-old said. “We just didn’t have the pace to fight further up today, so [we] just took what we could and did a one-stop which was fine. Can’t really say we did anything wrong, we just weren’t fast enough.”
In terms of whether preparing for a dry set-up after qualifying may have contributed to the issues, Magnussen responded: “I don’t think it was that, we just kind of did the best we could for the car in broad terms. We didn’t focus specifically on the race. Actually what we thought would be best for quali was probably also going to be best for the race, so we didn’t really have any compromise – we were just not fast enough.”
‘Worst race we’ve had in a while’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...eSJHCF2Lku0NaT
Magnussen laments ‘worst race’ of 2024 as woes continue
Disappointment continued for the American-based outfit in Belgium, with the team unable to capture points
August 1, 2024
Caitlyn Gordon
FormulaNerds
Haas entered the Belgian Grand Prix on the back of some positive performances.
Magnussen expresses his disappointment: The race looked hopeful with Magnussen running in the points, despite this glimmer of hope, the Dane dropped back down and finished the race in 15th – which was later updated to 14th after George Russell’s disqualification.
Magnussen reflected on his race to the media, stating that nothing went wrong, the team just lacked pace: “This track, we thought it was going to be good for us, but we’ve been surprised many times and this is the worst race we’ve had in a while so, yeah, looking forward to the summer break. I think everyone is, and then coming back to more races where we’ll score some more points.”
‘Woes continue’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ma.../?nowprocket=1
Magnussen: 2024 the ‘first time’ Haas’ F1 upgrades have worked
12:08 Sun, 04 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
“I think coming into this year we thought we were going to be the last team on the grid and we haven’t been, so I think it’s been a positive surprise,” Magnussen said.
“There’s always, when you look back at this stuff, things you could have done better but I think everyone can say that, so I feel like we’ve had a good first half of the season.”
“The second half I think with the couple of upgrades we’ve had this year, they’ve actually worked. And it’s the first time in Haas’ history that we brought upgrades to the car that made it faster. So that’s a real step forward there already. So hopefully we can keep that going. We’re on a good trend, I think. So hopefully we can just keep that going.”
‘F1 upgrades have worked’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...s-have-worked/
Magnussen open to taking on potential Haas F1 advisor role
10:31 Sat, 20 Jul 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Magnussen admitted that it was bittersweet to be leaving amid Haas’ upturn in competitiveness this term as it prepares to go into next season with an all-new line-up. “Well, I think, you know, I’ve been with this team since the very beginning of Haas’ time at F1, and I feel very much a part of the family.”
“It’s going to be strange to leave the team at the end of the year, but everything comes to an end, and, you know, it’s still quite early in the season. Haas have gone ahead and wants to secure the drivers for next year early enough, and there’s still seats available, so that’s understandable and fine by me.”
Haas boss Ayao Komatsu stated in the press release that he would be interested in initiating discussions with Magnussen about another role within the team’s setup. Magnussen has disclosed that he would consider such a proposal on the basis that he comes up short in his endeavour to salvage an F1 drive elsewhere on the grid. Asked about Komatsu’s comment, Magnussen replied: “Well, if I’m racing elsewhere in Formula 1 in another team, it doesn’t work. But I think it’s nice of him to say that.”
‘Potential Haas F1 advisor role’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...-advisor-role/
-
Sauber strategy gamble ‘didn’t quite pay off’ – Bottas.
Kick Sauber’s wait for a first point of 2024 continues after Valtteri Bottas finished 16th in the Belgian Grand Prix.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Sauber strategy gamble’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/sa...38143450968871
Bottas feels Sauber ‘getting closer’ to first points of 2024
2 Aug 2024
Michael Delaney
Formula One - Official Site
Valtteri Bottas believes Sauber is “getting closer” to scoring their first top-ten finish of the 2024 season after a performance last weekend at Spa that he describes as one of the team’s best yet.
"Yeah, I think we tried,” he said last Sunday. “The positive thing is it felt like we were in a bit better position again with the race pace against the competition, but still not enough for a top-10. We tried something different with the strategy in the end, but it didn’t quite pay off. Like I said, a bit better than in the previous events."
When asked what it will take to break Sauber’s points duck, Bottas replied: "I think we are getting closer. Today, pace-wise, was one of the best or better races we’ve had in terms of pace. We just need to keep bringing upgrades, that’s what we need to do, otherwise keep progressing in every area."
‘Getting closer’;
https://f1i.com/news/515892-bottas-f...s-of-2024.html
Bottas feels Sauber are ‘getting closer’ to first points of 2024 while Zhou says Spa DNF ‘sums up our season’
2 August 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Valtteri Bottas is optimistic that the second half of the season will bring a long-awaited first points finish for Kick Sauber after one of his and the team’s “better races” at the Belgian Grand Prix. Sauber head into the summer break as the only squad yet to record a top-10 finish in 2024, with Zhou Guanyu coming closest to doing so via 11th position at the Bahrain season opener.
“We tried something different with the strategy in the end [by completing a late second pit stop], but it didn’t quite pay off. Like I said, a bit better than in the previous events.” Pushed on what it’s going to take to get off the mark in the second half of the season, Bottas added: “I think we are getting closer. Today, pace-wise, was one of the best or better races we’ve had in terms of pace.”
“Yeah, nothing more to add honestly,” he commented after returning to the pits. “Losing the power, then losing the brakes, losing the race unfortunately. It summed up a little bit the last few race weekends for me, so we need to fix the issue going forward, otherwise it’s of course a disappointing day.”
‘Getting closer’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...k6PB9Z4V9SGl76
Bottas: Sauber hasn’t been ‘super stable’ with Audi F1 upheaval
4 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Bottas, whose contract with the side expires once this season concludes, has admitted that the Swiss-Italian will require time to stamp his own mark on proceedings.
“It’s a bit of a reset again,” Bottas acknowledged. “It’s not a secret that when there’s a new leadership, it will always take a bit of time, first of all. Mattia needs to know what are the weaknesses, what are the strengths, what are the priorities for short- and long-term improvements, and that’s going to take a bit of time.”\
“Again, it’s the third time now in three years, within three years, that we’ve had change at the top, so not a new situation, and the team shouldn’t be too affected at this point. I think it’s more the stuff for the future, and obviously time will show what will happen.”
‘Reset again’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...i-f1-upheaval/
Bottas retains an upper hand over Zhou – but will either keep their seat?
2nd August 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Bottas’ one-lap pace has been consistently better than his team mate’s. Although the gap narrowed slightly last year Zhou has usually ended up behind this year. Zhou’s race performances were markedly stronger last year, and in this respect he is continuing to perform fairly well against his more experienced team mate. However both drivers face the same problem that the Sauber has seldom if ever been a points contender.
The team is working hard to fix this and over the previous two races Bottas has had the benefit of the latest components. Once the pair converge on specifications we may finally see the two vivid green cars in the hunt for points. Whether Zhou can make the step from there to deliver the kind of results he needs remains to be seen. But on the strength of his performances so far this year he appears to have plateaued slightly below the level a team would want.
That’s a troubling situation for him, as Sauber has already inked a deal with Nico Hulkenberg for next year. That means its current drivers are vying for the single remaining seat, and so far Zhou looks like the one most likely to miss out.
‘Will either keep their seat?’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/08/02/...ep-their-seat/
Valtteri Bottas is running out of options to stay in F1
August 1, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports
Valtteri Bottas finds his back against the wall as he works to stay in F1. “I’m confident I’m going to get a seat.” These were the words of Valtteri Bottas earlier in the year, as driver market speculation reached its height. In the months since then, the dominos have slowly started to fall – and they do not bode well for Bottas. Whilst still in contention for a contract, the Finn’s options are increasingly limited.
Options running out for Bottas. Recent developments in the driver market have not been especially encouraging for Bottas. Haas and Williams have both finalised their driver line-ups for 2025. With a return to a front-running team off the table, the 34-year-old’s pool of realistic destinations is shrinking.
The doors for next year are quickly closing, so regardless of how attractive the room is inside, Bottas must find a way. Luckily for Bottas, Sauber have failed to sign their ideal targets. Carlos Sainz, their well-established priority, decided against joining them – instead opting for Williams. Esteban Ocon, who is also understood to have been a target for Audi, chose to sign for Haas. In this context, the drivers available to the Hinwil-based team are limited – and they may struggle to find a free agent of a higher calibre than Bottas.
‘Running out of options’;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...to-stay-in-f1/
Valtteri Bottas' F1 career may be over as Mattia Binotto considers rogue move
Valtteri Bottas could find his Formula One career in doubt.
Aug 3, 2024
Sam Smith
Daily and Sunday Express
Mattia Binotto is reportedly considering replacing Sauber star Valtteri Bottas with motorsport rookie Gabriel Bortoleto next year. Bortoleto has impressed with his performances during his first year of Formula Two and may be about to step into Formula One. Sauber are looking to make changes to their driver line-up for 2025. Nico Hulkenberg has already been announced as one of their racers for next season.
According to Italian publication Formu1a.Uno, the 19-year-old McLaren academy driver Bortoleto is being considered as a replacement for Bottas. The Brazilian teenager is currently second in the F2 drivers’ leaderboard, having enjoyed a successful debut campaign. Next year could see several rookies race in F1. Bortoleti could join Oliver Bearman on the grid, with the British 19-year-old announced as a signing by Haas after impressing on debut for Ferrari earlier this year.
Kimi Antonelli could yet be announced as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes. The Italian, 17, is one of few options for Toto Wolff, aside from a blockbuster move for Max Verstappen. The rookies entering F1 represent a changing of the guard on the grid, with Hamilton’s former Mercedes sidekick Bottas’s place looking increasingly precarious. The Finn had previously been confident of holding his seat.
‘F1 career may be over’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...mattia-binotto
Valtteri Bottas and Tiffany Cromwell 'escape' during summer break
4 August 2024
GPblog.com
Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas is making the most of the break by heading back to Finland on holiday, accompanied by his girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell. Usually, during time away from the track, we see Bottas and Cromwell, a professional biker in both road racing and mountain biking, involved in many cycling events, including one of their own they came up with in Finlands a couple of months ago. However, both the Finn and the Australian have ditched their bikes and are relaxing during their time off.
It's been a tough season for the ten-time Grand Prix winner and the Stake F1 team, struggling to make any progress and finding themselves at the back of the grid. Sauber still sits on zero points in the constructors' championship, the only team to do so. However, Bottas' surroundings in the beautiful mountains as he 'escapes to the North' will mean he is rested and ready to earn points in the second half of the season.
‘Making the most of the break’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29353...n-finland.html
-
Tsunoda: ‘Considering I started from Zandvoort I think ending up P17 isn’t bad!’
RB’s Yuki Tsunoda had a whopping 60-place grid penalty after taking a host of new power unit parts for the Belgian Grand Prix.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Started from Zandvoort’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/ts...35466289677495
F1 star speaks out after being hit with 60-place grid penalty for Belgian Grand Prix
One star at the Belgian Grand Prix has reacted to a very heavy sanction.
Jul 27, 2024
Jack McEachen
Daily and Sunday Express
F1 rules state that those who go over the limit of power unit elements in a single season are hit with a 10-place grid penalty. But due to Tsunoda making such an overhaul, he has been forced to drop a whopping 60 places to the back of the grid.
“Oh, Jesus!” Tsunoda exclaimed when speaking to F1 TV after FP2 when he was informed of his punishment, though the driver likely would have expected such a crackdown.
‘F1 star speaks out’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...sunoda-penalty
Yuki Tsunoda shares what Red Bull director Helmut Marko told him about F1 future
26 July 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Yuki Tsunoda feared for F1 future after Helmut Marko discussion. Speaking to media outlets including Planet F1 ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Tsunoda relayed what he’d heard behind the scenes. Executive director Helmut Marko told him in Austria that there was a particularly ‘important’ stretch of races ahead.
Speaking to media outlets including Planet F1 ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Tsunoda relayed what he’d heard behind the scenes. Executive director Helmut Marko told him in Austria that there was a particularly ‘important’ stretch of races ahead. “He told me in Austria that the next three races would be important for the future, but Austria wasn’t good,” he said. “So I was thinking: ‘OK, maybe he’s talking about my future regarding my Formula 1 seat rather than the Red Bull seat!’”
“So I was not really thinking or asking deeply about that. And it’s typical of Helmut that if I didn’t perform well for two races, or one race, immediately he comes to you and puts on pressure. So it was kind of a usual day for me. But after that, it was quite clear what I did at Silverstone in Hungary. Other than that. I haven’t had any conversations.”
‘Heard behind the scenes’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/yuk...out-f1-future/
Tsunoda makes striking revelation after four years in F1
Yuki Tsunoda is the "happiest" he has ever been with his performance level during his F1 career.
5 August 2024
Samuel Coop & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Yuki Tsunoda says he is the "happiest" he has been with his level of performance since he started his F1 career in 2021. "Definitely the happiest so far out of the last four years with my performance," the Japanese driver contended when reviewing his campaign to date. Obviously a lot of things I could have done better, but it's not bad."
"Montreal, for sure, when I was running in the points, I had a mistake and I lost points," he confirmed when asked what parts of the season could have gone better. "So, that was a bit unnecessary. Bahrain, as well. Just things I can fix by myself," he added.
"Silverstone was a race that we were not really expecting points, especially when we faced dry conditions," he explained. "For sure, the bit of rain, mixed conditions, helped a little bit, but we were able to achieve points with difficult conditions and a difficult situation. For myself, if I look back at the first two years [of my F1 career], I don't think I can achieve points, so those things for sure, I feel able to improve myself and be on the right path."
"Happiest";
https://racingnews365.com/tsunoda-ma...ur-years-in-f1
RB: Ricciardo helping to develop ‘rough diamond’ Tsunoda in F1
15:50 Mon, 05 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
RB CEO Peter Bauer believes Daniel Ricciardo’s vast experience in Formula 1 has been an asset that has helped to develop “rough diamond” team-mate Yuki Tsunoda. “I think Helmut is logically arguing from his position,” Bayer told Motorsport Total. “He is responsible for the junior team, which is 100 per cent under his responsibility and he logically always has a very important say in terms of driver technology. He has the authority, the knowledge, everything – and he focuses incredibly on the junior topic.”
Bayer has concurred with Tsunoda’s previous assessment that observing Ricciardo up close has helped the Japanese native to transcend into a more polished driver. “I see a bit of a broader spectrum in the overall responsibility for the team, this famous big picture theme somewhere: Yes, we have to develop young drivers,” he said. “But at the end of the day, you can also define that as Yuki is not quite finished yet.”
“He has learned a lot from Daniel when it comes to technical feedback, development, exchange. He has also learned a lot from Daniel when it comes to emotional control and management, how to structure and plan his weekend. In other words, he is learning. We are actually still in the process of perfecting this rough diamond Yuki, with the help of Daniel. Daniel has definitely justified his place in the team.”
‘Rough diamond Tsunoda’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...tsunoda-in-f1/
-
Sargeant admits P18 in Belgium ‘certainly wasn’t great’.
Logan Sargeant came home in 18th for Williams at the last race before the F1 summer break.
28 July 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘P18 (became 17th)’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/sa...35491401001122
Sargeant not safe from mid-season dismissal - Williams
Logan Sargeant's Williams fate for 2025 has been sealed, but that does not mean he will necessarily survive the rest of the current F1 season.
30 July 2024
Samuel Coop & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Williams team principal James Vowles has not ruled out replacing Logan Sargeant this season, emphasising the need for him to "earn" his place in the team. Despite facing calls to replace him, Vowles stuck by him for another season. However, results have not sufficiently improved, and with a racer of Sainz's calibre available, Williams had to act. Although, that does not mean Sargeant is safe from being jettisoned out of the team during the second half of the current season.
"What I've said before is this: 'earn your place'," Vowles told media including RacingNews365. "And [at] Silverstone [and] Budapest, he earned his place. [At Spa-Francorchamps] I need him to do more... but I'm not going to make a decision from one race to the next. What I don't want to sit here and say is 'Logan absolutely has a place nailed forever in the situation', earn it - as I have to earn my job, as Alex has to earn his job at the same time."
‘Not safe’;
https://racingnews365.com/sargeant-n...issal-williams
Williams boss hits out at Logan Sargeant ‘odd stories’ as F1 2024 status addressed
03 Aug 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
“First and foremost, there are odd stories that appear,” Vowles said of current rumors circulating around Sargeant. “Logan and I speak — I’m not going to say daily, but on a race weekend, definitely daily, and outside of that several times a week.”
“My job is to do the absolute best that I can for him because ultimately, if we’re scoring points, we need both drivers on song for doing so.” This refutation came after several outlets published quotes from former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson that Sargeant and Vowles “don’t even talk with each other anymore” and that “they barely greet each other.”
Vowles continued in the roundtable, “Second to that, I have a responsibility towards him. He is still going to be a professional racing driver in the future, and he’s still part of Williams in that regard, and we have an investment into him. We started it here, it will continue.”
‘Williams boss hits out’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/willia...atus-addressed
Sargeant has ‘made progress’ despite decision to replace him – Vowles
4th August 2024
Will Wood
RaceFans
Williams announced on Monday that Carlos Sainz Jnr will replace Sargeant in their line-up next year. However Vowles said their outgoing driver has raised his game in recent rounds. “Logan is a part of the Williams Academy, he’s one of the 20 best drivers in the world on the Formula 1 grid, and over the last few races, I hope you can see the progress that he has been making with the team,” he said in a video released by the team.
“We have a responsibility towards him. He is still a professional racing driver. He’s earned his place in motorsport and we’ll do what it takes for him in order to be a professional racing driver in his future career.”
‘Made progress’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/08/04/...nd-up-04-08-7/
‘Brutal honestly’: Williams boss James Vowles shares ‘blunt truth’ about whether Logan Sargeant will see out this season
5 August 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
James Vowles delivers update on Logan Sargeant’s immediate Williams future. Asked whether Sargeant will see out the rest of the season, Vowles said: “As I’ve said time and time again, I’ve done everything possible and I will continue to do so to give him the platform where he can do so.
“In other words, I want him to see out the season. I want him. He’s a Williams Academy driver. He will remain a Williams Academy driver. We’ve invested in him. And I don’t just mean two years of Formula One. I mean also in his F2 career and otherwise. As long as he earns it, he has a seat and he has to earn it and I would say that the blunt truth behind it, which I provided him as well, is Silverstone and Budapest, good job. He really did move forward.”
“You can see he’s seconds off Alex and Alex is faster than people think. But in Spa, we weren’t there and we have to understand why together, what’s different and will it apply to future races. That’s the blunt truth behind it and many will take objection at this level of what I call brutal honesty on things. But I much rather that he is given every opportunity but knows where he has to improve rather than a decision gets made from one day to the next without any influence from the side.”
‘Brutal honestly’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/wil...t-this-season/
2024 F1 mid-season driver rankings #20: Logan Sargeant
5th August 2024
Will Wood
RaceFans
When Logan Sargeant was handed a second chance to race for Williams in 2024, some considered even that as being too generous of the Grove team. The rookie had undoubtedly struggled over his rookie campaign, but with the vocal support of team principal James Vowles encouraging the young American driver to “shock the world” in 2024, Sargeant was given a blank slate with which to stake his claim that he belonged in Formula 1.
After spinning out of the wet race in Montreal, it was hard not to feel as though Sargeant’s days in Formula 1 were numbered. Especially with rumours flaring in the paddock about Andrea Kimi Antonelli potentially being brought in as a replacement for the Williams driver. But after Canada, Sargeant’s run to the summer break was a clear improvement, with him avoiding any major errors and putting in the kinds of performances that his team would have expected from him in year two.
Sadly, it’s too late for Sargeant to save his future at Williams and it may be that he’s lost out on the opportunity to convince any team to take another chance on him in the future. But with ten more rounds left of the season, he at least has plenty of chances to make sure he leaves the series with his head held high.
‘James Vowles encouraging the young American driver to “shock the world” in 2024’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/08/05/...ogan-sargeant/
‘Blunt truth’ from Williams leaves Logan Sargeant facing sudden F1 2024 exit
06 Aug 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
James Vowles may “want” Logan Sargeant to see out the Formula 1 season with Williams but he stopped short of guaranteeing the American will be in the car come Abu Dhabi. Last Monday, Sargeant officially learned his Formula 1 fate when Williams announced Carlos Sainz would replace him as Alex Albon’s 2025 team-mate.
Although Sargeant has not been whitewashed in qualifying by Albon, he has yet to score even a single point at tracks he now knows as a Formula 1 driver. But while that has surely meant the end of his F1 career after December’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Vowles would not guarantee Sargeant would even see Abu Dhabi.
Using “brutal honesty”, the Williams team principal says the American still has to earn his seat in the final 10 races even if he does “want” to continue with him. Asked point blank if Sargeant is ‘ going to see out the season with Williams’, Vowles told the F1 Nation podcast: “As I’ve said time and time again, I’ve done everything possible and I will continue to do so to give him the platform where he can do so.
‘Blunt truth’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/blunt-...habi-guarantee
Logan Sargeant offers F1 future update as Williams door slams shut
05 Aug 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
Logan Sargeant’s time at Williams is coming to an end as the team commits to Carlos Sainz for 2025. That now leaves all of Sargeant’s future hanging by a thread. When asked if he intended to use the summer break to settle on a path for his future, Sargeant chose not to offer a definitive answer: “I have no idea.”
“Conversations will be had,” he said, referring to future negotiations completed by his manager. “Whether that means we have anything or not is a very different question,” he admitted. “For sure, I’ll try and get a bit of direction — but whether that amounts to anything, I’m not sure.” …the American driver was also clear about needing a break from the strain.
“In the end, I think it’s important for me to take a bit of time off as well,” he said. “It’s hard enough to go the whole year without really stopping, so I think it is important to get a certain amount of time away from it completely. So I’ll put a bit more weight on [my manager’s] shoulders to figure it out — but no, I’m sure conversations will be had. Just what, I don’t know yet.”
‘F1 future update’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/logan-...oor-slams-shut
-
Hulkenberg urges Haas to ‘regroup and refresh’ over summer break.
Nico Hulkenberg was left ruing a difficult weekend at Spa-Francorchamps as Haas endured a torrid time in the Belgian Grand Prix.
10:08 Fri, 02 Aug 2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
“Very difficult,” Hulkenberg said of Sunday at Spa which he concluded a lowly 18th at the tail end of the field. “Just no pace, no harmony, no rhythm. I don’t know, I just didn’t get off on the right foot with the car this weekend and we didn’t manage to find a sweet spot with all the different sessions.”
“We need to look into a little bit why, but to some extent I think just forget this weekend, regroup, refresh over the summer break and go again. Yeah, I think especially on my side. Kevin looked a bit better and obviously he pulled off a one-stop which was not bad and decent. But still overall we need to look into our low-downforce performance.”
“Just no pace, no harmony, no rhythm”;
https://f1i.com/news/515797-hulkenbe...mer-break.html
Hulkenberg has the beating of his team mate again, albeit with Magnussen’s help
3rd August 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
The fireworks some predicted when Nico Hulkenberg joined Kevin Magnussen at Haas never materialised. Instead Hulkenberg, has rebuilt his standing in F1, after being cast aside by Renault five years ago, reliably bagging points for Haas and making them genuine contenders for sixth in the constructors’ championship – maybe even better. His reward was a contract offer from incoming manufacturer team Audi, which to Haas’ disappointment, he accepted.
Hulkenberg has retained the upper hand on one-lap pace which was apparent throughout last year. As Haas solved the tyre degradation problems which plagued them last season, Hulkenberg has usually been best-placed to capitalise, occasionally with Magnussen’s help. But if anything the gap between the two has grown this year, and unless Magnussen addresses that over the remaining races, it’s hard to see him getting a chance to continue in F1 somewhere else.
‘Rebuilt his standing in F1’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/08/03/...gnussens-help/
Hulkenberg explains new Haas 'formula' with 'bittersweet' feelings revealed
Nico Hulkenberg scored 22 points for Haas across the 14 completed rounds this F1 season.
6 August 2024
Nick Golding & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Nico Hulkenberg believes Haas' new "formula" has been key to the team's success so far this season, which has seen the outfit settle in seventh in the constructors' championship. Haas saw considerable change during the off-season ahead of the current campaign, with notable changes having been made to its technical department and its set-up.
The German driver outlined the changes made ahead of the season, leading to the success being enjoyed. "I think we are just a healthy, efficient, working organisation," Hulkenberg told RacingNews365 and select others. "Obviously, at the end of last year, there were some changes. But what was done, some people left the team, and especially in the technical department, there was some restructuring.”
“Obviously, the team principal changed on top of that early this season. We've streamlined everything, and let the people that we have - and we have good people - take responsibility, let them work and deliver. I think that formula has worked quite well so far this year and the performance and the consistency kind of supports that."
“We have good people - take responsibility, let them work and deliver”;
https://racingnews365.com/hulkenberg...lings-revealed
‘Experience matters’: Otmar Szafnauer explains why Nico Hulkenberg is the perfect F1 driver for 2025.
31 July 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Otmar Szafnauer explains why Nico Hulkenberg is the perfect driver for 2025 Talking about what he would look for in a driver for next season, Szafnauer said: “I would like for that transition year to have one experienced driver, that’s for sure.”
“And I always like to have one driver that could get a lap out of it. Like I said, Hulkenberg. And that kind of tells you, if you know and you’re confident that the driver can get a lap out of it, it tells you where the car is.”
“If you’re always doubting it and saying, yeah, he’s a great racing driver, but he always leaves something on the table and qualifying, then you’re always doubting whether your car is good enough or the car is good and the driver isn’t. So [that’s] what I would look for. But definitely, in a rule-change situation, experience matters much more.”
‘Experience matters’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/otm...iver-for-2025/
Does Nico Hulkenberg already regret signing with Audi F1 after recent ‘turmoil’ rumours?
04 Aug 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
Nico Hulkenberg insists he has no doubts about his decision to sign with Audi F1 as the team revealed the latest puzzle piece with Jonathan Wheatley joining from Red Bull. Audi, who have taken over the Sauber team before the official rebranding in 2026, have made headlines for a lot of the wrong reasons of late.
Following reports of tension amongst the higher-ups at the team, Audi axed both Andrea Stella and Oliver Hoffmann as part of a “realignment of the control structure” before installing former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto as the chief operational officer and chief technical officer. A week later the team named departing Red Bull sporting director Wheatley as their new team principal, a role he’ll take up in July next year.
In the midst of that upheaval, the team lost the opportunity to sign Carlos Sainz with the Spaniard instead joining Williams in a multi-year deal. Pundits have questioned why he chose Williams over the might of a manufacturer such as Audi with claims it was a “vote of no confidence”, while Sky’s Craig Slater believes it hints at “turmoil” within the Hinwil-based team. Asked if he (Nico Hulkenberg) had been too quick to sign with Audi, a decision he made in April already, he told Sky F1: “I don’t think so, to be honest.”
‘Upheaval’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/nico-h...egrets-signing
Hulkenberg praises 'hands-on' Audi approach after key changes
Nico Hulkenberg will join the Stake F1 team next year ahead of its transition to Audi in 2026.
2 August 2024
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Hulkenberg, who will race for Audi when it joins the grid in 2026, has praised the “hands-on” approach from Audi CEO Gernot Döllner. “I think it shows that the CEO of Audi and that everyone is looking, they’re aware, they are involved,” he said.
“The fact that they take action means that they’re very much involved and invested in it, and hands-on. And that’s, I think, good and positive news.” Hulkenberg has denied he was kept in the know regarding happenings at the project, asserting his commitment to Haas until the end of the season.
“No, no, I can't be, it would be wrong and a conflict of interest,” he said. “I'm fully invested in this season still with Haas and fully committed. So I'm not in a loop.”
‘The “hands-on” approach praised’;
https://racingnews365.com/hulkenberg...er-key-changes
Mattia Binotto could now make ‘surprise’ move to bring Fernando Alonso’s protege to Audi
2 August 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Gabriel Bortoleto emerges as candidate to partner Nico Hulkenberg at Audi. Audi recently sacked Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffman and brought in former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto to head up their F1 project. Binotto has, in turn, recruited Jonathan Wheatley from Red Bull to run the team day-to-day.
Next on the agenda for the Italian is surely the team’s driver line-up as the market enters its final stages. And, according to Formu1a.uno, he’s made a ‘surprising’ addition to the list of candidates. Gabriel Bortoleto is now ‘a possible teammate’ for Hulkenberg after impressing in Formula 2. Bortoleto is second in the championship heading into the shutdown, 36 points behind Isack Hadjar.
The 2023 F3 champion is part of the McLaren driver academy, but Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both appear to be locked in long-term. Zak Brown may listen to offers on that basis. Audi are ready to put a rookie in the car for 2025 – they could acclimatise in a relatively low-pressure situation before the stakes are raised in 2026. But that doesn’t mean that the incumbent Valtteri Bottas, a driver who’s even more experienced than Hulkenberg, is out of the running.
‘Gabriel Bortoleto is now ‘a possible teammate’ for Hulkenberg’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mat...otege-to-audi/
-
2024 F1 mid-season driver rankings #17: Zhou Guanyu.
Compared to many of the rookies that had entered Formula 1 in the years before he joined the world championship in 2022, Zhou Guanyu has stood out for being one of the more disciplined young drivers of his generation.
6th August 2024
Will Wood
RaceFans
Driving the slowest car on the grid – and the only one to have failed to score a point after the first 14 rounds – is always going to limit opportunities to impress. But it’s telling that while Zhou has been slowest of all in Q1 six of the 14 grand prix qualifying sessions held so far this season, team mate Valtteri Bottas has qualified lower than 17th only once. Aside from an unfortunate incident last year at Hungary, where he triggered a chain reaction at the start that took out multiple rivals, the Sauber driver has generally been one of the cleanest on the grid.
Unlike those lower down than him on this list, Zhou hasn’t had as many truly poor weekends. His Jeddah weekend was by no means good, crashing heavily at turn eight in final practice which effectively put him out of qualifying, before he finished last after taking a gamble on strategy. In Monaco, he was half a second slower than Bottas in qualifying, then allowed himself to get mugged by Logan Sargeant for one of the few overtaking moves of the race.
Zhou has been able to put together decent weekends too. Perhaps his best came at the opening round of the season in Bahrain where he rose up from 17th on the grid to only just miss out on a point in 11th place. He also flew under the radar in Miami, where he finished 11th in the sprint race and gained five positions in the grand prix to finish 14th, two places ahead of his team mate. His Spanish Grand Prix drive was also underappreciated, finishing two places higher than he started in a race without any Safety Cars in what is likely the slowest car in the field.
‘Stood out for being one of the more disciplined young drivers of his generation’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/08/06/...7-zhou-guanyu/
How this driver had to teach himself a completely new driving style before 2024
16:36 Fri, 02 Aug 2024
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com
No doubt Guanyu Zhou had imagined his third season in Formula 1 differently. After two years of learning, '24 needed to be harvested, especially as his contract with Stake F1 (Sauber) expires after the season. But the Kick Sauber C44 proved a total failure, by far the slowest car the field. No points could Zhou pick up with it so far. Indeed, the Chinese has had to adjust his driving style to go as fast as possible with the car at all.
So these were not easy months for Zhou, he tells GPblog. Instructive, certainly. Asked about the better and worse parts of his own season as a driver, he says: "For me, starting with the bad parts is that it's quite clear with the new concept of the car, for my driving style there is quite a lot to be adjusted, to be changing, just because I'm quite like, let’s say aggressive, and I need to change a little bit my approach to be smoother. The car has been super sensitive. So it's kind of a bit tricky and I'm trying to change a bit my driving style basically."
And that takes time, in Zhou's experience. ""So it's not an easy season at the moment. But things (in changing my driving style, ed.) are starting to come along a bit more likely now and the good thing I think this year is quite clear. I can understand exactly what I need to do [to be successful], or where's my strong preference on the direction we want to take. There's a question about how we can we take that or at least the understanding of everything you see."
‘Completely new driving style’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29291...uber-2024.html
Zhou Guanyu Sees Positive Signs in Sauber Upgrades
July 25, 2024
Joe Briley
The Checkered Flag
Despite Valtteri Bottas being the only drive at Sauber to receive the upgrades, Zhou is pleased with the progress that the team have made after they introduced a new set of updates at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix. Heading into the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix Sauber are set to introduce more upgrades and despite not receiving them, Zhou is hoping it’ll be another step in the right direction.
Speaking to F1TV, Zhou said: “It was only Valtteri’s car [that had the upgrades] so I’ve had the same car from Silverstone. He’s making another further upgrade this weekend, and we need to see if that makes another step because clearly it was a step in the right direction as we can see some gain throughout the entire weekend with everything in place.”
‘Positive Signs in Sauber Upgrades’;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...uber-upgrades/
Audi F1 hopeful eyeing negotiation 'reset' after Binotto arrival
Audi's F1 operation will have a new figure leading the team after the summer break, presenting an opportunity for Zhou Guanyu to secure a seat for next year.
30 July 2024
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
With Binotto now the key figure leading the Audi F1 project, Zhou admitted it presents an opportunity to refresh negotiations over an F1 seat for next year. “I think with what they want to have, in terms of their goal and for the future, for next year and also for when the Audi factory team arrives, it’s definitely going to be a little bit different,” Zhou told media including RacingNews365 of the changes at the team.
“I don't have anything, [no] news, because Mattia is not really joining the team until next week. For me, it's definitely a reset for the management group of people, try to talk differently and to understand exactly what values you can bring and what they want to you to have. Things definitely will be changing around a bit more than what was planned before but for myself, I don't think it changed a lot the overall story or the future.”
Zhou asserted he will need to introduce himself to the Italian when he starts work at the team later this week. “I know him from a few years ago already when he was at Ferrari,” he said. “So he’s not someone I've never spoken to. It's not somebody very new that I need to introduce myself a lot. I think he already knows myself and also we know him as well.”
‘Zhou admitted it presents an opportunity to refresh negotiations over an F1 seat’;
https://racingnews365.com/audi-f1-ho...inotto-arrival
Bottas retains an upper hand over Zhou – but will either keep their seat?
2nd August 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Zhou Guanyu gave a somewhat better account of himself in his second season in Formula 1 alongside Valtteri Bottas last year. However that modest progress has not continued this year and, at a team which will replace at least one of its drivers next year, it’s hard to make a case for them to continue with Zhou. Zhou’s race performances were markedly stronger last year, and in this respect he is continuing to perform fairly well against his more experienced team mate. However both drivers face the same problem that the Sauber has seldom if ever been a points contender.
The team is working hard to fix this and over the previous two races Bottas has had the benefit of the latest components. Once the pair converge on specifications we may finally see the two vivid green cars in the hunt for points. Whether Zhou can make the step from there to deliver the kind of results he needs remains to be seen. But on the strength of his performances so far this year he appears to have plateaued slightly below the level a team would want.
That’s a troubling situation for him, as Sauber has already inked a deal with Nico Hulkenberg for next year. That means its current drivers are vying for the single remaining seat, and so far Zhou looks like the one most likely to miss out.
‘Will either keep their seat?’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/08/02/...ep-their-seat/
-
'Toto Wolff should just pay George Russell the victory bonus'.
George Russell had his heart broken on Sunday. The British driver thought he had secured his third Grand Prix victory; in fact, he had already lifted the trophy and tasted the champagne on the podium.
1 August 2024.
Matt Gretton
Editor-in-Chief
Former driver David Coulthard saw Russell do everything right in Belgium. “I really feel for George [Russell] because that was arguably his greatest win in his short-winning career, and it slips away from him. So there's all sorts of ramifications, isn't there? If you take a managerial role, drivers typically have a win bonus in their contract," Coulthard said on his Formula For Success Podcast. "It's the team that have underperformed and that the car is under the weight limit. So where do you sit in all that? Would you give a driver his just use if the car was qualified or is it only if the actual result stands?" wondered Coulthard.
Eddie Jordan, a former team boss himself, knows his way around a contract in Formula 1. “There is no real right way and there's no real wrong way on this one. And it comes down to compassion and it comes down to the relationship with the driver and the team and just generally. I know Toto. Toto is not a poor man. And he's very astute and very careful. He sees in George a world champion going forward," Jordan highlighted.
“Why not pay him the money? If there's a genuine mistake, which it looks as if it is, that's what he said in his press release. Pay him the money. George is not going to miss his next meal over whether he gets it or not. But the reality is you're Mercedes, you're a top team and you've been surprised how great this driver is. Pay him,” Jordan advises.
‘Just pay George Russell the victory bonus';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29314...m-belgium.html
George Russell contract puts Mercedes in tight spot as Toto Wolff told 'you must pay him'
George Russell was stripped of his victory at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday after his Mercedes car was found to be underweight, but the Brit could yet receive his win bonus
1 Aug 2024
Harry Brent
Senior Sports Writer
The Mirror
Toto Wolff has been told to give George Russell a win bonus despite his disqualification from the Belgian Grand Prix. Amidst the swirling debate that's followed, some argue that the 26-year-old racer should nonetheless be handed a win bonus, if indeed his contract stipulates it in the event of a GP victory. Speaking on his Formula For Success podcast, ex-F1 driver David Coulthard insisted Russell deserved the payment. “Would you give a driver [a win bonus] if the car was disqualified or is it only if the actual result stands?"
Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan, who co-hosts the podcast with Coulthard, said he also sympathised with Russell's predicament. "There is no real right way and there's no real wrong way on this one. And it comes down to compassion and it comes down to the relationship with the driver and the team and just generally," he said. While it isn't know if Russell has a win bonus in his Mercedes contract, Jordan believes that if such a clause exists, team principal Wolff would honour it. "I know Toto. Toto is not a poor man. And he's very astute and very careful. He sees in George a world champion going forward," Jordan continued.
'You must pay him';
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...wolff-33377106
Mercedes reveal early findings that led to George Russell’s disqualification
Mercedes explain some of the factors behind George Russell's DSQ in Belgium.
31 Jul 2024
Lewis Larkam
F1 Technical
Mercedes have now established some of the causes that played a factor in Russell’s DSQ, including higher-than-expected plank wear. “It was obviously very disappointing and unfortunate, particularly after he had driven such a strong race to win from so far back,” Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said in the team’s latest post-race debrief video.
“We are trying to understand exactly what happened. A lot of that involves us getting the weights of all the different components. The car can lose quite a lot of weight during the race. You get tyre wear, plank wear, brake wear, oil consumption. The driver themselves can lose a lot, and in this particular race George lost quite a bit of weight.”
‘Early findings;’
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105292...squalification
How Russell ‘snowball' discovery led to disqualification
George Russell pointed out a "snowball effect" in the development path of the Mercedes W15, and it ended up being the catalyst for his disqualification from the Belgian Grand Prix.
6 August 2024
Samuel Coop & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
George Russell observed a performance upgrade "snowball effect" on the Mercedes W15...
"We brought a reasonable size upgrade to Montreal, but nowhere near the size that it translated to in terms of lap time," the two-time grand prix winner explained. "The way the car is handling now, we [himself and Lewis Hamilton] both have much more confidence in the car, we can push it closer to its limit.”
"Now the tyres are feeling better when we drive in the race, we can manage the tyres easy on it. It just has a bit of a snowball effect in terms of its performance. So this small upgrade has turned into something quite large in terms of lap time because we can exploit the car more. And that's the biggest thing, having that confidence beneath us."
‘Snowball discovery’;
https://racingnews365.com/how-russel...squalification
Mercedes reveal the reason for Russell's shock disqualification
1 Aug 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin revealed that Mercedes suspects that plank and tyre wear, plus weight loss by George Russell himself, may have contributed to his car being under the weight limit.
“The cars started the race the same weight,” added Shovlin. “Lewis and George were both weighed after qualifying. The cars were within 500 grammes. “George's was the only one that had the problem, and it's because things like the tyre wear was much higher. It looks like we lost more material on the plank.”
"We'll collect all that data, though, and look at how we can refine our processes, because clearly we don't want that to happen in the future," concluded the Briton.
‘Russell's shock disqualification’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25187
ANALYSIS: Russell shocks rivals with one-stop strategy before his disqualification
31 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Before he was disqualified, Mercedes driver George Russell was hailed for committing himself to an aggressive and ambitious on-stop strategy at last Sunday's Spa F1 round. F1Technical's senior writer Balazs Szabo delivers his tyre analysis from the Belgian Grand Prix. Post-race scrutineering revealed that the number 63 car was underweight as per the technical regulations and therefore George Russell was disqualified, the win going to his team-mate Hamilton, with Piastri now second and Charles Leclerc moving up to the third step of the podium.
Pirelli's Motorsport Director Mario Isola noted: “First of all, let me say this was a really exciting race. It’s been quite a while since Formula 1 has put on such a show. It’s unusual to see a race where the outcome is so uncertain, with the top three within just over a second of one another and the first six finishers, all of whom could legitimately claim to have aimed for the win or at least the podium, all finishing within under 10 seconds. It’s a shame the race result had to be changed but, as even Mercedes agreed, the rule regarding weight is very clear.”
‘ANALYSIS’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25184
Wolff reveals "the key" to Mercedes victory after 'uncompetitive Friday'
31 July 2024
Matt Gretton
Editor-in-Chief
GPblog.com
How did Mercedes find improvements from Friday? "I must admit that the overnight work that was done from Friday to Saturday, and also here on the track set engineering side, was the key. So we changed a lot from Friday. But it wasn't a mechanical, normal alignment of what we thought the car would do. So we remedied that," Wolff said. In the Mercedes debrief, Shovlin opened up on at "key" change.
"One of the issues with Spa is it is a fast circuit, and it needs a lot of commitment from the driver. We managed to introduce a bit of bouncing to the car, so in the high-speed corners, that is not great for their confidence. There were a couple of other balance issues where they had a lack of entry stability," Shovlin said.
"When you are wanting to brake late and carry speed into a corner, that does not help. At a normal track, that might have cost us a little bit of time. On a big circuit like Spa with some pretty big corners, that was becoming a large number. The car was not in the right place, but it is one of those very specific things about Spa where if the drivers have not got the car doing what they want, it can cost them a lot of performance. It was exactly the right thing for us to just revert to that known specification," Shovlin concluded.
"The key";
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29306...n-belgium.html
-
Report: Newey to Aston Martin reportedly a done deal!
We’ve been here before, but according to Italian media, outgoing Red Bull designer Adrian Newey has committed his F1 future to Aston Martin, with a deal set to be announced after F1’s summer break.
6 Aug 2024
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
According to Autosprint, Newey, the mastermind behind a collection of iconic and winning F1 cars from Williams, McLaren and especially Red Bull, has agreed to a four-year deal with Aston Martin F1 worth an estimated $100 million. Newey’s lavish prospective agreement was first reported in the Italian media last month by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Only time will tell if Autosprint’s latest report will prove credible, but it’s a known fact that Aston Martin executive chairman Lawrence Stroll has clearly been pulling out the stops to lure Newey to Team Silverstone.
It has also been established that the Canadian billionaire treated Newey earlier this summer to a private tour of Aston’s shiny new state-of-the-art facilities at Silverstone Park, highlighting his team’s commitment and ambitions.
‘We’ve been here before’;
https://f1i.com/news/516010-report-n...done-deal.html
Reports Adrian Newey has rejected Ferrari offer
Reports out of Italy claim Adrian Newey has decided against joining Ferrari.
7 August 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe
The Italian publication claims the new deal will be announced in September owing to obligations in Newey's existing Red Bull Racing contract. It claims a four-year deal worth $100 million has been agreed. Aston Martin has been one of the front runners for Newey's services since he hit the market with rumours of his arrival gathering steam for some time.
A relationship with the brand already exists, given he penned the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which the British marque will campaign in the World Endurance Championship from 2025. He will not be available to start work for his new employer until early 2025.
That would give him little opportunity to have significant impact into Aston Martin's season next year, though he would be in place in time to play a crucial role in developing its 2026 car. New regulations for 2026, including the use of moveable wings, offer a strong opportunity for teams to make significant performance jumps.
‘Ferrari offer rejected’;
https://speedcafe.com/reports-adrian...ferrari-offer/
Huge Adrian Newey boost for Aston Martin as rival team officially ends interest
7 Aug 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
We now know one team where Adrian Newey will not end up should he return to Formula 1 after his Red Bull departure. And that team is McLaren, with CEO Zak Brown confirming they will not be striking a deal to bring Newey back to Woking…
And the reason for McLaren snubbing Newey, despite him having a CV “second to none”, is because Brown “couldn’t be happier” with the personnel which McLaren has in place now as they chase their first Constructors’ title since that 1998 triumph.
‘Huge Adrian Newey boost’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/huge-a...n-end-interest
Aston Martin secures Newey F1 deal, target Verstappen – report
6 Aug 2024
Motorsport Week
Autosprint has stated Aston Martin should announce Newey’s impending switch next month due to “contractual constraints” between the design legend and Red Bull. The Silverstone-based squad is aiming to turn into a title contender in the coming seasons with billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll instigating a mass recruitment drive.
Ex-Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell has been named Group Chief Executive Officer, while Enrico Cardile has exited Ferrari to become the side’s Technical Director. Autosprint has also posted that Newey, who is reported to be in line to earn 100 million dollars in four years, could help with Stroll’s desire to land Verstappen in 2026.
Verstappen retains a contract with Red Bull through 2028 and he has pledged his commitment to the team on several occasions amid speculation over his prospects. However, the Dutchman’s father, Jos, has continued to be at odds with Red Bull boss Christian Horner since an internal probe was launched into the latter’s behaviour.
‘Target Verstappen – report’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...tappen-report/
Blockbuster Adrian Newey move ‘agreed’ as Ferrari lose ‘important’ staff member
6 Aug 2024
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Helmut Marko reacts to big Ferrari blow. Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko believes Ferrari have “lost an important man” in the shape of outgoing technical boss Enrico Cardile. Cardile announced recently that he will join Aston Martin, where it remains to be seen if he will be joined by Newey. Marko fears Ferrari will be hit hard by the loss of Cardile.
‘Ferrari lose ‘important’ staff member’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-new...-ferrari-staff
-
Red Bull: 2024 F1 car "didn't deliver what we expected".
Red Bull admits it was expecting its 2024 Formula 1 car to be better in high-speed corners
Aug 5, 2024,
Filip Cleeren Ronald Vording
Motorsport.com
When asked if the RB20 was as good as hoped, he replied: "I would say not really. We improved compared to last year, without doubt, but we didn’t deliver what we expected in some areas.
"Especially in the high-speed corners we expected a little bit more than what we have. Without thinking about the competitiveness of the car, so just based on our own references, we expected a little bit more with our tools.”
‘Expecting its 2024 Formula 1 car to be better’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...cted/10642142/
Red Bull admits it ‘expected something more’ with 2024 F1 car
3 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
The Frenchman also highlighted kerb riding as a core weakness embedded in the RB20, which was accentuated when it tackled Monaco earlier this term. “I don’t know if we have a strong point yet!” he quipped. “I think we have improved a lot in medium-speed and slow corners compared to last year.”
“We are now – relatively speaking compared to the competition – slightly weaker in fast corners than last year. Last year we were very good in that respect. Finally, we are still clearly weak over the kerbs, but that was also the case last year. With that, we have not made the expected step.”
‘Expected something more’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...h-2024-f1-car/
Red Bull reveal car issues hindering 2024 campaign
Reigning champions enter summer break in a win drought
August 5, 2024
James Phillips
FormulaNerds
The reigning champions started 2024 in imperious form, with three one-two finishes in the opening three races. An unstoppable Max Verstappen cruised to victory comfortably ahead of teammate Sergio Perez in what looked like a one-horse race. However, the first indication that a dominant year was not on the cards came in Australia. Verstappen suffered a dramatic brake fire and retired in the early stages of the race.
Although Verstappen won the next two rounds, indications the field was beginning to catch Red Bull were becoming apparent, with Perez’s form dramatically dropping. Going into the summer break, Verstappen has yet to take victory in four consecutive races, his longest spell without a win since 2021. The reigning champion’s radio messages have become increasingly frantic and animated in recent races, as he battles handling struggles with the RB20.
‘Win drought’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/re.../?nowprocket=1
Red Bull “working flat out” to improve RB20, says Horner
AUGUST 3, 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog
Red Bull Formula 1 boss Christian Horner pointed out that Max Verstappen was still comfortably fastest in qualifying at Spa, and could have won the race without his PU grid penalty. “The whole team is still working flat out on this car,” said Horner. “Because with stable regs, whatever we learn now is relevant to next year anyway.
“And if you reflect on the on the first part of the year now, we’re over half distance, we’ve won seven Grands Prix. We’ve won two or three sprint races. We’re leading both championships. But over recent weeks that constructors’ [lead] has diminished somewhat, and that’s where our focus is. I think we know what we need to, where we need to focus and improve. And that’s what everybody’s doing.”
“Working flat out”;
https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/08/03/...0-says-horner/
Red Bull’s ‘too much’ RB20 admission as 2024 concept change decision explained
5 Aug 2024
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com
Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Waché has explained why the RB20 concept change was embarked upon, and why the car doesn’t appear as strong as RB19. Speaking in an exclusive interview with PlanetF1.com, Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché opened up on the general feeling on the RB20 within the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
“I think we pushed the boundary a little bit high and, in some areas, maybe too much, and that has created some characteristics that are not designed for the driver,” he said. “The success is coming, not by yourself, it is also coming by the relative performance to the others. Last year, we were fortunate that the others didn’t do as good a job as they have done this year, I think that is also an aspect we have to take into account.”
‘Pushed the boundary a little bit high’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bu...ange-explained
Horner more positive than Verstappen: 'We have a good car'
21 July 2024
Nicole Mulder
GPblog.com
Red Bull Racing 's updates are not good enough, judges Max Verstappen. Christian Horner is keeping more to himself, both about the performance of the updates and that of Sergio Perez, who crashed for the second time in a row in Q1.
'We have a good car';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29048...p-hungary.html
Verstappen discusses Red Bull option to go back to 'old' RB20
4 August 2024
Nicole Mulder
GPblog.com
The summer break has come at just the right time for Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. The Dutchman thinks it is high time for his team to analyse where the performance of late has come from and what it will take to have the fastest Formula 1 car on the grid again. Speaking to the Dutch press during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen answered the question of whether he is a bit done with it after the first half of the season. "Not done with it, but I think it's good for us to analyse everything for a while," the Red Bull driver told, among others, GPblog.
Did his team go down the wrong path after the F1 race in Shanghai? " Of course, I don't want to say that now, but we are going to look at everything and analyse what it all mattered, what it did to the car," the three-time world champion continued.
Could it be an option to go back to the pre-Miami Grand Prix basics and take a different direction in developing the car from there? "No, not at the moment," Verstappen replied firmly.
‘Go back to 'old' RB20’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29341...ious-rb20.html
Perez explains his problem with the RB20: 'Something we introduced...'
4 Aug 2024
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com
"It's definitely been pickier and harder," Perez told GPblog and others about the RB20. "At the moment, we feel like there has there has been something that we have introduced in a few of the weekends that whether it's with an upgrade or with setup or with the tyres, these cars are so sensitive, that has made this window a lot smaller," the Mexican continued to explain what proves to be challenging for him at the moment.
He continued: "But like I said there will be teams that will be in a similar situation to us. There are teams that have been in this situation, but Red Bull is obviously a lot more noticeable. But it's OK. I think the focus is over there. I've tried that [change] in the sim. It felt positive. It helped my feeling with the car. So I really hope that it translates well to the track and we'll see," Perez added. The Mexican could finish qualifying in third position at the Belgian Grand Prix, but then fell down to finish the race only in P7.
'Something we introduced...';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29348...sues-rb20.html
How the Belgian Grand Prix definitely proved Red Bull’s RB20 is no longer the best car
28 Jul 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
The writing has been on the wall for several weeks, but the Belgian Grand Prix definitively proved something that’s been on every Formula 1 fan’s mind: Red Bull’s RB20 is no longer the best car in the field.
Spa-Francorchamps is a favorite track of Max Verstappen, at least when it comes to scheduling engine changes and taking grid penalties. For the past several years, that hasn’t prevented the Dutch driver from taking a dominant win — but in 2024, things have changed.
‘The writing has been on the wall’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/ho...r-the-best-car
-
Why McLaren thinks it has gone only ‘50% of the journey’ with its F1 car.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has admitted the team must develop its car to be more competitive on low-drag tracks in order to be the complete package in Formula 1.
4 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Asked to assess McLaren’s progress on low-downforce tracks compared to last season, Stella said: “I think we have gone 50% of the journey. I’m more confident that at high downforce we have the car in a good place, like the car does what we want in terms especially of aerodynamic behaviour.”
“But we haven’t yet done a lot of development at lower drag level. So to me it’s not a surprise that here in Belgium we were not as competitive as Hungary, and it’s not a surprise that for the same or a little bit better top speed.”
“Still we were losing quite a bit in the second sector. It means that if we want to gain speed, we’ll give up quite a lot of grip. But I hope that in the future, possibly next year in Belgium, we have completed this quest to have the most efficient car even when top speed is important.”
‘50% of the journey’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...th-its-f1-car/
McLaren pour 'water on the fire' of 'best car' theory
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has rejected suggestions his team currently has the best car in F1.
31 July 2024
Samuel Coop & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has attempted to pour "water on the fire" of assertions that McLaren currently has the best car in F1. However, McLaren has been competitive on a more consistent basis, and displayed better one-lap pace, over the past nine rounds. It has become considered the team to beat, usurping Red Bull - a claim Stella rejects.
"I'm not surprised, but I keep receiving observations that McLaren is the best car," the 53-year-old told media including RacingNews365 when asked about the pace shown by Mercedes and Ferrari during the Belgian Grand Prix. "I always keep putting some water on the fire and say 'There are four cars that are pretty much at the same level. There's a bit of variability, which is a function of the track, a function even of the conditions to some extent."
'Water on the fire';
https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-po...est-car-theory
'Buzz of winning disturbs our mindset', admits McLaren F1 boss
August 7th 2024
Author: Motor Sport
Motor Sport Magazine
Despite a slow start to the 2024 campaign, McLaren has now hit a title-contending stride. But as legendary commentator Murray Walker once stated: “Catching is one thing, passing is quite another”. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella is seemingly well aware of the phrase, as in this month’s magazine the Italian warns that just because his side have managed to catch up to the performance level of Ferrari and now Red Bull, it does not mean it will now lead the pack for the rest of the season.
“Over the last 12 months we have been able to deliver performance trackside at a faster rate than our competitors,” he says. “That means we’ve been able to catch up with the best teams on the grid. But there is no guarantee or technical reason that means you will continue with this gradient.”
“First of all, because you get started on the back foot you might have had more opportunities [to improve],” he explained. “There was nothing wrong with the car, but it was underdeveloped so we accelerated development in many areas of the car and this has led us to close up with a faster, steeper gradient. You are not necessarily going to continue this momentum in the future in a way that guarantees you will overtake them.”
“Catching is one thing, passing is quite another”;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
McLaren’s big lesson: ‘Never prepare the flight plan as you fly'
04/08/2024 at 12:53
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
McLaren will head into its summer break with a big lesson to ponder, according to team boss Andrea Stella, one derived from its controversial management of team orders in last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Speaking in Spa last weekend, Stella acknowledged that McLaren had been caught out by the scenario that played in Hungary. But the clear oversight left the team with a valuable lesson as the McLaren boss explained. One point that we definitely take on board is that we should have prepared the situation better, before the race, so that you never find yourself preparing the flight plan as you fly," Stella said.
"That's a golden rule in any kind of challenging situation, and this is a responsibility of the team - it's my responsibility. We entered the race having planned many, many things, but this one actually was left undiscussed, so this is definitely something we take on board as a team."
‘Never prepare the flight plan as you fly';
https://f1i.com/news/515909-mclarens...s-you-fly.html
McLaren rules out Adrian Newey as Zak Brown opens up on Andrea Stella's contribution to the team's rejuvenated form
9 Aug 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Speaking in an interview with BBS Sport, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown addressed speculation that Newey could return to the Woking-based squad and made it clear that such a reunion was not in the works.
"We're not going to sign Adrian. I'm very happy with the team. Adrian is a great friend, huge talent, resume [CV] second to none. But with what we have in place here, I couldn't be happier. We can get the job done. I'm happy with the race team we have and we're going to try to win the world championship with the team sitting here today."
‘Team's rejuvenated form’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25237
Brown surprised by McLaren’s breakout success in F1
07/08/2024 at 17:49
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
McLaren’s unexpected rise to prominence this season has caught the world of Formula 1 by surprise, including Zak Brown himself who never imagined the Woking-based outfit gunning for glory at this stage of the team’s development.
“If I were to sit here and say I’m not surprised, that would be disingenuous,” Brown explained, talking to BBC Sport. “I felt like we’d continue to close the gap. Did I think we would be here at the summer break, one race away from getting the lead - that race would have to be the first and second and fastest lap, and do I think it’s going to happen like that? No.”
“But if we keep the same trajectory we’ve been on the last six, seven races, we’ll be where we need to be by the end of the year. “I thought we might get where we are now by 2025. I didn’t think we would be where we are now in 2024, but I’m not complaining.”
‘Surprised’;
https://f1i.com/news/516055-brown-su...ess-in-f1.html
Brown admits surprise at McLaren’s 2024 season
McLaren's CEO has spoken up about McLaren's unexpected title challenge
August 8, 2024
Alejandra Guajardo Lozano
FormulaNerds
McLaren’s biggest competition this year is the reigning champions, Red Bull Racing. Consistency from both drivers is a crucial factor behind McLaren’s form. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has been struggling to get good results but has promised to improve after the summer break. Brown reflected on this:
“It’s going to be tough. I think it’s going to come down to the last race. There’s not much between the cars.”
“It’s gonna come down to how does Sergio Perez perform? If he can perform as he’s capable of performing, it’s going to be a hard fight. If he continues to perform as he has this year, we have a pretty good chance. ”
‘Down to the last race’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/br.../?nowprocket=1
