-
Leclerc says SF24 ‘bouncing’ masking car's genuine progress.
While the array of tweaks delivered undeniable aerodynamic improvements, it also significantly amplified what was up to then only a mild bouncing issue suffered by Ferrari’s drivers, mainly in high-speed corners.
13/08/2024
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
"From Spain onwards, I think this was more the turning point where we brought something on the car, which the numbers, as I've always said, were there," Leclerc told Motorsport.com. However, the Monegasque went on to detail the downside to the changes.
"It induced quite a lot of bouncing that we've been struggling with. And on my side, specifically, I went very aggressive in the last four races with set-up, especially, trying to find solutions for that. I've always been [aiming] to go for the last hundredths, and I think this is the approach that pays off whenever things are as they should be.”
"Whenever you have a car, that is bouncing, by example, you cannot go too close to the limit because the car is doing more unpredictable things, and you've got to keep more margin.
‘Bouncing’;
https://f1i.com/news/516282-leclerc-...-progress.html
Leclerc: Frustrating issue has hidden Ferrari’s true progress
The Scuderia have struggled to compete for race victories since Leclerc's home race win in Monaco
August 13, 2024
Nathan Hartley
FormulaNerds
Hidden potential in SF-24: Leclerc says that the bouncing issues has hidden the true performance of the SF-24. The Monegasque firmly believes progress has been made on the aerodynamic side of the car. The Ferrari driver spoke to Motorsport.com to explain:
“From Spain onwards, I think this was more the turning point where we brought something on the car, which the numbers, as I’ve always said, were there.”
Bouncing has caused unpredictability: Both Leclerc and Sainz feel they can’t push the SF-24 to the maximum due to the bouncing. The unpredicatability has caused more room for error, as seen with Leclerc during practice around the Hungaroring.
‘Scuderia have struggled’;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/le.../?nowprocket=1
Charles Leclerc told he’s been dealing with a ‘serious handicap’ at Ferrari this season
11 August 2024
Ben Evans
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has been left frustrated this season despite sitting 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship. Leclerc’s has had some bad luck, suffering from a technical issue in Canada before being hit going into the opening corner in Austria. Writing in his column for Formule1.nl, former F1 driver Tim Coronel has been assessing Leclerc’s season.
Coronel also believes that Leclerc’s lack of a race engineer he can rely on is proving to be a ‘serious handicap’. It’s been said that Leclerc’s relationship with new engineer Bryan Bozzi isn’t working after he replaced Xavi Marcos earlier in the campaign. Ferrari will want to deal with the problem sooner rather than later but getting the car right and fully understanding their upgrade packages is arguably even more important.
Reflecting on Leclerc’s season so far, Coronel said: “He won the Monaco GP, his home race, but mainly because you can’t overtake anywhere there. But that’s where it will end. The car isn’t working, but there’s more going on at Ferrari. He lacks an engineer he can rely on, which is a serious handicap. With Leclerc, you can just see that he doesn’t have the tools to get it all done. It’s actually quite simple: in Formula 1 too, the chain breaks at the weakest link. He himself is certainly not the weakest link and he’s upset about the situation which is logical.”
‘Serious handicap’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/cha...i-this-season/
Ferrari "pushing like hell" to cure bouncing after summer break
30 Jul 2024
Michael Delaney
Motorsport.com
The Italian outfit introduced a significant upgrade last June at the Spanish Grand Prix, a package that included among other adjustments changes to the SF24’s floor body and floor edge.
Charles Leclerc: "Whenever you have a car, that is bouncing, by example, you cannot go too close to the limit because the car is doing more unpredictable things, and you've got to keep more margin. Which is something that I know I'm a bit... yes, it's not my approach, and so always, I'm going to pay a little bit more of the price whenever these things happen.”
"However, I don't think that this was the main issue in the last few races. It was more about putting the car in very extreme places in order to get something out of it and to understand and that was the main reason of the lack of performance of the last few races.”
‘Cure bouncing after summer break’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...reak/10640434/
Revealed: The data that could have Lewis Hamilton regretting his Ferrari move
6 Aug 2024
Pablo Hidalgo
PlanetF1.com
The F1 world exploded on February 1 with the announcement of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. A move that the British driver had already flirted with on several occasions without hiding his desire to race for the Italian team, but always finally renewing his contracts with Mercedes – until now.
With a worrying start to the year for Mercedes and Hamilton critical of the car and the team, it seemed that his decision had been an extremely wise one. As if Lewis was able to predict the future. But all that has changed since this season’s Canadian GP where Mercedes has finally found the right development path after always being a step behind with these regulations due to erratic behaviour from their last cars.
By now, Hamilton should be having some doubts about his decision and perhaps even regretting leaving his “family” to explore a new challenge with Ferrari. But, more worryingly for Lewis, Ferrari has stagnated since Monaco. After introducing the Imola upgrade package that was expected to be decisive in the Italian team’s Championship winning hopes, Ferrari has scored just two podium finishes, and with external events playing in their favour, not on their own merits.
‘Regretting his Ferrari move…’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/le...-data-analysis
'Don't need': Peter Windsor explains why Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is a ‘crazy decision’
12 August 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Peter Windsor brands Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari move ‘crazy’: Ferrari is on the verge of potentially mounting a title challenge now that the field has converged for the first time in the current regulation set.
Many of the teams are set to switch their main focus to their 2026 cars, although there is still room for the Scuderia to improve their chances with their current car for 2025. But instead of Hamilton, Windsor believes the team should have employed another high-profile individual in F1 who was also on the market this year.
“Lewis to Ferrari, for me, is a crazy decision because they have a good team anyway,” said Windsor. “They don’t need Lewis Hamilton to take them to the next level, they have everything there. What they needed was Adrian Newey but they haven’t got that.”
‘Crazy decision’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/pet...razy-decision/
Report: The key Ferrari figure who personally vetoed the signing of Adrian Newey
7 August 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Ferrari won’t be signing Adrian Newey following his resignation from Red Bull. The much-anticipated combination of a legendary designer and an iconic team hasn’t materialised. Before this year, Newey had already come close to joining Ferrari three times. It seemed as if their fourth approach would finally be successful.
They wouldn’t have to worry about prising him away from Red Bull this time, because he was free to join another team in early 2025. Team principal Fred Vasseur held talks with Newey after he resigned, and negotiations reached an advanced stage. Why Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur rejected Adrian Newey. Autosprint claim that Ferrari initially planned to sign Newey at all costs. But that proved to be solely a figure of speech.
The 65-year-old wanted a say in the team’s recruitment, assignment of roles and technical partnerships. When he learned of these demands, Vasseur ‘got in the way’ of the move. The ‘economic aspect’ was never an issue, which suggests that Ferrari could have paid a similar salary to Aston. The bigger problems were ‘political’. ‘Vasseur said no’ to the signing, and while Enzo Ferrari’s son Piero was personally involved in the negotiations, the team principal’s word held sway. He still has to fill a hole in his technical department following the departure of Enrico Cardile, who’s also joined Aston Martin.
‘A figure of speech’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/the...-adrian-newey/
-
Wolff predicts ‘new era’ for Mercedes once F1 ‘icon’ Hamilton leaves.
“A new era will start for Mercedes. I don’t know yet, who will be the next era’s important drivers, and I also can’t tell, whether we will as successful as we hope to be.”
11 Aug 2024
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week
Mercedes’ CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff has said that he is hopeful of further success for his team once star driver Lewis Hamilton departs for Ferrari. Wolff also alluded to the post-Hamilton era being a fresh start for the team…
‘New era’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...milton-leaves/
Russell: Mercedes now ‘building up’ towards 2025 title bid
14/08/2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Russell remains optimistic about the team’s prospects, and insists the second half of Mercedes’ 2024 campaign will be all about building momentum for a title push next year. “Yeah, absolutely,” he told the media in Belgium last time out.
“I think for all of us, it’s been a difficult couple of years getting the car into a place where we can consistently fight for victories. But, you know, I’m so motivated, so excited for the second half of the season, which is ultimately building up towards 2025. And when you look at the competition now, you know, there’s no reason why we can’t fight.”
‘Building up’;
https://f1i.com/news/516314-russell-...title-bid.html
Russell ‘motivated’ to target F1 title push with Mercedes in 2025
9 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
George Russell has expressed that Mercedes’ recent turnaround has provided him with added “motivation” to target a maiden title push in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Russell, who is poised to become team leader as Hamilton moves to Ferrari, has admitted the remaining rounds will be pivotal to setting up a possible title tilt in 2025.
“There’s so much, I think there’s so much motivation from all the other teams to get back to the front, from McLaren, from Ferrari, from ourselves. So for sure, it’s not going to be easy. And, you know, hopefully we see a good fight on our hands into next year.”
‘F1 title push’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...cedes-in-2025/
Russell "absolutely" sure Mercedes can win titles in 2025
15 Aug 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Asked about Mercedes' prospects for the next season, Russell suggested that the current championship is about putting the building blocks in place to go for a consistent title run in 2025. "Absolutely. I think for all of us, It's been a difficult couple of years getting the car into a place where we can consistently fight for victories.”
“But, you know, I'm so motivated, so excited for the second half of the season, which is ultimately building up towards 2025. And when you look at the competition now, you know, there's no reason why we can't fight. And if the season started in Montreal, the championship standings would be looking very, very different.”
"So, you know, it's going to be great. There's so much, I think there's so much motivation from all the other teams to get back to the front, from McLaren, from Ferrari, from ourselves. So for sure, it's not going to be easy. And, you know, hopefully we see a good fight on our hands into next year," concluded Russell.
‘Mercedes can win titles’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25178
2025 a good season for Antonelli's F1 debut says Wolff
JULY 29, 2024
GrandPrix.com
Toto Wolff is now freely admitting that Kimi Antonelli is his "first option" to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton from 2025. Wolff told RTBF at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday: “But you never know. We have a youngster who is arriving and who is very strong.”
“Other drivers would sign a one or two-year contract, but that's not enough for us”, Wolff insisted. "So I'm happy to take a risk with Antonelli, because it's a calculated risk. If you look at the progress of (Oscar) Piastri, it took him a year and a half to compete for victory at the level of Lando Norris.”
“We want to try to do the same with Kimi. In 2025, with the changes in 2026, we'll be in transition anyway”, the Austrian added. "So it's a good season to bring him into our team.”
‘2025 a good season’;
https://www.grandprix.com/news/2025-...ays-wolff.html
Wolff had to change approach: 'Team in danger of complete collapse'
14 August 2024
Editor: Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com
In 2022, the German team were no longer contenders, and only won a single race at Interlagos that season. Their car also struggled a lot with bouncing, especially over the course of that season. He added that, as a result, it was a difficult year. "Then came 2022 and the 'incredible emotions', when I was thinking 'we can't be so far behind, we will soon get back on our feet'. Then came the realisation that it wasn't going to happen quickly."
The Austrian CEO and team principal of Mercedes also explained how he himself had to change as a person, because of his new approach. "The whole team was in danger of collapsing under pressure. I changed that. I became more pragmatic, analysed things more deeply and gave people a chance instead of being too brutal and direct. I also understood that impatience does not make the car faster."
'Team in danger of complete collapse';
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29462...ange-that.html
'Signs kept coming': Toto Wolff pinpoints moment that made ‘picture clearer’ for Mercedes after 2023 winless season
12 August 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Toto Wolff identifies moment that made ‘picture clear’ for Mercedes: Mercedes has struggled mainly with the correlation between the wind tunnel and the track, which has affected the confidence of both Hamilton and Russell behind the wheel. However, Wolff believes there was a eureka moment for the team that finally put them on the right path and enabled them to unlock the potential of the W15.
“Our aim over the winter had been to solve the underlying issues that hampered the W14. We managed that but found new problems,” said Wolff. “This also made the picture clearer. We had ticked many boxes of things we thought had caused our issues. There was not a lot left over, therefore. As we progressed, we realised what we were doing wrong.”
“When we got to Europe, those signs kept coming. We saw a real correlation between the virtual world, the tunnel, the simulator and the track. It was a sense of relief but also motivating. We knew what performance we had to bring to the track. The factory worked incredibly hard to bring this as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
'Signs kept coming… … eureka moment';
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/tot...inless-season/
-
Aston Martin faces ‘challenge’ to split resources between 2025 and ’26 F1 car.
Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows has admitted his team and its competitors face a challenge balancing efforts on 2025 and ’26 Formula 1 car development.
10/08/24
Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week
To balance that against making sure next year’s machines are as good as can be, Fallow was asked if an extra push was being made this year on development to start 2025 on the right note. “Yeah, I think we’ll see that,” Fallows told media including Motorsport Week.
“But I’m sure lots of teams will do the same thing, but we’re absolutely focused on trying to make sure we can get AMR25 into the best shape as possible early on. It’s going to be a challenge for everybody but trying to split your resources, particularly next year when we can do work on both is going to be a big challenge.”
“How much effort you put into the ’25 car, how much you divert resource to that. The last thing you want to do with engineers is to give them two problems at the same time because they start forgetting which car they’re working on and things like that.”
‘Challenge’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...and-26-f1-car/
'We know': Mike Krack responds to claims Aston Martin ‘lost’ with latest F1 car updates
4/8/24
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Mike Krack believes Aston Martin is not ‘lost’ with car upgrades. Aston Martin brought a raft of upgrades to their car at the Hungarian Grand Prix which included a new front wing, halo, floor body and edges, diffuser and rear beam wing. Krack believes the upgrades provided the team with the performance they were looking for, and countered recent reports suggesting that it was “lost” while bringing more parts to their car.
“The updates that we fitted in Hungary are working. It’s not just a case of this making the car faster for the rest of this season, it’s also having the knowledge that we understand our platform and know how to develop it,” said Krack.
“A journalist who, perhaps, hadn’t been looking at the context, asked me if we were still lost. I replied that lost implies you don’t know where you are, don’t know what to do. We know the updates are working, so we we’re not lost. Had the updates not worked, then, we’d have been lost, because that would imply we didn’t understand our car very well.”
‘Not ‘lost’ with upgrades’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/mik...1-car-updates/
How Aston Martin has applied some corrective surgery to its 2024 F1 car
A major upgrade from Aston Martin aims to cure recent troubles
20 Jul 2024
Matt Somerfield Giorgio Piola
Motorsport.com
Aston Martin arrived at Formula 1's Hungarian Grand Prix with a substantial update that it hopes will cure some handling quirks that have hurt its form recently. A previous upgrade that made its debut at Imola delivered more downforce, but also made the car nervous on the edge, which was not ideal for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
New to Aston Martin, but similar to solutions we have seen elsewhere, such as on the Ferrari SF-24, is a new horseshoe-style outcropping vane on the side of the AMR24's halo, which is being used to help redirect some of the errant airflow in that region.
‘Corrective surgery’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/h...-car/10636462/
‘Not able to do it’: Fernando Alonso provides worrying claim about Aston Martin’s chances after the F1 summer break
15/8/24
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
It’s safe to say that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll would have expected more from Aston Martin at this stage of the 2024 Formula 1 season. In an interview with Marca, Alonso has shared his fears that the same issues may be reoccurring this year. Lawrence Stroll has plans to invest huge sums of money into Aston Martin to try and help them break into the top four of the championship.
Fernando Alonso has low expectations for Aston Martin’s 2024 campaign. Aston Martin still sit 5th in the Constructors’ Championship although the gap to the top four teams is much larger than last year. They’re currently being threatened by the likes of RB and Haas during races although they still have double the number of points of their nearest rivals.
Speaking about the progress Aston Martin could make this year, Alonso admitted: “We are not going to give up, but we need to work. I’m a driver. I would love to design the car, but I’m not able to do it.” Alonso was then asked if further major updates were coming this season and added: “I don’t think so, I don’t think there’s a lot planned, it’s more up to us to understand the weak points of the car, the parts where we need to improve. “Mind you, I think all that work will be done by 2025, I don’t expect any big leaps in 2024.”
‘Worrying claim’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...-summer-break/
‘Spoiled’ Formula 1 driver told he needs to have more fun if he’s going to ‘really shine’
15 August 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer
Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll’s 2024 Formula 1 campaign has gone slightly under the radar. The Canadian driver has more than 150 Grand Prix under his belt and aside from a pole position in 2020 and a handful of podiums, hasn’t ever set the sport alight. As part of his review of every driver during the summer break, former F1 driver Tim Coronel was writing for Fomule1.nl about the 25-year-old. Coronel was complimentary about Stroll but admitted that he wants to see him have more fun on the track and in the paddock.
Lance Stroll told he could ‘really shine’ this season if he has more fun. Reflecting on Stroll’s start to the season, Coronel said: “He shows at times that he is there. Because of his father, he drives at Aston Martin, we all know that, but I’ll never forget his pole in the rain in Turkey 2020. “So, you can do something then! That can’t be a lucky shot, because you leave a lot of top drivers behind you at that moment. And don’t forget, he has been F3 champion before.”
“I am convinced that if he knows how to hit that sweet spot in himself, he could still go on to really shine. But that is up to him. I think the guy really likes racing, but not all the fuss around it. As a professional racing driver, you have more pluses than minuses, but if you can’t swallow those minuses, I don’t think you should get those pluses. With him, I do have that spoilt rich boy feeling. While once again he is really good and certainly not a pancake.”
‘Really shine’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/spo...-really-shine/
Is this luring Newey to Aston Martin? 'More important than the financials'
14 August 2024
Matt Gretton
Editor-in-Chief
GPblog.com
The next career move for Adrian Newey remains a mystery. Retirement has been questioned, but the general consensus among key people in F1 is that he'll want to move to another Formula 1 team. The designer announced his departure from Red Bull Racing in May, and speculation has been rife since. Ted Kravitz wonders whether Aston Martin's current Technical Director is helping lure him in.
What will attract Newey to an F1 team? "The financial recompenses is important in terms of your value to a team. I think it's more important for the people he is working with, the environment he is working under and where he is working. Maybe a move to Italy is too much of a stretch at his age," Kravitz said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast. Kravitz went on to highlight Lawrence Stroll's investment over recent years. The team has opened a brand new factory at its Silverstone base and will get its own wind tunnel. The pundit suggests these factors will lure in Newey as well as working with a former friend from Red Bull.
"He already has Dan Fallows who he worked with successfully at Red Bull Racing. I would imagine he spoke to Fallows about the place, what's it like. I asked Fallows about this in Hungary, asking if he would be happy to bring him back. He said 'Adrian is a relentless, unstoppable F1 competitor. I would be amazed if he didn't join another team. I would welcome working with him again at Aston Martin'," Kravitz added.
‘Luring Newey to Aston Martin’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29464...lows-link.html
Ted Kravitz delivers fresh Adrian Newey to Aston Martin update amid ‘$100million’ deal claim
14 Aug 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com
After a spate of big announcements as F1 wound down for the summer break, the biggest is yet to come with Ted Kravitz revealing Adrian Newey to Aston Martin could be announced as soon as the end of the summer holiday. Kravitz says Aston Martin’s technical director and former Red Bull man Dan Fallows told him he’d “certainly welcome working” with Newey if that happens.
“I think it’s more the environment that Newey… obviously the financial recompenses is important in terms of your value to a team, and if you win World Championships then you’re going to add that value back to the team,” Kravitz said. “And, yeah, I think it’s a judgment call, isn’t it for Newey where he wants to feel happy ending up at and the current leader, if we’re to believe the rumours, is Aston Martin, but it could be any of those teams.”
‘Adrian Newey to Aston Martin…’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian...ion-deal-claim
-
Mekies reveals creative 'freedom' in RB project.
RB team principal Laurent Mekies says the "beauty" of the project at the Faenza squad is the "freedom" it enjoys and has duly taken.
16 August 2024
Samuel Coop & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
RB's rebrand at the start of the current season marked a new dawn for the former AlphaTauri/Toro Rosso operation. Part of signalling the end of that chapter in its history, and being reborn as its own operation, with its own agency was the hiring of Mekies as team principal and Peter Bayer as CEO.
"The beauty of this project is that we have a large level of freedom, so we decided to take that freedom," the Frenchman explains. "We are doing a lot. We get a few things right, we get a lot of things wrong. We are changing a lot, we have to keep challenging ourselves. We are trying to take it [the RB project] to the right place, we are trying to do it fast.”
"Sometimes we fall, sometimes we get it wrong, but, for sure, it's a fast-responding, simple and lean environment, which is also what creates the extraordinary spirit we have in the team right now. We need to make sure we don't lose the focus about the mid-term, even though there will always be the pressure of immediate results.”
‘Creative freedom';
https://racingnews365.com/mekies-rev...-in-rb-project
Laurent Mekies expects tough battle in the midfield until Abu Dhabi
30 Jul 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
“From day one, our aim has been to race as credible competitors at the top of the mid-field and this summer break is a logical time to look at where we stand. We enjoyed a very strong first half of the season in which we built up our performance race after race, scoring points at 10 out of 14 races. Ferrari's former racing director insists that his outfit will fight to maintain the sixth position it currently occupies in the teams' standings.
"We are fighting hard for that P6 in the Constructors’, against very strong competitors, and it’s going to be a tough battle all the way to Abu Dhabi. Our groups in Faenza and in Bicester are getting stronger every day, and we look forward to the next battles. We now have a few days’ work either side of the summer break, before tackling the last 10 races in several time zones, all of them back-to-backs or triple-headers.”
“We actually won’t have a standalone race now until Miami at the start of May next year! Proof that Formula 1 is enjoying huge worldwide popularity, and we are happy to be part of it. It is certainly a tough schedule, particularly for the mechanics, so the pause is well deserved after everyone has worked so hard to get our new Visa Cash App RB reality off to a really positive start.”
‘Tough battle in the midfield’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/25167
Mekies recalls 'painful' reminder in search for 'massive' RB improvement
RB currently sit sixth in the F1 standings after 14 rounds but is facing a tall task to catch those further ahead in the pecking order.
12 August 2024
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Speaking exclusively to RacingNews365, Mekies detailed fundamental advancements to the car must be made before it is ready to make further steps. “Let me put it this way - what can be improved? There is no hiding the fact that what's underneath still needs to be massively improved.”
“So well done to the guys for the spirits, for the energy, for the collaborations for nailing the race weekends, for making baby steps with the car in the right direction to give us the points. Do we have enough ground underneath [us] to go and fight where we are currently fighting or better? Probably not. So we need to build that. The last few races were a good reminder.”
“Everybody is going to come back. Haas is not really fast, Sauber is not very fast. Williams will come [back] no doubt because they are probably on a similar journey to ours. They are probably in their second year, we are in the first year but it’s a similar type of journey. So therefore what needs to be massively improved is that and we need to make sure that we keep the focus on that midterm [goal] as much as you have the pressure of the races.”
‘Fundamental advancements to the car’;
https://racingnews365.com/mekies-rec...rb-improvement
RB doing 'best possible job' to boost Ricciardo form
Daniel Ricciardo was out-performed by Yuki Tsunoda in the majority of the 14 completed rounds this season.
10 August 2024
Nick Golding & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Ricciardo is under pressure to improve his performances in the remaining 10 races of the season, with reserve driver Liam Lawson eager for a promotion. Lawson has been waiting patiently for a full-time seat and was excellent as Ricciardo's replacement for several races in 2023, following the experienced driver's crash in Zandvoort which broke his hand.
The reserve driver is often spotted in the RB garage and on the pit wall with Mekies, who is continuing to include the New Zealander in the loop as much as possible. "We are very conscious he is a super talented young driver," noted Mekies. "He has demonstrated it quite a few times in his career, notably last year when he had to jump in the car last-second to replace Daniel.”
"So we all want to give Liam a chance because we have seen that potential there and you don't want to leave it out there, we are trying to involve him in as much team activity as we can." The young star is very much a driver Mekies does not want to lose, and has stressed he is a definite option for next season. "Of course, we are all looking to find solutions to how to put him in the car,” Mekies added. “He is going to be part of the equations on what we do next.”
‘Under pressure’;
https://racingnews365.com/rb-doing-b...ricciardo-form
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. RB has taken a step backwards relative to the competition since introducing a sizeable upgrade package in Spain that didn’t produce the results the team anticipated.
But while the Faenza-based camp was in more competitive shape last weekend, Ricciardo is adamant that the side’s VCARB 01 car is still losing out in the high speed. “I still feel like our strengths are in a little bit more the lower speed stuff and our weaknesses are a bit more in the real quick stuff,” he explained.
“So yeah, probably same characteristics. Just now load and yeah, load is our friend. So maybe I put on some weight over the break and that’ll help!”
‘RB can improve’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...h-2024-f1-car/
-
Haas boss hits out at previous era ‘excuse’ mentality in ‘never working properly’ verdict.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu saw “excuses” handicapping the team before his time in the role, meaning it “never” functioned properly.
16 Aug 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Ayao Komatsu said that Gene Haas had become “frustrated” over the years due to an “excuse” being put forward for poor performance on multiple occasions. “The reason [Gene] got frustrated over the years, for some there is an excuse like COVID [in 2020], but last year, there was no excuse,” Komatsu told RacingNews365.
“There was always some excuse like: ‘Okay, this year we are not developing because we are just preparing for next year. For 2023, there is no excuse and then what happened in 2023 is because we didn’t fundamentally address the issues of 2019.”
“That is people being in denial, pointing the finger at certain things.” And that, Komatsu explains, meant: “We were never working properly as a team, that was totally clear.”
‘Previous era ‘excuse’ mentality’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-b...rking-properly
Komatsu: Haas used to make “excuses” for poor development
August 16, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports
Ayao Komatsu implements big changes at Haas. When Komatsu was appointed in January, he was adamant there was more potential for Haas to unlock. He argued that inefficiency and poor coordination were the team’s main limitations. The 48-year-old made clear that increased funding would not provide instant solutions.
This assessment, whilst unpopular at the time, has proven extremely accurate in the months since. Not only did Haas address their excessive tyre degradation in testing (after Komatsu implemented an aggressive run plan focusing on race simulations), but the team’s mid-season updates have unlocked significant performance.
Prior to this season, Haas were a team who habitually fell behind in the development race. Considering that big teams like Ferrari and Aston Martin have struggled, Komatsu’s personnel deserve huge credit for making steady progress.
‘Big changes at Haas’;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...r-development/
‘It wasn’t the case last year’ – Komatsu on ‘the key’ reason he feels Haas are thriving under his leadership
16 Aug 2024
Formula One - Official Site
Since Ayao Komatsu’s promotion, Haas have progressed significantly compared to last season, taking two remarkable P6 finishes with Nico Hulkenberg in Austria and Britain and achieving 27 points so far.
Their effective upgrade packages have been crucial in enabling them to keep pace with their opponents, but Komatsu has also identified the importance of teamwork in helping Haas to improve.
“27 points is great – it’s more than double what we ever had last year,” Komatsu said. “But more than that, I think it’s very encouraging seeing how we are working together as a team. That wasn’t the case up until the end of last year, so for me that’s the biggest positive and for sure, that’s a good sign that we are going in the right direction.”
‘The key’;
https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Haas
Haas boss reveals extent of past dysfunction at team
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu spoke exclusively to RacingNews365!
15 August 2024
Jake Nichol & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365
Ayao Komatsu has revealed the scale of what he labelled as "excuses" for poor performances from the Haas F1 team. Komatsu replaced Guenther Steiner ahead of the 2024 season, with owner Gene Haas growing frustrated at a lack of results delivered under Steiner's stewardship.
In the four seasons between 2020-2023, Haas finished last in the constructors' twice and endured tricky relationships with drivers such as Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, who was ultimately replaced by fellow German Nico Hulkenberg for '23 to partner Kevin Magnussen.
Haas struggled with tyre wear throughout the 2023 season, and was unable to get on top of the issue, with a big upgrade package at the United States GP also failing to deliver the expected boost. Under Steiner, Komatsu was trackside engineering director, and whilst he felt there were some mitigating circumstances at times, the Japanese felt too many excuses had been made.
‘Past dysfunction’;
https://racingnews365.com/haas-boss-...nction-at-team
Magnussen refuses to be drawn on 'bad luck' theory
Kevin Magnussen has explained the reasons behind his difficult F1 campaign, but does not believe it can be reduced down to "bad luck", arguing it is "not useful" to think of it that way.
16 August 2024
Samuel Coop & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Earlier in the year, Magnussen said that is has been his worst start to a season he has experienced. However, when asked what specifically has not been clicking during the current campaign.
"We've made just too many mistakes," he told select media including RacingNews365. "I think there's been a lot more potential. When you run into traffic so often in qualifying and it keeps repeating itself, mentally it just gets tiring.”
"Many of those times, I can honestly say, if I could turn back time and done it again, of course, you would have done different, but at the time, you would have gone out and said it's bad luck. It's like, you can't say that. This is my opinion, you can't. That's not useful, to say: 'Oh, I was unlucky', because there's always something you could have done better."
‘Refuses to be drawn’;
https://racingnews365.com/magnussen-...ad-luck-theory
Magnussen addresses next chapter as F1 options shrink
Kevin Magnussen feels that knowing next year will be different is "exciting" following the news he will not race for Haas in 2025.
14 August 2024
Samuel Coop & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365
Kevin Magnussen has admitted the prospect of being in a "new situation" next year is "exciting" to him, as he gets ready to embark on his final 10 grand prix with Haas. With only realistic seats still available at Alpine and Stake, neither of which he is seriously considered to be in the running for, the one-time podium finisher's F1 options are looking thin.
However, despite wishing for more clarity on what his immediate future has in store, Magnussen does feel a level of excitement in knowing that next year will offer something new. "I'm getting to a point where it would be nice to know, that certainty is always nice," he told select media including RacingNews365 when discussing his next career move.
"But at the same time, there's also something kind of exciting about knowing that next year will be different. I'm going to be in a new situation, there's something exciting about that. It completely depends on what that other opportunity would be," he explains when asked if he would choose F1 over the chance to win in other series. "F1 is the big pinnacle of motorsport, and everyone tends to hang on as long as they can. I would like to try and race, but I'm only 31 years old - it's not like I'm stressing."
‘Final 10 grand prix with Haas’;
https://racingnews365.com/magnussen-...hing-different
-
Alpine: F1’s financial rules prompting switch to customer team strategy.
Outgoing Alpine Team Principal Bruno Famin has said that Formula 1’s financial rules have driven the French marque from ditching its engine production in favour of becoming a customer team.
3 Aug 2024
Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week
Speaking on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Famin explained that the financial incentive of becoming a customer team instead of an OEM is the main driver behind the change. “It’s a fact that the business model, to call it like that, is a bit weird,” he said.
“We know with the Concorde Agreement, the system of the prize fund, which is benefiting the teams only, and in the other hand the FIA has financial regulations and the sporting regulations which makes it mandatory for the PU manufacturer to sell, at a capped price, power units to teams who would like to have it.”
“When you see the [research and development] costs in developing a PU compared to buying a PU, there is a huge difference,” he said. “That huge difference is not compensated by any prize fund because all the prize fund goes to the team. Then we are not talking about performance, we are talking about a huge difference in money.”
‘Financial incentive of becoming a customer team’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...team-strategy/
Historic Formula 1 team shutting down engine facility
After a historic run as an engine manufacturer in Formula 1, Renault will be shutting down their engine facility in the near future.
Aug 16, 2024
Siddharth Bharani-Dharan
Beyond the Flag (Weblog)
Renault have been manufacturing engines in Formula 1 since 1977, but their run will end at the end of the 2025 season, as Alpine plan to switch to Mercedes engines for the 2026 season and beyond.
A portion of Renault’s staff are still in a panic, despite the guarantee of new jobs, and some seem to be taking time off to assess their current status. The approach is understandable, considering the fact that the company’s long-standing presence in Formula 1 is suddenly set to come to a halt.
‘Shutting down engine facility’;
https://beyondtheflag.com/posts/hist...y-01j59txmd4fw
Outgoing Alpine boss namechecks two huge potential partners as F1 customer status beckons
16 Aug 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
When asked if this was the first step towards selling the team, Bruno Famin firmly denied this was the case. “There is a bit of potential in developing the integration, but it’s quite theoretical at the end of the story, because now all the PU manufacturers are working very closely, very early in the project with the teams, and all the integration are incredibly optimised,” he said.
“And if we take a Ferrari or Mercedes engine, I’m quite convinced that all the integration, all the packaging will be already very, very good. Then to answer the question [of selling], no, the Formula 1 project remains a key project for the Alpine brand. It’s thanks to Formula 1 that we want to develop the brand awareness globally.”
‘Ferrari or Mercedes’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine...ustomer-status
Briatore: Alpine driver line-up ‘makes no difference’ for 2025
16 Aug 2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore says the French outfit is not putting much emphasis on its driver line-up for 2025, insisting its priorities reside with strengthening the team’s foundation.
“It’s a new challenge, it’s a new motivation – I’m very happy to come back,” commented the 74-year-old. “Now you know we have a new team principal [Oliver Oakes]. Basically, it’s Luca and myself, and Oliver as the team principal. And we’re working like that.”
Briatore revealed that he is on a two-year mission to turn around Alpine’s fortunes. Alpine – I promise you - give me two years. In two years’ time we see the podium,” he added. “In 2027, we have a podium”.
‘Alpine driver line-up’;
https://f1i.com/news/516417-briatore...-for-2025.html
Alpine’s driver choice “makes no difference” for 2025 – Briatore
16th August 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans
“At the moment you need to put the team together, from the commercial side, the technical side, the management side,” he told Formula For Success. “The driver makes no difference now. The difference will be in [2026, ’27, ’28], this should be the difference for the driver.”
“If you have a good car, you need a good driver,” he added. “If the car is not performing… our point in this moment, make sure we put all the energy in the technical side and make sure the car of Alpine is looking better and better and improving for next year. In 2026, I believe, we see the new Alpine.”
‘Put all the energy in the technical side’;
https://www.racefans.net/2024/08/16/...nd-up-16-08-7/
HALF TERM REPORT: Alpine – Another topsy-turvy year, but are the building blocks to stability finally in place?
14 August 2024
Duty Editor: Alasdair Hooper
Formula One - Official Site
Where do you begin to summarize Alpine’s 2024? After so many managerial changes last year, stability was supposed to be the first port of call for the Enstone outfit this season. What has transpired has been anything but, with more departures – including another Team Principal change – as well as disappointing on-track performances.
In our Alpine team preview ahead of the season we identified stability had to be their one key goal for 2024, following the exits of CEO Laurent Rossi, Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer, Sporting Director Alan Permane and Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry last year.
However, the high-profile departures have continued. Technical leads Matt Harman and Dirk de Beer left following the disappointing Bahrain opener, while championship-winning engineer Bob Bell – who had been in an advisory role with Alpine – joined Aston Martin in March.
‘Building blocks to stability…’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...x7HhMTzPlQ5B4R
Alpine plans "quite big" upgrade forming basis of 2025 car
Alpine is working on a further step for its A524 Formula 1 car to help lift it further up the grid
14 Aug 2024
Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
David Sanchez said that after he had joined, the team had deliberately worked on a parallel programme to introduce two stages of upgrades. “We've been working on this one since day one,” he said. “The other one is an extension, using a bit more time to go further.” Asked when the upgrade was coming, Sanchez said: “A few races after the break.”
“The number one problem is for everyone finding more downforce and trying to design out some anomalies which we may see with the current car,” he said. “This [latest update] package is intended primarily for more downforce, but also a little bit more top speed.”
“From an infrastructure point of view, the team was already well advanced with its plans,” he said. “But we looked together about whether we needed to prioritize a few items more than others. I think where we are now, the plan we have, if I look at '26 and beyond, we should be in a good position. Now it's more to get everything in the right direction with this car, the next one, and build more confidence in the team.”
‘Further step for its A524 Formula 1 car’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/a...-car/10644097/
-
'Williams have become worse with James Vowles: he is over-estimated'.
Marc Surer: "Why should they suddenly get so much better now? They have become worse this year, you must not forget that!"
Sophia Crothall
13 August 2024
GPblog.com
In 2023, Williams finished seventh in the Constructors, three places higher than 2022. This season, the team sit ninth in the Constructors, with just four points. Former racing driver Marc Surer blames Vowles for this due to the changes he has made to the car for the new season:
"I have often said that James Vowles is simply over-estimated. Jost Capito built a car with his people. James Vowles came to Williams, took the car, and they drove fully into the points. All the praises went to James Vowles, not the one who built the car. Now, the car is too heavy and too slow."
Williams have not won a drivers or constructors championship since 1997, when Jacques Villeneuve won. The team have also failed to win a race since 2012. With Vowles signing Sainz, who has race winning experience with Ferrari, he hopes to bring the team back to a higher level. However, Surer is not convinced this can happen right away: "I would doubt next year will be any better with Williams. Points yes, but getting involved in the front? I don't think so," he concluded.
“You must not forget that!";
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29450...rformance.html
James Vowles blasted as ‘overrated’ team boss after ‘clear’ Williams ‘deterioration’
14 Aug 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Former F1 driver Marc Surer credited the 2023 improvement from Williams to former team boss Jost Capito, claiming James Vowles is “overrated” and has overseen a “deterioration” of the team. Reflecting on Sainz’s decision to join Williams, Surer told Formel1.de: “Why should they suddenly get so much better now? They have got worse this year, you mustn’t forget that!
“I’ve often said that James Vowles is simply overrated. Jost Capito built a car with his people. James Vowles came to Williams, took the car and they finished in the points. It looked really good, and all the praise [went] to James Vowles – but not to the man who built the car. Jost Capito was gone. And now that he is building his own car this year, the car is too heavy and too slow, and the updates are too slow. I think they have clearly deteriorated at Williams.”
Surer did offer some hope for Williams in this gloomy analysis, claiming “maybe they’ll learn from that now and things will be a bit better next year”, however, with the focus on the 2026 car, he believes scoring more points will be the reality for Williams, not a surge closer to the front of the grid.
“Clearly deteriorated at Williams”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/marc-s...-deterioration
'Weird': Peter Windsor highlights Carlos Sainz’s ‘mistake’ with Williams contract
8 August 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Peter Windsor outlines why Carlos Sainz made a mistake with Williams. Even if the contract does contain this clause, Windsor believes Sainz made a critical mistake when stipulating the terms in his multi-year deal with the Grove outfit from 2025.
“Carlos has signed this weird contract where the minute there is availability at Red Bull or Mercedes, he can walk away from the Williams contract. That also brings with it a slightly weird relationship between the driver and team in terms of confidentiality and information, working closely together,” said Windsor.
“Personally, I think Carlos has made a mistake. If he has not included Ferrari in that, I think he’s made a big mistake because if it doesn’t go brilliantly for Lewis or Charles has an issue with Lewis, Ferrari will have a seat as early as 2027.”
‘Mistake with Williams’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/pet...iams-contract/
Sainz being left without a top drive in F1 2025 is ‘tragic’ – Marko
9 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has admitted that Carlos Sainz not receiving a seat with a top Formula 1 side in 2025 is “tragic” amid his impending move to Williams. “It is understandable that Carlos Sainz decided to go to Williams, because what would the alternatives be?” Marko wrote in his Speedweek column.
“Audi will certainly not be one of them next year, if you look at their successes. And at Alpine, we don’t know whether they will get the Mercedes engine in 2025 or not until 2026. I would say that was the best solution for him in his situation.”
The Austrian is optimistic that the Grove-based squad will be in line to make strides down the line once all-new technical regulations are introduced in 2026. “It is of course tragic that he is having his best season at Ferrari and is not getting a seat in a top team,” he continued. “But things should be moving forward at Williams, he has a strong engine there too.”
‘Tragic’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...-tragic-marko/
Marko: Sainz being left without top seat in F1 is ‘tragic’
9 Aug 2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Sainz settled on Williams after turning down offers from Alpine and Audi-Sauber. Marko reckons the three-time Grand Prix winner made the right decision in choosing the Grove squad, given his limited options. Intriguingly, Marko has suggested that Sainz's contract with Williams might contain an escape clause that would allow him to leave for a top team should the opportunity arise.
However, Williams team principal James Vowles has dismissed these claims as speculation, insisting that Sainz is fully committed to the team. “There are precisely 10 people in the world that know what the interior in the contract holds,” Vowles told the media, quoted by RacingNews365. “The Carlos camp knows, and I know what’s inside it. Anything you have read on the internet is speculation and that is it.”
‘Escape clause!’;
https://f1i.com/news/516117-marko-sa...is-tragic.html
Sainz presents Williams with "daunting" new challenge - Robson
Carlos Sainz's signing will add much-needed drive to Williams in 2025, says senior engineer Dave Robson
Aug 17, 2024
Jake Boxall-Legge Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
Robson feels that the addition of Sainz is reminiscent of his earlier years at Williams, in which the team had both Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas battling for points and podia on a regular basis. Noting that he expects Sainz to be exacting in his demands of the team, Robson said: "I think there's a couple of things that are going to be a little bit daunting for us as an engineering team.”
"There's no doubt that it is great news for us and a real signal of intent and will definitely make things better. I don't really know [Sainz] as an individual, but I do know he has a reputation for really driving everybody very hard to get everything out of the car.”
"So he's going to be demanding, I'm sure, which we need, but at the same time I know from my early time at Williams, when we had Felipe and Valtteri, or before that at McLaren, when you've got two drivers who are pushing each other and fighting for the serious points-paying positions, then it becomes much more difficult.”
‘Add much-needed drive’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/s...bson/10644912/
-
Bottas drops potential hint regarding Sauber 2025 F1 renewal.
Previous Audi F1 CEO was believed to be against renewing the Finn’s deal in favour of a failed bid to lure Carlos Sainz into the Sauber transformation to Audi in 2026.
15 Aug 2024
Motorsport Week
A post on Bottas X account (formerly Twitter), may just have dropped a hint that the Finn is staying in Switzerland after all. Teasing a brand partnership piece of content with Hyland, Bottas posted an image of an Audi R8 sportscar with the #77 emblazoned on the side.
A mere coincidence, or a sign that a multi-year extension with Sauber is on the horizon for Bottas to usher in the Audi project alongside Nico Hulkenberg in 2026?
Valtteri Bottas
@ValtteriBottas
Fun day in California More to come eventually about our secret mission with
@Hyland
#VB77
@stakef1team_ks
‘Sign that a multi-year extension’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...25-f1-renewal/
Bottas opens up on Sauber’s ‘not great’ 2024 F1 points drought
16 Aug 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week
Valtteri Bottas has asserted that Sauber is “motivated” to end its pointless run in the 2024 Formula 1 season, despite conceding that the team’s situation is “not great”.
Bottas, whose current contract expires once this season ends, has reiterated that Sauber’s impending evolution into Audi in 2026 has proven a hindrance to its results.
“I miss that sort of feeling I had with this team in the beginning, of course, because the sport is always more fun when you’re having better results,” Bottas said. “So, of course, you’ll miss the times when you have a good car, compared to the others.”
‘2024 F1 points drought’;
https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...oints-drought/
Villeneuve: 'Luggage of cash’, not results, keeping Zhou in F1
16 Aug 2024
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
As far as Villeneuve is concerned, Zhou, who does not hold a contract for 2025, does not merit a spot on the Formula 1 grid based on his current performances.
“Guanyu Zhou has a big luggage of cash in his sponsors that he needs to put somewhere, whether that’s as an F1 driver or a reserve driver,” Villeneuve told Instant Casino. “Based on the results, Zhou doesn’t deserve a seat in F1.”
However, Villeneuve believes that financial contributions should not outweigh performance. “If a team can get all that sponsorship money that Zhou brings with him, even as a reserve drive, then it’s a great result for them.”
'Luggage of cash’;
https://f1i.com/news/516431-villeneu...hou-in-f1.html
Zhou lashes out at 'stupid, disrespectful' criticism
17 Aug 2024
Andrew Lewin
F1i.com
Zhou faces an uncertain future once his current contract expires at the end of the current season, although he hopes to remain at Hinwil and views Villeneuve's criticism as unhelpful, misinformed and plain wrong. "There's a lot of stupid rumours from media," Zhou told RacingNews365 in an exclusive interview this week. "I heard some rumours in the past, and it's the first time I'm speaking to someone [about it].”
"People say [things] like, 'I don't know how much money I'm bringing' [or that I'm] speaking to one of the teams. Not here [at Sauber] - I'm not gonna mention which team, they just announced the driver departure. What I mean is that I barely spoke to them in that period, but [rumours] just come up with the amount of sponsor money I could bring to the table.”
“I wish I had that, maybe I can invest together in Sauber and make a benefit of it! I want to say it clear," he continued. "It's just a lot of rumours on that side, which is quite funny to see that, but in another way it's a bit disrespectful saying that."
‘Villeneuve's criticism as unhelpful’;
https://f1i.com/news/516496-zhou-las...criticism.html
Hulkenberg: Audi CEO call "shows respect" and commitment to F1
Hulkenberg will move to Sauber next year ahead of Audi's F1 entry in 2026
Ewan Gale
Aug 18, 2024
Motorsport.com
Nico Hulkenberg believes receiving a call from Audi CEO Gernot Doellner about management changes ahead of his move next season "shows respect"… Hulkenberg was contacted by Doellner himself, and asked how important that was to him to be informed of the changes, he said: "I don't know about important, but I think it's certainly nice. It shows respect and shows how serious he and the brand are about it and that they're not taking this lightly, that they paying attention. They do see what's happening, what's going on and that was good. Very good."
For Hulkenberg, the call to front a German manufacturer's bid in F1 marks a stunning career turnaround. He was dropped by Renault at the end of the 2020 season and would spend three years on the sidelines as reserve driver for Silverstone-based Racing Point, then Aston Martin.
It is clear that Hulkenberg has faced challenges throughout his F1 career and the Audi project will be no different. "It is a big challenge, no question about that," he said. "Going to what will be Audi, what will be a German manufacturer, German driver, a lot of attention, a lot of expectation - it's not going to be an easy one.”
‘Respect and commitment’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/h...o-f1/10645000/
'Could help him a lot': ‘Important people’ are backing 129-point Formula 2 driver for 2025 Audi seat
16 August 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
Nico Hulkenberg agreed to join in April, but at 36, he’s likely to be in the final years of his career. He arrives as a proven midfield performer rather than a long-term centrepiece. With Mattia Binotto now heading up the F1 project following the surprise dismissal of Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffman, Audi are assessing their options. Valtteri Bottas could keep his seat, a development few expected earlier in the year.
Gabriel Bortoleto in strong position to land 2025 Audi drive. Another driver linked with the vacancy is Gabriel Bortoleto. Binotto is interested in Bortoleto, whose tally of 129 points leaves him second in the F2 championship before the season resumes. The Brazilian is currently part of the McLaren driver academy. But with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the way, he has virtually no chance of securing a seat with the Woking outfit barring an unforeseen exit.
Why Audi are unlikely to hire Sebastian Vettel for 2025. Another shock name in the Audi conversation is Sebastian Vettel. There have been murmurings all year that the four-time title winner may be considering an F1 comeback after retiring in 2022. Vettel was linked with the Mercedes seat, but a team like Audi was always a more realistic destination. With the dependable Hulkenberg on board and little to fight for in 2025, they’re in a better position to take a gamble.
‘Audi are assessing their options’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/imp...025-audi-seat/
-
Report: Adrian Newey has ‘gone into hiding’ amid latest Aston Martin claims.
Adrian Newey avoids public eye after reported agreement with Aston Martin.
16 August 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer
There is considerable excitement in the press about the prospect of Newey working with Fernando Alonso. Stroll plans to invest £783m to make Aston Martin a title-winning team, and he’s already brought in ex-Mercedes engine mastermind Andy Cowell ahead of the transition to Honda power. Newey approved the signing of Enrico Cardile, the Ferrari technical director, and together they will form a mighty team in the aerodynamic department. Aston could soon be a force in F1 as a result of these hires.
But Newey himself has ‘little interest’ in all of the current chatter, according to F1-Insider. That’s why he’s ‘gone into hiding’ with his wife Amanda. Alongside manager Eddie Jordan, they’ve been deliberating the best course of action. Newey is only attending select races with Red Bull this year as his involvement in their F1 operation wanes.
With the 65-year-old intent on doubling his Red Bull earnings, Stroll was happy to pay up, and Aston Martin offered Newey a whopping £21m per season. That’s more than 15 Formula 1 driver salaries. In addition, Marc Priestley claims Newey would expect to bring up to 20 employees with him to his new team. Ferrari weren’t prepared to restructure their entire operation around him, and may hand the keys to their new technical director instead.
‘Gone into hiding’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/adr...martin-claims/
“Independent” info leaked about Adrian Newey which points to his next F1 team
"A bit of information which suggested there is something in the pipeline"
15 Aug 2024
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net
Ex-F1 champ Hill said on the F1 Nation podcast about Aston Martin: “When you think about where certain people who design cars might go, that might be one of the places that could be on the list…”
Hill intriguingly added: “I have got no intel. Other than, someone who is nothing to do with friends of the Neweys, is completely independent of anything, came to me with a bit of information which suggested there is something in the pipeline, on that front.”
Robert Doornbos, a former Red Bull test and reserve driver who worked with Newey in 2006, has claimed that the genius car designer will go to Aston Martin. “Newey was Aston Martin's top priority, and the deal is now finalised,” Doornbos boldly insisted. “Set to earn $100 million over three years, twice his Red Bull salary, Newey will have major input in technical decisions.”
‘Something in the pipeline’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105339...s-next-f1-team
Peter Windsor shares what he believes was a ‘massive influence’ on Adrian Newey’s future
19 August 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer
Peter Windsor identifies Lawrence Stroll’s ‘intelligent’ decision. Among the most recent signings by Aston Martin, one of those is former Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell. Cowell was credited for heading the engine programme that saw Mercedes produce one of the most successful hybrid engines in motorsport, having achieved title success in F1 from 2014 through to 2021 as a Constructor.
Windsor believes the formation of a Newey and Cowell dream team has been a key driving factor behind the 65-year-old’s decision to move to Aston Martin. “Lawrence Stroll has done a very intelligent thing by hiring Andy Cowell. That has probably had a massive influence on Adrian’s [Newey] decision as well, because that’s everybody’s worst nightmare,” said Windsor. “Andy Cowell is behind the success of the Mercedes powertrain and it’s impossible to buy that experience and talent. It’s the dream combination.”
‘Intelligent decision’;
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/pet...neweys-future/
Eddie Jordan provides ‘truthful’ Adrian Newey update amid Ferrari and Aston Martin rumours
17 Aug 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Amid reports that Adrian Newey is heading to Aston Martin after his Red Bull exit, his manager Eddie Jordan “truthfully” does not know the next step which Newey will take for F1 2025. “Adrian is a super, super talented person, not many more intellectual brains anywhere in the world and certainly in Formula 1. The guy is iconic.”
“And it’ll be his choice. He will decide, I presume, ‘Do I take some time out because I’ve been doing this every year since I was in university?’ I knew him first when he was in Leyton House and that was in the mid-’80s and that’s how we knew him.”
“I offered him a job and he took it, but his wife then gave me the cheque back. Hadn’t been signed, by the way! But truthfully, I have no idea and I just want to wish him well. Because wherever he goes it would be a massive boost for that team. That’s one thing I will say.”
“Truthfully”;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/eddie-...martin-rumours
Red Bull chief Waché in awe of Newey: "I will never be like him"
15 August 2024
Nicole Mulder
GPblog.com
Red Bull chief Waché understands Newey. Waché says he learned a lot from Newey and therefore respects his colleague immensely. "He was more than an inspiration. He is a legend. He deserves all the credit for working hard, for living for his work and for always wanting to win," the 49-year-old Frenchman told Auto, Motor und Sport.
"What I learned from him is that despite all those titles and victories, he remained technically unbiased. At his age, being open to everything is a remarkable quality, because as you get older, you often become blind to certain things. That's how I feel sometimes," Waché continued.
However dedicated he is to his work for the Austrian Formula 1 team, Waché never sees himself reaching Newey's level. "I will never achieve what he did. I will never become like him because I could never develop the total passion as he has," concludes Red Bull's technical director.
‘In awe of Newey’;
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29470...ice-newey.html
Max Verstappen potentially set for sensational Red Bull F1 exit
Verstappen could follow Adrian Newey’s footsteps by heading to Aston Martin
15 August 2024
Brandon Sutton
Total Motorsport
Max Verstappen is negotiating his F1 future with Aston Martin as he’s poised for a dramatic Red Bull exit by following in Adrian Newey’s footsteps, according to reports from Italy.
“Lawrence Stroll has no intention of stopping at Newey,” reports Autosprint of Verstappen and a Red Bull exit. “[He] is now aiming for Max Verstappen, with whom negotiations are already underway aimed at 2026.
“If the world champion were to be convinced… he would find Newey again in Aston Martin, perhaps Fallows and above all Honda. “At that point the operation would closely resemble the takeover of the entire top management of the world champions Benetton, carried out in 1995 by Jean Todt, who brought everyone to Ferrari.”
“Lawrence Stroll has no intention of stopping at Newey”;
https://www.total-motorsport.com/max...-bull-f1-exit/
Red Bull reveal 'main difference' after Newey departure
Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché has delivered an update on how the team is operating since Adrian Newey's departure was confirmed.
17 August 2024
Gerd Jansen & Nick Golding
RacingNews365
He is undoudebtly a significant figure in the Red Bull camp, although his imminent departure has changed little, according to Waché. "Adrian's feedback and advice were of course hugely beneficial to us," Waché told Motorsport.com's Dutch site.
"As in any business and as in life, you have to look ahead, but I don't want to take anything away from what he has done for the team, nor from what he has meant for me personally. He has a huge amount of experience, is very smart and very successful. But we are where we are. Our day-to-day operations haven't really changed, except that nobody is looking over our shoulder anymore and saying, 'Have you thought about this or thought about that?' But fundamentally, it doesn't change anything about what we do."
As significant as Newey's departure is, Red Bull as a company has not changed and neither has the way the team works, as a method was already in place for life without the designer. "The organisation in itself has not changed because we were already organised in a way that we could work without his input," continued Waché. "That has happened in the past too, that he was less present at some times than at other times. The main difference is that his input is no longer there now, but the organisation in itself has not changed. We just have to do without his input."
'Main difference';
https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-r...ewey-departure
-
Sargeant talks other F1 opportunities and ‘tricky’ 2024 season.
Logan Sargeant admits he has “no idea” what his future holds, but that talks with F1 teams will take place amid a tough season.
August 6, 2024
Morgan Holiday
FormulaNerds
As reported by PlanetF1, at the Belgian Grand Prix Sargeant told media that “conversations will be had” with other Formula 1 teams during the break. “Whether that means we have anything or not is a very different question,” he commented. “For sure, I’ll try and get a bit of direction — but whether that amounts to anything, I’m not sure.” He also added that whether or not he stays on the grid or not, a break is in order.
Sargeant is one of three drivers who haven’t scored any points so far in 2024, the American joining the Kick Sauber teammates at the bottom of the Driver Standings. But it’s important to note situations like the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year, where Albon crashed out of Free Practice and was given Sargeant’s car to compete in the race. There have also been times where Albon’s car has had upgrades that Sargeant’s haven’t, putting him on the back foot on multiple race weekends.
“I think the bit that’s been tough this year is just how many races we haven’t had the same opportunity,” Sargeant said, talking about his season. “That’s not always nice, to show up on a race weekend and know you’re on the back foot — especially when you’re against 19 of the other best drivers in the world.”
“Conversations will be had”;
https://www.formulanerds.com/news/sa.../?nowprocket=1
Williams boss hits out at Logan Sargeant ‘odd stories’ as F1 2024 status addressed
3 Aug 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
James Vowles, team principal of Williams, hit out against the ”odd stories” circulating in the press about the future of driver Logan Sargeant — but stopped short of confirming he’ll stick it out with the team for the rest of 2024.
In a media roundtable ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Vowles reiterated that Sargeant must “earn his place” on the team — but that the American driver has shown growth and progress.
Williams team principal sat down with several media members, including PlanetF1.com, for a roundtable interview prior to the Belgian Grand Prix. Understandably, one of the hottest topics on the table was the future of Logan Sargeant — particularly, if he’ll see out the rest of the season.
‘Williams boss hits out’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/willia...atus-addressed
Vowles' "blunt truth" to Sargeant on if he will continue to race in 2024
6 August 2024
Editor: Olly Darcy
GPblog.com
During the Australian Grand Prix, Albon's car was damaged beyond repair for the rest of the Grand Prix weekend, and the American was forced to give up his car and let the Thai-British driver use it for qualifying and the race, almost sealing Sargeant's fate at Williams.
"I would say the blunt truth behind it, which I provided him is that he really did move forward at Silverstone and Budapest. But in Spa, we weren't there, and we have to understand together why. That's the blunt truth behind it. 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 his side," concluded Vowles.
"Blunt truth";
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29374...f1-future.html
Logan Sargeant offers F1 future update as Williams door slams shut
5 Aug 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
Speaking to assembled media before the Belgian Grand Prix, including PlanetF1.com, Logan Sargeant offered a brief glimpse of his future — but there wasn’t much to share. Sargeant chose to keep his mind on the near future. “But for the moment, it’s just, you know, carry on as we’re doing,” he said.
“I think one of the bits that’s tricky is because we still have these very small differences, I come to these weekends, and ultimately, the truth is that I have to draw a tenth [or] over a tenth quicker to be a thousandth quicker. So there’s still these little differences which make my life a little but more tricky.”
The stress of racing has weighed heavily on Sargeant’s shoulders, but he clarified that he wouldn’t feel “relieved” to be stepping back from Formula 1. “I think the bit that’s been tough this year is just how many races we haven’t had the same opportunity,” he said.
‘F1 future update’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/logan-...oor-slams-shut
Logan Sargeant linked to IndyCar drive with Prema
July 31, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports
Logan Sargeant is expected to race in IndyCar after leaving Williams F1. The 2024 season has been filled with speculation for Logan Sargeant. The American driver’s Williams future was always in doubt heading into this year, and this uncertainty only heightened after James Vowles decided to withdraw him from the Australian GP.
Looking ahead to next year, a switch to IndyCar is seen as the logical next step for the American. Most of the 23-year-old’s career in Formula 1 has seen questions posed about his future. Even before his contract renewal in 2023, the common narrative was that Sargeant was on borrowed time.
Return to Prema on the cards. Although there are still two unconfirmed F1 seats for next year, Sargeant is not expected to secure either. IndyCar is the category he is best positioned to join, with the 23-year-old seen as a desirable target by several teams in the series. It is understood that Prema are most enthusiastic about signing Sargeant, with negotiations having started several weeks ago.
‘Linked to IndyCar drive’;
https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...ve-with-prema/
US F1 drivers ranked: Logan Sargeant 18th and Phil Hill beaten to No.1 spot
2 Aug 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com
18. Logan Sargeant: Logan Sargeant currently sits 18th on our list of American F1 drivers; despite scoring a point in 2023, he was still classified as the 21st-place finisher in a 20-driver championship, and his performance with his Williams hasn’t been promising enough during his sophomore season to allow him to retain his seat.
‘18th on our list of American F1 drivers’;
https://www.planetf1.com/features/us...-worst-to-best
