2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Lando Norris went against McLaren to "return the favour" to Oscar Piastri in Qatar sprint.
Lando Norris explains his decision to hand Oscar Piastri the sprint race victory in Qatar.
30 Nov 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Lando Norris has revealed he rejected instructions from McLaren as he let Oscar Piastri take the sprint race victory at the F1 Qatar Grand Prix. On the approach to the finish line, Norris lifted off and allowed Piastri to overtake, giving the Australian an unlikely victory.

It seems Norris’ decision to hand Piastri the win stems from a similar situation in the Brazil sprint race. “It was probably a bit closer than what I was wanting, but I planned to do it since Brazil, yeah, just what I thought was best, probably a bit sketchy,” Norris explained.

“The team told me not to do it, but I thought I could get away with it and we did, so honestly I don’t mind, I’m not here to win sprint races, I’m here to win races and a championship – but that’s not gone to plan you know, so I did the best we could and I look forward to tomorrow.”

"Return the favour";

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/106095...n-qatar-sprint


Qatar GP: F1 Sprint Results
Full results from the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail.
1 Dec 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Full results from the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail.

Pos Num Driver Team Laps/Diff
1 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 19
2 4 Lando Norris McLaren 0.136
3 63 George Russell Mercedes 0.41
4 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1.326
5 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 5.073
6 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 5.65
7 27 Nico Hulkenberg Haas 8.508
8 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 10.368
9 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 14.513
10 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas 15.485

‘Full results’;

https://speedcafe.com/qatar-gp-f1-sprint-results/


Oscar Piastri Wins Qatar Grand Prix Sprint As McLaren Widen Gap On Ferrari
Oscar Piastri was gifted victory by his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in Saturday's sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Nov 30, 2024
Agence France-Presse

Oscar Piastri was gifted victory by his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris in Saturday's sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix as the British team consolidated their bid for the constructors' title for the first time since 1998 with a 1-2 triumph. In an example of perfect teamwork, Norris led from pole to flag before slowing to allow Piastri to win by 0.136 seconds ahead of Mercedes' George Russell in third.

The result secured 15 points for McLaren in their bid to resist Ferrari, extending their advantage to 34 points with two Grands Prix remaining. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz finished fourth ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes and Haas' Nico Hulkenberg, Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly of Alpine and Kevin Magnussen in the second Haas.

‘McLaren Widen Gap On Ferrari’;

https://sports.ndtv.com/formula-1/os...errari-7142614


How McLaren can clinch F1 constructors' title at the Qatar GP
Nov 30, 2024
The Race

McLaren will head into Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix with its first shot at sealing the 2024 Formula 1 constructors' title. The McLarens will start third (Lando Norris) and fourth (Oscar Piastri) on Sunday, behind a front row of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes' George Russell.

After Piastri and Norris finished first and second in Saturday's Lusail sprint, McLaren heads Ferrari by 30 points and Red Bull by 67 points (with 88 points available).

Only a total Sunday meltdown from McLaren would get Red Bull anywhere near in range to be still in contention for Abu Dhabi. And while Ferrari is in a much better position to keep this title fight going until the final round, McLaren holds all the aces and could seal the deal at Lusail.

‘Clinch F1 constructors' title’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/h...ship-qatar-gp/


Verstappen: "Rally car" Red Bull was undriveable in Qatar GP sprint
Recently crowned F1 world champion joked he'd have more luck competing with father Jos at this weekend's Spa Rally
30 Nov 2024
Jake Boxall-Legge
Ronald Vording
Motorsport.com

Speaking about his low-key race, Verstappen stated that his balance was out of the window and that he particularly struggled at the start with cold tyres. "I just had no grip. The balance is terrible. On cold tyres you suffer even more from that. It felt like a rally car," Verstappen told Viaplay.

"I think I would have been better off competing with my father [Jos] at Spa in a rally - we would have had a better chance of being competitive over there, I think. It's really terrible, it was undriveable.”

"We can change a lot of things [before qualifying], but we can't fix the problem. I don't know. We will change some things, but I don't expect miracles."

“Undriveable”

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/v...rint/10677955/

[Fortitude]

Verstappen hit with one-place grid penalty for Russell incident during qualifying for Qatar GP.
Max Verstappen has lost his pole position starting spot for the Qatar Grand Prix after being hit with a one-place grid penalty by the stewards following an incident with George Russell during the final part of qualifying in Qatar.
30 Nov 2024
Formula One - Official Site

The Dutchman’s lap time was good enough to award him his first pole since the Austrian Grand Prix, but the stewards have opted to penalise him for driving unnecessarily slowly ahead of the Mercedes.

The Mercedes driver said: “I ended up going through the gravel all over the floor, so it felt like the floor was scraping over that kerb and through the gravel so I hope it didn’t damage it. “Maybe that’s the reason we didn’t improve – I don’t know, but it was a bit of a hairy one, two corners before we started the lap.”

‘One-place grid penalty’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...ZdfGoAqxiluF2b


Adjusted starting grid for 2024 F1 Qatar Grand Prix after Verstappen penalty
Check out the full starting grid for the 2024 F1 Qatar Grand Prix from Lusail!
30 Nov 2024
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

Check out the starting grid below!
NOTE: Grid remains provisional until officially confirmed by the FIA.
Full starting grid for 2024 F1 Qatar Grand Prix
Position Driver Team
1st George Russell Mercedes
2nd Max Verstappen Red Bull
3rd Lando Norris McLaren
4th Oscar Piastri McLaren
5th Charles Leclerc Ferrari
6th Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
7th Carlos Sainz Ferrari
8th Fernando Alonso Aston Martin
9th Sergio Perez Red Bull
10th Kevin Magnussen Haas

‘Grid remains provisional’;

https://racingnews365.com/full-start...tar-grand-prix


Horner after Saturday Qatar GP: 'Important qualifying for the team'
30 Nov 2024
Coen Versteeg
Verstappen.nl

Christian Horner, CEO and team principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said after the sprintrace and qualifying of the Qatar Grand Prix: "We changed a lot of things on the car and we have given Max a car that he has been able to go out and deliver the pole in. That’s our first official pole since Austria, so that is fantastic for everyone and a great team effort.”

“Checo made similar set-up changes to Max, his were a little less aggressive and it was good to see him in Q3. It was an important qualifying for the team and it is great to be starting from the front for the race tomorrow. Hopefully the changes we made to the car for qualifying can play out in the race as well and we have a successful Sunday."

'Important qualifying for the team';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5678/


Norris admits McLaren simply ‘not quick enough’ in Qatar GP qualifying after losing out to Verstappen and Russell
30 Nov 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Lando Norris gave credit to Max Verstappen and George Russell after the McLaren driver settled for third position in Saturday night’s qualifying session at the Qatar Grand Prix. Asked about that moment, and how the session unfolded, Norris said: “Oh, I went in the gravel a little bit. We weren’t quick enough today and I had to push too much to get something out of the car, which we didn’t have. Just pushing the limits, nothing more.”

“It didn’t cost me anything after. I still feel like I got everything out of the car today. I’m happy, I feel like I couldn’t have done a much better lap, just the car was not quick enough comparing to the other two [ahead].” Asked if he’s hopeful of taking the fight to Russell and Verstappen in the race, he added: “I think so. I think George has been quicker probably the whole weekend. I think they were quicker even today in the Sprint. It’s tough.”

‘Not quick enough’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...iDbUca86XBxGp1


'Left out': Naomi Schiff points to Mercedes ‘engineering meetings’ that may have hurt Lewis Hamilton at Qatar Grand Prix
30 Nov 2024
Luke-John Buckle
F1 Oversteer

Lewis Hamilton is enduring a frustrating end to his career at Mercedes as he hasn’t consistently challenged for race wins since 2021. The Brackley-based team haven’t mastered the current generation of ground effect cars that were introduced in 2022. The Mercedes car may be being developed towards George Russell’s style. Naomi Schiff explained on Sky Sports F1 that meetings in and around the weekend may be playing a part in his struggles before moving to Ferrari.

Schiff explained Hamilton’s lacklustre end to his time at Mercedes before switching teams is difficult and it isn’t quite clicking on the track. “Just a shame because he’s only got really the rest of this weekend and next weekend to seal off a wonderful era with Mercedes.”

“To be feeling so negative at this point is a little bit sad, I would say. I think maybe one other thing it could have to do with when he’s saying, a factor is out of his control is maybe because he’s decided to go to Ferrari, he’s being left out of more and more engineering meetings, maybe this car is slightly being developed more towards George’s driving style.”

'Left out';

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nao...ar-grand-prix/


Sauber gunning for points, McLaren in the title hunt, and fun at Turn 1 – What To Watch For in the Qatar GP
30 Nov 2024
Chris Medland
Formula One - Official Site

From the constructors’ title being up for grabs to Lewis Hamilton looking for answers, and from robust overtaking moves to drivers facing a physical challenge, here are five things to keep an eye out for when we go racing in Qatar…

1. A chance at another championship: McLaren’s Saturday started in almost perfect fashion, with a one-two finish in the Sprint moving them even closer to winning the constructors’ championship. Outscoring Ferrari by six points in the 19-lap Saturday dash, McLaren are now potentially within one result of securing their first team title since 1998.

‘What To Watch For’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...sOKClTwNiNqgSz


‘It just sucks’: RB driver Liam Lawson rages at F1 rival for ‘purposefully’ ruining his quali at Qatar Grand Prix
30 Nov 2024
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Liam Lawson failed to get out of Q1 for the first time this year during qualifying for the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix, leaving the Visa Cash App RB driver to rage at one rival driver.
Slender margins split the rear of the field in the first phase of qualifying for the Qatar GP this Saturday. Williams star Alex Albon and RB pilot Lawson narrowly missed out on a place in Q2 by only 0.026 and 0.047 seconds respectively to Yuki Tsunoda in the second VCARB 01 car.

Liam Lawson incorrectly rages at Fernando Alonso in Qatar Grand Prix qualifying. Lawson felt Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso was partly responsible for ruining his Q1 in qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, as well. However, Lawson’s race engineer Pierre Hamelin instantly corrected the Kiwi for blaming Alonso as Lance Stroll caused his frustrations in Q1. “Alonso purposefully slowed up through [Turns] 9 and 10 when he aborted his lap,” Lawson vented over RB’s radio. “It just sucks, man.”

‘Rages’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/rb-...ar-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

Why Verstappen Lost His Pole Start At The Qatar GP.
There's an immediate reaction to the news that Max Verstappen's pole position was removed; with the Dutchman demoted to second via a controversial penalty for driving unnecessarily slowly with George Russell in Q3, with the British driver now inheriting pole as a result.
1st Dec 2024
Motorsport.com

Jonathan Noble and Stuart Codling review all the action.

Readers Comments: David_Brent
It's really pathetic that Noble is trying to justify this penalty for Verstappen. "You can't have people blocking others even on an outlap", is his opinion. If Noble actually has looked at every single race up until now, this was pretty standard. Hence, keeping the order on an outlap was a "Gentlemen's agreement" according to some.

The dangerous precedent set here is that other drivers can now accelerate others into a foul. It's the equivalent of a "schwalbe" in football. George really played dirty here, unsportsmanlike even.

“It's really pathetic that Noble is trying to justify this penalty for Verstappen”;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/video/...tar-gp/657303/


Verstappen’s demotion to inside of the grid could prove a double blow in Qatar
2024 Qatar GP pre-race analysis
1st Dec 2024
Will Wood
RaceFans

The Qatar Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit will almost certainly be the lowest-attended round of the season – but that does not meant those who have bought tickets are any less invested, knowledgeable or passionate as those who have shown up to any of the previous 22 rounds so far this season.

Despite the drivers’ championship, the primary point of intrigue for any F1 season, being done and dusted, Formula 1 has still managed to court controversy with the latest stewarding scandal involving Max Verstappen. Penalised for driving unnecessarily slowly on his final build up lap in Q3 and getting in the way of Russell’s Mercedes – who was also on a build up lap – Verstappen has lost his first pole position since Austria and must now line up behind Russell rather than in front of him.

Although this seems like a blow to Verstappen’s chances of victory, the world champion is driven as much by the need to spite those he perceives as trying to hold him down as much as he is by victory. And compared to other grid penalties he has overcome in recent years to win, a single place is nothing. But it would be wrong to assume that it’s all going to be about Verstappen versus Russell for victory. There has been no consistent order at the front of the field over the first two days of the weekend, and newly-inherited pole sitter Russell expects the same today.

‘Verstappen’s demotion’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/12/01/...blow-in-qatar/


George Russell explains disadvantage Max Verstappen suffers with F1 Qatar GP grid demotion
1st Dec 2024
Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week

Max Verstappen will start from the dirty side of the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix grid and George Russell explained how great a disadvantage this will be. Verstappen initially beat Russell to pole position at the Lusail International Circuit by just 0.055s, but the tables would later turn.

The Red Bull driver was summoned to the stewards for slowing unnecessarily in front of his Mercedes rival on a cool-down lap and was demoted one place on the grid for Sunday’s race. Prior to learning of his promotion to pole position, Russell explained that starting from second on the pit-wall side of the grid was a significant challenge.

“Those inside starting positions were really tricky [in the Sprint],” Russell said. “I think every driver on the right-hand side made a poor start and that ultimately cost me the chance to fight with Lando [Norris].” Indeed, in the Sprint, starting from second, Russell ultimately lost out to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who he failed to pass for the remainder of the 19-lap race.

‘Disadvantage Max Verstappen suffers’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...grid-demotion/


Verstappen has the tyre advantage over the rest of the grid in Qatar
1st Dec 2024
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Max Verstappen may have lost his pole position that he took on Saturday at the Qatar Grand Prix, but despite dropping to P2 on the grid, he still holds an advantage over the rest of his rivals. The Dutchman will have more newer tyres at his disposal for Sunday's Grand Prix in the Middle East, giving him an edge over everyone else when the lights go out.

Despite this, the Red Bull Racing driver still holds an advantage with his tyre allocation for the Grand Prix over the rest of his rivals. Out of the big teams, Verstappen is the only one to have a new set of softs available for the race. He also has a new set of medium tyres at his disposal, as does Lewis Hamilton Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, while teammate Sergio Perez has two sets of yellow-walled tyres for the Grand Prix.

With the hard tyres, it's Ferrari who are at a disadvantage to the rest of the grid, with both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz only having one new set of tyres at their disposal, while both Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren drivers have two new sets of white-walled tyres available to them.

‘Tyre advantage’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31611...rand-prix.html


'Marginally': Helmut Marko believes Red Bull have just solved their ‘Achilles’ heel’ at the Qatar Grand Prix
1 Dec 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Following a miserable Sprint race, Red Bull achieved an impressive comeback while qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix. Max Verstappen will start from the front row having been stripped of his pole position by the stewards for driving unnecessarily slowly and impeding Mercedes driver George Russell.

Red Bull’s improved tyre warm-up helped Qatar turnaround: Verstappen only used a single set of soft tyres during his final run in Q3 having topped Q2 with an impressive lap, owning to Red Bull’s improved tyre warm-up phase. Red Bull were by far the weakest of the top teams, but the turnaround also enabled Sergio Perez to get into Q3 and up to P9 on the grid.

“It all worked fine and the tyres came up to temperature well. The small working window of the car is our Achilles’ heel. We changed a few things between the sprint race and qualifying, including with warming up the tyres,” Marko told Motorsport Magazin. “In the end, we drove a total of three laps with one set of tyres. In the second fast lap, you could see that a used tyre was marginally slower than a new one.”

‘Solved their Achilles’ heel’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/hel...ar-grand-prix/


David Coulthard shares Christian Horner ‘quick chat’ details after Max Verstappen’s ‘remarkable’ Qatar GP lap
1 Dec 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Red Bull Racing wouldn’t have expected Max Verstappen to briefly be on pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix. However, Red Bull are all too aware that Max Verstappen is capable of achieving what many would never expect from him. Verstappen’s performance in Sao Paulo was incredible and virtually guaranteed his fourth world championship.

The Qatar Grand Prix wasn’t expected to be particularly positive for Red Bull, with McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari all expected to have an advantage over them. That appeared to be the case in the Sprint Race when Verstappen qualified and finished sixth.

Christian Horner shares why Max Verstappen was much quicker during Qatar Grand Prix qualifying. Talking about Verstappen’s performance in qualifying, Coulthard said: “I find it just remarkable as you remember well prior to qualifying, I sort of parked Red Bull as not even being in the hunt. Having a quick chat with Christian just off the back of that session, he said they made some adjustments, loaded up the car and then suddenly it’s come into a window where he’s able to exploit his talent and deliver in what was an incredibly close qualifying session.”

‘Suddenly it’s come into a window’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/dav...-qatar-gp-lap/


Max Verstappen ‘done with all this’ after unusual Qatar GP grid penalty
01 Dec 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Verstappen and pole position rival George Russell were both on preparation laps for their final attempts when Russell approached the slow-moving Verstappen near the apex of Turn 11, Russell calling it “super dangerous” over team radio after taking evasive action.

And ahead of the verdict being cast, Verstappen was not best pleased with the situation. “We were all just driving slowly. I wouldn’t know what I could have done differently,” he said. “The fact that I have to go [to the stewards’ office] is already very strange to me. Otherwise, next time I’ll just drive flat out too and pretend to crash [into the other car].”

“He should have braked. I braked. Just like the cars in front of me. And I don’t want to screw them. I’m honestly a bit done with all of this at the end of the season.” Verstappen returned to the topic in the post-qualifying press conference, where Russell – who “got excited” as Verstappen put it – was also in attendance.

‘Next time I’ll just drive flat out too and pretend to crash [into the other car]’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...p-grid-penalty

[Fortitude]

Lambiase tells Verstappen 'karma is wonderful' after Qatar GP victory!
Ahead of the Qatar GP, Max Verstappen was relegated to P2 on the grid thanks to a one-place grid penalty. The Dutchman ended up winning the race, and received a happy radio message from his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase!
1 Dec 2024
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

Lambiase speaks of karma after Verstappen victory: "Karma is a wonderful thing. You definitely did not drive unnecessarily slowly today. Great job," Lambiase began after Verstappen's victory at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Verstappen replied cheerfully: "Simply lovely, guys. Yes, yes, yes. What an unbelievable race again. That was really fun!"

"Simply lovely, guys. Yes, yes, yes”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31624...n-victory.html


Qatar GP: Race Results
Full results from the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail.
2 Dec 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Full results from the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail.

Pos Num Driver Team Laps/Diff
1 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 57
2 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 6.031
3 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 6.819
4 63 George Russell Mercedes 9.104
5 10 Pierre Gasly Alpine 16.782
6 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 17.476
7 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 19.867
8 24 Zhou Guanyu Sauber 25.36
9 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas 32.177
10 4 Lando Norris McLaren 35.762

‘Full results’;

https://speedcafe.com/qatar-gp-race-results/


Max Verstappen wins chaotic Qatar Grand Prix: 'Very proud of the team'
1 Dec 2024
Kees-Jan Koster
Verstappen.nl

After the race, a jubilant Verstappen reflected: "It was a very good race. The car already felt a lot better in qualifying yesterday. Today, the first stint was very fast. Lando Norris and I were within 1.8 seconds of each other the whole time, pushing each other, that was a lot of fun out there. This track has a lot of grip, and this year the tyres were really holding on, so it was a lot of fun to push the tyre.”

“We went really long in the first stint, and then there were a few safety cars, which you had to take care, but I am very happy. It has been a while in the dry to be this competitive. I am very proud of everyone in the team for turning it around within a day. They definitely deserve this victory."

'Very proud of the team';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5681/


Qatar GP: Penalty chaos in Lusail as Verstappen overcomes rare FIA punishment
1 Dec 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen took victory in a chaotic Qatar Grand Prix that saw a broken wing mirror prompt a portion of the action, when it was run over and brought out the Safety Car. Russell admitted ahead of the race the Red Bull driver told him he was even more fired up for the race as a result, with a long run down to Turn 1 to potentially draw alongside the Mercedes driver.

And he did exactly that on the way down to Turn 1, holding the inside line and getting ahead of the Mercedes by the time they braked, with Lando Norris able to follow him through, demoting Russell down to third.

At the front, it was serene going for Verstappen as he claimed a ninth victory of the season, while there were 10 crucial points for Alpine in their Constructors’ battle for P6, with Zhou jubilant with his P8 finish and Magnussen adding two points to Haas’ total, leaving it all to play for in the Constructors’ standings as we head to Abu Dhabi.

‘Penalty chaos’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/qatar-...ix-2024-report


George Russell fumes at Mercedes in sweary rant as Qatar GP erupts into chaos
George Russell was unimpressed with Mercedes in Qatar.
Dec 1, 2024
Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

When Valtteri Bottas ran over an errant wing mirror from Alex Albon's car, the debris triggered a second safety car and gave Mercedes an opportunity to bring Russell in for a second stop of the race. The Silver Arrows opted to bolt on hard compound tyres, leaving Russell fuming. He dialled into the radio, yelling: "Why have we put hards on? Why have we put the f***ing hards back on? They're s***."

His Mercedes team-mate endured even more misery. Lewis Hamilton picked up a puncture from the debris caused by the Bottas incident, and at that point, he had already picked up a five-second time penalty for a false start. Then, the Brit was slapped with a drive-through penalty for failing to follow the pit lane speed limit, ending any lingering hopes of scoring points at the Lusail International Circuit.

‘Sweary rant’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...tar-Grand-Prix


Lewis Hamilton threatened to 'switch off' the car during Qatar Grand Prix meltdown
Lewis Hamilton was furious with his team in Qatar on Sunday.
Dec 1, 2024
Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

The seven-time world champion's miserable end to the season took another turn for the worse in Doha. After picking up a five-second time penalty for a false start, he went on to pick up a puncture as a result of debris from Alex Albon's wing mirror. This combination left Hamilton on the outside of the points looking in heading into a late safety car restart, and the Brit was then hit with another bombshell - a drive-through penalty.

For Hamilton, this was the straw that broke the camel's back. "Retire the car," he fumed to race engineer Peter Bonnington. "Retire the car." The Mercedes engineer replied: "Negative," before Hamilton hit back: "I'm switching off [the car] when I get in there, mate. I'm switching off."

Bonnington recognised his driver's frustrations but warned: "That's fine if you want a five-second penalty next race. We only need to do one more lap but drive through." Hamilton's final season as a Mercedes driver has been nothing short of miserable and with George Russell once again finishing ahead on track, the seven-time world champion is now braced for a P7 finish in the Drivers' Championship.

‘“I'm switching off." "That's fine if you want a five-second penalty next race.”’

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...tar-Grand-Prix


Jenson Button concerned Lewis Hamilton has driven last Mercedes race after what he saw at Qatar Grand Prix
1 Dec 2024
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Lewis Hamilton endured one of the most painful races of his Mercedes career at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday. Hamilton finished outside the points for the first time this season. He’d previously recorded DNFs in Australia and the United States, but this was the first time he’s crossed the line outside the top 10. Hamilton eventually came home 12th.

Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Hamilton’s former teammate Jenson Button expressed concern that the 39-year-old wouldn’t attend the Abu Dhabi GP. If so, he would already have driven his final laps in a Mercedes before his Ferrari move. Button says Hamilton is clearly in a ‘tough place’ after a ‘soul-destroying’ weekend. He’d said after Sprint qualifying that he simply wasn’t ‘fast’ anymore.

“I hope that [Abu Dhabi] is his last race for Mercedes,” Button said. “I really do. I hope we see Lewis back in Abu Dhabi. This is mentally such a tough place for him to be in. [For] one of the greatest, if not the greatest ever in this sport, to be in this position, it’s soul destroying. I really feel for him. A couple of races ago, that was his mindset. But I hope he has his last race in Abu Dhabi. We know how great he is. And we know how great he is around that track. And I want to see that.”

‘Tough place after a ‘soul-destroying’ weekend’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jen...ar-grand-prix/


2024 Qatar Grand Prix: Norris drops from P2 to last after being handed 10 second stop/go penalty
1 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Lando Norris was battling Max Verstappen for the lead in Qatar on Lap 46 when he was handed a 10 second stop/go penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags earlier in the race. It dropped him to 15th and last.

‘Failing to slow for yellow flags’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/20...61418175396382

[Fortitude]

DRIVER OF THE DAY: Zhou gets your vote after securing Kick Sauber's first points of 2024.
It's been a long time coming, but in Lusail Kick Sauber finally scored their first points of the season and Zhou Guanyu was the man who delivered.
1 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site

The Chinese driver followed up his excellent P12 qualifying performance with an even better P8 after a highly eventful race, in his penultimate Grand Prix outing for the team. Here’s how the voting broke down…
Zhou Guanyu - 29.7%
Max Verstappen - 17.5%
Charles Leclerc - 9.8%
Lando Norris - 8.6%
Pierre Gasly - 7.4%

‘DRIVER OF THE DAY: Zhou’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...AcQ80hpSgHJ69e


Sauber Collect First Points in 2024 at the Qatar Grand Prix
Dec 1, 2024
Emma Fisher
Last Word On Sports

One of two outgoing drivers, Zhou Guanyu had a stellar drive to the finish line for the Swiss team. After a gruelling season of near-misses and disappointments, Sauber finally got on the Drivers’ and Constructors’ scoreboards at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. Zhou Guanyu‘s remarkable performance earned him P8 and four points alongside the title Driver of the Day, as fans celebrated the Chinese driver’s pace.

This could also help him in his quest to find a role within F1 next season as he and teammate Valtteri Bottas will depart from the Swiss team.
Securing the first points of the season for Sauber ��
Zhou Guanyu take a bow �� pic.twitter.com/tQcwrKyAew
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) December 1, 2024
Outgoing Haas driver Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who is stepping up from F2, will replace them.

The points scorer: Speaking to Sky Sports after the GP, Guanyu said: “Great race, the pace was strong as well. I didn’t know I was driver of the day until I got to the TV pen, so thank you to the fans for that. Mentally, it has been a really draining season for me, for Valtteri and for the whole team. This was our best opportunity after an amazing Saturday performance and we wanted to show what we can do. Today’s race was very clean and executed well, I think. There is a lot of work done that people don’t see behind the scenes to just continue to be there every weekend, just hoping we will see a return. And today is the day!” – Zhou Guanyu.

“And today is the day!”;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...ar-grand-prix/


‘A big relief’ – Zhou beaming after ending Sauber points duck
1 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Zhou Guanyu ensured Kick Sauber won’t end the season point-less after scoring four points with a P8 finish in the Qatar Grand Prix.

‘A big relief’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/a-...2553837832284#


Qatar Grand Prix Talking Points: Sauber finally break through as questionable race calls return
2 Dec 2024
Ben Waterworth
The Roar

Sauber finally break drought: Did we just witness the greatest moment of 2024 with Zhou Guanyu finishing in eighth at the Qatar Grand Prix? Sure, there have been some epic races and epic moments across the year, but who doesn’t love a true underdog story and seeing a back running team finally breakthrough for their first points of the season?

Last week in Las Vegas, Zhou was tracking well to possibly score Sauber’s first points for 2024 but ultimately fell back to finish the race in 13th place. This time around he held on to claim four very valuable points for the team. And it was so close to being a double points finish for the team, with Valtteri Bottas running in the points late in the race before ultimately being passed by the fast-finishing Norris recovering from his penalty.

No matter how you classify great moments across a season, there is no doubting seeing Sauber finally getting some points on the board in the penultimate race has to be in the conversation, particularly given how much they have been struggling across the year. And as they enter their final year on the grid as Sauber before switching into Audi, it will give the famous team a massive boost heading into 2025.

‘???the greatest moment of 2024 with Zhou Guanyu finishing in eighth???;

https://www.theroar.com.au/2024/12/0...-calls-return/


2024 Qatar Grand Prix: Zhou crosses the line to seal Sauber’s first points of 2024
1 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Kick Sauber hadn’t scored points all year – but that all changed when Zhou Guanyu finished eighth in Qatar to seal four points for the Swiss squad.

‘Sauber’s first points of 2024’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/20...64676035095348


Zhou Guanyu an early candidate to join Cadillac F1
Dec 1, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports

Why Zhou is well-positioned to negotiate with Cadillac F1 ahead of 2026. Like most drivers without a seat for next year, Zhou Guanyu welcomed the news of an 11th team in F1. Heading into the 2026 season, Cadillac will be in negotiations with several drivers wanting to join their line-up.

As a driver with several years of F1 experience, Zhou is already a feasible option. His latest result in Qatar (which came after a strong race in Vegas) was a reminder of what the 25-year-old is capable of in competitive machinery. However, there is another critical factor that could boost his chances.

Zhou on Cadillac’s radar for 2026: According to Swiss outlet Blick, Graeme Lowdon is set to become Cadillac F1’s team principal. This is significant for Zhou, because Lowdon is part of his management team. Should Lowdon (who was formerly Marussia’s team principal) take the helm at Cadillac, this would be a massive boost for Zhou’s chances of returning to F1.

‘Early candidate’;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...n-cadillac-f1/

[Fortitude]

F1: Ferrari happy to still be gunning for constructors title.
"We are still in the running, anything is possible with a 21 point gap on McLaren," Vasseur said.
2 Dec 2024
Ansa

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has expressed satisfaction that the Italian glamour team is still in the running for the Formula One constructors' title going into next week's season-ending Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi after Sunday's race in Qatar.

McLaren's lead cut to 21 points before season-ending Grand Prix: "It's nice to get to Abu Dhabi in this position. The circuit there should favour us a little more. With Verstappen and Mercedes competitive again, the outcome is unpredictable".

"We are still in the running”;

https://www.ansa.it/english/news/spo...1791add10.html


Leclerc: Qatar GP podium a surprise for “lucky” Ferrari
2 Dec 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

Leclerc admitted that the team had exceeded its own expectations. “Yes, we did, because to be honest, we knew that it would be very difficult pace-wise,” he said.

“We expected McLaren to be very strong in terms of race pace. We maybe did not expect Max to be that strong, but he was super strong today. However, finishing second after such a weekend, where the track characteristics are very far off from the optimal of the track characteristics we need for our car, is a surprise.”

“We got a little bit lucky, obviously, on my side. A bit unlucky with Carlos and his puncture. But as a team, it’s been a positive weekend. So yes, we exceeded our expectations because coming into the weekend, I kind of expected to lose a bit of points compared to McLaren here. However, we recovered some, so that’s good.”

‘Exceeded our expectations’;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/12/02/...lucky-ferrari/


‘We did everything perfect’ – Leclerc ‘very very happy’ after P2 in Qatar
1 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Charles Leclerc wasn’t expecting to close the gap to McLaren in Qatar so was thrilled to cut down Ferrari’s points deficit in the constructors standings at the penultimate race of 2024.

‘Everything perfect’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/we...63270944172439


Leclerc "surprised" by Ferrari's strong pace in Qatar
2 Dec 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

"We expected this to be a difficult weekend for us so I’m happy with how the race went today, having made up some points on McLaren. We had some luck on my side and a bit less on Carlos’ with the puncture.”

"We may have been able to finish second and third had it not been for that, which is a shame teamwise, but overall, it was positive to be this competitive here. We knew that it would be very difficult pace-wise. We expected McLaren to be very strong in terms of race pace. We maybe did not expect Max to be that strong, but he was super strong today.”

"However, finishing second after such a weekend, where the track characteristics are very far off from the optimal of the track characteristics we need for our car, is a surprise. We got a little bit lucky, obviously on my side. A bit unlucky with Carlos and his puncture. But as a team, it's been a positive weekend. So yes, we exceeded our expectations because coming into the weekend, I kind of expected to lose a bit of points compared to McLaren here. However, we recovered some, so that's good.”

‘Exceeded our expectations’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/25966


'Why aren't they': Peter Windsor blames Ferrari for ‘bizarre’ problem which hurt Charles Leclerc’s Qatar Grand Prix
2 Dec 2024
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Leclerc was forced to compete in this year’s Qatar Grand Prix without his drink, after a mistake when hooking it up. Last year, that would have been unsurvivable, but he pushed through this year to reach the podium and secure a crucial result in the constructors’ championship battle. Peter Windsor has criticised the Scuderia for their mistake though, insisting that it isn’t something that should be going wrong.

“You think they would have sorted all that out long before they get in the race car, wouldn’t you? He was going on about how it’s a double-fastening, and they’ve got to make the single-fastening. Why aren’t they doing that stuff at Fiorano or somewhere? It seems bizarre to me that that would be a problem.”

Why Leclerc needs to deliver another miracle in Abu Dhabi. The upcoming season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will decide whether McLaren or Ferrari will end 16-year championship droughts. The papaya outfit lead the way by 21 points, which means that Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz need to produce some magic.

‘Bizarre’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/pet...ar-grand-prix/


Charles Leclerc ‘did not drink’ in F1 Qatar GP due to bottle issue
1 Dec 2024
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

Charles Leclerc revealed that he “did not drink” in the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix due to an issue with the bottle inside his car.

“Yes, I did not drink,” he said, “but honestly, I don’t think it was that much of an issue for this race. Last year would have been a really, really big issue. I think I wouldn’t have finished the race without my drink, but this year it was actually pretty chill.”

Leclerc was of course referring to the extreme heat plagued drivers in last year’s corresponding Grand Prix, which was held in October.
Many drivers suffered in the oppressive conditions, including Logan Sargeant, who was forced to retire his Williams with exhaustion and suspected heatstroke.

‘Did not drink’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...-bottle-issue/


Sainz left satisfied with recovery after Qatar puncture as Leclerc celebrates podium finish amid constructors' battle
1 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Carlos Sainz managed to recover to score a strong points haul for Ferrari after suffering a detrimental puncture in the Qatar Grand Prix, crucially helping to keep the team in the battle for the constructors’ title. “I think we got a bit of the worst of everything,” the Spaniard said.

“We had a puncture around the last corner which meant that when I arrived to Turn 1 I was already punctured. This meant that we had to do a full lap on a punctured tyre, losing loads of seconds of race time. Then we came in, we had a slow pit stop obviously due to the puncture.”

“As soon as I’m coming out of the pits, a Safety Car comes out and all of our rivals take the Safety Car to box, and they don’t lose any time. A very terrible kind of scenario that unravelled for me. At the same time, I started the race [P7] and finished P6 with all that happened, so it cannot be too terrible an outcome. I feel like today we were on for a top-four, top-three even, and it couldn’t happen.”

‘Satisfied with recovery’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...1nUIB9LkGVyMET

[Fortitude]

"I am not an idiot", claims Norris after his race-deciding mistake in Qatar.
The three-time F1 race winner commented: "I am not an idiot. If I knew there was a yellow, I would have slowed down."
3 Dec 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Reflecting on his race in which he displayed eye-catch performance on both the medium and the hard compound, Norris has emphasized that he did not deliberately fail to slow down in a bid to gain a potential competitive advantage to Verstappen.

"The team gave me a great car today, it was the quickest out there, so I'm disappointed we haven’t been able to secure maximum points in Qatar. I know the rules around Yellow Flags, but I missed it. I have to take that on the chin. I can only apologise to the team.”

"We have one more weekend to go now and we’ll head to Abu Dhabi with the same mindset as any other weekend, and that’s wanting to win."

"I am not an idiot";

https://www.f1technical.net/news/25973


“Lando did not lift”: How Verstappen and Red Bull lobbied for Norris’s penalty
2nd Dec 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Lambiase Info, I believe Lando has a free shot at DRS. Yep, Lando on DRS this straight.
Verstappen Check if he lifted for the yellow.
Verstappen There was a yellow in the middle of the straight.
Lambiase Yep, there was, we’ll have a look, make sure he lifted.
Lambiase Max if you see Safety Car or VSC you can pit. Otherwise, stay out.
Verstappen Is there still a yellow or not?
Verstappen Yep it’s still yellow. Stay on the racing line.

Lambiase Lando did not lift, Max.
Verstappen Report that, then.
Lambiase Track is clear. And yes, we reported it, Max. Still no reply.

Lambiase Just to be clear that was wide-open throttle, on DRS, to the braking zone at turn one.
Verstappen Yeah there was double waved yellows there on that lap.
Lambiase Roger that.

Verstappen Anything on that yellow flag? Or you can just go flat-out through a yellow?
Lambiase Literally just speaking about it now, Max. Stand by.

Lambiase Just information at this stage, Max, but race control now investigating the incident with Lando.
Lambiase Lando has been given a 10-second stop-go penalty, 10-second stop-go penalty, which he needs to serve within two laps.
Lambiase Lando in pit lane, Max. So car behind Leclerc, gap 3.2.

“Lando did not lift”;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/12/02/...rriss-penalty/


McLaren criticise ‘dust-covered book’ decision in Norris penalty call
Lando Norris was issued a costly penalty during the Qatar Grand Prix and dropped to 10th in the order.
2 Dec 2024
Fergal Walsh & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has suggested Lando Norris' penalty in Qatar was applied with a too simplistic judgement using a “dust-covered book”. “We checked all the data,” Stella told media including RacingNews365. “Lando enters the sector when the yellow flag is displayed. But fair enough, the requirement is very clear. When there's a yellow sector, you are required to slow down, and this is the responsibility of the driver. So I think the penalty was deserved in that case.”

The Italian engineer asserted the FIA did not give consideration to the severity of the circumstance when judging Norris' actions. “Giving a penalty, it’s two important concepts - one is proportion, and the second one is specificity,” he said. “The application of the penalty lacks both requirements. Is there an immediate danger for somebody? Is there a crash scene? The specificity leads to the proportion.”

‘McLaren criticise ‘dust-covered book’ decision’;

https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-cr...s-penalty-call


How eagle-eyed Max Verstappen earned big FIA punishment for Lando Norris
02 Dec 2024
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

An eagle-eyed Max Verstappen alerted his Red Bull team to the possibility that Lando Norris did not slow for yellow flags during the Qatar Grand Prix. Speaking to media including PlanetF1.com in the post-race press conference, Verstappen revealed that his suspicions arose after he noticed that Norris had closed the gap at the exit of Turn 1, the corner immediately following the yellow flag zone.

And he went on to suggest that he would have found himself immediately under investigation by the stewards had he committed the same offence as Norris. He said: “I knew that I lifted because I saw the double yellow. And I know that, of course, if I wouldn’t have lifted, it would have been investigated straight away.”

“So you’re just on it. I asked if he lifted because he had a DRS, I think, from a backmarker at the same time as well. And then, of course, when we came out of Turn 1, I saw that he was a lot closer, so I just asked the team to check it. It was just a normal question. And I know, of course, with double yellows, they’re quite strict.”

‘Eagle-eyed Max Verstappen’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...norris-penalty


Verstappen explains why he called 'foul' on Norris in Qatar GP
It was a mistake by Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen saw it straight away.
3 Dec 2024
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Max Verstappen has explained it was his 'check call' to Red Bull that led to Lando Norris falling foul of the regulations and landing a heavy penalty during the Qatar Grand Prix.

Norris was hammered with a 10-second stop-go penalty for failing to slow under double-waved yellow flags. Although the decision to penalise the McLaren driver was correct, there was a feeling that the punishment did not fit the crime.

The FIA later explained that the penalty was 'in accordance with the penalty guidelines circulated to the teams on 19 February this year', and that 'a double-yellow flag infringement is considered a serious compromise of safety, which is why such offences carry such a severe penalty'.

‘Eagle-eyed Max Verstappen’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen...ut-foul-norris


Drivers had ‘zero indication’ of harsher penalties in seven Qatar GP punishments
2 Dec 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Dishing out seven in-race penalties in Qatar, including a race-wrecking 10-second stop-go penalty to Lando Norris, George Russell says there was “zero indication” for the weekend that the stewards would turn to the most severe punishments.

Russell, the director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, says the drivers weren’t given any warning that the stewards intended to be harsher than usual in penalising infringements. “There was zero indication that they wanted to be much harsher,” he told the media including PlanetF1.com. “I don’t even know what all the penalties were for, I need to review that now.”

“I don’t even know what my penalty is for, it’s something to do with the Safety Car, but I don’t know when or how or why. So, yeah, I’ll have a look and see.”

‘Zero indication’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george...gp-punishments


‘Hysterical’ George Russell subject of more Red Bull criticism after penalty call
3 Dec 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com

After securing pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was handed a perplexing one-place grid penalty for impeding George Russell. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has some concerns.

“Let’s just say he wasn’t enamored with the decision,” Horner said of Max Verstappen, speaking to media including PlanetF1.com. “It was a very strange decision, because obviously the circumstances of qualifying, both cars were on slow laps, and I did feel that George and Mercedes made a big meal out of it.”

Horner noted that it was “unprecedented” for a driver to be penalized on his slow lap during qualifying; he also pointed out that “one could argue that perhaps George was driving a little too quickly on a slow lap with two cars in front of him. Maybe he was driving recklessly.”

‘Hysterical’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/christ...esmanship-plot

[Fortitude]

“Am I dead last now?” Unheard radio from Hamilton’s disastrous Qatar GP.
Lewis Hamilton’s penultimate grand prix as a Mercedes driver was a miserable affair.
3rd Dec 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

“Am I dead last now, yeah?” Having fallen a lap behind under the Safety Car, Hamilton was anxious that he should get the chance to un-lap himself and rejoin the rear of the queue before the restart. He made it with only seconds to spare. Soon after the race restarted it was neutralised once more, this time due to Sergio Perez spinning to a stop.

Hamilton Am I a lap down now?
Bonnington Traffic on exit.
Bonnington We’re go strat mode one. Affirm, Lewis, Verstappen ahead race leader.
Hamilton Am I dead last now, yeah?
Bonnington Negative. We’re currently showing P16, out of 17 runners though.
Hamilton Is this Safety car going to let us past, or…?
Bonnington It will have to wait until the pack has formed. But that should be the case.

‘Negative’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/12/03/...rous-qatar-gp/


Wolff admits Qatar ‘not such a good day in the office’ as Mercedes go backwards in Grand Prix
3rd Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Team boss Toto Wolff was quick to acknowledge what went wrong – and why the blame needed to go more on the car than on his drivers. “That was not such a good day in the office, we lost all the balance in the car from yesterday to today, horrific understeer with both of them and simply the pace was gone which was weird to understand,” he said afterwards.

“The race was bad, I think the car was super difficult for both of them to drive. It just didn’t turn, like I said when the grip kicks in, the understeer – there’s an unbearable understeer and both of them suffered with that.” Wolff offered an explanation for Hamilton’s struggles and why he might be finding life in the cockpit of the W15 more difficult than Russell.

“It came to a point where it almost didn’t make any sense to continue. But if you park the car, you carry [the penalty] into Abu Dhabi, that’s why we had to take it,” Wolff explained. “I think one of [Hamilton’s] strengths is the way he’s able to break late and attack the corner and that car can’t take it… it is clear when you are very strong on the brake, you need a car that is very strong on turning in and you just hit the throttle, you needs lots of traction and when the car is not giving you any of that, it is very difficult to drive around.”

‘Blame needed to go more on the car’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...4RojAonQtpb4AO


‘Nobody’ in Mercedes can explain Lewis Hamilton struggle compared to George Russell
3 Dec 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Lewis Hamilton has endured a difficult second half to his 2024 season with Mercedes having struggled to produce the same results as teammate George Russell. Although Hamilton took a stunning victory at the British Grand Prix earlier this year, his record ninth time winning the race, the seven-time world champion has struggled to recapture the glory years with Mercedes.

Mercedes lost as to why Lewis Hamilton struggling more than George Russell in W15. Hamilton’s race in Qatar was marred by a series of rookie errors, including a start infringement whereby he anticipated the lights too quickly and triggered the grid sensor. According to Benson, there is ‘nobody’ at Mercedes who knows why Hamilton is struggling more than Russell in the W15 which has proven to be a tough car to get into the right operating window.

“The fact he has been comprehensively out-paced by team-mate George Russell in qualifying, and his general struggles with the car, have been a surprise. And nobody – not Hamilton, not Mercedes – seems to really be able to explain why Hamilton has had these problems,” said Benson. “What’s certain is that he has simply not got on with this year’s Mercedes car, which he finds unpredictable, and he’s not been able to cope with its idiosyncrasies as well as Russell.”

‘Nobody at Mercedes who knows why Hamilton is struggling’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nob...eorge-russell/


Toto Wolff wants to end “present chapter” with Lewis Hamilton “in the right way”
A week of "celebration" ahead for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton.
3 Dec 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Toto Wolff says the season-ending F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is “a celebration” as Lewis Hamilton drives for Mercedes for the final time. “Six Drivers' World Championships. Eight Constructors' titles. 84 wins. 78 pole positions. 153 podium finishes. The most successful driver and team partnership in F1 history. Many highs that we have enjoyed. Some crushing lows that we've overcome together.”

“Our relationship has meant so much more than just numbers and statistics, though. It is a legacy that transcends our sport, with a lasting impact beyond the racetrack. One that has strived to increase diversity in our sport. To fight for inclusion.”

“Lewis has been the catalyst for so much of this and we have been honoured and proud to work hand-in-hand with him. That work won't stop at the end of this year. But it began because of the impetus led by Lewis.”

“A celebration”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/106112...lton-right-way


Why Lewis Hamilton has been left in a ‘negative spiral’ during his final F1 season at Mercedes
3 Dec 2024
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Lewis Hamilton’s swansong season with his beloved Mercedes has been a mixed affair throughout, from victories to disappointments – it has been quite the ride. In the first instance, it’s beautiful that he got to sign off from the Silver Arrows by taking multiple victories with them before leaving.

Speaking to F1-insider.com’s YouTube channel, Ralf Bach believes that the little incidents that have hampered Hamilton this season have led him to spiral. “Hamilton’s completely on the losing road right now, but it’s definitely not because he’s lost basic speed,” he said.

“Somehow he changes the team, then you’re in a negative spiral, then something happens, then something happens again and sometimes it’s little things that happen. The sum just leads to this negative spiral you notice he is really happy when he can end his Mercedes life and then set off for new shores, namely Ferrari.”

‘The sum just leads to this negative spiral’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/why...n-at-mercedes/


Toto Wolff calls out ‘crazy, made-up conspiracies’ about Lewis Hamilton
3 Dec 2024
Oliver Harden
Crash.Net

Toto Wolff has shot down the “crazy, made-up conspiracies” circulating online about Mercedes’ treatment of Lewis Hamilton during the F1 2024 season. Hamilton’s poor performances have fuelled wild suggestions online that he has been given inferior equipment by Mercedes in F1 2024.

In June, an anonymous email from someone claiming to work for the Mercedes team was sent to members of the F1 media, alleging that Hamilton has been the victim of “systematic sabotage” by the Brackley-based team. Wolff confirmed at the Spanish Grand Prix later that month that the individual responsible was not an employee of Mercedes, with the police launching an investigation over the matter.

Wolff told media including PlanetF1.com in Barcelona: “When we are getting these kinds of emails, and we’re getting tonnes of them, it is upsetting, particularly when there is somebody talking about death and all these things.”

‘Crazy, made-up conspiracies’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...theory-made-up

[Fortitude]

Alonso thrilled to score points in Qatar despite car issue while Stroll gives his take on ‘unintentional’ Albon clash.
Fernando Alonso was delighted to leave the Qatar Grand Prix with points after ending the race in seventh place – especially as he had to overcome a technical problem with his car – while Aston Martin team mate Lance Stroll suffered an early exit following a Lap 1 collision with Alex Albon.
3 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site

When asked after the race if he was happy with the outcome, Alonso responded: “Yeah, definitely. The final result is great, P7, six points for the team is very good at this part of the championship. At the beginning we had some issues, it’s a well-known problem. “We’re struggling with something on the car, I think it’s deployment of the energy or something after the Safety Car – the car is still thinking that we are behind the Safety Car, so we don’t deploy all the energy and the electrical power.”

“We are lacking a little bit of top speed and we are vulnerable at that part of the race. But yeah, after that obviously we capitalised on some DNFs and penalties, so we were ready and there to take it. As I said, [I’m] happy for the team, and hopefully we finish on a positive note also in Abu Dhabi [for] this championship.”

‘Thrilled’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...t5nkAKDfdwFTFR


Alonso reveals he suffered with deployment problem en route to P7
1 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Fernando Alonso was very pleased to pick up six points for Aston Martin in Qatar – especially as he was having trouble with his car during the race.

‘Trouble with his car’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/al...62747411185822


Fernando Alonso Says He Can Be ‘Too Confident’ In F1
Dec 2, 2024
F1 Chronicle

Dec.2 (GMM) With rumours swirling about Lewis Hamilton’s pace, age and motivation, F1 veteran Fernando Alonso insists he does not personally suffer from crises of confidence.

For two-time champion Alonso, he is struggling in one of the slowest cars this year – the Aston Martin – but insists he never struggles for confidence. “Of course you have to feel competitive from time to time,” said the 43-year-old Spaniard, “but I do not doubt myself. Actually, I am probably a little too confident when it comes to my abilities to need a result to believe in it.”

“If we are competitive and I’m fighting to get out of Q1, it’s not because I got slow overnight. It’s because the car needs to be improved,” Alonso added. “But it is good to have some good results from time to time so that the team doesn’t lose confidence.”

“I do not doubt myself”;

https://f1chronicle.com/fernando-alo.../?nowprocket=1


Alonso never doubted himself amid Aston Martin struggles
Fernando Alonso says return to form in Qatar qualifying proves he has not become slow overnight
1 Dec 2024
Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com

Fernando Alonso says his unexpected Q3 performance in the Qatar Grand Prix shows why he was right never to doubt himself amid Aston Martin’s recent struggles. The Spaniard, who is Formula 1’s oldest driver, has endured a challenging run of races off the back of his squad’s backward step with a new floor that arrived at the United States Grand Prix.

Its difficulties have left it as the eighth or ninth fastest team at times, with concerns it could even slip behind the Sauber squad that has recently delivered a step forward with a new floor. But after a stronger-than-expected performance for Aston Martin in Qatar compared to recent outings, Alonso says that the result is proof that recent difficulties have been more about the car than the driving.

‘Alonso never doubted himself’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/a...gles/10678225/


Fernando Alonso reveals new tactical plan after Verstappen grid penalty precedent
3 Dec 2024
Elizabeth Blackstock
PlanetF1.com

Countless perplexing penalties were issued in Doha during the Qatar Grand Prix weekend — and some drivers are already looking for ways to game the system. It should come as no surprise that the ever-tactical Fernando Alonso is one such driver. After Max Verstappen’s one-place grid penalty, he’s discovered a way to put his rivals on the back foot.

“I only read the news that it was a one-place penalty for, I don’t know,” Alonso said. “He was slow, but George was on a slow lap as well. So in Abu Dhabi, if I’m in a slow lap, I will push crazy to the car in front to have penalty I guess, if he’s impeding me.”

It was a tongue-in-cheek joke fr0m the Spaniard, but it still centers in on the big concern with Verstappen’s penalty: Setting that precedent allows for a cynical interpretation of the rules. Why not speed up behind a driver you think will out-qualify you, in hopes that he earns a penalty for impeding?

‘New tactical plan’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...alty-precedent


Alonso sides with Verstappen: 'In Abu Dhabi I can do the same as Russell'
2 Dec 2024
Nicole Mulder
GPblog.com

Fernando Alonso disagrees with the punishment Max Verstappen received for the incident with George Russell during qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix. Like Verstappen, the Aston Martin driver fears the decision sets a dangerous precedent.

The FIA once again came under scrutiny during the Qatar GP. A number of heavy penalties were handed out, including a stop-and-go penalty and a drive-through penalty to Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton respectively. There was also much talk about the decision not to deploy a safety car for the detached mirror that was on the straight.

"Max’s penalty yesterday, I don't know. I only read the news that it was one place penalty for… I don't know. He was slow, but George was on a slow lap as well. In Abu Dhabi if I'm on a slow lap, I will push crazy to the car in front to have a penalty, I guess if he's impeding me. That's the only thing that we need to be careful," he continued.

‘Do the same as Russell’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/31640...a-penalty.html


What was behind Alonso’s “cannot ******* believe it” radio message
The Aston Martin driver vented his frustration in the early stages of the Qatar GP
Dec 2, 2024
Jonathan Noble
Oleg Karpov
Motorsport.com

Fernando Alonso has explained his “cannot ******* believe it” radio message that he issued in the early stages of the Qatar Grand Prix. In a radio message that was broadcast on the international feed, Alonso said: “I cannot ******* believe it man. Two years with the same ******* problem on the straights.”

Reflecting on the radio message, Alonso, who went on to finish seventh, said: “It's not the first race that we are lacking top speed in the first lap of the race, or after the safety car.”

“I think the car is confused that still thinking that we are behind the safety car, so we don't deploy the energy properly out of the last corner when it's a green flag. That obviously is very costly if you don't deploy the energy when you have all the cars around you.”

“Cannot ******* believe it”;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/w...sage/10678605/

[Fortitude]

Esteban Ocon breaks silence in emotional statement after being replaced with one race left.
Esteban Ocon was released by Alpine with a race to go in the 2024 Formula One season.
Dec 3, 2024
Sam Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

“I leave Alpine/Renault with great memories and the pride of having been the driver who brought the team’s best results since its return to the sport, climbing the top two steps of the podium in Bahrain, Hungary, and Brazil. It was also an honour to play a part in finishing P4 in the Constructors’ Championship in 2022.”

“I know how much all of those moments meant for everybody and feeling that sense of achievement and joy alongside the team is what I am taking away with me. It has not been an easy year on track for the team and the second part of the season has been especially difficult. For various reasons. I do not regret a single thing knowing I gave it 100 per cent every single session. Like I always have.”

“To the hundreds of hard-working men and women at Enstone and Viry, I apologise that I will not be able [to] come see you in person and have a proper farewell. As you know, the plan was always to race one last time this weekend and personally say goodbye to you all next week. I was looking forward to both of those things.

‘Breaks silence’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ence-alpine-f1


‘This is not how I wanted things to end’ – Ocon shares emotional farewell to Alpine after ‘especially difficult’ season
3 Dec 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Reports that Ocon would prematurely leave the Enstone outfit emerged in the paddock after the Qatar race, and Alpine then officially confirmed a deal on Monday that will allow him to drive for Haas in the Abu Dhabi post-season test, but which means he won't be racing in the final Grand Prix of the year.

He was already set to join the American team next year, but in a statement shared on Instagram he revealed that his sudden departure was not how he “wanted things to end”, despite team boss Oliver Oakes previously explaining that the move was in the best interests of all parties.

‘Emotional farewell’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...5WjY99EU8tdOdw


Haas confirm early Ocon debut after Alpine exit
Esteban Ocon will not race in Abu Dhabi this weekend - but he will not have to wait long before jumping back behind the wheel of an F1 car.
4 Dec 2024
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

The Haas F1 team has confirmed Esteban Ocon will make his debut for the squad next week at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. A one-day test on December 10th will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit following the season finale this weekend.

The outing often creates the opportunity for drivers who are switching teams to get a headstart in their new environment ahead of the following season. Haas announced in July earlier this year that it had signed Ocon for the 2025 campaign, with the Frenchman set to partner Oliver Bearman.

Ocon's tenure with Alpine came to an early end as the team confirmed he departed the squad after the Qatar Grand Prix last weekend, with Jack Doohan stepping in for Abu Dhabi.

‘Haas confirm early Ocon debut’;

https://racingnews365.com/haas-confi...er-alpine-exit


‘Broken down’: Karun Chandhok shares why Alpine had to release Esteban Ocon amid behind the scenes ‘mess’
4 Dec 2024
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

Ocon’s early departure from Alpine seemed to be in the works for some time after the relationship between the two parties had ‘completely broken down’, according to Karun Chandhok. The Frenchman has come to blows with teammate Pierre Gasly on numerous occasions and this is said to have caused tensions between Ocon and Alpine which reached breaking point in Qatar.

Naomi Schiff thinks it’s a ‘big risk’ putting in Doohan at Alpine in Abu Dhabi, but for Chandhok, the driver change ‘makes sense’ as Ocon’s relationship with the team was fractured and had to be released to Haas. “I actually think it’s a good move all round. I think for Alpine, it makes sense really,” he told the Sky Sports F1 Podcast.

‘In the works for some time’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/kar...e-scenes-mess/