Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
Ferrari has ceased working on its 2023 car in the wind tunnel, according to team principal Frederic Vasseur. The team currently lags behind Red Bull, Mercedes, and Aston Martin in the constructors' standings, prompting a focus on the 2024 season. Development for this year halted in July, though approved components will be used in upcoming races. Plans for the 2024 car are in the conceptual stage, aiming to enable drivers to perform better. Ferrari aims to be ready for the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix in March while actively recruiting new staff, including top engineers. Despite rumors, Vasseur reports good internal communication and management coordination at Ferrari.
Click here to read the full article on grandprix.com
Alfa Romeo reserve driver Theo Pourchaire, aiming to win the FIA Formula 2 Championship this year, remains focused on his goal, given F1 teams' interest. Despite just one win in Bahrain, his consistency puts him ahead in the standings by 12 points. At 19, competing in his third F2 season, Pourchaire appreciates the attention from F1, noting he's still among the youngest drivers. Previously part of Sauber Academy, he hopes his strong F2 performance and age will lead to an opportunity in Formula 1. Pourchaire acknowledges his relative inexperience but aims to improve and stay dedicated, knowing other deserving drivers also aspire to F1.
Click here to read the full article by Michael Delaney (f1i.com)
Audi F1 has been advised to undertake a comprehensive overhaul to transform the Sauber team into a championship contender ahead of their entry into Formula 1 in two and a half years. As they prepare for their debut, Audi is developing their power unit in Germany and monitoring Sauber's operations in Switzerland. F1 expert Mark Gallagher highlighted that Sauber is content with a midfield position and lacks the ambition and structure for success. He emphasized that Audi would need to completely revamp the team to achieve their Formula 1 aspirations.
Click here to read the full article by Sam Cooper (planetf1.com)
The 2021 cost cap aimed to level the competition in F1 by reducing the financial advantage of top teams. While it tightened the midfield competition, it also constrained car development and recovery from a slow start. Component lead time impact has been small, but season-long upgrades face longer delays between testing and production. Teams now bundle upgrades due to the cap, causing more delays for initial parts. This contrasts with the past when frequent wind tunnel developments led to quicker on-track changes. Resource limitations due to the cap have hindered long-term projects and capability improvement, as seen in Mercedes and Williams, making innovation harder and investment in manufacturing processes and personnel challenging.
Click here to read the full article by Jake Boxall-Legge & Matt Kew (motorsport.com)
Formula Addict conducts a comparison between Porsche's "No Restriction" endurance vehicle, the 919 EVO, and the fastest Formula One car in history, the Mercedes W11, along with the quickest car of 2023, the RB19, at Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit.