Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
US-based investors, including Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners, and Maximum Effort Investments led by Ryan Reynolds, have finalized the acquisition of a 24% share in Alpine Racing Limited for 200 million euros. The deal valued the Enstone company, which owns the Alpine Formula 1 team, at around $900 million. As part of the agreement, Otro co-founder Alex Scheiner has become a director of the team, with Reynolds and fellow actor Rob McElhenney also involved. Sporting legends such as Rory McIlroy, Anthony Joshua, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Juan Mata, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce are part of the investment group, aiming to boost Alpine's profile in the USA and secure future sponsors.
Click here to read the full article by Adam Cooper (motorsport.com)
Max Verstappen faces a $2.13 million success fee for his dominant third straight Formula 1 championship win, earning a record-breaking 575 points at a cost of approximately $3662 per point. Red Bull Racing will cover the fee, but Verstappen criticizes the "absurd" cost of super license fees, considering the expanding race calendar. Despite not affecting the budget cap, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner acknowledges the significant payout to the FIA, with Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton also facing substantial fees, contributing to a total driver pool payout of $9.45 million.
Click here to read the full article by Simon Chapman (stuff.co.nz)
The FIA aims to implement a 'zero notice' policy for Formula 1 factory inspections, reducing the prior notification given to teams for regulatory checks. This move is driven by the increasing complexity of F1 regulations, including restrictions on wind tunnel testing, information sharing, cost cap adherence, and external staff usage. Nikolas Tombazis, FIA's head of single-seater matters, emphasized the desire for immediate access to factories, suggesting a process where a quick call prompts a timely response for inspections, ideally within 10 to 15 minutes. The FIA has recently expanded its personnel for factory inspections, enabling more frequent checks every two or three weeks.
Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble (motorsport.com)
Mercedes driver George Russell described his 2023 Formula 1 season as having a great pace but dreadful results. Despite ranking ninth in The Race’s Top 10, his year was deemed the worst of his five F1 campaigns, with 175 points and an eighth-place world championship finish compared to teammate Lewis Hamilton's 234 points and third place. Russell excelled in qualifying, but the unpredictable Mercedes W14 contributed to inconsistent race results. The season featured notable errors, including a pivotal moment in the Australian Grand Prix. Russell acknowledged the impact of bad luck and the need to address race-day weaknesses for future success.
Click here to read the full article by Edd Straw (the-race.com)
In this episode of Beat the Challenge by Shell, the innovation partners of Scuderia Ferrari, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, reflect on their journey to date. Looking at pictures, they chat about moments, like when Leclerc found a photo of himself holding a football in a Monaco shirt. He said it reminds him of the fun times playing football with friends when he's not racing.