Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
Susie Wolff, F1 Academy boss, expressed being "deeply insulted but sadly unsurprised" as the FIA initiated a conflict of interest investigation into her and her husband Toto, the Mercedes Team Principal. The investigation follows reports suggesting that Toto Wolff had access to privileged information during a Team Principal's meeting, allegedly sourced from Formula One Management (FOM), where Susie Wolff is employed to oversee the all-female F1 Academy series. Mercedes claimed to be unaware of the investigation until the FIA's announcement, while Susie Wolff, responding on Instagram, vehemently rejected the allegations, emphasizing her commitment to F1 Academy and denouncing the accusations as rooted in "intimidatory and misogynistic" behavior.
Click here to read the full article by Jake Nichol (racingnews365.com)
Formula 1 plans to resume tests of wet-weather wheel guards early next year, as the late-season run was abandoned due to cost concerns. The FIA has been exploring ways to minimize spray in rainy conditions, hindering visibility, with initial trials at Silverstone yielding unsatisfactory results. A larger second design is in development but faces logistical challenges and cost implications, prompting teams to delay testing until spring. FIA acknowledges the complexity of completely eliminating spray but aims to gather information in May to assess the efficacy of wheel covers, potentially implementing a wet weather solution for the 2025 season if successful.
Click here to read the full article by Jnathan Noble (motorsport.com)
Former Ferrari Team Principal Jean Todt, now serving as the FIA president and a UN global envoy, concurs with Felipe Massa's assertion that the controversial 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, marred by deliberate crashes to manipulate the race, should be "canceled" and removed from the records. Todt acknowledges the psychological impact on Massa, who lost the title due to a pit-stop error while his rival Lewis Hamilton gained an advantage. Despite Massa's team's ongoing legal actions, Todt agrees that the Singapore Grand Prix was rigged and should not stand in the record books.
Click here to read the full article by Jake Nichol (racingnews365.com)
Bridgestone is poised to supply the fourth-generation Formula E tires, marking its return to world championship single-seater racing, absent since its last Formula 1 involvement in 2010. The Japanese tire manufacturer, winning the tender, is set to replace Hankook, the current supplier for Gen3, until the 2025/26 season. Despite a rejected bid to return to Formula 1, Bridgestone secures its re-entry into international single-seater competition through Formula E. The official Formula E tender outlines two tire specifications, "baseline" for all-weather racing and "typhoon" for severe wet conditions, with the latter becoming mandatory in heavy rainfall instances.
Click here to read the full article by Sam Smith (the-race.com)
The last race of the 2023 season in Abu Dhabi had its share of behind-the-scenes highlights, and the Alpine F1 team shared some insights. Reserve driver Jack Doohan was eager to hit the track, while Esteban Ocon reportedly picked up a virus in Vegas, leading to comments from his performance coach.