Today's F1 News Delivered Faster Than a Pit Stop
The Sauber F1 team, previously known as Alfa Romeo, will race as the 'Stake F1 Team' until 2026, taking on the full branding identity of their title sponsor, the gambling company Stake. The team's representative, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, sees this rebranding as a natural and exciting progression in their partnership with Stake, emphasizing the successful engagement with Formula 1's fan base. Sauber will unveil their C44 car next month for the upcoming season, and they will transition into Audi's factory Formula 1 team in 2026 when Audi officially enters the sport. Despite earlier speculations, Audi's CEO, Gernot Dollner, reaffirms the brand's commitment to entering F1 with Sauber in 2026.
Click here to read the full article by Will Wood (racefans.net)
As 2024 approaches with the Bahrain Grand Prix just 61 days away, Crash.net examines which F1 team is poised to challenge Red Bull, following Red Bull's dominant 2023 season, where they won 21 out of 22 races, securing Max Verstappen's third consecutive drivers' title. Red Bull boss Christian Horner anticipates a more competitive field in 2024 due to stable technical regulations. Despite securing second in the constructors' championship in 2023, Mercedes faces challenges in adapting to the ground effect era, while Ferrari struggles with car performance and reliability. McLaren emerges as a surprise contender with a transformative Austria upgrade in 2023, and Aston Martin shows potential but lacks consistency for a title charge.
Click here to read the full article by Connor McDonagh (crash.net)
McLaren's technical restructuring in 2023 included the appointment of former Red Bull chief Rob Marshall and Ferrari engineer David Sanchez as technical directors, alongside existing employee Peter Prodromou. Marshall and Sanchez were on gardening leave, a customary period of separation from their previous teams to prevent the transfer of sensitive information. Marshall, previously Chief Engineering Officer at Red Bull, now serves as McLaren's Technical Director of Engineering and Design, while Sanchez, replacing James Key, takes on the role of Technical Director of car Concept and Performance. The three technical directors report to Team Principal Andrea Stella, who oversees the restructuring aimed at enabling McLaren's turnaround.
Click here to read the full article by Jake Nichol (racingnews365.com)
The 2024 Formula 1 grid remains unchanged, but driver stocks have shifted. Ranking the line-ups based on driver ability, Stake F1 with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu is deemed the weakest, criticized for Bottas' inconsistency and Zhou's lack of pace. Williams, featuring Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, is seen as slightly improved, with Albon praised, but Sargeant is considered a placeholder. Haas, led by Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, faces mixed opinions, with some acknowledging their solid performance but questioning motivation. AlphaTauri rises with Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo's potential, while Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso lifts the team, but Lance Stroll's improvement is crucial for success. Alpine's pairing of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon is viewed as balanced but lacking consistent excellence.
Click here to read the full article at the-race.com
Kym Illman covered all the F1 races in the 2023 season, capturing various moments, from Max Verstappen's strong performances to Sergio Perez's crash in Mexico City. With Carlos Sainz's unexpected win in Singapore and Oscar Piastri's impressive rookie year, there's a lot to discuss. Sit back and enjoy the ups and downs of the 2023 season.