The Haas F1 team brought their first major upgrade of the season, a revised floor, to the Miami Grand Prix. Kevin Magnussen, one of the team's drivers, managed to qualify in fourth position but ended up in 10th place due to traffic and tire wear issues. His teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, dropped from 12th to 15th. Team principal Guenther Steiner acknowledged that the car's performance in traffic was a weakness, and stated the team's aerodynamics department would address it. He also mentioned that some parts for the upcoming race in Imola are ready, including front wing flaps. Despite the challenges, Steiner expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting Magnussen's battle with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Click here to read the full article by Adam Cooper (motorsport.com).
Mercedes attempted to sign Adrian Newey before he decided to extend his contract with Red Bull, according to Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko. Despite the offer from Mercedes, Newey chose to stay with the reigning world champions. Marko also claimed that Ferrari tried and failed to poach Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache, who is Newey's right-hand man. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner confirmed the contract extension for Newey, who is considered one of the top minds in F1.
Click here to read the full article by Lewis Larkam (crash.net).
If someone mentions an "underperforming F1 team", who would you think of first? Maybe Mercedes, who are quite far from their peak years, or perhaps Ferrari, known as Formula One's premier team, yet haven't seen a championship win in over a decade. It could be McLaren, seemingly stuck in a stagnation similar to Mercedes, unable to progress their vehicle. However, none of these teams face direct threats from their team owner, unlike Alpine. Could we see a shake-up at Alpine soon? Will any alterations truly impact their performance?
Daniel Ricciardo's recent visit to AlphaTauri and subsequent seat fitting sparked rumors about him replacing Nyck de Vries. This is a part of Ricciardo’s role as a reserve driver for Red Bull and does not imply an impending driver change. Rookie Nyck de Vries is having a difficult season with AlphaTauri, yet the team continues to support him. However, sources suggest that senior management, including Helmut Marko, expect to see progress by the Spanish Grand Prix next month. The upcoming triple header will be a significant opportunity to assess de Vries' potential, with his performance in Imola, Monaco, and Barcelona being crucial for his future. De Vries expressed optimism for the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, anticipating a performance boost from the team's major update.
Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble & Giacomo Rauli (autosport.com).
Head to Spielberg for a recap on all the racing action from round 2 of the F1 Academy. Click here for the video.