F1 Fast Five: Alpine hires road car expert for new role, Should Red Bull be compelled to sell its second team?, and other big updates

Alpine hires road car expert for new role

Alpine Formula 1 team appoints John Woods as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Enstone, while Renault promotes Audrey Vastroux to a similar role at its Viry power unit base. This restructuring follows the departure of team principal Otmar Szafnauer, with Bruno Famin now confirmed as the permanent team principal. Woods, previously with Group Lotus and McLaren Automotive, brings factory expertise to oversee operations, while Vastroux, who has been with Renault for 18 years, will focus on the Viry facility. Famin highlights the importance of these roles in streamlining operations and process improvements, particularly with the demands of a busy racing calendar.

Click here to read the full article by Adam Cooper (motorsport.com)

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Should Red Bull be compelled to sell its second team?

Formula 1 is urged to push Red Bull to sell its second team due to concerns over common team ownership, a measure vital for maintaining sporting integrity. The move isn't solely prompted by recent criticism of Red Bull's partnership with its second team but instead by broader issues necessitating preventative actions. Prohibiting multiple team ownership is seen as imperative, especially with F1's heightened popularity and susceptibility to conflicts of interest. While Red Bull's ownership of its second team is exempted, encouraging its sale to a suitable buyer remains crucial for ensuring fairness and competitive balance within the sport.

Click here to read the full article by Edd Straw (the-race.com)

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Why Horner's potential departure might spell doom

Red Bull GmbH is investigating Christian Horner for undisclosed allegations potentially related to his management style. Despite denial, Horner's future hinges on a hearing scheduled for February 9th amidst rumors of power struggles within Red Bull. Horner's significant role in Red Bull's Formula 1 success raises questions about the team's future without him, especially considering his alignment with key figures like Adrian Newey. Similar incidents, like Jeremy Clarkson's departure from Top Gear, demonstrate potential organizational ramifications. Horner's departure could lead to a domino effect, possibly impacting Red Bull's performance and personnel decisions.

Click here to read the full article by Thomas Maher (planetf1.com)

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Williams Racing season launch

Williams has maintained a similar color scheme for the 2024 season, reminiscent of last year's FW45. The car features shades of dark and navy blue, along with exposed carbon fiber on its lower half. Albon expressed satisfaction with the design's evolution, noting its cleanliness, while Sargeant echoed similar sentiments, citing his experience with the car as an advantage.

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Alpine's deceptively different car

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Alpine has launched a deceptively different 2024 car that needs to fire some life back into Renault’s stuttering works F1 programme. Beyond the technical limitations that affected Alpine's 2023 challenger, the A524 must address key weaknesses. The success of this new model, alongside wider changes at Alpine, will be crucial for the team's performance.