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Formula 1 - 2024 Season

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took his first Formula 1 victory for nearly four months with a controlled drive in the sprint race at the United States Grand Prix

Verstappen’s win extends his championship lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris to 54 points.

Norris was running second going into the final lap but a lock-up at the first corner allowed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to slip by in Austin, Texas.

The Briton then had to fend off the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, which he managed to do to the flag, helped by a mistake by Leclerc into Turn 15.

Verstappen’s victory was his first in F1 since the sprint event at the Austrian Grand Prix in June, and could be a decisive development in the title race on a weekend where Red Bull have introduced a major upgrade to their car.

Qualifying for Sunday's main grand prix at the Circuit of the Americas is at 23:00 BST.

Dutchman Verstappen converted his pole position into a lead at the first corner and was able to keep Norris at bay for the full 19 laps.

"It was not too bad," Verstappen said. "It feels a bit like old times. The whole race, Ferrari was always very quick, but for us we were finally racing again. We had good pace."

Norris jumped up from fourth on the grid to second on the first lap with a superb first four corners, sweeping past Mercedes’ George Russell into the fast Esses after passing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at Turn One.

Sainz and Leclerc staged a race-long battle in the Ferraris in a sprint that was engrossing throughout.

The Ferraris staged a frantic scrap over the first five laps in which they seemed to spend almost as much time side by side as in line astern. Sainz time and again attemped moves only to be rebuffed, often as he ran into corners too deep.

Once ahead on lap five, with a dive down the inside at Turn 15, the Spaniard attacked Russell as the Mercedes driver started struggling with front tyre wear, and moved ahead at Turn 15 on lap nine, Leclerc following him through at the same place next time around.

Leclerc came back at Sainz in the closing laps as the Spaniard himself tried to attack Norris for second.

And Norris’ error into Turn One, locking his inside front wheel, allowed Sainz to slip by and reduced the pressure from Leclerc, who had been lining up for a move on his team-mate.

Source: BBC
 
Norris takes US pole with 'best lap of my career'

McLaren’s Lando Norris beat title rival Max Verstappen’s Red Bull to pole position at the United States Grand Prix with what he said was “the best lap of my career”.

Norris was helped by Mercedes driver George Russell crashing late in the session, which prevented any driver improving on their second laps.

Norris had been 0.031 seconds quicker than Verstappen on their first laps, but the Dutchman had started his final lap much better than the Briton, only for both to have to abort.

Although luck played its part, the result was just what Norris needed after Verstappen won the sprint race earlier in the day.

With Norris finishing third behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Verstappen extended his championship lead by two points to 54.

That made Norris’ task in the championship even tougher - he needed to take an average of nearly nine points per race out of Verstappen for the remaining six grands prix of the season to beat him to the title.

By taking pole position, Norris has given himself an opportunity to claw back some of that gap in the grand prix, although Verstappen’s pace has looked formidable all weekend after Red Bull introduced some upgrades on to their car.

McLaren had been struggling in comparison but Norris excelled himself to go fastest on the first runs before Russell’s accident confirmed his pole.

"It was a beautiful lap," Norris said. "I was not going to go much quicker than I did.

"When you just do a lap and you think it’s going to be tough to beat... I put everything on the line, I needed to do it.

"We’ve not had the pace of the Ferraris or Red Bulls so I had to do something, and I did that.

"It was a very good lap. I can probably say quite confidently the best of my career."

Both Norris and Verstappen made mistakes at Turn 19 on their first laps. Norris had a slide, forcing him to catch the rear, while Verstappen had to lift after missing the apex.

Verstappen was then 0.2secs quicker than Norris in the first sector on their second runs - and Norris was slower there than on his first run - before they both had to abort.

Verstappen said: "On the first lap in Q3 I lost quite a bit of time there. I knew we had another run but unfortunately I couldn’t finish the lap, but that’s how it goes. At least the potential was there to be first, so that’s very good."

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took fifth, 0.620secs slower than Norris, while Russell was still sixth despite his crash.

For team-mate Lewis Hamilton it was a terrible day. The seven-time champion qualified 19th, Mercedes saying he had "messy balance and front locking".

Why were McLaren struggling?

Norris’ pole was his fourth in the past five races, while Verstappen has not been fastest in qualifying since the Belgian Grand Prix in July, when he was demoted by a penalty for using excessive engine parts.

Norris has also won two of the past four races, with team-mate Piastri one of the other two.

Norris said he "didn’t have an easy answer" to explain the switch in performance this weekend.

He pointed out that although he dominated at the last race in Singapore and the Netherlands, Piastri’s victory in Baku came about because the Australian "drove better than the others", adding: "So if we just go back two races we were not the quickest car. That’s our version of events.

"I could not have gone any quicker than the lap I did today, which shows we are not as fast (as Red Bull).

“And even if we go back to Singapore, Ferrari were very quick until qualifying. The final stint, Charles was the quickest car on the track. It has been very close, closer than people think, even though we have dominated some races."

Verstappen said: "Singapore has never been a good track for us. All the low-speed corners and bumps, our car does not really work on that.

"This is a very different track layout and we made the car a bit more stable and that helps the tyres out a bit."

What happened to Mercedes?

Russell qualified on the front row for the sprint race, and Hamilton looked like he could have got pole for that event had he not come across yellow flags on his qualifying lap.

But the Mercedes cars struggled with tyre wear over the 19 laps of the sprint and both drivers were confused as to where the potential they had shown had gone.

Russell said: "It was just a really difficult session. Yesterday we had a car, (in which) both Lewis and I (were) fighting for pole position. Today we were both nearly out of Q1.

"I was 0.6secs away from pole at the start of Q3. I was on a really strong lap, I was 0.5secs up at one point, and then it went away from me in sector three and then I had the crash.

"It’s really disappointing because the team have worked so hard to bring these upgrades to the car and I was just trying too hard to find something that in all honesty wasn’t there. And I paid the price. Really quite upset with how it’s ended."

Russell said there were not enough upgraded parts for him to run them in the race, so he will have to revert to an older-specification car.

"Lewis has kindly offered me his but we’re not going to do that," he said.

Hamilton, who has won five times on this track, more than any other driver, said: "Naturally in the moment I feel massively deflated but it could always be worse. Still very fortunate to be here, but it is really tough, it has been a terrible day.

"This is a track I have done well at for many, many years and this is the first year it has been really bad."

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez completed the top 10.

BBC
 
Norris penalised for Verstappen pass as Leclerc wins US GP

The title battle between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris erupted in controversy at the United States Grand Prix after the McLaren driver was penalised for passing his rival for third place off the track.

The race was dominated by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who took the lead on the first lap after Norris and Verstappen ran wide at the first corner of the race.

Leclerc was imperious in leading Carlos Sainz to a Ferrari one-two once he had moved into first place, but the drama was all behind him in Austin.

Norris finished third after passing Verstappen around the outside at Turn 12 with four laps to go, only to run off the track on the exit of the corner.

Norris chose not to give the place back, while Verstappen complained he had to, and the stewards agreed with the Dutchman.

They handed Norris a five-second penalty and as he had pulled out only a 4.1-second lead once in front, he was dropped back to fourth place, one behind the Red Bull driver, in the results.

Verstappen has therefore extended his drivers' championship lead to 57 points with five races to go and 146 points still available.


www.bbc.com

US Grand Prix: Lando Norris loses third to Max Verstappen as Charles Leclerc wins

Lando Norris is penalised for passing Max Verstappen as Charles Leclerc wins the United States Grand Prix.
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Ferrari’s Leclerc wins US Grand Prix as Norris, Verstappen clash​


Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc clinched his third Formula One race of the season as he finished ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz to win the United States Grand Prix, while title rivals Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were locked in a controversial finish.

Monaco native Leclerc helped Ferrari finish the race one-two as Spaniard Sainz was placed second, 8.562 seconds behind Leclerc’s winning time of 1:35:09.639 in a memorable race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

“It wasn’t an easy weekend but I had the confidence in the race,” Leclerc said afterwards.

“We still had the upper hand, we couldn’t have dreamed for better.”

Leclerc had also won the Monaco Grand Prix and Italian Grand Prix this year and sits third in the driver standings behind Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who tangled late in the race in a sequence that saw Norris receive a substantial penalty.

Norris caught Verstappen and passed him for third, but he left the track to do so. The ensuing five-second penalty he received at the end of the race pushed him behind Verstappen and back to fourth place.

“It’s not an easy decision, it would’ve come sooner,” Norris said. “I tried, he also went off the track. If he goes off the track he goes in too hard and gains an advantage. But I don’t make the rules.”

Norris said the race was a “momentum killer” for his title challenge.

Asked by reporters how much of a ‘killer’ it was for the championship, Norris replied: “Quite a bit. It’s a momentum killer.

“But we came in here with our mind open, not expecting to dominate or just win or anything. The fact that Ferrari was so quick today showed they’re just as competitive,” he added.

“Even if I came around turn one in first, I would never have finished first or second and I only could have finished third. But the one guy I need to beat is Max and that’s the guy I didn’t beat today.

“It was a non-successful weekend, all in all. But we gave it a good shot. I tried. It wasn’t good enough and we have work to do and I have work to do myself.”

McLaren continue to lead Red Bull in the constructors’ standings by 40 points, but Ferrari are looming into contention.

Norris needed to beat Verstappen by more than eight points a race weekend on average to have a real chance of becoming champion and the task has only become more difficult with five rounds remaining.

Verstappen – the three-time reigning F1 champion from the Netherlands – remains atop the driver standings, 57 points clear of the UK’s Norris, but his Grand Prix title drought has extended to nine straight races. Verstappen won seven of 10 to start the season.

British F1 icon Lewis Hamilton spun out around Turn 19 and was the only driver not to complete the race.

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Ferrari’s Leclerc wins US Grand Prix as Norris, Verstappen clash

Verstappen and Norris are separated by 57 points on the drivers’ championship table after the race, with Leclerc third.
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Russell crashes heavily in Mexican Grand Prix practice

Mercedes’ George Russell created the headlines in Friday practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, fastest in the first session and crashing heavily in the second.

Russell lost control through the Esses early in the second session, which was taken up almost entirely by a Pirelli tyre test.

Russell was taken to the medical centre for mandatory checks because of the size of the impact but was released uninjured.

In the first session, there was another big crash, when Williams’ Alex Albon tangled with the Ferrari of reserve driver Oliver Bearman.

Driving Charles Leclerc’s car in the first session, Bearman was on a cool-down lap and Albon on a flying lap.

Bearman was trying to get out of Albon’s way but the British-born Thai lost control and spun into the barriers.

Albon called Bearman an “idiot” over the team radio but race stewards took no further action, saying in their report that both drivers accepted it was a “racing incident”.

Max Verstappen had a difficult day caused by an engine problem.

It brought his first session to a close, after which team principal Christian Horner said it was “minor”. But after taking to the track in the second session, it resurfaced and he did no flying laps before having to abandon his car for repairs.

Title rival Lando Norris missed the first session as IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward was given a run but took a full part in the second, ending up fifth fastest with a run on standard 2024 tyres late on.

Norris has a new floor on the McLaren this weekend, which the team are hoping will be a reasonable step forward in performance.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz set the pace in the second session, running on C4 compound development and standard tyres throughout, this year’s medium.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was second fastest, 0.178secs behind, running C5s.

In the first session, Russell was 0.317 seconds quicker than Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, with RB’s Yuki Tsunoda third from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, whose session ended early with an engine problem,

A number of race drivers did not take part in the first session - Lewis Hamilton’s car was driven by his 2025 replacement Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was 12th fastest.

Fernando Alonso, celebrating his 400th grand prix this weekend, was replaced in first practice by reserve driver Felipe Drugovich, and Robert Schwartzman took over from Zhou Guanyu in the second Sauber, for whom Valtteri Bottas was eighth fastest.

At Mercedes, Hamilton’s car continues with the upgrades introduced last weekend in Austin, even though both he and Russell crashed at Turn 19 in the course of the weekend.

Russell is using an older specification because he damaged his new parts with his qualifying crash.


BBC
 
Sainz on Mexico City pole, but Norris 'happy' with third

Title rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris start Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix from second and third on the grid behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

Verstappen heads into the race 57 points clear of Norris, who needs to gain on the Red Bull driver by an average of just under 12 points a race to overtake him in the remaining five grands prix.

Norris qualified his McLaren just 0.089 seconds slower than Verstappen, but Sainz was in a league of his own, on pole by 0.225secs from the Dutchman to underline Ferrari’s surge in form over the last few races.

The second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, dominant winner of the United States Grand Prix last weekend, starts fourth, ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

The top four are all focused on the run to the first corner, the longest of the season, on which the powerful slipstream effect can give the advantage to the drivers in second and third on the grid.

The winner of this race has come from third on the grid - Norris’ position - in three of the last four races.

Sainz, who took his first pole since Singapore 2023 and for whom both laps in final qualifying were good enough to start at the front, said: “Probably the biggest difficult thing will be the run down into Turn One and starting on pole with a slipstream, no?

“I just need to make sure I do a good 0-100km/h, which is the most important thing when you start on pole, just make sure you do a good jump. And from there obviously do the best I can to defend.

“I have two guys behind fighting for quite important things and the run down into Turn One should be interesting. I have obviously less to lose in that sense.”

To boost his title hopes, Norris needs to win the race and hope the Ferraris finish between him and Verstappen.

But the Briton fears the pace of the Ferraris - Leclerc has taken two wins and a second in the last four races.

Norris said: “The last few weekends, they've been extremely quick and quicker than us, so it's... I don't have the confidence to say, yes, we can just beat them on pace. Like today, not on their level.

“I had definitely nowhere near close to 0.3secs left in the car. So it was more that they just went quicker. I was at the limit.”

How will incidents be judged?

The race takes place against the backdrop of a debate about racing rules following a controversial penalty given to Norris in the US Grand Prix after overtaking Verstappen on track.

Many drivers feel that Verstappen, while driving to the letter of the rules, defended in an unfair manner by taking both cars off the track and governing body the FIA has agreed to revise the racing guidelines in time for the Qatar Grand Prix in two races’ time.

This leaves the question as to how the stewards will judge similar incidents in Sunday’s race, but Sainz said he expected little would change for now.

“A lot of drivers opened up about how they felt about each situation and what we think is the best way forward,” he said, ”how you interpret the rules and those driving guidelines that the stewards are going to apply penalties with.

“They’re still the same coming into this weekend and probably I think they will be applied in a similar manner.”

Verstappen and Norris happy with positions

Verstappen was pleased to be on the front row after a difficult Friday on which he said he got “basically no data” because of an engine problem that restricted him to six laps.

“We were massively on the back foot,” Verstappen said. "After yesterday, I knew it would be a tough weekend, but we kept making little improvements with the car.

“Qualifying felt better and to be on the front row is an incredible result if you look back at yesterday.”

Norris set the fastest time in the first and second parts of qualifying but found himself lacking in the final session. A messy first run was followed by a second on which he said he could not go any faster.

“I am pretty happy with third, honestly,” Norris said. “I feel like I got to the limit of the car quite quickly, which made us look quite good but I struggled to get any more out of it.”

Norris will have no support in the race from his team-mate Oscar Piastri, who was knocked out in the first session for the second race in a row.

McLaren did their first runs on medium tyres in the first session to try to save softs for later but it seems to have harpooned Piastri.

The Australian said: “The medium I didn’t have much confidence on, the first soft lap I was going well and then I just went wide at Turn 12. We tried to go again but I had zero grip because the tyres were too hot. Disappointing.

“The car is quick. Just a shame I have to start from the back again. Ironically, it’s the same place Lando started last year and he did have a good race, so all is not lost.”

Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez had the latest in a long run of difficult qualifyings that have put his future in the team in doubt, 0.8secs slower than Verstappen in Q1 and knocked out in 18th place.

“Into the low speed, I cannot brake, I cannot attack the car,” Perez said. “I just start sliding. That is my main issue at the moment and here it showed even more.

“Every time I try to attack, it just starts locking up. There are four races to go and we have to get on top of it as a team.”

Bad luck for Alonso the 400th race man

Russell was positively surprised to be as high as fifth after crashing in second practice on Friday, the fourth incident for a Mercedes driver in four days of on-track action. That meant he is running an older-specification car while Lewis Hamilton has the upgrade introduced in Austin.

“Really happy with the recovery,” he said. “We are still on the old bits from 12 races ago. My lap felt really strong, super-happy with it.

“Checo and Piastri are out of position. P5 is probably is the best we could have hoped for. The three teams in front have got a bit of a battle on their hands so maybe the race will come towards us.”

Fernando Alonso qualified 13th for Aston Martin on the weekend on which he is celebrating his 400th grand prix.

But he said he felt he could have been in the top 10 had it not been for a red flag that truncated second qualifying when Yuki Tsunoda crashed his RB coming into the stadium section.

“There was more to come,” Alonso said. “I was happily surprised by the car in qualifying. It felt much better and I could attack with confidence.

“The lap with red flag I was 0.2secs up and maybe P9 or P10 was possible. Happy with the car and maybe this gives us a trend to come back in the race.”

The rest of the top10 behind Hamilton was completed by Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly's Alpine, Alex Albon's Williams and the second Haas of Nico Hulkenberg.

BBC
 
Norris calls Verstappen 'dangerous' as Sainz wins in Mexico

Lando Norris cut Max Verstappen’s lead to 47 points and labelled his rival “dangerous” as the championship battle reached boiling point at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Verstappen was given two 10-second penalties for his driving against Norris for two incidents in the same lap but still managed to finish sixth.

Norris took second place, catching and passing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for second with nine laps to go, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took a dominant victory.

Verstappen was given one penalty for forcing Norris off the track in an incident at Turn Four on lap 10 and another for leaving the track and gaining an advantage four corners later.

Verstappen fell foul of not being in quite the same position as he had been in last weekend’s United States Grand Prix.

In Austin, Norris was penalised for gaining an advantage by running off track trying to overtake the Red Bull driver and Verstappen was not punished for what many of his rivals felt was forcing the McLaren wide.

But the key point there was that Verstappen was ahead at the apex of the corner, entitling him to run to the edge of the track according to F1’s racing rules.

In Mexico City before the race, many drivers made it clear they felt Verstappen’s driving was not fair in Austin and agreed with governing body the FIA that the racing guidelines needed changing to address the type of driving Verstappen had employed.

The guidelines were the same leading into this race - a new draft will be discussed in Qatar in two races’ time - and Verstappen said that, despite the discussion “for me, in terms of racing, nothing changes”.

But at Turn Four in this race, the difference in this race was that Norris managed to keep his car slightly ahead at the apex, which meant that even without a change in the guidelines, Verstappen was obliged to give him room. When he did not, the penalty was inevitable.


www.bbc.com

Mexico City GP: Norris calls Verstappen 'dangerous' as Sainz wins

Lando Norris cuts Max Verstappen’s lead to 47 points and labels his rival “dangerous” as the championship battle reaches boiling point at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
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'Dick Dastardly' tactics - Hill criticises Verstappen​


Red Bull's Max Verstappen has been accused of acting like Wacky Races villain Dick Dastardly by former world champion Damon Hill.

Verstappen was handed a combined 20-second penalty for two separate incidents involving title rival Lando Norris during Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix.

The Dutchman finished sixth, as McLaren's Norris, who described Verstappen's driving as "dangerous", took second place.

"The area footage is very clear," Hill said on a Sky Sports podcast.

"He made no attempt to back off and make the corner and leave room for Lando. It was simply a case of you are not coming through.

"The second move was just daft and Dick Dastardly stuff. He accelerated to the apex and drove Lando off the track and Lando didn't have much option. That was silly driving."

Dick Dastardly was a character in 1960s animated TV series Wacky Races - and several other cartoons and films since - who would try to win by utilising underhand tactics.

"I just drive how I think I have to drive," Verstappen said. "Last week it was all right, this week 20 seconds penalty.

"I am not going to cry about it and I am also not going to share my opinion. The biggest problem I had is that it was a bad day in terms of race pace."

Verstappen and Norris also clashed during the previous race in Austin, Texas.

Despite the pair being involved in a similar incident at the United States Grand Prix, it was a very different outcome as Norris was penalised for trying to pass Verstappen around the outside, with both ending up in the run-off area.

There are four Grands Prix remaining in 2024, with the season resuming this weekend in Brazil.

"They say that sport doesn't build character, it shows character, and his default is to revert to preventative methods rather than trying to keep it within the bounds of fairness," Hill added.

"You shouldn't be allowed to use your car as a weapon and simply block the track."

Verstappen is aiming for a fourth successive world championship - his lead over Norris, who is attempting to win it for the first time, stands at 47 points with 120 still up for grabs.

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Max Verstappen: Dutchman accused of Dick Dastardly tactics by Damon Hill

Red Bull's Max Verstappen accused of acting like Wacky Races villain Dick Dastardly by former world champion Damon Hill.
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Piastri on Sao Paulo sprint pole ahead of Norris

Oscar Piastri led Lando Norris to a McLaren one-two in sprint qualifying at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris' title rival Max Verstappen could manage only fourth place in his Red Bull, behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen, who has a five-place grid penalty for the main grand prix on Sunday, starts the weekend 47 points ahead of Norris in the championship.

The result of sprint qualifying gives Norris an opportunity to claw back a small amount of points on Verstappen in Saturday’s sprint event, in which there are eight points for a win, seven for second and so on down to eighth.

But Norris said he was not thinking about the championship.

"I hate this question so much," he said. "I'm just going to race. I don't care about where he qualified.

"For me it's just focus on my own job. It's the same question every time. It doesn't matter. If he's first or last, I will do the best I can."

Norris set the pace on the first runs in the final shootout, with a lap of one minute 8.928 seconds - Piastri just under 0.3secs slower.

But Norris failed to improve on his second lap and Piastri edged him out by just 0.029secs.

"A big improvement compared to early today," Norris said. "We were struggling a lot (in practice). A little bit surprised we were so quick today, but a pleasant one. A good lap. I made too many mistakes on my final lap and just pitted."

Verstappen was 0.320secs adrift in fourth place, and just 0.056secs slower than Leclerc.

Verstappen said that bumps on the freshly resurfaced track had exposed one of the Red Bull's key flaws.

"As soon as we went into qualifying, it looked like we were definitely off," he said.

"A bit difficult on the bumps. They did the resurfacing but I think they made it worse to drive. It is extremely bumpy everywhere and that is not good for our car.

"On all the bumpy areas the car is jumping around a lot and it is costing me quite a bit of lap time.

"For tomorrow, when you are already quite a bit off over one lap, we are not particularly the strongest in the race. There is some weather around that can come but not for the sprint maybe."


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Brazilian GP 2024: Oscar Piastri on sprint pole ahead of Lando Norris

Oscar Piastri leads Lando Norris to a McLaren one-two in sprint qualifying at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
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Norris wins Sao Paulo sprint after Piastri team orders​


Lando Norris took two points out of Max Verstappen’s championship lead with victory in the sprint race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris was allowed through by team-mate Oscar Piastri two laps before the end of the race on team orders, after a tense four-way fight for the lead from the start.

But McLaren made the swap a lot more tense than it needed to be, by delaying it until Verstappen’s Red Bull had passed the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc with six laps to go.

The result cuts Verstappen’s lead to 45 points, with the grand prix still to come on Sunday. Qualifying for that is at 18:00 UK time on Saturday.

The top four ran nose to tail for the first 18 laps of the race, with Piastri leading Norris, from Leclerc and Verstappen.

McLaren had gone into the race planning to allow Norris to lead in order to maximise his points gain over Verstappen.

They had an apparent opportunity to swap the drivers on lap three, by which time Norris was 1.6 seconds ahead of Leclerc.

But they did not take it, and soon Leclerc got back within a second of Norris, giving him the use of the DRS overtaking aid to allow him to stay close and threatening.

The obvious choice seemed to have been to allow Norris through on Piastri early on, and then have Piastri give Leclerc the DRS to allow him to defend from Verstappen.

Instead, they kept Norris in second and Leclerc began to slip back until by lap 17 Verstappen was right on his gearbox, and he moved past using the DRS into Turn Four on lap 18.

Initially, McLaren seemed to have the pace to keep more than a second clear of Verstappen.

But there was extra jeopardy when Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas pulled off on lap 21, with three laps to go.

It was obvious that a virtual or real safety car would be deployed, and if it had been before McLaren had swapped places, then Piastri might have won the race.

In the end, they got the swap done just before the VSC was deployed, and the race resumed for a final half lap.

Norris said: “Not proud about it, but we worked well as a team together. I thank Oscar. Today was the result we wanted, Oscar deserved it but I thank him and the team.

“It was yo-yoing a little bit. The dirty air costs you a lot of lap time. I felt a bit quicker but I couldn’t get close enough to pass. I felt we were quicker than the guys behind but it’s difficult in the sprint to know how much to manage (the tyres).

Verstappen has been cited for a potential infringement of the VSC rules, which could lead to a penalty, apparently for when he tried to challenge Piastri on the restart on the final lap.

Verstappen, who has a five-place grid penalty for the grand prix, said: “It was quite a tricky race but the pace was always good. It took a bit too long with Charles because when everyone is in the DRS train it is very hard to attack. But then he started to make some mistakes and I could use that to attack.

Leclerc took fourth, ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz, who was off the pace of the leaders.

Mercedes driver George Russell, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez - from 13th on the grid - completed the top eight points positions.

www.bbc.com

Brazilian Grand Prix 2024: Norris wins sprint from Piastri

Lando Norris takes two points out of Max Verstappen’s championship lead with victory in the sprint race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
www.bbc.com
 
Verstappen showed today he is the best driver by a huge distance. Difficult conditions and from P17 to P1 is something only Verstappen can do.

4th title very close now!
 
Verstappen wins from 17th in Sao Paulo rain chaos

Max Verstappen climbed up from 17th on the grid to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, one of his greatest victories taking him to the brink of a fourth world title.

Rival Lando Norris of McLaren had a difficult race, finishing sixth after a series of errors, to fall 62 points adrift off Verstappen with 86 still available in the final three races.

Verstappen will become world champion if he leaves the next race at Las Vegas on 23 November with a lead of at least 60 points.

Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly took the final two podium places to transform Alpine’s season and move the team up from ninth in the constructors’ championship to sixth.

A chaotic, incident-strewn, wet race that involved a red flag, two safety car periods and a series of crashes and incidents will be remembered for a victory that was not only Verstappen’s 62nd, but one of the greatest wet-weather victories of all time.

Just as remarkably, it was his first win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, and it owed everything to a driver at the top of his game, and a team making the right strategic decision at the right time.


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Brazilian Grand Prix 2024: Max Verstappen wins from 17th

Max Verstappen climbs up from 17th on the grid to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, one of his greatest victories taking him to the brink of a fourth world title.
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Sauber sign rookie Bortoleto for 2025 season

Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto has been signed to drive for the Audi-owned Sauber team next year.

The 20-year-old, who is leading this year’s Formula 2 championship, will partner German veteran Nico Hulkenberg.

The decision means that Sauber's current drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, will not be in F1 next season.

Sauber chief operating and technical officer Mattia Binotto said it had been a "straightforward decision with no doubts at all".

The team chose Bortoleto because they had been "impressed by his career so far," Binotto said.

Bortoleto, who was champion in Formula 3 in his debut season in 2023 before moving into F2 this year, had "already demonstrated in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver," Binotto said.

Bortoleto is managed by two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and has been a part of the McLaren driver development programme.

"I have been asking to some drivers who have been driving with you and everyone was very impressed. But also because he is very young," added Binotto.

"For our journey for the Audi F1 team, growing together with a young driver was very important.

"When we met I was immediately impressed by the attitude. So not only as a driver we decided, but as a person. He can really be a leader for the team."

Bortoleto said: "This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not in all of sports.

"Beyond simply being a member, I aim to grow with this ambitious project and reach the pinnacle of motorsport.

"Mattia was super confident about the Audi project and how I could develop as a driver as well.

"I see a lot myself in this project. I needed to convince him much more than he needed to convince me, but I identified a lot (with it)."

Binotto, who was Ferrari team principal from 2019-22, said last month that turning Sauber into a winning team under the Audi name was “not only climbing a big mountain, it’s climbing Everest”.

He said in a video released by Sauber on Wednesday: “It will take a few seasons to become a a competitive team. Our objective will be to be aiming to fight for a championship in 2030, and even that is very ambitious.”

The team released separate statements thanking them for their work.

Bottas, who made his debut in F1 for Williams in 2013 and won 10 races in his five years at Mercedes as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton from 2017-21, said: "A situation like this is never easy for anyone. But after all the good and in-depth discussions we had in the past weeks, we realised that the conditions to grow this project together were not met.

"These past years with the team have been an incredible journey, full of growth, challenges, and unforgettable moments.

"Though it’s time to move on, I’ll always carry a piece of this team with me, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us both.”

Bortoleto gives Brazil a full-time presence on the F1 grid since Felipe Massa left the sport at the end of 2017.

The country is one of the most successful in F1, with former drivers including multiple world champions Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna.

BBC
 
F1 drivers ask FIA to treat them like adults

Formula 1 drivers have urged the sport's governing body to treat them like adults after Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were punished for swearing.

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) has also criticised FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his "tone and language" when addressing the topic.

An open letter from the GPDA said: "There is a difference between swearing intended to insult others and more casual swearing, such as you might use to describe bad weather, or indeed an inanimate object such as an F1 car, or a driving situation.

"We urge the FIA president to consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise.

"Further, our members are adults. They do not need to be given instructions by the media about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery or underpants."

The FIA has been approached for comment.

The letter has been in the offing since Ben Sulayem used an interview with Autosport before the Singapore Grand Prix in September to express his distaste for the broadcast of swearing during grands prix.

In Singapore, Red Bull driver Verstappen was ordered by FIA stewards to "accomplish some work of public interest" after using a swear word to describe his car in a news conference.

The drivers were dismayed by Ben Sulayem's comments - because any swear words used over team radio are bleeped out before being broadcast, and because they feel that allowing the public to hear the transmissions gives an added dimension to the sport by revealing the characters of the drivers in extreme situations.

Lewis Hamilton accused Ben Sulayem of using "stereotypical" language with a "racial element" in the interview.

Ben Sulayem said F1 had to "differentiate between our sport - motorsport - and rap music".

Ferrari's Leclerc was fined at last weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix for using a swear word in the post-race news conference at the previous event in Mexico to describe how he felt when he nearly crashed.

The reference in the GPDA letter to "jewellery or underpants" is to an earlier controversy of Ben Sulayem's period as president, when he enforced rules on wearing the correct underwear and forbidding the drivers from wearing jewellery.

The letter also expressed the drivers' unhappiness at fines being used as punishment by the FIA, and asked for transparency as to how the funds are used.

Signed by "the directors and chairman of the GPDA on behalf of the grand prix drivers", it says: "The GPDA has, on countless occasions, expressed its view that driver monetary fines are not appropriate for out sport.

"For the past three years, we have called upon the FIA president to share the details and strategy regarding how the FIA's financial fines are allocated and where the funds are spent.

"We have also relayed our concerns about the negative image financial fines bring to the sport.

"We once again request the FIA president provides financial transparency and direct, open dialogue with us.

"All stakeholders (FIA, F1, the teams and the GPDA) should jointly determine how and whether the money is spent for the benefit of the sport."

Former F1 driver Alex Wurz is the GPDA chairman, and its directors are Mercedes' George Russell, ex-driver Sebastian Vettel and Anastasia Fowle.

The letter emphasises the drivers' desire to "collaborate in a constructive way with all the stakeholders, including the FIA president in order to promote our great sport of the benefit of everyone who works in it, pays for it, watches it and indeed loves it".

In that context, the fact the drivers have gone as far as to publish a letter criticising two key aspects of the FIA's policing of the sport will be interpreted as evidence of their frustration with Ben Sulayem’s stance on the issues involved.

It is also a reflection of their feeling that they have not been heard or respected by the FIA on the matters in question.

The drivers' unhappiness can be gauged by the fact that this is their first collective public statement since 2017, when they asked for a reform of the decision-making process in F1 to keep the sport healthy.

BBC
 
The Renault-owned Alpine team will use Mercedes engines in Formula 1 from the 2026 season.

The deal, which follows the decision in September to end Renault’s own engine programme in 2025, runs until at least the end of 2030.

Alpine will also use Mercedes-supplied gearboxes and rear suspension from 2026, although the team are exploring their options to design these items in-house form 2027.

The move, which is aimed at increasing competitiveness after years of the Renault engine failing to match up to its rivals, follows a shift in focus at Alpine, after many years of failing to achieve its ambitions in F1.

When Renault re-entered F1 as a team owner in 2016, it set itself a five-year target to be competing for world titles.

This was recalibrated when the team was rebranded as Alpine in 2021, and a new target to achieve the same aim was set - in 100 races’ time.

But the chief executive who set that target, Laurent Rossi, was fired in 2023 and since then there has been major management upheaval at Alpine, with a series of leading figures departing the team.

In June this year, former Renault F1 team boss Flavio Briatore was appointed executive adviser by Renault chief executive officer Luca de Meo, with a remit to restructure the team.

Briatore has since appointed Briton Oliver Oakes as team principal and told Sky Sports Italia recently that the workforce at the UK base in Enstone, Oxfordshire, had shrunk by 300 people, from 1,150 to 850.

This was in contrast to comments he made in a news conference at the Dutch Grand Prix, when he said he "didn’t want to cut jobs", while also saying the team "didn’t need so many people".

An Alpine spokesperson said: "The organisation of the F1 team at Enstone has been under review in order to optimise the resources and put the team in a position to work efficiently and strategically, to quickly recover performance and compete again at the sharp end of the grid.

"As part of that review process, there are areas of the Enstone team that are going under a restructure, with the sole aim of putting the right organisation in place for the team’s future success."

Alpine started the season as the slowest on the grid but has made significant progress in recent months.

A critical strategic decision during the wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix on 3 November led to Alpine drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finishing second and third, behind winner Max Verstappen.

That result vaulted the team from ninth in the constructors’ championship to sixth in one go, a potential gain of about $30m (£23.4m) in prize money if they can retain the place to the end of the season.

Source: BBC
 
Drivers 'bit fed up' with FIA leadership – Russell

Mercedes' George Russell says the Formula 1 drivers are "a bit fed up" with the leadership of the sport’s governing body, the FIA.

Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), said the drivers "weren’t aware" of the decision to remove the race director Niels Wittich three races before the end of the season.

The Briton said: "There are a number of drivers who feel a bit fed up with the whole situation and it only seems to be going to a degree in the wrong direction."

Russell made it clear he was referring specifically to the leadership of the FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

He said it was “not difficult” to have a meeting with Ben Sulayem, but "having promises fulfilled is another matter".

Russell's comments come at a turbulent time in the relationship between the drivers and the FIA.

Since the last race in Brazil, the GPDA put out an open letter asking the FIA to treat them "like adults", after a controversy over drivers swearing in news conferences.

The letter also made a reference to a lack of transparency over how money for fines for driving transgressions was being used.

Wittich's departure followed a few days later, and shortly after that it emerged that the FIA compliance officer Paolo Basarri had also been sacked.

Russell said: "Talking as a fellow driver as opposed to my role with the GPDA, everybody felt with certain things that have happened that we wanted to stand united.

"At the end of the day we just want to be transparent with the FIA and have this dialogue.

"And the departure of Niels is a prime example of not being part of these conversations. (The letter) is kind of us putting the pressure back on them."

Russell admitted that the drivers were not fully content with some aspects of Wittich's work since he became race director at the start of the 2022 season. The German has been replaced by ex-Formula 2 and Formula 3 race director Rui Marques for the final three races of the season, starting in Las Vegas this weekend.

He said: "There is no secret that some were not happy with what was going on in terms of the decisions that were being made, but he worked together with us and we could have helped improve the matter.

"Sometimes just hiring and firing is not the solution. Let's see what this new era brings, but every time you make a change you have to make one step back before you take two steps forward."

McLaren driver Lando Norris said: "I don't know what's going on there. Obviously things are not running as smoothly as we would want."

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen echoed Russell’s comments, saying that the drivers felt ignored compared with the days of the former FIA F1 director Charlie Whiting, who died on the eve of the 2019 season.

"I compare with the Charlie Whiting days," Magnussen said. "He was someone we felt really connected to and we were really being listened to, but now we feel it’s more us against them and it should be a closer connection. We can help a lot."

BBC
 

Verstappen on racing to 'the limit'​


Max Verstappen is in Las Vegas, talking about the approach that has brought him to the cusp of a fourth world title.

"I know on track if you want to win, if you want to be a champion, you do need to be on the limit," the Red Bull driver says in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport.

And just like that, in a single sentence, Verstappen sums up his year - his entire approach to Formula 1 in fact.

Verstappen can seal that fourth championship under the lights late on Saturday night on the streets of Sin City - and will do if he finishes ahead of Lando Norris or does not lose more than two points to the McLaren driver.

"Of course the championship is in the back of my mind, naturally," he says. "But I will always try to get the best result out of it first and then see what’s possible."

This is the way he has handled the entire championship, throughout which Verstappen and Red Bull’s fortunes have swung widely.

Even before the season started, they were embroiled in drama. A female employee made sexual harassment allegations against team principal Christian Horner, who as a result has been at loggerheads with Verstappen’s father Jos all year. Horner denies the claims and two internal investigations have cleared him. Meanwhile, senior figures have left the team, including design legend Adrian Newey.

On track, Verstappen started the year in dominant fashion, before McLaren emerged as the faster car from the summer onwards while Red Bull’s form declined. Norris was eating away at the Dutchman’s advantage until Verstappen grabbed back the initiative in spectacular style with a stunning victory from 17th on the grid in a sodden Brazil earlier this month.

There has been a controversy, too, over Verstappen’s on-track racing tactics, caused by his defensive driving against Norris in Austin in October.

And yet through it all, Verstappen has been the model of consistency. While McLaren and Norris have made errors, Verstappen’s season has been almost perfect.

"I always demand a lot from myself," he says. "I always try to get the best possible result out of it. I hate making mistakes. I put that pressure on myself every weekend. If you want to win a championship, you cannot afford bad results."

Verstappen is in expansive and illuminating form throughout our conversation. And he’s especially enlightening on the topic that dominated two key races in Austin and Mexico last month.

Norris was the driver who ended up penalised in their battle for the lead in Texas but many of the other drivers felt Verstappen’s defensive tactics were beyond the pale.

It led to a talk in Mexico between the drivers and governing body the FIA. The upshot was an agreement that the rules be changed in a manner that seemed directed specifically at Verstappen, who for some time has employed a defensive tactic in which he holds the inside and forces a rival off track on the exit of the corner. A dive-bomb defence, some call it.

Usually reluctant to discuss tactics, now he opens up.

Did he feel like he was being singled out?

"Honestly, even if they would have done or did, first of all I don’t care because I drive to what I think is possible and what is allowed in the rules," Verstappen says. "And if the rules are written like that, I will use the rules.

"If that would have happened to me the other way around, I don't think I would have been the person to complain so hard because I would just think, 'OK, if that’s the rules, that's how we do it’ instead of screaming that we need to change the rules."

The rule with which he complied - and which many of his rivals want changed - says that if the driver on the inside is ahead at the apex of the corner, he does not have to leave space for the driver on the outside on the exit.

Verstappen says he does not like the rule either but also admits he would not ever want to give someone room on the outside of a corner.

"Well, me personally, I don’t race like that," he says and chuckles. "When I race with someone, he will not be able to overtake me around the outside. That’s how I grew up racing.

"Some drivers are just a bit more passive in racing, that’s just how they are. And I know that in F1 I can’t hang around the outside because they will push me off. It’s a racing instinct."

So how is someone expected to try to overtake him?

"It depends on the track layout," Verstappen says, echoing the views of other drivers that expansive asphalt run-off areas lead to this sort of racing because there is no penalty for going off track.

"Of course when the track is naturally the limit, no-one tries to go around the outside because they know that, so you then try to go for the cut-back or set yourself up in a different way."

In the end, the controversy over Verstappen’s tactics blew up only briefly, even if it has been a theme since he raced Lewis Hamilton for his first title in 2021.

The off-track situation at Red Bull had the potential to be more damaging, as Verstappen found himself in the middle of a dispute between his father Jos and Horner.

Jos Verstappen said he felt the team would fall apart if Horner stayed in his role.

It’s a measure of the strength of Max's character that he has managed to handle this with such equanimity, especially as the team’s competitive form was falling away at the same time.

"What has always been very important is that I had a good relationship with Christian and my dad," Verstappen says.

"My dad of course thinks about me and has the best interests for me - what I want to do and how I am in the team.

"He of course had his questions but at the same time I was always very busy dealing with the performance of the car and trying to make that better. But at the end of the day, he could see that now everyone is normal, everyone is dealing with it and focusing on the performance side of things.

"People do not need to be best friends, they don’t need to go on holiday together. But I feel like you can have a normal working relationship, which I feel is the case absolutely, and especially lately it is going much better.

"But I always said as well, when you have problems with each other, you’re not happy with something, you talk, you communicate, right? You speak to each other and that’s always way better than throwing something in the media.

"And I have said that to both of them and that’s why it was not for me about picking a side. It was just speaking a bit of common sense, I think, to both of them."

As to the departures of so many key people, Verstappen says: "I am not going to lie. I would have naturally preferred people to stay."

Asked whether he believes Newey’s departure was a factor in the team’s decline in competitiveness, he says: "I would like to believe not, because the car was already designed and the updates already planned."

Explaining Red Bull’s dip in competitiveness, he says: "We started really dominant but I also feel like some teams didn’t start as well as they should have compared to last year so we were a bit surprised about that.

"(We felt) it’s a bit weird how the others are not really making the step forward. So then I guess they got their stuff sorted out.

"I already said from the beginning of the year that I was not entirely happy with how the car was handling."

McLaren closed in, he says, despite Red Bull upgrading their car.

"And then you have to try and risk more, you have to get more out of the car yourself and then you feel it is quite limited.

"At one point in the season, we realised what we had been putting on the car, yes potentially might make the car quicker but it's very difficult to drive. And then you start to backtrack on a lot of things and you have to try and find when and where and how it happened."

As the car struggled, Verstappen’s consistency of excellence - he is, as Norris says, one of the greatest F1 drivers there has ever been - paid off. For five months, from Spain to Brazil, he did not win but he just kept on banging in the results, so Norris was never able to make big inroads into his lead.

"With my experience since '21," Verstappen says, "you just can’t afford bad results or massively missed opportunities that will at the end of the day really catch up with you in the championship."

With a fourth title almost won and 62 wins already in the bag, Verstappen could potentially go on to break all F1 records.

"Yeah," he says, "but I don’t need to." Nor, he says, does he care.

He’s "very relaxed" about his future and repeats points he has made regularly in recent years - that he’s open-minded about his future, both in terms of where he might drive in F1 in coming years and how much longer he will stay.

Records, he says, are "not something I’m dreaming about. It’s not my desire. I just want to have a good time. I know when I jump in the car I will always do my best."

He adds: "It is not like when I started in F1... I had that target, seven titles, 100-plus wins. At the time, of course, Michael (Schumacher) was the record-holder. It’s not how I see life any more.

"Maybe when I was a bit younger, yeah, I wanted to drive F1 as long as I could. But now when you have already achieved so much, it is not about wanting to drive forever. I also want to enjoy life.

"I definitely don’t want to be racing in F1 until I’m 40 years old. You only live once and I don’t want to spend half of it racing cars."

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Max Verstappen: Red Bull driver on racing to 'the limit'

Max Verstappen tells BBC Sport in Las Vegas about the approach that has brought him to the cusp of a fourth world title.
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Hamilton fastest in both Vegas practice sessions

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton headed both Friday practice sessions at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The seven-time champion led team-mate George Russell in the first session and McLaren’s Lando Norris in the second.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who can clinch his fourth world title this weekend, had a difficult day and ended up 17th fastest.

The Dutchman will win the title as long as he does not lose more than two points to Norris in the race on Saturday (06:00 GMT Sunday).

Hamilton was 0.011 seconds quicker than Norris in the second session, and 0.396secs clear of Russell in third.

But between the sessions, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff played down the significance of his team setting the pace, saying they were the "low-grip champions".

Wolff said: "P1 is always good and then when the grip kicks in, performance deteriorates."

Verstappen's position appeared real, however, the Red Bull clearly struggling for grip through the two hours of running. He was two seconds off the pace by the end of the day, having not completed a lap on the soft tyre the other leading drivers used for their qualifying simulation runs.

Russell ended the second session third fastest, ahead of the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Haas' Nico Hulkenberg and RB's Yuki Tsunoda completed the top 10.

On race pace, Ferrari, the pre-event favourites, appeared to have the edge, from McLaren and Verstappen.

The session was briefly interrupted by a red-flag period, when Alex Albon's Williams stopped at Turn Six with a fuel-system issue.

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Russell takes pole with Verstappen ahead of Norris

Mercedes driver George Russell pipped Ferrari's Carlos Sainz to pole position at the Las Vegas Grand Prix with the final lap of an engrossing qualifying session.

Russell snuck ahead of Sainz by just 0.098 seconds while Alpine's Pierre Gasly pulled off a major shock by taking third place.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fourth after a messy session, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen took fifth, ahead of his title rival Lando Norris of McLaren.

Norris needs to finish the race ahead of Verstappen to take the title fight to the next race in Qatar.

Two errors by Lewis Hamilton consigned him to 10th place in his Mercedes when he should have been fighting for a place at the front with Russell.

Hamilton had topped the second session of qualifying but when it came to pushing to the limit and finding the last little bit of time, he fell short, as has become something of a trend this year.

Mercedes have looked strong all weekend, Hamilton topping both Friday practice sessions and Russell Saturday's, and that form continued through into qualifying.

Russell hit the wall on his first run and needed a change of front wing, but he stayed collected and demanded to be sent out last to ensure he got the best of the track conditions.

His pole was Mercedes' first since he was at the front at the British Grand Prix in July.

"It feels incredible to be back on pole," Russell said. "We have been so quick all weekend and I knew the Q3 lap would be the one that would count.

"You have to put it on the table sometimes. I felt confident in myself, I knew if I did a clean lap out it would be enough to complete a front row, but we need to convert it into a win now."

The final top 10 shootout was delayed by about half an hour after Franco Colapinto crashed his Williams at the end of the second qualifying session.

And when it finally started, a number of drivers failed to deliver their potential.

Along with Hamilton, Leclerc made an error on his first lap and had to abort and then had a weak first sector of his final lap. To achieve fourth in the circumstances hinted at the fact a shot at pole was on for him.

And both McLaren drivers faded. Norris had set more or less the same time as Verstappen on his first run but was 0.211secs off his rival when it mattered.

Behind Norris, RB's Yuki Tsunoda was seventh, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri eighth and Haas' Nico Hulkenberg and Hamilton completing the top 10.

BBC
 

Formula 1 expected to expand grid to 11 teams as early as next week for Cadillac to enter in 2026​

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 is expected to approve grid expansion for an 11th team originally started by Michael Andretti as early as next week, The Associated Press has learned.

The team will be called Cadillac F1 and powered by Ferrari engines when it enters the sport in 2026. General Motors is expected to complete its own Cadillac power unit ahead of the 2028 season.

Multiple industry insiders spoke to the AP about the grid expansion on condition of anonymity because an announcement ahead of Saturday night’s Las Vegas Grand Prix could potentially steal the spotlight from the showcase event on the F1 calendar.

The delayed decision to expand the grid for the Andretti-started entry is a reversal for F1, which initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA. The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, have largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series.

The teams also contended that Andretti should buy a team rather than expanding the grid. No teams have marketed themselves for sale, however, and Andretti in 2020 already tried to close a deal that would have taken over the existing Sauber team.

apnews.com

Formula 1 expected to expand grid to 11 teams as early as next week for Cadillac to enter in 2026

Formula 1 is expected to approve grid expansion for an 11th team originally started by Michael Andretti as early as next week.
apnews.com apnews.com
 
Verstappen wins title as Russell triumphs in Vegas

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive World Drivers’ Championship with fifth place in the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The race was won by Mercedes' George Russell, who held off a charge by team-mate Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time champion taking second place from 10th on the grid.

Verstappen’s position behind the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc was more than enough for the Dutchman.

His title rival Lando Norris could manage only sixth for McLaren, his deficit to the Dutchman now 63 points with a maximum of 60 available.

Verstappen joins Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel as a four-time champion, with only Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio ahead of him in that list.

"What a season," Verstappen said to his team over the radio. "It was a little more difficult than last season, but we pulled through."

He added: “It has been a long season and we started amazing, almost like cruising, and then we had a tough run but we kept it together as a team, kept working on improvements and pulled it over the line.

"To stand here as a four-time world champion is something I never thought possible so standing here relieved in a way but also proud.”

Third and fourth places for the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc reduced their deficit to McLaren in the constructors’ championship to 24 points with two races to go. Norris stopped for fresh tyres to take fastest lap in the closing stages to give McLaren an extra point.

Verstappen, starting one place ahead of Norris in fifth place on the grid, headed his rival throughout a relatively quiet race as Russell took control from the start.

Verstappen's measured performance was aimed at securing the title at the first chance he had, and he did so with the calmness and aplomb with which he has driven for the vast majority of the year.

Russell controlled the race from the front, fending off an early challenge from Leclerc, who jumped from fourth on the grid to second past Alpine's Pierre Gasly and then Sainz around the first two corners.

And as Leclerc then squabbled with the recovering Sainz, and the Ferraris then ran into tyre trouble before Mercedes and Verstappen, Russell stretched out his lead to take control of the race.

Hamilton ran 10th in the early laps, but drove a superb first stint, fast while also keeping his tyres in shape.

He vaulted up on to the back of the lead group by delaying his first stop, and passed Norris shortly after it. The seven-time champion then set about challenging the Ferraris, with Verstappen at this point second ahead of Sainz and Leclerc, having overtaken the red cars with a later pit stop.

But Hamilton, lacking straight-line speed in his Mercedes, was unable to make progress past the red cars.

Instead, Mercedes made a second pit stop on lap 27, a lap before Sainz and four laps before Leclerc, and used his pace to emerge in second place.

Russell followed Leclerc in on lap 32, and for a few laps after his stop Hamilton took chunks out of his team-mate’s lead, getting it down from 11.2 seconds to 7.4 in seven laps.

But it soon became clear that Russell had the race under control, and he led Hamilton to an unexpected one-two.

Behind them, the Ferraris closed back in on Verstappen after their final pit stops and both passed him in the final 10 laps.

Behind Norris, his team-mate Oscar Piastri was seventh as Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, RB's Yjuki Tsunoda and Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez completed the top 10.

BBC
 
General Motors agrees deal to enter F1 in 2026

US car giant General Motors has reached an agreement in principle to enter Formula 1 in 2026 with its Cadillac brand.

A statement on Monday said that GM and its partner, the US group TWG Global, had committed to name a new team after GM's luxury Cadillac brand and to build its own engine "at a later time".

F1 said the application process would "move forward".

Greg Maffei, president and chief executive officer of F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media, said: "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport.


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Formula 1: General Motors agrees in principle to enter F1 in 2026 with Cadillac brand

US car giant General Motors reaches an agreement in principle to enter Formula 1 in 2026 with its Cadillac brand.
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New deal sees Italian GP stay at Monza until 2031

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza will remain on the Formula 1 schedule until at least 2031.

Monza, the oldest track on the calendar, has signed a six-year extension to its existing deal.

The move comes after modernisation works were completed at the track, the oldest on the calendar, in time for this year's Italian GP.

F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said: "Monza is at the very heart of Formula 1 history and the atmosphere each year is unique as the tifosi gather in huge numbers to cheer on Ferrari and the drivers.

"The recent upgrades to the circuit's infrastructure and the planned investment show a strong commitment to the long-term future of Formula 1 in Italy."

F1 had demanded upgrades to Monza to raise the facilities to a more modern standard. They were funded by the governments of Italy and the Lombardy region.

Angelo Sticchi Damiani, the president of the Automobile Club d'Italia, said: "Monza is the oldest racetrack in the world to host a race of the World Championship, and it is also the longest-running event on the World Championship calendar.


BBC
 
Verstappen 'should start doing comedy' - Norris

Lando Norris says Max Verstappen "should start doing comedy" after the Dutchman suggested he could have won the world title in Norris' McLaren.

The Red Bull driver's remarks are based on his belief that the McLaren was the faster car for much of the season.

"He can say whatever he wants. Of course I completely disagree, as I would," Norris said. "He's good, but yeah. It's not true.

"I know what Max is capable of doing and I like his confidence but I can say whatever. Not possible."

Verstappen said after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix, where he won the title, that he would have wrapped it up sooner if he were driving for McLaren, and that it would have been "pretty much the same" in a Ferrari.

Norris said that he had "maybe made too many mistakes" this year.

And he acknowledged that the McLaren had been faster for more than half the season.

But he pointed out that Verstappen had built a huge lead when the Red Bull was dominating early on, when Verstappen won four of the first five races at a time when the McLaren was considerably slower than the Red Bull.

"For the majority of the season we've had a better car than Red Bull but when I’ve been winning he was second, third, when he was winning, I was fifth, sixth," Norris said.

"I don't think we could have or deserved to win the title as a driver, but I'm confident that for the first time in my career we will go into a year with the thought of challenging for the title. We didn't expect it this year."

In the first five races of the year, the Red Bull was on average 0.45 seconds a lap faster than the McLaren in qualifying. And over the first half of the season, it was 0.23secs faster.

McLaren have turned the tables in the second half of the season, in which their car has qualified on average 0.124secs faster than the Red Bull.

However, Verstappen's average qualifying position over the year is 2.5 compared to Norris' 3.7.

Norris has also had to compete with team-mate Oscar Piastri, who has taken two wins to Norris' three, while Verstappen has dominated the other Red Bull driver, Sergio Perez.

"He has to do all of his work on his own, which is hats off to him," Norris said. "He doesn't have someone who is pushing him. He doesn't have someone who's trying other things with the car.

"The data's not as valuable when you don't have someone who's performing at the same level.

"There's a lot of things that Max can do that are phenomenal. Driving at the level he does consistently without a team-mate that can push him in any way certainly makes his life harder.

"But at the same time there's no pressure. He doesn't have to deal with trying to beat anyone in his own team. That comes with some comfort.”

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who is third in the championship heading into the final two races of the season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi also questioned Verstappen’s claim.

Leclerc acknowledged that Verstappen is a "very special driver", adding: "What makes him special is also the confidence that he has".

But he added: “However, I think it's very difficult to say something like that not knowing actually what the car is like,” he added.

"He's an incredible driver, no doubt. Whether he would have made it or not [in the 2024 Ferrari], I don't know how the Red Bull is, how the McLaren is, and he doesn't know how the Ferrari is.

"So, it's maybe a bit of a stretch to say something like that."

McLaren lead Ferrari by 24 points in the constructors' championship with 103 points still available. Red Bull are third, 53 points off the lead.

McLaren are gunning for their first constructors' title since 1998, and Ferrari a first since 2008.


BBC
 

Leclerc leads Norris in Qatar practice​


Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc led McLaren’s Lando Norris in practice at the Qatar Grand Prix.

Leclerc was 0.425 seconds ahead of Norris as the two teams who are disputing the constructors’ championship locked out the top four positions in the only session before sprint qualifying later on Friday.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was third fastest, 0.472secs slower than Leclerc, and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz fourth.

Newly crowned world champion Max Verstappen, who tied up his fourth world title in Las Vegas last weekend, was only ninth fastest after running wide because of an error on his fastest lap.

RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas were fifth and sixth, ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

The Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in eighth and 10th places were split by Williams’ Alex Albon.

A number of drivers ran wide over the kerbs, and traffic was a problem throughout a busy session, but there were no crashes or other incidents.

McLaren lead Ferrari by 24 points in the constructors' championship with 103 points still available. Red Bull are third, 53 points off the lead.

Sprint qualifying starts at 17:30 UK time. It sets the grid for the shorter sprint race that takes place at 14:00 UK time on Saturday, before qualifying for the grand prix at 18:00.

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Qatar GP 2024: Charles Leclerc leads Lando Norris in practice

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc led McLaren’s Lando Norris in practice at the Qatar Grand Prix.
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Hamilton says he is 'definitely not fast any more'

Lewis Hamilton has said he is "definitely not fast any more" after another disappointing qualifying performance in his final season at Mercedes.

Hamilton's comments came after he qualified seventh for the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix.

The seven-time champion, who is joining Ferrari next season, was 0.399 seconds slower than team-mate George Russell, who will start the sprint race second behind McLaren's Lando Norris.

Hamilton said: "Same as every other qualifying - not that great.

"I'm just slow. Same every weekend. Car felt relatively decent. You know, no issues. Not really much more to say."

Hamilton is the all-time record holder for pole positions in F1, with 104. The next closest is fellow seven-time champion Michael Schumacher on 68.

But after being closely matched in qualifying with Russell over their previous two seasons together, Hamilton has out-qualified his team-mate only six times across all competitive qualifying sessions in 22 races, including six sprint events.

Their comparison is 5-17 in qualifying sessions not including those for sprint races.

Russell's average advantage over the season is 0.16secs a lap.

Until partnering Russell, Hamilton had never previously been out-qualified by his team-mate over their time together.

When it was put to him that the problem could not be him, Hamilton said: "Who knows? I'm definitely not fast anymore."

Friday's qualifying session set the grid for the sprint race in Qatar, which starts at 14:00 UK time on Saturday. There is a further qualifying session later that day to set the grid for the grand prix.

Hamilton said: "When you are always back where I am it makes it almost impossible to compete for wins from there. But that's the sprint. I'll do what I can tomorrow."

Asked whether there were any positives, Hamilton said: "Not particularly. The positive is the car is fast and George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow."

Hamilton's team-mate at Ferrari will be Charles Leclerc, who is regarded by many in F1 as the fastest driver over one lap in the sport.


BBC
 
My F1 critics don’t have a title-winning mentality, claims Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen has defiantly dismissed criticism of his driving in the aftermath of winning his fourth Formula One world title in Las Vegas last weekend.

Speaking before this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate round, the Red Bull driver bullishly insisted he would not change his ruthless style, which has been both penalised and criticised.

“On the track I will put it all on the line,” he said. “I am not going to back out. I want to win. That needs to be the end result. Some people criticise me for that. But most of them don’t have a championship-winning mentality so they don’t understand and they will never understand that kind of approach.”

Verstappen won the title despite not having the quickest car for the second half of the season. However, while under intense pressure he was aggressive in both attack and defence, the legality of which was questioned by other drivers, including his title rival Lando Norris. Former world champion Damon Hill also took him to task as did former driver Martin Brundle, who believed it had “tainted” the world champion’s legacy.

Verstappen has previously dismissed this as British bias against him, which he reiterated in Qatar. “The problem in F1 is that 80 to 85% of the media is British and I did feel that some things which were written about me were not fair,” he said. “At the end of the day, yes, [I have four titles] and they are the ones in front of a microphone. I speak out. I don’t care. If I don’t agree with something I will tell you.”

Verstappen also confirmed his commitment to stay with Red Bull that he had stated immediately after taking the title in Las Vegas. He has won all four championships with Red Bull, with whom he is contracted until 2028, but said he felt no need to prove anything by securing a title with more than one team.

“It is not like I need to try to win the world championship somewhere else,” he said. “It would be very beautiful if you just could stay with one team and race there forever. I would like to believe [that could be with Red Bull]. That is the target. Am I bothered about a legacy? No. I don’t value my success because of what other people say.”

Verstappen has the drivers’ world championship but the constructors’ title, which means the most to the teams and decides the scale of the prize money each receives at the end of the season, remains very much up for grabs over these final two rounds.

McLaren, who have not won it since 1998, before either of their current drivers, Norris and Oscar Piastri, were born, enter the meeting at the Lusail circuit leading Ferrari by 24 points. To seal the title would be the culmination of a long and painful comeback for the team.

With 103 points on the table over the final two rounds they need to outscore the Scuderia by 21 points to complete the job in Qatar and ensure they are 45 ahead before the final round in Abu Dhabi. With this weekend the last of the season to host the sprint format, a maximum of 59 points can be scored at a track where last season McLaren were enormously quick and Ferrari struggled. However, in first practice Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc headed the timesheets in front of Norris and Piastri, with Carlos Sainz in fourth.

In qualifying for the sprint race on Friday evening McLaren very much had the upper hand, with Norris on pole from Mercedes’ George Russell and Piastri in third. “To bounce back from Vegas is a nice thing to do,” said Norris. “We were coming here to get pole, so job done today. I want to win, our target is a one-two to maximise points for the constructors.”

Ferrari’s Sainz and Leclerc could manage only fourth and fifth. Verstappen was sixth with Lewis Hamilton in seventh. The sprint race will take place at 2pm on Saturday with qualifying for the GP at 6pm.

SOURCE: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...a-title-winning-mentality-says-max-verstappen
 

Norris hands Qatar sprint win to Piastri for McLaren one-two​


Lando Norris gave up victory in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race to team-mate Oscar Piastri as they crossed the line ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.

As a payback for Piastri handing victory in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix sprint race to Norris earlier this month, the Briton slowed on the final straight to allow the Australian to cross the line first.

Norris had led the race from the start and helped Piastri defend from Russell’s attacks.

Russell, who started second but was passed by Piastri at Turn Two on the first lap, threatened the Australian throughout the race.

But Norris ensured he measured his pace to give Piastri the use of the DRS overtaking aid, so Russell could not quite get close enough to pass.

Norris was handed victory in the Brazil sprint by Piastri to boost his title chances, which ended in Las Vegas last weekend.

He said: “I planned to do it since Brazil. It was probably a little bit sketchy - the team told me not to do it, but I thought we could get away with it and we did. I don’t mind. I'm not here to win sprint races. I’m here to win grands prix and world championships, but that's not gone to plan.

“We scored a one-two. That’s what we were aiming for. We’re happy as a team. I probably could have pushed a little bit more than I was doing but we wanted to keep the others behind and I was trying to make sure George could not get ahead.”

Piastri said: “It was defence the whole race. Just didn’t quite have the pace. Some great team work. Without that help, it would have been a much more difficult sprint.”

“I understand why they did that,” Russell said, “but nevertheless it was pretty infuriating. Nevertheless, this afternoon is the big one.”

Russell, who will be aiming to take pole for the grand prix in qualifying later after narrowly missing out in sprint qualifying on Friday, made two overtaking attempts into Turn One, and each time felt Piastri had defended too late.

McLaren will clinch the constructors’ title this weekend if they finish one-two in both the sprint and the grand prix and claim fastest lap in the main race on Sunday.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was the fourth car in the leading ‘DRS train’ throughout the event.

Charles Leclerc, his Ferrari colleague, fought back after being overtaken by Lewis Hamilton on the first lap. He passed the seven-time champion - his future-team-mate - with six laps to go and took fifth.

Leclerc dived for the inside at Turn One, and they battled side by side around the next two corners, a left and a right before the Ferrari driver sealed the move into Turn Four.

Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was seventh, while new world champion Max Verstappen took eighth - having fallen from sixth on the grid to ninth on the first lap, passed by both Hamilton and Hulkenberg as they battled around the first four corners.

Verstappen was overtaken by Hamilton at Turn One, and lost out to Hulkenberg and then Gasly after two oversteer snaps through Turn Two and then Turn Four.

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Qatar GP 2024: Lando Norris hands Oscar Piastri sprint victory

Lando Norris gives up victory in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race to team-mate Oscar Piastri as they cross the line ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.
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Russell promoted to Qatar pole by Verstappen grid penalty

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has been stripped of pole position for impeding Mercedes driver George Russell in qualifying at the Qatar Grand Prix.

The judgement reverses the places on the front row, with Russell promoted to pole and Verstappen demoted to second place.

Verstappen, who had beaten Russell to pole by 0.055 seconds, was penalised for driving unnecessarily slowly and impeding his rival.

The two cars tangled at Turn 12, forcing Russell on to the gravel.

Verstappen was penalised for driving unnecessarily slowly and found to have been "well outside" the target time required of drivers when not on a flying lap.

The stewards said there were mitigating circumstances as neither driver was on a flying lap, but ruled that Verstappen had broken the rules.

They sided with Russell's argument that Verstappen should not have been on the racing line if he was going slowly.

The ruling said: "The stewards regard this case as a complicated one in that clearly [Verstappen] did not comply with the race director's event notes and clearly was driving, in our determination, unnecessarily slowly considering the circumstances.

"It was obvious [Verstappen] was attempting to cool his tyres. He also could see [Russell] approaching as he looked in his mirror multiple times while on the small straight between Turns 11 and 12.

"Unusually, this incident occurred when neither car was on a push lap.

"Had [Russell] been on a push lap, the penalty would have most likely been the usual three-grid position penalty.

"However in mitigation of penalty, it was obvious that [Russell] had clear visibility of [Verstappen]."

Russell had been on provisional pole after the first runs in the final session but was pipped by 0.055 seconds by Verstappen’s final lap.

Russell felt the Verstappen incident had prevented his tyres being in the right operating window for his final lap, on which he did not improve.

The Mercedes driver said: "I expected to improve on the second lap and had a scrappy out lap, nearly had the collision with Max and went into the gravel two corners before I started it.

"The time was in the car but as soon as I went into Turn One the car and tyres just didn’t feel right and I was in the gravel two corners before I started my lap.

"It was a shame it ended that way."

McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri took third and fourth, after the Australian led a one-two in the sprint race earlier in the day.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took fifth from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

Despite losing pole, Verstappen’s performance was a remarkable turnaround after the Red Bull had finished an uncompetitive eighth in the sprint.

The world champion had complained of no grip or balance in the sprint but the team found a better set-up for the main qualifying session.

Verstappen said: "Crazy. Honestly, I also didn't expect that. Well done to the team to give me a car that feels a bit more connected and once the car is more together you can push a lot harder.

"We did change a bit on the car but I never thought it would make such a swing in performance, it felt a lot more stable over one lap and that is exactly what we need."

Russell said: "I was really surprised by [Red Bull’s] turnaround. I think we've got a good race on our hands."

Norris, who dominated the sprint race before handing victory to Piastri on the run to the line, was 0.252secs off pole.

"Not the position we were hoping for after yesterday and today but the maximum we could do," Norris said. "The lap was pretty good. It was pretty happy with it but just not quick enough compared to the others.

"Not a lot in it between all of us, which gives us hope we can all go forwards. We showed good race pace today I did gave the benefit of being out front and having clean air but I think we still have a good chance.

"I don't think we are as quick as the Mercedes and Red Bull showed how much they improved since yesterday."

McLaren can clinch the constructors' championship in the grand prix, but only if they finish one-two and take the fastest lap.

Hamilton was 0.491secs off pole but managed to split the Ferraris, while eighth was an encouraging performance for Alonso after a difficult season for Aston Martin. The veteran two-time champion was just 0.21secs off Sainz's Ferrari, and 0.174secs quicker than Perez's Red Bull.

For the Mexican, it was a better result after a dire performance in the sprint, which he started from the pit lane and was caught napping at the lights when he did not go straight away and was passed by Williams' Franco Colapinto.

But he was still 0.905secs off Verstappen and his future in the team remains in doubt.

BBC
 
Verstappen wins in Qatar after Norris penalty

Red Bull's Max Verstappen won a dramatic Qatar Grand Prix that was brought to life by two mid-race safety cars and a penalty for McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Verstappen was in a tight fight with Norris throughout the race until the Briton was given a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags.

The Dutchman was instrumental in getting Norris the penalty after pointing the incident out to his team.

Meanwhile, there will be questions about the management of the race by governing body the FIA, after Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz both suffered punctures.

It is unclear whether the punctures were caused by worn tyres or debris from a wing mirror that had been lying on the pit straight for about three laps before it was smashed by Valtteri Bottas' Sauber.

The punctures happened shortly after the mirror was hit, and the safety car was called to allow marshals to clear the shattered carbon-fibre and glass.

At the restart, Norris challenged Verstappen, who defended his position robustly, but their tussle was academic, because of the penalty.

The punishment also ended McLaren’s hopes of tying up the constructors' championship in this race.

They now go to the final race in Abu Dhabi next weekend with a 21-point lead over Ferrari and a maximum of 44 points available to score.


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Qatar GP 2024: Max Verstappen wins after Lando Norris penalty

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins a dramatic Qatar Grand Prix that was brought to life by two mid-race safety cars and a penalty for McLaren’s Lando Norris.
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Max Verstappen says George Russell has lost his respect following Qatar GP confrontation​


Max Verstappen says he has "lost all respect" for George Russell following the Mercedes driver's role in him being demoted from pole position for the Qatar Grand Prix.

Verstappen, who last weekend in Las Vegas was crowned world champion for a fourth successive season, topped Saturday's qualifying in Qatar but was investigated after the session for "driving unnecessarily slowly" as the drivers prepared for the final flying laps.

The stewards, following a hearing on Saturday night attended by both drivers, decided that Verstappen had impeded Russell and implemented a rarely seen one-place grid penalty that switched their positions on the front row.

Red Bull's Verstappen passed Russell at the first corner before going on to win Sunday's race, with the Brit having to settle for fourth after a botched pit stop ruined his hopes of a podium.

"I couldn't believe that I got it. But in a way I was also not surprised anymore in the world that I live in," Verstappen said following his victory.

"I'm not happy with it, but at one point or another you have to just turn the page.

"It wasn't very enjoyable to see that happen because I think that's the first time that in a slow lap someone has been penalised.

"Actually, I just tried to be nice, so maybe I shouldn't be nice. I didn't want to screw anyone over to prepare their lap. And by doing that, being nice, basically you get a penalty.

"And that's what I tried to explain as well, but I just felt like I was talking to a brick wall, so there's not much that was possible for whatever reason.

"It was clear-cut that around me there were different scenarios going on as well, with people having colder tyres and stuff, so they have to push anyway. I didn't want to then cause a scene into the last corner and for nobody to have a lap."

Russell confirmed to Sky Sports F1 in a pre-race interview that Verstappen had made it clear he was unhappy with him, while Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said on the grid that the Dutchman was "wound up".

Verstappen continued: "I was quite surprised, when sitting there in the stewards' room, what was all going on.

"It was honestly very disappointing, because I think all of us here, we respect each other a lot.

"I've been in that meeting room many times in my life and my career with people that I've raced. And I've never seen someone trying to screw someone over that hard. For me, I lost all respect."

Horner: Russell sensed Verstappen anger

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Horner suggested that Russell approached the start with trepidation after Verstappen had aired his grievances during the drivers' parade.

Despite starting from the dirtier side of the grid, Verstappen surged up the inside of Russell, who also lost out to Lando Norris to fall to third.

"He was annoyed with George, and the way things played out in front of the stewards yesterday. And he carried that motivation into the race," Horner said.

"It was clearly evident that he was super-motivated going into this race. He got an amazing start and that whole first, second, third-gear phase of the start, he was going to be the only car that was going to come out of Turn 1 in the lead.

"I think you could sense that George kind of sensed that as well. I think there was a little bit of a moment between the two of them on the trailer as they go around the circuit, that Max felt that things just went a bit too far yesterday."

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Max Verstappen says George Russell has lost his respect following Qatar GP confrontation

Max Verstappen has criticised George Russell for the role his rival played in the stewards demoting him from pole position for the Qatar GP; Verstappen went on to win Sundays race but remains unhappy with the Mercedes driver
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McLaren call for inquiry into Norris penalty as FIA under scrutiny

McLaren have called for an inquiry into the penalty Lando Norris was given for ignoring yellow flags during the Qatar Grand Prix.

Team principal Andrea Stella said the decision to give Norris a 10-second stop-and-go penalty - the severest that can be handed out other than a disqualification - "lacked any specificity and proportion".

The decision dropped Norris from second place, and a close fight with the leader and eventual winner Max Verstappen, to an eventual 10th place.

And it took McLaren from a position where they would have needed just a couple of points in the the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi next weekend to secure the constructors' championship, to seeing their lead over Ferrari cut to 21 points. There are a maximum of 44 points available in one weekend.

Waved yellow flags indicate a hazard ahead and drivers must slow down.

Stella said the penalty decision was "a little too simplistic", adding: "To me it looks like somewhere there must be a book with a lot of dust on the cover that was taken out: 'Let me see what it says; let me apply this.'"

His remarks allude to a period of turmoil at governing body the FIA in which the race director changed just one race ago, with three grands prix before the end of the season, and a senior steward was fired last week.

Rui Marques made his debut as race director at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a week before Qatar. He was drafted in at the last minute after the previous race director, Niels Wittich, was fired. No explanation has been given by the FIA for Wittich's dismissal.

Stella's criticism of the FIA was shared by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who said of the governing body: "Rationality needs to win and for me it doesn't look like this at the moment."


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Qatar GP 2024: McLaren call for inquiry into Norris penalty

McLaren call for an inquiry into the penalty Lando Norris was given for ignoring yellow flags during the Qatar Grand Prix.
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'A bittersweet ending but the achievements remain indelible'

Lewis Hamilton says his final race with Mercedes in Abu Dhabi this weekend is unlikely to be the positive send-off he and the team would have wanted.

"I don't think it will end on a high," said Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari for 2025. "It'll end. What’s important is we turn up and give it our best shot."

Hamilton has had a difficult final season with Mercedes, and it's only become more so as it has wound to its close.

He arrives in Abu Dhabi after last weekend’s race in Qatar, during which he said at one point he was "definitely not fast any more", and finished 12th after receiving two separate penalties.

It was the culmination of a season of frustration, with Hamilton comprehensively out-performed in qualifying by team-mate George Russell. Two wins at Silverstone and Spa - his first for two and a half years - were highs, but have done little to lift his general mood.

He and Mercedes, though, are insistent a low-key end to their partnership will not detract from everything they have achieved together.

Team boss Toto Wolff said: "When he took the decision to go, we knew it could be a bumpy year ahead. It’s normal.

"He knows he will go somewhere else. We know our future lies somewhere else. And to go through the ups and downs and still keep it together is something we have achieved.

"He wears his heart on his sleeve and you express your emotions and that is absolutely allowed. Nothing is going to take away 12 incredible years. That will be in the memory, rather than a season or races that were particularly bad."

Together, Hamilton and Mercedes have been the most successful team-driver combination in Formula 1 history.

After he joined in 2013, Mercedes won eight consecutive constructors’ championships, seven drivers' titles - six of them for Hamilton - and 120 grands prix.

Hamilton has become the most successful driver ever - taking six of his seven championships with Mercedes, 84 of his 105 race wins, and 78 of his 104 poles.

His other successes came with McLaren when they were Mercedes' works team. Next year - his 19th in Formula 1 - will be his first not as a Mercedes driver.

The team are determined to turn this weekend's grand prix - held on a track where Hamilton has won five times, more than any other driver - into a celebration of everything they have achieved together.

They will be doing it at the place where Hamilton's success with Mercedes came to a screeching halt amid the controversy of the title-deciding race in 2021.

Three years ago, Hamilton was on course to win a record eighth championship, having dominated the race from the start, only for race director Michael Masi to fail to apply the rules correctly during a late safety-car period.

Masi's decisions to override protocol over the handling of lapped cars and the timing of a restart were followed by Max Verstappen passing Hamilton when the race was restarted for one final lap and the title changing hands.

After a winter in which Hamilton considered walking away from F1, he and Mercedes started the following season still reeling from the perceived injustice of that day, but determined to right what they saw as a wrong.

Instead they have floundered - failing to get on top of the new technical rules introduced for 2022.

This lack of competitiveness was part of Hamilton's decision to leave for Ferrari - a team he had always dreamed of joining at one point.

The trigger was that, when he negotiated a new contract in the summer of 2023, Wolff initially wanted to give him only a one-year deal to retain flexibility about the future of his driver line-up with Hamilton approaching the age of 40.

They compromised on a one-year contract with an option for an extra season. But Hamilton knew he wanted to stay in F1 for longer. So when Ferrari came calling last winter, offering him a substantial pay rise - it is said he will earn $65m (£41m) a year at Maranello - and a longer commitment, Hamilton went for it.

"It was a brave and bold decision," says Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin - one of Hamilton's closest colleagues over the years, "but you can totally understand why he’s done it.

"He wanted to drive for more years than we were prepared to commit to. He wanted to have another chapter in his career that was about Ferrari, and it's a great challenge for him.

"As well as driving, he is still making an impact on the sport and diversity within the sport. He has more he wants to do there, and it's far easier for him to do that from the driving seat. He has such a prominent voice globally.

"That is a big part of his objectives, as well as winning races and hopefully winning the eighth championship."

What's gone wrong this season?

When Hamilton made the decision to leave Mercedes, he had not won a race for two years, so his return to the top of the podium at the British Grand Prix in July was welcome for team and driver.

Shovlin says: "It was just lovely to be a part of it, particularly in Silverstone. It was lovely to see him up there. It was lovely to see what it meant to him.

"It was nice having known how difficult it had been for him to sort of keep asking that question: 'Have I won my last race?' Not knowing whether it's ahead of him.

"Ultimately you do it for those memories. That's why the sport's so fun and addictive and enjoyable. It’s being part of moments like that."

Overall, though, this final season has been more downs than ups. To see the all-time F1 pole position record-holder struggling so much over one lap has been as mystifying for those watching as it has for Hamilton himself.

"Car control is not an issue and the issue is not in my driving," Hamilton says. "I don’t believe it is necessarily a set-up thing. I only know so much."

All year, Hamilton has been talking about the problem being lack of confidence in the rear of the car. "It’s very unpredictable," he said in Las Vegas last month. "The floor's working and then it stops and starts. That’s been the problem."

Shovlin says: "If you look for a common theme, we have a car that is difficult to turn in the slower corners, and the way the drivers have to turn it is by sliding the rear on the way in and sliding the rear on the power on the way out.

"That adds [tyre] temperature, and dealing with that problem Lewis has found quite difficult.

"You could argue that Lewis was head and shoulders the best in the previous set of regulations. He certainly found driving the cars second nature.

"Lewis would set up the car so that, as the [rear of the] car came up [during braking] and you gained pitch, it would help you turn the car, and he relied on those elements. And that was how you generated performance in the previous set of regulations.

"He has struggled more with the way these cars run. These cars you need to run lower, you need to run stiffer, they are banging into the ground more, you haven't got as much movement in the platform from low to high speed."

Continuing a legacy

Hamilton's legacy with Mercedes is about more than on-track performance and breaking records. He has led a push for more diversity and inclusion - not just at Mercedes but in F1 as a whole.

As F1's only black driver, and its most celebrated figure, Hamilton has a unique platform, and has been determined to use it for good.

"The thing I am most proud of," Hamilton says, "when I think about what I leave behind, I hope in a positive way, is the work we have done with diversity and inclusion.

"From the first moment sitting down with Toto, him and the whole team being open-minded. They have all gone on diversity and inclusion courses.

"We have a very diverse team now, which is something I am really grateful to have been a part of.

"I said to Toto: 'When I leave the team, there is going to be no-one in the room having these cool conversations with you, because I am the one, and I hope you continue them.' And he said he would."

Wolff says: "He was definitely someone who gave impulses and changed things and did things.

"Mercedes knows its responsibility on the topics of diversity and fighting racism or antisemitism. That has been always something we were absolutely targeting, and this is the responsibility of the group also.

"When he came, we were looking at things from different angles and different perspectives he provided to us."

Among other changes, Mercedes has instigated a programme called Accelerate 25, which demands that 25% of all new hires come from an under-represented background.

"His influence will have left indelible marks on our team," Shovlin says. "Not just the work he has done promoting diversity in this team and more widely within F1. But just the values he has, how he goes about his work, his commitment. He’s very open and honest with his emotional side.

"It’s been brilliant that he had the energy to continually do that. Because that wasn't something he could just say: 'I've got a great idea, let's do this.' It has taken a lot of his energy over the years to continually push these topics up the agenda."

'It is hopefully not a burning of a bridge'

The relationship ends on a bittersweet note. There has been no eighth title, no revenge for Abu Dhabi 2021, and the success has dried up.

But the achievements remain, indelible, undeniable.

Wolff says: "How does it feel to not achieve the eighth for him? He deserved it, and we would have loved it to be with us, with Mercedes. But at heart we know that we've had the best racing driver in the world in our cars for so many years.

"We are going to feel emotional at the end of that weekend. Sunday night, I can already visualise how that is going to feel, but it is not like he is going and he is out of our world. He's not.

"Lewis Hamilton will be very much here as a competitor, not any more on the same team, but still someone I am going to meet at home, who is going to come for dinner and will have a chat and play around with my son, and that is not going to change. It is just a journey with Mercedes that's ending."

Hamilton adds: "One of the hardest parts of the decision was when you are a part of the Mercedes team you are part of the family for ever. I don’t think that will change. We have all worked so hard, it is hopefully not a burning of a bridge. I think it will last the test of time."

BBC
 
Dutch GP to exit F1 calendar after 2026

The Dutch Grand Prix will fall off the Formula 1 calendar after 2026.

A one-year contract extension to host the race at the Zandvoort track, which returned to the schedule in 2021 after a 36-year absence, has been signed to ensure there will be two more events.

The track, in a holiday town on the North Sea coast, had been struggling to make the event work financially despite sell-out crowds attending to support Max Verstappen.

The Red Bull driver won the first three races after Zandvoort returned to the calendar, before McLaren’s Lando Norris triumphed this year.

Dutch Grand Prix director Robert Van Overdijk said: "We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities.

"We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026. We wanted to take this step while our event is adored and supported by passionate fans, residents, and the Formula 1 community."

The race will be held on 29-31 August in 2025. The 2026 schedule has not been confirmed but F1 announced that Zandvoort’s last grand prix would be a ‘sprint’, with a shorter race on the Saturday before the main event on Sunday.

F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said: "The Dutch Grand Prix has raised the bar for European Grands Prix in terms of event spectacle and entertainment, supported the development of young talent by hosting F2, F3 and our F1 Academy series, and have also pioneered sustainable solutions that have inspired our events around the world as we drive towards being net zero by 2030.

"All parties positively collaborated to find a solution to extend the race, with many options, including alternation or annual events on the table, and we respect the decision from the promoter to finish its amazing run in 2026."

The Netherlands’ loss from the calendar eases some of the fixture congestion F1 was facing in forthcoming years.

There has been talk of rotating some of the European races so they take place every other year to ensure every country that wants a grand prix can be accommodated.

F1 is seeking to expand into Africa, and is holding talks with Rwanda about an event near Kigali.

And Madrid will make its debut on the calendar in 2026, taking over the Spanish Grand Prix from Barcelona, which is still in talks about retaining an event.

Consideration had been given to rotating the Netherlands and Belgium but the Spa-Francorchamps circuit wants to continue to host a race every year.

BBC
 
George Russell makes shocking claim about ‘bully’ Max Verstappen’s aggressive and violent threat

George Russell has taken his rivalry with Max Verstappen to a new level with explosive comments ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking during Thursday media duties, Russell called the four-time world champion a ‘bully’ and revealed that he threatened to ‘Put me on my f***ing head in the wall’.

The retort comes after Verstappen said his Mercedes rival should ‘f*** off’ and called out his behaviour as the pair clashed over a qualifying incident that resulted in a penalty for the Dutchman.

In his response, Russell set the rivalry alight by saying: "I find it all quite ironic seeing as Saturday night he said he was going to purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and 'Put me on my f***ing head in the wall'.

"So to question somebody's integrity as a person, while saying comments like that the day before, I find is very ironic, and I'm not going to sit here and accept it.

"Whenever anything has gone against him -- Jeddah '21, Brazil '21 -- he lashes out. Budapest this year, the very first race the car wasn't dominant, crashing into Lewis, slamming his team ... As I said, for me, those comments on Saturday night and Sunday were totally disrespectful and unnecessary.

"Because what happens on track, we fight hard, that's part of racing. What happens in the stewards' room, you fight hard, but it's never personal. But he's taken it too far now."

Adding more context, he continued: "[It was] to me privately, yeah, straight out of the stewards

"He said, 'I don't know why you would want to screw me like this, I'm so disappointed in you. I was going to not even race you tomorrow, I was going to let you by, but now if I have to, I will purposely go out of my way to put you on your f***ing head in the wall.' So, I mean... as I said, I don't understand why he was so unnecessarily aggressive and violent in that regard."

Russell then explained he'd been happy to ignore the situation but Verstappen's comment led him to explain the situation to the world.

He added: "I honestly just want to set the record straight, to be honest. Because it's just a total double standard that he has for the regulations, and just thinking that he is above everybody else," Russell said.

"So it's not me trying to assert my leadership style or anything. It's just somebody has come out and said that I'm a two-faced motherf*****, and he's entitled to his own opinions.

"But coming out and saying that publicly, and slamming me publicly, as I say, I'm just not going to accept it, and I'm going to tell people what the reality was."

talksport.com

George Russell makes shock claim about 'bully' Max Verstappen's violent threat

George Russell has taken his rivalry with Max Verstappen to a new level with explosive comments ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Speaking during Thursday media duties, Russell called the fo…
talksport.com talksport.com
 
FearlessRoar said:
George Russell makes shocking claim about ‘bully’ Max Verstappen’s aggressive and violent threat

George Russell has taken his rivalry with Max Verstappen to a new level with explosive comments ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking during Thursday media duties, Russell called the four-time world champion a ‘bully’ and revealed that he threatened to ‘Put me on my f***ing head in the wall’.

The retort comes after Verstappen said his Mercedes rival should ‘f*** off’ and called out his behaviour as the pair clashed over a qualifying incident that resulted in a penalty for the Dutchman.

In his response, Russell set the rivalry alight by saying: "I find it all quite ironic seeing as Saturday night he said he was going to purposefully go out of his way to crash into me and 'Put me on my f***ing head in the wall'.

"So to question somebody's integrity as a person, while saying comments like that the day before, I find is very ironic, and I'm not going to sit here and accept it.

"Whenever anything has gone against him -- Jeddah '21, Brazil '21 -- he lashes out. Budapest this year, the very first race the car wasn't dominant, crashing into Lewis, slamming his team ... As I said, for me, those comments on Saturday night and Sunday were totally disrespectful and unnecessary.

"Because what happens on track, we fight hard, that's part of racing. What happens in the stewards' room, you fight hard, but it's never personal. But he's taken it too far now."

Adding more context, he continued: "[It was] to me privately, yeah, straight out of the stewards

"He said, 'I don't know why you would want to screw me like this, I'm so disappointed in you. I was going to not even race you tomorrow, I was going to let you by, but now if I have to, I will purposely go out of my way to put you on your f***ing head in the wall.' So, I mean... as I said, I don't understand why he was so unnecessarily aggressive and violent in that regard."

Russell then explained he'd been happy to ignore the situation but Verstappen's comment led him to explain the situation to the world.

He added: "I honestly just want to set the record straight, to be honest. Because it's just a total double standard that he has for the regulations, and just thinking that he is above everybody else," Russell said.

"So it's not me trying to assert my leadership style or anything. It's just somebody has come out and said that I'm a two-faced motherf*****, and he's entitled to his own opinions.

"But coming out and saying that publicly, and slamming me publicly, as I say, I'm just not going to accept it, and I'm going to tell people what the reality was."

talksport.com

George Russell makes shock claim about 'bully' Max Verstappen's violent threat

George Russell has taken his rivalry with Max Verstappen to a new level with explosive comments ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Speaking during Thursday media duties, Russell called the fo…
talksport.com talksport.com
Click to expand...
Russell is a masterclass of taking away the most hated driver title from Lando in one go!!
and now crying about it :ROFLMAO:
 

Leclerc given 10-place grid penalty in Abu Dhabi​


Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has been given a 10-place grid penalty for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that will decide the constructors' championship between the Italian team and McLaren.

Ferrari have had to fit a new battery pack to Leclerc's car, taking them beyond their permitted allowance for the season.

It is a major blow to Ferrari, who trail McLaren by 21 points in the constructors' championship with a maximum of 44 points available.

Leclerc and team-mate Carlos Sainz said on Thursday that Ferrari really needed a one-two in the race to have their best shot at their own first title since 2008.

McLaren are trying to win the title for the first time since 1998.

Leclerc, whose session was delayed by half an hour because of the battery change, was 0.221 seconds quicker than Norris, but was running on softer tyres and at a time when the track was in a better condition because it was later in the session.

Norris was 0.264 seconds quicker than Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, who had team-mate George Russell a further 0.359secs behind on a weekend that so far has been dominated by his spat with Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Leclerc's brother Arthur, a Ferrari development driver, drove Carlos Sainz's car.

Verstappen did not take part in the session, his car driven by French Formula 2 driver Isack Hadjar, a contender for a seat at Red Bull's RB team next year.

Red Bull are considering whether to drop Sergio Perez after a second consecutive difficult season for the Mexican alongside Verstappen. If they do, either Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda - most likely Lawson - would be promoted from RB and Hadjar may be slotted in at RB.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly was fifth fastest, ahead of Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, the two teams disputing sixth place in the constructors' championship this weekend, with Alpine five points ahead.

Williams driver Franco Colapinto was seventh fastest. He and team-mate Alex Albon both have five-place grid penalties for Sunday's race for using additional gearbox components.

Haas' Kevin Magnussen was eighth, ahead of Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich and Perez.

Alpine's Jack Doohan, drafted in for Esteban Ocon to get a head start on his debut season in 2025, was 19th fastest after pledging to make a steady start to his F1 career.

Among the reserve drivers who stepped in, McLaren's Ryo Hirakawa ended up 14th, ahead of Hadjar in 16th.

Ayumu Iwasa was 17th in Tsunoda's Red Bull, from Arthur Leclerc, Doohan and Briton Luke Browning in the Williams.

It was an emotional day for the entire Leclerc family. Their mother Pascale was in the Ferrari pit, and on Thursday Charles Leclerc spoke about what it meant to the family, who lost father Herve to cancer in 2017.

"It is definitely a very, very special moment for not only me, not only for Arthur, but I think for the whole family," Charles said, "because I can only see how much sacrifices my parents have done when I was younger for us to continue.

"They had to stop Arthur's career at one point because they could not afford to pay for both of us. It is special for how much my father has given to help our careers. It is a dream, for both of us.

"I know how much it meant for my father to be able to restart Arthur's career. When he did that, he was so happy. It's very special also for that, for how much my father has given to us in order to pursue our dream. So it will be a moment I will forever remember for sure."

www.bbc.com

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc fastest in first practice but has 10-place grid penalty

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc is fastest in first practice but is given a 10-place grid penalty for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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Norris on Abu Dhabi pole with Hamilton 18th​


Lando Norris took pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri as McLaren put themselves in a perfect position to clinch their first constructors' title since 1998.

Norris headed Piastri by 0.209 seconds at the end of a gripping, topsy-turvy qualifying session at the final race of the season.

Carlos Sainz took third place for Ferrari, who trail McLaren by 21 points heading into Sunday's race with a maximum of 44 available.

His team-mate Charles Leclerc will start at the back, qualifying 13th after having his lap time in second qualifying deleted for exceeding track limits, and with a 10-place grid penalty to come.

Lewis Hamilton qualified 18th in his final race for Mercedes after his decisive lap in the first session was wrecked when his car collected a bollard dislodged by Kevin Magnussen's Haas as the Dane tried to get out of Hamilton's way.

"You couldn't make it up," said Hamilton, who is set to start 16th after penalties for Leclerc and Williams' Alex Albon. "It is what it is."

World champion Max Verstappen starts fifth, immediately in front of Mercedes' George Russell in seventh after their row this week.

McLaren had dominated the practice sessions leading up to qualifying and were favourites for pole, but they did not show their hand until the final lap of a session marked by track limits transgressions and other incidents.

Verstappen was quickest on the first runs in the final session in his Red Bull, despite a big slide out of the final corner which he just managed to rescue from turning into a crash into the pit wall on the inside.

The McLarens were on used tyres for the first runs in the top 10 shootout and Norris was just 0.004secs behind Verstappen, who was on new tyres, with Piastri a further 0.036secs behind.

Verstappen did not improve on his final lap and he dropped down to fifth behind Norris, Piastri, Sainz and the impressive Haas of Nico Hulkenberg. The Dutchman ended up 0.350secs off the pace.

He said: "You never really had a good compare because many people kept aborting on their new tyres and when I went P1 other people were on scrubbed (tyres) so it didn't give a fair performance assessment.

"If I didn't drop it on the last corner I think I could have fought for second."

Alpine's Pierre Gasly took sixth, ahead of Russell, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, Sauber's Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull's Sergio Perez.

Leclerc went fastest with a lap at the end of the second session, but he had it deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn One.

He will start 19th after his penalty, one place ahead of Williams' Franco Colapinto, who qualified 19th but like Albon has a five-place penalty for excessive gearbox usage.

Leclerc said he still had hopes of a miracle in the constructors' championship.

"The joy will be even bigger if we pull it off after such a tough weekend," he told BBC Sport. "I hope we can turn this around in the best possible way.

"I am very disappointed with my performance today and I am very disappointed with what happened on the engine yesterday but that makes me more determined to do something special tomorrow. So I will give it my all."

Hamilton came into the weekend hoping to end his 12-year Mercedes career on a high and he had a positive two days, emerging as the consistently quicker Silver Arrows driver.

But his first lap in the first session was not quick enough to progress and he needed a second attempt.

He was on target to make it through into the second session until he came across Magnussen in the area around the marina.

Magnussen moved off the track inside the kerb at Turn 13 in an attempt to ensure he did not impede the Mercedes but hit a bollard on the kerb and knocked it on to the track.

Hamilton collected it and it lodged in the front of his floor for the remaining four corners of the lap, and the seven-time champion missed progressing by 0.093secs.

He told BBC Sport: "We gave it everything, I gave it everything, the car was in a good place. Every practice session went well, I was ahead of my team-mate all weekend but when we got to qualifying I think as a team we didn't perform in terms of the timing.

"I was the last car on track and ran out of time ultimately, and then I got the bollard at the end which went under the car and I lost all downforce so it couldn't have gone worse really."

www.bbc.com

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Lando Norris on pole with Lewis Hamilton 18th

Lando Norris takes pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri as McLaren look set to clinch the constructors' title.
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Norris wins to seal constructors' title for McLaren​


Lando Norris secured McLaren's first Formula 1 constructors' championship for 26 years with victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Norris led from start to finish and his fourth win of the season was enough to seal the championship by 14 points, despite Ferrari finishing second and third with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

Leclerc's brilliant drive after starting 19th on the grid kept the tension high - had anything happened to Norris' car, Ferrari would have clinched the title.

Lewis Hamilton took fourth place in his final race for Mercedes, passing team-mate George Russell around the outside of Turn Nine with six corners of the race to go.

Hamilton did doughnuts on the pit straight after crossing the line and then took a few moments with his car, collecting his thoughts, before congratulating Norris and McLaren F1 boss Zak Brown and consoling Sainz and Leclerc.

The anxiety for McLaren started at the first corner when Norris' team-mate Oscar Piastri, who had qualified second to the Briton, was tapped into a spin by Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The world champion was given a 10-second penalty for causing the incident.

That put Piastri to the back of the field and left McLaren's hopes hanging on Norris.

Leclerc increased McLaren's nerves with a stunning first lap, in which he gained a remarkable 11 places, including passing five cars in one go approaching the chicane at Turns Six and Seven.

Leclerc's climb continued, as he passed the Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin, and then after his pit stop on lap 20 Pierre Gasly's Alpine. He took third when the Mercedes of Russell and Hamilton and Verstappen pitted out of his way.

Sitting in third behind Norris and Sainz in the final 15 laps, Leclerc asked if "like this we lose the constructors'" and was told, yes, but the race was not over.

But Norris and McLaren had everything under control and he crossed the line six seconds ahead of Sainz to end a long and painful period without a title.

The win also ensured that Norris finished second in the drivers' championship, 18 points ahead of Leclerc and 63 behind Verstappen.

McLaren last won the drivers' championship in 2008 with Hamilton, but their team's title drought went all the way back to 1998.

They have been through a tough period in the past decade. But their fortunes have been revived by years of restructuring that started when Brown joined the team as executive director in 2016, before being made chief executive officer of McLaren Racing in 2018, and gathered pace when Andrea Stella was made team principal at the end of 2022, when their forward momentum had stalled.

Stella's leadership has turned McLaren into the fastest team in F1, and they will go into 2025 as potential favourites.

Norris whooped with delight over the team radio as he was told the title was won, and said: "Next year's going to be my year, too."

Hamilton's last race for Mercedes was a strong one from his 16th place on the grid, where he ended up after misfortune in qualifying.

He was the only driver to start on the hard tyres and used an inverted strategy to gain places throughout a long first stint.

Rejoining from his pit stop on lap 34 of 57, Hamilton repassed Hulkenberg and Gasly, and with Verstappen already behind because of the Dutchman's penalty, the seven-time champion was up to fifth behind Russell.

On fresher tyres, Hamilton closed on Russell and started the final lap on his tail.

Hamilton closed in down the two long straights and then used his better tyres to pass Russell around the long fast Turn Nine after the younger man defended to the inside.

That gave Hamilton a fourth place as he bowed out from 12 years at Mercedes to end the most successful team-driver combination in F1 history.

Over the team radio, Mercedes and Hamilton congratulated and expressed their admiration for each other. Hamilton said: "What started as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books."

Verstappen took sixth, ahead of Gasly, Hulkenberg and Alonso, while Piastri recovered from his first-lap collision with Verstappen and a 10-second penalty for hitting the back of Franco Colapinto's Williams to take the final point for McLaren.

www.bbc.com

Lando Norris wins Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for McLaren to seal constructors' title

Lando Norris secures McLaren's first Formula 1 constructors' championship for 26 years with victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
www.bbc.com
 
Cadillac team to use Ferrari engines on F1 debut

Ferrari will supply engines to the new Cadillac team if its entry is approved for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The US brand has an agreement in principle with F1 to join the championship from 2026 and to build its own engine "at a later time".

Cadillac, part of General Motors, has agreed with Ferrari to buy customer engines and gearboxes until its own power-unit is ready, which is not expected to be before 2028.

The move means Ferrari will continue to have two customer teams in 2026 despite losing Sauber as it becomes the Audi factory entry.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said: "It's great to see the commitment of another American team, backed by one of the most highly respected marques in the motor industry, at a time when Formula 1 is increasing in popularity in the United States.

"We are delighted therefore that we will be supplying the team with our power unit and gearbox as the basis of this technical collaboration."

Vasseur said having two customers - Haas will continue with Ferrari - "brings benefits in terms of technical development within Ferrari".

Cadillac's entry is yet to receive official ratification from F1, but this is expected to be a formality.


BBC
 
Alonso 'still dreaming' of third world title

Fernando Alonso is considering his past, present and future in Formula 1 - and most of all his thoughts on his prospects of winning a third world drivers' title, even though he is 43 and it's 18 years since his last.

"I still dream," Alonso says. "Why not? I know 2026 is probably my only chance because 2025 is extremely difficult, but I am still dreaming.

"F1 is for dreamers, probably, because anything can happen. Let's see."

It's a comment that says a lot about Alonso. It talks to his pure love of what he does, and his unwavering belief that, despite the experiences of the past decade and more of his career, fresh success could be just around the corner.

It's 11 years and counting since Alonso secured the last of his 32 grands prix victories. It's a year and a half since a promising start to 2023 meant he re-emerged as a regular frontrunner in his Aston Martin, and put together a string of podium finishes - even almost end that long drought - before his team's form faded.

And at the end of the longest season in history, his early hopes have again been dashed against the cold hard reality of F1 results.

Yet here is Alonso, still believing more wins, and even another championship to add to the two he won with Renault in 2005 and 2006, could be just around the corner.

It might not sound like it, but his belief is founded on rationality. Three months ago, Aston Martin shook F1 when they announced the signing of Adrian Newey - the greatest designer in the sport's history.

The 65-year-old, who announced in May he was leaving Red Bull after 18 years, starts work with his new team in March 2025. The hope - no, expectation - is Newey can work his magic on the car Aston Martin design for the new rules coming into force in 2026, and they can leap to the front.

"Expectations will be high because it is a new car, change of regulations, car made by Adrian," Alonso said.

"Probably - or at least to start - it will be my last season in F1. Because my contract finishes at the end of 2026. It is the time of delivering and the time of truth. High expectations."

A marriage long in the waiting

For Alonso, Aston Martin joining forces with Newey at last is a bittersweet moment, not least because he knows before it starts their time together will be short.

The pair have come close to working together a number of times over the years. Now, Alonso finally gets the chance to race one of Newey's cars, but it will be when he is 44, coming up for 45. Even Alonso cannot keep going forever.

After deciding not to join Red Bull at the end of 2007, then not reaching a deal to join them when they had further talks in 2013, why does he think he and Newey have finally come together now?

"Destiny," Alonso says. "It seems like destiny always I was missing the opportunity. But he came now at the end of my career and I will still enjoy as much as I can, try to learn from him.

"We have this mutual respect. We exchanged some messages and spoke from time to time and it seems like we connected always. We never worked together but we were always in the same frequency when we talked in the past. I am looking forward.

"And for Aston Martin it is a big thing."

Age shall not wither?

Alonso signed a new contract with Aston Martin last spring that will keep him with the team until he is moving into the second half of his 40s - he will turn 45 in July 2026.

He does not like to talk about this, and has said a number of times he feels it's not relevant - that more downforce on an F1 car is a much more important effect on its lap time than age.

Of course, he would say that. But it is worth talking about. He is doing something that has not been done since the 1950s - driving an F1 car competitively into his mid-40s.

It is, by the very definition of the word, extraordinary, and yet the extraordinary thing is he doesn't seem recognise it as such.

"No, I don't," he says. "I'm not thinking too much on that. Media reminds me from time to time some of the stats and some of the numbers but for me I feel like I was 25 or 30 and I keep racing in F1.

"I don't feel it. I feel motivated, I feel fresh, I feel fit to drive and to do the same training I was doing for 20 years now, because it is the same routine more or less."

So why does he think he has been able to do this, and no-one else, yet, has been able, or offered the opportunity, to do the same?

"I think because my discipline of working and training and dedicating myself to F1 has been quite extreme," Alonso says, "and the results maybe are paying off.

"I have never been missing any test session or any debrief or any factory time or training. I have never been out or partying too much.

"Maybe the results are coming now in my 40s, but the starting point was at 20s or 30s, when you need to dedicate yourself to F1 for a long period of time to achieve some results later on."

As drivers age, what normally slows them down is that they lose the desire to do it. It ceases to matter so much.

Time passes and the importance of shaving the last milliseconds off a lap time - of driving around in circles, as Niki Lauda famously put it when he retired for the first time mid-race weekend in 1979 - diminishes. So too does the desire to make the many required sacrifices, in terms of physical commitment, in terms of time away from family.

With Alonso, though, the flame of love and desire is still burning strong. Why?

"Because I never had a good car that I could dominate something, apart from my season with the world endurance championship with Toyota [in 2019-20].

"That season I realised how wonderful it could be to have a dominating car in F1 as well, because you could achieve so many results and drive as you wish.

"All my career I have been driving cars that were maybe not the best in that moment, even my two World Championships. In 2005, the McLaren was the fastest car but their reliability was bad so we compensated with that and won the championship.

"And then in 2006, they were very similar but the Ferrari and Michael [Schumacher] had a little bit too many DNFs, especially in Japan at the end of the year, and I won the championship.

"I keep delivering and motivated and I am not [feeling like I am] driving in circles because every year I still have the hope that will be the season I could have a fast car."

Does he worry other people might look at his age and lose faith he can do the job before he does?

"Not worry," he says. "I know it is happening and it will happen. There is a younger generation of fans and followers who are just into F1 and they don't know much about me and they never saw me winning a race or they go just by the results.

"But I still have the hope I can prove them wrong and have a fast car in 2026."

'I will enjoy every second'

Is he still driving as well as ever, as he insists? It's hard to be sure when a driver's team-mate is not close to his level, as Lance Stroll is not with Alonso.

But the underlying indicators are in Alonso's favour. He scored the bulk of his points in the first few races of the season, when he was qualifying regularly in the top six.

On average, the Aston Martin has been the fifth fastest car - and they have finished fifth in the constructors' championship. But over the second half of the season, their form has tailed off to the extent the car has been the third slowest on the grid.

Yet Alonso has still finished the season as the highest driver in the championship outside the top four teams. And he has nearly twice as many championship points as the next driver in a midfield team.

"My self-confidence will always be there until there is one day that I don't feel comfortable in the car. If I feel - as you touch on - slower than my team-mates, or slower than what I think is possible with the car, if that date arrives, probably I will raise my hand and stop racing, because I will not enjoy any more."

All of which begs another question. The 2026 Aston Martin will be designed by Newey and the team of big names owner Lawrence Stroll has collected to work with him, and designed and built in the new factory and wind tunnel in which the Canadian billionaire has invested in recent years.

If it is as competitive as the team hope it will be, might he want to stay on longer?

"If 2026 is running smoothly and we are having a good time and there is a possibility to race one more year, I will be open [to it] for sure," he says.

"I will not close the door beforehand. But I will not start thinking that and I will take every race as if it is my last race and I will enjoy every second."

BBC
 
Motorsport boss 'saddened' by proposed FIA changes

The head of Austria's motorsport federation says he is "saddened" by proposed changes that will reduce accountability at motorsport's governing body the FIA.

Oliver Schmerold, the chief executive officer of the OAMTC, says the new statutes would be "not good governance" and "not good in terms of checks and balances".

Schmerold said he had communicated his concerns to the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, but it is his "sad projection" that the changes will be approved by member clubs on Friday.

The changes to the FIA statutes will be put to the vote at a meeting of the general assembly in Kigali, Rwanda.

Schmerold said the likely consequences for the FIA would be that "we lose a certain level of checks and balances [and] we might be questioned by other international bodies about our governance and we could run the risk that things go wrong".

He said the changes, which limit the independence of the FIA's audit and ethics committees, would make it harder to recruit "established and independent individuals" to them.

"The ethics and audit committees would lose that attractiveness so there would be maybe in future only individuals on those committees who are more or less in one way or another depending on the actual leadership," Schmerold said.

"Which individual who is behind good governance and who has shown he has a good professional track record would be ready to take on a position on a committee which is completely controlled by two individuals?"

The changes in question would ensure any ethics complaints were overseen by the FIA president and president of its senate, rather than the senate itself, and they would remove the power of the audit committee to investigate financial issues independently.

Schmerold is the second senior figure from an FIA member club to express concerns about the proposed changes after David Richards, the chairman of MotorsportUK, said on Saturday they "did not reflect the highest standards of corporate governance".

The changes have been proposed at the end of a year in which the ethics and audit committees have investigated a number of allegations about the conduct of Ben Sulayem.

Another controversial change emerges

Schmerold added that this was the second time in six months that he had expressed concerns about planned changes to the statutes that appear to affect accountability and governance.

The previous time, at the last general assembly in Samarkand in Uzbekistan in June, was over a statute that has come to be known as the "urgency" rule.

This grants the FIA president the power to impose changes through a group made up of the president of the FIA senate and one member of his choosing from each of the two world councils, for motorsport and mobility, "in particular when circumstances do not permit a meeting of the senate, especially in the event of urgent and/or critical situations".

Any decision made by this group would need only to be "communicated" to the senate rather than approved by it.

The senate, the FIA's supervisory body, is made up of 16 members.

Schmerold said the clause was "far too openly formulated" and "means the president can decide at his own discretion what topic he could decide upon only with the president of the senate and two selected members of the two world councils, who he can select".

He added: "I was the only one who stood up in the general assembly in Samarkand and asked for a removal of those topics from the agenda and not to vote on them but give it more thought and rework it. And this was unfortunately not taken forward by the chairman."

What does the FIA say?

The FIA has so far refused to comment on the reasoning behind the new statutes.

BBC Sport has asked for comment specifically on Schmerold's accusations but has received no response.

Schmerold said that Ben Sulayem and head of legal affairs Paul O'Dowd had responded to his objections when he raised them on Tuesday.

He said: "The answer of the president and the head of legal was that in order to protect the [identity of] individuals who might be subject to investigation from being published to a broader audience it needed to be kept to a very close group.

"Their argument goes that not to share reports of the ethics committee with the full senate protects the individuals from being displayed to a broader public. Whoever might be subject of an investigation."

Schmerold said he did not agree with this line of argument.

"If we cannot rely on the integrity of a senate member then we have another issue," he said.

"The senate consists of 16 individuals who see the report. We must have the trust that they will deal with the subject in an appropriate way. I would rather have it with 16 people, the majority of whom are really independent, than a close group of only two who are not independent from each other."

Schmerold added that a proposed new statute that dictates that, in the event either the FIA president or the president of the senate is investigated, the other receives the report, was also a concern because the two men are allies.

The president of the senate, Carmelo Sanz De Barros, is a member of Ben Sulayem's four-person leadership team.

Schmerold said: "There is a strong link between the individuals and if only the two of them are responsible for the control, it's not independent any more."

He said he was also concerned by a new practice adopted by the FIA leadership in tabling proposals.

"This time, as with the proposal in June this year, the world councils were only asked to vote by e-vote, without a meeting, without a discussion, and in parallel to the e-vote of the world council the documents were already sent out to all the members in the general assembly," he said.

Schmerold is not attending the general assembly in person in order "to show our distance to the current developments" and said the Austrian federation would vote remotely.

BBC
 
Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan says he was diagnosed with a "quite aggressive" form of cancer earlier this year

The 76-year-old revealed he suffered with bladder and prostate cancer which spread to his spine and pelvis.

Jordan, whose team competed between 1991 and 2005, is the current manager of design legend Adrian Newey.

Speaking on his Formula For Success podcast alongside co-host David Coulthard, Jordan urged listeners to "go and get tested, because in life, you've got chances".

"We've kind of alluded to it over the shows, way back in March and April, I was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer, and then it spread into the spine and the pelvis, so it was quite aggressive," said Jordan.

The Irishman highlighted that his situation is similar to that of six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy, who announced in October that his cancer is terminal.

"We've all heard about our wonderful friend, Sir Chris Hoy, who's an absolute megastar, and he is coming out and talking about illnesses like what I've got, but he's a far younger man," he said.

"Go and do it. Don't be stupid. Don't be shy. It's not a shy thing. Look after your body, guys."

Jordan's team, which was named after himself, entered 250 races in Formula 1, winning four times.

Source: BBC
 

Rwanda President Kagame announces F1 race bid​


Rwanda is bidding to host a Formula 1 grand prix, the country's President Paul Kagame says.

F1 is keen to hold a race in Africa and talks with Rwanda have been known about for some months.

The FIA, F1's governing body, is hosting its general assembly and prize giving in the Rwandan capital Kigali, and Kagame chose its opening to put his official seal on the grand prix project.

Kagame said: "I am happy to formally announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa, by hosting a Formula 1 grand prix.

"A big thank you to [F1 president] Stefano Domenicali and the entire team at F1 for the good progress in our discussions so far.

"I assure you we are approaching this opportunity with the seriousness and commitment it deserves."

If a deal can be agreed, the race would be held on a new track planned close to the new Bugesera airport, external outside Kigali.

The track designer is Alexander Wurz, a former F1 driver and the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.

Wurz's company has been working on the track with local advisers, companies and authorities for more than a year. The circuit, which is fast and flowing, is being built alongside a lake and makes use of the hilly topography of the area.

Wurz is also designing the new Qiddiyah track in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to finished in 2028 and host a grand prix in 2029.

F1 had previously tried to revive a grand prix in South Africa at the Kyalami track, which last hosted a grand prix in 1993, but talks collapsed over problems with the local promoter.

The Rwanda project is now considered the most likely for an African grand prix but the project remains unconfirmed.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem met with Rwanda's Sports Minister Richard Nyirishema at the general assembly meeting.

Ben Sulayem said: "To be here in Rwanda for such an important moment in the FIA's calendar is a testament to the strength of this nation, in particular its growing influence in motorsport.

"We are aligned on our values and shared goals across key sectors such as innovation, sustainability, and road safety, and I look forward to our continued partnership. The future of motorsport in Africa is bright."

www.bbc.com

Rwanda bidding to host a Formula 1 grand prix, says President Paul Kagame

Rwanda is bidding to host a Formula 1 grand prix, the country's President Paul Kagame says.
www.bbc.com
 

Perez and Red Bull agree to part ways following conclusion of 2024 season​


Sergio Perez and Red Bull have reached an agreement to part ways with immediate effect.

Earlier this year, Perez signed a new deal to race for the team until the end of 2026 – on the back of his strongest season ever in 2023, when he finished second to team mate and champion Max Verstappen.

However, his form tailed off after signing that deal, and the Mexican scored just nine points in the last eight Grand Prix weekends of the season.

He ended up down in eighth in the drivers’ championship, with Red Bull failing to defend their constructors’ championship and seeing out the season in P3 behind champion McLaren and Ferrari.

Throughout the difficult period, Perez remained resolute that he would race for the team next year, but following discussions with Red Bull, they’ve agreed to split after four years together.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team,” he said.

“Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way.

“A big thank you to every person in the team from the management, engineers and mechanics, catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes, I wish you all the best for the future.

“It has also been an honour to race alongside Max as a team mate all these years and to share in our success. A special thank you to the fans around the world, and especially to the Mexican fans for your unwavering support every day. We’ll meet again soon. And remember… never give up.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: “I would like to thank Checo for all he has done for Oracle Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons.

“From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors’ titles and to our first one-two finish in the drivers’ championship.

“His five wins, all on street circuits, were also a spectacular mark of his determination to always push to the limit. While Checo will not race for the team next season, he will always be an extremely popular team member and a treasured part of our history. Thank you, Checo.”

Perez secured five wins, including victory in Monaco, over 90 starts with the team and played a key role in Red Bull winning the constructors’ championship in 2022 and 2023.

The Mexican won’t be on the grid next year – but it remains unclear whether he wants to pursue a seat in 2026.

Red Bull said further announcements regarding the team’s full 2025 line-up will be made “in due course”.

Liam Lawson is favourite to step up from RB to Red Bull, with Yuki Tsunoda looking set to miss out on promotion, the Japanese driver having tested for Red Bull at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

www.formula1.com

Sergio Perez and Red Bull agree to part ways following conclusion of 2024 season

www.formula1.com www.formula1.com
 
FearlessRoar said:

Perez and Red Bull agree to part ways following conclusion of 2024 season​


Sergio Perez and Red Bull have reached an agreement to part ways with immediate effect.

Earlier this year, Perez signed a new deal to race for the team until the end of 2026 – on the back of his strongest season ever in 2023, when he finished second to team mate and champion Max Verstappen.

However, his form tailed off after signing that deal, and the Mexican scored just nine points in the last eight Grand Prix weekends of the season.

He ended up down in eighth in the drivers’ championship, with Red Bull failing to defend their constructors’ championship and seeing out the season in P3 behind champion McLaren and Ferrari.

Throughout the difficult period, Perez remained resolute that he would race for the team next year, but following discussions with Red Bull, they’ve agreed to split after four years together.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team,” he said.

“Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way.

“A big thank you to every person in the team from the management, engineers and mechanics, catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes, I wish you all the best for the future.

“It has also been an honour to race alongside Max as a team mate all these years and to share in our success. A special thank you to the fans around the world, and especially to the Mexican fans for your unwavering support every day. We’ll meet again soon. And remember… never give up.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: “I would like to thank Checo for all he has done for Oracle Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons.

“From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors’ titles and to our first one-two finish in the drivers’ championship.

“His five wins, all on street circuits, were also a spectacular mark of his determination to always push to the limit. While Checo will not race for the team next season, he will always be an extremely popular team member and a treasured part of our history. Thank you, Checo.”

Perez secured five wins, including victory in Monaco, over 90 starts with the team and played a key role in Red Bull winning the constructors’ championship in 2022 and 2023.

The Mexican won’t be on the grid next year – but it remains unclear whether he wants to pursue a seat in 2026.

Red Bull said further announcements regarding the team’s full 2025 line-up will be made “in due course”.

Liam Lawson is favourite to step up from RB to Red Bull, with Yuki Tsunoda looking set to miss out on promotion, the Japanese driver having tested for Red Bull at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

www.formula1.com

Sergio Perez and Red Bull agree to part ways following conclusion of 2024 season

www.formula1.com www.formula1.com
Click to expand...
Writing was on the wall probably half way through the season
 
Ferrari 'not worried' by Hamilton's recent form

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur says he is "not worried" about Lewis Hamilton's struggles in his final season with Mercedes.

Hamilton officially joins Ferrari in the new year after a season in which George Russell comprehensively outperformed the seven-time champion in qualifying.

Russell finished 22 points ahead of Hamilton in the championship as each Mercedes driver won two grands prix.

Vasseur admitted Hamilton had had "tough moments" in qualifying but added that he was "never, never, never worried about the situation".

The Frenchman pointed to Hamilton's "very good races" in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi at the end of the season and said he believed that the difficulty of handling his final season a Mercedes had an impact on his performances. Hamilton signed for Ferrari in January, more than a month before the 2024 season started.

Vasseur said: "I am really convinced, and I don't want to blame Lewis or Mercedes, that this situation is not easy to manage and I can understand if it is not going well you can suffer in this relationship.

"He was not very well in his mind and he was clear about this in Brazil but he also did very well on the last couple of events and I am not worried at all."

Managing Hamilton and Leclerc

Vasseur, who was speaking at Ferrari's traditional Christmas media lunch, was instrumental in Hamilton joining Ferrari because of the pair's long relationship since they worked together in the junior categories two decades ago.

Asked how he would handle the competitive tension between Hamilton and his new team-mate Charles Leclerc, Vasseur said this was "always a challenge" between drivers in the same team, but that it would push Ferrari forward.

"Charles, Lewis, I am not particularly worried about this," Vasseur said. "They have a huge mutual respect, they know each other, they have been talking about this for months now.

"It is much better to fight for first and third or second and third than to fight for 19th and 20th. It is a good issue for a team to have this kind of discussion and approach and I am really convinced again that the performance of the team is coming from the emulation between the two."

Assimilation into Ferrari

Vasseur admitted that Hamilton and the team faced another "challenge" in getting up to speed together in the two and a half months between his joining and the start of the season in Australia on 14-16 March.

Hamilton is due to drive a 2023 Ferrari early in the new year as he begins his work to assimilate into his new team.

Vasseur refused to give a date for this test, saying it was "closely linked to the weather". It is expected to be at one of Ferrari's test tracks, Fiorano at the factory or Mugello in Tuscany.

Ferrari have not given any further details of their plans for Hamilton before the official pre-season test in Bahrain on 26-28 February.

"It is not easy but he is coming with his own experience," Vasseur said. "He is not the rookie of the year, I am not worried at all about this.

"We know that we have a lot of procedure to assimilate during this couple of days but he is experienced enough to do it.

"We have the advantage to have the simulator and he will be able to do a race simulation and a qualifying simulation in the simulator and to be fully prepared with the steering wheel and all the particularities of the car. But I am not worried about this and it is not the biggest challenge."

Hamilton is expected to move into a property in Italy, likely in Milan, as part of his switch to Ferrari.

Vasseur, who like Hamilton does not speak Italian, said he had no advice to give him in terms of adapting to Italy and the new team other than "to avoid to take too much pasta, for the ballast".

Looking forward to 2025

Ferrari will launch their 2025 car in Maranello on 19 January, the day after F1's first official "season launch", which is being held at the O2 in London.

Vasseur said Hamilton would have no further public engagements for the team.

"We have to be fully focused on the season," he said. "It will be a very tight period between the first day and the launch and I want to have everybody fully focused on performance.

"We have the launch of the championship and the launch of the car. It is two events and for me it is far too much. Or it is far enough, let's say. I want to be focused on development and performance and not on the show."

And Vasseur spoke for the first time about his talks with Hamilton last winter that led to him joining Ferrari.

"In 2023 we won more races than Mercedes so it was not difficult to convince him Ferrari would be a good project," he said.

"He had the project to drive for Ferrari in his mind for at least 22 or 23 years because we were discussing this in 2004. It was not too difficult.

"Sometimes it is also a matter of coincidence or to align all the planets, that he is on the market, that Ferrari have a seat available and so on. The contact was an easy one. We started to discuss one year ago and it was not difficult to convince him."

Ferrari lost out on the constructors' championship to McLaren by 14 points at the final race of 2024 and Vasseur said he expected next season to be another close fight between the top four teams, including Red Bull and Mercedes.

"What we have to do to win next year is about details," he said. "We made good improvements in every area but we are still missing 14 points in the championship. It is a lot and almost nothing, it is a DNF, a race incident, a strategic decision.

"We are speaking about details on every single pillar. Every single mistake, every decision will make a huge decision. I am sure next year the championship will be also tight and we can't let one point run away."

BBC
 
Lawson replaces Perez at Red Bull for 2025

New Zealander Liam Lawson will race for Red Bull alongside world champion Max Verstappen in 2025 following the team's decision to ditch Sergio Perez.

The announcement that Lawson was moving up from second team Racing Bulls came a day after Red Bull announced they were dropping Perez following a weak season.

The 22-year-old moves into the Formula 1 front-line after just 11 grands prix spread over two seasons.

Although Lawson has not convincingly beaten team-mate Yuki Tsunoda over that period, Red Bull preferred him to the Japanese.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: "Liam's performances over the course of his two stints with Racing Bulls have demonstrated that he's not only capable of delivering strong results but that he's also a real racer, not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on top."

Lawson becomes the fourth team-mate to Verstappen since Australian Daniel Ricciardo chose to leave Red Bull at the end of 2018.

Perez followed Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon in being dropped for failing to convince Red Bull their performances were an acceptable level for a second driver.

Horner said: "There's no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1, is a daunting task, but I'm sure Liam can rise to that challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year."

Lawson made his F1 debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix as a substitute for Ricciardo, who broke his hand in a crash in practice at Zandvoort.

He scored a point for 10th place in only his third grand prix in Singapore before Ricciardo returned for the final four races of the season.

Ricciardo had originally been put in the car to establish his credentials to return to Red Bull alongside Verstappen, but he was dropped and replaced by Lawson after this year's Singapore Grand Prix.

Lawson has out-qualified Tsunoda only twice since he returned, for the sprint races at the Sao Paulo and Qatar Grands Prix, and was on average 0.077 seconds slower over one lap.

But Red Bull have never been convinced that Tsunoda, who is at Racing Bulls at the behest of engine supplier Honda, had what it takes to be a suitable driver for the senior team.

His day in a Red Bull at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi did not change their minds.

A combative drive from Lawson at the United States Grand Prix to ninth place, where he got the better of Aston Martin's two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, and a battle with Perez in Mexico City that ended in contact, are among the performances that have convinced them he is worth a chance.

His other points finish was another ninth place, after qualifying fifth, for the wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix - two places behind Tsunoda over both one lap and the race distance.

Lawson said: "To be announced as a Red Bull Racing driver is a lifelong dream for me, this is something I've wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old.

"It's been an incredible journey so far. I am super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a world champion, I have no doubt I will learn from his expertise. I can't wait to get going."

BBC
 
Valtteri Bottas heads home, back to the three-pointed star as Third Driver for 2025

Valtteri said: “I’m happy to finally answer the question I’ve posed over the past month. Returning home to the Mercedes family as Third Driver for 2025 is what’s next and I couldn’t be more pleased. I want to thank Toto, the team at Brackley, and everyone at the three-pointed star for welcoming me back with open arms.

“Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know that I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1. Since I was a five-year-old kid growing up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on achieving success in the top tier of motorsport. I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed many incredible moments in my 12 years of racing in F1 so far.

“As I return to the place where so many of those moments were achieved, I’m looking forward to using all the knowledge I’ve gained to help the team to perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for world championships.”

www.mercedesamgf1.com

Valtteri Bottas: Grand Prix Winner Returns to Mercedes F1 for 2025 - Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

Valtteri Bottas heads home, back to the three-pointed star as Third Driver for 2025.
www.mercedesamgf1.com www.mercedesamgf1.com
 
Frenchman Hadjar gets final F1 seat for 2025

Frenchman Isack Hadjar has been promoted to Red Bull's second team to race alongside Japanese Yuki Tsunoda during the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The announcement fills the final seat on the 20-car F1 grid.

Hadjar is a replacement at the team that will now be known as Racing Bulls for Liam Lawson, who has been switched to Red Bull after they dropped Sergio Perez.

Hadjar, 20, finished second in Formula 2 last season to Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, who will be racing for Audi-owned Sauber in F1 next year.

Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies said: "Isack's journey to F1has been nothing short of outstanding. He has shown remarkable growth, with a series of impressive results in the junior single-seater ranks.

"He has the talent and drive necessary to compete at the highest level, and we have every confidence that he will adapt quickly and make a significant impact. I believe Isack and Yuki will make a great team."

Hadjar said: "The journey from karting through the ranks in single-seaters, to now being in F1 is the moment I've been working towards my whole life, it is the dream.

"I feel like I'm stepping into a whole new universe, driving a much faster car and racing with the best drivers in the world. It'll be a huge learning curve, but I'm ready to work hard and do the best I can for the team."

The announcement also effectively confirms a change in a way of referring to the team for next year.

Red Bull's second team raced as RB in 2024 but the Lawson and Hadjar announcements this week have both referred to them as Racing Bulls.

The initials RB were short for Racing Bulls, and were used because the company felt that the full team name including its title sponsor, a credit card company, was too wordy.

But the team's email addresses all used the name Racing Bulls this year, and now Red Bull has decided the original name will be used after all.

Racing Bulls chief executive officer Peter Bayer said last month: "The only question throughout the year was: 'What does RB mean, what does RB mean? Now we're making it official: RB means Racing Bulls."

The new name was reflected on the official FIA F1 2025 entry list,, external which was published last week.

BBC
 
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