Monthly Archives: May 2024

May 4, 2024 · 11:42 pm

Stella: Magnussen’s Miami F1 blocking tactics “completely unacceptable”

McLaren Formula 1 team boss Andrea Stella says that Kevin Magnussen’s blocking tactics in the Miami GP sprint race were “completely unacceptable.”

Magnussen picked up a string of penalties for going off track while trying to keep Lewis Hamilton behind. In so doing he prevented the Mercedes driver from attacking the other Haas of Nico Hulkenberg up ahead.

Hulkenberg eventually finished seventh, and while Hamilton was eighth on the road he lost his point for a pit speeding offence. Magnussen’s penalties dropped the Dane to 18th. He was also subject to an unsportsmanlike behaviour investigation.

Although the tactics made no difference to the races of his own drivers Stella questioned Magnussen’s sportsmanship and suggested that penalty in such a case should see the driver banned for the race.

“For me, it’s actually relatively simple this case, because we have a case of a behaviour being intentional in terms of damaging another competitor,” he said.

“This behaviour is perpetuated within the same race, and repeated over the same season. How can penalties be cumulative? They should be exponential. It’s not five plus five plus five equals 15.

“Five plus five plus five equals maybe you need to spend a weekend at home with your family, reflect on your sportsmanship, and then go back. And if we see that you’ve become loyal, fair, and sportmanslike to your fellow competitors, then you can stay in this business. It’s completely unacceptable.”

In addition to four time penalties Magnussen picked up three penalty points, taking his running total to eight.

“I guess the penalty points are still is in place,” said Stella. “So I don’t know exactly the situation for some drivers, I have to confess. But definitely it may mean that the metrics might have to be adjusted, damaging intentionally the race of competitors just makes no sense from sportsmanship point of view. And this should be addressed immediately.

“Because if you are out of the points, you get 20 seconds or whatever, at the end of your race, it doesn’t make any difference. But for the competitors you have damaged, you have put them out of their race, again, in a deliberate, perpetuated and repeated way. This is completely unacceptable.”

Asked about the reaction of the FIA stewards he added: “I think they just potentially they were surprised themselves from the fact that this was repeated. And I’m sure they are going to look into that. And by offering a strong opinion, I think I want to reiterate that these values of being fair, it’s a sport, it’s a competition, we need to give everyone a fair chance to compete.

“These values need to be taken into account in creating the appropriate set of regulations. But I’m sure the FIA will look into that. And we’ll come with sensible proposal for the sporting advisory committee to evaluate, and hopefully this will become soon either rules or guidelines that the stewards can apply.”

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May 3, 2024 · 9:04 pm

Vowles makes public pitch to lure Newey back to Williams F1 team

James Vowles has made a public pitch to Adrian Newey in an effort to attract him back to the Williams Formula 1 team.

Newey worked at Williams from 1990 to the end of 1996 before moving to McLaren, winning titles with Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost and Damon Hill.

While rival team bosses are being coy about any potential interest they might have in hiring him after he leaves Red Bull Vowles made it clear in an FIA press conference that he sees Williams as a realistic potential home.

Vowles downplayed a chat he has already had with Newey, but suggested that a smaller team without manufacturer support might have its appeal.

“I mean, it was a light conversation more than anything else, saying it can’t have been an easy decision, and fundamentally wanting just to have an additional chat about things,” he said.

“But from a Williams perspective, obviously, that’s where Adrian really cut his teeth for the first time. And I think we’re a team without politics. It’s a small team that’s trying to make our way back to the front.

“And I think it could fit very perfectly for someone that wants to potentially dig into a challenge like that. More than that, I mean, what is great about Williams is that it has retained the family feel to it. We’re not driven by an OEM. We’re driven by just a group of individuals that want to be there. And it’s all about racing.

“And hopefully some of that plays to his strengths. And then finally with Adrian, you have someone with his accolades, with his touch.

“There’s not a team he hasn’t been to – and that includes McLaren, ourselves, Red Bull – where he hasn’t made a significant difference. And I think anyone here would be foolish not to at least open some conversation with him at that stage.”

Expanding on what makes Newey so special he said: “He’s an incredible character that has huge accolades behind him in the sport, well known for being the best designer really in his field. And that will have an impact, there’s no doubt about it.

“How much he was involved in Red Bull or not, I couldn’t say. We’re not buried within there. But what I can say is it [his departure] will have an impact. Of course it will, someone of his character and his strength.”

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May 3, 2024 · 7:23 pm

Zak Brown: Newey “not the last” domino to fall at Red Bull F1 team

McLaren Formula 1 CEO Zak Brown says that Adrian Newey is just the first domino to fall at Red Bull Racing, and won’t be the last.

Brown suggested that Newey’s departure will trigger an exodus of talent from the Milton Keynes organisation, while indicating that McLaren has already received interest from its current employees.

He also made it clear that the Christian Horner controversy triggered Newey’s decision to leave the team.

“Am I surprised?,” said Brown when asked about Newey’s departure. “Six months ago, I would have been surprised. I think given everything that’s gone on since the start of the year and knowing Adrian pretty well, and he’s very high integrity individual. I’m not surprised.

“He’s moving on. I think the stuff that’s going on there is a bit destabilising. It’s probably the first domino to fall. I guess it’s not the last, based on the resumes that are flying around.”

Asked to elaborate on that claim he said: “Yeah, we’ve seen an increase in CVs coming our way from the team.

“I think Adrian is the most successful designer of all time. So in addition to the technical that he brings to the racing team, people want to work for people like Adrian Newey and work alongside him. So I think they’ll be missing what he brings to the team from a pure technical point of view.

“And then I think the leadership and the excitement people get from working with him will be missed.”

Brown insisted that McLaren is not in the race to sign up Newey.

“And as far as McLaren is concerned, I’m very happy with all the work the men and women at McLaren are doing,” he said. “I think we’ve started to show since last year, the second half of last year, that they know how to put performance on the car.

“So I’ve got all the faith in the world with the team that we have. We’re on a quest to get back to the front. And I think we have the people, the talent, the equipment, the drivers to get there. So we’re going to just stay the course.”

However Brown conceded that Newey would be a valuable catch: “With a resume and a track record like Adrian Newey, Adrian is going to add value to any racing team. But we’re very happy with the trajectory that we’re on.

“Never say never. But I’m very happy with the team, the technical leadership, the way Andrea [Stella] is running the racing team. And we’ve got a plan and we’re going to keep our head down.

“And of course, we always look for opportunities to make additive additions to the racing team.”

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May 2, 2024 · 8:25 pm

Leclerc: Newey at Ferrari would be “amazing”

Charles Leclerc says that it would be “amazing” if Adrian Newey joins the Ferrari Formula 1 team after leaving Red Bull.

The Maranello outfit looks to be the most likely destination for Newey, with some Italian media reports suggesting that the deal is already done.

If it is eventually confirmed it would put Newey at Ferrari just as Lewis Hamilton joins as Leclerc’s team mate.

“I will obviously be very happy,” said Leclerc when asked about the possibility. “I think Adrian is one of those guys in the paddock that you hope to be working with one day in your career.

“We have an incredible team in Ferrari at the moment. And in the last seven to eight months, we are the team that have progressed the most. However, adding Adrian to a team like this will be amazing.”

Asked if Newey’s departure would weaken Red Bull Leclerc said: “I was surprised, I did not expect it. So it was an interesting news, and one of those news that makes a lot of noise once it’s out, as I had it everywhere on my social media.

“But yeah, will it weaken Red Bull? I mean, obviously every team’s there are lots of people involved, but some figures of a team make more difference than others. And I think Adrian is definitely one of them, as he has shown it with his path, that’s every time he’s been in a team, they’ve been very, very successful.

“It’s difficult for me to comment, because I don’t know how exactly it works within the team. But obviously Adrian being on the market of the engineers is definitely someone to watch, and someone that everybody in the paddock will want in their team.”

Leclerc is adamant that even without Newey Ferrari has made good progress under team principal Fred Vasseur.

“I think I’ve said it, in the last eight to nine months already, I think we’re in a very good moment for the team. And we are in a good spiral. Fred has always shared with me what was his medium to long term vision of the team, I have shared with him what I thought also was the right thing, and it’s going really, really well.

“I’m really happy with how it goes. And I think we are in a good place to attract the best people in the world. However, I have said it already, but we are really, really good team already.

“And in the last seven to eight months, we’ve done incredible progress. But whatever and whoever can come to make it even stronger, is super important. And Adrian is one of those guys that can make a difference.”

Leclerc stressed that getting the right people on board is one of Vasseur strengths.

“I think Fred’s vision and his ability to put the people in the right environments in order to extract the best out of everyone is something really, really amazing,” he said. “And that has made the difference, together with a very clear vision on which are the main points on which we need to focus.

“Again, it’s very, very clear, which are the points that needs to be improved, and tackled in the next few months.

“And that helps the team to have a clearer vision, and to really put all the energy on one or two things only. But then you really see the gains straight away, which is a good thing. So clarity, and putting the people in the best environment possible to extract the best out of them.”

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May 2, 2024 · 6:15 pm

Hulkenberg: Audi F1 team can be competitive “straight away” in 2026

Nico Hulkenberg says that Audi will have “a good opportunity to be competitive straight away” when it joins the Formula 1 grid in 2026.

The German is the first driver with a confirmed seat at the team, which will switch to full Audi identity after one more year in its current Sauber guise.

Hulkenberg, who drove for the Swiss outfit for a single season in 2013, believes that the new chassis and power unit regulations will give Audi a chance to get off to a flying start.

“It’s really difficult to tell, it’s really a white piece of paper,” he said when asked about his expectations for 2026. “And on one side, I think that’s good. It’s not a new team, but it’s going to be labelled a new team, because probably the know-how and advantage that current teams have, it’s wiped away a little bit.

“And it’s more of a level starting playing field for everyone. So, I think that offers a good opportunity to be competitive straight away. But expectations are always to be as successful as quickly as possible. I have no numbers for you on that.”

Hulkenberg says that the interim season in 2025 will give him a chance to find his feet at the team after over a decade away.

“It buys us some time, getting to know each other,” he said. “Still some faces I know from 2013, but also a lot of new faces.

“It’s still going to be a Ferrari power unit, so that’s not going to be foreign to me, but obviously to get to know the team, the infrastructure there, and then already try to help and steer certain things. But that’s then. Now I’m still pretty much in the season, and focused on what’s ahead.”

Although Hulkenberg achieved some good results with Sauber in 2013 he stayed for just a single season, reflecting the fact that it was not an entirely happy experience for him.

“It was obviously very different set of circumstances,” he said when asked by this writer for his memories of that year.

“I think the that with the team, everything was fine. It was only with one person, it was difficult. And that was the team principal, Monisha [Kaltenborn] at the time, which was a bit difficult, and a tricky situation.

“But everything else was fine. Every team I work with and race for I’ve never had problems with the team, with the mechanics, with the engineers. I’ve always enjoyed working with all the team members and working as a force, as a team, pushing for performance. So obviously now that’s quite different from back then.”

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