🗞 In The Headlines

1/ Mercedes Shuns Sainz, Opts for 'Reinvention' with Protege Antonelli

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that Carlos Sainz is no longer being considered for the team's 2025 Formula 1 roster. Initially seen as a potential short-term replacement for the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton, Sainz's desire for a long-term commitment led Mercedes to rule him out. Instead, Wolff revealed that the team aims to reinvent itself by focusing on young talent, specifically highlighting their 17-year-old protege, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli, currently competing in Formula 2 and participating in F1 tests, is now the primary candidate to partner with George Russell next season. Wolff emphasized the importance of fair treatment, acknowledging Sainz's need to secure his future while committing Mercedes to nurturing young drivers.

2/ Alpine CEO Defies Rumors, Vows to Keep F1 Team Despite Struggles

Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has firmly denied rumors that the company's Alpine Formula 1 team is up for sale, despite its poor performance in recent years. Alpine has struggled with a revolving door of senior personnel and an underperforming car, the A524, which has scored only five points in the first nine races of the season. While potential buyers like Andretti and Geely have shown interest, de Meo insists that Renault has no intention of selling or giving up any part of its F1 operation, stating that they don't need the money and that it would be "stupid" to sell.

3/ Perez's Struggles Spark Red Bull Debate

Sergio Perez’s recent poor performances in Monaco and Canada have reignited discussions about his place in Red Bull Racing, despite his recent contract extension until 2025. Damon Hill and Naomi Schiff, speaking on the Sky F1 podcast, criticized Perez’s lackluster results and suggested that his new deal might be more about keeping Max Verstappen content than Perez's merit. Perez’s inability to progress past Q1 in both races and failure to finish has raised questions about his contribution to the team, especially given the strong competition from other teams with dual strong drivers. Hill emphasized the need for Red Bull to better support Perez to maximize his potential and aid their Constructors' Championship bid, while Schiff speculated that the decision to retain Perez might be influenced by a strategy to avoid internal competition that could affect Verstappen’s dominance.

4/ Williams Struggles with Overweight Car Despite Improvements

Williams F1 team has faced significant challenges at the start of the 2024 season due to their car being overweight. Despite reducing the car's weight by 14kg during the off-season, the FW46 remains slower than expected, losing four to five tenths per lap. Improvements were made to Alex Albon's car with a revised floor from the Imola race, while teammate Logan Sargeant still awaits similar upgrades. Albon revealed that the car's weight issue was a primary reason for their poor performance, despite the team showing general progress. Williams managed to secure points in Monaco and was close in Canada, but the team acknowledges that their car still requires substantial improvements to compete effectively, especially in weight-sensitive circuits.

5/ Red Bull's Kerb Woes: Verstappen Seeks Solutions Amid Rivals' Resurgence

Max Verstappen, the reigning three-time world champion, has acknowledged that Red Bull Racing needs to address specific performance issues related to high kerbs, which have affected their recent race results. Despite a strong start to the season, winning four of the first five rounds, Red Bull has faced increased competition from McLaren and Ferrari, with Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc securing wins in Miami and Monaco, respectively. Verstappen managed to secure his sixth victory in Imola but faced significant pressure from Norris. Currently leading the Drivers' Standings with 194 points, Verstappen emphasized the team's need to resolve the kerb-related performance limitations to maintain their championship edge.

🤭 For The Lulz

👀 Did You Know…

This differs from how things were done before 2010, when mid-race refueling stops were a common part of the strategy. The switch to single-tank racing was implemented for two reasons: to improve safety by eliminating the fire risk associated with refueling, and to reduce costs for teams. It also adds another layer of strategic complexity, as teams need to carefully calculate fuel efficiency throughout the race.

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