Formula 1

[Nicholas Lewis]

Red Bull will be more competitive at Spa, as it is fast and flowing, which suits their car a lot more than the Hungaroring did.

In a few news sites on the Internet, it is rumoured that Perez will be dropped during the summer break, and replaced by Daniel Ricciardo, with possibly Liam Lawson called up to take the spare seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda.

Umm Ricardo just as erratic these days Tsunoda far more capable i guess Verstappen wouldn't like Sainz there

 

[Bald Rick]

What do you mean? it was FANTASTIC! Childish strops, arguments, immaturity, anger, lack of management, radio chaos, Red Bull implosion, McLaren having no grip! Verstappen not liking it up him. Superb

Agreed, especially Verstappen being told he was Childish!

 

[Tetchytyke]

If it was agreed beforehand then why did Norris make such an issue over it?

As I said:
Norris was just proving a point. Partly to make it look like he gifted the win to Piastri and partly hoping that if he was far enough ahead of Piastri the team might shrug and decide to let him keep the lead.

In a few news sites on the Internet, it is rumoured that Perez will be dropped during the summer break, and replaced by Daniel Ricciardo, with possibly Liam Lawson called up to take the spare seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda.

Any reputable sites saying this? As Joe Saward is always quick to point out, there are lots of F1 news sites who never go to races and don’t really know what is happening.

Umm Ricardo just as erratic these days Tsunoda far more capable

Nah, Tsunoda is only beating Ricciardo because VCARB keep shafting him on strategy.

Ricc isn’t what he was but he’s still miles better than Tsunoda.

 

[gswindale]

Audi has appointed former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto to head up its Formula 1 project as part of a major management shake-up.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Audi announced that Binotto would be joining the team as its chief operating and chief technical officer from August 1 to head up efforts ahead of its 2026 debut.

His arrival comes with Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann, previously its chairman of the board of directors, leaving the project.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/binotto-to-head-audi-f1-project-as-part-of-major-management-shake-up/10637945/

Also looks like Renault are considering ditching their own engine and becoming a Mercedes customer team

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/renault-launches-study-on-future-of-viry-engine-facility-amid-f1-project-review/10637920/

 

[JD2168]

Interesting that Andreas Seidl has left Audi, would have thought he would have been at the time until the start.

The Alpine using Mercedes power units, gearboxes & rear suspension is a bit embarrassing for an apparent manufacturer team.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Nah, Tsunoda is only beating Ricciardo because VCARB keep shafting him on strategy.

Ricc isn’t what he was but he’s still miles better than Tsunoda.

Out pointed, out qualified on the grid, out fastested laps is nothing to do with strategy. Riccardo lost his mojo which is shame as he was so bold a few years back and good entertainment on the track and off but times move on.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The Alpine using Mercedes power units, gearboxes & rear suspension is a bit embarrassing for an apparent manufacturer team.

Renault are, once again, edging towards the exit door.

It’s not a new thing though, the Enstone team ran Mercedes engines in 2015.

 

[birchesgreen]

Also looks like Renault are considering ditching their own engine and becoming a Mercedes customer team

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/renault-launches-study-on-future-of-viry-engine-facility-amid-f1-project-review/10637920/

I think Renault are a bit ashamed of Alpine at the moment, i was getting my car serviced yesterday at a Renault group garage, noticable that there was plenty of Renault Sport merchanise on display (and for sale) but none for Alpine.

 

[gswindale]

Renault are, once again, edging towards the exit door.

It’s not a new thing though, the Enstone team ran Mercedes engines in 2015.

But they weren't Renault then. Team had been sold a few years earlier and were racing under the Lotus name.

Renault bought it back at the end of the year

 

[PG]

Renault are, once again, edging towards the exit door.

Would Andretti be a potential suitor?

 

[gswindale]

Would Andretti be a potential suitor?

You never know, but I suspect not given the amount of investment in facilities that Andretti have already made - not sure they'd be interested in Enstone as well.

They did originally have an engine deal with Renault to run until 2028 when the Cadillac engine would be ready - I suspect that Renault's 2026 engine programme is not progressing as well as they'd like, so it still leaves a question over who would power an Andretti chassis even if they did acquire the Renault team.

 

[DarloRich]

Also looks like Renault are considering ditching their own engine and becoming a Mercedes customer team

bonkers that an alleged manufacturer is looking at using customer engines. This is Renault ffs. They have endless F1 engine pedigree. It is hardly good PR ( our engines are so bad we wont use them: our cars are great though!) but then the Alpine brand is not "pushed" by Renault.

 

[Flying Snail]

bonkers that an alleged manufacturer is looking at using customer engines. This is Renault ffs. They have endless F1 engine pedigree. It is hardly good PR ( our engines are so bad we wont use them: our cars are great though!) but then the Alpine brand is not "pushed" by Renault.

Not in the last 10 years they don't. Their hybrid engines were garbage to begin with and are still the worst of the pack. If they had been capable of building decent engines then Sir Lewis may well still be a 1 time champion.

 

[DarloRich]

Not in the last 10 years they don't.

that doesn't delete the 8 world title cars they powered! Nor does it remove the point about PR. Why buy a Renault when even Renault F1 dont use thier own engines!

Just sell the team.

 

[gswindale]

that doesn't delete the 8 world title cars they powered! Nor does it remove the point about PR. Why buy a Renault when even Renault F1 dont use thier own engines!

Just sell the team.

How much did they sell it for last time?
How much did they pay to buy it back?

Given Renault's yo-yo attitude to F1 over the years, I really wouldn't be surprised for them to sell it again, but only to buy it back in a few years time (again)

They were a manufacturer from 77 - 85 and then 2002-2010 and then 2016 onwards, engine supplier from 77-86 and then 89-97 and then 2002 onwards.

An eight-year life cycle as a fully fledged manufacturer seems about right for them, so maybe they will sell up, but what happens to the guys at Viry?

 

[JD2168]

Esteban Ocon has been confirmed at Haas from 2025 in a multi year deal.

 

[Efini92]

Interesting that Andreas Seidl has left Audi, would have thought he would have been at the time until the start.

The Alpine using Mercedes power units, gearboxes & rear suspension is a bit embarrassing for an apparent manufacturer team.

There was issues between Seidl and Hoffman. Instead of Audi siding with one, they have chosen to let them both go and install Binotto in charge.

It could be a good play from Audi to try and get sainz to sign up to the project.

Out pointed, out qualified on the grid, out fastested laps is nothing to do with strategy. Riccardo lost his mojo which is shame as he was so bold a few years back and good entertainment on the track and off but times move on.

Did he lose his mojo or does he just struggle in a car not designed by Newey? When Red bull ran him in a test to come back he was only 3 tenths off Verstappen.
A similar thing happened to Vettel albeit it was regulation changes rather than car designer. He was unstoppable in the blown diffuser era, but once the rear end wasn’t as planted he struggled.

 

[JD2168]

Bruno Famin is to leave his post as Alpine Team Principal during the summer break. Hitech F2 & F3 boss Oliver Oakes is expected to be his replacement.

Max Verstappen was fastest in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix dominating in the wet conditions but will start 11th after a 10 place penalty for an additional power unit.

With this Charles Leclerc will start on Pole position with Sergio Perez in second, Lewis Hamilton will start third & Lando Norris in fourth.

 

[D365]

Re the talk of Alpine switching to ’customer’ Mercedes engines - it’s not entirely out of the ordinary. Unless I’m mistaken, I did read that their respective parent companies (Renault-Nissan and Daimler) have ’shared’ each other’s engines in at least a few of their recent road cars.

 

[Donny Dave]

Question is, have Mercedes got the capacity? Apart from their own team, they supply McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams already.

 

[najaB]

Question is, have Mercedes got the capacity? Apart from their own team, they supply McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams already.

Since they're paid for the engines, I'm sure that they'll find the capacity somehow. More to the point, would F1 want one engine manufacturer powering half the grid?

 

[Efini92]

Question is, have Mercedes got the capacity? Apart from their own team, they supply McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams already.

Aston Martin are switching to Honda, that would free up some capacity.

 

[swt_passenger]

Russell from Hamilton and Piastri, but Sky have just said Russell‘s car might have been underweight…

 

[najaB]

Russell from Hamilton and Piastri, but Sky have just said Russell‘s car might have been underweight…

Confirmed: Russel DSQ and Hamilton promoted to P1.

Lewis Hamilton inherited victory in the Belgian Grand Prix after Mercedes team-mate George Russell was disqualified two and a half hours after taking an unlikely win on the track.

Russell pulled off an unusual one-stop strategy and held off Hamilton’s attack in the closing laps.

But after the race his car was found to be 1.5kg underweight, with his team admitting to "a genuine error".

Belgian Grand Prix: George Russell disqualified to hand Lewis Hamilton win

Lewis Hamilton inherits victory in the Belgian Grand Prix after Mercedes team-mate George Russell is disqualified for an underweight car.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[357]

Certain elements of the fan community would be going mental right now if it was a Red Bull car, but because it's George it's "disappointing" and "unfair"

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Confirmed: Russel DSQ and Hamilton promoted to P1.

Belgian Grand Prix: George Russell disqualified to hand Lewis Hamilton win

Lewis Hamilton inherits victory in the Belgian Grand Prix after Mercedes team-mate George Russell is disqualified for an underweight car.

www.bbc.co.uk

Cars underweight is so last century how on earth have Mercedes have screwed this one up?

 

[najaB]

Cars underweight is so last century how on earth have Mercedes have screwed this one up?

My guess is that racing all the way to the end, plus the lack of an in-lap meant no picking up marbles.

 

[Lampshade]

My guess is that racing all the way to the end, plus the lack of an in-lap meant no picking up marbles.

Exactly this, more degradation compared to the two stoppers and no pickup.

If the Merc drivers had been told to hold station and save fuel they’d probably have been okay.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

My guess is that racing all the way to the end, plus the lack of an in-lap meant no picking up marbles.

Good point i guess running the tyres long loses more tread and slightly extra fuel from not having 2nd stop although you would have thought Mercedes would admit to that

 

[JD2168]

Good point i guess running the tyres long loses more tread and slightly extra fuel from not having 2nd stop although you would have thought Mercedes would admit to that

This is a good point plus the oddity of Spa in not having an in lap where normally drivers run over the discarded rubber & pick up an extra couple of kilograms which would have made George’s car heavy enough to pass post race scrutinising.

Lando’s race today was poor, made a mistake at La Source which put him behind other cars & tried to do a similar strategy idea to Max in Hungary which didn’t work as overtaking was more difficult as the DRS zone up the Kemmel straight was reduced by 75 meters & there was a tailwind as well in this area.