Author: Maithili Latey

2024 Dutch GP: Verstappen’s home advantage and other F1 developments

Post author By Maithili Latey
Post date August 22, 2024
No Comments on 2024 Dutch GP: Verstappen’s home advantage and other F1 developments

2024 Dutch GP: Verstappen’s home advantage and other F1 developments

As the F1 circus rolls into Zandvoort for the 2024 Dutch GP, all eyes are on Max Verstappen, who returns to his home circuit with something to prove. After a season that has shattered expectations, we’ve witnessed unprecedented competitiveness across the grid. With seven drivers claiming victory in the last 14 races, the 2024 Dutch GP presents itself as another opportunity for a new winner, or whether Verstappen’s home advantage will come in handy? Read about it all in the weekend preview from DRC.

Another Potential Record for Verstappen?

For fans, it’s been a refreshing change of pace from Red Bull’s previous dominance. Teams like Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren are all stepping up to the challenge. Verstappen, the reigning world champion, finds himself in unfamiliar territory, with his last win dating back to Barcelona.

But if there’s one race Max Verstappen will be particularly determined to win, it’s the 2024 Dutch GP. As his home event, Verstappen is unlikely to let up, and for Red Bull, being competitive at Zandvoort is a must. Since the middle of the 2022 season, Verstappen has embarked on an extraordinary run of dominance, shattering records along the way. This weekend, he has the opportunity to add another milestone to his name. A win would make him only the fourth driver in F1 history to win their home race four times in a row, joining Lewis Hamilton, Jim Clark, and Juan Manuel Fangio.

Are Red Bull developmental plans & second seat going haywire?

Last year, Red Bull capitalized not only on their continuous upgrades but also on the struggles of their main rivals, Mercedes and Ferrari. However, this season is a different story, as both teams have addressed their issues over the winter and are now back in contention for race wins.

Sergio Perez (L) and Christian Horner (R); credits-F1

Red Bull’s latest innovations have provided some aerodynamic gains but have not delivered the expected performance boost. Technical Director Pierre Wache has openly acknowledged these challenges.

We improved compared to last year, without a doubt,” he told Autosport.

“But we didn’t deliver what we expected in some areas.

A significant concern for the reigning champions is that they have already introduced several major update packages, while other top teams, particularly McLaren, still have substantial upgrades to come.

Red Bull’s challenges this season extend beyond car performance. Perez’s recent drop from 2nd to 7th in the final race before the summer break has highlighted his difficulty in keeping pace with rivals from McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Despite this, Red Bull has opted not to replace him, instead focusing on his discomfort with the RB20, particularly his complaints about a lack of grip.

To help Perez regain his early-season form, Red Bull plans to reintroduce older RB20 components. However, with McLaren and Mercedes improving and Ferrari set to introduce significant upgrades, even a return to form might not be enough.

Ferrari prepares for crucial upgrades at 2024 Dutch GP

At the start of the season, Ferrari emerged as Red Bull’s closest challenger. However, as McLaren and Mercedes have made significant strides, Ferrari’s decline has been largely self-inflicted. The upgrades introduced to the SF-24 in Spain failed to deliver the expected results, with the increased downforce reintroducing bouncing issues and forcing the team into setup compromises.

Ferrari’s garage at Belgian GP; credits:Ferrari content pool

Ferrari has worked to mitigate these issues in recent races, and further corrections are expected at the 2024 Dutch GP. Changes to the rear suspension and diffuser should provide a more stable baseline, allowing Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to unlock greater performance and build confidence. However, the last few months have been tough for Ferrari, both on and off the track.

In addition to their development struggles, Ferrari has lost key personnel, most notably former technical director Enrico Cardile. As they search for his replacement, rumors suggest former Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott is being considered. This uncertainty, coupled with Ferrari’s lag in securing top talent like Adrian Newey, raises concerns about the team’s direction not only for the remainder of this season but also as the new regulations approach in 2025.

All Mighty McLaren

McLaren’s rise as a Championship contender this season has been marked by impressive performances from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, both of whom claimed their maiden F1 victories.

The turning point came with a major upgrade package introduced in Miami, which catapulted the team to the front and erased Red Bull’s early advantage. However, despite their speed, McLaren has been hampered by strategic mistakes and operational issues, limiting their success and leaving them trailing Max Verstappen by significant margins in the Drivers’ standings.

Looking ahead, McLaren has a sequence of critical upgrades in the pipeline, which Team Principal Andrea Stella believes could boost their competitiveness in the latter half of the season.

“I’m surprised that we’ve been so competitive, considering that from Miami onwards, we haven’t actually brought trackside many new parts,”

Stella remarked. “Obviously, the Miami upgrade was big, but there’s some upgrades that will come in the second part of the season.”

With fresh upgrades on the horizon, McLaren is in a strong position to continue pushing Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, even as they face the challenge of closing the gap to Verstappen and contending with Ferrari and Mercedes.

Mercedes’ Future: Upgrades and Talent Pipeline

At the start of the 2024 season, Mercedes faced genuine concerns with the W15, which struggled with unpredictability and balance issues. However, the introduction of a new front wing in Monaco, along with other changes, significantly improved the car’s stability. This breakthrough allowed Mercedes to overcome earlier correlation issues and see the performance gains from the wind tunnel translate onto the track. With confidence growing, the team is poised for a final push of upgrades before shifting focus to the 2025 season.

Meanwhile, Mercedes has made Kimi Antonelli a priority for their future lineup.

The 17-year-old’s impressive performances in Formula 2, including a dominant victory at Silverstone, have bolstered his position as a potential F1 driver. Despite earlier speculation linking more established names like Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz to Mercedes, the team is now set on integrating Antonelli into their plans for the 2025 season. Toto Wolff has highlighted Antonelli as a key focus, especially in light of the surprising contract announcement of Lewis Hamilton and the potential for instability at Red Bull.

Weather and Track information

The track in use this weekend is the Zandvoort circuit. The circuit remained a staple until 1985, before its much-anticipated return in 2021 after a 35-year hiatus. Located 35 km west of Amsterdam, Zandvoort is a 4.259 km (2.646 mi) track set in the North Sea dunes. Known for its challenging layout, Zandvoort features fast, sweeping corners like Scheivlak and the famous “Tarzanbocht” hairpin at the end of the main straight.

Tarzanbocht, with its unique camber, offers excellent overtaking opportunities. The circuit’s elevation changes, including a peak difference of 8.9 meters (29 feet), and highly banked turns like Turn 3 (19-degree incline) and Turns 13/14 (18-degree bank), add to the technical demands of the track, making it a true driver’s challenge.

The weather throughout the weekend is predicted as follows:

When and Where to watch

All the sessions will be streamed on F1 TV and Fancode.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday – 23 August

Practice 1 – 16:00 – 17:00

Practice 2 – 19:30 – 20:30

Saturday – 24 August

Practice 3 – 15:00 – 16:00

Qualifying – 18:30 – 19:30

Sunday – 25 August

Race – 18:30

Make sure to follow DesiRacingCo. on all socials to keep yourself updated on the happenings of the Motorsport world.

Tags DUtch GP, Featured, Formula 1

Formula 1

Flavio Briatore Returns to Alpine in an Advisory Role

Post author By Maithili Latey
Post date June 22, 2024
1 Comment on Flavio Briatore Returns to Alpine in an Advisory Role

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - AUGUST 26: Flavio Briatore the managing director of Renault Formula One team talks to Nelson Piquet junior after qualifying for the Turkish Formula One Grand Prix at the Istanbul Park on August 26, 2006 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Alpine is currently in the midst of a significant crisis. The team is struggling with internal cohesion and performance issues. Despite CEO Luca De Meo’s efforts to clarify team goals, uncertainties persist. The French squad’s objective in Spain is to boost their points tally and climb up the standings. David Sanchez, a former Ferrari engineer, has recently joined the team amidst these turbulent times. However, the most unexpected development is Alpine’s announcement of Flavio Briatore’s return to Formula One after 14 years, as Executive Advisor.

BWT Alpine F1 Team announces Flavio Briatore as Executive Advisor

BWT Alpine F1 Team can confirm that Flavio Briatore has been appointed by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo as his Executive Advisor for the Formula One Division. pic.twitter.com/KAdNVkQBPP
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) June 21, 2024

“Briatore will predominantly focus on top level areas of the team including: scouting top talents and providing insights on the driver market, challenging the existing project by assessing the current structure and advising on some strategic matters within the sport.” – Motorsport.com

Briatore’s role extends beyond its initial impression. He will focus primarily on high-level areas such as talent scouting and insights into the driver market. Evaluating the current team structure, and advising on strategic matters are also some aspects he will look into.

Speculations about Alpine’s future have been rife for weeks, with the team denying rumours of an imminent Formula One exit. There are also discussions about Alpine potentially becoming a customer team after 2026, relinquishing their Renault engine. With Esteban Ocon set to depart after the season, Alpine faces the task of rebuilding its driver lineup.

A Journey from Business Ventures to Formula One

Born on April 12, 1950, Flavio Briatore has ventured through multiple business endeavours, ranging from ski instructing to restaurant management and door-to-door insurance sales. His early career took a tumultuous turn when his involvement with the Paramatti Vernici paint company led to his arrest on several counts of fraud. Evading a prison sentence, Briatore fled to the Virgin Islands during his legal proceedings.

His entry into Formula One was facilitated by Luciano Benetton, who appointed him as commercial director of the Benetton F1 Team. Later promoting him to team principal.

Under Briatore’s leadership, Benetton F1 achieved notable success, particularly with Michael Schumacher, whom Briatore recruited from Jordan in 1991. The team built around Schumacher secured victories in races like Spa in 1992 and Estoril in 1993. And ultimately clinching the 1994 and 1995 Drivers’ and 1995 Constructors’ Championships.

Schumacher won his first championship in the Australian GP ’94

Success brought greater scrutiny, leading to several allegations of cheating against Benetton. The FIA had banned several electronic aids for the 1994 season to emphasize driver skills. However, Michael Schumacher’s controversial win in Brazil gave rise to suspicions. Later in the season, a pit stop fire involving driver Jos Verstappen led to an investigation. This revealed a tampered fuel valve that allowed faster refuelling. Although Benetton blamed equipment manufacturer Intertechnique, they were found guilty but not punished.

The deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola brought further controversy. Accusations were that Benetton, McLaren, and Ferrari were still using banned traction control. However, Benetton was fined for delaying the submission of their engine management systems. They avoided punishment for hidden traction and launch control software due to a lack of evidence of its use.

Following Imola, the FIA introduced emergency regulations to reduce car speed, causing further issues and high-speed crashes.

The “plank” was one of these tactics; it was a piece of wood fastened to the car’s underbelly that raised the ride height and decreased downforce while simultaneously keeping an eye out for excessive wear. According to the regulations, the plank had to measure a standard 10 mm, plus one for wear. After the Belgian Grand Prix, Schumacher’s car clocked in at 7.4mm, 1.6 under tolerance leading to disqualification.

At the British GP, Schumacher’s team delayed serving a penalty, resulting in another inquiry and substantial fines. Schumacher was also banned for two races but still won the championship in 1995 before moving to Ferrari. Without him, Briatore struggled and was replaced by Dave Richards in 1997.

Return To Formula One

Flavio Briatore returned to F1 in 2000 as a manager to Spanish driver Fernando Alonso when Renault bought the Benetton F1 Team. Alonso first drove for Minardi. Later taking the role of test driver of Renault and soon took away the seat from Jenson Button at Renault itself. The Spaniard won two back-to-back championships in 2005 and 2006.

Flavio Briatore and Fernando Alonso at FIA prize giving ceremony

2008 saw one of the biggest controversies in the sport’s history, the infamous “CrashGate Scandal”.

In 2007, McLaren, pursued Flavio Briatore’s prized asset, while Briatore had a stable of drivers including Mark Webber and Nelson Piquet Jr, who underperformed for Renault and faced little loyalty. The major scandal that year, Spygate, involved McLaren possessing detailed Ferrari technical information. Briatore accused McLaren’s Ron Dennis, and although McLaren initially avoided punishment, new evidence from Fernando Alonso, unhappy at McLaren and outpaced by rookie Lewis Hamilton, led to a $100 million fine and exclusion from the constructors’ championship.

Alonso, managed by Briatore, returned to Renault after the season. Yet Renault themselves weren’t innocent in the Spygate scandal, as they had acquired information “including, but not limited to the layout and critical dimensions of the McLaren F1 car, together with details of the McLaren fuelling system, gear assembly, oil cooling system, hydraulic control system, and a novel suspension component used by the 2006 and 2007 McLaren F1 cars,” according to an FIA statement. Renault found guilty of having McLaren’s technical information, faced no penalties.

Taking aid from chief engineer Pat Symonds, Favio Briatore started planning the exact moment and turn at which Nelson Piquet Jr. would crash. This led to the deployment of a safety car, leading to Alonso winning the Singapore GP.

Piquet Jr crashed in the 2008 Singapore GP.

Allegations of race fixing surfaced following Piquet’s contentious departure from Renault in 2009. The FIA charged Renault with conspiracy in September ’09 offering Piquet Jr. immunity in exchange for his testimony. Despite Briatore and Symonds threatening legal action against Piquet Jr., Renault eventually chose not to contest the charges. Both Flavio Briatore and Symonds left the team.

Despite the mounting evidence against him, Briatore continued to plead innocent. Nonetheless, the FIA imposed a lifetime ban on Briatore from all sanctioned events. They also barred any drivers he managed from obtaining a Superlicense, effectively ending his involvement in Formula 1. FIA showed leniency towards Renault for their swift action following the allegations. The team received a two-year probation with the condition that any similar future misconduct would result in a lifetime ban.

On January 5th, 2010 the French court overturned the ban and awarded Briatore €15,000 in compensation. The FIA accepted the court’s decision and in April ’10 they announced a settlement with both. Both men agreed not to work in Formula One until 2013, or any other FIA-sanctioned championship until the end of 2011.

Despite the controversies that have defined his career, Flavio Briatore remains a polarizing figure in Formula One, now poised to influence Alpine’s trajectory in his new advisory role.

Read our preview of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix here

Tags Alpine, Formula 1

Formula 1

Canadian GP 2024 Preview: Can Red Bull Rebound Against Surging Ferrari and McLaren?

Post author By Maithili Latey
Post date June 6, 2024
No Comments on Canadian GP 2024 Preview: Can Red Bull Rebound Against Surging Ferrari and McLaren?

Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren have each claimed a victory in the past three races, leading to a captivating championship battle. Despite Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s early-season lead, Charles Leclerc’s win at his home race in Monaco has narrowed the gap, making every race a must-watch for fans.

Know The Circuit

Circuit layout (Image credits Formula Media)

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a 4.361 km motor racing track situated on Notre Dame Island in Montreal. Known for its fast and low-downforce layout, the circuit is a favourite among drivers, despite the close barriers that have ensnared even the most experienced racers. The track features a series of heavy-braking chicanes and the renowned hairpin, challenging the brakes extensively. However, once out of the corners, the track transitions into a quick and flowing course.

One of the most iconic segments of the circuit is the Wall of Champions, located at the exit of the final chicane before the start/finish straight. Turns one and two, collectively forming an ‘S’ shape when viewed from above, are referred to as the Senna ‘S’. Another notable feature is the high-speed Pont de la Concorde corner (Turn 8), a ‘quick kink’ following the bridge underpass, leading into Turn 9 and the subsequent dash to the Hairpin curve.

The stop-start nature, with its heavy-braking chicanes and hairpin, would test the braking systems rigorously. Drivers would need to skillfully manage their brakes to avoid overheating while maintaining speed through the flowing sections. The quick kinks and fast corners demand impeccable aerodynamic balance and control.

Struggle for RedBull and Championship Battle

A true Red Bull weakness was brought to light 2 weeks ago during the Monaco GP where the car severely suffered from kerbs and uneven surfaces resulting in a P6 for Verstappen in both qualifying and race. As if this wasn’t enough setback, Checo was involved in a crash during the first lap of the race followed by a DNF and a red flag.

This was the second DNF for RedBull this season, earlier Verstappen also suffered one in Australia. Combined, this has truly threatened the position of team and driver in the constructors and driver championship tables respectively.

After the previous race weekend, Charles Leclerc has narrowed the gap down to 31 points which is still more than one race win but also not an unrealistic difference. Whereas the things are constructors are even more confined where Ferrari is behind RedBull by a mere gap of 24 points which could easily be overtaken this weekend.

The crash at Monaco has not only affected the positions but also would take away a big chunk from their development budget that would be required to cover the damage cost. Adding to this RedBull has already confirmed a grid penalty as they potentially had to replace the gearbox and PU.

Helmut Marko wrote on Speedweek that mid-season development at Milton Keynes will be compromised:

“Sergio Pérez had a costly crash on the first lap, which cost us between two and three million euros.

“This is of course a serious disadvantage due to the budget cap, as this kind of damage affects the development budget.”

The RB20 struggles with riding kerbs, a weakness that has become evident in a more competitive field. Canada’s circuit features numerous kerbs, and this combined with Red Bull’s significant damage expenses puts the Milton Keynes team at a disadvantage.

Speaking to the media, Verstappen has admitted it will not be an easy weekend:

“We have to wait and see, [there is a] new surface as well. I think that might always give you some surprises,” racingnews365 quotes him as saying.

“But it’s probably also not going to be our strongest weekend because of that. But probably a little bit better than here [in Monaco].”

Upgrades for Ferrari and Mclaren

“Let’s not draw too many conclusions from this weekend,” were the words of Fred Vasseur last race weekend. Canada is more of a “normal” circuit in contrast with Monaco but what the previous race highlighted was that Ferrari’s work in 676 projects is finally bearing fruit. The next round in Canada, therefore, is crucial to see more definitively if the SF-24 has improved aerodynamic load and efficiency.

Recently, Frédéric Vasseur spoke about a different approach his team had this season, focusing more on the race.

“This was the result of analysis from last season. In Qualifying, we were competitive. But then, on Sunday, we lost too many points. And that’s why we decided on this different approach this year. ”

It’s not just the setup that matters, but the team’s preparation for the entire weekend. They have slightly reduced the SF-24’s qualifying pace, but the results have justified the team’s strategy. At the same time, the team won’t be introducing any new upgrades this weekend followed by a rear wing configuration used at the start of the year.

McLaren brought their upgrades 3 race weekends ago and since then has performed in all three weekends which included a win in Miami and a podium in Monaco and Imola. According to team principal Andrea Stella, this consistency is beyond what the engineers at Woking anticipated. Even though the car now feels more rounded off the weakness of the team still lies in slow turns.

“It seems that the picture of our competitiveness is finally starting to change, where slow speed no longer appears as a clear weakness.

“A situation that we have been able to change thanks to developments. I think it’s positive news.” – Andrea Stella

Are Mercedes Going in the Right Direction?

This is going to be an interesting weekend for the German team which has finally understood the car. Although Monte Carlo was a bittersweet weekend for the team they came close with McLaren and Ferrari in qualifying pace and also out-qualified Verstappen.

Despite this mixed bag of conclusions, Toto Wolff left the eighth round of the season with a positive outlook:

“Overall, we’ve had a positive weekend. We were much closer than we have been in Qualifying so far this year and showed good pace throughout the race,” he explained.

“The trajectory is going in the right direction. We’ve understood where we need to improve the balance car, and we’re bringing updates to enhance that.

Last time out in Monte Carlo, Lewis Hamilton said that teammate George Russell had an upgrade that was not yet available to him.

Toto Wolff has made clear that both drivers will have the latest version of the W15 in Canada:

“Both drivers will have the new front wing, and there will be some other development items for this event.

“The new front wing offered a small lap-time gain around the tight streets of the principality and should offer greater benefit on upcoming circuits.

Aston Martin Chaos

Dan Fallows, Aston Martin’s technical director since 2021, is undeniably under immense pressure due to the concerning development of the team since 2023. The highly anticipated Imola upgrades showed promising results in the wind tunnel, but the actual on-track improvements were minimal. The car became unstable, occasionally undrivable, with a much narrower operating window than expected.

This situation has led Aston Martin to extend an offer to Ferrari’s current Technical Director, Enrico Cardile. Additionally, Lawrence Stroll remains determined to secure Adrian Newey’s expertise. Despite their initial contract in Saudi Arabia, Aston Martin’s efforts to recruit Newey have intensified, aiming to bring him on board after his tenure at Red Bull ends in 2025.

Drivers Market Turmoil

Ocon’s recent decision to leave Alpine by the end of this year has certainly created multiple shifts in the driver’s market. The incident which occurred during Ocon and Gasly during last race weekend certainly will be a highlight for the team thinking of bringing him on board. Sources say one of the top contends for that Alpine seat would be Jack Doohan who is said to be driving the car in FP1 of Canadian weekend.

Along with this the announcement of Checo renewing this contract for 2 more seasons has occurred as terrible news for Sainz as he was hoping to get that RedBull seat. This leaves him with Willaims, Sauber and Audi as potential options.

Yuki Tsunoda, a standout performer in F1 this year with notable speed and consistency, is drawing significant interest in the driver market. However, his chances of a promotion at Red Bull are slim, as team principal Christian Horner doesn’t consider him Red Bull material, a view that has gained more weight this year due to Horner’s increased influence over driver choices compared to Helmut Marko.

While Alpine is struggling, Haas lacks the resources, and Williams, despite its long-term potential, isn’t currently performing well, Tsunoda still has alternative opportunities. Other drivers like Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon are also available. Only time will reveal how the market evolves.