2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Alonso 'proud' of 'well executed' race in Monza.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso is "proud" of a "well executed" race in Monza for the 2024 Italian Grand Prix.
1 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

'Well executed race’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/al...06414697327423


Alonso would rather have upgrades than a strategy "brain" at Monza
Tyre mastery can’t compensate for Aston Martin’s deficit at Monza
Sep 1, 2024
Ben Vinel Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com

Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin is lacking pure performance which tyre savviness cannot make up for at Formula 1's Italian Grand Prix. "I prefer to have an updated floor or rear wing than a brain at the moment," the two-time world champion said. "But it could be the case tomorrow that we see a different Monza.

"[On Friday] we were quite worried [about] all the teams, we saved two hard tyres for the race and we checked before qualifying that everyone did, so there is not an advantage anymore. So we are all in the same place.

"Probably one-stop is still the favourite, historically Monza has been like that. But if extreme graining happens, two stops is available for everyone with the tyres available. So I don't think that we will see many different strategies tomorrow. The tyres will dictate the race."

‘Upgrades than a strategy "brain"!’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/a...onza/10650124/


Alonso won't confirm Newey’s arrival: 'They are only rumours'
2 Sept 2024
Corwin Kunst
GPblog.com

Fernando Alonso hoped after last year's strong start to the season that he would eventually be able to really fight for the Formula 1 world title again at Aston Martin, but that hope has come to an end this season - at least for now. The British team is somewhat in no-man's land, but the two-time world champion is patient and believes better times are coming. Whether that will be with or without Adrian Newey, the Spaniard cannot or will not say.

Alonso acknowledges that this is the situation Aston Martin is in. "Yeah, of course, nothing we can do. I mean, we are in our team's hands, and I think Lance and myself, we're trying to do the best we can every weekend. But I think this year we've been, Lance and myself, very close, two or three seconds away at the end of the race, either in front or behind. Today was one of those weekends that I was a little bit better, and I was happy with the car and pushing to the level that maybe was beyond 100%, and that was P11."

Rumours of Adrian Newey's arrival are getting louder by the week. But they are not more than rumours, according to Alonso. "Well, still only rumours. And I think it's not only one man's job to fix the things [the current problems]," said the world championship number nine after 15 races. Virtually nothing about the rules will change in 2025. Does that mean there won't be much to gain for Aston Martin next year either? "Well, I think we still have time to react. It's only the end of August. It's the first of September. “

‘Rumours';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29893...situation.html


Even Newey won't be quick fix for Aston Martin says Alonso
2 Sep 2024
GrandPrix.com

Explaining his Italian GP, Alonso said he expected to be 16th or 17th at the chequered flag - but ultimately he managed maybe my best race of 2024 and finished P11. “Tomorrow”, Alonso said, "I will be the only one who remembers 'Alonso's Monza 2024'. Our car eats up the tyres, we slide in the corners, we have no grip. We have hardly any strong points.”

“Let's see if there is a response, some action, and not always coming with the same car”, he added. As for those intensifying Newey rumours, Alonso warned that there are no silver bullets in Formula 1. “I think it's not just one person's job to fix things”, he answered, when asked about the rising prospect of the famous 65-year-old Briton wearing green from 2025.

“It's more about what we have now, what we're producing, understanding what's going in the right direction, what's going in the wrong direction, and trying to prepare for 2025 in a better way”, Alonso concluded.

‘Even Newey won't be quick fix’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/even-...ys-alonso.html


Alonso: “Painful” to drop out of Monza F1 points after second stop
3 Sep 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

Fernando Alonso admits that it was “painful” to miss the points in the Formula 1 Italian GP after stopping twice when his immediate rivals were able to make a one-stop work. Nevertheless the Spaniard admitted that the outcome was better than he had anticipated. “Today is much, much better than expected,” he said when asked by this writer about his race.

“I think the execution of the race was really good for us. We got lucky with the start, a very good start, we overtook Nico, and then we were 10th, and close to Alex. So we kept the pace, surprisingly, with the Williams, so happy with that. And then we undercut him.We were running ninth for the majority of the race.”

“And then we opted for two stops, we could not make it on one with our tyre degradation. We tried to catch at the end. And eight-tenths from Albon, one-tenth from Magnussen. So P11, only one second away of P9, which is very painful to lose the points, because I think we deserved it in a way, with a well-executed race. But the car is what it is at the moment, and we need to get better.”

“Painful”;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/09/03/...r-second-stop/


Alonso airs upcoming concern after making 'not good enough' claim
No messing about with words here from Fernando as usual ahead of the races in Baku and Singapore
3 Sep 2024
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Fernando Alonso has delivered a "not good enough" message to Aston Martin following a run of grands prix around the fringes of the top 10 that has left him concerned ahead of the upcoming street races in Baku and Singapore. Asked whether he was expecting the car to perform better at the street circuits, he bluntly replied:

"No. Until we have an upgrade on the car, this is what it is, and this is not good enough. Not good enough in Monza, not good in Zandvoort, in Spa, in Hungary. So I don't think there's going to be a big change in Baku, Singapore or Austin, unless we bring new parts. That's the plan.”

"The team is aware of the situation, the team is working flat out. We keep united, we keep pushing. Last weekend [Dutch GP] was one point, here [Monza] we were close to two points, and that will be our battle."

‘No messing about with words’;

https://racingnews365.com/alonso-air...d-enough-claim


Fernando Alonso sympathetic towards Kevin Magnussen after controversial race ban
Fernando Alonso has offered a sympathetic view towards Kevin Magnussen following his race ban.
3 Sep 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso expressed sympathy for Kevin Magnussen after the Haas driver was handed a race ban for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“Someone told me he got a 10 seconds penalty. I'm a bit surprised for that because he tried, but it was a bit of wheel to wheel and in the end I really didn't lose any time. I'm a bit surprised,” Fernando Alonso said.

“I hope somehow they can revert on that because that will would be definitely unfair. I'll be happy to do- I'll see what I can do. That will feel very unfair for the incident that it was.”

‘Fernando Alonso sympathetic’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105456...rsial-race-ban


Alonso: Aston struggling to beat Williams and Haas is not acceptable
Alonso can accept Aston Martin not mingling with the top four teams yet but isn't keen on fighting humbler midfield squads
Sep 4, 2024
Ben Vinel Oleg Karpov
Motorsport.com

Fernando Alonso has lamented Aston Martin’s position in the Formula 1 pecking order with the team struggling to keep the upper hand on its midfield rivals. Alonso confessed to feeling somewhat powerless trying to get the best of a midfield car but doesn’t want to settle for a fight with smaller outfits.

“Of course, nothing we can do,” the Spaniard said. “We are in our team's hands, and I think Lance and myself, we’re trying to do the best we can every weekend. One inspired weekend, like this one from my side, I know it's going to be 'completely anonymous Monza 2024 from Alonso'.

“But I think this year we've been – Lance and myself – very close, and [in Monza] it was one of those weekends that I was a little bit better and I was happy with the car and pushing to the level that maybe was beyond 100% and that was P11, so disappointed on that.

‘Fernando Alonso has lamented Aston Martin’s position’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/a...able/10650989/

[Fortitude]

'Not bad' first race for Franco Colapinto as he finishes P12.
Franco Colapinto finishes P12 and is "very happy" with performance in his first Grand Prix.
1 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

'Not bad';

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/no...07491857381910


Colapinto: ‘A little mistake cost me a lot’ in Monza F1 qualifying
1 Sep 2024
Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week

Amid the threat of elimination, Colapinto pushed hard on his final lap in the opening Q1 qualifying session, running wide at the second Lesmo during an effort he felt was good enough to advance.

“I think I felt a little bit of understeer. It was quite on the limit, that lap, and I just dropped two tyres in that double curve, and I couldn’t catch it back,” said Colapinto. “So just a little mistake that cost me a lot, maybe a chance of going into Q2.”

‘Pushed hard’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...f1-qualifying/


‘Wow’: Franco Colapinto asks Williams for change after ‘so much pain’ on Formula 1 debut
1 Sept 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Franco Colapinto makes seat request after ‘painful’ Italian GP. Colapinto said he was in ‘pain’ during much of the race due to not having an optimal seat design in his FW46.

“You were right. I was gonna have pain after this race. Wow. I never had so much pain in a race car before. We need to do some things to the seat. But I really enjoy it, thanks very much,” said Colapinto.

‘Wow’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fra...rmula-1-debut/


Colapinto relieved to answer Williams ‘question mark’ at Monza
Franco Colapinto impressed on his F1 debut for Williams taking 12th place in the Italian Grand Prix.
2 Sept 2024
Jake Nichol & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Franco Colapinto has detailed his relief at being able to answer a big Williams "question mark" heading into the Italian Grand Prix. "I am very happy with the result, but happy because the pace was a question mark," Colapinto told media including RacingNews365.

"I have never done more than eight laps in a row before this, and suddenly there are 53 - and I had never tried a hard compound [tyre] either. So there were a lot of new things, but it was a very positive weekend overall. It was obviously a little bit frustrating with the mistake [on Saturday], but I paid it back to the team with a really strong race.”

"I now have a lot of information to take to the factory, on the simulator and understand better on what I need to work on as your first race is always tough with many unknown things, but we managed it well, and only finishing a couple of seconds outside of the points was decent."

‘Detailed his relief’;

https://racingnews365.com/colapinto-...-mark-at-monza


Colapinto did “good job” in race, “fantastic” in qualifying – Vowles
3rd Sept 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

“Franco, this weekend, given we’ve really taken him out of F2 and immediately put him in F1 – but with significant amounts of preparation behind the scenes – has done a good job,” said Vowles in a video released by the team. As well as the front-left tyre graining problems most drivers suffered the Williams pair also had to cope with their rear tyres overheating, said Vowles. Colapinto “took it in his stride,” he said.

“He executed the race perfectly, making progress and overtaking cars. And I think had qualifying really gone to plan – and just for transparency in qualifying he was near enough within a tenth of Alex [Albon] as he went through turn seven, so very, very close – he would have been today potentially in with a chance for points. And that, for your first outing in a car, is fantastic.”

“Good job”/“Fantastic”;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/09/03/...nd-up-03-09-7/


Colapinto proud after debut: 'Happy with the result after tough decision'
4 September at 18:00
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

"Very positive. I am happy, of course, with the result, but mostly happy with the pace. It was a question mark. I have never done more than 8 laps in a row before this, and suddenly I had to do 53, and I never tried the hard compound as well," the Argentinian began in the paddock in Monza.

Colapinto finished 12th in Italy, just one position shy of Sargeant's best result in the 2024 season. "Of course, a bit frustrating the little mistake I have done yesterday, but today, I paid it back to the team with a really strong pace. The engineers stayed with me during all the sessions and they helped me a lot with the tools to keep the tyres under control."

‘Colapinto proud’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29923...es-vowles.html


Business: Williams secures new Argentine sponsor after signing Franco Colapinto
4 Sep 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

On the eve of last weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Williams has announced a new partnership with Argentine leading digital transformation company Globant.

James Vowles, Team Principal: “I am delighted to welcome Globant to Williams Racing as Argentina prepares to mark its latest milestone in Formula 1. This partnership unites two organisations driven by innovation and a passion to provide unrivalled experiences for fans, and we are looking forward to working together starting this weekend in Monza.”

‘New Argentine sponsor’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/25362


David Coulthard gives two-word verdict on Franco Colapinto’s debut with Williams at Monza
5 Sept 2024
Tyler Rowlinson
F1 Oversteer

David Coulthard gives two-worded verdict on Franco Colapinto’s Williams debut. The Scotsman said: “I think that was a very good debut for Franco Colapinto at Williams. He’s replaced Logan Sargeant. Sorry for Logan but unfortunately just too many crashes and as Mark has famously said: ‘Formula 1 isn’t a finishing school, it’s where you have to come in and deliver.”

‘Very good debut’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/dav...iams-at-monza/


Williams loaded Colapinto with "more information than a human can take"
Williams team principal James Vowles delivers his verdict on Franco Colapinto's maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monza
6 Sep 2024.
Filip Cleeren Oleg Karpov
Motorsport.com

"Part of the reason why he's in the car is his ability to cope with immense amounts of pressure," James Vowles said. "You still [need to] have natural ability to drive quickly, but he's not really flappable.”

"We loaded him up with more information than a human being can take, and if you ask him now, he'll say that was definitely too much. But it didn't cause him to go into any other state than 'this is how I do things, and this is how I perform the best', and that's part of the reason why he's in the car."

“Not really flappable”;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/w...take/10651684/


'We've already started working': Franco Colapinto’s manager admits ‘reality’ of Williams star’s future after F1 debut
6 Sept 2024
Luke-John Buckle
F1 Oversteer

Franco Colapinto’s team has already begun work to find him a drive ahead of next season. “At the moment, it looks like there will not be a seat in Formula 1 next year. That’s the reality. But what we do know at the moment is Franco has eight races to show what he’s made of with no pressure from the team or us.”

“We need him to grow day by day. Then what the future will hold, we will see. It’s something that we’ve already started working on we pretty much know now that he will not be on the grid in Formula 1 in 2025.”

‘Already started working’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fra...fter-f1-debut/

[Fortitude]

Ricciardo: 'ultimately we weren't quick enough'.
Daniel Ricciardo admits RB "weren't quick enough" in the Italian Grand Prix after a P13 finish in Monza.
1 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

‘P13 finish’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/ri...07693399962085


Ricciardo left uninspired by VCARB updates: ‘I’ll give it a session though’
7 Sept 2024
Matt Gretton
GPblog.com

Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda are trying their best to keep VCARB in sixth place in the Constructors Championship. However, the duo hasn’t been inspired by the team's latest updates. They currently lead the battle for sixth by six points, but Haas are applying pressure.

Ricciardo is not confident about the upgraded floor that he will, likely, get at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. Ricciardo explained that VCARB still plan to use the upgrades despite the negative feedback from the Japanese driver. “Sometimes you can't predict what happens on track. It might produce more load, but maybe it shifts the balance, so maybe setting the car up is trickier. And maybe that's what it was,” Ricciardo told GPblog and others.

"It's hard for me to speak on. Look, I want to believe that it can still be good because obviously the last one wasn't too good for us. I'd like to think this one is better. But obviously Yuki has the only experience with that this weekend. And obviously he was a bit vocal about having a tough weekend. So we'll see. But it's something I want to at least give it a session and have a feel for it before I also maybe say it's not the one,” Ricciardo concluded.

‘Uninspired’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29960...-upgrades.html


Daniel Ricciardo on Nico Hulkenberg clash: “I thought we had space; I apologised”
Daniel Ricciardo reacts to incident with Haas at F1 Italian Grand Prix
2 Sep 2024
Lewis Duncan
Crash.Net

Ricciardo ended a troubled home race for the RB squad in 13th. “Ultimately, we weren’t quick enough today, even without the penalties,” he said. “We tried, and I was enjoying the wheel-to-wheel racing at the start, but I made contact with Nico in Turn 8.”

“I spoke to him after the race, I thought we had space, but felt the contact so didn’t give him enough room, and I apologised. It’s tough as you race hard but the smallest margins make a difference.”

“The car felt ok after, and we pushed as hard as we could with what we had. I was trying to get the maximum out of the car from Friday afternoon to today. Personally, I feel a lot better this weekend, and we were close to scoring points.”

“I apologised”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105454...e-i-apologised


‘Sorry for him’ – Ricciardo sends apology to former team mate after Monza clash
4 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site

The incidents started early, with Ricciardo squeezing Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas on the very first lap. While the Honey Badger could continue after that moment of wheel banging, he was soon handed a five-second time penalty for causing the contact.

But worse was to follow, when his front jackman accidentally touched the car too soon when the penalty was served, meaning Ricciardo was handed a 10-second penalty for failing to serve the original one correctly.

The Australian was quick to take the blame for the opening lap incident as well, saying he tried to find Hulkenberg post-race to explain his part in the contact. “Obviously I’m aware I’m fighting and there’s a car alongside me, but you don’t really know. Like I thought we were good and then I felt the contact, so I obviously immediately assumed I didn’t give him enough room.”

‘Sorry for him’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...oFxWBs6JCetBRn


RB driver announcement soon? Daniel Ricciardo ‘pretty much telegraphed it’ on Thursday
4 Sep 2024
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Ted Kravitz reckons Daniel Ricciardo “telegraphed” a pending VCARB driver announcement during the Monza weekend, and it’s one that doesn’t bode well for the Honey Badger. Kravitz reckons VCARB could announce even before the next race in Baku that Ricciardo is out and that Lawson will instead partner Yuki Tsunoda next season.

“Are we going to have a driver announcement at RB before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in a couple of weeks time?” he said in his post-race Ted’s Notebook. “We’re all expecting it. Daniel Ricciardo pretty much telegraphed it on Thursday.”

“And is that driver announcement going to be that Liam Lawson will partner Yuki Tsunoda at RB next year? That’s what everybody is expecting.”

‘Telegraphed it’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/rb-dri...aphed-it-monza


‘I know what’s required’: Daniel Ricciardo remains confident amid speculation on F1 future
September 5th, 2024
Fox Sports (Australia)

Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo remains confident he will finish the season at RB amid growing speculation about his future in the sport. When asked whether he was confident he would remain at RB for the remainder of the 2024 campaign, Ricciardo responded: “Yes. I say yes, I’ve been in this long enough – who knows?”

“But, I will keep making it about me. If I’m performing they won’t find a reason to do anything. If I perform, I’m good. If I focus on myself it shouldn’t affect me. It doesn’t matter what someone is saying. It matters what my hands and feet are doing in the cockpit.”

Red Bull has already confirmed that teammate Yuki Tsunoda will drive for RB in next year’s championship while Red Bull team director Helmut Marko revealed that New Zealand’s Liam Lawson would earn a seat in 2025. If Mexican veteran Sergio Perez keeps his seat at Red Bull, Ricciardo would almost certainly have to make way for Lawson.

“Who knows?”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...96dca83908fcfa


Paddock whisper that “everybody is expecting” Daniel Ricciardo to lose F1 seat
Fresh suggestion that Daniel Ricciardo's days in Formula 1 are numbered
7 Sep 2024
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net

“Everybody is expecting” Daniel Ricciardo to lose his 2025 F1 drive with RB, Ted Kravitz has claimed. The whisper came from inside the Monza paddock at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. Ricciardo has spoken openly and honestly about the looming threat of being ditched from his drive for next season.

Sky Sports’ Kravitz wondered in Italy: “Are we going to have a driver announcement at RB before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix? “We are all expecting it. Ricciardo pretty much telegraphed it on Thursday.”

“Is that driver announcement going to be that Liam Lawson will partner Yuki Tsunoda next year? That is what everyone is expecting.” The revelation is a bitter blow to Ricciardo. He is out of contract at the end of this season, and the 2025 F1 driver line-up has just two vacant seats available.

‘Bitter blow’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105459...o-lose-f1-seat


Ricciardo views coming races as critical to F1 future
Daniel Ricciardo is heading into the final eight races of the season aware they could be his last in F1.
7 Sept 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

With uncertainty remaining as F1 heads into the final eight races of the year, Ricciardo has admitted that he’s treating the run to Abu Dhabi as the most critical of his career. “It needs to be the mindset,” he confessed. “And if I feel like I’m softening that, then I need to kind of shake myself a little bit and make sure I’m not. It is still very important, but I also think I am still learning, which is great, and I think that mindset is a much better one for me.”

“When there’s a bit on the line, when that pressure is a little bit higher, it in a way kind of increases that spark in me and stops me from feeling a little bit, maybe relaxed or whatever you want to say. I’ve just got to make sure that I still, and I think this is still the case… these are very important races. But even if, for whatever reason, they weren’t, even if I signed a contract today, I still should be telling myself that they are because I think that’s where I operate the best for myself.”

‘Final eight races could be his last in F1’;

https://speedcafe.com/ricciardo-view...-to-f1-future/

[Fortitude]

Esteban Ocon comments on his P14 finish in the 2024 Italian Grand Prix.
Trying everything this weekend "unfortunately was not enough" for Esteban Ocon as he finishes P14.
1 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

‘P14 finish’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/es...09070725528090


Ocon left frustrated by switch issue in Monza qualifying
1 Sep 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

Esteban Ocon was left frustrated by a switch issue after earning 15th place in qualifying for the Italian GP. “I think to start with on the positives, from Friday to Saturday really more like a level of performance that we had pre-Zandvoort,” he said when asked by this writer about the session.”

“So really, there’s something that we touched overnight that has made the difference. We need to investigate exactly what it is, because it is not very clear at the moment, but the car, since this morning, FP3 and now, feels like more of a normal car, more like the one I’m used to from pre-Zandvoort.”

“So that’s, that’s a very positive. On the other side because of that we could have gone a little bit quicker on today’s lap. A bit my fault, a bit the guys’ fault, we messed it up. We should have seen it. And basically that gave me some understeer on the lap. And there’s going to be some work to do for tomorrow. I think our straightline speed is decent. So hopefully we can gain some places.”

‘Frustrated’;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/09/01/...za-qualifying/


EXCLUSIVE: Haas boss “not bothered” by “noise” around Esteban Ocon’s reputation
Speaking exclusively to Crash.net at the Dutch Grand Prix, Haas boss Ayao Komatsu expressed that he is unconcerned about Esteban Ocon’s reputation of not being a ‘team player’.
3 Sep 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Speaking exclusively to Crash.net at the Dutch Grand Prix last month, Komatsu revealed that Ocon’s reputation was a “discussion point” and that they had “honest” talks about it during negotiations. “It was a discussion point but I have my belief from the beginning,” Komatsu said.

“I had to speak with Esteban in an honest way to understand where he’s at in all those things. Honestly, fundamentally, what I believe is as long as we have good, respect relationship with mutual respect and transparency. If we’ve got fundamental trust between the team and the driver, it shouldn’t be an issue.”

‘Unconcerned’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105455...ons-reputation


‘Discussion point’: Ayao Komatsu explains the concern he shared with Esteban Ocon before signing 2025 Haas deal
3 September 2024
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Ayao Komatsu shares Esteban Ocon concerns during negotiations. “It was a discussion point but I have my belief from the beginning,” he said. “I had to speak with Esteban in an honest way to understand where he’s at in all those things.”

“Honestly, fundamentally, what I believe is as long as we have good, respect relationship with mutual respect and transparency. If we’ve got fundamental trust between the team and the driver, it shouldn’t be an issue.”

‘During negotiations’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/aya...025-haas-deal/


Alpine F1 Faces Uncertainty Amid Strikes And Shakeups
5 Sep 2024
Kanzah Maktoum
Forbes

Describing Alpine Renault’s 2024 Formula 1 season as merely turbulent is an understatement. The team has faced a series of upheavals: senior personnel have left, significant strategic shifts are being made, changes to their engine supply are being considered, and Flavio Briatore has been brought on board.

Most recently, there has been fierce opposition within the team, with resistance reaching a boiling point. Employees at the Viry-Chatillon facility in France planned a peaceful protest and strike during the Italian Grand Prix.

Last week, employees donned white T-shirts bearing the Alpine logo and the message #ViryOnTrack, along with black armbands, as they staged a peaceful protest in two grandstands at Monza. Workers at the Viry-Chtillon plant also went on strike in solidarity.

‘Uncertainty’;

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kanzahm...-and-shakeups/


Renault F1 engine axe decision not final yet says CEO
Renault CEO Luca de Meo insists a final decision about the fate of the French carmaker's works Formula 1 engine program is yet to be taken.
SEPT 5, 2024
GrandPrix.com

“We have four or five weeks to determine the next steps ahead of the board meeting”, said the Italian. “We are evaluating all opportunities.” De Meo admits that he finds the idea of switching to a competitive customer engine very appealing.

“If we look at this from a purely financial point of view - how expensive it is to develop an engine for 2026 yourself, and how much could you save with a customer engine - then we are talking about a huge difference”, he said. "Those who look at the numbers see that we could enter the new era of Formula 1 with a more powerful but less expensive package. But there are many factors to consider when making a decision.”

"What does the marketing department think about this? What negative consequences, including financial ones, could there be in the event of this move? Our ambition is to create a competitive project. Therefore, when choosing, we take into account many factors, and we do this with special care.”

‘Axe decision not final’;

https://www.grandprix.com/news/renau...-says-ceo.html

[Fortitude]

'A lot to review' for Pierre Gasly and Alpine after finishing P15.
After finishing 30 seconds from the top 10, Pierre Gasly reviews "not good" Italian Grand Prix.
1 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

'A lot to review';

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/a-...05988179466651


Pierre Gasly confused and frustrated with qualifying P14 for the 2024 Italian Grand Prix
31 Aug 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

A confused Gasly explains the Alpines struggles with the soft compound tyre around Monza after exiting Qualifying in Q2.

‘Confused and frustrated’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/pi...16273714661466


Pierre Gasly wants “unfair” Kevin Magnussen F1 ban reversed
Pierre Gasly reckons Kevin Magnussen's F1 ban should be overturned.
2 Sep 2024
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Pierre Gasly has called for F1’s stewards to reverse the ban handed out to Kevin Magnussen following their “nothing” collision at the Italian Grand Prix. "Honestly, this was nothing," Gasly said. "The whole afternoon we were dead slow. We really need to get on top of it because I really believed we would have more potential in the race and it was a lot harder.”

"Someone told me he got a 10 seconds penalty. I'm a bit surprised for that because he tried, but it was a bit of wheel to wheel and in the end I really didn't lose any time. I'm a bit surprised. I hope somehow they can revert on that because that will would be definitely unfair. I'll be happy to do it [speak with the stewards] - I'll see what I can do. That will feel very unfair for the incident that it was.”

“Unfair”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105451...1-ban-reversed


‘There is a lot of work ahead of us’ says Gasly after Alpine fall back in Italian Grand Prix
4 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Alpine saw a reversal in their fortunes at the Italian Grand Prix just days after scoring points in Zandvoort, with Pierre Gasly admitting that the team have “a lot of work ahead” to understand the issues following his drive to P15. Reflecting on his race, Gasly conceded: “It was a very long afternoon. I’m very disappointed because I thought that somehow in the race things will get better compared to yesterday, and it was actually worse.”

“We had some brake issues yesterday we found out after quali, which carried on this afternoon. The car was bouncing a lot and we just had no grip out there. We finished 30 seconds I think from the top 10, which is not good. There is a lot of work ahead of us to understand why… Last week at a very different track we had some pace to fight there, today it was impossible, so [I’m] pretty disappointed.”

‘Reversal in their fortunes’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...2ydD2gXHdhRdGn


Gasly admits he is ‘very disappointed’ after ‘impossible’ Italian GP
Gasly has suggested that there "is a lot of work ahead" for Alpine to improve their position in 2024
Sept 5, 2024
Oliver Brindle
FormulaNerds

No improvements in Italy: The once Renault-branded team currently sit eighth in the Constructors’ Championship, 15 points behind American team Haas. Their hunt of the US-based team was once again hampered in Italy after Kevin Magnussen finished in 10thextending their lead of Alpine by a point.

Gasly and teammate Esteban Ocon finished outside the top 10, in 15th and 14th, respectively. The French manufacturer joined Stake as the only two teams with both cars finishing outside the points. When reflecting on the French pairing’s struggles, the one-time race winner shared his disappointment after feeling the race pace of the A524 would help them improve their weekend from qualifying.

As reported by F1, Gasly said: “It was a very long afternoon. I’m very disappointed because I thought that somehow in the race things will get better compared to yesterday, and it was actually worse. We had some brake issues yesterday we found out after quali, which carried on this afternoon. The car was bouncing a lot and we just had no grip out there. We finished 30 seconds I think from the top 10, which is not good.”

‘Impossible Italian GP’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ga.../?nowprocket=1


INSIDE: How did chicken risotto and tiramisu please Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly at Monza?
4 Sep 2024
Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical

Last Sunday's Italian Grand Prix saw Alpine and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas partner to provide an exclusive culinary experience, starting the countdown to the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix this November. Executive Chefs from The Venetian Resort travelled to Italy to team up with Alpine's trackside catering team and deliver a unique dining experience for drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, as well as invited guests during the Monza F1 round.

Tge French outfit revealed that "leading The Venetian Resort chefs was the internationally renowned Olivier Dubreuil, Vice President of Culinary Operations at The Venetian Resort and Master Chef of France." Olivier Dubreuil and Alpine chefs revisited the drivers’ favourite childhood dishes, each with a prestigious twist. Pierre’s chosen foods were tacos and tiramisu while Esteban reminisced about his mother’s chicken risotto.

Reflecting on the experience, Gasly added: “The Venetian Resort looked after me and the whole BWT Alpine F1 Team incredibly well at the first Las Vegas Grand Prix last season, and it was such a pleasure to have them with us in Monza. "They’ve recreated the tacos and tiramisu I used to have as a kid perfectly, and I’m now looking forward to returning to Vegas even more and staying at The Venetian, a true icon of Las Vegas!"

‘Chicken risotto and tiramisu’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/25410


‘Good work’: Pierre Gasly explains how 2025 Alpine driver Jack Doohan helped him score points at the Dutch Grand Prix
26 Aug 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Doohan was confirmed as Alpine’s second driver for 2025 at the beginning of the race weekend. The young Australian has been vital behind the scenes to Alpine with his tireless simulator work. Gasly explained that Doohan’s hours in the sim during the Dutch Grand Prix ended up giving him a much-needed boost.

Asked about his new teammate for 2025, Gasly said: “It’s exciting! I mean I’m stoked for Jack, I’ve seen him working with the team for the past year and a half. Obviously, he’s been very involved in the race team with the work in the simulator and in testing, so I saw him always keeping a close eye on what we’ll be doing with Esteban and I’m very, very happy. We’ll work very hard to make sure we’ve got a stronger car for next season and hopefully he’ll have a bit more fun than we’re having at the minute!”

‘Vital behind the scenes’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/pie...ch-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

Bottas: 'I wouldn't do anything different' after finishing P16.
A "better than last weekend" race for Valtteri Bottas as he brings the Sauber home in P16 in the 2024 Italian Grand Prix.
1 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

‘Finishing P16’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/bo...05230126262447


Sauber spot “positive sign” but Valtteri Bottas still point-less
Sauber boss insists there is reason for optimism
2 Sep 2024
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net

Sauber believe they have closed the gap to their nearest rivals despite still not scoring a point at the F1 Italian Grand Prix. Team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi insists there is some optimism. “We could see some positive signs in [the] performance by the team, even though the finishing positions, on paper, don’t look much different from the previous races,” he claimed.

“Both drivers were able to manage their tyres well, hard and medium alike, and this allowed us to follow the race strategy we planned before the race, with degradation under control. Of course, this is still not enough to fight for points, as we lack overall pace: but the low-drag package we brought to Monza and the setup changes we made for qualifying improved the car balance and gave Valtteri and Zhou a chance to fight.”

“We still have a long journey ahead of us to be in the battle for points, but it is important to acknowledge that, today, the gap with our direct competitors has been reduced – it's a positive sign we need to outline.”

“Positive sign”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/105454...ill-point-less


Exclusive: Bottas opens up on Audi plans that make F1 success ‘a matter of time’
9 Sep 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

“In the last few months I’ve had to keep my eyes and ears open, what’s happening, and trying to read the driver market, because there’s been no guarantees of me staying here,” Bottas told Motorsport Week in an exclusive interview.

“But now, there’s a clear direction, a clear priority, and still I think in the long term it could be really interesting, and there could be some success in sight if I can get into the project. I feel like that’s what I need at this stage of my career, I need a clear project into which to focus, and that’s obviously at the moment easier, and for Audi.”

‘A matter of time’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...atter-of-time/


Valtteri Bottas refuses to budge from key Sauber contract demand
August 31, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports

Valtteri Bottas insists on a multi-year deal in Sauber talks. Bottas underlines his objectives. Since making the decision to leave Mercedes and join Sauber, Bottas has spoken extensively about the importance of signing long-term deals.

The Finn does not want a return to the uncertainty of the one-year contracts he received as Mercedes. The 35-year-old wants to join a team that sees him as part of their project for the long term. Consistent with this non-negotiable, Bottas has told the media he wants to be part of the Audi project in 2026 and beyond:

“I’m only interested in a multi-year contract. Because if I only sign for one year, I know that it probably won’t be easy [getting another contract] next year either. That’s not very interesting for my career. My priority is to be part of Audi. Since the announcement that the brand is coming to Formula 1, I have always shown my interest in this project. I have the experience, and I think that’s what the team needs.”

‘Refuses to budge’;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...ntract-demand/


Valtteri Bottas’ ‘matter of time’ Audi F1 prediction as driver market battle hots up
9 Sep 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Pushing to be a part of the Audi F1 project, Valtteri Bottas batted away any negativity and said success is merely a “matter of time”. Audi showed its previous F1 chief Andreas Seidl and chairman Oliver Hoffmann the door, bringing in ex-Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto, while Red Bull’s long-serving sporting director Jonathan Wheatley will arrive in 2025 to run the Audi F1 project with Binotto.

The duo has a challenge on their hands, with Sauber rock bottom of the F1 2024 Constructors’ Championship and the only team without a point, a tough base for Audi F1 to build from without major improvement. But Bottas has no concerns, having seen the behind-the-scenes work taking place, as he fights to earn a place in the Audi F1 story, as the likes of Liam Lawson, Mick Schumacher, Theo Pourchaire and Gabriel Bortoleto continue to be linked with an F1 2025 seat.

“In the last few months I’ve had to keep my eyes and ears open, what’s happening, and trying to read the driver market, because there’s been no guarantees of me staying here,” Bottas began when speaking to Motorsport Week. “But now, there’s a clear direction, a clear priority, and still I think in the long term it could be really interesting, and there could be some success in sight if I can get into the project.”

‘Seen the behind-the-scenes work taking place’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/valtte...ss-wants-place


Exclusive: Bottas claims people in F1 have ‘short memories’ amid fight to save 2025 drive
9 Sep 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Valtteri Bottas has asserted that some people within Formula 1 have “short memories” as he strives to salvage his place on the grid past the ongoing 2024 campaign. Bottas has entered the final season of his deal with Sauber, and he is awaiting a decision on whether the team intends to retain him as it prepares to morph into Audi. Despite possessing a convincing margin over team-mate Zhou in the head-to-head, Bottas has not had the equipment to deliver the results his outings have merited.

“Yeah, it’s not an easy situation to be in as a driver, because you struggle to prove what you can do,” he admitted. “If people just look at the results, it’s quite easy to judge. But the main thing is I know how I’m performing, the team knows how I’m performing, and in the end that’s what matters. The people who know about driver performance, they will still see what you can do, what you can achieve if you have the machinery.”

“But I think the difference with Mattia is that he was in a battle against us when I was at Mercedes, and he could monitor what I can do, and I could steal some points from them, so he knows that. Like I said yesterday, I think we started the discussions in the right way with good respect, and that’s what I really appreciate. So we’ll continue the discussions, but for me it’s clear what I want, and what I want is to be in F1 until Audi joins.”

‘The difference with Mattia’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...ve-2025-drive/

[Fortitude]

'Very poor first lap' adds to 'difficult' Italian Grand Prix for Nico Hulkenberg.
Nico Hulkenberg explains how multiple events made the Italian Grand Prix very "difficult" for him, bringing his Haas over the line in P17.
1 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

'Very poor first lap';

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/ve...05430394841249


Italian Grand Prix: Race Recap
Sept 1, 2024
Haas F1 Team - Official Site

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team finished with Kevin Magnussen 10th and Nico Hulkenberg 17th, at the Italian Grand Prix, Round 16 of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, held Sunday at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Hulkenberg started from 13th on the grid, also on medium tires, but lost ground on the opening lap after he was hit by Ricciardo, for which the RB driver was penalized. Hulkenberg subsequently collided with Yuki Tsunoda and came into the pits on lap five for Hard tires and change of front wing, emerging at the rear of the field. Hulkenberg was issued a 10-second time penalty for the contact, which he served at his second pit stop on lap 32, at which he took on another set of hard tires. Hulkenberg classified in 17th place.

Nico Hulkenberg: “It was a very poor first lap; going into Turn 8 I got a good tow from Daniel Ricciardo so I took the outside line, but he swept across and didn’t really leave me space, so we made contact and that took me off a bit. The engine went into anti-stall so that took a while to sort out and I lost a few more positions – more or less that was when the race was looking very difficult. Then the racing incident with Yuki Tsunoda meant I had to come in for a front wing change, plus the penalty I had to serve, you lose so much time – so it was game over. It was very good that Kevin was there and had a strong drive, there is that to take away.”

‘Race Recap’;

https://www.haasf1team.com/news/ital...x-race-recap-6


Nico Hulkenberg makes Yuki Tsunoda team radio dig after Italian GP collision
2 Sep 2024
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Haas racer Hulkenberg ploughed into the side of Tsunoda’s VCARB at the opening Monza chicane, resulting in race-ending damage for Tsunoda, while Hulkenberg was given a 10-second time penalty and later two penalty points on his superlicence.

“He was probably on the radio, knowing him,” Hulkenberg said of Tsunoda when speaking to media including PlanetF1.com. Hulkenberg also claimed that Tsunoda would have seen him struggling to make the braking zone, so could have “saved himself”, but opted not to.

“But of course, I didn’t stop it how I wanted to, but I think he saw me coming as well with quite some speed and still he decided to turn in,” Hulkenberg continued. “I think he could have saved himself, but he chose not to.”

‘Team radio dig’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/nico-h...n-gp-collision


Hulkenberg: Monza fight with RB pair was “just normal racing”
SEPT 5, 2024
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog

Nico Hulkenberg insists that his incidents with RB drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda in the early laps at Monza were “just normal racing”. The German says that he’s not battling the Italian cars harder than anyone else, despite Haas and RB being in a close fight for sixth place in the World Championship.

“I feel like we lost everything already on lap one,” said Hulkenberg when asked about his difficult race by this writer. “First chicane was somehow boxed in, but in the wrong spot, and then lost out. And then I got a good strong tow off Danny. So I went next to him on the outside, but he swept across quite a lot, and just didn’t leave quite enough room.”

“So we made contact, it put me in the dirt, anti-stall kicked in in fourth gear. So until I had that sorted out, I lost another three or four positions. And I must have been P16/17 after lap one, obviously pretty poor and bad. It was always going to be difficult. And the Yuki incident and front wing change and all the rest of it did the rest.”

“Lost everything already on lap one”;

https://adamcooperf1.com/2024/09/05/...normal-racing/


‘Not yet’: Nico Hulkenberg admits he’s been waiting 10 years to discover if F1 team will offer him a seat
9 Sept 2024
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Nico Hulkenberg has made a shocking revelation that one of Formula 1’s biggest teams has left him waiting for a decision on a seat for nearly 10 years. Back in 2013, Hulkenberg enjoyed a breakout second half of the season with Sauber, finishing 10th in the drivers’ championship.

Who has Nico Hulkenberg been waiting on a response from? One of Hulkenberg’s biggest frustrations of his career is that he has failed to score a podium across his 219 starts. A man of his talent should undoubtedly have achieved a top three, and maybe even a victory, but he has never quite found the right situation to do so.

It has now emerged that he was on the radar of Ferrari for a seat back in 2014, which may have seen him achieve the feat nearly a decade ago, if things had gone his way. When asked by the German Press Association, via FAZ, if he had spoken to ex-Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali about reasons for not being picked for a drive in 2014, he said: “Not yet, Because he still says: ‘Not yet, come later.’ I don’t know [when I will get an answer], I don’t have a crystal ball,” he added.

‘Waiting 10 years’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nic...er-him-a-seat/

[Fortitude]

Zhou left with performance regrets as he weighs up his F1 future.
He doesn't say whether he feels he has much or little chance of getting the seat at Audi. “It really depends on what Mattia and also what the Audi people really want, so we need to speak about it, and I'm open to discussions about individual or multiple [years].” Zhou Guanyu
5 Sept 2024
Jeroen Immink
GPblog.com

For Zhou, racing for a contract at all costs is almost a habit. "It's obviously not the first time I've had a one-year contract, so it wouldn't change the story for me. But on the other side, we need to se what we can bring togeher because when you have one year, you obviously look out. But when Audi came, I think that's where the bigger change came in terms of pure performance. Also, you can fight hopefully closer to the top three, and that's where we want to be," the Chinese driver said.

In doing so, Zhou himself feels he should have shown more in the quest for an F1 seat. "I didn't show as much as I wanted to in terms of performance, especially in one lap pace I've been lacking. Of course, I feel like I have a chance and definitely being one of the runners fighting for the seat together with my teammate and some others maybe. But nothing is confirmed, so I'm open to talk about it," Zhou said.

“Depends on Mattia”;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/29940...o-to-audi.html


Possible ‘advantage’ found in contract negotiations as team-mates fight for F1 2025 seat
09 Sep 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Zhou Guanyu has said he would be willing to accept a one-year contract extension at Sauber next year, whereas F1 team-mate Valtteri Bottas is looking for a multi-year deal. Bottas recently made it clear he is “only interested in a multi-year contract” to stay in Formula 1 with Sauber, which will become Audi in 2026, with both he and Zhou among the candidates for one of two remaining seats on the grid next year, the other at VCARB.

Zhou added he would take the time to speak to the new people at the top of the Audi F1 operation to see what their targets are. Within that, though, he is aware that the time for negotiation is fast approaching.

“And I’m open to the discussion about individual or multiple [years]. We need to see and wait and have some discussion because, obviously, nothing has been fully going very deeply into details, but I think now is probably the time that we’re going to be more into that. I leave it to them to discuss. Of course, I feel like I have a chance, and definitely being one of the runners fighting for the seat together with my team-mate and some others, maybe – but nothing is confirmed, so I’m open to talk about it.”

‘Willing to accept a one-year contract’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/zhou-g...altteri-bottas


‘An honour’: Zhou Guanyu shares his F1 ‘career highlight’ amid uncertainty over his Sauber future
9 Sept 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Zhou Guanyu could be contesting the last eight races of his Formula 1 career amid uncertainty over his future at Sauber for 2025. With only two seats left on the grid, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that Zhou will secure a full-time race seat at the teams that have openings.

Zhou Guanyu identifies the biggest highlight of F1 career so far. Zhou has been in talks with other F1 teams in a bid to rescue his chances of continuing beyond 2024, but any hopes appear to be fading and could result in him taking up a reserve role. While his results have not been the most spectacular on the grid, owing to a difficult year for Sauber and uncompetitive cars the previous two years, he still has some special moments he can take away.

“I think the career highlight will definitely be the first grand prix [Bahrain 2022]. To score points on my debut was something I dreamed of, or something I couldn’t have imagined. So it was an honour to do that,” said Zhou. “The Chinese Grand Prix was like having a childhood dream within F1 that comes true. Obviously, F1 is a dream but then to be racing at home where everything started, that was the Chinese Grand Prix back in 2004.”

‘An honour’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/zho...sauber-future/


Zhou Guanyu admits that 2025 F1 seat is unlikely
Sept 9, 2024
Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
Last Word On Sports

Speaking to Crash.net in Monza, Zhou made clear that he “could accept the fact” Bottas is more likely to continue with the team next year. He also explained that staying in F1, regardless of what capacity, is the priority: “At the moment, I don’t want to be in other series yet. Because I feel like I’m still in a period that if I can stay in F1, or making a comeback if I don’t have a seat, there will still be chances to show what I’ve got.”

Although Zhou could quite easily join another elite motorsport category, he is not interested in racing anywhere else beyond F1. Of course, when a driver loses their F1 seat, finding a way back into a full-time role is difficult. With that said, landing a reserve driver contract is a useful way of being active in the paddock and ready for any potential opportunities.

Jack Doohan received some criticism when he first agreed to become Alpine’s reserve driver, but he eventually earned a full-time contract for 2025. Therefore, it would not be a surprise to see Zhou remain active in the paddock next season.

“Show what I’ve got”;

https://lastwordonsports.com/motorsp...t-is-unlikely/


‘Big struggle’: Zhou Guanyu pinpoints the reason why his qualifying performances have been so poor this season
9 Sept 2024
Shay Rogers
F1 Oversteer

Zhou Guanyu has struggled to match teammate Valtteri Bottas during his third season in Formula 1, which may be a reason why he doesn’t have a seat on the 2025 grid. It looks like Sauber are going to opt against retaining the Chinese driver for a fourth term in the sport, having failed to score a point throughout this season.

Zhou has been honest in his assessment of his form this year, admitting that he has struggled to adapt over one lap. “Once everything has kind of settled down then we lack some car performance, unfortunately,” he said. “The car we had this year requires a different driving style which I try to get a better improvement on, but it’s not an easy short-term fix.”

“For the one lap, to try to change my driving style is not something that is quite easy to do. But in a race, I’m able to adapt that quite straightforward from the beginning.”

‘Different driving style’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/zho...r-this-season/


F1 News: Sauber Sees Glimmers of Hope Amid Ongoing Point-Less Struggles
Sept 03, 2024
William Frost Athlon Sports
The Wichita Eagle, Kansas City

Sauber is maintaining a positive outlook despite a tough start to the season, having yet to score any points. At the recent Italian Grand Prix, drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu finished near the back of the pack, continuing their search for a breakthrough. The team's strategy at Monza, which involved a long stint on hard tires for Bottas, didn't yield the desired results. However, team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi believes there are signs of progress. While Sauber remains the only team without points, Bravi emphasizes that the team is closing the gap to its competitors.

"We could see some positive signs in [the] performance by the team, even though the finishing positions, on paper, don't look much different from the previous races," he claimed. "Both drivers were able to manage their tyres well, hard and medium alike, and this allowed us to follow the race strategy we planned before the race, with degradation under control."

"Of course, this is still not enough to fight for points, as we lack overall pace: but the low-drag package we brought to Monza and the setup changes we made for qualifying improved the car balance and gave Valtteri and Zhou a chance to fight. We still have a long journey ahead of us to be in the battle for points, but it is important to acknowledge that, today, the gap with our direct competitors has been reduced – it's a positive sign we need to outline."

‘Glimmers of Hope’;

https://www.kansas.com/sports/articl...mainstage_card


‘Absolute animal’: Ruth Buscombe shares why she thinks Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu is an ‘absolute animal’
10 Sept 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Ruth Buscombe is an F1 strategist who previously worked for Ferrari, Haas and Sauber and now provides punditry for F1 TV at race weekends. She was speaking on the Drive to Wynn Podcast and highlighted what Zhou’s greatest strength is. It’s not been easy for the 25-year-old to showcase his talents in the slowest car on the grid this year.

“Give him a soft tyre and he’ll be able to make a significant amount of positions right at the very start of the race, really strong with picking off drivers. And it’s like, that’s just one example of like, if, you know, there’s certain times where actually your grid position or, where you are running dominates it. But like, if they were starting next to each other naturally, you’d put Valtteri on the reverse and Zhou on the kind of the standard strategy, because that’s the way we maximize the things they’re good at.”

‘Absolute animal’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/rut...solute-animal/

[Fortitude]

ANALYSIS: 'I’ve never been more certain' – How Lawrence Stroll fended off the competition to snap up ‘bargain’ Adrian Newey.
Lawrence Stroll won the biggest battle of his career as he fended off the competition to sign Adrian Newey, the greatest designer in the history of Formula 1. But how did he do it?
10 Sep 2024
Lawrence Barretto
Formula One - Official Site

He told the entire Aston Martin staff due to come in on the Sunday before the Canadian Grand Prix to stay at home so Newey could have a private tour of the factory and see what he was building. Newey could see firsthand that Stroll meant business.

Whatever it took from a resource perspective, Stroll was committed to delivering. Everything about the place is world class from the new wind tunnel due to come online at the end of the season, and the in-loop simulator, to the gym and spinning room – which has classes twice a day.

Newey’s interest was clear – and simultaneously, interest from Ferrari began to ease off – so Stroll upped his game, offering the designer a chance to become a “shareholder and a partner”. Remarkably, this was the first time Newey had been offered a stake in a team, the chance of ownership – and it was something he craved. As Newey told me when we chatted on Tuesday – he’s now got “skin in the game” and that’s very motivating.

“Shareholder and a partner”;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...QVcft8qr5vpV2k


Alonso relishing ‘incredible’ chance to work with Newey in F1 at Aston Martin
10 Sep 2024
Taylor Powling
Motorsport Week

Fernando Alonso has expressed that he is relishing an “incredible” chance to work with Formula 1 design guru Adrian Newey when he moves to Aston Martin in 2025. “I think, yeah, as you said, been racing against each other for many years,” Alonso said. “I would say that he was more an inspiration.”

“I think thanks to Adrian and his talent and cars, I think we all got better as a driver, as engineers, teams. We all had to raise the bar thanks to him to be able to compete. I think now is an incredible day for the team. Lawrence’s [Stroll, team owner] vision is taking shape with this building, with Adrian, with Honda, Aramco, new wind tunnel.”

“You know, so definitely the team of the future, I would say. And yeah, for me, it’s going to be an incredible opportunity professionally to work with Adrian and to keep wearing this green colour, which I’m very proud to be part of.”

‘Incredible chance to work with Newey’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...-aston-martin/


Lawrence Stroll shares what he’d ‘never seen’ happen at Aston Martin before Adrian Newey’s announcement
10 Sep 2024
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Stroll was asked about what the reaction was like when he introduced Newey to Aston Martin’s staff and said: “What we actually did witness was, I’m not quite sure how many people, I think about 800 or so in the street was an explosion of applause.

“I’ve never seen since I’m here such a level of excitement of any announcement. We’ve obviously never made an announcement of this magnitude, we just weren’t fortunate enough to. But I saw everyone leave with a very big smile on their face and a kind of hop and skip in their walk. So, hopefully, they go back to their desks and figure out how to draw something a little quicker!”

‘An announcement of this magnitude’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/law...-announcement/


Billionaire boss’ staggering $295m gamble explained... and why it will shake up F1 order
Sept 11th, 2024
Michael Lamonato
Fox Sports (Australia)

What performance part is worth $59 million per year? Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll believes he has the answer. Its name is Adrian Newey, he’s 65 years old and he’s the biggest technical name in motorsport. Everything Newey touches turns to title-winning gold. In the modern history of Formula 1 there’s no greater correlation with success than having Newey’s name on the door to the biggest office in the design department.

His reputation is such that his decision to quit Red Bull Racing earlier this year set off a frantic race to secure his signature. Rumours of courtship were intense. Ferrari emerged as an early frontrunner. Mercedes and McLaren were believed to be in the mix. Williams went on record as wanting to bring Newey back to the team with which he won his first grand prix titles. But Aston Martin had the strongest hand. Billionaire owner Stroll made sure of it.

The cash stuffed down Stroll’s deep pockets is turning Aston Martin, the evolution of a string of minnow F1 squads, into a grandee. The team wants for nothing. Its infrastructure is state of the art. Its personnel are head hunted from among the best in the sport. Its ambitions are sky high. The combination was compelling. Newey, competitive to a fault, saw the potential in Aston Martin as the final move of his decades-long career.

‘Staggering $295m gamble explained...’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...9d805b63e6cba5


Damon Hill pokes fun at Ferrari as Aston Martin announce Adrian Newey
Tue 10 September 2024 19:00
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Aston Martin have won the race to sign legendary Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey. The team unveiled their new managing technical partner on Tuesday morning. Damon Hill recalls Adrian Newey to Ferrari speculation. Writing on his Instagram story, Damon Hill quoted a report from June that Newey had accepted a three-year offer from Ferrari. He joked that ‘this may prove to be very wide of the mark’.

The 1996 F1 world champion knew that Aston Martin would announce his arrival in a press conference later on Tuesday. Ferrari have also lost technical director Enrico Cardile to the Silverstone outfit.

‘Hill pokes fun at Ferrari’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/dam...-adrian-newey/


WATCH: Newey on signing for Aston Martin, what convinced him about the project and working with Alonso
10 Sep 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Fresh from the announcement and a press conference with the media at the team’s state-of-the-art Silverstone headquarters, Newey spoke with F1.com’s Lawrence Barretto to talk through how he came to the decision.

Newey shared why he decided to commit to another chapter in F1 after several decades in the sport, how persuasive Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll was during initial talks to join the squad, and what it will be like to work with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.

‘What convinced him’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...NrTCyTtTwpRlux


Adrian Newey: All you need to know about his sensational Aston Martin move
10 Sep 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Adrian Newey will be heading to Aston Martin once he leaves Red Bull, in a move that is set to be seismic in the world of Formula 1. There is a lot to unpack as the sport’s widely-lauded ‘design guru’ has decided upon his next move, so we are here to guide you through everything you need to know about one of the year’s biggest transfers.

‘All you need to know’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian...ary-start-date


Aston Martin hope to win big with ‘bargain’ Adrian Newey
11 Sep 2024
The Straits Times

“I can tell you Adrian is a bargain,” Stroll said of the man he will reportedly be paying somewhere between £20-30 million (S$34-51 million) a year – making him one of the highest paid in the paddock.

“I’ve been in business for over 40 years now, and I’ve never been more certain. It’s not an investment. He’s a shareholder and a partner,” added the Canadian, describing Newey as a key element to the team’s title aspirations.”

‘Aston Martin hope to win big’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...n-adrian-newey


Aston Martin's Silverstone factory tour was 'crucial' for Newey
10 Sept 2024
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Newey on the new factory and Lawrence Stroll. Newey explained his viewpoint. "The building's clearly mightily impressive. It has a great feel to it. But the second bit, which we didn't talk about, is I think it's a real demonstration of Lawrence's commitment to envision where he wants the team to get to. I don't know how much it costs, but it's not going to be cheap. I'll find other ways of spending money now for him within the cost cap," the Aston Martin engineer told reporters.

The brand new recruit also had a nice compliment in store for Lawrence Stroll. "I think that was perhaps the combination of seeing all the facilities, how nice a feel and how well thought out the building is, and perhaps most of all, that very visual demonstration of Lawrence. If I had to describe Lawrence in one sentence, I think one of the things that I also think of is he has total belief, he has his direction, and he's happy to put all his chips on black, and that's what he's doing here."

‘Real demonstration of Lawrence's commitment’;

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Adrian+Newey

[Fortitude]

Lance Stroll 'not competitive' this weekend after finishing P19.
After a difficult afternoon, Lance Stroll comments on not being competitive and the "bottom line... we haven't been quick all weekend".
1 Sept 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

'Not competitive';

https://www.formula1.com/en/video/la...06644791495312


Piastri’s pursuit of Leclerc delayed by Stroll “driving like it was his first go-kart race”
1st Sept 2024
Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Oscar Piastri was unimpressed with Lance Stroll’s driving when he lapped him during the Italian Grand Prix. Piastri began chasing Leclerc after making his second visit to the pits, while Leclerc ran to the end on a single stop. The McLaren driver first had to overtake Leclerc’s team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr for position, then lost more time putting Stroll a lap down.

“At that point, I was pretty optimistic. [But] I lost a decent amount of time behind Carlos. You had Stroll driving like it was his first go-kart race. I don’t know what went through his brain when he saw his blue flag. That cost another second. I needed that stint to be perfect to win that race and those little things are ultimately what cost us a bit of a chance.

“Driving like it was his first go-kart race”;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/09/01/...-go-kart-race/


This is how Lance Stroll reacted to Adrian Newey's arrival at Aston Martin
10 Sept 2024
Jeroen Immink
GPblog.com

How did Stroll react to Newey's announcement? Stroll - who has been racing under the Aston Martin name since 2021 - reacted happily to Newey's arrival. "Yeah, it's a huge day. There's already a lot said, but I think it's really the most exciting day in this team's history. Adrian's won more championships than anyone in the paddock and now he's wearing green," said Stroll.

"So it's an extremely exciting day. 2026 is not far away. A completely new set of regulations, a lot of opportunity, and we're really constructing an incredible team with so many talented people that are already here. Now Adrian's coming on board, so really exciting," Stroll added.

‘Most exciting day in this team's history’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/30011...on-martin.html


Why Lance Stroll deserves much more respect than his ‘pay driver’ label gets him
11 Sep 2024
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com

Stroll Jnr is in the unfortunately fortunate position of being the son of a determined billionaire. As to how much he wants to be in F1, his demeanour around the racing would suggest otherwise, and how much he is there to appease his father, only they will know, but it is not a case of Stroll just being dropped into the sport.

According to his own website, Stroll first sat behind the wheel at the age of four in a go-kart and he enjoyed the typical route up the motorsport ladder. He won the rookie of the year award in his first season of karting and followed it up with driver of the year. In 2010, he swapped Canada for Geneva and joined the Ferrari Driver Academy at the age of 11, becoming colleagues with the likes of Sergio Perez and Jules Bianchi.

‘Lance Stroll deserves much more respect’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/la...label-gets-him


Adrian Newey weighs in on Aston Martin driver pairing: What does he think of Lance Stroll?
11 Sep 2024
Total Motorsport

The great mystery of Adrian Newey and his Formula 1 future has finally been answered, but what does he think of his new driver pairing?

“Lance, I’ve known slightly for many years back from his Formula 3 days,” Newey told media at the Aston Martin reveal. “My lad, Harry, was also racing F3 the same time that the Lance was, so [he] admired him. He dominated the second half of that year in F3. Fernando? We’ve battled against each other for so many years. He’s been a kind of arch enemy at times.”

“We came so close to him joining Red Bull in 2008 for the 2009 season. But unfortunately, it didn’t quite happen, which is great shame so we continued to battle against each other. He’s a legend of the sport so [I’m] very much looking forward to working with him.”

“My lad, Harry, was also racing F3 the same time that the Lance was, so [he] admired him”;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/adr...-lance-stroll/


Adrian Newey to Aston Martin - 6 things TV cameras missed at F1 press conference
Mirror Sport was in the room as Aston Martin showed off Adrian Newey to the Formula 1 press corps and kept an eye out for the things the millions watching from home couldn't see
11 Sep 2024
Daniel Moxon
The Mirror

How Aston Martin staff were told: A crowd of around 800 of them amassed outside the factory doors and the announcement was met by plenty of cheers and thunderous applause. They know just how much of a big deal this could be - after all, Newey has already turned Red Bull from a mediocre midfield outfit into perennial title contenders. Aston Martin hope he can do the same there.

Steady Eddie Jordan: Once upon a time, Formula 1 facilities in Silverstone were home to Jordan Grand Prix. Nearly 30 years on from the early-2005 sale of the team to the Midland Group, Eddie was back on Tuesday to watch the current residents unveil his great friend and client.

What Newey did after the cameras stopped rolling: He bounded straight off the stage and made a beeline for his wife Amanda, who had been watching on sat next to Alonso throughout the show. They exchanged a smile and a few words before he headed back onto the stage to pose for photos, but it was a nice moment between them to witness.

‘Mike meets Mandy, Facilities fit for the occasion, Lance's mic-drop moment’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...artin-33640189


Adrian Newey to become joint-owner of Aston Martin
Adrian Newey will join Aston Martin as both its technical managing partner and co-owner.
11 Sept 2024
Mat Coch
Speedcafe

Aston Martin announced Adrian Newey will join the Silverstone-based operation in March next year. His arrival was much expected despite interest from other teams in pit lane, most notably Ferrari. “He will be the leader of the technical team. He’ll be a leader, also in the company, in the overall business, as a partner and shareholder. So I leave that structure up to Adrian, who’s much better suited than myself.” Managing director Lawrence Stroll.

The opportunity to become a shareholder in the organisation was an appealing one for Newey, who likened Aston Martin to an ‘old school’ F1 team with Stroll as its figurehead. “The reality is, if you go back 20 years, then what we now call team principals are actually the owners of the teams: Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Eddie Jordan, etc, etc, Newey began. In this modern era, then Lawrence is actually unique, in being the only properly active team owner.”

“It’s a different feeling when you have somebody like Lawrence involved like that. It’s back to the old school model. To have the chance to be a shareholder and a partner is something that has never really been offered to me before,” he added. “So it’s a slightly different slant. It’s one I’m very much looking forward to.”

So I leave that structure up to Adrian, who’s much better suited than myself”;

https://speedcafe.com/adrian-newey-t...-aston-martin/


'Adrian Newey to be first billionaire F1 engineer if Aston Martin wins titles'
If he’s as successful at Aston Martin as he has been at Red Bull, he will become F1’s first billionaire engineer.
Sept 11th 2024
Matt Bishop
Motor Sport Magazine

I worked for Aston Martin in 2021 and 2022 and I have known Newey for the thick end of 30 years, so I have had plenty of reflecting to do. First of all, I want to make clear that Lawrence Stroll deserves plaudits for the magnitude of his ambition. One of the richest men ever to have fully immersed himself in Formula 1, he has made clear from the outset that he was determined not only to set up an F1 team for which his son could race, but also to move heaven and earth to make sure that that team would eventually have every tool at its disposal with which to win.

Newey’s key colleagues at Aston Martin will be Dan Fallows, who worked well and successfully under him at Red Bull until he was lured to Aston Martin in 2022 as its new technical director; Enrico Cardile, the ex-Ferrari man who will soon join the company as its chief technical officer; and Cowell, whose role as group chief executive officer may sometimes have to encompass shielding Newey, a sensitive soul, from Stroll’s outwardly chummy but occasionally domineering management style.

As it happens, the Red Bull and Aston Martin F1 teams share not-dissimilar back stories. Both were originally founded by charismatic ex-driver entrepreneurs. Eddie Jordan launched Jordan in 1991, and it has now morphed via Midland, Spyker, Force India, and Racing Point into Aston Martin; Jackie Stewart launched Stewart in 1997, and it has now morphed via Jaguar into Red Bull. In many ways Aston Martin now finds itself roughly where Red Bull was in 2006, Newey’s first year with the Milton Keynes team and the second year of its Red Bull era.

‘Will Adrian Newey become F1’s first billionaire engineer?’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#