2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Adrian Newey reveals concerns over F1 2026 regulations ahead of Aston Martin move.
“They’re a huge change, I mean, I can’t remember – it probably has happened at some time in the distant past – but I can’t remember the last time we had completely new power unit and chassis regulations at the same time.”
9 Oct 2024
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

“In reality, the power unit regulations because there’s a much longer lead time associated with power unit research than there is with the chassis side. Then the power unit regulations were fixed quite a few years ago without, in truth, properly, considering what chassis regulations were then needed to suit those PU regs. That’s something that the FIA, with support from teams, has been battling with since. How it will work out is, in truth, still not clear.”

“The original idea that the FIA wanted was 400 kilowatts from the PU and 400 kilowatts from the hybrid side – the electric machine,” he said. “They then started to realise that 400 from the electric was too much to be sustainable, in terms of sustainable from lap to lap, so they’ve reduced that to 350 but even now there is still a lot of concern that, actually, the cars will be going significantly slower at the end of straight than at the start of the straight because they just run out of battery.”

“It was a regulation that was brought in really, I think, primarily to keep the existing OEMs, the manufacturers in, and hopefully attract new ones. In that sense, you can argue it’s been successful. Audi is coming in. Honda has reversed their decision to exit and are staying in but what the show and the spectacle will be, I think it’s a concern. But Formula 1, somehow, seems to have a habit of being all right on the night!”

‘Significantly slower at the end of straight than at the start of the straight!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian...erned-outlined


Mateschitz Death Triggered Newey’s Red Bull Exit – Marko
9 Oct 2024
F1 Chronicle

The late 2022 death of Dietrich Mateschitz was the leading cause of Adrian Newey’s decision to leave Red Bull. That is the suspicion of team advisor Dr Helmut Marko, although he admits that other top departing names including Jonathan Wheatley and Will Courtenay were attracted by big-money offers and more powerful positions.

“When you win, and we have won a lot in the last three years, it is normal that your employees are coveted by other teams,” Marko told ORF Tirol. “That is the normal game in Formula 1. What surprised me a bit are the amounts that are offered. We are always struggling with the budget cap, but these people are often being offered double. That means we couldn’t keep some of them.”

“Newey was with us for 17 years, Wheatley for 19. They were part of the team, part of the group and part of the club. They were a big part of our success,” the 81-year-old admits. “That hurts, but whether they leave for financial reasons or career reasons, it makes no difference if we cannot offer the same.”

‘Leading cause of Adrian Newey’s decision’;

https://f1chronicle.com/mateschitz-d.../?nowprocket=1


Lid lifted on Adrian Newey contract negotiations with two key attractions revealed
9 Oct 2024
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

Eddie Jordan spoke about the professionalism of Aston Martin in their negotiations with Adrian Newey, alongside citing having Honda and Andy Cowell on side as two key factors in his arrival.

Jordan confirmed that talks had taken place with Ferrari, Alpine and Williams in the process of deciding Newey’s next step, but the design great ultimately plumped for Aston Martin – citing team owner Lawrence Stroll’s “infectious” passion and commitment to the project that is being put in place at Silverstone.

With a new factory having been built, Jordan added that two other factors also helped Newey reach his verdict – with Aston Martin having a works power unit deal with Honda from 2026 onwards, and the highly-successful former Mercedes High Performance Powertrains managing director Andy Cowell being in place as Aston Martin’s group CEO.

‘Lid lifted’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian...n-negotiations


Alonso went all out to 'persuade' Newey to join Aston Martin
8 Oct 2024
Olly Darcy
GPblog.com

Alonso was asked how he, along with his team, 'persuade' Newey to the Lawrence Stroll-owned team. "That's a question for him," started Alonso. "I texted him, for sure, like everybody probably did who wanted to work with him."

The Spaniard continued, "I saw him at the Monaco historic Grand Prix that he was racing that week as well. We spent half an hour chatting as well. We all tried to persuade him. Ultimately, Lawrence and, as I said, his vision, the new factory and what Aston Martin wants for the future together with Honda as well, were probably key factors listening to what Adrian said yesterday [after his announcement]."

‘Went all out’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/30518...on-martin.html


‘Short-sighted’ and ‘politics’-driven Ferrari accused of making major Adrian Newey mistake
7 Oct 2024
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Asked if he was surprised that Ferrari did not move for Newey, having completed the shock signing of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes last winter, Mansell added: “No, not really.”

“As soon as I heard that Ferrari were baulking at possibly the wage bill that Adrian wanted. I think that was short-sighted of them. They lost an opportunity because whoever gets Adrian Newey is almost assured of having a fantastic few years and I think Aston Martin have done something very special in securing his services.”

“I think people have underestimated as well that I don’t think Adrian was totally happy in the last few years with Red Bull and what a fantastic job he’s done and I think now being in the UK, being with Aston Martin.”

‘ ‘Short-sighted’ and ‘politics’-driven Ferrari’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/adrian...martin-verdict


Ferrari 'licking its wounds' after 'short-sighted' Newey failure
Adrian Newey won't be heading to Ferrari - something one driver who won a world championship in one of his cars feels is "short-sighted."
6 Oct 2024
Jake Nichol
RacingNews365

Nigel Mansell has blasted Ferrari for its "short-sighted" failure to sign Adrian Newey, and feels the team should be 'licking its wounds.' Mansell delivered Newey his first taste of world championship glory with the dominant FW14B in 1992, but believes his former Ferrari team has made a major mistake in not signing Newey.

"The fact that he’s gone to Aston Martin is so wise because he won’t get caught up in the politics of Ferrari and the hype that goes with that," Mansell told Top Offshore Sportsbooks. "I think Ferrari should be licking their wounds a little bit because they should have got him, but all credit to Aston Martin.”

‘Won’t get caught with Ferrari politics';

https://racingnews365.com/ferrari-li...-newey-failure


Newey reveals why he’ll still be helping Red Bull with ‘passion project’ after his Aston Martin start date
7 Oct 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Adrian Newey has revealed that he will continue to work on the Red Bull RB17 hypercar project even after his time with the Formula 1 team has come to an end, with the famed designer set to join Aston Martin in 2025. It was announced back in May that Newey would depart Red Bull in the first quarter of next year, bringing his nearly 20-year stint at the Milton Keynes squad to a close, and much speculation then followed over where the Briton’s next destination would be.

“But I’ve still been working hard on the RB17 track car, which has been a sort of side project/passion project really, which I’ve hugely enjoyed because it’s something just a little bit different to Formula 1. It’s applying all the same principles that I’ve learned from Formula 1, but to a different application. So I’m still working on that and I will still be working on that until the 1st of March, and then I will still be working on that after that 1st of March date but not from the factory as much.”

‘Red Bull passion project’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...EBbCnvvSx9tBjD


Newey to continue working on a Red Bull project 'after 1 March 2025'
7 Oct 2024
Matt Gretton
GPblog.com

Aston Martin are looking forward to Newey's arrival. His announcement at the Silverstone-based factory was greeted with cheers from the staff members. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are also excited to be working with Newey.

Newey is still getting paid by Red Bull, but he no longer has any influence over the Austrians' F1 team. In fact, since April this year, the Brit has not been involved in the development of the RB20 and its successor for the 2025 season. However, Newey still worked on the RB17, the high-speed hypercar he developed himself.

Although the RB17 has been presented and is ready, Newey has been thinking lately about developing the car further. In the podcast, he also revealed that he is hugely looking forward to his new adventure at Aston Martin. His focus there will be on developing the car for 2026 when the new technical regulations in F1 take effect.

‘Developing the car further’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/30508...-hypercar.html

[Fortitude]

Felipe Massa issues update as Lewis Hamilton F1 2008 title legal challenge continues.
Felipe Massa is hoping for a swift resolution to the legal case over his F1 2008 title defeat to Lewis Hamilton due to the “very expensive” financial burden.
2 Oct 2024
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

In an update on the case, Massa has reiterated his desire for “justice” to be done having “definitely paid” for missing out on the title to Hamilton. He told RN365: “I hope the correct thing happens, for justice, for something that was not part of the sport that punished me big time.

“This is what we are fighting for, which I believe is correct, especially after 16 years and on hearing things which you never thought it was really like that. After that, I decided to put a big team together, professional people, divided by many different countries.”

“They really believe it was not fair what happened, for the sport, and I definitely paid. When we heard Bernie’s comment last year, after that we started to put things together and we started to fight, to analyse things in the professional, legal way because it was not part of the sport.”

“Very expensive”;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/felipe...egal-challenge


Felipe Massa reveals ‘expensive wait for justice’ challenging 2008 Lewis Hamilton F1 title
2 Oct 2024
Dan Lawrence
Motorsport Week

Felipe Massa has revealed that his legal challenge against Formula 1, the FIA, and former series rights holder Bernie Ecclestone over his lost 2008 title to Lewis Hamilton is ongoing. Massa launched legal proceedings with the Brazilian law firm Vieira Rezende Advogas in March this year, seeking retribution for his lost 2008 crown.

A lawsuit was filed in London’s High Court, seeking damages as “the FIA breached its regulations by failing to promptly investigate Nelson Piquet Junior’s crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, and that had it acted properly, Mr Massa would have won the drivers’ championship that year.”

‘Expensive wait for justice’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/...lton-f1-title/


Former Driver Opens Up On Legal Battle Against F1 Over Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 Title
Oct 02, 2024
Saajan Jogia
News & Observer, North Carolina

This misfortune would prove pivotal, as Massa ultimately lost the 2008 title to Hamilton by a single point in the season finale in São Paulo. The 'Crashgate' scandal only came to light after Renault dismissed Piquet Jr. midway through the 2009 season. Hoping for justice to prevail after the nearly five-month-long legal battle, which is draining Massa's financial resources, the 43-year-old former driver told the media:

"I hope the correct thing happens, for justice, for something that was not part of the sport that punished me big time. This is what we are fighting for, which I believe is correct, especially after 16 years and on hearing things which you never thought it was really like that. After that, I decided to put a big team together, professional people, divided by many different countries. They really believe it was not fair what happened, for the sport, and I definitely paid.”

"When we heard Bernie's comment last year, after that we started to put things together, and we started to fight, to analyse things in the professional, legal way because it was not part of the sport. I never thought I was going to be part of such a thing in my life. It's not easy. It's also very expensive, a lot of money, so I really hope things finish soon. But we've been waiting so long now for justice, we have to hope the truth comes out and there will be justice."

‘Former Driver Opens Up On Legal Battle’;

https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/...mainstage_card


Felipe Massa upset with Daniel Ricciardo after he made Crashgate joke that wasn’t ‘right’
3 Oct 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

Felipe Massa has responded to a joke made by Daniel Ricciardo during the Singapore Grand Prix that was in reference to the 2008 Crashgate scandal. The incident was one of the worst cases of cheating in sporting history when Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr was told to deliberately crash his car to bring out a Safety Car and benefit teammate Fernando Alonso.

During the recent Singapore Grand Prix, after qualifying at the back of the grid Daniel Ricciardo joked that he would need a cheap Safety Car to get back to the front and score points before quipping: “Bring Piquet back, and let’s make it happen.” When speaking to the media after the Singapore GP about the comments, Massa did not take the joke well according to Motorsport-Total.

“I think jokes are jokes. But that might not be a particularly nice joke. Making jokes about something that wasn’t right for the sport is not so nice,” said Massa. “But I wasn’t there, I didn’t hear the exact wording, and I understand that jokes are jokes. But it’s definitely not a nice joke, and of course it’s not a nice thing that this happened to me.”

‘Not a particularly nice joke’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fel...t-wasnt-right/


Former Ferrari engineer shares ‘uncontrollable’ reaction after Felipe Massa lost 2008 title to Lewis Hamilton
2 Oct 2024
Rory Mitchell
F1 Oversteer

The 2008 title showdown between Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton was one of the most memorable in Formula 1 history. Lewis Hamilton came into the race with a seven-point lead over Felipe Massa and with a maximum of 10 points on offer, the Ferrari driver could still win the championship if Hamilton finished in sixth or lower.

Rob Smedley cried ‘uncontrollably’ in aftermath of Felipe Massa 2008 title loss. Massa has won the race in front of his home crowd in Brazil and took to the podium with a display of emotion, having lost the title in the final moments of the race. Smedley was on the pit wall when it all happened and recalled watching the screens as the action unfolded, while the scenes showed the Ferrari mechanics celebrating moments before Hamilton made the last-lap move.

“When Felipe crosses the line I was trying to intently watch. Everyone thinks we’ve won and starts to pull me off the pit wall and I was like ‘Stop! Stop! I’m still working!’ They’re basically dragging me right off the pit wall and I just managed to turn to the side and saw the silver car in front of the white and red car,” said Smedley. “At that point, you just accept it. But I took myself off and went behind the hospitality buildings and cried for about an hour, uncontrollably. Just on my own, there was nobody else there. For just 30 minutes, then sorted myself out and that was the end of it. I’ve always been a person that never looks back, I was like ‘Right, that’s the end of it. It’s done.’”

‘Uncontrollable’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fer...ewis-hamilton/


Massa reveals financial strain of legal fight for Hamilton's first F1 title
Given the cost of legal fees, this must be eye-watering for Felipe Massa!
1 Oct 2024
Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Felipe Massa is hopeful his fight for justice against F1, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone will conclude soon given the extraordinary financial burden. In March, Massa and his Brazilian legal team announced it had filed a lawsuit against the sport, motorsport's governing body, and former F1 supremo Ecclestone relating to Lewis Hamilton's first F1 title in 2008.

The Brazilian law firm representing Massa, Vieira Rezende Advogados, filed its lawsuit in London's High Court seeking declarations that "the FIA breached its regulations by failing to promptly investigate Nelson Piquet Junior’s crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, and that had it acted properly, Mr Massa would have won the drivers’ championship that year".

Damages are also being sought to compensate Massa for the fact he is not an F1 champion but should have been acknowledged as such for the past 16 years. Speaking in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365, Massa confirmed the case has been ongoing for "four, five months". "I hope the correct thing happens, for justice, for something that was not part of the sport that punished me big time," said Massa.

‘Financial strain’;

https://racingnews365.com/massa-reve...first-f1-title


Lewis Hamilton gets rare update on legal case that could strip him of F1 title
Lewis Hamilton is currently a seven-time world champion, but that could soon change.
Oct 1, 2024
Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

Lewis Hamilton is facing a nervous wait about his maiden World Championship. Felipe Massa has offered a rare update about his lawsuit against F1, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone, citing the mental and financial toll that it is having on his life.

The Brazilian ended his career without a World Championship to his name, having come closest in 2008 when he finished a single point behind Lewis Hamilton in his sophomore year in the sport.

Massa would have won the title had he converted the lead of the Singapore Grand Prix into victory, but that triumph instead went to Fernando Alonso, who benefitted from a deliberate crash from team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr.

‘Lewis Hamilton is facing a nervous wait’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ssa-F1-lawsuit